Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MRI artifacts in human brain tissue after prolonged formalin storage

For the interpretation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities in brain pathology, often ex vivo tissue is used. The purpose of this study was to determine the pathological substrate of several distinct forms of MR hypointensities that were found in formalin‐fixed brain tissue with amyloid‐beta deposits. Samples of brain cortex were scanned using effective transverse relaxation time‐weighted protocols at several resolutions on a 9.4 T MRI scanner. High resolution MRI showed large coarse hypointensities throughout the cortical gray and white matter, corresponding to macroscopic discolorations and microscopic circumscribed areas of granular basophilic neuropil changes, without any further specific tissue reactions or amyloid‐beta related pathology. These coarse MRI hypointensities were identified as localized areas of absent neuropil replaced by membrane/myelin sheath remnants using electron microscopy. Interestingly, the presence/absence of these tissue alterations was not related to amyloid deposits, but strongly correlated to the fixation time of the samples in unrefreshed formalin. These findings show that prolonged storaged of formalin fixed brain tissue results in subtle histology artifacts, which show on MRI as hypointensities that on first appearance are indistinguishable from genuine brain pathology. This indicates that postmortem MRI should be interpreted with caution, especially if the history of tissue preservation is not fully known. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mitochondria in Steatohepatitis

For the first time in history, populations in affluent countries may concomitantly indulge in rich food and physical idleness. Various combinations of obesity, diabetes, and hypertriglyceridemia, with insulin resistance as the common feature, cause hepatic steatosis, which can trigger necroinflammation and fibrosis. Patients with "primary" steatohepatitis exhibit ultrastructural mitochondrial lesions, decreased activity of respiratory chain complexes, and have impaired ability to resynthesize ATP after a fructose challenge. Mitochondria play a major role in fat oxidation and energy production but also leak reactive oxygen species (ROS) and are the main cellular source of ROS. In patients with steatosis, mitochondrial ROS may oxidize hepatic fat deposits, as suggested in animal models. Lipid peroxidation products impair the flow of electrons along the respiratory chain, which may cause overreduction of respiratory chain components, further increasing mitochondrial ROS formation and lipid peroxidation. Another vicious circle could involve ROS-induced depletion of antioxidants, impairing ROS inactivation. Blood vitamin E is decreased in some obese children with steatohepatitis, and serum transaminases improve after vitamin E supplementation. Steatohepatitis is also caused by alcohol abuse, drugs, and other causes. In "secondary" steatohepatitis, mitochondrial ROS formation is further increased as the causative disease itself directly increases ROS or first impairs respiration, which secondarily increases mitochondrial ROS formation. This "second hit" could cause more lipid peroxidation, cytokine induction, Fas ligand induction, and fibrogenesis than in primary steatohepatitis.
Factors affecting amino acids in blood of dairy cows.

Abstract Concentrations of amino acids in blood plasma were studied in two experiments with lactating Holstein cows. In Experiment 1, 30 cows were allotted to five treatments varying in protein percent and source. Cows were bled during wk 4 and 9 of treatment at 0, 2, and 5h after feeding. In Experiment 2, 68 cows were assigned to four rations. One contained 12.5% crude protein from natural sources and another 16.0%. Two other rations contained 16.0% crude protein (12.2% natural and 3.8% from nonprotein nitrogen). Blood was collected at 42 days postpartum 2 to 3h after feeding. Seven cows from each treatment also were sampled 14 days prepartum and 126 days postpartum. Cows fed 9.3% crude protein had lower branched-chain amino acids and higher glycine in plasma than those fed 13 to 14%. High yielding cows in mid-lactation (140 to 220 days) showed decreased branched-chain amino acids and increased glycine in plasma compared to low yielders. Production did not alter amino acids in early lactation (42 days). Several significant changes in amino acids of plasma were related to stage of lactation, but groups of acids did not follow consistent patterns. Samplings 2h after feeding had lower branched-chain and aromatic amino acids than samplings at 5h. Ratios of essential to nonessential amino acids were depressed by rations of low natural protein, by high milk production in early lactation, and in samples taken 2h postfeeding. Estimates of minimum blood flow to the mammary gland needed for output of amino acids in milk identified methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, and lysine (in that order) as those in lowest supply. Ratios of essential amino acids of plasma to milk also suggested limited availability of these amino acids.
Exercise, free radical generation and vitamins

