Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence for functional relevance of an enhanced expression of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger in failing human myocardium.

BACKGROUND The present study aimed at investigating the expression of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger and its functional role in human failing myocardium. METHODS AND RESULTS Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger mRNA and protein levels were examined in nonfailing (NF, n = 8) and failing human myocardium (New York Heart Association functional class IV) with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM, n = 8) or ischemic heart disease (ICM, n = 6). The inotropic effect of the Na+ channel activator BDF 9148 was determined in electrically driven left ventricular papillary muscle strip preparations (1 Hz, 37 degrees C) from nonfailing (n = 8) and failing (n = 8) human hearts. Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger mRNA levels were significantly increased, by 79% (P < .001) in DCM and by 58% (P < .01) in ICM compared with NF; protein levels increased by 36% (P < .001) and by 20% (P < .05), respectively. BDF 9148 increased the force of contraction concentration dependently, with a similar maximal effect in NYHA class IV and NF, but was more potent in NYHA class IV as demonstrated by a significantly smaller (P < .01) EC50 value (NYHA class IV, 0.18 [0.16 to 0.22] mumol/L; NF, 1.65 [1.3 to 3.0] mumol/L). In NYHA class IV, BDF 9148 (0.1 mumol/L) restored the positive force-frequency relationship and reduced the frequency-dependent increase in diastolic tension in relation to force of contraction. CONCLUSIONS The increased expression of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger is a possible explanation for the increased inotropic potency of the Na+ channel activator BDF 9148 in failing human myocardium. The increase in exchanger molecules could be of functional relevance for the modulation of cardiac contractility by agents that increase the intracellular Na+ concentration. Enhancement of Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger activity might be a powerful mechanism for increasing cardiac contractility in chronic heart failure.
Using VISIR in a large undergraduate course: Preliminary assessment results

The use of remote labs in undergraduate courses has been reported in literature several times since the mid 90's. Nevertheless, very few articles present results about the learning gains obtained by students using them, especially with a large number of students, thus suggesting a lack of data concerning their pedagogical effectiveness. This paper addresses such a gap by presenting some preliminary results concerning the use of a remote laboratory, known as VISIR, in a large undergraduate course on Applied Physics, with over 500 students enrolled.
JFC1, a Novel Tandem C2 Domain-containing Protein Associated with the Leukocyte NADPH Oxidase*

We have employed a yeast two-hybrid system to screen a B lymphoblast-derived cDNA library, searching for regulatory components of the NADPH oxidase. Using as bait the C-terminal half of p67 phox , which contains both Src homology 3 domains, we have cloned JFC1, a novel human 62-kDa protein. JFC1 possesses two C2 domains in tandem. The C2A domain shows homology with the C2B domain of synaptotagmins. JFC1 mRNA was abundantly expressed in bone marrow and leukocytes. The expression of JFC1 in neutrophils was restricted to the plasma membrane/secretory vesicle fraction. We confirmed JFC1-p67 phox association by affinity chromatography. JFC1-containing beads pulled down both p67 phox and p47 phox subunits from neutrophil cytosol, but when the recombinant proteins were used, only p67 phox bound to JFC1, indicating that JFC1 binds to the cytosolic complex via p67 phox without affecting the interaction between p67 phox and p47 phox . In contrast to synaptotagmins, JFC1 was unable to bind to inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate but did bind to phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate and to a lesser extent to phosphatidylinositol 3,4-diphosphate. From the data presented here, it is proposed that JFC1 is acting as an adaptor protein between phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase products and the oxidase cytosolic complex.
Cysteine cathepsin non-inhibitory binding partners: modulating intracellular trafficking and function

Abstract Cysteine cathepsins play a fundamental role in tumor growth, invasion and migration, angiogenesis, and the metastatic cascade. Evidence of their overexpression in a wide array of human tumors has been well documented. Cysteine cathepsins seem to have a characteristic location-function relationship that leads to non-traditional roles such as those in development and pathology. For example, during tumor development, some cysteine cathepsins are found not just within lysosomes, but are also redistributed into presumptive exocytic vesicles at the cell periphery, resulting in their secretion. This altered localization contributes to non-lysosomal functions that have been linked to malignant progression. Mechanisms for altered localization are not well understood, but do include the interaction of cysteine cathepsins with binding partners that modulate intracellular trafficking and association with specific regions on the cell surface.
The effects of a pneumatic tourniquet on blood loss in total knee arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVE In lower-extremity surgery there are significant risks associated with the use of tourniquets. This prospective study was done to assess to what extent these risks may be offset by the potential advantages of tourniquets, namely reductions in blood loss, length of hospital stay and complication rates. DESIGN A prospective case study. SETTING A major urban hospital. PATIENTS Sixty-three consecutive patients scheduled for primary cemented total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were blindly randomized into tourniqet (n = 33) and non-tourniquet (n = 30) groups. INTERVENTION TKA during which a pneumatic tourniquet was applied or not applied to control blood loss. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Perioperative blood loss, operating time, complication rates, hospital stay and transfusion needs. RESULTS Differences in the total measured blood loss, intraoperative blood loss and the Hemovac drainage blood loss between the 2 groups were not significantly different (p > 0.25). The calculated total blood loss was actually lower in the non-tourniquet group (p = 0.02). Between the groups there were no statistical differences in surgical time, length of hospital stay, transfusion requirements or rate of complications (although there was a trend to more complications in the tourniquet group (p = 0.06)). CONCLUSION The effectiveness of a pneumatic tourniquet to control blood loss in TKA is questionable.
Leveraging Uncertainty for Effective Malware Mitigation and Software Resilience Improvement

