Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is a Promising Diagnostic Immunohistochemical Marker for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma and is Associated With Better Prognosis

Differential diagnosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) from its histologic mimickers, especially metastatic adenocarcinomas of gastric and pancreatic origin, is a great challenge for pathologists. In this study, through bioinformatics analysis of data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus, we identified C-reactive protein (CRP) as a candidate marker to differentiate iCCA from other adenocarcinomas and validated its diagnostic performance by immunohistochemistry in a large cohort of clinical samples including 103 iCCAs, 384 other adenocarcinomas, and 34 liver metastases of various origins. The sensitivity and specificity of CRP expression in the diagnosis of iCCA were 75.7% and 91.1% when using tissue microarrays and 93.3% and 88.2% when using whole tissue sections, respectively. We also compared the diagnostic performance of CRP with N-cadherin, a previously reported marker for iCCA. The sensitivity and specificity of N-cadherin were 54.4% and 92.2% when using tissue microarrays and 80.0% and 88.2% when using whole tissue sections, respectively. The sensitivity of CRP was higher than that of N-cadherin, whereas their specificity was similar. CRP expression was associated with mass-forming gross type (P<0.001), absence of perineural invasion (P=0.002), and N-cadherin expression (P<0.001). CRP expression was also associated with better overall survival (P=0.002) and longer recurrence-free time (P=0.032) after surgery. Our study suggests that CRP is a promising immunohistochemical marker to differentiate iCCA from other adenocarcinomas. Compared with N-cadherin, CRP showed higher sensitivity and similar specificity. CRP expression was associated with better prognosis in iCCA.
CD36/Fatty Acid Translocase in Rats: Distribution, Isolation from Hepatocytes, and Comparison with the Scavenger Receptor SR-B1

The new mAb UA009 recognizes an antigen expressed by microvascular endothelium, by lymphatic endothelium, and by some epithelia in a number of organs, including the small intestine, lactating mammary gland, kidney, lung, sebaceous glands, and circumvallate papillae of the tongue. This antigen is also expressed abundantly in the splenic red pulp and marginal zone and by monocytes, macrophages, and erythrocytes (but not by platelets). Among tissues that store or metabolize fatty acids, the antigen is expressed by adipocytes, cardiomyocytes, and red skeletal muscle. Importantly, it is expressed by steroidogenic cells in the adrenal gland, testis, and ovary, whereas in the liver it is expressed by hepatocytes in a pattern that is dependent on gender and genetic background. mAb UA009 immunoprecipitated a mol wt 85-kDa surface protein from detergent extracts of hepatocytes from Dark Agouti female rats. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of this protein was identical to fatty acid translocase (FAT), the rat cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) ortholog. The mAb also reacted with COS-7 cells transfected with cDNA encoding FAT. cDNAs encoding a CD36/FAT-like polypeptide were prepared from both liver and heart RNA by RT-PCR. The nucleotide sequences obtained from these cDNAs (Dark Agouti rats) revealed identity and 99% similarity, respectively, with the published sequences of Cd36/Fat in rats of the Wistar and Sprague-Dawley strains. The absence of the UA009 antigen in CD36/FAT-deficient SHR/N rats confirmed the identity of the UA009 antigen and CD36/FAT. We suggest that CD36/FAT might function in the liver as a sex-regulated accessory molecule, either in reverse cholesterol transport and/or in fatty acid uptake.
A Transit Peptide–Like Sorting Signal at the C Terminus Directs the Bienertia sinuspersici Preprotein Receptor Toc159 to the Chloroplast Outer Membrane[C][W]

