Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Comparability of Bispectral Index and State Entropy Index During Maintenance of Sufentanil-Sevoflurane-Nitrous Oxide Anesthesia

BACKGROUND:Manufacturers recommend maintaining Bispectral (BIS) or Spectral Entropy (State Entropy, SE) indexes between 40 and 60 during the maintenance of anesthesia. We compared these indexes during this period. METHODS:Data were obtained from 58 patients receiving sufentanil-sevoflurane-nitrous oxide anesthesia. The anesthesiologist was blinded to BIS and SE. Artifact-free concurrent BIS and SE values (7792 pairs), automatically recorded at 1-min intervals, were compared using Bland-Altman analysis, Kappa coefficient for agreement and crude proportion of agreement. The occurrence of errors of judgment (Type 1 defined as one parameter <40 and the other >60, or Type 2 defined as BIS and SE values on different sides of a threshold [40 or 60]) was also counted. RESULTS:Bias was −2 with limits of agreement of −18 and 9. Kappa BIS/SE obtained from all patients was 0.537 ± 0.147; crude agreement >0.80 was observed in 45% of patients. Type 1 number of errors of judgment corresponded to two instances. Median and interquartile values of Type 2 number of errors of judgment were 4.5 [3.0–6.0] when considering a difference between BIS and SE more than 5. CONCLUSION:Although limits of agreement between BIS and SE were large, Kappa value moderate, and crude agreement <0.80 in more than half of the patients, making completely contradictory decisions (e.g., deepening the anesthetic based on one parameter and lightening it based upon the other) would have been exceptional. More common would have been a risk of error between no change versus increasing or decreasing anesthetic depth.
Barriers and facilitators to learn and improve through morbidity and mortality conferences: a qualitative study

Objectives To explore barriers and facilitators to successful morbidity and mortality conferences (M&M), driving learning and improvement. Design This is a qualitative study with semistructured interviews. Inductive, thematic content analysis was used to identify barriers and facilitators, which were structured across a pre-existing framework for change in healthcare. Setting Dutch academic surgical department with a long tradition of M&M. Participants An interview sample of surgeons, residents and physician assistants (n=12). Results A total of 57 barriers and facilitators to successful M&M, covering 18 themes, varying from ‘case type’ to ‘leadership’, were perceived by surgical staff. While some factors related to M&M organisation, others concerned individual or social aspects. Eight factors, of which four were at the social level, had simultaneous positive and negative effects (eg, ‘hierarchy’ and ‘team spirit’). Mediating pathways for M&M success were found to relate to available information, staff motivation and realisation processes. Conclusions This study provides leads for improvement of M&M practice, as well as for further research on key elements of successful M&M. Various factors were perceived to affect M&M success, of which many were individual and social rather than organisational factors, affecting information and realisation processes but also staff motivation. Based on these findings, practical recommendations were formulated to guide efforts towards best practices for M&M.
Epilepsy due to neurocysticercosis

