Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship of cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) to carotid and coronary arteriosclerosis.

BACKGROUND The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) has been recently reported as a new index of aortic stiffness, which is less influenced by blood pressure than pulse wave velocity (PWV). The present study investigated the relationship between the levels of CAVI and carotid and coronary arteriosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS The 443 consecutive patients who underwent CAVI, carotid sonography, and coronary angiography in hospital were examined. Intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid plaque were evaluated by ultrasonography. The severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) was evaluated by coronary angiography and the subjects were divided into 4 groups (0, no significant organic stenosis: 1, 1-vessel disease: 2, 2-vessel disease: 3, 3-vessel disease). Univariate analyses showed that both CAVI and brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) were associated with IMT and the presence of carotid plaque. Multiple stepwise regression analyses revealed that CAVI (p=0.0427), but not baPWV, was associated with the IMT. Both CAVI (p<0.0001) and baPWV (p=0.0140) were significantly associated with the severity of CAD. Multiple logistic analyses revealed that CAVI (p=0.0342), but not baPWV (p=0.8027), was associated with the presence of multivessel disease. CONCLUSION High CAVI implies progression of carotid and coronary arteriosclerosis. CAVI may be more closely linked with arteriosclerosis than baPWV.
Stability analysis of two-dimensional LTI switched systems with multiple equilibria

This paper studies stability issues of two-dimensional LTI switched systems composed of potentially unstable subsystems with multiple equilibria. For the case that each subsystem has a unique equilibrium point and these equilibria are different from each other, based on the determined region contained all equilibria and the region stability concept introduced in this paper, several simple sufficient conditions of globally asymptotical region stability are proposed for such switched systems via the mathematical analysis method. An illustrative example and its simulations demonstrates the effectiveness of the new stability results obtained in this paper.
MicroRNA 218 Acts as a Tumor Suppressor by Targeting Multiple Cancer Phenotype-associated Genes in Medulloblastoma*

Background: MicroRNAs are differentially expressed in medulloblastoma. Results: MicroRNA 218 expression is decreased in medulloblastoma. Re-expression of miR-218 suppresses the malignant cell phenotype in medulloblastoma cells. Unbiased HITS-CLIP analysis identified multiple oncogenic genes as miR-218 targets. Conclusion: miR-218 inhibits medulloblastoma tumor cell phenotype by targeting multiple oncogenes. Significance: miR-218-regulated pathways are important in medulloblastoma pathogenesis. Aberrant expression of microRNAs has been implicated in many cancers. We recently demonstrated differential expression of several microRNAs in medulloblastoma. In this study, the regulation and function of microRNA 218 (miR-218), which is significantly underexpressed in medulloblastoma, was evaluated. Re-expression of miR-218 resulted in a significant decrease in medulloblastoma cell growth, cell colony formation, cell migration, invasion, and tumor sphere size. We used C17.2 neural stem cells as a model to show that increased miR-218 expression results in increased cell differentiation and also decreased malignant transformation when transfected with the oncogene REST. These results suggest that miR-218 acts as a tumor suppressor in medulloblastoma. MicroRNAs function by down-regulating translation of target mRNAs. Targets are determined by imperfect base pairing of the microRNA to the 3′-UTR of the mRNA. To comprehensively identify actual miR-218 targets, medulloblastoma cells overexpressing miR-218 and control cells were subjected to high throughput sequencing of RNA isolated by cross-linking immunoprecipitation, a technique that identifies the mRNAs bound to the RNA-induced silencing complex component protein Argonaute 2. High throughput sequencing of mRNAs identified 618 genes as targets of miR-218 and included both previously validated targets and many targets not predicted computationally. Additional work further confirmed CDK6, RICTOR, and CTSB (cathepsin B) as targets of miR-218 and examined the functional role of one of these targets, CDK6, in medulloblastoma.
Political Instability and its Effects on International Companies: A Case Study on Sierra Rutile Limited (Sierra Leone)

This research explains political instability and it effects on International companies, a case study on Sierra Rutile Limited (SL). The purpose of this paper is to explain the working conditions and operations of Sierra Rutile Ltd before the outbreak of the Instability in Sierra Leone, in 1991, the effect of political instability on Sierra Rutile Limited during the instability from 1991-2002, the present condition of the company since the end of the Instability in 2002, Mechanism and solutions in preventing business decline and failure in the future caused by political instability if it probably emerged. In this research a qualitative descriptive approach, phenomenology was recommended which focuses on political instability and it effects on international companies, a case study on Sierra Rutile Ltd, by the use of documentations and observations. The findings can also been drawn from the background of the Instability in the country, focusing on the operation of Sierra Rutile before, during and after the instability in Sierra Leone. This article will provide significant conclusions and recommendations to governments, feature researchers, Industries, companies, International business and global markets.
Automated separation of crosscutting concerns: Earlier Automated identification and modularization of cross-cutting features at analysis phase