This study shows that the C-terminal tail of the preprotein receptor Toc159 possesses the physicochemical and structural properties of chloroplast transit peptides. A number of fluorescent protein fusion constructs consistently demonstrated that this sorting signal is essential for the targeting of the Toc159 receptor to the chloroplast outer membrane. Although Toc159 is known to be one of the key GTPase receptors for selective recognition of chloroplast preproteins, the mechanism for its targeting to the chloroplast surface remains unclear. To compare the targeting of these GTPase receptors, we identified two Toc159 isoforms and a Toc34 from Bienertia sinuspersici, a single-cell C4 species with dimorphic chloroplasts in individual chlorenchyma cells. Fluorescent protein tagging and immunogold studies revealed that the localization patterns of Toc159 were distinctive from those of Toc34, suggesting different targeting pathways. Bioinformatics analyses indicated that the C-terminal tails (CTs) of Toc159 possess physicochemical and structural properties of chloroplast transit peptides (cTPs). These results were further confirmed by fluorescent protein tagging, which showed the targeting of CT fusion proteins to the chloroplast surface. The CT of Bs Toc159 in reverse orientation functioned as a cleavable cTP that guided the fluorescent protein to the stroma. Moreover, a Bs Toc34 mutant protein was retargeted to the chloroplast envelope using the CTs of Toc159 or reverse sequences of other cTPs, suggesting their conserved functions. Together, our data show that the C terminus and the central GTPase domain represent a novel dual domain–mediated sorting mechanism that might account for the partitioning of Toc159 between the cytosol and the chloroplast envelope for preprotein recognition.
On Pause: How Online Instructional Videos are Used to Achieve Practical Tasks

Instructional videos have become an important site of everyday learning. This paper explores how these videos are used to complete practical tasks, analyzing video-recorded interactions between pairs of users. Users need to repeatedly pause their videos to be able to follow the instructions, and we document how pausing is used to coordinate and interweave watching and doing. We describe four purposes and types of pausing: finding task objects, turning to action, keeping up, and fixing problems. Building on these results, we discuss how video players could better support following instructions, and the role of basic user interface functions in complex tasks involving different forms of engagement with the physical world and with screen-based activity.
Age- and Sex-related Differences of Plasma Activated Factor VII Levels in Children

Summary Although the majority of factor VII (FVII) circulates in the zymogen form, low levels of activated factor VII (FVIIa) exist in plasma and play an important role in the initiation of tissue factor-induced coagulation. It has been reported that the concentrations of hemostatic components in children and adults are different. Here, we investigated the age- and sex-related differences of FVIIa and FVII antigen (FVIIag) levels in children at age of 10 (n = 123; males: n = 62; females: n = 61), and 13 (n = 105; males: n = 47; females: n = 58), and compared these levels with those of young adults (mean ± SD of age: 29.6 ± 6.0 years). In males, there was not a significant difference between the FVIIa levels of 10-year-old children and 13-year-old children, but the FVIIa levels in adult controls were significantly higher than those in children. In females, the FVIIa levels in 13-year-old children were significantly higher than that in 10-year-old children, but there was not a significant difference between 13-year-old children and adults. Thus, our study showed that plasma FVIIa levels were lower in children than in adults, and the increase of FVIIa level was earlier in females than in males.
ISSLS Prize Winner: Lumbar Vertebral Endplate Lesions Associations With Disc Degeneration and Back Pain History

Study Design. An autopsy study. Objective. To investigate associations between various types of lumbar endplate lesions, disc degeneration (DD), and back pain history. Summary of Background Data. The well-innervated vertebral endplate has been suspected as a source of back pain. Previously, we observed 4 types of lumbar endplate lesions with distinct morphological characteristics. Their roles in DD and back pain remain unclear. Methods. From a lumbar spine archive of 136 men (mean age, 52 yr), back pain, back injury, and occupation history data for 69 subjects and discography data for 443 discs from 109 subjects were available for study. Back pain history was categorized as none, occasional, or frequent. DD was judged from discography. Endplate lesions were classified as Schmorl's nodes, fracture, erosion, or calcification, and lesion size was rated as none, small, moderate, or large. Associations between endplate lesions and DD, back pain history, back injury, and occupation history were examined. Results. Presence of endplate lesions was associated with frequent (odds ratio [OR] = 2.57) but not occasional back pain. However, large endplate lesions were associated with both occasional (OR = 8.68) and frequent (OR = 17.88) back pain. This association remained after further controlling for DD. Also, the presence of each type of endplate lesion was associated with adjacent DD (OR = 2.40–9.71), with larger lesions associated with more severe DD. Endplate erosion lesions were more strongly associated with adjacent DD than Schmorl's nodes. Although back injury history was associated with the presence of fracture and erosion lesions, heavy occupation was associated with the presence of Schmorl's nodes. Conclusion. Endplate lesions are associated with back pain as well as being closely associated with adjacent DD, with a clear dosage effect. Different types of endplate lesions seem to have different magnitudes of associations with DD. Lumbar endplate lesions may be an important key to better understand both DD and back pain.
ASTM D 5470 TIM material testing

