Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of 5-Fluorouracil in Nuclear and Cellular Morphology, Proliferation, Cell Cycle, Apoptosis, Cytoskeletal and Caveolar Distribution in Primary Cultures of Smooth Muscle Cells

Colon cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in the world and is one of the leading causes of cancer death. The anti-metabolite 5- fluorouracil (5-FU) is widely used in the treatment of patients with colon cancer and other cancer types. 5-FU-based chemotherapy has been shown to be very efficient in the improvement of overall survival of the patients and for the eradication of the disease. Unfortunately, common side effects of 5-FU include severe alterations in the motility of the gastrointestinal tissues. Nevertheless, the molecular and cellular effects of 5-FU in smooth muscle cells are poorly understood. Primary smooth muscle cell cultures are an important tool for studies of the biological consequences of 5-FU at the cellular level. The avian gizzard is one of the most robust organs of smooth muscle cells. Here we studied the molecular and cellular effects of the chemotherapic drug 5-FU in a primary culture of chick gizzard smooth muscle cells. We found that treatment of smooth muscle cells with 5-FU inhibits cell proliferation by the arrest of cells in the G1 phase of cell cycle and induce apoptosis. 5-FU induced a decrease in the percentage of histone H3-positive cells. Treatment of cells with 5-FU induced changes in cellular and nuclear morphology, a decrease in the number of stress fibers and a major decrease in the number of caveolin-3 positive cells. Our results suggest that the disorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and the reduction of caveolin-3 expression could explain the alterations in contractility observed in patients treated with 5-FU. These findings might have an impact in the understanding of the cellular effects of 5-FU in smooth muscle tissues and might help the improvement of new therapeutic protocols for the treatment of colon cancer.
Association for Academic Surgery, 2006 Retained Foreign Bodies After Surgery 1

Background. Medical errors during surgery are not well studied. To define risk factors associated with this type of error, we performed a case control analysis. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed medical records involving the ICD-9 code (998.4) for unintentional foreign object remaining in the body during surgery and incident reports gathered by the Department of Risk Management over a 10 year period from 1996 to 2005. Thirty cases were matched with at least four randomly selected controls (131 control patients) that underwent the same type of operation during the same time period. Results. Thirty patients had retained foreign objects (52% sponges and 43% instruments). The abdominal cavity was most commonly involved (46%) followed by the thoracic cavity (23%) although no body cavity remained uninvolved. Eight patients required readmission (30%), 25 patients required reoperation (83%), and there was no mortality. When compared with controls, patients with retained foreign objects were more likely to have had a greater number of major surgical procedures at the same time (2.7 versus 1.8, P 0.004), to have multiple surgical teams (13% versus 2%, P 0.02), and more likely to have had an incorrect instrument/ sponge count recorded (13% versus 2%, P 0.01). In multivariate analysis, factors associated with a significantly higher risk of retained foreign objects were the total number of major procedures performed [odds ratio 1.6; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1–2.3; P 0.008] and an incorrect count (odds ratio 16.2; 95% CI, 1.3–197.8; P 0.02). Conclusion. Retained foreign objects after surgery are associated with multiple major surgical procedures
The Use of Classroom-based Brief Functional Analyses with Preschoolers At-risk for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract The efficacy of using brief functional analysis procedures in preschool classrooms for students at-risk for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was assessed. Participants in this study were 3 boys, ranging in age from 4–11 to 5–1. In their preschool classrooms, each of the boys exhibited frequent aggressive behavior that was deemed unmanageable by the teachers. Results of the functional analyses indicated that the aggressive behavior was maintained by either positive or negative reinforcement contingencies. For all 3 boys, the interventions developed from the functional analyses reduced problem behavior to zero or near-zero levels when implemented by either the consultant or teacher. Results are discussed in relation to the utility and practicality of implementing functional assessment procedures as a means of early intervention for children identified as at-risk for ADHD.
Prospective Comparison of a Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device and Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Patients With Cardiogenic Shock Following Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background Cardiogenic shock (CS) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) portends a poor prognosis. Both venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA‐ECMO) and a percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) provide hemodynamic support for patients with CS, but little is known about the best device for this population. We sought to compare outcomes of AMI patients treated with these devices. Methods and Results Consecutive patients with CS following AMI from April 2015 to March 2017 were enrolled prospectively if they received either device for AMI‐related CS. If patients received both devices, they were analyzed according to the first used. The primary outcome was all‐cause mortality. In total, 51 patients received VA‐ECMO or pVAD following AMI; 20 received VA‐ECMO, and 31 received pVAD. The mean age was 62.1±10.1 years, and 39 (76.5%) were men. Twenty‐four (47.1%) patients were ultimately supported by both devices simultaneously (20 pVAD‐first, 4 VA‐ECMO‐first). Patients treated with pVAD or VA‐ECMO were similar in baseline characteristics at initial device insertion except that the latter were on more vasopressors and were more likely to have an intra‐aortic balloon pump. Seventeen (33.3%) had recent cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mean lactate was 4.86±3.96 mmol/L, and mean cardiac index was 1.70±0.42 L/min per m2. Of the 28 (54.9%) patients surviving to discharge, 11 had received VA‐ECMO first and 17 had pVAD first (P=0.99). Survival at 1 and 2 years did not differ significantly between device groups (P=0.42). Conclusions Following AMI‐related CS, pVAD‐ and VA‐ECMO‐treated patients had similar outcomes. The use of both devices simultaneously was common, with almost half of patients in persistent CS after first device deployment.
Development of conceptual understanding and problem solving expertise in chemistry

