Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the characteristics of venous occlusion after placement of an ameroid constrictor in dogs.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the mechanism of vascular occlusion after placement of an ameroid constrictor (AC) on a large intra-abdominal vein and document changes in blood flow. STUDY DESIGN Experimental study. ANIMALS Six adult dogs. METHODS Six 6.5 mm ACs were digitally scanned to measure area and circumference of the ameroid and inner lumen before surgery. ACs were surgically positioned around the left common iliac vein (CIV) in each dog. Peri-vascular ultrasonic flow probes were positioned on the left CIV cranial to the AC, and on the right CIV as an internal control. Blood flow measurements were recorded daily until there was no, or prolonged minimal, blood flow, at which time the dogs were euthanatized. Left and right CIVs were removed for histologic evaluation, and the ACs re-scanned to evaluate degree and direction of expansion of the ameroid. RESULTS Reduction in blood flow occurred within 10 days in all dogs. Three dogs had complete occlusion by day 10 from thrombus formation. One dog damaged the flow probes at 13 days when blood flow was approximately 50% of intra-operative values; the dog was euthanatized at 37 days; there was partial occlusion from thrombosis. Two dogs had persistent low blood flow and occlusion from thrombus formation when euthanatized at 59 and 98 days. There was a significant increase in total AC area and outer circumference, and decrease in luminal area and inner circumference when presurgical and postocclusion measurements were compared. CONCLUSIONS Vascular occlusion after placement of an AC on a large intra-abdominal vein occurred from thrombus formation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE A similar pattern of venous occlusion may occur after placement of an AC on a portosystemic shunt, which may lead to both short- and long-term complications associated with portal hypertension.
Short communication Simultaneous determination of l- and d-lactic acid in plasma by capillary electrophoresis

A novel method for simultaneous determination of d- and l-lactic acids in plasma was presented by capillary electrophoresis with photodiode array detection at 195 nm. The separation was performed in an uncoated fused-silica capillary. The parameters influencing the resolution and the migration time of lactic acids were optimized. When 150 mM phosphate–Tris buffer (pH 7.0) consisting of 220 mM 2-hydroxypropylcyclodextrin and 0.2 mM tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide was utilized as the running buffer, highly effective chiral separation of dand l-lactic acids was achieved at about 42 min at an effective voltage of −25 kV. The resolution of lactic acid enantiomers was ≥1.25. The limits of detection of d- and l-lactic acids in standard solution without any pretreatment were 80 and 50 M (S/N = 3), respectively. Sample pretreatment was preceded by protein-removal procedure with acetonitrile. With a pre-concentration procedure by 10 times, the limits of detection of d- and l-lactic acids were 20 and 15M (S/N = 10), respectively. The satisfactory analytical performance of the proposed method was validated. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Interactions of CCCH Zinc Finger Proteins with mRNA

Tristetraprolin (TTP), the prototype of a small family of CCCH tandem zinc finger (TZF) domain proteins, is a physiological stimulator of instability of the mRNAs encoding tumor necrosis factor-α and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor in certain cell types. TTP stimulates mRNA turnover after binding to class II AU-rich elements (AREs) within the 3′-untranslated regions of both mRNAs. In turn, this binding is dependent upon the key CCCH residues in the TZF domain. To evaluate other primary sequence requirements for ARE binding in this novel mRNA-binding domain, we mutated many of the conserved residues within the TZF domain of human TTP and evaluated the effects of these mutations on RNA binding in a cell-free system and TTP-induced mRNA instability in cell transfection experiments. These mutations revealed a number of conserved amino acids that were required for binding and begin to define the primary protein sequence requirements for this novel mRNA-binding motif. Unexpectedly, all of the point mutations that prevented TTP binding to RNA also caused an increase in steady-state levels of ARE-containing mRNAs in cell transfection experiments. Actinomycin D experiments suggested that this effect was due to inhibition of mRNA turnover. Although expression of the mutant form of TTP could also inhibit the destruction of tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA by wild-type TTP, the primary mechanism did not involve heterodimerization with wild-type TTP because the 293 cells used in these studies express no detectable endogenous TTP. These data suggest that TTP may act, at least in part, by physically interacting with an enzyme activity or protein complex and functionally stimulating its ability to deadenylate class II ARE-containing mRNAs.
Comparison of PEFR and FEV1 in patients with varying degrees of airway obstruction. Effect of modest altitude.

