Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Management Guidelines for Hypotensive Pelvic Fracture Patients

Pelvic fractures are common in blunt trauma patients and are often associated with other system injuries. Most studies describe the type of pelvic fractures and classify them by the forces creating the injury. Mortality from these fractures is due most often to other system injuries or to hemorrhage. Mortality ranges from 5 to 20 per cent depending on complexity and number of systems injured. We studied 692 cases of pelvic fractures and analyzed the seriously ill patients. They were identified by blood pressure (BP) less than 90 systolic on presentation to the trauma room and having a complex pelvic fracture. The management of these patients was by a protocol used by a group of eight trauma surgeons. This group of 75 hypotensive pelvic fracture patients were analyzed to identify significant factors in their management that predicted mortality. Patients with base excess (BE) values ≤-5 were significantly more likely to die (P < 0.05). Patients with BP ≤90 on leaving the trauma room had a significantly higher mortality (P < 0.01). Injury Severity Score predicted mortality and can be useful as a tool for quality assurance and process improvement. The early operative intervention to fix associated fractures within 24 hours was not detrimental to patient outcome. Overall mortality in this very sick population was 14.7 per cent. Emergent angiography was used successfully on 14 patients. Seven patients died of continued bleeding. The most important management guidelines for these seriously injured, complex patients are: 1) resuscitate with BE used as a monitor; 2) keep patient blood volume as close to normal as possible; 3) use BP, BE, and ISS to evaluate management of these patients.
Toward Spatially Regulated Division of Protocells: Insights into the E. coli Min System from in Vitro Studies

For reconstruction of controlled cell division in a minimal cell model, or protocell, a positioning mechanism that spatially regulates division is indispensable. In Escherichia coli, the Min proteins oscillate from pole to pole to determine the division site by inhibition of the primary divisome protein FtsZ anywhere but in the cell middle. Remarkably, when reconstituted under defined conditions in vitro, the Min proteins self-organize into spatiotemporal patterns in the presence of a lipid membrane and ATP. We review recent progress made in studying the Min system in vitro, particularly focusing on the effects of various physicochemical parameters and boundary conditions on pattern formation. Furthermore, we discuss implications and challenges for utilizing the Min system for division site placement in protocells.
The Use of Brain Positron Emission Tomography to Identify Sites of Postoperative Pain Processing With and Without Epidural Analgesia

It is not known how different analgesic regimes affect the brain when reducing postoperative pain. We performed positron emission tomography (PET) scans on a 69-yr-old woman in the presence of moderate postoperative pain and then with epidural analgesia producing complete analgesia, during the first 2 days after total knee arthroplasty. Day 2 postsurgery PET scan data (no pain with epidural analgesia) were subtracted from Day 1 postsurgery PET scan data (time of moderate pain without epidural analgesia) to determine the brain regions activated. Postsurgical pain was associated with increased activity in the contralateral primary somatosensory cortex. Other brain regions showing increased postsurgical activity were the contralateral parietal cortex, bilateral pulvinar and ipsilateral medial dorsal nucleus of the thalamus, contralateral putamen, contralateral superior temporal gyrus, ipsilateral fusiform gyrus, ipsilateral posterior lobe, and contralateral anterior cerebellar lobe. This study demonstrates the feasibility of evaluating the central processing of acute postoperative pain using PET.
Pharmacodynamics of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents.

When a clinical dose of a competitive neuromuscular blocking drug is given I.V. to a patient, a period of latency is followed by a progressive onset of blockade until a maximum is reached after several minutes. Thereafter, the intensity of block declines gradually. The precise relationship between the dose of drug and the time-course of the effect is complex, being dependent upon both pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic factors. Following an examination of pharmacokinetic factors (Miller, 1982), this short review considers the relationship between the plasma concentration of drug and the effect. Numerous studies have sought to elucidate this relationship, using a wide variety of agents and experimental techniques, but controversy still surrounds the mechanism involved (Kopman, 1980; Feldman, 1981; Stanski, 1981). Accepted concepts will be presented first, followed by those which are arguable or simply speculative.
Experimental Observation of the Onset of Percolation in Freshwater Granular Ice

