Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect modification of aortic atheroma on the prognostic value of heart rate in hypertension

Background: Although some epidemiological studies have advocated a prognostic value of heart rate (HR) in hypertensive patients, the influence of vascular damages on this prognostic value has not been tested yet. Methods: HRs were collected by pulse palpation in 1204 primary hypertensive patients in sinus rhythm without cardiac-slowing drugs. Aortic damages were assessed by aortography, whereas cardiac disease was assessed by medical history, symptoms and electrocardiogram. Results: In a multivariable Cox model adjusted for major confounders, HR was of prognostic significance for all-cause [hazard ratio 1.12 (1.06–1.19) for 10 bpm increment and 1.39 (1.18–1.64) for HR ≥82 vs. <82 bpm] and cardiovascular death [hazard ratio 1.10 (1.02–1.20) for 10 bpm increment and 1.37 (1.09–1.72) for HR ≥82 vs. <82 bpm] after 35 years of follow-up. This association was particularly manifested at 15 years of follow-up. At that time, with the same multivariable survival model, the association between HR and cardiovascular death was stronger in patients with aortic atheroma [2.76 (1.47–5.18) for an HR ≥82 vs. <82 bpm] than in patients without [hazard ratio 1.36 (0.76–2.43) for an HR ≥82 vs. <82 bpm, P for interaction = 0.054]. Similarly, the association between HR and cardiovascular death was stronger in patients with an overt cardiac disease than those without (P for interaction = 0.044). Conclusion: In hypertensive patients, the prognostic significance of HR for cardiovascular outcome is modulated by the presence of aortic atherosclerosis or cardiac disease. This should prompt us to a thorough examination of cardiovascular damages in hypertensive patients when HR is elevated.
Size Ratio: A Morphological Factor Predictive of the Rupture of Cerebral Aneurysm?

Background: Determining factors predictive of the natural risk of rupture of cerebral aneurysms is difficult. We studied morphological factors associated with rupture in a study model of patients with mirror location intracranial aneurysms, one aneurysm that had ruptured and one that had not, each patient served as their own control attempting to eliminate confounding variables. Methods: We collected five one-dimensional measurements and four two-dimensional indices from three-dimensional rotational digital subtraction angiography images of patients in the proposed study model and explored their correlation with aneurysm rupture. Parameters were analyzed with a paired Student's t test for significance and significant parameters were further examined by multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis. Results: Fifty-two patients with 52 pairs of intracranial aneurysms in a mirror location were studied. The maximum perpendicular height, neck diameter, maximum width, maximum height, aspect ratio, size ratio, and bottleneck factor were significantly associated with ruptured aneurysms on bivariate analysis. A logistic regression analysis showed that only size ratio, which was defined as the ratio of the maximal height to parent artery average diameter, is independently correlated with ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Conclusions: In a case-control study of patients with mirror location intracranial aneurysms, size ratio was identified as the unique morphological factor associate with the rupture of cerebral aneurysms.
Changes in glutathione redox cycle during diapause determination and termination in the bivoltine silkworm, Bombyx mori

To explore whether glutathione regulates diapause determination and termination in the bivoltine silkworm Bombyx mori, we monitored the changes in glutathione redox cycle in the ovary of both diapause‐ and nondiapause‐egg producers, as well as those in diapause eggs incubated at different temperatures. The activity of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) was detected in ovaries but not in eggs, while neither ovaries nor eggs showed activity of glutathione peroxidase. A lower reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio was observed in the ovary of diapause‐egg producers, due to weaker reduction of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) to the reduced glutathione (GSH) catalyzed by glutathione reductase (GR) and TrxR. This indicates an oxidative shift in the glutathione redox cycle during diapause determination. Compared with the 25°C‐treated diapause eggs, the 5°C‐treated diapause eggs showed lower GSH/GSSG ratio, a result of stronger oxidation of GSH catalyzed by thioredoxin peroxidase and weaker reduction of GSSG catalyzed by GR. Our study demonstrated the important regulatory role of glutathione in diapause determination and termination of the bivoltine silkworm.
The nucleosomal core histone octamer at 3.1 A resolution: a tripartite protein assembly and a left-handed superhelix.