The ASTM D 54701 standard is currently being revised to cover a test method for the measurement of thermal impedance and calculation of an apparent thermal conductivity for thermal interface materials (TIM) ranging from liquid compounds to hard solids. Modifications to the procedure include the use of mechanical stops to control the specimen thickness under test and an in situ thickness measurement to monitor the specimen thickness if the thickness dimension of the specimen can change during the test. Rigid materials that will not coalesce together require the preparation of specimens of different thickness to obtain the multiple thermal impedance measurements needed to calculate the thermal conductivity. The revised method does not call out a specific clamping pressure to be used for all material types but instead specifies that the clamping pressure required is either that which is sufficient to contact the mechanical stops or to coalesce multiple layers together without damaging the test specimens. Measuring the 3 primary properties - the heat flow through the test specimen, the temperature difference across it, and the thickness of the specimen under test - is still stressed
Virulence of Porphyromonas gingivalis is altered by substitution of fimbria gene with different genotype

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a periodontal pathogen whose fimbriae are classified into six genotypes based on the diversity of the fimA genes encoding each fimbria subunit. It was suggested that P. gingivalis strains with type II fimbriae were more virulent than type I strains. For the present study, we generated the mutants in which fimA was substituted with different genotypes to study virulence of type II fimbriae. Using plasmid vectors, fimA of ATCC33277 (type I strain) was substituted with type II fimA, and that of OMZ314 (type II strain) with type I fimA. The substitution of type I fimA with type II enhanced bacterial adhesion/invasion to epithelial cells, whereas substitution with type I fimA resulted in diminished efficiency. Following bacterial invasion, type II clones swiftly degraded cellular paxillin and focal adhesion kinase, and inhibited cellular migration, whereas type I clones and ΔfimA mutants did not. BIAcore analysis demonstrated that type II fimbriae possess greater adhesive abilities for their receptor α5β1‐integrin than those of type I. In a mouse abscess model, the type II clones significantly induced serum IL‐1β and IL‐6, as well as other infectious symptoms. These results suggest that type II fimbriae are a critical determinant of P. gingivalis virulence.
Tetrahydrobiopterin improves endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease.

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential cofactor for nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and a scavenger of oxygen-derived free radicals. Decreased availability of BH4 leads, under in vitro conditions, to reduced nitric oxide (NO) production and increased superoxide formation. We studied the effect of exogenous BH4 on endothelial function of angiographically normal vessel segments in patients with coronary artery disease. Nineteen patients with coronary artery disease underwent quantitative coronary angiography with simultaneous coronary flow velocity measurements (Cardiometrics FloWire). Data were obtained in angiographically normal segments of the left coronary artery at baseline, after intracoronary (i.c.) administration of acetylcholine (Ach; 10(-4) M), after infusion of BH4 (10(-2) M), and after co-infusion of ACh and BH4. At the end of the study, 300 microg nitroglycerin (NTG) i.c. was administered to obtain maximal vasodilation. At each step, flow velocity was determined before and after 18 microg adenosine i.c. to assess coronary flow velocity reserve. In 15 patients, ACh induced coronary vasoconstriction of -18 +/- 3% (endothelial dysfunction; p < 0.0001 vs. baseline), and in four patients, vasodilation of +39 +/- 20%. In the 15 patients with endothelial dysfunction, BH4 alone did not influence vessel area but prevented vasoconstriction to ACh (+2 +/- 3%, NS, vs. baseline). Correspondingly, calculated volume flow showed the highest value after co-infusion of ACh and BH4. Coronary flow velocity reserve was comparable during the various infusion steps. BH4 prevents ACh-induced vasoconstriction of angiographically normal vessels in patients with coronary artery disease. Thus substitution of this cofactor of NOS may represent a new approach for the treatment of endothelial dysfunction.
A Newly Discovered Mycobacterial Pathogen Isolated from Laboratory Colonies of Xenopus Species with Lethal Infections Produces a Novel Form of Mycolactone, the Mycobacterium ulcerans Macrolide Toxin

