Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF EXPOSURE OF STAGED ORBITOZYGOMATIC AND RETROSIGMOID CRANIOTOMIES FOR LESIONS OF THE CLIVUS WITH SUPRATENTORIAL EXTENSION

OBJECTIVE A two-stage approach using orbitozygomatic (OZ) and retrosigmoid (RS) craniotomies is one option for the management of petroclival lesions with supratentorial extension. The goal of this study was to investigate the supratentorial and infratentorial exposures of the clivus obtained through this staged approach. METHODS Formalin-fixed, silicon-injected specimens underwent stereotactic imaging. Six paired OZ and RS craniotomies were performed. Neuronavigation was used to determine the areas and limits of exposure and to plot these areas on three-dimensional reconstructions of the skull base. RESULTS The mean area of exposure of the parasellar region and clivus through the OZ craniotomy was 640 ± 75 mm. Visualization of the parasellar region, cavernous sinus, and upper cranial nerves was achieved. The ventral brainstem corresponding to the cranial quarter of the clivus was visualized. The mean area of exposure of the clivus and petrous bone through the RS was 1930 ± 250 mm. In the cranial quarter of the clivus, there was a small region of overlap in exposure between the two craniotomies. The limits of exposure are described. CONCLUSION OZ and RS craniotomies provide complementary exposure with limited redundancy. Significant visualization of the parasellar region, clivus, and surrounding bony landmarks is obtained. The primary limitation is exposure of the contralateral half of Zones II and III of the clivus. This strategy represents a reasonable option for accessing paracentral petroclival lesions with a supratentorial extension.
Effect of adjunctive low level laser therapy (LLLT) on nonsurgical treatment of chronic periodontitis.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this split-mouth, double blinded, short-term, controlled clinical trial was to study the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) for treatment of chronic periodontitis. BACKGROUND DATA LLLT is reported to improve the outcome of traditional SRP, but the evidence is still weak. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixteen patients with a probing pocket depth (PPD) of 4-6 mm involving at least three teeth in each quadrant were recruited for the study. Afterwards, SRP quadrants were randomly assigned for 10 sessions of LLLT. RESULTS Results showed that when compared to sites treated with SRP alone, those treated with SRP+LLLT (10 sessions, 830 nm, 100 mW, 3 J per point, 3 J/cm(2)) exhibited greater reductions in PPD at 5 weeks and 3 months but not at 6 months. Further, SRP+LLLT-treated sites had a statistically significant increase in mean radiographic bone density when comparing 6- and 12-month data and overall from baseline to 12 months. There was a trend to reduce interleukin (IL)-1β but the difference between control and laser sites was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS SRP combined with LLLT improved radiographic bone density and short-term PPD reduction in patients with chronic periodontitis, but did not significantly affect either the gingival crevicular fluid of IL-1β or the gingival or plaque index.
Thrombospondin 1 binding to calreticulin‐LRP1 signals resistance to anoikis

Anoikis, apoptotic cell death due to loss of cell adhesion, is critical for regulation of tissue homeostasis in tissue remodeling. Fibrogenesis is associated with reduced fibroblast apoptosis. The matricellular protein thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) regulates cell adhesion and motility during tissue remodeling and in fibrogenesis. The N‐terminal domain of TSP1 binds to the calreticulin‐LRP1 receptor co‐complex to signal down‐regulation of cell adhesion and increased cell motility through focal adhesion disassembly. TSP1 signaling through calreticulin‐LRP1 activates cell survival signals such as PI3‐kinase. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that TSP1 supports cell survival under adhesion‐independent conditions to facilitate tissue remodeling. Here, we show that platelet TSP1, its N‐terminal domain (NoC1) as a recombinant protein, or a peptide comprising the calreticulin‐LRP1 binding site [amino acids 17‐35 (hep I)] in the N‐terminal domain promotes fibroblast survival under anchorage‐independent conditions. TSP1 activates Akt and decreases apoptotic signaling through caspase 3 and PARP1 in suspended fibroblasts. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt activity blocks TSP1‐mediated anchorage‐independent survival. Fibroblasts lacking LRP1 or expressing calreticulin lacking the TSP1 binding site do not respond to TSP1 with anchorage‐independent survival. These data define a novel role for TSP1 signaling through the calreticulin/ LRP1 co‐complex in tissue remodeling and fibrotic responses through stimulation of anoikis resistance. — Pallero, M. A. , Elzie, C. A. , Chen, J., Mosher, D. F. , Murphy‐Ullrich, J. E. Thrombospondin 1 binding to calreticulin‐LRP1 signals resistance to anoikis. FASEB J. 22, 3968–3979 (2008)
Reduced breast cancer mortality after 20+ years of follow-up in the Swedish randomized controlled mammography trials in Malmö, Stockholm, and Göteborg