Physical activity raises oxygen demand by many fold, causing a parallel increase in the formation of oxygen radical species. Vitamins are concerned with either energy metabolism or free radical scavenging. This review outlines the possible damage to cell structures following strenuous exercise and the role of vitamins as part of natural anti-oxidant defence systems. A brief discussion is included on the relationship between physical activity, the immune system and cancer.
Evaluating the Shariah-Compliance of Equity Portfolios: The Weighting Method Matters

The choice of weighting method in constructing an equity portfolio affects not only the financial performance, but also its Shariah-compliance. We show how the implicit bets in market capitalization, fundamental value, equal and low risk weights can affect the individual's perception of Shariah compliance of the financial portfolio. For the universe of Shariah-compliant S&P 500 stocks over the period 1986–2014, we find that the risk-adjusted performance is improved when using the alternative weighting methods compared with the traditional use of market capitalization weighting. The choice of weighting method matters for the Shariah-compliant equity investor, both in terms of compliance with the primary objectives of Shariah investing and in terms of the secondary objective of optimizing the financial performance of the portfolio.
CMOS Logic Device and Circuit Performance of Si Gate All Around Nanowire MOSFET

In this paper, a detailed 3-D numerical analysis is carried out to study and evaluate CMOS logic device and circuit performance of gate-all-around (GAA) Si nanowire (NW) field-effect transistors (FETs) operating in sub-22-nm CMOS technologies. Employing a coupled drift-diffusion room temperature carrier transport formulation, with 2-D quantum confinement effects, we numerically simulate Si GAA NWFET electrical characteristics. The simulation predictions, on the device performance, short channel effects, and their dependence on NW geometry scaling, are in good agreement with the Si NWFET experimental data reported in literature. Superior electrostatic integrity, OFF-state device performance, lower circuit delays, and faster switching in the Si GAA NWFET-based CMOS circuits are numerically demonstrated in comparison with an Si-on-insulator FinFET. The mixed-mode numerical simulations also predict low supply voltage operations for the Si NWFET-based logic circuits.
Rules of UGA-N decoding by near-cognate tRNAs and analysis of readthrough on short uORFs in yeast

The molecular mechanism of stop codon recognition by the release factor eRF1 in complex with eRF3 has been described in great detail; however, our understanding of what determines the difference in termination efficiencies among various stop codon tetranucleotides and how near-cognate (nc) tRNAs recode stop codons during programmed readthrough in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is still poor. Here, we show that UGA-C as the only tetranucleotide of all four possible combinations dramatically exacerbated the readthrough phenotype of the stop codon recognition-deficient mutants in eRF1. Since the same is true also for UAA-C and UAG-C, we propose that the exceptionally high readthrough levels that all three stop codons display when followed by cytosine are partially caused by the compromised sampling ability of eRF1, which specifically senses cytosine at the +4 position. The difference in termination efficiencies among the remaining three UGA-N tetranucleotides is then given by their varying preferences for nc-tRNAs. In particular, UGA-A allows increased incorporation of Trp-tRNA whereas UGA-G and UGA-C favor Cys-tRNA. Our findings thus expand the repertoire of general decoding rules by showing that the +4 base determines the preferred selection of nc-tRNAs and, in the case of cytosine, it also genetically interacts with eRF1. Finally, using an example of the GCN4 translational control governed by four short uORFs, we also show how the evolution of this mechanism dealt with undesirable readthrough on those uORFs that serve as the key translation reinitiation promoting features of the GCN4 regulation, as both of these otherwise counteracting activities, readthrough versus reinitiation, are mediated by eIF3.
Formation control for mobile multiple robots based on hierarchical virtual structures

