Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Catalytic properties of yeast protein kinase C: difference between the yeast and mammalian enzymes.

With bovine myelin basic protein as a model common substrate, protein kinases C (PKC) purified from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and mammalian tissue (rat brain) were shown to exhibit clearly different catalytic properties. The major sites of phosphorylation in bovine myelin basic protein by the yeast PKC were identified: Thr-19, Thr-34, and Thr-65. These sites are distinctly different from those for the mammalian PKC: Ser-8, Ser-46, Ser-55, Ser-110, Ser-132, Ser-151, and Ser-161, which were previously identified [Kishimoto, A. , Nishiyama, K. , Nakanishi, H. , Uratsuji, Y. , Nomura, H. , Takeyama, Y. , & Nishizuka, Y. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 160, 12492-12499]. The results suggest that the yeast and mammalian enzymes may play distinct roles in cellular regulation. No evidence is available, however, that a yeast-type PKC exists in mammalian tissues. An oligopeptide containing the sequence around Thr-19 of bovine myelin basic protein, Lys-Tyr-Leu-Ala-Ser-Ala-Ser-Thr(19)-Met-Asp-His-Ala, can be used as a substrate for selective assaying of the yeast PKC.
Clinical experience with the new long-acting injectable testosterone undecanoate. Report on the educational symposium on the occasion of the 5th World Congress on the Aging Male, 9–12 February 2006, Salzburg, Austria

This symposium report summarizes first extensive clinical findings with injectable testosterone undecanoate (Nebido®) in hypogonadal patients showing clinical symptoms of androgen deficiency with or without erectile dysfunction (ED). This new testosterone formulation (1000 mg testosterone undecanoate in 4 ml castor oil) possesses nearly ideal long-term kinetics, i.e. sustained close mimicking of eugonadal testosterone serum levels without supra- or sub-physiological serum concentrations. The generally accepted administration scheme recommends the second injection 6 weeks after the first one followed by further injections every 12 weeks. Applying this regimen, administration intervals are drastically reduced in comparison to conventional i.m. testosterone preparations (e.g. about 16 injections of testosterone enanthate vs. 4–5 injections of testosterone undecanoate per year). Depending on the testosterone serum levels, individualized therapy is possible by shortening (every 10 weeks) or prolonging (every 14 weeks) the injection intervals. In hypogonadal patients with ED 58% respond to testosterone undecanoate alone. Best results are seen in diabetic hypogonadal patients. The regimen of injectable testosterone undecanoate administration ideally fits recommendations regarding pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety monitoring.
Distribution of specific intermediate‐filament proteins in the goldfish retina

The intermediate‐filament proteins expressed in the goldfish retina were investigated by immunohistochemistry and by immunoblotting. Polyclonal antibodies that previously had been raised against the goldfish optic nerve neurofilament (ON1 and ON2) and glial filament (ON3 and ON4) proteins were used in this study. Anti‐ON1/ON2 antiserum reacted on a retinal immunoblot with two proteins having molecular weights and isoelectric points corresponding to those of ON1 and ON2. Histologically, the most pronounced anti‐ON1/ON2 reactivity was observed in the ganglion cell layer of the goldfish retina. The anti‐ON3/ON4 antiserum reacted with a single protein on a retinal immunoblot. This protein had a molecular weight and isoelectric point which corresponded to the goldfish optic nerve glial filament proteins. This anti‐serum labeled horizontal cells in retina sections. Three previously unidentified goldfish visual‐pathway intermediate‐filament proteins sharing a molecular weight of 60K were observed on two‐dimensional gels of retinal cytoskeletal proteins and on retinal immunoblots which were probed with a monoclonal antibody which recognizes an epitope common to all intermediate Filament proteins.
Antioxidants and micronutrient supplementation in trauma patients