Measurements of FEV1 and PEFR performed on a Jones Pulmonor Spirometer (JPF) were compared with PEFR obtained with a mini-Wright peak flow meter (WPF) in 102 patients. Data were converted to percent predicted. Standard deviations of triplicate measurements were: FEV1, 3.01 percent; JPF, 7.22 percent; and WPF, 5.12 percent. Correlation of best of three measurements was FEV1-JPF r = . 758; FEV1-WPF r = . 744; and JPF-WPF r = . 846. The mean percent predicted of the best of three values of FEV1 was 74.8 percent, JPF 91.4 percent, and WPF 94 percent. These higher values for percent predicted PEFR were obtained throughout the range of FEV1 values. Studies on nine normal volunteers in an atmospheric chamber suggested that higher altitudes may account for higher PEFR values. We conclude that PEFR, measured by either waterless spirometer or mini-Wright peak flow meter, has greater intrasubject variability than FEV1, and it tends to underestimate the degree of pulmonary impairment.
Genome-wide uniformity of human ‘open’ pre-initiation complexes

Transcription of protein-coding and noncoding DNA occurs pervasively throughout the mammalian genome. Their sites of initiation are generally inferred from transcript 5′ ends and are thought to be either locally dispersed or focused. How these two modes of initiation relate is unclear. Here, we apply permanganate treatment and chromatin immunoprecipitation (PIP-seq) of initiation factors to identify the precise location of melted DNA separately associated with the preinitiation complex (PIC) and the adjacent paused complex (PC). This approach revealed the two known modes of transcription initiation. However, in contrast to prevailing views, they co-occurred within the same promoter region: initiation originating from a focused PIC, and broad nucleosome-linked initiation. PIP-seq allowed transcriptional orientation of Pol II to be determined, which may be useful near promoters where sufficient sense/anti-sense transcript mapping information is lacking. PIP-seq detected divergently oriented Pol II at both coding and noncoding promoters, as well as at enhancers. Their occupancy levels were not necessarily coupled in the two orientations. DNA sequence and shape analysis of initiation complex sites suggest that both sequence and shape contribute to specificity, but in a context-restricted manner. That is, initiation sites have the locally “best” initiator (INR) sequence and/or shape. These findings reveal a common core to pervasive Pol II initiation throughout the human genome.
Fast locking PLL with all-digital locked-aid circuit

A fast locking PLL with all-digital locked-aid circuit is proposed and analyzed. The proposed topology is based on two tuning loops: a frequency detector and a phase detector. A frequency detector is used for accelerate frequency locking time, and a phase detector is used to adjust fine phase error between reference and feedback clock. The proposed PLL circuit is designed based on the 0.35um CMOS process with 3.3V supply voltage. Experiment result shows that the locking time of the proposed PLL can be reduced over 87.5% in comparison with PLL that without locked-aid circuit.
An Evaluation of Research Productivity in Academic IT

Scholarly research continues to be a significant component of a faculty member’s portfolio. The evaluation of the quality and quantity of that research is becoming increasingly important for tenure and promotion decisions and post-tenure reviews. Using surveys, several recent articles attempted to rank or group IT journals by quality perceptions. This study extends these previous studies by considering the quantity dimension of scholarly research by investigating the number of publications that appear in a set of top-tier IT journals by both individual author and institution. Data is presented on the most prolific publishers and the most productive IS departments in publishing in these "premier" journals. 1223 authors from 389 different universities were published with an average of 1.41 authors per IS article. Only three non-U.S. universities (National University of Singapore, Queen's University, and University of British Columbia) are in the top 24 publishing universities. 73% of researchers who published in these "premier" journals publish less than one adjusted count article in a top-tier journal in 5 years using the adjusted count. Only 49 authors had their names on 5 or more top-tier IS articles in 5 years leading to the conclusion that achieving tenure
Anesthetics and Cerebroprotection: Experimental Aspects

