Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of ossification of the posterior rim of acetabulum in the developing hip and its impact on the assessment of femoroacetabular impingement.

BACKGROUND Many radiographic indices that are used to assess adolescents for femoroacetabular impingement rely on an ossified posterior acetabular wall. A recent study identified a secondary ossification center in the posterior rim of the acetabulum, the ossification of which may affect perceived acetabular coverage. The purpose of this study was to characterize ossification of the posterior rim of the acetabulum with use of a longitudinal radiographic study and quantify its impact on the radiographic assessment of femoroacetabular impingement. METHODS In this study, we utilized a historical collection of annual radiographs made in a population of healthy adolescents. Six hundred and twelve anteroposterior radiographs of the left hip of ninety-eight patients were reviewed to identify the appearance, duration, and fusion of the secondary ossification center in the posterior rim of the acetabulum. The center-edge angle was then measured before appearance and after fusion of the secondary ossification center in a subset of ten patients who had <5° of rotation on all radiographs. RESULTS The secondary ossification center in the posterior rim was identified in seventy-three of the ninety-eight subjects, with no significant difference between the sexes. The mean patient age at the time of radiographic appearance of this secondary ossification center was fourteen years for males and twelve years for females. The mean duration of radiographic appearance was ten months for both sexes. Serial center-edge angles were measured in a subset of ten patients, and they increased during posterior rim ossification by a mean of 4.1°. CONCLUSIONS The secondary ossification center in the posterior rim of the acetabulum (the posterior rim sign) is a common radiographic finding that reliably appears for ten months around the time of triradiate closure. Posterior rim ossification led to a mean increase of 4° of perceived acetabular coverage through the center-edge angle. Given the narrow margin between normal coverage (33° to 36°) and acetabular overcoverage (>40°), the use of radiographs in adolescents with incompletely ossified hips may lead to misinterpretation of acetabular coverage. In patients with open triradiate cartilage, magnetic resonance imaging may be considered for the assessment of femoroacetabular impingement. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The posterior rim ossification sign is a normal finding in adolescent hip development and has important implications for the proper evaluation of femoroacetabular impingement.
Living Well with Arthritis

Abstract This study examined leisure occupations and successful aging in a sample of older adults with arthritis. A phenomenological qualitative method was used in which data was gathered using an interview guide. The findings revealed three patterns of lived experiences: Continuing to Enjoy Lifelong Occupations, Distraction from the Pain, and Leisure Occupations for Successful Aging. These patterns indicated the benefits of engaging in leisure occupations and their relationship to successful aging. The study found that leisure occupations contribute to successful aging and contentment with life; leisure occupations provide meaning and purpose to life and support successful aging.
Resveratrol attenuated TNF-α–induced MMP-3 expression in human nucleus pulposus cells by activating autophagy via AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway

Resveratrol (RSV) is known to play a role of anti-TNF-α in a number of cell types. However, whether RSV modulates the effects of TNF-α on human nucleus pulposus (NP) cells is unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether RSV regulates TNF-α–induced matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) expression. Via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis, we found that MMP-3 expression induced by TNF-α was inhibited by RSV treatment. Depending on Western blot and qRT-PCR assay, we found that RSV induced autophagy in human NP cells, whereas inhibition of autophagy remarkably abolished the restraining role of RSV in the TNF-α–mediated up-regulation of MMP-3. Furthermore, RSV increased SIRT1 expression and SIRT1 knockdown significantly suppressed RSV-induced autophagy in NP cells. RSV also activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), while inhibition of AMPK notably abolished RSV-induced SIRT1 expression. Our data showed that RSV attenuated TNF-α–induced MMP-3 expression in human NP cells by activating autophagy via AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway. This new finding suggested that RSV might act as a novel preventive and therapeutic role in intervertebral disc degeneration.
Communities of Putative Ericoid Mycorrhizal Fungi Isolated from Alpine Dwarf Shrubs in Japan: Effects of Host Identity and Microhabitat

Dwarf shrubs of the family Ericaceae are common in arctic and alpine regions. Many of these plants are associated with ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) fungi, which allow them to take nutrients and water from the soil under harsh environmental conditions and, thus, affect host plant survival. Despite the importance of ERM fungi to alpine plant communities, limited information is available on the effects of microhabitat and host identity on ERM fungal communities. We investigated the communities of putative ERM fungi isolated from five dwarf shrub species (Arcterica nana, Diapensia lapponica, Empetrum nigrum, Loiseleuria procumbens, and Vaccinium vitis-idaea) that co-occur in an alpine region of Japan, with reference to distinct microhabitats provided by large stone pine (Pinus pumila) shrubs (i.e. bare ground, the edge of stone pine shrubs, and the inside of stone pine shrubs). We obtained 703 fungal isolates from 222 individual plants. These isolates were classified into 55 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) based on the sequencing of internal transcribed spacer regions in ribosomal DNA. These putative ERM fungal communities were dominated by Helotiales fungi for all host species. Cistella and Trimmatostroma species, which have rarely been detected in ERM roots in previous studies, were abundant. ERM fungal communities were significantly different among microhabitats (R2=0.28), while the host effect explained less variance in the fungal communities after excluding the microhabitat effect (R2=0.17). Our results suggest that the host effect on ERM fungal communities is minor and the distributions of hosts and fungal communities may be assessed based on microhabitat conditions.
The relationship of lumbar flexion to disability in patients with low back pain.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Physical therapists routinely assess spinal active range of motion (AROM) in patients with low back pain (LBP). The purpose of this study was to use 2 approaches to examine the relationship between impairment of lumbar spine flexion AROM and disability. One approach relied on the use of normative data to determine when an impairment in flexion AROM was present. The other approach required therapists to make judgments of whether the flexion AROM impairment was relevant to the patient's disability. SUBJECTS Fifteen physical therapists and 81 patients with LBP completed in the study. METHODS Patients completed the Roland-Morris Back Pain Questionnaire (RMQ), and the therapists assessed lumbar spine flexion AROM using a dual-inclinometer technique at the initial visit and again at discharge. RESULTS Correlations between the lumbar flexion AROM measure and disability were low and did not vary appreciably for the 2 approaches tested. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION Measures of lumbar flexion AROM should not be used as surrogate measures of disability. Lumbar spine flexion AROM and disability are weakly correlated, suggesting that flexion AROM measures should not be used as treatment goals.
Persistence and remission of ADHD during adulthood: a 7-year clinical follow-up study