Early aspect mining captures the concerns that can propagate to other artifacts in later stage. However, current approaches and tools required a self made input by following specific grammatical patterns to expose to the approach what the concern is. Moreover, requirements are mostly communicated between the stakeholders in form of features. However, the early aspect mining from the feature introduced the labor intensive task of creating feature model that is unable to support cross-cutting relations. There seems to be a tradeoff between the requirement abstraction and automaticity for aspect discovery at early analysis phase. In this paper, we present an enhanced form of aspect-oriented feature analysis (AOFA), which discovers meaningful concerns and feature interactions, then associates them to feature modules without disbursing automaticity. It takes publically available unstructured features as input then creates a knowledge base of domain by natural language processing and finally models each feature's dependencies by utilizing this domain knowledge and variability patterns. We evaluate our approach against early aspect miner tool and statistical method and found our approach to be optimal.
Ribosomal Protein RPL 27 a Promotes Female Gametophyte Development in a Dose-Dependent Manner

Ribosomal protein mutations in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) result in a range of specific developmental phenotypes. Why ribosomal protein mutants have specific phenotypes is not fully known, but such defects potentially result from ribosome insufficiency, ribosome heterogeneity, or extraribosomal functions of ribosomal proteins. Here, we report that ovule development is sensitive to the level of Ribosomal Protein L27a (RPL27a) and is disrupted by mutations in the two paralogs RPL27aC and RPL27aB. Mutations in RPL27aC result in high levels of female sterility, whereas mutations in RPL27aB have a significant but lesser effect on fertility. Progressive reduction in RPL27a function results in increasing sterility, indicating a dose-dependent relationship between RPL27a and female fertility. RPL27a levels in both the sporophyte and gametophyte affect female gametogenesis, with different developmental outcomes determined by the dose of RPL27a. These results demonstrate that RPL27aC and RPL27aB act redundantly and reveal a function for RPL27a in coordinating complex interactions between sporophyte and gametophyte during ovule development.
Methodologic Issues in Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Systematic reviews of original research are increasing in number. Systematic reviews are distinct from narrative reviews because they address a specific clinical question, require a comprehensive literature search, use explicit selection criteria to identify relevant studies, assess the methodologic quality of included studies, explore differences among study results, and either qualitatively or quantitatively synthesize study results. Systematic reviews that quantitatively pool results of more than one study are called meta-analyses. Several organizations are collaboratively involved in producing high quality systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Familiarity with how to do a systematic review and meta-analysis will lead to greater skill in using this type of article. For clinicians, teachers, and investigators, systematic reviews and meta-analyses are useful sources of evidence.
Minimizing Injuries and Enhancing Performance in Golf Through Training Programs

Context: Golf is a popular sport, particularly in older populations. Regardless of age and skill level, golfers risk injury to the back, shoulder, wrist and hand, elbow, and knee. Because of the unique compressive, shear, rotational, and lateral bending forces created in the lumbar region during the golf swing, the primary sport-related malady experienced by amateurs and professionals is low back pain. Extrinsic and intrinsic injury risk factors have been reported in the literature. A growing body of evidence supports the prescription of strength training routines to enhance performance and reduce the risk of injury. Evidence Acquisition: Relevant studies were reviewed on golf injuries, swing mechanics, training routines, and general training program design. The following electronic databases were used to identify research relevant to this report: MEDLINE (from 1950–November 2009), CINAHL (1982–November 2009), and SPORTDiscus (1830–November 2009). Results: Injuries may be associated with lack of warm-up, poor trunk flexibility and strength, faulty swing technique, and overuse. Conclusions: Implementing a training program that includes flexibility, strength, and power training with correction of faulty swing mechanics will help the golfer reduce the likelihood of injury and improve overall performance.
Data window aggregation techniques for energy saving in Wireless Sensor Networks

Redundant data transmissions are likely to happen repeatedly inWireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). According to the literature survey, energy-efficiency predominately relies on data aggregation rather than routing or duty-cycling approaches. As data redundancy dominates the power usage in communication costs, in order to identify and reduce the redundant data transmissions by individual nodes, we propose a hybrid data aggregative window function (DAWF) algorithm for exploiting both spatial and temporal data redundancies in WSNs. Furthermore, the proposed novel approach aims to process the hybrid filtration using both compressive and prediction-based techniques in sensor nodes (SN) as well as in cluster-head (CH) nodes. In this regard, the experimental study case of this work show that the DAWF mechanism can suppress a huge amount of temporal redundant data transmissions in sensor nodes while providing reliable data messages towards the base station (BS). Moreover, DAWF CH can also suppress a large amount of spatial redundancies by utilizing the optimum DAWF parameters of the CH node.
Chronic effects of NMDA and APV on tectal output in Xenopus laevis