Malware has become sophisticated and organizations don’t have a Plan B when standard lines of defense fail. These failures have devastating consequences for organizations, such as sensitive information being exfiltrated. A promising avenue for improving the effectiveness of behavioral-based malware detectors is to combine fast (usually not highly accurate) traditional machine learning (ML) detectors with high-accuracy, but timeconsuming, deep learning (DL) models. The main idea is to place software receiving borderline classifications by traditional ML methods in an environment where uncertainty is added, while software is analyzed by time-consuming DL models. With this paper, we aim to leverage uncertainties to rate-limit actions of potential malware during deep analysis. We improve Chameleon, an existing Linux-based framework that implements this uncertain environment. Specifically, we design and implement a dynamically changed interference threshold to perturb malware execution, evaluate the results comparing with a static threshold, and analyze on benign software adversely affected by Chameleon. Results showed that Chameleon with a dynamic threshold caused 92% of the malware to fail to accomplish their tasks, and 10% of the benign software to meet with various levels of disruptions. Compared with previous work with a static threshold [1], Chameleon made an improvement with 20% more benign software succeeded and 24% more malware crashed or hampered in the uncertain environment. Chameleon was also capable of reproducing 7 bugs in vim, tar, Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird), from the crashes of these software undergoing non-intrusive interference strategies.
Maximum likelihood estimation of vehicle position for outdoor image sensor-based visible light positioning system

Abstract. Image sensor-based visible light positioning can be applied not only to indoor environments but also to outdoor environments. To determine the performance bounds of the positioning accuracy from the view of statistical optimization for an outdoor image sensor-based visible light positioning system, we analyze and derive the maximum likelihood estimation and corresponding Cramér–Rao lower bounds of vehicle position, under the condition that the observation values of the light-emitting diode (LED) imaging points are affected by white Gaussian noise. For typical parameters of an LED traffic light and in-vehicle camera image sensor, simulation results show that accurate estimates are available, with positioning error generally less than 0.1 m at a communication distance of 30 m between the LED array transmitter and the camera receiver. With the communication distance being constant, the positioning accuracy depends on the number of LEDs used, the focal length of the lens, the pixel size, and the frame rate of the camera receiver.
COMPLEMENTARY EFFECT OF METOCLOPRAMIDE IN THE CONTROL OF VOMITING DUE TO ACUTE VIRAL GASTROENTERITIS IN CHILDREN: A SINGLE- BLIND RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Complementary effect of metoclopramide in the control of Vomiting due to Acute Viral Gastroenteritis in children: A Single-blind Randomized Clinical Trial Parsa Yousefichaijan1, Mojtaba Sharafkhah2*, Fatemeh Motamedi3 1Associate professor, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak/Iran 2Medical student, Students Research Committee, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak/Iran 3Medical student, Students Research Committee, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak/Iran ABSTRACT: Acute gastroenteritis is associated with high mortality in childhood. A complication of the illness is dehydration, which should be well managed. This study aimed to analyze the effect of metoclopramide on the number of vomiting episodes in moderately dehydrated children with acute gastroenteritis. In this single-blinded clinical trial, 240 children of 1 to 7 years old with acute viral gastroenteritis were randomly classified into two groups of serum therapy (control) and metoclopramide (intervention). Children in the serum therapy group received dextrose 5% along with electrolytes management and those in the intervention group were treated with intravenous metoclopramide (0.1 mg/kg) and were subjected to serum therapy as well. The number of vomiting episodes was counted for 4 consecutive days. The obtained data were analyzed by the dispersion, t-student, and χ2 tests. A total of 240 patients participated in the study with 120 patients in each of the control and intervention groups. The mean incidents of vomiting in the intervention group significantly differed with the control group during the days one to four (p-values were 0.21, 0.007, 0.002, and 0.001 for the first to the fourth days, respectively). Metoclopramide can be used to prevent vomiting in children with gastroenteritis. However, to achieve a decisive result, it is recommended to perform further research at other centers and compare it with other conventional antiemetics. Clinical trial registration: This clinical trial was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) with number IRCT201205159766N1 Keywords: Gastroenteritis, Vomiting, Dehydration, Metoclopramide, Child.
Phosphatidylinositol 4 -Kinases de type III hépatiques : implication au cours de l'infection par le virus de l'hépatite C et lien avec le carcinome hépatocellulaire