The inferred narrow range of crack densities of crustal rocks at depths >1 km has been interpreted to imply that crack networks at depth are in a state of criticality with densities restricted to values near the percolation threshold. Their state is critical in the sense that at crack densities above this threshold, both the permeability and compliance increase significantly, allowing pore fluids to disperse and stresses to relax, limiting further crack growth. This analysis assumes that the crack density percolation threshold is similar to that of crack networks composed of randomly located cracks, yet network structure due to crack growth processes is known to impact the percolation threshold. Using ice as a model material for rock, we show experimentally that near the brittle‐to‐ductile transition, the crack density at the percolation threshold depends on the strain rate. At higher strain rates, the strain at percolation is scale invariant, and the crack density percolation threshold is similar to that of random crack networks. At lower strain rates, the strain at percolation increases with sample size, and percolation occurs at crack densities significantly below that at which percolation occurs in random crack networks. Near the brittle‐to‐ductile transition in the deeper crust, crack growth and coalescence may depend on strain rate, changing the nature of crack network criticality.
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Globalization and Monetary Policy Institute How Much Asymmetry Is There in Bond Returns and Exchange Rates?

We measure asymmetries in the distribution of bond returns and exchange rates and test their statistical significance. Asymmetries are sizable when measured by the coefficient of skewness, a measure that is highly affected by outliers. In contrast, robustly measured asymmetries to outliers often disagree in sign or size, implying that much of the asymmetries measured by the coefficient of skewness can be attributed to extreme observations. Asymmetries in many government bonds returns are only statistically significant according to tests based on the coefficient of skewness. On the contrary, only tests based on robust measures indicate statistically significant asymmetries in the exchanges rates of Japanese Yen, a major funding currency for carry trades, as well as in New Zealand Dollar and Australian Dollar, major investing currencies for carry trades. This observation suggests that sources of asymmetry in carry trades and in government bond returns can be fundamentally different. seminar participants at the Bank of Japan and participants of the 8 th Conference for Applied Financial Economics for their helpful comments. The views in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Bank of Japan, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas or the Federal Reserve System.
INSL3 in the Ruminant: A Powerful Indicator of Gender- and Genetic-Specific Feto-Maternal Dialogue

The hormone Insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) is a major secretory product of the Leydig cells from both fetal and adult testes. Consequently, it is a major gender-specific circulating hormone in the male fetus, where it is responsible for the first phase of testicular descent, and in the adult male. In most female mammals, circulating levels are very low, corresponding to only a small production of INSL3 by the mature ovaries. Female ruminants are exceptional in exhibiting high INSL3 gene expression by the thecal cells of antral follicles and by the corpora lutea. We have developed a specific and sensitive immunoassay to measure ruminant INSL3 and show that, corresponding to the high ovarian gene expression, non-pregnant adult female sheep and cows have up to four times the levels observed in other female mammals. Significantly, this level declines during mid-pregnancy in cows carrying a female fetus, in which INSL3 is undetectable. However, in cows carrying a male fetus, circulating maternal INSL3 becomes elevated further, presumably due to the transplacental transfer of fetal INSL3 into the maternal circulation. Within male fetal blood, INSL3 is high in mid-pregnancy (day 153) corresponding to the first transabdominal phase of testicular descent, and shows a marked dependence on paternal genetics, with pure bred or hybrid male fetuses of Bos taurus (Angus) paternal genome having 30% higher INSL3 levels than those of Bos indicus (Brahman) paternity. Thus INSL3 provides the first example of a gender-specific fetal hormone with the potential to influence both placental and maternal physiology.
Role of CD8+ T Cells in Murine Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis

The course of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for multiple sclerosis, is affected by immunoregulatory T lymphocytes. When animals are immunized with encephalitogenic peptide of myelin basic protein and recover from the first episode of EAE, they become resistant to a second induction of this disease. Animals depleted of CD8+ T cells by antibody-mediated clearance were used to examine the role of CD8+ T cells in EAE. These cells were found to be major participants in the resistance to a second induction of EAE but were not essential for spontaneous recovery from the first episode of the disease.
Genetic, immune and vasoactive factors in the vascular dysfunction associated with hypertension in pregnancy

Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE) is a major complication of pregnancy that could lead to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The pathophysiological mechanisms of PE are not completely understood, but recent research has begun to unravel some of the potential mechanisms. Areas covered: Genetic polymorphisms and altered maternal immune response may cause impaired remodeling of the spiral arteries; a potential early defect in PE. Inadequate invasion of cytotrophoblasts into the decidua leads to reduced uteroplacental perfusion pressure (RUPP) and placental ischemia/hypoxia. Placental ischemia causes the release of biologically active factors such as anti-angiogenic factors, inflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species, hypoxia-inducible factors, and angiotensin II receptor autoantibodies. These vasoactive factors could cause systemic vascular endotheliosis and consequent increase in vascular resistance and blood pressure, glomerular endotheliosis causing proteinuria, cerebrovascular endotheliosis causing cerebral edema, seizures and visual disturbances, and hepatic endotheliosis, which may contribute to the manifestations of HELLP syndrome. PE-associated vascular endotheliosis causes a decrease in vasodilator mediators such as nitric oxide, prostacyclin and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor, an increase in vasoconstrictors such as endothelin-1, angiotensin II and thromboxane A2, and enhanced mechanisms of vascular smooth muscle contraction such as intracellular Ca2+, protein kinase C and Rho-kinase. Changes in matrix metalloproteinase activity and extracellular matrix cause vascular remodeling and further vasoconstriction. Expert opinion: Some of the genetic, immune and vasoactive factors involved in vascular endotheliosis could be used as biomarkers for early detection, and as potential targets for prevention and treatment of PE.
Unstable path routing in urban-scale WSN

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) may suffer from congestion at the nodes near the sink, and partition due to the failure of crucial nodes. In urban environments, mobile devices, such as vehicles and smart phones, present in the vicinity of the sensor field could be opportunistically used for data forwarding. Such devices, controlled by third parties, introduce paths that may appear for only very small intervals. This paper discusses how exploiting such unstable paths to shift the routing-related processing and communication load to more capable mobile devices can alleviate traffic congestion, improve fault tolerance and reduce WSN energy consumption.
MicroRNA-494 Is Required for the Accumulation and Functions of Tumor-Expanded Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells via Targeting of PTEN

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) potently suppress the anti-tumor immune responses and also orchestrate the tumor microenvironment that favors tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. The molecular networks regulating the accumulation and functions of tumor-expanded MDSCs are largely unknown. In this study, we identified microRNA-494 (miR-494), whose expression was dramatically induced by tumor-derived factors, as an essential player in regulating the accumulation and activity of MDSCs by targeting of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and activation of the Akt pathway. TGF-β1 was found to be the main tumor-derived factor responsible for the upregulation of miR-494 in MDSCs. Expression of miR-494 not only enhanced CXCR4-mediated MDSC chemotaxis but also altered the intrinsic apoptotic/survival signal by targeting of PTEN, thus contributing to the accumulation of MDSCs in tumor tissues. Consequently, downregulation of PTEN resulted in increased activity of the Akt pathway and the subsequent upregulation of MMPs for facilitation of tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Knockdown of miR-494 significantly reversed the activity of MDSCs and inhibited the tumor growth and metastasis of 4T1 murine breast cancer in vivo. Collectively, our findings reveal that TGF-β1–induced miR-494 expression in MDSCs plays a critical role in the molecular events governing the accumulation and functions of tumor-expanded MDSCs and might be identified as a potential target in cancer therapy.
The importance of immunophenotyping by flow cytometry in distinction between hematogones and B lymphoblasts

