Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of Apolipoprotein B/Apolipoprotein A1 Ratio and Coronary Artery Stenosis and Plaques Detected by Multi-Detector Computed Tomography in Healthy Population

Despite the noninvasiveness and accuracy of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), its use as a routine screening tool for occult coronary atherosclerosis is unclear. We investigated whether the ratio of apolipoprotein B (apoB) to apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1), an indicator of the balance between atherogenic and atheroprotective cholesterol transport could predict occult coronary atherosclerosis detected by MDCT. We collected the data of 1,401 subjects (877 men and 524 women) who participated in a routine health screening examination of Asan Medical Center. Significant coronary artery stenosis defined as > 50% stenosis was detected in 114 subjects (8.1%). An increase in apoB/A1 quartiles was associated with increased percentages of subjects with significant coronary stenosis and noncalcified plaques (NCAP). After adjustment for confounding variables, each 0.1 increase in serum apoB/A1 was significantly associated with increased odds ratios (ORs) for coronary stenosis and NCAP of 1.23 and 1.18, respectively. The optimal apoB/A1 ratio cut off value for MDCT detection of significant coronary stenosis was 0.58, which had a sensitivity of 70.2% and a specificity of 48.2% (area under the curve, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.58-0.63, P < 0.001). Our results indicate that apoB/A1 ratio is a good indicator of occult coronary atherosclerosis detected by coronary MDCT.
Chaperone-enhanced purification of unconventional myosin 15, a molecular motor specialized for stereocilia protein trafficking

Significance Mutations in unconventional myosin 15 cause nonsyndromic autosomal recessive deafness, a common form of hereditary hearing loss in humans. Myosin 15 is required for the development of hair cell mechanosensory stereocilia that detect sounds within the inner ear. To our knowledge, our work offers the first insight into the biophysical properties of purified myosin 15. Using ensemble and single molecule techniques, we show that myosin 15 is a high-duty ratio motor, which is a characteristic of myosins that can move processively along actin filaments. We also introduce a new strategy for producing myosins by chaperone coexpression in Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells. This approach may help optimize expression of skeletal and cardiac muscle myosins, which are emerging as translational drug targets but are presently refractory to larger-scale purification. Unconventional myosin 15 is a molecular motor expressed in inner ear hair cells that transports protein cargos within developing mechanosensory stereocilia. Mutations of myosin 15 cause profound hearing loss in humans and mice; however, the properties of this motor and its regulation within the stereocilia organelle are unknown. To address these questions, we expressed a subfragment 1-like (S1) truncation of mouse myosin 15, comprising the predicted motor domain plus three light-chain binding sites. Following unsuccessful attempts to express functional myosin 15-S1 using the Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9)-baculovirus system, we discovered that coexpression of the muscle-myosin–specific chaperone UNC45B, in addition to the chaperone heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90) significantly increased the yield of functional protein. Surprisingly, myosin 15-S1 did not bind calmodulin with high affinity. Instead, the IQ domains bound essential and regulatory light chains that are normally associated with class II myosins. We show that myosin 15-S1 is a barbed-end–directed motor that moves actin filaments in a gliding assay (∼430 nm·s−1 at 30 °C), using a power stroke of 7.9 nm. The maximum ATPase rate (kcat ∼6 s−1) was similar to the actin-detachment rate (kdet = 6.2 s−1) determined in single molecule optical trapping experiments, indicating that myosin 15-S1 was rate limited by transit through strongly actin-bound states, similar to other processive myosin motors. Our data further indicate that in addition to folding muscle myosin, UNC45B facilitates maturation of an unconventional myosin. We speculate that chaperone coexpression may be a simple method to optimize the purification of other myosin motors from Sf9 insect cells.
Outbreak of Late-onset Group B Streptococcal Infections in Healthy Newborn Infants after Discharge from a Maternity Hospital: A Case Report

During a four-week period, four healthy term newborn infants born at a regional maternity hospital in Korea developed late-onset neonatal group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections, after being discharged from the same nursery. More than 10 days after their discharge, all of the infants developed fever, lethargy, and poor feeding behavior, and were subsequently admitted to the Korea University Medical Center, Ansan Hospital. GBS was isolated from the blood cultures of three babies; furthermore, GBS was isolated from 2 cerebral spinal fluid cultures. Three babies had meningitis, and GBS was isolated from their cerebral spinal fluid cultures. This outbreak was believed to reflect delayed infection after early colonization, originating from nosocomial sources within the hospital environment. This report underlines the necessity for Korean obstetricians and pediatricians to be aware of the risk of nosocomial transmissions of GBS infection in the delivery room and/or the nursery.
Enhanced Surface Plasmon Polariton Propagation Induced By Active Dielectrics

