Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ocular Hypertension and Primary Open‐Angle Glaucoma: A Comparative Study of Their Retrobulbar Blood Flow Velocity

PurposeTo compare the orbital blood flow velocities of patients with longstanding ocular hypertension and patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. MethodsTwenty patients with ocular hypertension were recruited from our clinic and underwent color Doppler imaging evaluation of their retrobulbar vessels. The blood flow velocities and resistance index of their central retinal artery, temporal short posterior ciliary artery, and ophthalmic artery were compared with those of 20 glaucoma patients individually matched for age and level of the highest untreated intraocular pressure ever recorded. ResultsGlaucoma patients had significantly lower peak systolic velocity and end-diastolic velocity than did patients with ocular hypertension in their central retinal artery (p < 0.001). No significant difference between the groups was observed in the other vessels studied. ConclusionsGlaucoma patients had lower blood flow velocity in the central retinal artery compared with that of ocular hypertension patients of similar age and level of untreated intraocular pressure. This might be important in the development of glaucomatous damage in those patients.
Design of GaN and SiC 5–20kV vertical superjunction structures

We report on the design, simulations and optimization of 5-20kV GaN and SiC vertical superjunction structures. The space charge in the GaN and SiC superjunction pillars have been optimized using superjunction p-n diode, and the best trade-off between breakdown voltage (BV) and specific on-resistance (Ron, sp) have been obtained by varying the pillar dosage, length and width.
The Pingding segment of the Altyn Tagh Fault (91°E): Holocene slip-rate determination from cosmogenic radionuclide dating of offset fluvial terraces

Morphochronologic slip-rates on the Altyn Tagh Fault (ATF) along the southern front of the Pingding Shan at 90.5E are determined by cosmogenic radionuclide (CRN) dating of seven offset terraces at two sites. The terraces are defined based upon morphology, elevation and dating, together with fieldwork and high-resolution satellite analysis. The majority of the CRN model ages fall within narrow ranges (<2 ka) on the four main terraces (T1, T2, T3 and T3′), and allow a detailed terrace chronology. Bounds on the terrace ages and offsets of 5 independent terraces yield consistent slip-rate estimates. The long-term slip-rate of 13.9+/-1.1 mm/yr is defined at the 95% confidence level, as the joint rate probability distribution of the rate derived from each independent terrace. It falls within the bounds of all the rates defined on the central Altyn Tagh Fault between the Cherchen He (86.4E) and Akato Tagh (88E) sites. This rate is 10 mm/yr less than the upper rate determined near Tura at 87E, in keeping with the inference of an eastward decreasing rate due to progressive loss of slip to thrusts branching off the fault southwards but it is greater than the 9+/-4 mm/yr rate determined at 90E by GPS surveys and other geodetic short-term rates defined elsewhere along the ATF. Whether such disparate rates will ultimately be reconciled by a better understanding of fault mechanics, resolved transient deformations during the seismic cycle or by more accurate measurements made with either approach remains an important issue.
The cryptic life style of adenoassociated virus

Although 80–90% of adults are seropositive for antibodies against the human parvovirus adeno‐associated virus (AAV), infection has not been associated with either symptoms or disease. In cell culture, AAV infection is not productive unless there is a coinfection with a helper virus, either adenovirus or any type of herpes virus; in the absence of a helper virus coinfection the viral genome is integrated into the genome, usually at a specific site on chromosome 19q13.3‐qter. The integrated genome can be activated and rescued by subsequent super infection by a helper virus. The high frequency of site‐specific integration by AAV and the lack of associated disease have encouraged the use of AAV as a vector for gene therapy. This review will focus on the molecular mechanisms involved in the establishment of, and rescue from, the latent state and their relevance to use of AAV as a vector.
Cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with minimally symptomatic heart failure