Abstract In the South African clawed-toed frog Xenopus laevis, visual experience plays a crucial role in the formation of matching binocular maps in the tectum. The ipsilateral eye's projection, relayed through the crossed isthmotectal projection, displays marked plasticity in response to altered visual input during a critical period of development. This plasticity and the events responsible for the end of the critical period are mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor function. We have previously reported that chronic blockade of tectal NMDA receptors with the NMDA antagonist 5-amino-phosphonovaleric acid (APV) prevents plasticity of the crossed isthmotectal projection during the critical period, while chronic treatment with NMDA restores this plasticity after the end of the critical period. These results raise the question of whether the effects on plasticity are due to changes in electrical responsiveness of the treated tissue. In this study, we have quantitatively assessed the actions of APV and NMDA on certain aspects of tectal cell activity in Xenopus during and after the critical period by recording the output of the nucleus isthmi cells that are activated by the tectum after three weeks of treatment. We have found that chronic APV treatment does not alter tectal output, as indicated by the firing of isthmotectal axons, during the critical period and that chronic NMDA treatment increases tectal output in postcritical period Xenopus. Tectal output does not differ between normal Xenopus during and after the end of the critical period. These results indicate that the effect of APV on blocking isthmotectal plasticity is not due to a nonspecific inhibition of the segment of the retinotectal relay that activates the nucleus isthmi. The enhancement of tectal output in postcritical period Xenopus by chronic NMDA treatment may promote the effectiveness of NMDA in restoring isthmotectal plasticity after the end of the critical period, but the finding that tectal activity does not differ between normal Xenopus during and after the critical period implies that a reduction in tectal activity in not the cause of the loss of plasticity at the end of the critical period.
Differential Th1/Th2 cytokine patterns in chronic arthritis: interferon γ is highly expressed in synovium of rheumatoid arthritis compared with seronegative spondyloarthropathies

OBJECTIVE To investigate possible differences in Th1 and Th2 cytokine mRNA expression in the synovial tissue (ST) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and seronegative spondyloarthropathies (SpA) with diagnostic and/or pathogenic interest. METHODS Eleven RA patients and 14 SpA patients (10 with undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy (USpA), two with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and two with psoriatic arthritis (PsA)) were included. Th1 (interferon γ, interleukin 2) and Th2 (interleukin 4, interleukin 5 and interleukin 10) cytokine mRNA levels from arthritic knee ST were quantified by using an optimised polymerase chain reaction method with a computerised analysis system. Protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin 1, tumour necrosis factor α and interleukin 6) in synovial fluid were quantified with a specific ELISA test. RESULTS Th1 cytokines were detected in all of RA ST samples in contrast with 58% (interferon γ) and 71% (interleukin 2) of SpA samples. Th2 cytokines were expressed in 90% of RA ST samples, but the findings in SpA were interleukin 10 in 90%, interleukin 4 in 60% and interleukin 5 in 40% of ST samples. However, when the mRNA levels of each cytokine were quantified and corrected for T cell mRNA levels, only interferon γ levels were significantly higher in RA than in SpA (p<0.003). Thus, the Th1/Th2 cytokine ratio in RA was fivefold that of SpA. Synovial fluid interleukin 1β concentrations were higher in RA than in SpA (p<0.05); there were also higher synovial fluid levels of tumour necrosis factor α in RA than in SpA, but without statistical significance. CONCLUSION This study has detected both Th1 and Th2 cytokine gene expression in ST from RA and SpA patients. Synovium interferon γ mRNA levels and SF interleukin 1β protein levels were significantly higher in RA than in SpA, so reflecting the known proinflammatory activity of interferon γ through macrophage activation. Thus, the Th1 (interferon γ)/Th2 (interleukin 4) ratio is significantly higher in RA than in SpA ST. These data confirm previous studies on ST Th1/Th2 balance in RA and extend previous work in comparing ST RA with subgroups of SpA distinct of ReA.
PIK3CA amplification and PTEN loss in diffused large B-cell lymphoma