Purpose of reviewThis study reviews important nutrients responsible for oxidant–antioxidant balance in trauma patients requiring admission to the ICU and rationale for repletion of antioxidants using pharmaconutrition. Recent findingsOxidative stress is an underlying cause of critical illness due to oxidant–antioxidant imbalance. Multiple nutrients important to oxidative balance have been studied, yet much variety exists among the dosing, timing, and route of administration. Conflict also exists regarding the benefits of particular single nutrients and the effects of combination therapy. Anticipated results of the Reducing Deaths due to Oxidative Stress trial hope to provide further insight to the use of antioxidants in critically ill patients. SummaryThe goal of this review, though not exhaustive, serves to highlight recent significant studies regarding antioxidant use in the ICU setting while calling for sufficiently powered randomized, controlled trials to elucidate appropriate guidelines for antioxidant administration in regards to ideal dosing, route of administration, timing of administration, duration of therapy, and the role of single versus combination supplementation.
Clinical versus sonographic evaluation of acute appendicitis in children: a comparison of patient characteristics and outcomes.

PURPOSE Abdominal sonography has gained popularity in establishing the diagnosis of appendicitis in children with equivocal clinical presentations. However, no clear outcome benefits have been demonstrated to date. The authors conducted a retrospective study to compare the characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing appendectomy after clinical evaluation only with those undergoing the procedure after sonography. METHODS The charts of 454 consecutive patients undergoing appendectomy for acute appendicitis between January 1, 1998 and December 4, 1999 were reviewed. Patients operated on after clinical evaluation only were compared with patients operated on after abdominal sonography. RESULTS Forty-two percent of patients (n = 191) constituted the sonography group. When compared with the clinical group, these patients had higher prevalence of female gender (52% v 38%; P =.004), longer symptom duration (2.2 +/- 2.5 v 1.6 +/- 1.6 days; P =.003), higher incidence of preoperative in-patient observation (19% v 4%; P <.001), longer duration between evaluation and operation (8.0 +/- 3.9 v 4.9 +/- 2.9 hours; P <.001), higher incidence of normal appendices on pathologic examination (13% v 6%; P =.006), and higher incidence of postoperative abscesses or phlegmons (4.4% v 1.2%; P =.04). The groups did not differ significantly in age, hospital stay, incidence of complicated appendicitis, or incidence of wound infection. CONCLUSIONS Patients undergoing sonography before appendectomy have a longer delay before operation, a higher rate of misdiagnosis, and more postoperative complications. Limiting sonography to truly equivocal cases and using it early in the diagnostic workup may improve outcomes in this group of patients.
The Actual Balance of Power in Asia-Pacific: Determinants, Characteristics and New Trends

The present paper is structured around the following research objectives: (1) identification of the main characteristics of Asia-Pacific relations, strategic partnerships and regional rivalries; (2) justification of the need to address this topic both economically and geostrategically; (3) correlation between India’s intention to become a member of APEC (aimed at expanding its sphere of influence in the region), its Act East strategy and the invigoration of strategic partnerships with China’s competitors; (4) reactivation of the debate on principles of governance in Asia and the features of the Factory Asia, highlighting the roles played by China, Japan, ASEAN and India’s new role in the Asian economic integration; (5) the entry of the UK into the Asia-Pacific equation, supported, among other determinants, by the goal of expanding its sphere of influence worldwide.
Follow‐up actions from positive results of in vitro genetic toxicity testing

Appropriate follow‐up actions and decisions are needed when evaluating and interpreting clear positive results obtained in the in vitro assays used in the initial genotoxicity screening battery (i.e., the battery of tests generally required by regulatory authorities) to assist in overall risk‐based decision making concerning the potential effects of human exposure to the agent under test. Over the past few years, the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) Project Committee on the Relevance and Follow‐up of Positive Results in In Vitro Genetic Toxicity (IVGT) Testing developed a decision process flow chart to be applied in case of clear positive results in vitro. It provides for a variety of different possibilities and allows flexibility in choosing follow‐up action(s), depending on the results obtained in the initial battery of assays and available information. The intent of the Review Subgroup was not to provide a prescriptive testing strategy, but rather to reinforce the concept of weighing the totality of the evidence. The Review Subgroup of the IVGT committee highlighted the importance of properly analyzing the existing data, and considering potential confounding factors (e.g., possible interactions with the test systems, presence of impurities, irrelevant metabolism), and chemical modes of action when analyzing and interpreting positive results in the in vitro genotoxicity assays and determining appropriate follow‐up testing. The Review Subgroup also examined the characteristics, strengths, and limitations of each of the existing in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity assays to determine their usefulness in any follow‐up testing. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. , 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Primary Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 (HIV-2) Isolates Infect CD4-Negative Cells via CCR5 and CXCR4: Comparison with HIV-1 and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus and Relevance to Cell Tropism In Vivo