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium ulcerans, the causative agent of Buruli ulcer, produces a macrolide toxin, mycolactone A/B, which is thought to play a major role in virulence. A disease similar to Buruli ulcer recently appeared in United States frog colonies following importation of the West African frog, Xenopus tropicalis. The taxonomic position of the frog pathogen has not been fully elucidated, but this organism, tentatively designated Mycobacterium liflandii, is closely related to M. ulcerans and Mycobacterium marinum, and as further evidence is gathered, it will most likely be considered a subspecies of one of these species. In this paper we show that M. liflandii produces a novel plasmid-encoded mycolactone, mycolactone E. M. liflandii contains all of the genes in the mycolactone cluster with the exception of that encoding CYP140A2, a putative p450 monooxygenase. Although the core lactone structure is conserved in mycolactone E, the fatty acid side chain differs from that of mycolactone A/B in the number of hydroxyl groups and double bonds. The cytopathic phenotype of mycolactone E is identical to that of mycolactone A/B, although it is less potent. To further characterize the relationship between M. liflandii and M. ulcerans, strains were analyzed for the presence of the RD1 region genes, esxA (ESAT-6) and esxB (CFP-10). The M. ulcerans genome strain has a deletion in RD1 and lacks these genes. The results of these studies show that M. liflandii contains both esxA and esxB.
Processing of Nimesulide-PEG 400-PG-PVP Solid Dispersions: Preparation, Characterization, and In Vitro Dissolution

Abstract The objective of this investigation was to study the influence of dissolution enhancers such as polyethylene glycol 400, propylene glycol, polyvinylpyrrolidone K30, sodium lauryl sulfate, and Tween 80 on in vitro dissolution of a model active pharmaceutical material—nimesulide. Preliminary studies were conducted using a physical blend of nimesulide, and the adjuvants and solid dispersions were prepared using solvent evaporation and cogrinding methods. Aqueous solution of adjuvants was first triturated with nimesulide, followed by mixing with lactose and microcrystalline cellulose, and finally water was evaporated under vacuum in a cogrinding method. A 33 factorial design was adopted in a cogrinding method using the concentration of polyethylene glycol 400, propylene glycol, and polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 as independent variables. Tween 80 and sodium lauryl sulfate were added in all the batches. Full and reduced models were evolved for different dependent variables. The reduced models were validated using two checkpoints. Angle of repose <35°, percentage of drug released in 30 min (Q30)>40%, 45 min (Q45)>50%, and 120 min (Q120)>60% were used as constraints for the selection of an optimized batch. Contour plots are presented for the selected dependent variables. Polyvinylpyrrolidone was found to be more effective in increasing the drug dissolution, compared with polyethylene glycol 400 and propylene glycol. The granule flow was adversely affected when high levels of liquid adjuvants were used in formulations. Wettability study was conducted to measure wetting time for pure drug and the optimized batch. Improved drug dissolution was attributed to improved wetting and the solubilizing effect of adjuvants from the pseudosolid dispersions of nimesulide. Significant improvement in drug dissolution was observed (Q120 = 70%), compared with pure drug powder (Q120 = 15%). In conclusion, dissolution of nimesulide can be modulated using an appropriate blend of pharmaceutical adjuvants.
Elongating RNA Polymerase II Is Disassembled through Specific Degradation of Its Largest but Not Other Subunits in Response to DNA Damage in Vivo*

Although previous biochemical studies have demonstrated global degradation of the largest subunit, Rpb1p, of RNA polymerase II in response to DNA damage, it is still not clear whether the initiating or elongating form of Rpb1p is targeted for degradation in vivo. Further, whether other components of RNA polymerase II are degraded in response to DNA damage remains unknown. Here, we show that the Rpb1p subunit of the elongating, but not initiating, form of RNA polymerase II is degraded at the active genes in response to 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide-induced DNA damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, other subunits of RNA polymerase II are not degraded in response to DNA damage. Further, we show that Rpb1p is essential for RNA polymerase II assembly at the active gene, and thus, the degradation of Rpb1p following DNA damage disassembles elongating RNA polymerase II. Taken together, our data demonstrate that Rpb1p but not other subunits of elongating RNA polymerase II is specifically degraded in response to DNA damage, and such a degradation of Rpb1p is critical for the disassembly of elongating RNA polymerase II at the DNA lesion in vivo.
Relative Importance of Factors Affecting Corneal Hysteresis Measurement