Cardiac resynchronization therapy improves mortality and heart failure symptoms in patients with sinus rhythm, depressed left ventricular ejection fraction, a wide QRS complex and moderate-to-severe heart failure symptoms. The results of recent trials suggest that in similar patients with minimal heart failure symptoms cardiac resynchronization therapy is associated with left ventricular reverse remodeling, and may prevent the progression of heart failure.
Smart Tourism Architectural Model (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Case Study)

The researchers have proposed and implemented a general application architecture model that complies with the demands of the Saudi tourism sector to be used by tourists on their mobile devices. The design architecture aims to improve tourism sector opportunities, facilitate tourists’ guidance in the holy and historical places, fill in the shortage of having multilingual tourists’ guides, cut off cost expenses and build up capacities. It can support KSA to be a tourist attraction in the region. The research project employs the usage of the Quick Response (QR) codes and the Information Communication Technology (ICT) which are capable of converting the smart phones into a tourist guide device. This new system can be considered as a Smart Cicerone (S-Cicerone). The research project has a flexible design that allows tourists, guests and administrators to interact easily with the system in order to use its services and perform a regular system update and management. The system design is based on component-based architecture including Tourist Layer services, Smart Tourism System Layer services and the Administration Layer services. The components are divided into further services and smartly integrated to formulate the main application functions. This project is meant to be implemented in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a pilot project and is also valid for implantation in any other countries.
The Tat protein export pathway

The Tat (twin‐arginine translocation) system is a bacterial protein export pathway with the remarkable ability to transport folded proteins across the cytoplasmic membrane. Preproteins are directed to the Tat pathway by signal peptides that bear a characteristic sequence motif, which includes consecutive arginine residues. Here, we review recent progress on the characterization of the Tat system and critically discuss the structure and operation of this major new bacterial protein export pathway.
Fast and Efficient Totally Self-Checking Checkers for m-out-of-(2m &#177; 1) Codes

This note is concerned with the design of fast totally self-checking checkers for m-out-of-(2m ± 1) codes. The new method uses only three levels of gates, and is based on the partitioning of the input lines into m blocks of two lines per block except for the last block. A first level of two-input AND and OR gates realizes the majority functions T(ki ≥ 1) and T(ki ≥ 2). These are combined through AND gates of a second level into the so-called product functions Pj1j2.jm, one for each class of input codewords that have jl, j2,···, jm 1's in the corresponding blocks of the input lines. Finally, two OR gates (third level) partition the product functions into two. The property of totally self-checking operation is achieved through the proper partitioning of the product functions into two classes. This note presents a systematic method of such partitioning. Also, the note determines the cost of these checkers and compares them to previous designs.
Two-scale difference equations II. local regularity, infinite products of matrices and fractals

This paper studies solutions of the functional equation \[ f(x) = \sum_{n = 0}^N {c_n f(kx - n),} \] where $k \geqq 2$ is an integer, and $\sum\nolimits_{n = 0}^N {c_n = k} $. Part I showed that equations of this type have at most one $L^1 $-solution up to a multiplicative constant, which necessarily has compact support in $[0,{N / {k - 1}}]$. This paper gives a time-domain representation for such a function $f(x)$ (if it exists) in terms of infinite products of matrices (that vary as x varies). Sufficient conditions are given on $\{ {c_n } \}$ for a continuous nonzero $L^1 $-solution to exist. Additional conditions sufficient to guarantee $f \in C^r $ are also given. The infinite matrix product representations is used to bound from below the degree of regularity of such an $L^1 $-solution and to estimate the Holder exponent of continuity of the highest-order well-defined derivative of $f(x)$. Such solutions $f(x)$ are often smoother at some points than others. For certain $f(x)$ a hierarchy of fractal se.
Engineering a Selectable Marker for Hyperthermophiles*