We reviewed clinical, EEG, and CT findings of 203 patients with epilepsy due to neurocysticercosis. Seizures were generalized in 121 patients and partial in 82. Thirty-two patients had focal signs and eight had papilledema. Eighty-one had generalized and 16 had focal EEG abnormalities. CT showed parenchymal brain calcifications in 53 patients and cysts in 150. There was an increased rate of focal signs in patients with single cysts as compared with patients with multiple cysts, and focal EEG abnormalities were present only in patients with single cysts. Fifty patients were lost to follow-up. The remaining 153 patients were followed for 28 ± 6 months; of these, 31 had calcifications and 122 had cysts. Anticonvulsants were started after the first visit in every patient. The 31 patients with calcifications remained free of seizures. Ninety-five of the 122 patients with cysts were also treated with anticysticercal drugs; of these, 79 (83%) had control of seizures. In contrast, only seven (26%) of 27 patients who did not receive anticysticercal drugs had control of seizures, indicating a strong correlation between the use of anticysticercal drugs and seizure control. Finally, of the 21 patients in whom anticonvulsants were withdrawn, 16 had relapses.
Dehydroascorbate transport in human chondrocytes is regulated by hypoxia and is a physiologically relevant source of ascorbic acid in the joint.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the dehydroascorbate (DHA) transport mechanisms in human chondrocytes. METHODS The transport of L-(14)C-DHA in human chondrocytes was analyzed under various conditions, including the use of RNA interference (RNAi), to determine the role of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1) and GLUT-3 in L-14C-DHA transport and to evaluate the effects of physiologically relevant oxygen tensions on L-14C-DHA transport. In order to estimate the contributions of reduced ascorbic acid (AA) and DHA to intracellular ascorbic acid (Asc), the quantities of AA and DHA were measured in synovial fluid samples from osteoarthritis (OA) patients and compared with the reported levels in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. RESULTS DHA transport in human chondrocytes was glucose-sensitive, temperature-dependent, cytochalasin B-inhibitable, modestly stereoselective for L-DHA, and up-regulated by low oxygen tension. Based on the RNAi results, GLUT-1 mediated, at least in part, the uptake of DHA, whereas GLUT-3 had a minimal effect on DHA transport. DHA constituted a mean 8% of the total Asc in the synovial fluid of OA joints, in contrast to 80% of the reported total Asc in RA joints. CONCLUSION We provide the first evidence that chondrocytes transport DHA via the GLUTs and that this transport mechanism is modestly selective for L-DHA. In the setting of up-regulated DHA transport at low oxygen tensions, DHA would contribute 26% of the total intracellular Asc in OA chondrocytes and 94% of that in RA chondrocytes. These results demonstrate that DHA is a physiologically relevant source of Asc for chondrocytes, particularly in the setting of an inflammatory arthritis, such as RA.
Performance analysis of inband FD-D2D communications with imperfect SI cancellation for wireless video distribution

Tremendous growing demand for high data rate services is the main driver for increasing traffic in wireless cellular networks. Device-to-Device (D2D) communications have recently been proposed to offload data via direct communications by bypassing cellular base stations (BSs). Such an offloading schemes increase capacity and reduce end-to-end delay in cellular networks and help to serve the dramatically increasing demand for high data rate. In this paper, we aim to analyze inband full- duplex (FD) D2D performance for the wireless video distribution by considering imperfect self-interference (SI) cancellation. Using tools from stochastic geometry, we analyze outage probability and spectral efficiency. Analytic and simulation results are used to demonstrate achievable gain against its half-duplex (HD) counterpart.
Oral administration of D-alanine in monkeys robustly increases plasma and cerebrospinal fluid levels but experimental D-amino acid oxidase inhibitors had minimal effect

Hypofunction of the N-methyl–d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is thought to exacerbate psychosis in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Consistent with this hypothesis, D-alanine, a co-agonist at the glycine site of the NMDA receptor, was shown to improve positive and cognitive symptoms when used as add-on therapy for schizophrenia treatment. However, D-alanine had to be administered at high doses (~7 g) to observe clinical effects. One possible reason for the high dose is that D-alanine could be undergoing oxidation by D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) before it reaches the brain. If this is the case, the dose could be reduced by co-administration of D-alanine with a DAAO inhibitor (DAAOi). Early studies with rodents showed that co-administration of D-alanine with 5-chloro-benzo[d]isoxazol-3-ol (CBIO), a prototype DAAOi, significantly enhanced the levels of extracellular D-alanine in the frontal cortex compared with D-alanine alone. Further, the use of CBIO reduced the dose of D-alanine needed to attenuate prepulse inhibition deficits induced by dizocilpine. The objective of the work reported herein was to confirm the hypothesis that DAAO inhibition can enhance D-alanine exposure in a species closer to humans: non-human primates. We report that while oral D-alanine administration to baboons (10 mg/kg) enhanced D-alanine plasma and CSF levels over 20-fold versus endogenous levels, addition of experimental DAAOi to the regimen exhibited a 2.2-fold enhancement in plasma and no measurable effect on CSF levels. The results provide caution regarding the utility of DAAO inhibition to increase D-amino acid levels as treatment for patients with schizophrenia.
Clinical disease spectrum and pathogenic factors associated with Plesiomonas shigelloides infections in humans.