The formation control problem of mobile multiple robots is investigated. A formation control scheme based on a hierarchical virtual structure is proposed. The mobile robots are divided into some clusters according to their distributions in space and then the motion trajectory of every cluster (virtual structure) is defined, so the motion of virtual structure is transformed to desired trajectory of every robot. Furthermore, a finite-time tracking control algorithm with variable structure is proposed. And two designed control laws based on state feedback are constructed to stabilize steering angle error and positions error in finite time, respectively. Involving in results about finite-time stability, we prove that the desired trajectory is attained fully in finite time with the two control laws. Finally numerical simulations considering line-shape and circle-shape are respectively carried out and show the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
Nonadherence to antiepileptic drugs and increased mortality

Objectives: The primary objective was to investigate whether nonadherence to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is associated with increased mortality and the secondary objective to examine whether nonadherence increases the risk of serious clinical events, including emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, motor vehicle accident (MVA) injuries, fractures, and head injuries. Methods: A retrospective open-cohort design was employed using Medicaid claims data from Florida, Iowa, and New Jersey from January 1997 through June 2006. Patients aged ≥18 years with ≥1 diagnosis of epilepsy by a neurologist and ≥2 AED pharmacy dispensings were selected. Medication possession ratio (MPR) was used to evaluate AED adherence on a quarterly basis with MPR ≥0.80 considered adherent and <0.80 nonadherent. The association of nonadherence with mortality was assessed using a time-varying Cox regression model adjusting for demographic and clinical confounders. Incidence rates for serious clinical events were compared between adherent and nonadherent quarters using incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% CIs calculated based on the Poisson distribution. Results: The 33,658 study patients contributed 388,564 AED-treated quarters (26% nonadherent). Nonadherence was associated with an over threefold increased risk of mortality compared to adherence (hazard ratio = 3.32, 95% CI = 3.11–3.54) after multivariate adjustments. Time periods of nonadherence were also associated with a significantly higher incidence of ED visits (IRR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.49–1.52), hospital admissions (IRR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.84–1.88), MVA injuries (IRR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.81–2.39), and fractures (IRR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.18–1.23) than periods of adherence. Conclusion: These findings suggest that nonadherence to antiepileptic drugs can have serious or fatal consequences for patients with epilepsy.
Higher education guarantees global citizenship, or does it?

Statements of graduate attributes have gained prominence in universities nationally and internationally in recent years (Barrie, 2006; Bowden, Hart, King, Trigwell, & Watts, 2002; Jones, 2009). Increasingly, such statements include global citizenship as an “attitude or stance towards the world” that students develop during their studies (Barrie, 2004). This paper draws on a comparative analysis of Australian university graduate attributes statements from the last fifteen years (Bosanquet, Winchester-Seeto & Rowe, 2010) to examine the meanings of global citizenship in a higher education context. In describing global citizenship, institutions frequently refer to a plethora of related concepts including intercultural awareness, cross-cultural competency, inclusivity, diversity, globalisation, sustainability, leadership, multiculturalism, internationalisation and community engagement. A review of the literature around graduate attributes demonstrates four broad conceptions of their purpose: employability; lifelong learning; preparing for an uncertain future; and acting for the social good (Barnett, 2004; Barrie & Prosser, 2004; Bridgstock, 2009; Pitman and Broomhall, 2009). The latter two are closely aligned with the attribute of global citizenship, with an emphasis on transforming the student, the curriculum and the future (Bowden & Marton, 1998) and acting to benefit the broader community (Bowden et al, 2002).
Assessment of left ventricular function and mass in patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography using 64-detector-row CT: comparison to magnetic resonance imaging