Le virus de l’hepatite C (VHC) est l’un des principaux facteurs etiologiques du carcinome hepatocellulaire. Le traitement des hepatites virales C a ete recemment ameliore grâce a une tritherapie (interferon, ribavirine et anti-protease virale). Neanmoins l’importance des effets secondaires et l’emergence de mutants resistants necessitent de decouvrir de nouveaux antiviraux. Dans ce contexte, notre equipe a recemment decouvert que les phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases de type III (PI4KIIIα et PI4KIIIβ) etaient indispensables a la propagation du virus dans une lignee hepatique humaine, et ce, a 2 etapes de son cycle biologique : l’entree et la replication. L’objectif du present travail etait de poursuivre la validation de ces nouvelles cibles therapeutiques potentielles, en approfondissant nos connaissances sur la dependance du virus a l’egard de ces kinases au cours de son entree. Pour cela, nous avons utilise le modele des hepatocytes humains primaires, systeme in vitro plus proche du contexte physiologique que les modeles utilises jusqu’a present et qui etaient bases sur l’exploitation de lignees. Deux axes ont ete developpes : Verification de l’importance de l’activite kinase des PI4KIIIs au cours de l’entree du VHC dans les hepatocytes humains primaires, a travers une approche chimique ; Validation de l’implication de ces kinases et de leur activite enzymatique au cours de l’entree virale grâce a une approche genetique basee sur l’ARN interference et la restauration de phenotype. En parallele, nous avons etudie l’expression de PI4KIIIα au cours de pathologies hepatiques. Nos resultats suggerent une implication de PI4KIIIα au cours de l’entree du VHC dans les hepatocytes humains primaires, mais restent a confirmer quant a l’implication de PI4KIIIβ. Par ailleurs, l’analyse de l’expression de PI4KIIIα dans le carcinome hepatocellulaire (CHC) conduit a proposer cette kinase comme un nouveau marqueur moleculaire, qui pourrait ameliorer les modeles de pronostic deja etablis et pourrait conduire au developpement de nouvelles approches therapeutiques pour les patients atteints d’un CHC, quelque soit l’etiologie.
The distribution of selected substances into rat uterine luminal fluid.

The distribution of 3H2O, barbital, tetraethylammonium bromide, α-aminoisobutyric acid, dimethyloxazolidinedione, ouabain, inulin and antipyrine into uterine luminal fluid of the rat was studied to determine whether there were any special transport systems in the endometrium. Radiolabeled compounds were administered intravenously and the amounts of radioactivity in plasma, luminal fluid, uterus and skeletal muscle were determined at various time intervals. The results showed that the distribution of compounds into luminal fluids correlated in a general way with lipid solubility at pH 7.4 and no special transport systems were involved in the transfer of the substances studied. The concentrations of tetraethylammonium bromide or α-aminoisobutyric acid in the uterus were greater than expected for distribution in tissue water, which indicated an interaction or binding with the tissue.
The FET3 Gene Product Required for High Affinity Iron Transport in Yeast Is a Cell Surface Ferroxidase (*)

The yeast FET3 gene is required for high affinity iron transport (Askwith, C., Eide, D., Ho, A. V., Bernard, P. S., Li, L., Davis-Kaplan, S., Sipe, D. M., and Kaplan, J. (1994) Cell 76, 403-410). The gene has extensive sequence homology to the family of multi-copper oxidases. In this communication, we demonstrate that the gene product is a cell surface ferroxidase involved in iron transport. Cells that contain a functional FET3 gene product exhibited an iron-dependent non-mitochondrial increase in oxygen consumption. Comparison of the rate of iron oxidation to O2 consumption yielded an approximate value of 4:1, as predicted for a ferroxidase. Spheroplasts obtained from cells grown under low iron conditions also displayed an iron-dependent increase in O2 consumption. Treatment of spheroplasts with trypsin or affinity-purified antibodies directed against the putative external ferroxidase domain of Fet3 had no effect on basal O2 consumption but inhibited the iron-dependent increase in O2 consumption. Anti-peptide antibodies directed against the cytosolic domain of Fet3 had no effect on O2 consumption. These studies indicate that Fet3 is a plasma membrane ferroxidase required for high affinity iron uptake, in which the ferroxidase-containing domain is localized on the external cell surface.
Yogurt Containing Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri RC-14 Helps Resolve Moderate Diarrhea and Increases CD4 Count in HIV/AIDS Patients