A number of anesthetic agents have significant cerebroprotective potential and alter ischemic tolerance in vivo, at least within specific experimental conditions such as focal or incomplete, global cerebral ischemia. As compared to the unanesthetized state, each of these agents has some influence on CBF and metabolism, and many have significant effects on vascular responses to dilator stimuli. Relevant studies that provide clues to the mechanisms of anesthetic action in brain injury have been reviewed, and it is likely that these mechanisms are multifactorial and may overlap from one class of agents to another. Lastly, there is a clear need for further studies that specifically evaluate the neuroprotective mechanism of each agent, determine the effect on outcomes when the anesthetic is administered only as a posttreatment at clinically relevant concentrations, and compare anesthetics with the unanesthetized state when possible.
Interventions for the physical aspects of sexual dysfunction in women following pelvic radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND Following pelvic radiotherapy (RT), a proportion of women experience problems related to sexual function, which are multifactorial in origin. The physical components relate to distortion of the perineum and vagina, which may occur as a result of surgery and/or radiotherapy and compromise sexual activity resulting in considerable distress. OBJECTIVES The aim of this review was to evaluate the evidence for treatment options addressing the physical components of sexual dysfunction arising from pelvic radiotherapy as prevention or treatment of acute or late complications. SEARCH STRATEGY The concepts used included synonyms for radiation therapy and brachytherapy and synonyms for the spectrum of physical aspects of sexual dysfunction in women. randomized. We searched the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL), issue 1, 2002, MEDLINE 1966 to 2002, EMBASE 1980 to 2002, CANCERCD 1980 to 2002, Science Citation Index 1991 to 2002, CINAHL 1982 to 2002, as well as sources of grey literature. We also hand searched relevant textbooks and contacted experts in the field. SELECTION CRITERIA Any study describing the therapeutic trial of a treatment to relieve the physical aspects of female sexual dysfunction which had developed following pelvic radiotherapy was considered. The quality of each study was then assessed by two reviewers independently to determine its suitability for inclusion in statistical analysis. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Thirty-two references met the inclusion criteria for the search but of these only four were suitable to be included for statistical analysis. MAIN RESULTS The strongest evidence for benefit is the grade IC data in the topical oestrogens and benzydamine sections which describes the treatment of acute radiation vaginal changes. The use of vaginal dilators to prevent the development of vaginal stenosis is supported by grade IIC evidence. The value of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and surgical reconstruction is supported by the much weaker grade IIIC evidence in the form of case series. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS These findings reflect the quality of published data regarding interventions for this aspect of the management of radiation induced complications. Although there is grade IC evidence, these studies are not recent, the allocation concealment is unclear in the text, and overall there is a variable level of assessment of the response, emphasising the need for more studies to be conducted with improved designs to clarify the investigative process and support the final result.
Immune‐pineal axis – acute inflammatory responses coordinate melatonin synthesis by pinealocytes and phagocytes