Plesiomonas shigelloides is a gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic rod whose appropriate taxonomic position is presently under investigation. The isolation and identification of this microorganism in contaminated specimens (e.g., feces) by a clinical laboratory depend on the screening of gram-negative colonies for oxidase and indole positivity and the appropriate use of selective and differential agars. Plesiomonads have been associated with extraintestinal diseases (bacteremia, meningitis) on rare occasions; they have been recovered sporadically from patients presenting with acute gastroenteritis. Although case reports and epidemiologic data support a role for P. shigelloides in diarrheal disease, laboratory investigations have failed to identify an enteropathogenic mechanism in these bacteria consistently or to reveal an animal model that faithfully reproduces the disease. Moreover, studies with volunteers have failed to establish an etiologic relation between Plesiomonas and bacterial gastroenteritis. An accurate picture of the role of this bacterium in human disease must await future studies.
Pseudorapidity and centrality dependence of the collective flow of charged particles in Au+Au collisions at √ s NN = 130 GeV

This paper describes the measurement of collective flow for charged particles in Au + Au collisions at √s N N = 130 GeV using the PHOBOS detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The measured azimuthal hit anisotropy is presented over a wide range of pseudorapidity (- 5.0 < η < 5.3) for the first time at this energy. The result, averaged over momenta and particle species, is observed to reach 7% for peripheral collisions at midrapidity, falling off with centrality and increasing ‖η‖. These results call into question the common assumption of longitudinal boost invariance over a large region of rapidity in RHIC collisions.
Interconversion Kinetic Studies of Betamethasone Acetate Polymorphs in Water

ABSTRACT This study assessed the effect of polymers on the transformation of polymorphs of betamethasone acetate (BA) when suspended in water. The results showed that the polymers, in particular HPMC E5, retarded the transition of the forms Iα and Iβ. However, the form Iα, as the metastable form, with the aid of HPMC E5, was preferred for BA suspension preparation through kinetic studies, while the form Iβ was not suitable due to its instability in water.
Codominant water control on global interannual variability and trends in land surface phenology and greenness

Identifying the relative importance of climatic and other environmental controls on the interannual variability and trends in global land surface phenology and greenness is challenging. Firstly, quantifications of land surface phenology and greenness dynamics are impaired by differences between satellite data sets and phenology detection methods. Secondly, dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) that can be used to diagnose controls still reveal structural limitations and contrasting sensitivities to environmental drivers. Thus, we assessed the performance of a new developed phenology module within the LPJmL (Lund–Potsdam–Jena managed Lands) DGVM with a comprehensive ensemble of three satellite data sets of vegetation greenness and ten phenology detection methods, thereby thoroughly accounting for observational uncertainties. The improved and tested model allows us quantifying the relative importance of environmental controls on interannual variability and trends of land surface phenology and greenness at regional and global scales. We found that start of growing season interannual variability and trends are in addition to cold temperature mainly controlled by incoming radiation and water availability in temperate and boreal forests. Warming‐induced prolongations of the growing season in high latitudes are dampened by a limited availability of light. For peak greenness, interannual variability and trends are dominantly controlled by water availability and land‐use and land‐cover change (LULCC) in all regions. Stronger greening trends in boreal forests of Siberia than in North America are associated with a stronger increase in water availability from melting permafrost soils. Our findings emphasize that in addition to cold temperatures, water availability is a codominant control for start of growing season and peak greenness trends at the global scale.
Protein–DNA binding in high-resolution

Abstract Recent advances in experimental and computational methodologies are enabling ultra-high resolution genome-wide profiles of protein–DNA binding events. For example, the ChIP-exo protocol precisely characterizes protein–DNA cross-linking patterns by combining chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) with 5′ → 3′ exonuclease digestion. Similarly, deeply sequenced chromatin accessibility assays (e.g. DNase-seq and ATAC-seq) enable the detection of protected footprints at protein–DNA binding sites. With these techniques and others, we have the potential to characterize the individual nucleotides that interact with transcription factors, nucleosomes, RNA polymerases and other regulatory proteins in a particular cellular context. In this review, we explain the experimental assays and computational analysis methods that enable high-resolution profiling of protein–DNA binding events. We discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with such approaches.
In-vitro gastric cancer prevention by a polyphenol-rich extract from olives through induction of apoptosis