The structure of the octameric histone core of the nucleosome has been determined by x-ray crystallography to a resolution of 3.1 A. The histone octamer is a tripartite assembly in which a centrally located (H3-H4)2 tetramer is flanked by two H2A-H2B dimers. It has a complex outer surface; depending on the perspective, the structure appears as a wedge or as a flat disk. The disk represents the planar projection of a left-handed proteinaceous superhelix with approximately 28 A pitch. The diameter of the particle is 65 A and the length is 60 A at its maximum and approximately 10 A at its minimum extension; these dimensions are in agreement with those reported earlier by Klug et al. [Klug, A. , Rhodes, D. , Smith, J., Finch, J. T. & Thomas, J. O. (1980) Nature (London) 287, 509-516]. The folded histone chains are elongated rather than globular and are assembled in a characteristic "handshake" motif. The individual polypeptides share a common central structural element of the helix-loop-helix type, which we name the histone fold.
Perturbation model for light propagation through diffusive layered media

A fast and novel perturbation approach is proposed to account for the effects of absorbing inhomogeneities on light propagation through layered media. The calculation has been implemented with the Born approximation. Examples of results are reported both for a two- and for a three-layered medium. The method presented has been validated with the results of Monte Carlo simulations. The forward solver presented in this paper can be of significant use in investigating the feasibility of real experiments, e.g. for functional imaging studies.
Effects of BDNF and NT‐4/5 on Striatonigral Neuropeptides or Nigral GABA Neurons In Vivo

Supranigral infusions of the TrkB‐receptor‐preferring neurotrophins BDNF or NT‐4/5 augment locomotor behaviours, pars compacta firing rates and striatal dopamine metabolism. However these actions of BDNF or NT‐4/5 may involve other neurotransmitter systems in addition to dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra. We thus investigated the effects of 2‐week supranigral infusions of BDNF or NT‐4/5 on rat peptidergic striatonigral neurons and nigral GABAergic neurons. Radioimmunoassay revealed that BDNF and NT‐4/5 elevated substantia nigra levels of substance P (by 46 and 57% respectively) and substance K (by 64 and 81%). In addition, BDNF elevated substance K by 59% in a nigral projection area, the superior colliculus. NT‐4/5 elevated dynorphin A in the substantia nigra (by 52%) and met‐enkephalin in substantia nigra and globus pallidus (by 89%). None of these neuropeptides were altered in the striatum. Consistent with these findings, supranigral infusions of BDNF elevated the mRNA for preprotachykinin A in striatal neurons. In the same animals, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)67 mRNA was increased by 48% in the substantia nigra. The cross‐sectional area of GAD67‐positive neuronal somata in the BDNF‐infused nigra was increased by 59%, and 70% of nigral GABAergic neurons had a cross‐sectional area >550 μm2, whereas 95% of the neurons in vehicle‐infused animals had cross‐sectional areas <550 μm2. Thus, supranigral infusions of BDNF or NT‐4/5 increase tachykinin mRNA and protein levels within striatonigral neurons and increase the size and GAD67 mRNA expression levels of nigral GABAergic neurons. These results suggest that BDNF or NT‐4/5 may modify the output of the basal ganglia not only through effects on dopamine neurons but also by increasing neurotransmission in striatonigral peptidergic and nigral GABAergic pathways.
MYO1F as a candidate gene for nonsyndromic deafness, DFNB15.