Melatonin is well known for its circadian production by the pineal gland, and there is a growing body of data showing that it is also produced by many other cells and organs, including immune cells. The chronobiotic role of pineal melatonin, as well as its protective effects in vitro and in vivo, have been extensively explored. However, the interaction between the chronobiotic and defence functions of endogenous melatonin has been little investigated. This review details the current knowledge regarding the coordinated shift in melatonin synthesis from the pineal gland (circadian and monitoring roles) to the regulation of acute immune responses via immune cell production and autocrine effects, producing systemic interactions termed the immune‐pineal axis. An acute inflammatory response drives the transcription factor, NFκB, to switch melatonin synthesis from pinealocytes to macrophages/microglia and, upon acute inflammatory resolution, back to pinealocytes. The potential pathophysiological relevance of immune‐pineal axis dysregulation is highlighted, with both research and clinical implications, across several medical conditions, including host/parasite interaction, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.
C‐C CHEMOKINES IN THE VITREOUS OF PATIENTS WITH PROLIFERATIVE VITREORETINOPATHY AND PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Purpose: To investigate the presence of three C‐C chemokines (monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 [MCP‐1], macrophage inflammatory protein‐1&agr; [MIP‐1&agr;], and MIP‐1&bgr;) In vitreous samples from eyes with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), or retinal detachment (RD). Subjects and Methods: Vitreous samples were obtained and assayed by solid phase enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for the chemokines MCP‐1, MIP‐1&agr;, and MIP‐1&bgr; in a prospective study of 43 consecutive patients. Eighteen samples from cadaveric control eyes were also assayed. Results: Monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 was detected in all samples. The vitreous of eyes with vitreoretinal disorders showed significantly higher levels than the vitreous of cadaveric control eyes (P ≤ 0.05). Median level (5th‐95th percentile) in the PVR cases (n = 20) was 890.18 pg/mL (286.04‐1806.20); in RD (n = 8), 296.69 pg/mL (171.44‐1310.02); and in PDR (n = 15), 434.60 pg/mL (124.56‐1092.94). In the cadaveric control eyes (n = 18), median level was 83.97 pg/mL (26.09‐208.38). Macrophage inflammatory protein‐1&agr; and MIP‐1&bgr; were not detected in any samples. Conclusion: Monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 might be involved in the recruitment of macrophages and monocytes into the vitreous of eyes with proliferative vitreoretinal disorders.
Central nervous system dysfunction in a mouse model of Fa2h deficiency

Fatty acid 2‐hydroxylase (FA2H) is responsible for the synthesis of myelin galactolipids containing hydroxy fatty acid (hFA) as the N‐acyl chain. Mutations in the FA2H gene cause leukodystrophy, spastic paraplegia, and neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation. Using the Cre‐lox system, we developed two types of mouse mutants, Fa2h−/− mice (Fa2h deleted in all cells by germline deletion) and Fa2hflox/flox Cnp1‐Cre mice (Fa2h deleted only in oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells). We found significant demyelination, profound axonal loss, and abnormally enlarged axons in the CNS of Fa2h−/− mice at 12 months of age, while structure and function of peripheral nerves were largely unaffected. Fa2h−/− mice also exhibited histological and functional disruption in the cerebellum at 12 months of age. In a time course study, significant deterioration of cerebellar function was first detected at 7 months of age. Further behavioral assessments in water T‐maze and Morris water maze tasks revealed significant deficits in spatial learning and memory at 4 months of age. These data suggest that various regions of the CNS are functionally compromised in young adult Fa2h−/− mice. The cerebellar deficits in 12‐month‐old Fa2hflox/flox Cnp1‐Cre mice were indistinguishable from Fa2h−/− mice, indicating that these phenotypes likely stem from the lack of myelin hFA‐galactolipids. In contrast, Fa2hflox/flox Cnp1‐Cre mice did not show reduced performance in water maze tasks, indicating that oligodendrocytes are not involved in the learning and memory deficits found in Fa2h−/− mice. These findings provide the first evidence that FA2H has an important function outside of oligodendrocytes in the CNS. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparison of closed loop vs. manual administration of propofol using the Bispectral index in cardiac surgery

Background: In recent years, electroencephalographic indices of anaesthetic depth have facilitated automated anaesthesia delivery systems. Such closed‐loop control of anaesthesia has been described in various surgical settings in ASA I–II patients (1–4), but not in open heart surgery characterized by haemodynamic instability and higher risk of intra‐operative awareness. Therefore, a newly developed closed‐loop anaesthesia delivery system (CLADS) to regulate propofol infusion by the Bispectral index (BIS) was compared with manual control during open heart surgery.
Lycopene and the Lung