ABSTRACT Cell surface receptors exploited by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) for infection are major determinants of tropism. HIV-1 usually requires two receptors to infect cells. Gp120 on HIV-1 virions binds CD4 on the cell surface, triggering conformational rearrangements that create or expose a binding site for a seven-transmembrane (7TM) coreceptor. Although HIV-2 and SIV strains also use CD4, several laboratory-adapted HIV-2 strains infect cells without CD4, via an interaction with the coreceptor CXCR4. Moreover, the envelope glycoproteins of SIV of macaques (SIVMAC) can bind to and initiate infection of CD4− cells via CCR5. Here, we show that most primary HIV-2 isolates can infect either CCR5+ or CXCR4+ cells without CD4. The efficiency of CD4-independent infection by HIV-2 was comparable to that of SIV, but markedly higher than that of HIV-1. CD4-independent HIV-2 strains that could use both CCR5 and CXCR4 to infect CD4+cells were only able to use one of these receptors in the absence of CD4. Our observations therefore indicate (i) that HIV-2 and SIV envelope glycoproteins form a distinct conformation that enables contact with a 7TM receptor without CD4, and (ii) the use of CD4 enables a wider range of 7TM receptors to be exploited for infection and may assist adaptation or switching to new coreceptors in vivo. Primary CD4− fetal astrocyte cultures expressed CXCR4 and supported replication by the T-cell-line-adapted ROD/B strain. Productive infection by primary X4 strains was only triggered upon treatment of virus with soluble CD4. Thus, many primary HIV-2 strains infect CCR5+ or CXCR4+ cell lines without CD4 in vitro. CD4− cells that express these coreceptors in vivo, however, may still resist HIV-2 entry due to insufficient coreceptor concentration on the cell surface to trigger fusion or their expression in a conformation nonfunctional as a coreceptor. Our study, however, emphasizes that primary HIV-2 strains carry the potential to infect CD4− cells expressing CCR5 or CXCR4 in vivo.
Reform: in search of a rationale

Ada R. Barlatt Reform in Search of a Rationale 1999 Dr. Ronald Capasso School Administration The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards at Pleasantville. The district, a special needs (Abbott district), receives 85% of its funding from the state, therefore, must provide all children with a "Thorough and Efficient" education. Two separate groups of students were studied. One group represented the current students in grade 10 and the second group represented the current students in grade 9. Also included in the study were teachers, counselors, administrators and
Perineural invasion is not predictive of biochemical outcome following prostate brachytherapy.