In recent years, natural dietary agents have drawn a great deal of attention owing to their demonstrated ability to suppress cancer. We aimed to investigate the in-vitro gastric cancer preventive activity of a methanol extract obtained from table olives of Greek origin. Tested were AGS cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis and inhibition of inflammation. AGS stomach cancer cells were cultured at a density of 105 cells/ml. Methanol extract of olive was added to cultures at concentrations of 2.0, 1.6, 1.0, and 0.4 μg phenols/ml. Effect on cellular viability was evaluated via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and percentages of early and late apoptotic cells were assayed by annexin V-FITC staining on a FACS scan. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 mRNA and protein production were measured by applying reverse transcriptase-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Olive extract significantly suppressed cell proliferation at 2.0, 1.6, and 1.0 μg phenols/ml. Flow cytometric analysis of Annexin-V labeled cells indicated that 2.0 μg phenols/ml significantly induced apoptosis. Similarly, at 2.0, 1.6, and 1.0 μg phenols/ml a significant decrease of ICAM-1 and IL-8 protein levels was observed. ICAM-1, as well as IL-8, mRNA expression were decreased in the presence of 2.0 μg phenols/ml. Results indicate that the methanol extract from olives, rich in phenolic compounds, exhibits gastric cancer preventive efficacy by limiting cell proliferation, inducing cell death and suppressing inflammation in AGS cells.
Analysis of serum lipid profile in cholelithiasis patients.

BACKGROUND Gallstone diseases being common disorder, multiple studies have shown an association between gallstones and abnormal lipids. This study is to compare the serum lipid abnormalities in females who have cholelithiasis with controls. METHODS A retrospective study of females who underwent cholecystectomy for gallstone disease was carried out. A total of 133 patients were divided into two age groups ≤ 40 and >40 years. In age group ≤ 40 years, there were 72 cases with no controls, whereas, in >40 years, 61 cases were compared with 67 controls. The serum lipid profile were collected and compared according to the age groups. The groups were compared by using Student's t-test, p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS In age group >40 years serum LDL of gallstone patients were statistically significantly raised (P<0.05) (95% CI -22.077; -850) compared with controls and serum total cholesterol and triglycerides were not statistically significantly high (P >0.05). Serum HDL and VLDL were lower in gallstone patients but not statistically significant (P >0.05) compared to control group. CONCLUSIONS The study showed that serum LDL level was statistically significant in females >40 years of age, whereas other parameters were not statistically significantly different.
Coexistence of Two Different O Demethylation Systems in Lignin Metabolism by Sphingomonas paucimobilis SYK-6: Cloning and Sequencing of the Lignin Biphenyl-Specific O-Demethylase (LigX) Gene

ABSTRACT Sphingomonas paucimobilis SYK-6 can grow on several dimeric model compounds of lignin as a carbon and energy source. It has O demethylation systems on three kinds of substrates: 5,5′-dehydrodivanillic acid (DDVA), syringate, and vanillate. We previously reported the cloning of a gene involved in the tetrahydrofolate-dependent O demethylation of syringate and vanillate. In the study reported here, we cloned the gene responsible for DDVA O demethylation. Using nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis, a mutant strain, NT-1, which could not degrade DDVA but could degrade syringate and vanillate, was isolated and was used to clone the gene responsible for the O demethylation of DDVA by complementation. Sequencing analysis showed an open reading frame (designatedligX) of 1,266 bp in this fragment. The deduced amino acid sequence of LigX had similarity to class I type oxygenases. LigX was involved in O demethylation activity on DDVA but not on vanillate and syringate. DDVA O demethylation activity in S. paucimobilisSYK-6 cell extracts was inhibited by addition of the LigX polyclonal antiserum. Thus, LigX is an essential enzyme for DDVA O demethylation in SYK-6. S. paucimobilis SYK-6 has two O demethylation systems: one is an oxygenative demethylase system, and the other is a tetrahydrofolate-dependent methyltransferase system.
Current Loop Control with Admittance Compensation for a Single-Phase Grid-Tie Fuel Cell Power Conditioning System