The human lung, due to the oxidative and ozone stress to which it is exposed, is particularly vulnerable to oxidative damage. Concentrations of dietary antioxidants in the lung epithelial lining and lining fluids may provide protection against oxidative damage. A randomized clinical trial was conducted to study the effects of supplemental, carotenoid-rich vegetable Juice (V-8) on lung function macrophage levels of carotenoids and in moderating ozone-induced lung damage. Healthy young adults (n = 23) were exposed to 0.4 ppm ozone in a chamber for 2 hr after either 2 weeks of antioxidant supplementation (including one can of V-8 juice daily) or placebo. Mean lung concentrations of lycopene increased by 12%, and lung epithelial cell DNA damage as measured by the Comet Assay decreased 20% In supplemented subjects. No change in peripheral blood lymphocyte DNA damage was observed as evidenced by no change in mean comet area or length in supplemented or placebo subjects. We were not able to separate the effects of lycopene from other carotenoids or antioxidants administered in this study; however, lycopene is the predominant carotenold in V-8 (it represents 88% of total carotenoids). A review of the epidemiologic literature providing evidence for the effect of lycopene (diet or serum) or tomatoes on the risk of lung cancer reveals 27 observational epidemiologic studies (18 case-control and nine cohort studies) reporting relative risk (RR) estimates. RR estimates for cohort studies ranged from 0.63 to 1.24 (mean RR = 0.93, SD = 0.16). Odds ratios (OR) for case-control studies ranged from 0.27 to 0.93 (mean OR = 0.61, SD = 0.16). Both plasma levels (RR = 1.01, OR = 0.37) and estimated intakes of lycopene from dietary sources (mean RR = 0.93, RR range = 0.80–1.05; mean OR = 0.67, OR range = 0.27–0.93) were examined. Seventeen studies, three of which were cohorts, reported their results at the level of tomato consumption rather than, or in addition to, lycopene consumption (mean RR = 0.89, RR range = 0.63–1.24; mean OR = 0.61, OR range = 0.37–0.80). The published epidemiologic literature shows an Interaction between study design and the relationship between lycopene and/or tomatoes and risk of lung cancer. Overall, cohort studies did not show an association, whereas case-control studies showed a decreased risk with greater consumption of lycopene and tomatoes. Altough lycopene can be found in the human lung, and there is evidence, albeit weak, for a protective association with lung cancer, its biologic role remains to be elucidated.
Two mechanisms of CCl4-induced fatty liver: lipid peroxidation or covalent binding studied in cultured rat hepatocytes.

With cultured hepatocytes it was studied whether CCl4-induced inhibition of secretion of VLDL and HDL from liver cells is a consequence of covalent binding of CCl4 metabolites (i.e. CCl3; CCl3OO.) to cell constituents or of membrane damage by lipid peroxidation. Comparing the kinetics of inhibition of lipoprotein secretion with that of CCl4-bioactivation it was found, that covalent binding of (14C)-CCl4 occurred at early time points (5 min) after CCl4 administration and inhibited the lipoprotein secretion. At 100 microM CCl4 it was depressed by 53% within 60 min. Incubations of CCl4-treated cells with increasing concentrations of vitamin E blocked lipid peroxidation, but lipoprotein secretion was still inhibited. Piperonyl butoxid, a radical scavenger, protected against CCl4-induced inhibition of lipoprotein section, lipid peroxidation and covalent binding. These results show that during the early phases of CCl4 poisoning fat accumulation is the consequence of covalent binding of CCl4 metabolites to cell structures.
Reading Fluency Estimates of Current Intellectual Function: Demographic Factors and Effects of Type of Stimuli

Abstract The study explores the potential clinical value of reading fluency measures in complementing demographic variables as indices of current intellectual capacity. IQ estimates (based on the PPVT-R, WASI Vocabulary and Block Design subtests) were obtained from a representative, non-clinical sample of 386 Greek adults aged 48–87 years along with two measures of reading efficiency (one involving relatively high-frequency words—WRE—and the second comprised of phonotactically matched pseudowords—PsWRE). Both reading measures (number of items read correctly in 45 s) accounted for significant portions of variability in demographically adjusted verbal and performance IQ indices. Reading measures provided IQ estimates which were significantly closer to those predicted by demographic variables alone in up to 22% of individuals with fewer than 7 (across all ages) or 13 years of formal education (in the 70–87 year age range). PsWRE scores slightly outperformed WRE scores in predicting a person's estimated verbal or performance IQ. Results are discussed in the context of previous findings using reading accuracy measures for low-frequency words with exceptional spellings in less transparent orthographic systems such as English. (JINS, 2013, 19, 1–7)