BACKGROUND Earlier studies have mapped the autosomal recessive nonsyndromic deafness locus, DFNB15, to chromosomes 3q21.3-q25.2 and 19p13.3-13.1, identifying one of these chromosomal regions (or possibly both) as the site of a deafness-causing gene. Mutations in unconventional myosins cause deafness in mice and humans. One unconventional myosin, myosin 1F (MYO1F), is expressed in the cochlea and maps to chromosome 19p13.3-13.2. OBJECTIVE To evaluate MYO1F as a candidate gene for deafness at the DFNB15 locus by determining its genomic structure and screening each exon for deafness-causing mutations to identify possible allele variants of MYO1F segregating in the DFNB15 family. METHODS We used radiation hybrid mapping to localize MYO1F on chromosome arm 19p. We next determined its genomic structure using multiple long-range polymerase chain reaction experiments. Using these data, we completed mutation screening using single-stranded conformational polymorphism analysis and direct sequencing of affected and nonaffected persons in the original DFNB15 family. RESULTS Radiation hybrid mapping placed MYO1F in the DFNB15 interval, establishing it as a positional candidate gene. Its genomic structure consists of 24 coding exons. No mutations or genomic rearrangements were found in the original DFNB15 family, making it unlikely that MYO1F is the disease-causing gene in this kindred. CONCLUSIONS Although we did not find MYO1F allele variants in one family with autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss, the gene remains an excellent candidate for hereditary hearing impairment. Given its wide tissue expression, MYO1F might cause syndromic deafness.
Infantile Onset of Hereditary Ascending Spastic Paralysis With Bulbar Involvement

Primary lateral sclerosis and hereditary spastic paraparesis are both rare neurodegenerative disorders characterized by progressive weakness and spasticity of the lower limbs, with involvement of the corticospinal tracts and sparing of anterior horn cells. We describe a consanguineous family in which three sons developed progressive paralysis of the lower extremities in infancy with subsequent involvement of the upper extremities and bulbar muscles but cognitive sparing. This family presents the nosologic difficulty of distinguishing between hereditary spastic paraparesis and primary lateral sclerosis. We suggest that the diagnosis in this family is hereditary primary lateral sclerosis. This is the first instance of familial occurrence of primary lateral sclerosis.
Periinfarct and Remote Excitability Changes after Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion

Transient middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion results in substantially smaller cortical infarcts than permanent MCA occlusion if reperfusion is initiated within the first few hours. Only little information is available on the long-term functional outcome of the cortical regions “salvaged” by early reperfusion. To address this issue we examined basic electrophysiologic parameters in vitro using standard extracellular recording techniques at 7 and 28 days after transient MCA occlusion (1- and 2-hour ischemia) in rats. Both neocortical areas ipsi- and contralateral to MCA occlusion were systematically mapped to delineate the extent of periinfarct and remote alterations. In the periinfarct region we found a significant reduction of field potential amplitudes up to 3 mm when measuring from the infarct border at 7 days and up to 7 mm at 28 days. Paired-pulse inhibition, an indicator of GABAergic transmission, was only moderately impaired in this region at 7 days and not significantly different from control at 28 days. Remote effects were observed both ipsi- and contralaterally. Ipsilaterally they were restricted to a region close to the midline (presumably motor cortex) and were most likely attributable to the degeneration of corticostriatal connections. The extent of the contralateral excitability changes was clearly related to the size of the neocortical infarcts with large infarcts resulting in the widespread reduction of field potential amplitudes and an impairment of paired-pulse inhibition. The results show that there is a relatively large periinfarct region with decreased overall excitability after transient MCA occlusion which is likely to have a profound effect on perilesional processes involved in functional recovery. Remote excitability changes may contribute to the functional deficit and are probably related to deafferentation.
Efficacy of telavancin against glycopeptide-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus in the neutropenic mouse bacteraemia model.