Purpose: To quantify left ventricular function and mass derived from retrospectively ECG-gated 64-detector-row computed tomography coronary angiography data sets in comparison to cine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging as the reference standard. We hypothesized that the administration of beta-blockers prior to multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) coronary angiography has a significant impact on left ventricular functional parameters. Material and Methods: Multiplanar reformations in the short-axis orientation were calculated from axial contrast-enhanced CT images in 21 patients (16 male, five female; age range 41–75 years, mean 64.3±6.8 years) referred for CT coronary angiography. Patients whose heart rates exceeded 60 bpm received 5 mg bisoprolol orally 1 hour before the MDCT examination. In case of insufficient heart-rate reduction, up to four vials (20 mg) of metoprolol were injected intravenously. The end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF), cardiac output (CO), and left ventricular mass (LVM) of the reformatted images were analyzed compared to volumetric measurements based on continuous short-axis steady-state free-precession cine MR sequences (TR 3 ms, TE 1.5 ms, FA 60°). Results: On average, each patient received 15.5 mg metoprolol (range 0–20 mg) and 3.85 mg bisoprolol (range 0–5 mg). The mean heart rate was 56±5 bpm during CT and 73±9 bpm during MRI examination. This difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Mean EDV and ESV measured on MDCT were significantly higher compared to MR (MDCT vs. MR: EDV 164.2±52.5 vs. 144.2±46.7 ml, ESV 77.3±46.6 vs. 63.8±47.3 ml; P<0.05). Mean EF and CO derived from MDCT images were significantly lower compared to MR (MDCT vs. MR: EF 55.4±11.8 vs. 59.3±15.4%, CO 4822±779 vs. 5755±1267 ml; P<0.05). Mean SV and LVM were not significantly different between both methods (MDCT vs. MR: SV 86.8±18.1 vs. 80.3±15.6 ml, P = 0.44; LVM 132.4±42.5 vs. 138.7±39.1 g, P = 0.31). Conclusion: Left ventricular volumes assessed by the newest-generation MDCT scanners are significantly higher compared with MRI, whereas ejection fraction and cardiac output are significantly lower in MDCT. This appears to be a result of the frequent application of beta-blockers prior to MDCT examinations.
The Effect of Hypophyseetomy on Experimental Endothelial Cell Regrowth and Intimal Thickening in the Rat

We studied the influence of hypophyseetomy on endothelial cell regrowth and intimal thickening following aortic endothelial removal. Modification of this influence by replacement doses of glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, thyroxin, and growth hormone also was investigated. Young adult male rats were used, and endothelial removal was achieved by the balloon catheter method. Percent endothelial regrowth and percent intimal thickening were quantified 1 or 2 weeks after injury (3 or 4 weeks after hypophyseetomy). One week after injury, endothelial regrowth was 64% in hypophysec- tomized rats and only 54% in controls. At 2 weeks, values were 90% and 79% respectively. Intimal thickening (percent of wall thickness due to intima) at 1 week was 11% in hypophysectomized and 14% in control rats. At 2 weeks, values were 13% and 22%, respectively. All differences between hypophy- sectomized and control rats at 2 weeks were statistically significant. Neither endothelial regrowth nor intimal thickening in hypophysectomized rats was altered by hormone replacement. Comparison of areas in which endothelium had not regrown suggested that hypophyseetomy had a direct effect on intimal smooth muscle cell proliferation. Thus, hypophyseetomy suppresses intimal thickening and accelerates endothelial regrowth after wall injury. Neither effect depends on certain known hormones, and these effects are to some extent independent of one another. These findings are relevant to recent work on growth factors and atherogenesis.
Evaluating the Association of FAAH Common Gene Variation with Childhood, Adult Severe Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in the French Population