Objective To analyze the age- and trial-specific effects of the breast cancer screening trials with mammography in Malmö, Stockholm, and Göteborg. Methods The original trial files were linked to the Swedish Cancer and Cause of Death Registers to obtain date of breast cancer diagnosis and date and cause of death. Relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using the evaluation model (only breast cancers diagnosed between date of randomization and date when the first screening round of the control group was completed were included in the analysis). Results Women aged 40–70 at randomization in the Malmö I and II, Stockholm, and Göteborg trials were followed-up for an average of 30, 22, 25, and 24 years, respectively. The overview of all trials resulted in a significant decrease of 15% in breast cancer mortality. The variation by consecutive 10-year age group at randomization was small—from 21% in the age group 40–49 to 11% in the age group 50–59. After adjustment for age, there was a significant reduction in breast cancer mortality in the Göteborg trial (26%), and a non-significant reduction in the Malmö I and II and Stockholm trials (12%, 15%, and 5.8%, respectively). Conclusions The overview showed a 15% significant relative reduction in breast cancer mortality due to invitation to mammography screening. Heterogeneity in age, trial time, attendance rates, and length of screening intervals may have contributed to the variation in effect between the trials.
Unstable Crack Propagation Under Severe Accident Scenario Conditions in a Pressurized Water Reactor

In the case of a severe accident scenario of a pressurized water reactor which includes cracking of the vessel bottom head, it is crucial to predict the leak rate and hence the crack size for the ex-vessel accident management. We present an experimental framework to analyze the crack propagation under such severe conditions for different 16MND5 French nuclear steel grades. An original experimental setup has been designed in order to perform bi-axial tests (tensile load independent of internal pressure) at high temperatures (1180K - 1280K) on tubular test spec-imens. The temperature loading and the mechanical loading can be set to reproduce the stress distribution of the hemispherical vessel bottom head submitted to an internal pressure. More-over, the test was designed to be easily transposable to the real structure in terms of crack propagation and depressurization thanks to an energy based scaling methodology. We observed the crack initiation and propagation with two high speed digital cameras. Force, internal pressure, displacement and temperature ﬁelds were also measured and synchronized with the optical measurements. The different creep stages are observed and characterized. The crack propagation and opening history have been measured. During crack initiation and propagation stages, the depressurization can be correlated with the crack geometry. Finally, the setup has been designed in order to validate future numerical analysis.
Endothelial Replacement and Angiogenesis in Arteriosclerotic Lesions of Allografts Are Contributed by Circulating Progenitor Cells

Background—Endothelial regeneration and angiogenesis in the intima of the arterial wall are key events in the pathogenesis of transplantation arteriosclerosis. The traditional hypothesis that damaged endothelial cells are replaced by remaining cells of the donor vessel has been challenged by recent observations, but the cell origins of large arteries and microvessels are still not well established. Methods and Results—Aortic segments were allografted between Balb/c and TIE2-LacZ (C57BL/6) mice expressing &bgr;-galactosidase (gal) in endothelial cells. &bgr;-gal+ cells in TIE2-LacZ vessels grafted to Balb/c mice completely disappeared, whereas the positive cells found in Balb/c aorta allografted into TIE2-LacZ mice 4 weeks after surgery indicated a host origin. En face analysis of allograft vessels displayed a unique distribution of &bgr;-gal+ cells on the surface at 3 days, 1 week, and 4 weeks. Interestingly, 35±19% &bgr;-gal+ cells were found in arterial segments allografted into chimeric mice with TIE2-LacZ bone marrows. Furthermore, endothelial cells of microvessels within allografts had a &bgr;-gal+ staining in the media at 1 week and in the neointimal lesions and adventitia at 4 weeks. Allograft studies in chimeric mice demonstrated that &bgr;-gal+ cells of microvessels in transplant arteriosclerosis were derived from bone marrow progenitors. Conclusions—We provide strong evidence that endothelial cells of neointimal lesions in allografts are derived from circulating progenitor cells and that bone marrow–derived progenitors are responsible for angiogenesis of the allograft, that is, the formation of microvessels in transplant arteriosclerosis.
Parasites of ornamental fish commercialized in Macapá, Amapá State (Brazil).