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to compare the efficacies of telavancin and vancomycin against glycopeptide-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (GISA) and heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (hVISA) in a neutropenic murine bacteraemia model. METHODS Immunocompromised mice (female non-Swiss albino, 18-30 g) were inoculated intraperitoneally with 10(7) cfu/mL of GISA (strain HIP-5836 or Mu50) or hVISA (strain Mu3). Infected mice received a subcutaneous dose of telavancin (40 mg/kg) or vancomycin (110 mg/kg) at 4 and 16 h post-inoculation. Control animals received a subcutaneous dose of vehicle at 4 h post-inoculation only. Blood and spleen bacterial titres were quantified in drug-treated mice at 16, 28 and 52 h post-inoculation. RESULTS Telavancin was 8-fold more potent than vancomycin against HIP-5836 (MIC 1 versus 8 mg/L), 16-fold more potent against Mu50 (MIC 0.5 versus 8 mg/L) and 8-fold more potent against Mu3 (MIC 0.25 versus 2 mg/L). Telavancin produced significant (P < 0.05) and sustained reductions in blood and spleen titres from pre-treatment levels in mice infected with HIP-5836, Mu50 or Mu3. Vancomycin lowered blood and spleen HIP-5836 counts transiently, but did not lower blood or spleen Mu50 or Mu3 counts significantly at any timepoint. Reductions in blood and spleen HIP-5836 and Mu3 titres and in spleen Mu50 titres at 52 h post-inoculation were significantly greater with telavancin than vancomycin (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Telavancin was more efficacious than vancomycin in clearing infections caused by GISA strains HIP-5836 and Mu50 and hVISA strain Mu3 in a neutropenic mouse bacteraemia model. Further evaluation of telavancin for GISA and hVISA bacteraemia is warranted.
Modeling and Implementation of Incentive Interruptible Load Contracts in Electricity Markets

Interruptible load contract is an effective tool to evade the risk of market price of power companies in electricity market. Based on the mechanism design theory, this paper develops an incentive interruptible load contract model for discrete customer types, which takes risk preference of power companies into account. The proposed model will lead customers to voluntarily reveal their true customer types, and choose the right contracts. A numerical example is presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed model.
Second Acyl Homoserine Lactone Production System in the Extreme Acidophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

ABSTRACT The acidophilic proteobacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is involved in the industrial biorecovery of copper. It is found in acidic environments in biofilms and is important in the biogeochemical cycling of metals and nutrients. Its genome contains a cluster of four genes, glyQ, glysS, gph, and act, that are predicted to encode the α and β subunits of glycine tRNA synthetase, a phosphatase, and an acyltransferase, respectively (GenBank accession no. DQ149607). act, cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, produces acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) principally of chain length C14 according to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry measurements. The AHLs have biological activity as shown by in vivo studies using the reporter strain Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm41 SinI−. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) experiments indicate that the four genes are expressed as a single transcript, demonstrating that they constitute an operon. According to semiquantitative RT-PCR results, act is expressed more highly when A. ferrooxidans is grown in medium containing iron than when it is grown in medium containing sulfur. Since AHLs are important intercellular signaling molecules used by many bacteria to monitor their population density in quorum-sensing control of gene expression, this result suggests that A. ferrooxidans has two quorum-sensing systems, one based on Act, as described herein, and the other based on a Lux-like quorum-sensing system, reported previously. The latter system was shown to be upregulated in A. ferrooxidans grown in sulfur medium, suggesting that the two quorum-sensing systems respond to different environmental signals that may be related to their abilities to colonize and use different solid sulfur- and iron-containing minerals.
Embedding of Optical Interconnections in Flexible Electronics

This paper describes the development of a flexible substrate or foil in which optical waveguides, light sources, detectors, and electronic circuitry are embedded. The generic technology offers an integrated solution to the increasing demand for flexible optical sensors and creates a technology platform for the establishment of flexible high-speed optical data connections, based on optical wave guiding layers. Patterning of the optical waveguiding is done using both a standard photolithography process and laser ablation. The resulting opto-electrical foil shows very good flexible behavior and low optical propagation and bending losses.
Association between the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and prehypertension.