Purpose. To evaluate the relative influences of several demographic, ocular, and systemic parameters on corneal hysteresis (CH). Methods. This is a prospective, observational, cross-sectional study using subjects recruited from consecutive Albuquerque VAMC eye clinic patients. We classified eligible subjects as primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), ocular hypertension, glaucoma suspect, or normal. We used the Ocular Response Analyzer, Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer, and Goldmann applanation tonometer to obtain intraocular pressure (IOP), CH, corneal resistance factor, and ocular pulse amplitude values. We also obtained corneal curvature, central corneal thickness (CCT), axial length, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, clinical cup/disc ratio (CDR) estimates, and standard automated perimetry metrics (mean defect, pattern standard deviation). We gathered glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) data through chart review. Multivariate regression analyses were used to determine independent relationships between CH and the other parameters. Results. Three hundred seventeen eyes in 317 subjects were studied (116 POAG, 87 ocular hypertension, 47 glaucoma suspect, and 67 normal). In univariate regression analysis, CH varied directly with CCT (&bgr; = 0.39, p < 0.001), corneal curvature (&bgr; = 0.16, p = 0.01), corneal resistance factor (&bgr; = 0.57, p < 0.001), A1C (&bgr; = 0.15, p = 0.01), mean defect (&bgr; = 0.29, p < 0.001), and retinal nerve fiber layer (&bgr; = 0.31, p < 0.001). Factors inversely related to CH were age (&bgr; = −0.22, p < 0.001), IOP (&bgr; = −0.29, p < 0.001), ocular pulse amplitude (&bgr; = −0.11, p = 0.04), CDR (&bgr; = −0.34, p < 0.001), and pattern standard deviation (&bgr; = −0.29, p < 0.001). CH was lower in POAG compared with the other diagnostic groups. In multivariate analysis, CH was independently associated with age, IOP, CCT, A1C, glaucoma diagnosis, and CDR. Of these factors, CCT and IOP demonstrated twice as much influence on CH compared with the other four factors. Conclusions. Although this study identified six separate variables that independently influence CH values, the overall r2 value indicates that these variables together only explain 40% of CH variability. These results suggest that other significant sources of variability exist and deserve investigation.
El origen del Sistema Solar revelado del estudio de meteoritos primitivos y partículas cometarias

Los materiales primigenios preservados en meteoritos condriticos y en particulas cometarias contienen una pleyade de informacion sobre el origen del Sistema Solar. Autenticas muestras del disco protoplanetario, los materiales procedentes de asteroides y cometas de pequeno tamano pudieron irradiar eficientemente al espacio el calor desprendido de sus componentes radioactivos, escapando asi de la diferenciacion quimica que moldeo los cuerpos planetarios. Se describen aquellas evidencias meteoriticas que revelan el entorno en que se formo nuestro sistema planetario. Tambien se describe el momento clave de la exploracion del sistema solar que vivimos frente al proximo desarrollo de misiones de recuperacion de muestras desde objetos primitivos. Una oportunidad cientifica de tal calibre y con tantas implicaciones en el desarrollo tecnologico que nuestros paises deberian no desaprovechar.
Two Rail-To-Rail Class-AB CMOS Buffers with High Performance Slew Rate and Delay

Two rail-to-rail class-AB buffers with high driving capability and high speed are presented. One circuit uses two complementary differential flipped voltage follower (DFVF) transconductor circuits and other circuit uses two complementary differential flipped voltage follower transconductors with current sensing transistor. These proposed class-AB buffers are boosted by a pair of adaptive biasing circuit's using current sink and current source. The proposed buffers have exhibited high slew rate than the previous circuits. The circuits are implemented and the results analyzed using Cadence software in 0.18 μm CMOS technology.
Microbiological characterization and probiotic potential of koko and koko sour water, African spontaneously fermented millet porridge and drink

Aims: To identify and examine the diversity of predominant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in koko and koko sour water (KSW) from different Ghanaian production sites with regard to pattern of fermentation (API 50 CHL), genotype, antimicrobial activity, and resistance to low pH and bile salts.