We present numerical simulations for the propagation of surface plasmon polaritons in a dielectric-metal-dielectric waveguide using COMSOL Multiphysics® software. We show that the use of an active dielectric with gain that compensates metal absorption losses enhances substantially plasmon propagation. Furthermore, the introduction of the active material induces, for a specific gain value, a root in the imaginary part of the propagation constant leading to infinite propagation of the surface plasmon. The computational approaches analyzed in this work can be used to define and tune the optimal conditions for surface plasmon polariton amplification and propagation.
Therapeutic hypothermia utilization among physicians after resuscitation from cardiac arrest*

Objective:We sought to evaluate current physician use of therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest, to ascertain reasons for nonadoption of this treatment, and to determine current cooling techniques employed. Design:Web-based survey. Setting:International physician cohort in the United States, UK, and Finland. Subjects:Physicians (MD or DO) caring for resuscitated cardiac arrest patients. Interventions:An anonymous Web-based survey was distributed to physicians identified through United States–based critical care, cardiology, and emergency medicine directories and critical care networks in the UK and Finland. Recipients were queried regarding use of postresuscitation therapeutic hypothermia. Measurements and Main Results:Of the final 13,272 surveys actually distributed to physicians, 2,248 (17%) were completed. Most respondents were attending physicians (82%) at teaching hospitals (76%) who practiced critical care (35%), cardiology (20%), or emergency medicine (22%). Of all replies, 74% of United States respondents and 64% of non–United States respondents had never used therapeutic hypothermia. United States emergency medicine physician adoption of cooling was significantly less than that of United States intensivists (16% vs. 34%, p < .05). The most often cited reasons for nonuse by respondents were “not enough data,” “not part of Advanced Cardiac Life Support guidelines,” and “too technically difficult to use. ” Factors associated with increased use included non–United States residence, critical care specialty, and larger hospital size. Conclusions:Physician utilization of cooling after cardiac arrest remains low. For improved adoption of therapeutic hypothermia, our data suggest that development of better cooling methodology and recent incorporation into resuscitation guidelines may improve use.
Object-Centered Neglect in Patients with Unilateral Neglect: Effects of Left-Right Coordinates of Objects

When patients with right-sided hemispheric lesions neglect information on the left side, with respect to what set of spatial coordinates is left defined? Two potential reference frames were examined in this study, one where left and right are defined with respect to the midline of the viewer and/or environment (viewer/env-centered) and the other where left and right are defined with respect to the midline of the object (object-centered). By rotating the stimulus 90 clockwise or counterclockwise, and instructing patients with neglect to report the colors appearing around the border of a stimulus, an independent measure was obtained for the number of colors reported from the left and right of the viewer/env- and from the object-based reference frame. Whereas significant object-centered neglect was observed only for upper case asymmetrical letters but not for symmetrical letters nor for drawings of familiar animals or objects, significant viewer/env-based neglect was observed with all the stimulus types. We present an account of the coexistence of neglect in more than one frame of reference and the presence of object-centered neglect under a restricted set of conditions.
Mandating Interlocks for Fully Revoked Offenders: The New Mexico Experience

Objective. In New Mexico, between July 1999 and December 2002, the installation of an ignition interlock was an optional judicial sanction for second and third driving-while-impaired (DWI) offenders. This is a study of the recidivism of 437 offenders who were convicted and installed interlocks for an average of 322 days during that period. Methods. The comparison group was a stratified random sample (N = 12,554) of the 20,949 offenders who were convicted during the same period but did not install interlocks. DWI arrest and conviction data for all study participants were received from the Motor Vehicle Department's Citation Tracking System. Results. Only 11 (2.5%) of the interlock offender group were rearrested for DWI while interlocks were installed, whereas 1,017 (8.1%) of the comparison group were rearrested during an equivalent 322-day period. Survival graphs and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to compare the interlock and noninterlock groups during installation, after installation, and for the entire period up to December 2004. Results indicate a reduction in recidivism of 65% during installation. After removal, there was no significant difference in recidivism rates in a 3-year follow-up period. Following all offenders for 4 years, including both the period while the interlock was installed and the period after its removal, indicates that the difference in recidivism achieved during installation, though not increased, is maintained, so at the end of 4 years, interlock users still have lower total recidivism than nonusers. Conclusions. The magnitude of interlock effectiveness reported here is similar to those in other published studies with comparable samples.
Membrane protein redistribution during Xenopus first cleavage