PURPOSE The purpose of this article is to evaluate whether the presence of perineural invasion (PNI) in the biopsy specimen is predictive of 5-year biochemical disease-free outcome after prostate brachytherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Four hundred twenty-five patients underwent transperineal ultrasound-guided prostate brachytherapy using either 103Pd or 125I for clinical T1b/T3a NXMO (1997 American Joint Committee on Cancer) adenocarcinoma of the prostate gland from April 1995 to October 1999. No patient was lost to follow-up, and no patient underwent pathological lymph node staging. Two hundred twenty-one patients were implanted with 103Pd, and 204 patients were implanted with 125I. Of this cohort, 190 patients were implanted without supplemental beam radiation, and 235 received moderate-dose external-beam radiation therapy followed by a prostate brachytherapy boost. One hundred sixty-three patients received hormonal manipulation in conjunction with the brachytherapy implant (86 of these patients received moderate-dose external-beam radiation therapy before brachytherapy), and 262 patients were hormone naïve. Perineural invasion, defined as carcinoma tracking along or around a nerve within the perineural space, was identified in 105 patients (24.7% of the population). The median patient age was 68 years (range, 48-81 years). The mean follow-up was 37.1 +/- 15.2 months, and the median follow-up was 35.4 months (range, 6-74 months). Follow-up was calculated from the date of implantation. Biochemical disease-free survival was defined by the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology (ASTRO) consensus definition. RESULTS When Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed, the presence of PNI did not predict failure. When PNI was entered into a Cox regression analysis with evaluated clinical predictors of failure (age, clinical T stage, pretreatment prostate-specific antigen level, and Gleason score) or treatment parameters (use of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy, supplemental external-beam radiation therapy, and choice of isotope), PNI did not add to the predictive strength of these variables. The median disease-free prostate-specific antigen level was 0.1 ng/mL for the entire cohort. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that actuarial 5-year biochemical outcomes with a prostate brachytherapy approach that utilizes generous periprostatic margins is not dependent on the presence of PNI. In addition, PNI should not be used as an independent prognosticator in determining the need for combined-modality therapy in patients undergoing prostate brachytherapy.
Profit based unit commitment in competitive markets

The unit commitment of a thermal power producer is addressed which is based on the price behavior in the spot market. The classical unit commitment objective has been redefined to a profit-maximizing objective to match the competitive market. A new method using heuristic technique in coordination with dynamic programming and nonlinear programming has been proposed to solve the unit-scheduling problem. The proposed technique is first compared with the available techniques and is subsequently applied to the profit based unit commitment (PBUC) problem. The results are compared to evaluate the performance of the proposed technique and the implications of PBUC in the competitive market are discussed.
Simulation of DTC Strategy in VHDL Code for Induction Motor Control

This paper presents a simulation of direct torque control (DTC) strategy, used to control induction motors. This simulation was realized with Matlab and Modelsim programs. The Matlab/Simulink was used to simulate the motor dynamics and the inverter of the control system. The DTC strategy was executed in Modelsim using VHDL floating point
A simplified procedure for semi-targeted lipidomic analysis of oxidized phosphatidylcholines induced by UVA irradiation

Oxidized phospholipids (OxPLs) are increasingly recognized as signaling mediators that are not only markers of oxidative stress but are also “makers” of pathology relevant to disease pathogenesis. Understanding the biological role of individual molecular species of OxPLs requires the knowledge of their concentration kinetics in cells and tissues. In this work, we describe a straightforward “fingerprinting” procedure for analysis of a broad spectrum of molecular species generated by oxidation of the four most abundant species of polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholines (OxPCs). The approach is based on liquid-liquid extraction followed by reversed-phase HPLC coupled to electrospray ionization MS/MS. More than 500 peaks corresponding in retention properties to polar and oxidized PCs were detected within 8 min at 99 m/z precursor values using a single diagnostic product ion in extracts from human dermal fibroblasts. Two hundred seventeen of these peaks were fluence-dependently and statistically significantly increased upon exposure of cells to UVA irradiation, suggesting that these are genuine oxidized or oxidatively fragmented species. This method of semitargeted lipidomic analysis may serve as a simple first step for characterization of specific “signatures” of OxPCs produced by different types of oxidative stress in order to select the most informative peaks for identification of their molecular structure and biological role.
Hybrid wavenet model for short term electrical load forecasting

Precise electric load forecasting is very crucial in achieving better cost effective risk management plans. This can be achieved by a Short Term Electricity Load Forecasting (STLF) model. This paper proposed a Cascaded Feed-Forward BPN wavenet forecast model to perform the STLF. The model is composed of several neural networks along with wavelet transform. The historical electricity load data is processed using a wavelet transform technique. This load data is decomposed into several wavelet coefficients using the discrete wavelet transform (DWT). The several wavelet coefficients are then used to train the neural networks (NNs) and later, used as the inputs to the NNs for precise electricity load prediction. The Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) algorithm is selected as the training algorithm for the NNs. To obtain the final forecast, the outputs from the NNs are recombined using the same wavelet transform technique.
National surveillance of emergency department visits for outpatient adverse drug events.