HIV/AIDS is changing the human landscape in sub-Saharan Africa. Relatively few patients receive antiretroviral therapy, and many suffer from debilitating diarrhea that affects their quality of life. Given the track record of probiotics to alleviate diarrhea, conventional yogurt fermented with Lactobacillus delbruekii var bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus was supplemented with probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri RC-14. Twenty-four HIV/AIDS adult female patients (18 to 44 y) with clinical signs of moderate diarrhea, CD4 counts over 200, and not receiving antiretrovirals or dietary supplements, consumed either 100 mL supplemented or unsupplemented yogurt per day for 15 days. Hematologic profiles, CD4 cell counts, and quality of life was evaluated at baseline, 15 and 30 days postprobiotic-yogurt feeding. There was no significant alteration in the hematologic parameters of both groups before and after the probiotic-yogurt feeding. The probiotic yogurt group at baseline, 15 and 30 days had a mean WBC count of 5.8±0.76×109/L, 6.0±1.02×109/L, and 5.4±0.14×109/L, respectively. However, the mean CD4 cell count remained the same or increased at 15 and 30 days in 11/12 probiotic-treated subjects compared to 3/12 in the control. Diarrhea, flatulence, and nausea resolved in 12/12 probiotic-treated subjects within 2 days, compared to 2/12 receiving yogurt for 15 days. This is the first study to show the benefits of probiotic yogurt on quality of life of women in Nigeria with HIV/AIDS, and suggests that perhaps a simple fermented food can provide some relief in the management of the AIDS epidemic in Africa.
TRANSMISION DE PRECIOS ENTRE MERCADOS REGIONALES GANADEROS DE COLOMBIA

Para evaluar la eficiencia de los mercados agrarios regionales se analizo el mecanismo de transmision de precios entre los mismos, utilizando modelos econometricos de series temporales no estacionarias, tales como los modelos de cointegracion y los modelos de correccion del error. Se aporto evidencia empirica sobre la permanencia de relaciones de equilibrio a largo plazo entre los precios de mercados separados geograficamente y se probaron hipotesis relativas a la estructura de esas relaciones. Para medir la magnitud de la transmision a corto plazo se utilizo el analisis de impulso - respuesta generalizada. Como caso de estudio, se analizo el mecanismo de transmision de precios del ganado cebado entre mercados regionales de Colombia. Se concluye que los mercados analizados son eficientes, si bien, la integracion es mayor entre los mercados de origen y destino que entre los mercados de origen entre si y que entre los mercados de destino entre si.
NOBOX Deficiency Disrupts Early Folliculogenesis and Oocyte-Specific Gene Expression

Primordial ovarian follicles in mice form when somatic cells surround individual oocytes. We show that lack of Nobox, an oocyte-specific homeobox gene, accelerates postnatal oocyte loss and abolishes the transition from primordial to growing follicles in mice. Follicles are replaced by fibrous tissue in female mice lacking Nobox in a manner similar to nonsyndromic ovarian failure in women. Genes preferentially expressed in oocytes, including Oct4 and Gdf9, are down-regulated in Nobox–/– mice, whereas ubiquitous genes such as Bmp4, Kit, and Bax remain unaffected. Therefore, Nobox is critical for specifying an oocyte-restricted gene expression pattern essential for postnatal follicle development.
Flexibility of the Lumbar Intervertebral Disc in Bending and Torsion: Experimental and Finite Element Study

Intervertebral disc flexibility is influenced by lifestyle, loading history, trauma, preexisting conditions, age and degeneration. With regard to degeneration, intervertebral discs become less flexible and stiffer. In this study, a testing protocol using bending and torsion loading was developed to gain the flexibility curves and stiffness of ten cadaveric lumbar discs. Measurements of rotation in the sagittal plane (flexion-extension), coronal plane (right-left lateral bending) and transverse plane (torsion) due to a 5 N-m load are reported. Results show that overall normal discs are more flexible and behave in a nonlinear fashion. The testing results were used in a develop finite element model of an intervertebral disc to investigate the stresses and strains in the disc components: annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus with regard to degeneration. Simulation of bending and torsion loadings show large strains in the annulus and nucleus from a normal disc, in contrast higher stresses develop in the annulus from a degenerated disc. The proposed methodology is novel, versatile, functional and economic with implications in bioengineering, medical sciences and the clinical field.