Limited thermostability of antibiotic resistance markers has restricted genetic research in the field of extremely thermophilic Archaea and bacteria. In this study, we used directed evolution and selection in the thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus HB27 to find thermostable variants of a bleomycin-binding protein from the mesophilic bacterium Streptoalloteichus hindustanus. In a single selection round, we identified eight clones bearing five types of double mutated genes that provided T. thermophilus transformants with bleomycin resistance at 77 °C, while the wild-type gene could only do so up to 65 °C. Only six different amino acid positions were altered, three of which were glycine residues. All variant proteins were produced in Escherichia coli and analyzed biochemically for thermal stability and functionality at high temperature. A synthetic mutant resistance gene with low GC content was designed that combined four substitutions. The encoded protein showed up to 17 °C increased thermostability and unfolded at 85 °C in the absence of bleomycin, whereas in its presence the protein unfolded at 100 °C. Despite these highly thermophilic properties, this mutant was still able to function normally at mesophilic temperatures in vivo. The mutant protein was co-crystallized with bleomycin, and the structure of the binary complex was determined to a resolution of 1.5 Å. Detailed structural analysis revealed possible molecular mechanisms of thermostabilization and enhanced antibiotic binding, which included the introduction of an intersubunit hydrogen bond network, improved hydrophobic packing of surface indentations, reduction of loop flexibility, and α-helix stabilization. The potential applicability of the thermostable selection marker is discussed.
Percutaneous coronary interventions for coronary artery disease: the long and short of optimizing medical therapy

Atherosclerosis is a dynamic process and timely introduction of pharmacological treatment can have a significant bearing on the patient's health and outcome. In addition to treating the culprit lesion mechanically, admission for percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) for coronary artery disease (CAD) gives an opportunity for the interventional cardiologist to optimize medical therapy. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current medical literature pertaining to cardiovascular (CV) risk reduction and vascular event prevention in the setting of PCI, with emphasis on antiplatelet therapies, β‐blockers, HMG‐Co A reductase inhibitors (statins) and angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors, with regard to therapy optimization during PCI and for chronic CAD. We discuss the effects of these oral therapies in reducing ischaemic events, thus augmenting the benefits of PCI, as well as preventing recurrent CV events after the procedure.
Oxidation-reduction properties of compounds I and II of Arthromyces ramosus peroxidase.

At neutral pH, compound I of Arthromyces ramosus peroxidase (ARP) was stable and was reduced to ferric ARP without apparent formation of compound II upon titration with ascorbate or hydroquinone. In the titration experiments, compound II was seen as an intermediate only at alkaline pH. However, measuring a difference spectrum in the Soret region by a stopped-flow method, we found that compound II was formed during the catalytic oxidation of ascorbate even at neutral pH. Using an EPR spectrometer with a microflow system, we measured the steady-state concentration of benzosemiquinone formed in the ARP-catalyzed oxidation of hydroquinone. The results clearly showed that ARP catalyzes the oxidation of hydroquinone by a one-electron-transfer mechanism, as does horseradish peroxidase. These observations led to the conclusion that compound I is reduced to compound II through a one-electron reduction by ascorbate or hydroquinone. Therefore, we concluded that ARP compound II is unusually unstable and is rapidly reduced to ferric enzyme without accumulation in the titration experiment. The unusual instability of ARP compound II is explained in terms of the high reduction potential of compound II. The reduction potentials (E0') of compounds I and II were measured at several pH values from redox equilibria with potassium hexachloroiridate on the basis of E0' = 0.90 V for the IrCL6(2)-IrCl6(3)- couple. These values were determined to be 0.915 and 0.982 V at pH 7, respectively, and decreased with increasing pH. This pH dependence was markedly changed by the buffer concentration. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Test–retest reliability of the electromyographic fatigue threshold for cycle ergometry

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the intersession reliability of the electromyographic fatigue threshold (EMGFT) for cycle ergometry. Methods: On separate occasions, 10 healthy, college‐aged men performed an incremental test to voluntary exhaustion on a cycle ergometer. The EMG amplitude vs. time relationships for each power output from the quadriceps femoris muscles were analyzed using linear regression. EMGFT was defined operationally as the average of the highest power output that resulted in a non‐significant slope coefficient (P > 0.05) and the lowest power output that resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) positive slope coefficient. The EMGFT values for trials 1 and 2 were used to calculate the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Overall, the reliability of the EMGFT (ICC2,1 = 0.85; 95% confidence interval 0.49–0.96) was in the “excellent” category. Conclusions: The EMGFT for cycle ergometry is a reliable measure for assessing muscular fatigue. Muscle Nerve 53: 803–807, 2016
Efficiency of Plating Media and Enrichment Broths for Isolating Salmonella Species from Human Stool Samples: A Comparison Study