Current loop transfer function of a single-phase grid-tie inverter has been systematically derived with representations of conventional transfer function format and admittance terms for the sake of controller design and feed-forward compensation. A 5 kW grid-tie fuel cell power conditioning system (PCS) example is used in paper to show current loop controller design and admittance compensation technique. A second order lead-lag compensator is proposed to avoid low stability margin while maintaining sufficient gain at the fundamental frequency. The proposed current loop controller and admittance compensation have been simulated, and the same parameters have been used for a DSP-based PCS inverter controller. Simulation results indicate that without the admittance path compensation, the duty cycle of the current loop controller is largely offset by the admittance path. At light load settings, the power flow may be erratically fed back to the inverter that can cause dc bus over voltage and subsequently a catastrophe failure. With admittance path compensation and the designed lead-lag compensator, the output power shows a steady-state offset that coincidently is required by the fuel cell. Experimental results well matched the mathematical design and simulation results.
Design, Analysis and Experimental Testing of BPSK Homodyne Receivers Based on Subcarrier Optical Phase-Locked Loop

The analysis of a subcarrier optical phase-locked loop (SC-OPLL) is carried out in order to optimize phase-locking performance. A new parameters optimization procedure, useful for OPLL design, is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally. An SC-OPLL based on this procedure has been realized, so a pilot carrier SC-OPLL and a nonlinear SC-OPLL optical receiver have been experimentally constructed and tested. An 8B/10B line coding is employed for pilot carrier SC-OPLL receiver in order to improve performance and a new architecture of decision-driven PLL is experimentally demonstrated.
A mutation in a single gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe affects the expression of several snRNAs and causes defects in RNA processing.

A bank of temperature sensitive (ts‐) mutants of Schizosaccharomyces pombe was screened for snRNA expression mutants using an oligodeoxynucleotide that recognizes U2 RNA. One mutant with a novel phenotype was identified that has reduced steady‐state levels of the spliceosomal snRNAs U1, U2, U4, U5 and U6. In addition, the mutant exhibits a temperature‐dependent accumulation of aberrant U2 and U4 transcripts elongated at their 3′ end. The steady‐state concentration of the RNA component of RNase P is also reduced in the mutant, whereas the amount of U3 RNA, 7SL RNA, tRNA, rRNA and mRNA are the same as wild‐type. Pre‐mRNA, pre‐tRNA and U6 RNA precursor processing are impaired in the mutant. Genetic analysis demonstrates that the snRNA defects are tightly linked to the ts‐ growth defect and are recessive. We have named this mutant snm1 to indicate a defect in snRNA maintenance. The data on snm1 suggest that a single trans‐acting factor is essential for the maintenance of steady‐state levels of several snRNAs and for proper 3′ end formation of U2 and U4 RNAs.
Aluminum-Induced Genes (Induction by Toxic Metals, Low Calcium, and Wounding and Pattern of Expression in Root Tips)

We have investigated the response of four Al-induced genes (wali1, -3, -4, and -5) from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to other stresses. The relative transcript levels of wali1 (encoding a plant metallothionein-like protein), wali3 and wali5 (putative Bowman-Birk proteinase inhibitors), and wali4 (phenylalanine ammonialyase) increased in root tips of wheat after 2-d treatments with toxic levels of all other metals tested (Cd, Fe, Zn, Cu, Ga, In, and La). The expression levels of wali1, -3, -4, and -5 also increased in the root tips of plants grown in the presence of low levels of Ca (10[mu]M). The transcript levels of wali1, -3, and -5 increased in wounded leaf and root tissue, whereas the transcript levels of wali4 increased only in wounded leaves. The site of expression of wali1, -3, and -5 in root tips was identified using in situ hybridization. wali1 was expressed predominantly in the meristematic tissue of the root tip, whereas wali3 and wali5 were expressed predominantly in the cortical tissue of the root. Some changes in the site of expression of these genes were evident in the roots of Al-treated plants.