OBJECTIVES To explore the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with prehypertension (PHT). BACKGROUND Inflammation plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular diseases. A pathophysiological link also exists between inflammation and PHT. NLR is a simple marker for the assessment of inflammatory status. There is a lack of data regarding the association between NLR and pre-hypertensive state. METHODS The present cross-sectional study included 33 newly diagnosed PHT patients and 35 normotensive control subjects. Prehypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure (BP) of 120-139 mm Hg and/or a diastolic BP of 80-89 mm Hg. RESULTS Patients were divided into tertiles based on NLR values: 1.17 (0.9-1.42) in tertile 1; 1.57 (1.43-1.78) in tertile 2; and 2.40 (1.82-4.5) in tertile 3. The frequency of PHT was significantly higher for patients in the upper NLR tertile compared to the middle and lower NLR tertiles (21 (91.3%), 7 (30.4%), and 5 (22.7%), respectively; p<0.001). Systolic BP and diastolic BP were significantly higher among patients in the upper NLR tertile than among those in the other NLR tertiles. CONCLUSION An association exists between PHT and NLR. NLR measurement, as well as monocyte count, may be used to indicate increased risk of prehypertension (Tab. 2, Ref. 48).
The role of intestinal dendritic cells subsets in the establishment of food allergy

Cite this as: J. J. Smit, M. Bol‐Schoenmakers, I. Hassing, D. Fiechter, L. Boon, R. Bleumink and R. H. H. Pieters, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 890–898.
Measuring North Carolina Pharmacists’ Support for Expanded Authority to Administer Human Papillomavirus Vaccines

Purpose: To assess North Carolina pharmacists’ level of support for expanded authority to administer human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to identify concerns/benefits about expanded authority and to understand what factors predict support for expanded authority. Method: A 16-item electronic survey was e-mailed to all the pharmacists registered with the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy (n = 9502) between January and February 2011 (1600 pharmacists responded). The survey assessed HPV knowledge, level of support for expanded authority, and comfort level of HPV vaccine administration. Results: Many (64%) pharmacists were supportive of a rule change/legislation that would authorize pharmacists to administer HPV vaccines. Younger pharmacists were more supportive of expansion when compared to older pharmacists (r = −.138, P < .001). Pharmacists with higher knowledge scores were more supportive of expansion (r = .223, P < .001). Reporting a higher level of comfort in administering HPV vaccines at their pharmacy was significantly and positively correlated with higher level of support for expansion (r = .624, P < .001). In the multivariate analysis, HPV knowledge, comfort level in administering vaccine, patient age, and type of pharmacy were all predictive of higher level of support for expanded authority where employed. Conclusion: A large proportion of pharmacists were supportive of an expanded role in providing HPV vaccines. Exploring alternate delivery mechanisms like this one is advantageous.
Amphetamine‐induced hyperlocomotion in rats: Hippocampal modulation of the nucleus accumbens

Using lesions and infusions, the present study investigated the way in which and the extent to which the ventral hippocampus (vHIP) modulates amphetamine‐induced hyperactivity in rats. Rats were lesioned (excitotoxic or sham) in the vHIP or were implanted with cannulae for subsequent infusions. A high dose (12.5 μg/μl) of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) was used to make excitotoxic lesions and a low dose (0.5 μg/μl) of NMDA to cause activation of the hippocampus. Lidocaine was used to inactivate the hippocampus. Lidocaine or a low dose of NMDA was infused into the vHIP in combination with either systemic injection or intra‐accumbens infusions of amphetamine. The effects of these treatments on locomotor activity were measured by distance traveled in 10‐min intervals for 40–60 min. Lesions and deactivation of the hippocampus attenuated amphetamine‐induced hyperlocomotion, compared to the controls. Stimulation of the hippocampus augmented amphetamine‐induced hyperlocomotion. The present findings provide evidence that the hippocampus exerts excitatory modulation on the expression of behavioral excitation produced by amphetamine, likely via the nucleus accumbens. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.