How does the development of expertise influence problem solving performance? Specifically, do characteristics of expert behavior such as attention to deep features while problem solving and planning solution strategies emerge simultaneously or sequentially? Further, is there evidence that conceptual understanding of the meaning behind calculations can be attributed to differences in problem solving? An analysis of expert/novice problem solving revealed three stages of expertise. Novices failed to attend to deep features while problem solving (e.g., choosing which values to use in a formula) and failed to demonstrate planning of solution strategies. Advanced novices attended to deep features while carrying out specific problem steps, but did not use conceptual information to plan an effective strategy. Finally, experts attended to deep features and used conceptual information to plan effective solution strategies. An analysis of protocol data suggests that problem solving performance relates to a conceptual understanding of the quantities involved in calculations.
Impact of Intrauterine growth Retardation on the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Pancreas in Newborn Pigs

SummaryEffects of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) on the gastrointestinal tract and the pancreas were examined using a model of piglets with naturally occurring IUGR. IUGR was associated with significant reductions in gastrointestinal and pancreatic tissue weights. The reduction in tissue weight in the gastrointestinal tract was due to lowered cell numbers and was proportionate to the body as a whole. In contrast to the gastrointestinal tract, the reduction in the pancreas was due to both lowered cell numbers and smaller cell size and was disproportionately greater than the body as a whole. IUGR was associated with precocious occurrence of maltase and sucrase activities in the small-intestinal mucosa. The exocrine cells of the pancreas in the animals with IUGR appeared immature when compared with those in normal piglets. Further studies are required to examine the postnatal effects of IUGR on the gastrointestinal tract, the pancreas, and somatic development.
Mecanismos de atenuación en español e inglés: Implicaciones pragmáticas en la cortesía

This article aims to be an extension of the results presented in Ballesteros 2001. The analysis carried out there revealed that politeness is a culture-specific value which depends on the prevailing ethos of each society. Mitigation is an optional tool in order to soften the impositive force of a requestive act whose redressive function is exploited by many speakers who intend to be polite. The concern of this article will be the mitigating function of two kinds of devices: lexical or phrasal downgraders on the one hand, and syntactic downgraders on the other. The presence of such devices will be compared in the request realizations of two national samples constituted by Spanish and British native speakers.The requestive patterns have been extracted from sociopragmatically different situations. Among the issues to be considered are the specification of how contextual factors such as the interlocutors' role, their rights and obligations, and the degree of imposition involved in the act influence the choice of lexical and syntactic downgraders. The conclusion is that mitigation cannot be considered a totally transferable phenomenon in both languages. The pragmatic implications derived from the observed variation in degree of usage and frequency in both corpora are also assessed.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Saarland, Germany: The Long-Term Care Facility Study