A large increase in surface area must accompany formation of the amphibian embryo first cleavage furrow. The additional membrane for this areal expansion has been thought to be provided entirely from cytoplasmic stores during furrowing. We have radioiodinated surface proteins of fertilized, precleavage Xenopus laevis embryos and followed their redistribution during first cleavage by autoradiography. Near the end of first cleavage, membrane of the outer, pigmented surface of the embryo and a short band of membrane at the leading edge of the furrow displayed a high silver grain density, but the remainder of the furrow membrane was lightly labeled. The membrane of the cleavage furrow is thus mosaic in character; the membrane at the leading edge originates in part from the surface of the zygote, but most of the membrane lining the furrow walls is derived from a source inaccessible to surface radioiodination. The furrow membrane adjacent to the outer, pigmented surface consistently showed a very low silver grain density and was underlain by large membranous vesicles, suggesting that new membrane derived from cytoplasmic precursors is inserted primarily in this location, at least during the later phase of cleavage. Radioiodinated membrane proteins and surface-attached carbon particles, which lie in the path of the future furrow, contract toward the animal pole in the initial stages of cleavage while markers in other regions do not. We suggest that the domain of heavily labeled membrane at the leading edge of the definitive furrow contains the labeled elements that are gathered at the animal pole during the initial surface contraction and that they include membrane anchors for the underlying contractile ring of microfilaments.
Medical Management of Pump-Related Thrombosis in Patients with Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Pump thrombosis is a dreaded complication of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). We completed a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy and complications associated with medical management of LVAD thrombosis. Databases were searched using the terms “vad*” or “ventricular assist device” or “heart assist device” and “thrombus” or “thrombosis” or “thromboembolism. ” Of 2,383 manuscripts, 49 articles met the inclusion criteria. The risk of partial or no resolution of LVAD thrombosis did not significantly differ between thrombolytic and nonthrombolytic regimens (odds ratio [OR], 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20–1.16). When response to therapy was evaluated based on pump type, there were no significant differences in how patients with a HeartMate II or HeartWare ventricular assist device responded to thrombolytic or nonthrombolytic treatment. Pooled risk of major bleeding in the thrombolytic group was 29% (95% CI, 0.17–0.44) and 12% (95% CI, 0.01–0.57) in the nonthrombolytic group. Odds of death did not differ between thrombolytic and nonthrombolytic regimens (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.42–3.89). Although thrombolytic and nonthrombolytic treatment similarly resolved LVAD thrombosis, major hemorrhage may be increased with the use of thrombolysis. Randomized clinical trials comparing thrombolytic and nonthrombolytic treatment of LVAD thrombosis are needed to establish the most effective and safe option for patients who are not surgical candidates.
Price Setting with Customer Retention Concerns

We consider a model where customers face frictions when changing their supplier, generating sluggishness in the rm’s customer base. Firms care about retaining customers and this aects their pricing strategy. We characterize optimal pricing in this model and estimate it using data on the evolution of the customer base of a large US retailer. The introduction of customer concerns reduces markups, more markedly for less productive rms. We show that our model delivers pro-cyclical markups, as well as heterogeneous pass-through of cost shocks. These results help explaining recent empirical evidence.
Oligoclonal Bands in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Black Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Genetic susceptibility is a well-recognized factor in the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of oligoclonal bands (OCB) restricted to the cerebrospinal fluid, in an ethnically mixed group of MS patients in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Techniques used to detect OCB consisted of isoelectric focusing followed by immunoblotting. OCB were found in 49 (54.4%) out of 90 patients with clinically definite MS; out of the 23 brown/black patients, 17 (73.9%) were OCB+; out of the 66 white patients, 32 (48.5%) were OCB+; and the only patient yellow was OCB+ (p = 0.05). Analysis of the IgG index was also consistent with the findings, but with lower statistical significance. The data presented in our study show that the ethnic differences in MS extend to the immune response.
Exponential synchronization of complex delayed dynamical networks with general topology

The global exponential synchronization of complex delayed dynamical networks possessing general topology is investigated in this contribution. The network model considered can represent both the directed and undirected weighted networks. Novel delay-dependent linear controllers are designed via Lyapunov stability theory and appropriate property of the coupling matrix. It is shown that the controlled network is globally exponentially synchronized with a given convergence rate. Two examples of typical dynamical networks with coupling delays of this class, one possesses directed and the other with undirected coupling topology, both having a Lorenz system at each node, have been used to demonstrate and verify the novel control design proposed.
Extracellular acidosis and high levels of carbon dioxide suppress synaptic transmission and prevent the induction of long‐term potentiation in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices

Long‐term potentiation (LTP) is a long‐lasting increase in synaptic strength induced by high frequency stimulation. LTP may participate in learning and memory formation. In many synaptic systems, LTP is dependent on intact function of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors. NMDA receptors may be inhibited in different conditions involving also extracellular acidosis. A decrease in the extracellular pH accompanies many pathological states such as ischemia, hypoxia, and the CNS injury. The study was designed to determine whether comparable extracellular acid‐base imbalances are able to interfere with the LTP induction. Hippocampal slices from adult rats were stimulated with high frequency stimulation (1 × 100 Hz/1 s) at Schaffer collateral‐commissural synaptic system in the environment with different pH (6.7–7.8) and the field responses were recorded in CA1. Acidosis was achieved by supplying excessive CO2 or by HCO3‐decrease in standard bicarbonate‐containing buffer or by a direct acidification of the buffer containing Na‐HEPES. Invariably, all forms of acidification suppressed the efficacy of normal, low frequency synaptic transmission and prevented the induction of LTP in a reversible manner; i.e., after reperfusion of the slices at pH 7.3 and restimulation, there was a return of synaptic transmission back to baseline, and a significant amount of LTP occurred. In contrast, alkalization to pH 7.8, although enhancing synaptic transmission efficacy, did not further increase the LTP magnitude compared to control environment with pH 7.3. The results suggest that extracellular acidosis associated with several pathological conditions in the CNS may significantly diminish the LTP induction, and thus negatively affect all physiological processes that utilize LTP. Hippocampus 1998;8:24–32. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Understanding Breast Health Awareness in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review of the Literature

: Breast cancer (BC) is a critical health concern in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A major factor influencing its incidence is the large proportion of younger Saudi women presenting with BC at an advanced stage. This systematic review aimed to explore health care providers' and women’s experiences and perspectives of breast health awareness in KSA. Electronic data databases: MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL and the Web of Science were searched from inception (1946) to February 2017. A systematic search using breast cancer or breast health headings and index terms was conducted. Papers were included if they focused on Saudi women and health care providers (HCPs), breast cancer and breast health awareness. This systematic review was guided by PRISMA guidelines and all relevant studies were individually assessed by the researcher using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme and Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust checklists and reviewed by all authors. Thematic synthesis of data was used to present the results. 56 studies inform this systematic review. There are no national breast cancer education programs or screening programs in KSA. The findings demonstrated a very limited evidence base related to breast health awareness. This limited evidence suggests that the combination of inadequate awareness among women and a reluctance to conduct breast screening and provide education to health care providers has attributed to the absence of screening programs. Breast education and screening programs need to be embedded in KSA. Empirical studies are required to rigorously assess women and HCPs knowledge and awareness towards BC in order to help inform policy and breast cancer education and screening programs. The findings are likely to resonate with countries in the Eastern world where breast education and screening services are under developed.
Capture–Recapture Sampling Designs

Summary You may have read this entry hoping that wewould provide speciﬁc details about the number ofanimals that should be marked or guidelines forspeciﬁc capture probabilities. When available, wehave referred to material that offers some insightsabout these features of designs. However, given therange of information we have covered, this reviewwas necessarily broad. Furthermore, recommenda-tions for design features such as sample sizes requireknowledge about the desired level of precision andpossibly information about logistical or ﬁnancial con-straints. Therefore, detailed design advice is difﬁcultto provide without additional information. We recom-mend that you use this review as a coarse level ﬁlterto decide which CR design is appropriate for yourinterest (Figure 1). After making this decision, westrongly urge you to investigate simulation modulesthat are components of various analysis software (e.g.the programs RELEASE and MARK [67]). Simula-tions can allow you to specify a range of scenariosand explore the details of a speciﬁc analysis ( see Sim-ulation and Monte Carlo methods). Although parameter estimation is the primarygoal of CR designs and analysis, this goal cannot
Linear precoding for the downlink of multiple input single output coexisting wireless systems

Coexisting radio systems, often called cognitive radio (CR), have attracted much attention because of the lack of spectrum resources and the low usage statistics of existing spectrum allocations. Interference suppression and cancellation are seen as key technologies for enabling coexisting systems, and the application of multiple antennas might be one solution to tackle interference. Linear vector precoding for downlink of multiple input single output CR systems is addressed. The maximum ratio transmission, zero forcing, optimal interference-free, and optimal interference-constrained (IC) precoding algorithms in the sense of minimum mean squared error (MMSE) are presented. Then the authors compare and analyse these algorithms under different channel assumptions. The simulation results show that the proposed IC precoding algorithm can maximise the utilisation of multiple antennas and greatly improve the system performance.
Local motion detection: Comparison of human and model observers

In the last chapter we introduced a model for local translation detection we called a ’planar power detector’. The purpose of this chapter is to experimentally test several qualitative properties of the model. The experiments involve comparing detection performance across a novel set of stochastic stimuli buried in white noise. The chapter is divided into several sections. In the first section, the basic properties of the model to be tested are outlined. The stochastic stimuli are then introduced, and the ideal observer for their detection is discussed. In the next section the experimental logic is explained and predictions are generated. The remaining sections present the results of the experiments and a general discussion.