This study investigated the parasites fauna of four freshwater ornamental fish species in aquarium shops of Macapá, Amapá State, in addition to survey the commercialized fish species and sanitary conditions of aquarium shops. Different native and non-native ornamental fish species were found in aquarium shops, mainly Poecilidae. We examined 30 specimens of Xiphophorus maculatus, 30 Danio rerio, 30 Paracheirodon axelrodi, and 30 Corydoras ephippifer for parasites. Of the 120 fish examined, 22.5% were parasitized by one or more species and a total of 438 parasites were collected and identified. Parasites such as: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Monogenea, undermined Digenea metacercariae, Acanthostomum sp. metacercariae, Camallanus spp. , Bothriocephalus acheilognathi and Echinorhynchus sp. infected the hosts examined. Endoparasites in the larval stage showed the greatest diversity and Camallanus spp. was found in all hosts species examined. Paracheirodon axelrodi (43.3%) was the most parasitized host, while C. ephippifer (6.7%) was the least parasitized. Despite the low ectoparasites level, six species of endoparasites was observed, demonstrating that prophylactic and quarantine procedures were not fully adequate. Therefore, failures in prophylactic procedures on any link in the production industry of ornamental fish may cause parasite transmission to ornamental fish captured in different environments and localities.
Deep Brain Stimulation of the Fornix: Engaging Therapeutic Circuits and Networks in Alzheimer Disease.

A lzheimer disease (AD) is associated with several keymolecular pathwaydisturbances that contribute directly to its pathognomonic features: neurotoxic peptide accumulation, neuroinflammatory damage, and neuro-oxidative dysregulation. These pathological changes converge to produce widespread synaptic disruption in vulnerable regions of the brain in affected individuals, notably areas important for memory. Recently, deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the fornix, a white matter tract important for limbic function and episodic memory, has been trialed in patients suffering from AD. The results of these early studies suggest that forniceal DBS (f-DBS) engages circuits and networks in brain regions of individuals with AD that are potentially therapeutic, despite unyielding molecular pathology. These findings underscore the emerging idea that AD pathology can also be viewed as a dysfunction of distinct brain circuits, similar to other circuit disorders treated with DBS such as the corticobasal ganglia circuit in patients with movement disorders. This idea, backed by observations in experimental animals, has generated considerable interest in exploring the therapeutic potential of neuromodulation in patients with AD. Moreover, a phase II trial of f-DBS with a larger cohort is near completion. In this mini-review, we discuss the rationale for pursuing f-DBS as an approach for addressing memory impairment in patients with AD. We also highlight a number of unresolved topics currently being investigated with the goal of halting or reversing defects in neurotransmission and the resulting disturbance in cortical function in patients with AD.
Correlation between serum IL-1β and miR-144-3p as well as their prognostic values in LUAD and LUSC patients