Background Multiresistant organisms pose a threat for patients and care recipients. Control interventions need to be tailored to region, the type of institution considered, and risk factors. The German state of Saarland is ideally suited to study colonisation epidemiology throughout its various health and care institutions. After conclusion of a large admission prevalence study in acute care hospitals, we now performed a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) point prevalence study in Saarland long term care facilities (LTCF), allowing for a direct comparison with respect of MRSA prevalence and associated risk factors between these two institutional types located within a confined region. Methodology and Principal Findings Of all LTCF of the region, 65/136 participated in the study performed between 09/2013 and 07/2014. Overall, complete microbiological specimen and questionnaires of 2,858 of 4,275 (66.8%) LTCF residents were obtained. 136/2,858 (4.8%) screened residents revealed MRSA carrier status. Multivariate risk factor analysis yielded ulcer/deep soft tissue infection, urinary tract catheter, and MRSA history with multiple MRSA decolonisation cycles to be independently associated with MRSA carrier status. Conclusion As already known from previous studies, colonisation with MRSA is common in LTCF residents even in an area with relatively low MRSA prevalence. This found prevalence can now be related to the acute care admission prevalence (2.2%) as well as to the admission prevalence in acute care geriatric departments (7.6%). The common clonal attribution (spa type) of MRSA isolates prevalent in the LTCF population as well as in the acute care admission population points towards a close relationship between both types of institutions. However, the ostensible absence of risk factors such as “previous hospitalisation” in conjunction with newly identified factors such as “multiple decolonisation cycles” refers to MRSA colonisation risks independent of contact with acute care facilities. Overall, this large LTCF point prevalence study allows data-based, region-tailored decisions on MRSA screening policies and provides a basis for additional preventative measures.
Studies of Reduced Graphene Oxide and Graphite Oxide in the Aspect of Their Possible Application in Gas Sensors

The paper presents the results of investigations on resistance structures based on graphite oxide (GRO) and graphene oxide (rGO). The subject matter of the investigations was thaw the sensitivity of the tested structures was affected by hydrogen, nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide. The experiments were performed at a temperature range from 30 °C to 150 °C in two carrier gases: nitrogen and synthetic air. The measurements were also aimed at characterization of the graphite oxide and graphene oxide. In our measurements we used (among others) techniques such as: Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM); Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM); Raman Spectroscopy (RS); Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray Photoelectron Microscopy (XPS). The data resulting from the characterizations of graphite oxide and graphene oxide have made it possible to interpret the obtained results from the point of view of physicochemical changes occurring in these structures.
The Design Space of Augmented and Virtual Reality Applications for Assistive Environments in Manufacturing: A Visual Approach

Research on how to take advantage of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality applications and technologies in the domain of manufacturing has brought forward a great number of concepts, prototypes, and working systems. Although comprehensive surveys have taken account of the state of the art, the design space of industrial augmented and virtual reality keeps diversifying. We propose a visual approach towards assessing this space and present an interactive, community-driven tool which supports interested researchers and practitioners in gaining an overview of the aforementioned design space. Using such a framework we collected and classified relevant publications in terms of application areas and technology platforms. This tool shall facilitate initial research activities as well as the identification of research opportunities. Thus, we lay the groundwork, forthcoming workshops and discussions shall address the refinement.
Probability of reflection by a random laser.

A theory is presented (and supported by numerical simulations) for phase-coherent reflection of light by a disordered medium which either absorbs or amplifies radiation. The distribution of reflection eigenvalues is shown to be the Laguerre ensemble of random-matrix theory. The statistical fluctuations of the albedo (the ratio of reflected and incident power) are computed for arbitrary ratio of sample thickness, mean free path, and absorption or amplification length. On approaching the laser threshold all moments of the distribution of the albedo diverge. Its modal value remains finite, however, and acquires an anomalous dependence on the illuminated surface area.
Difficulties with Implementation of Goal Setting for Construction

Goal setting has an established record of improving the productivity of the workforce in manufacturing and service industries, and a programmatic use of goal setting and feedback has been shown to increase productivity by up to 20%. In addition, previous studies have shown that specific, difficult goals produce better performance than any of medium, easy, or do‐your‐best goals; or no goals. However, notwithstanding its potential for productivity improvement, attempts to apply goal setting to construction projects have been limited due to the inherent characteristics of the construction industry and the associated difficulties in implementation. Based on results obtained from two widely different studies, many of the obstacles for successful implementation of goal setting in the construction industry are explicitly identified, suggestions for dealing with them are advanced, and productivity is shown to increase from 10% to more than 20%.
Could autism with mental retardation result from digenism and frequent de novo mutations?

The high concordance for autism symptoms in monozygotic twin-pairs compared to di-zygotic twins and/or non-twin sib-ships suggests a high genetic determinism in autism. Those results have hypothesized multi-factorial determinism in accordance with family studies and mathematical models. However, linkage and association or candidate gene strategies have failed to-date to identify clearly involved mechanisms. Mental retardation (MR) is known as frequently associated to autism. Multiplex XLMR pedigrees have been reported with only one mutated patient having autism and MR: different X-located MR genes have been shown to be involved (NLGN4, MECP2, OPHN1, ZNF674 and FRAXA) which does not suggest that they could be “autism genes”. Tuberous sclerosis studies and report of numerous autosomal domains shown deleted in MR-autistic subjects suggest that several autosomal dominant (AD) genes could be also involved in MR with autism. Whereas multiplex AD-MR families are rare, AD de novo mutations could explain numerous sporadic situations of non-specific MR and of autism with MR, in accordance with twin studies. Finally, we hypothesize that in those autistic subjects with mendelian MR, the XL-MR or AD-MR gene (G1) would pave the way for a second Mendelian factor (G2) responsible for autism symptoms.
Linear mixed model for heritability estimation that explicitly addresses environmental variation