Hematogones are normal B-lineage lymphoid precursors in the bone marrow. B lymphoblasts are immature neoplastic cells present in patients with precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Hematogones and B lymphoblasts share characteristics, such as morphological similarity often indistinct and expression of the same antigens in immunophenotypic analysis. Increased numbers of hematogones in patients with B-ALL during regeneration of bone marrow after treatment for leukemia, in cases of disease relapse or marrow transplantation, may be subject to questions about the nature and prognosis of this immature cell. This article presents information about the morphological and immunophenotypic characteristics of B lymphoid precursors and verifies the relevance of immunophenotyping by flow cytometry (FC) in the distinction between those cells. This differentiation is essential to establish a correct prognosis and assist in medical decision about the most appropriate therapeutic scheme.
Influence of Body Mass Index (BMI) on Functional Improvements at 3 Years Following Total Knee Replacement: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background The number of patients presenting for total knee replacement who are classified as obese is increasing. The functional benefits of performing TKR in these patients are unclear. Aim To assess the influence pre-operative body mass index has upon knee specific function, general health status and patient satisfaction at 3 years following total knee replacement. Design Retrospective comparative cohort study using prospectively collected data from an institutional arthroplasty register. Methods 1367 patients were assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Medical Outcomes Trust Short Form-36 (SF-36) scores supplemented by a validated measure of satisfaction pre-operatively and subsequently at 1,2 and 3 year post-operatively. Comparisons were made by dividing the cohort into 4 groups based on body mass index (BMI) 18.5–25.0 kg/m2 (n = 253);>25.0–30.0 kg/m2 (n = 559);>30.0−35.0 kg/m2 (n = 373);>35.0 kg/m2 (n = 182). Results Despite lower pre-operative, 1 and 3 year WOMAC and SF-36 scores patients with the highest BMIs >35.0 kg/m2 experienced similar improvements to patients with a ‘normal‘ BMI (18.5–25.0 kg/m2) at 1 year (Difference in WOMAC improvement = 0.0 (95%CI −5.2 to 5.2), p = 1.00) and this improvement was sustained at up to 3 years (Difference in 1 year to 3 year improvement = 2.2 (95%CI: −2.1 to 6.5), p = 1.00). This effect was also observed for the SF-36 mental and physical component scores. Despite equivalent functional improvements levels of satisfaction in the >35.0 kg/m2 group were lower than for any other BMI group (>35.0 kg/m2 = 84.6% satisfied versus 18.5–5.0 kg/m2 = 93.3% satisfied,p = 0.01) as was the proportion of patients who stated they would have the operation again (>35.0 kg/m2 = 69.6% versus 18.5–25.0 kg/m2 = 82.2%,p = 0.01). Conclusion Obese and morbidly obese patients gain as much functional benefit from total knee replacement as patients with lesser body mass indexes. This benefit is maintained for up to 3 years following surgery. However, these patients are less satisfied with their knee replacement and almost a third would not have the operation again.
Extent of Hypoattenuation on CT Angiography Source Images in Basilar Artery Occlusion: Prognostic Value in the Basilar Artery International Cooperation Study

Background and Purpose— The posterior circulation Acute Stroke Prognosis Early CT Score (pc-ASPECTS) quantifies the extent of early ischemic changes in the posterior circulation with a 10-point grading system. We hypothesized that pc-ASPECTS applied to CT angiography source images predicts functional outcome of patients in the Basilar Artery International Cooperation Study (BASICS). Methods— BASICS was a prospective, observational registry of consecutive patients with acute symptomatic basilar artery occlusion. Functional outcome was assessed at 1 month. We applied pc-ASPECTS to CT angiography source images of patients with CT angiography for confirmation of basilar artery occlusion. We calculated unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios (RRs) of pc-ASPECTS dichotomized at ≥8 versus <8. Primary outcome measure was favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale scores 0–3). Secondary outcome measures were mortality and functional independence (modified Rankin Scale scores 0–2). Results— Of 158 patients included, 78 patients had a CT angiography source images pc-ASPECTS ≥8. Patients with a pc-ASPECTS ≥8 more often had a favorable outcome than patients with a pc-ASPECTS <8 (crude RR, 1.7; 95% CI, 0.98–3.0). After adjustment for age, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and thrombolysis, pc-ASPECTS ≥8 was not related to favorable outcome (RR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.8–2.2), but it was related to reduced mortality (RR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5–0.98) and functional independence (RR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1–3.8). In post hoc analysis, pc-ASPECTS dichotomized at ≥6 versus <6 predicted a favorable outcome (adjusted RR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.2–7.5). Conclusions— pc-ASPECTS on CT angiography source images independently predicted death and functional independence at 1 month in the CT angiography subgroup of patients in the BASICS registry.
The effects of smoking norms and attitudes on quitting intentions in Malaysia, Thailand and four Western nations: A cross-cultural comparison