Background IL-1β is an essential factor of inflammation initiation, and it also promotes malignant transformation, indicating its tumorigenic property. We aimed to investigate the correlation between IL-1β and miR-144-3p as well as their prognostic values in LUAD and LUSC patients. Results The IL-1β level in both LUAD and LUSC patients was significantly higher than that of healthy donors (P < 0.001). In both populations, patients with low IL-1β level had better prognosis than high IL-1β level (P < 0.001 and P = 0.010, respectively). In A549 cells, miR-144 showed the biggest expression change (−4.38 fold) after IL-1β exposure. In LUAD patients, a negative correlation was detected between IL-1β and miR-144-3p (r = –0.540, P < 0.001) and the high miR-144-3p group had better prognosis (P = 0.003), which was validated by TCGA data. Clinical stage, IL-1β and miR-144-3p were independent risk factors in LUAD patients. In vitro, IL-1β and miR-144-3p antagomir could enhance proliferation and miR-144-3p mimics would attenuate the promoting effect of IL-1β. Materials and Methods ELISA and qRT-PCR were applied respectively to detected cytokines and miR-144-3p in 129 LUAD, 54 LUSC and 40 healthy donors. Moreover, miRNA array was carried out for miRNA profiling. TCGA database was employed for validation, and follow up data were collected for prognosis evaluation. MTT assay and western-blot were carried out for proliferation evaluation. Conclusions In LUAD patients, the serum IL-1β level was correlated with miR-144-3p may affect miR-144-3p at transcriptional level. Both of them were independent risk factors for LUAD prognosis. In addition, IL-1β and miR-144-3p might mediate inflammation-promoted tumorigenesis in LUAD patients.
Streaming 3D deforming surfaces with dynamic resolution control

Real‐time streaming of shape deformations in a shared distributed virtual environment is a challenging task due to the difficulty of transmitting large amounts of 3D animation data to multiple receiving parties at a high frame rate. In this paper, we present a framework for streaming 3D shape deformations, which allows shapes with multi‐resolutions to share the same deformations simultaneously in real time. The geometry and motion of deforming mesh or point‐sampled surfaces are compactly encoded, transmitted, and reconstructed using the spectra of the manifold harmonics. A receiver‐based multi‐resolution surface reconstruction approach is introduced, which allows deforming shapes to switch smoothly between continuous multi‐resolutions. On the basis of this dynamic reconstruction scheme, a frame rate control algorithm is further proposed to achieve rendering at interactive rates. We also demonstrate an efficient interpolation‐based strategy to reduce computing of deformation. The experiments conducted on both mesh and point‐sampled surfaces show that our approach achieves efficient performance even if deformations of complex 3D surfaces are streamed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Individual and Interactive Effects of Socio-Ecological Factors on Dengue Fever at Fine Spatial Scale: A Geographical Detector-Based Analysis

Background: Large spatial heterogeneity was observed in the dengue fever outbreak in Guangzhou in 2014, however, the underlying reasons remain unknown. We examined whether socio-ecological factors affected the spatial distribution and their interactive effects. Methods: Moran’s I was applied to first examine the spatial cluster of dengue fever in Guangzhou. Nine socio-ecological factors were chosen to represent the urbanization level, economy, accessibility, environment, and the weather of the 167 townships/streets in Guangzhou, and then the geographical detector was applied to analyze the individual and interactive effects of these factors on the dengue outbreak. Results: Four clusters of dengue fever were identified in Guangzhou in 2014, including one hot spot in the central area of Guangzhou and three cold spots in the suburban districts. For individual effects, the temperature (q = 0.33) was the dominant factor of dengue fever, followed by precipitation (q = 0.24), road density (q = 0.24), and water body area (q = 0.23). For the interactive effects, the combination of high precipitation, high temperature, and high road density might result in increased dengue fever incidence. Moreover, urban villages might be the dengue fever hot spots. Conclusions: Our study suggests that some socio-ecological factors might either separately or jointly influence the spatial distribution of dengue fever in Guangzhou.
An improved method for detecting torpor entrance and arousal in a mammalian hibernator using heart rate data

ABSTRACT We used electrocardiogram (ECG) telemeters to measure the heart rate of hibernating Ictidomys tridecemlineatus (thirteen-lined ground squirrel). An increase in heart rate from 2.2 to 5 beats min–1 accurately identified arousal from torpor before any change in body temperature was detected. Variability in raw heart rate data was significantly reduced by a forward–backward Butterworth low-pass filter, allowing for discrete differential analysis. A decrease in filtered heart rate to 70% of maximum values in interbout euthermia (from approximately 312 to 235 beats min–1) accurately detected entrance into torpor bouts. At this point, body temperature had fallen from 36.1°C to only 34.7°C, much higher than the 30°C typically used to identify entrance. Using these heart rate criteria allowed advanced detection of entrance and arousal (detected 51.9 and 76 min earlier, respectively), compared with traditional body temperature criteria. This method will improve our ability to detect biochemical and molecular markers underlying these transition periods, during which many physiological changes occur. Summary: An increase in heart rate detects arousal from torpor long before body temperature changes in Ictidomys tridecemlineatus. Digitally filtered (Butterworth) heart rate data also detect entrance into torpor before body temperature changes.
Disruption of maternal DNA repair increases sperm-derived chromosomal aberrations