Objective: The endocannabinoid pathway is involved in eating behavior and body weight regulation in both animals and humans. The association of a missense polymorphism (Pro129Thr) in FAAH gene with overweight/obesity has been recently questioned. Subjects and Methods: To evaluate the contribution of the FAAH gene variation in polygenic obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the French population, we investigated the entire FAAH locus. We selected and genotyped ten tagged single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 635 obese children, 896 morbidly obese adults, 2,238 T2DM subjects and 1,340 control subjects, all of French European origin. Case control association tests were performed using logistic regression models. Results: Nominal evidences of association were observed for rs6429600, rs324419, rs324418, rs2295633, rs7520850 and risk for class III adult obesity (0,001 < p < 0.04). The rs324420 (Pro129Thr) was nominally associated with class III adult obesity (ORadditive = 0.79 (95% CI 0.67–0.93), p = 0.005; ORdominant = 0.76 (95% CI 0.63–0.92), p = 0.005), Pro129 being the obesity risk allele. These associations did not remain significant after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing. There was no significant association between FAAH SNPs and risk for childhood obesity or T2DM. Conclusion: Our results in 5,109 subjects suggest that FAAH Pro129Thr polymorphism may modestly contribute to class III adult obesity in the French population. Further validation is needed to precise the role of this gene variant in obesity susceptibility background.
Prevalence and genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus among apparently healthy individuals in Mongolia: a population‐based nationwide study

Background and Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the major causes of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Mongolia. However, there are no data concerning nationwide prevalence of HCV infection in Mongolia. We intended to investigate the population‐based prevalence of HCV infection and genotype distribution among 1512 apparently healthy individuals in this country.
A Conserved Deubiquitinating Enzyme Uses Intrinsically Disordered Regions to Scaffold Multiple Protein Interaction Sites*

Background: Many proteins that regulate ubiquitination possess intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), but little is known about how IDRs function. Results: The yeast deubiquitinating enzyme Ubp10 has extensive IDRs with multiple, small protein interaction motifs, and this topology is conserved in Ubp10's human ortholog USP36. Conclusion: Ubp10/USP36 IDRs function as protein interaction scaffolds. Significance: We uncovered evolutionarily conserved ways that IDRs direct protein function in ubiquitination pathways. In the canonical view of protein function, it is generally accepted that the three-dimensional structure of a protein determines its function. However, the past decade has seen a dramatic growth in the identification of proteins with extensive intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), which are conformationally plastic and do not appear to adopt single three-dimensional structures. One current paradigm for IDR function is that disorder enables IDRs to adopt multiple conformations, expanding the ability of a protein to interact with a wide variety of disparate proteins. The capacity for many interactions is an important feature of proteins that occupy the hubs of protein networks, in particular protein-modifying enzymes that usually have a broad spectrum of substrates. One such protein modification is ubiquitination, where ubiquitin is attached to proteins through ubiquitin ligases (E3s) and removed through deubiquitinating enzymes. Numerous proteomic studies have found that thousands of proteins are dynamically regulated by cycles of ubiquitination and deubiquitination. Thus, how these enzymes target their wide array of substrates is of considerable importance for understanding the function of the cell's diverse ubiquitination networks. Here, we characterize a yeast deubiquitinating enzyme, Ubp10, that possesses IDRs flanking its catalytic protease domain. We show that Ubp10 possesses multiple, distinct binding modules within its IDRs that are necessary and sufficient for directing protein interactions important for Ubp10's known roles in gene silencing and ribosome biogenesis. The human homolog of Ubp10, USP36, also has IDRs flanking its catalytic domain, and these IDRs similarly contain binding modules important for protein interactions. This work highlights the significant protein interaction scaffolding abilities of IDRs in the regulation of dynamic protein ubiquitination.
THE EVALUATION OF QUARTERLY FORECAST INTERVALS FOR INFLATION RATE IN ROMANIA

The forecast uncertainty was one of the causes of the recent economic crisis and its evaluation became more necessary nowadays. The aim of this paper is to build and assess different types of forecast intervals for quarterly inflation rate in Romania. The Bootstrap Bias-corrected-accelerated (BCA) forecast intervals outperformed the intervals based on historical errors, four out of six values of inflation rate being placed in the first type of intervals during Q3:2013-Q4:2014. The likelihood ratio tests and the chi-square test indicated that there are significant differences between the ex-ante probability of 0.95 and the real probabilities for both types of forecast intervals. As a methodological novelty, Monte Carlo and bootstrap simulations were used for assessing the uncertainty in inflation rate forecasts in Romania.