This research investigated the influence of smoking attitudes and norms on quitting intentions in two predominantly collectivistic countries (Malaysia and Thailand) and four predominantly individualistic Western countries (Canada, USA, UK and Australia). Data from the International Tobacco Control Project (N = 13,062) revealed that higher odds of intending to quit were associated with negative personal attitudes in Thailand and the Western countries, but not in Malaysia; with norms against smoking from significant others in Malaysia and the Western countries, but not in Thailand; and with societal norms against smoking in all countries. Our findings indicate that normative factors are important determinants of intentions, but they play a different role in different cultural and/or tobacco control contexts. Interventions may be more effective if they are designed with these different patterns of social influence in mind.
Empirical Evidence for Iris Match Score Degradation with Time Lapse in ICE 2006 | NIST

It is widely assumed that, barring traumatic injury to the eye or eye surgery, a person’s iris does not change over time. This implies that iris recognition performance does not degrade as time increases after initial enrollment-also known as the template-aging problem. We present results of the ﬁrst study to investigate the validity of this assumption. We explore the effects of time lapse since enrollment on iris biometric match scores using a data set with four years time lapse between the earliest and most recent images of an iris (23 subjects, 46 irises, 6,814 total images). Experimental results are reported for three iris recognition algorithms. We ﬁnd that the empirical mean of the distribution for similarity scores between iris images of the same person changes over four years–in biometric parlance, the match or genuine distribution changes. The change is statistically signiﬁcant when comparing the mean of pairs of images taken within 120 days ( ∼ 4 months) and over 1200 days ( ∼ 3.25 years) for the three algorithms in our study. The mean of the match distribution changes so that the expected performance would degrade due to an increase in the false reject rate. Our results suggest that iris biometric templates undergo aging.
Heterogeneous Ice Nucleation Ability of NaCl and Sea Salt Aerosol Particles at Cirrus Temperatures

In situ measurements of the composition of heterogeneous cirrus ice cloud residuals have indicated a substantial contribution of sea salt in sampling regions above the ocean. We have investigated the heterogeneous ice nucleation ability of sodium chloride (NaCl) and sea salt aerosol (SSA) particles at cirrus cloud temperatures between 235 and 200 K in the Aerosol Interaction and Dynamics in the Atmosphere aerosol and cloud chamber. Effloresced NaCl particles were found to act as ice nucleating particles in the deposition nucleation mode at temperatures below about 225 K, with freezing onsets in terms of the ice saturation ratio, Sice, between 1.28 and 1.40. Above 225 K, the crystalline NaCl particles deliquesced and nucleated ice homogeneously. The heterogeneous ice nucleation efficiency was rather similar for the two crystalline forms of NaCl (anhydrous NaCl and NaCl dihydrate). Mixed‐phase (solid/liquid) SSA particles were found to act as ice nucleating particles in the immersion freezing mode at temperatures below about 220 K, with freezing onsets in terms of Sice between 1.24 and 1.42. Above 220 K, the SSA particles fully deliquesced and nucleated ice homogeneously. Ice nucleation active surface site densities of the SSA particles were found to be in the range between 1.0 · 1010 and 1.0 · 1011 m−2 at T < 220 K. These values are of the same order of magnitude as ice nucleation active surface site densities recently determined for desert dust, suggesting a potential contribution of SSA particles to low‐temperature heterogeneous ice nucleation in the atmosphere.