Male and female germ cells can transmit genetic defects that lead to pregnancy loss, infant mortality, birth defects, and genetic diseases in offspring; however, the parental origins of transmitted defects are not random, with de novo mutations and chromosomal structural aberrations transmitted predominantly by sperm. We tested the hypotheses that paternal mutagenic exposure during late spermatogenesis can induce damage that persists in the fertilizing sperm and that the risk of embryos with paternally transmitted chromosomal aberrations depends on the efficiency of maternal DNA repair during the first cycle after fertilization. We show that female mice with defective DNA double-strand break repair had significantly increased frequencies of zygotes with sperm-derived chromosomal aberrations after matings with wild-type males irradiated 7 days earlier with 4 Gy of ionizing radiation. These findings demonstrate that mutagenic exposures during late spermatogenesis can induce damage that persists for at least 7 days in the fertilizing sperm and that maternal genotype plays a major role in determining the risks for pregnancy loss and frequencies of offspring with chromosomal defects of paternal origin.
Financing Asset Sales and Business Cycles

Using a dynamic model of financing, investment, and macroeconomic risk, we investigate when firms sell assets to fund investments (financing asset sales) across the business cycle. The model reveals that financing asset sales entail a lower wealth transfer from equity to debt than otherwise identical but equity financed investments. Exploring the dynamics of this motive across business cycles helps explain novel stylized facts about asset sales and their business cycle patterns that cannot be rationalized by traditional motives for selling assets.
Risk Analysis of a Fuel Storage Terminal Using HAZOP and FTA

The size and complexity of industrial chemical plants, together with the nature of the products handled, means that an analysis and control of the risks involved is required. This paper presents a methodology for risk analysis in chemical and allied industries that is based on a combination of HAZard and OPerability analysis (HAZOP) and a quantitative analysis of the most relevant risks through the development of fault trees, fault tree analysis (FTA). Results from FTA allow prioritizing the preventive and corrective measures to minimize the probability of failure. An analysis of a case study is performed; it consists in the terminal for unloading chemical and petroleum products, and the fuel storage facilities of two companies, in the port of Valencia (Spain). HAZOP analysis shows that loading and unloading areas are the most sensitive areas of the plant and where the most significant danger is a fuel spill. FTA analysis indicates that the most likely event is a fuel spill in tank truck loading area. A sensitivity analysis from the FTA results show the importance of the human factor in all sequences of the possible accidents, so it should be mandatory to improve the training of the staff of the plants.
Decreased DACH1 expression in glomerulopathy is associated with disease progression and severity

Cell fate determination factor dachshund1 (DACH1) is a chromosome-associated protein that regulates cellular differentiation throughout development. Recent genome-wide association studies have show that missense mutation in DACH1 leads to hereditary renal hypodysplasia. Renal DACH1 expression can be used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We firstly characterized the function of DACH1 in normal and diseased renal tissue using immunohistochemistry to assess DACH1 in human renal biopsy specimens from 40 immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) patients, 20 idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) patients, and 15 minimal change disease (MCD) patients. We found that DACH1 expression was decreased in the nephropathy group relative to healthy controls. DACH1 staining in the glomerulus correlated positively with eGFR (r = 0.41, p < 0.001) but negatively with serum creatinine (r = −0.37, p < 0.01). In vitro, DACH1 overexpression in human podocytes or HK2 cells decreased expression of cyclin D1, but increased expression of p21 and p53, which suggested that DACH1 overexpression in human podocytes or HK2 cells increased the G1/S phase or G2/M cell arrest. Together, These findings indicate that DACH1 expression is decreased in glomerulopathy imply a potential role for DACH1 in the this development of human chornic glomerulopathy. These data suggest that DACH1 is a potential a marker of disease progression and severity for glomerular diseases.