A comparative study was performed to evaluate best practice culture media and enrichment broths for recovering Salmonella species from human stool samples. A total of 1297 human stools were collected and processed in this study. Evaluation of agar media was carried out by direct plating (DP), 1096 stool samples were inoculated on Modified Semisolid Rappaport-Vassiliadis (MSRV), Xylose-Lysine-Deoxycolate (XLD), MacConkey (MAC), and Hektoen Enteric (HE) agars. Evaluation of enrichment broths were carried out by enrichment all 1297 stool samples in Selenite broth (SB), Rappaport-Vassiliadis (RV) broth, and Buffered Peptone Water (BPW), followed by plating on MSRV, MAC, and HE agars. A total of 102 Salmonella-positive stools by DP, 85.3% (87/102) were recovered utilizing MSRV while recovery from XLD, MAC, and HE agars were 34.3% (35/102), 34.3% (35/102), and 29.4% (30/102) respectively. A total 299/1297 stools samples were Salmonella-positive on at least one plating medium after enrichment procedure were 77.3% (177/299) for SB, 86.0% (197/299) and 78.6% (180/299) for RV and BPW respectively. All Salmonella isolated in this study was nontyphi Salmonella. Presently, the data suggest that the use of MSRV over MAC, HE, and XLD agars for isolation nontyphi Salmonella species from human stools is more efficacious. Additionally, use of MSRV in combination with MAC and HE agars following enrichment in RV broth enhances recovery of nontyphi Salmonella species. However, RV broth is inhibitory to typhi Salmonella, thus use of MSRV medium in combination with MAC, HE or XLD agars in direct plating following enrichment in non-selective BPW is an alternate method for recovery of both typhi and nontyphi Salmonella species contaminated in human stool samples.
Human T-cell-porcine endothelial cell interactions induce human Th1 cytokines and porcine activation markers.

BACKGROUND Since the future of clinical transplantation will undoubtedly include xenotransplantation, there is a need to examine human anti-pig cellular reactions. The objective of this study is to use human anti-porcine mixed lymphocyte endothelial cell culture (MLEC) to investigate cell interactions, cross-species molecular compatibilities, and the induction of human cytokines and porcine activation markers. METHODS Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells or enriched CD4+ T cells depleted of professional antigen-presenting cells were cultured with resting pig aortic endothelial cells in the absence of exogenous cytokines. T-cell proliferative responses were measured and PAEC were monitored for cell surface markers by flow cytometry. Culture supernatants were assayed for human TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma by ELISA. RESULTS Human T cells proliferated strongly in response to PAEC (median stimulation index = 75), even in serum-free cultures. High levels of the human Th1 cytokines TNF-alpha (20-350 pg/ml) and IFN-gamma (200-3800 pg/ml) were detected only in cultures containing PAEC, with levels peaking on Day 4. CD4+ T-cell-enriched, APC-depleted responders maintained proliferative anti-PAEC responses and cytokine release. By Day 3, MHC Class II and VCAM expression was induced in 92-96% PAEC: mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) increased from 5 to 83 +/- 12 and 166 +/- 74, respectively, and MHC Class I was increased from MFI 31 to 965 +/- 269. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that MLEC is an excellent in vitro model in which to study human anti-porcine cellular responses. Human T cells are activated in response to direct antigen presentation by PAEC, which are also activated in this system. Specific cytokines, receptors, and adhesion molecules appear to cross the xenograft barrier and play a critical role in T-cell - PAEC interactions. Such interactions are likely to affect VEC activation and immune responses to porcine xenografts in vivo.
Comparison of megakaryopoiesis in vitro of paired peripheral blood progenitor cells and bone marrow harvested during remission in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia

We have studied paired peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) and bone marrow (BM) samples from 12 acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients following intensive chemotherapy, and assessed direct granulocyte–macrophage colony‐forming units (CFU‐GM), erythroid burst‐forming units (BFU‐E), megakaryocyte CFU (CFU‐Mk) numbers and the production of CD61+ (platelet glycoprotein IIIa) cells in suspension culture in response to various haemopoietic growth factor combinations. We found that CFU‐GM and BFU‐E numbers per 105 mononuclear cells were similar in both AML PBPC and BM harvests; CFU‐Mk numbers, however, were significantly higher in PBPC than BM. In addition, the higher total white cell count of the PBPC harvests meant that PBPC have much higher numbers of total progenitors per collection. CD61+ cell numbers in suspension cultures of AML PBPC and BM were lower than those of harvested normal marrow. However, response to pegylated recombinant human megakaryocyte growth and development factor (PEGrHuMGDF) both alone and in combination with other growth factors was qualitatively similar to that of normal BM. As with normal BM, response to PEGrHuMGDF alone did not increase further with addition of granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF), granulocyte–macrophage CSF (GM‐CSF), interleukin 6 (IL‐6) or erythropoietin (EPO) in the AML PBPC and BM. Further responses over PEGrHuMGDF alone were seen when added with stem cell factor (SCF) or with a combination of SCF + IL‐3 + EPO in both AML PBPC and BM cultures; however, the magnitude of the response was greater in the PBPC cultures. Response to PEGrHuMGDF + IL‐3 was seen in the PBPC cultures but not in the AML BM. These data suggest that, in AML patients, there are proportionally more megakaryocyte progenitor cells in the mobilized PBPC than in the BM harvests, which would explain the more rapid platelet recovery following PBPC autografts.
Effect of L-Carnitine Supplementation on Boar Semen Quality

Jacyno E. , A. Kolodziej, M. Kamyczek, M. Kawecka, K. Dziadek, A. Pietruszka: Effect of L-Carnitine Supplementation on Boar Semen Quality. Acta Vet Brno 2007, 76: 595-600. The effect of addition of L-carnitine on boar semen quality was studied in 5 Pietrain boars at age 1.5 - 2.0 years. The boars received 500 mg of L-carnitine per day for 5 weeks. During this period, their ejaculates were collected once a week and evaluated for quality. The control ejaculates had been collected before the application of L-carnitine. It was found that the addition of L-carnitine to the boars’ feed had a positive effect on the quality of boar semen. The total ejaculate volume and sperm-rich fraction volume increased by 11% and 10%, respectively; the total ejaculate sperm count increased by 11.5% (P < 0.05). Also, the number of spermatozoa with major and minor morphological changes decreased and seminal plasma activity of AspAT was significantly reduced ( P < 0.01). Sperm concentration and motility, as well as normal acrosome sperm percentage, did not increase considerably. The positive effect of L-carnitine on boar semen quality was observable as early as after one week of its application.
Activation of Complement by Myelin: Identification of C1‐Binding Proteins of Human Myelin from Central Nervous Tissue

Abstract: Myelin isolated from central nervous tissue activates the classic pathway of complement by directly activating C1. Activation of C1 can proceed to form membrane attack complex, C5b‐9, in the myelin. Such an interaction between myelin and complement may be important in diseases involving myelin damage, in view of the role of complement in membrane attack and inflammation. To identify the C1‐activating protein, myelin was subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) and Western blot. The blots were incubated with C1 or with whole serum complement, followed by immunostaining for C1 or C3, respectively. A duplicate strip was stained with amido black or anti‐myelin antibody to visualize the myelin proteins. The results showed that two major protein bands were capable of activating C1. An approximately 56–58‐kilodalton band comigrated with the W2 protein and an approximately 45–47‐kilodalton band migrated along with, but slightly behind, the W1 Wolfgram doublet.