CONTEXT Adverse drug events are common and often preventable causes of medical injuries. However, timely, nationally representative information on outpatient adverse drug events is limited. OBJECTIVE To describe the frequency and characteristics of adverse drug events that lead to emergency department visits in the United States. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Active surveillance from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2005, through the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance project. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES National estimates of the numbers, population rates, and severity (measured by hospitalization) of individuals with adverse drug events treated in emergency departments. RESULTS Over the 2-year study period, 21,298 adverse drug event cases were reported, producing weighted annual estimates of 701,547 individuals (95% confidence interval [CI], 509,642-893,452) or 2.4 individuals per 1000 population (95% CI, 1.7-3.0) treated in emergency departments. Of these cases, 3487 individuals required hospitalization (annual estimate, 117,318 [16.7%]; 95% CI, 13.1%-20.3%). Adverse drug events accounted for 2.5% (95% CI, 2.0%-3.1%) of estimated emergency department visits for all unintentional injuries and 6.7% (95% CI, 4.7%-8.7%) of those leading to hospitalization and accounted for 0.6% of estimated emergency department visits for all causes. Individuals aged 65 years or older were more likely than younger individuals to sustain adverse drug events (annual estimate, 4.9 vs 2.0 per 1000; rate ratio [RR], 2.4; 95% CI, 1.8-3.0) and more likely to require hospitalization (annual estimate, 1.6 vs 0.23 per 1000; RR, 6.8; 95% CI, 4.3-9.2). Drugs for which regular outpatient monitoring is used to prevent acute toxicity accounted for 41.5% of estimated hospitalizations overall (1381 cases; 95% CI, 30.9%-52.1%) and 54.4% of estimated hospitalizations among individuals aged 65 years or older (829 cases; 95% CI, 45.0%-63.7%). CONCLUSIONS Adverse drug events among outpatients that lead to emergency department visits are an important cause of morbidity in the United States, particularly among individuals aged 65 years or older. Ongoing, population-based surveillance can help monitor these events and target prevention strategies.
Electroacupuncture and splinting versus splinting alone to treat carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

Background: The effectiveness of acupuncture for managing carpal tunnel syndrome is uncertain, particularly in patients already receiving conventional treatments (e.g., splinting). We aimed to assess the effects of electroacupuncture combined with splinting. Methods: We conducted a randomized parallel-group assessor-blinded 2-arm trial on patients with clinically diagnosed primary carpal tunnel syndrome. The treatment group was offered 13 sessions of electroacupuncture over 17 weeks. The treatment and control groups both received continuous nocturnal wrist splinting. Results: Of 181 participants randomly assigned to electroacupuncture combined with splinting (n = 90) or splinting alone (n = 91), 174 (96.1%) completed all follow-up. The electroacupuncture group showed greater improvements at 17 weeks in symptoms (primary outcome of Symptom Severity Scale score mean difference [MD] −0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.36 to −0.03), disability (Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire score MD −6.72, 95% CI −10.9 to −2.57), function (Functional Status Scale score MD −0.22, 95% CI −0.38 to −0.05), dexterity (time to complete blinded pick-up test MD −6.13 seconds, 95% CI −10.6 to −1.63) and maximal tip pinch strength (MD 1.17 lb, 95% CI 0.48 to 1.86). Differences between groups were small and clinically unimportant for reduction in pain (numerical rating scale −0.70, 95% CI −1.34 to −0.06), and not significant for sensation (first finger monofilament test −0.08 mm, 95% CI −0.22 to 0.06). Interpretation: For patients with primary carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic mild to moderate symptoms and no indication for surgery, electroacupuncture produces small changes in symptoms, disability, function, dexterity and pinch strength when added to nocturnal splinting. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Register no. ChiCTR-TRC-11001655 (www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx? proj=7890); subsequently deposited in the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (apps.who.int/trialsearch/Trial2.aspx? TrialID=ChiCTR-TRC-11001655).