The linear mixed model (LMM) is now routinely used to estimate heritability. Unfortunately, as we demonstrate, LMM estimates of heritability can be inflated when using a standard model. To help reduce this inflation, we used a more general LMM with two random effects—one based on genomic variants and one based on easily measured spatial location as a proxy for environmental effects. We investigated this approach with simulated data and with data from a Uganda cohort of 4,778 individuals for 34 phenotypes including anthropometric indices, blood factors, glycemic control, blood pressure, lipid tests, and liver function tests. For the genomic random effect, we used identity-by-descent estimates from accurately phased genome-wide data. For the environmental random effect, we constructed a covariance matrix based on a Gaussian radial basis function. Across the simulated and Ugandan data, narrow-sense heritability estimates were lower using the more general model. Thus, our approach addresses, in part, the issue of “missing heritability” in the sense that much of the heritability previously thought to be missing was fictional. Software is available at https://github.com/MicrosoftGenomics/FaST-LMM.
Release of Biologically Active Peptides from Escherichia coli at Subzero Temperatures

Moss, C. Wayne (North Carolina State University, Raleigh), and M. L. Speck. Release of biologically active peptides from Escherichia coli at subzero temperatures. J. Bacteriol. 91:1105–1111. 1966. —Freezing and storage of Escherichia coli at −20 C in phosphate buffer resulted in loss of cell viability and a pronounced leakage of cellular material which had maximal absorption at 260 mμ. Greater loss in cell viability occurred when cells were frozen in distilled water, but only small amounts of 260 mμ absorbing material were detected. Unfrozen cells stored at 2 and 22 C in each menstruum showed little loss in viability, but cells in phosphate buffer released significant amounts of material during storage. Leakage material from cells in phosphate buffer contained greater amounts of ribonucleic acid and amino acids than did material from cells in distilled water. Leakage material from frozen cells contained protein in the form of peptides of relatively small molecular weight; this was not observed for unfrozen cells. These compounds protected a dilute cell suspension from the lethal effects of freezing, and also possessed biological activity for the recovery of cells which had been “injured” by freezing. Direct cell counts indicated that the material released was not a result of cell lysis.
Use of Digital Panoramic Radiographs in the Study of Styloid Process Elongation

This work aimed to evaluate the occurrence of suggestive images of styloid process elongation in panoramic radiographs, noting their frequency according to sex, age, and location, as well as measure and classify the types and patterns of calcification of elongated styloid processes. 2,500 panoramic radiographs were evaluated in a Radiology Clinic in Recife, PE, Brazil, performed between 2008 and 2010, with the age ranging from 25 to 80 years old. 560 of the radiographs analyzed fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of this total, 216 (38.57%) presented suggestive images of the styloid process elongation, 45 (20.8%) belonging to male and 171 (79.2%) to female, and 84.7% were bilateral. After all measurements, mean values of 35.5 mm (left side) and 37.6 mm (right side) were obtained and these differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The most common type of stretching found was elongated (type I) with 73.1%, and the pattern of calcification was partially calcified (62.5%). It was found that the elongation of the styloid process is an anatomical variation, which must be taken into account by dentists, and because panoramic radiography is a technique of easy approach and low cost and routine, it can be used to aid in the diagnosis of elongated styloid process.
CHILDREN'S CONCEPTIONS OF ELECTRIC CIRCUITS: THE ROLE OF CAUSALITY

Research on the misconceptions that children hold about simple electric circuits indicates a difficulty to conceive an electric circuit as a system where elements are acting concurrently rather than sequentially. In this paper we present the results of a study conducted, on the nature of causal factors involved in children's explanatory models about electric circuits. 104 elementary children from Nova Scotia in Canada were asked to solve simple problems and provide an explanation of their reasoning. The findings reveal that these children used causal rules with various levels of complexity: a simple linear model where a battery causes a bulb to light up, a complex linear model where two wires departing from a battery, meet in the bulb to create light and a cyclic model where the current moves around the circuit to keep the bulb lit up. Understanding the underlying causal assumptions of children's models for electric circuits may help teachers design activities to reduce children's difficulty in conceiving the systemic nature of electric circuits.