Although it has been known that PIK3CA was amplified and PTEN was deficient on protein level in DLBCL, the clinicopathological significance of PIK3CA and PTEN genetic change on DNA level hasn’t been established. Here, in our present study, to understand the clinical significance of genetic status of PIK3CA and PTEN in DLBCL, fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) was employed to evaluate the genetic change of PIK3CA and PTEN in clinical sample tissues consist of 205 cases. Incidentally, to understand the clinicopathological significance of genetic change of PIK3CA and PTEN, Cross-table analysis was used to analyze the association between genetic change of PIK3CA and PTEN versus clinicopathological variables available to us, including age, gender, size, location, international prognosis index, performance state, B-symptom, clinical stage, Extra nodal site, concentration of lactate dehydrogenase, therapeutic effects, treatment and overall prognosis. It was found that PIK3CA was amplified and PTEN was deficient on DNA level, the percentage of amplification and loss was 12.7% (26/205) and 12.2% (25/205), respectively. Additionally, no significant association was observed between genetic change of PIK3CA and PTEN versus clinicopathological variables available. Nor was the significant correlation found between loss of PTEN versus PIK3CA amplification. Our results suggest that PTEN deficiency and amplification of PIK3CA on DNA level was an event in the pathogenesis of DLBCL.
High CD45 surface expression determines relapse risk in children with precursor B-cell and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated according to the ALL-BFM 2000 protocol

Further improvement of outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia could be achieved by identifying additional high-risk patients who may benefit from intensified treatment. We earlier identified PTPRC (CD45) gene expression as a potential new stratification marker and now analyzed the prognostic relevance of CD45 protein expression. CD45 was measured by flow cytometry in 1065 patients treated according to the ALL-BFM-2000 protocol. The 75th percentile was used as cut-off to distinguish a CD45-high from a CD45-low group. As mean CD45 expression was significantly higher in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia than in B-cell-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (P<0.0001), the analysis was performed separately in both groups. In B-cell-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia we observed a significant association of a high CD45 expression with older age, high initial white blood cell count, ETV6/RUNX1 negativity, absence of high hyperdiploidy (P<0.0001), MLL/AF4 positivity (P=0.002), BCR/ABL1 positivity (P=0.007), prednisone poor response (P=0.002) and minimal residual disease (P<0.0001). In T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia we observed a significant association with initial white blood cell count (P=0.0003), prednisone poor response (P=0.01), and minimal residual disease (P=0.02). Compared to CD45-low patients, CD45-high patients had a lower event-free survival rate (B-cell-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: 72±3% versus 86±1%, P<0.0001; T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: 60±8% versus 78±4%, P=0.02), which was mainly attributable to a higher cumulative relapse incidence (B-cell-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: 22±3% versus 11±1%, P<0.0001; T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: 31±8% versus 11±3%, P=0.003) and kept its significance in multivariate analysis considering sex, age, initial white blood cell count, and minimal residual disease in B-cell-precursor- and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and additionally presence of ETV6/RUNX1, MLL/AF4 and BCR/ABL1 rearrangements in B-cell-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (P=0.002 and P=0.025, respectively). Consideration of CD45 expression may serve as an additional stratification tool in BFM-based protocols. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00430118)
Effects of bronchodilators on dynamic hyperinflation following hyperventilation in patients with COPD

Background and objective: The present study was performed to examine the occurrence of dynamic hyperinflation following hyperventilation in COPD patients and former smokers without COPD, and the efficacy of short‐acting anticholinergic agents (SAAC) and β2‐agonists (SABA) for lung hyperinflation following metronome‐paced hyperventilation in COPD.
Effect of Propofol Anesthesia on Baroreflex Activity in Humans

Previous studies have shown that infusions of propofol, a new intravenous anesthetic, were associated with decreased arterial pressure and slow heart rates. To evaluate the role of baroreflex mechanisms in sustaining these conditions, the effects of two infusion rates of propofol (54 and 108 μg·kg−1·min−1) to supplement 66% nitrous oxide in oxygen anesthesia were studied in twelve ASA class 1 patients having a mean age of 34 years. Baroreflex control of heart rate was studied by perturbing the patients' arterial pressure with phenylephrine or sodium nitroprusside. Valsalva maneuvers were used to assess the response of the systemic arterial system. Steady state anesthesia at both infusion rates was not associated with decreased sensitivity of the baroreflex control of heart rate, but resetting of the reflex occurred to allow lower arterial pressures for a given heart rate than in the awake state. During propofol infusions at either rate, the diastolic pressure overshoot normally associated with the relief of raised airway pressure in the Valsalva maneuver was significantly reduced. It is concluded that propofol/nitrous oxide anesthesia is not associated with impairment of baroreflex sensitivity, but that central sympatholytic and/or vagotonic mechanisms enable low heart rates to be sustained despite decreased arterial pressures.
Post 2020 CAP in Poland: An impact analysis

This paper aims to assess the future of CAP reforms after 2020 in Poland. We provide a comparative analysis in which the impact of uniform and coupled support scenarios are assessed and compared against alternative environmental regulation measures. An agricultural supply model AROPAj is used to highlight the difference between scenarios. Coupled support for protein and legume crops reduces inequality between farm groups. Although crop diversification increases, no drastic land use change has been noticed, thereby reducing N-fertiliser use and GHG emissions. Results vary according to regions and the type of farming and economic size.