Background Course and predictors of persistence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults are still largely unknown. Neurobiological and clinical differences between child and adult ADHD raise the need for follow-up studies of patients diagnosed during adulthood. This study investigates predictors of ADHD persistence and the possibility of full remission 7 years after baseline assessment. Method A 7-year follow-up study of adults with ADHD (n = 344, mean age 34.1 years, 49.9% males) was conducted. Variables from different domains (social demographics, co-morbidities, temperament, medication status, ADHD measures) were explored with the aim of finding potential predictors of ADHD persistence. Results Retention rate was 66% (n = 227). Approximately a third of the sample (n = 70, 30.2%) did not maintain ADHD criteria and 28 (12.4%) presented full remission (<4 symptoms), independently of changes in co-morbidity or cognitive demand profiles. Baseline predictors of diagnostic persistence were higher number of inattention symptoms [odds ratio (OR) 8.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.54–25.45, p < 0.001], number of hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04–1.34, p = 0.01), oppositional defiant disorder (OR 3.12, 95% CI 1.20–8.11, p = 0.02), and social phobia (OR 3.59, 95% CI 1.12–11.47, p = 0.03). Conclusions Despite the stage of brain maturation in adults suggests stability, approximately one third of the sample did not keep full DSM-IV diagnosis at follow-up, regardless if at early, middle or older adulthood. Although full remission is less common than in childhood, it should be considered as a possible outcome among adults.
Reversible regulation of P 2 Y 2 nucleotide receptor expression in the duct-ligated rat submandibular gland

Ahn, Jae Suk, Jean M. Camden, Ann M. Schrader, Robert S. Redman, and John T. Turner. Reversible regulation of P2Y2 nucleotide receptor expression in the ductligated rat submandibular gland. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 279: C286–C294, 2000. —Ligation of the main excretory duct of the rat submandibular gland (SMG) produces a pronounced atrophy that is reversed upon ligature removal. Based on previous studies by our group and others suggesting that P2Y2 nucleotide receptors are upregulated in response to tissue damage, we hypothesized that P2Y2 receptor activity and mRNA levels would increase after duct ligation and return to control levels after ligature removal. Our results support this hypothesis. Intracellular Ca mobilization in response to the P2Y2 receptor agonist UTP in SMG cells was increased significantly after ligation periods of 1.5 to 7 days, whereas no significant response was observed in the contralateral, nonligated gland. P2Y2 receptor mRNA, as measured by semiquantitative RT-PCR, increased about 15fold after 3 days of ligation. These increases reverted to control levels by 14 days after ligature removal. In situ hybridization revealed that the changes in P2Y2 receptor mRNA abundance occurred mostly in acinar cells, which also were more adversely affected by ligation, including an increase in the appearance of apoptotic bodies. These findings support the idea that P2Y2 receptor upregulation may be an important component of the response to injury in SMG and that recovery of normal physiological function may signal a decreased requirement for P2Y2 receptors.
Role of Cytokines in Allergic Airway Inflammation

Asthma is characterized by intense infiltration of eosinophils and CD4+ T cells into the submucosal tissue of airways. Accumulating evidence indicates that T helper type 2 cell-derived cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-13 play critical roles in orchestrating and amplifying allergic inflammation in asthma. In addition, it has been suggested that newly identified cytokines including thymic stromal lymphopoietin, IL-25 and IL-33 are involved in the induction of allergic inflammation in asthma. In this review, we discuss the role of individual cytokines in the pathogenesis of asthma.
A shared resource for syntactic processing in music and language: Evidence from musicians/non-musicians using local cue manipulation

Patel’s (2003) Shared Syntactic Integration Resource Hypothesis (SSIRH) claims that music and language are represented separately yet are processed according shared networks. According to the model, music and language place syntactic demands on this limited processing resource. The current study aims to test this hypothesis by combining linguistic ambiguity (sentences based on minimal attachment theory) and musical ambiguity (presentation of a non-diatonic chord sequence). The study extends previous research by manipulating local processing cues and examining musician/non-musician differences. A self-paced paradigm is used to present linguistic and musical stimuli, with on-line and off-line measures taken (response times and question accuracies, respectively). Main findings reveal longer processing times for ambiguous stimuli; a significant yet contrary result for condition (faster response times for concurrent music/language tasks); and a partial effect for local musical cue manipulation. The findings suggest a new direction for research into the SSIRH and possible applied benefits.
The Effects of Hardiness, Police Stress, and Life Stress on Police Officers' Illness and Absenteeism

A total of 60 police officers from seven suburban police departments were given a questionnaire twice over a six-month period. The results of four time-lagged hierarchical regression analyses showed that high levels of police stress and life stress (measured at Time 1) were significantly related to illness (measured at Time 2). Police stress (Time 1) was significantly associated with absenteeism (Time 2). Further, hardy police officers with a high level of police stress tended to have a high level of absenteeism than hardy officers with a low level of police stress, whereas nonhardy officers experienced a high level of absenteeism regardless of their level of police stress. Implications concerning the results of this study are discussed.
An investigation into pedagogical challenges facing international tertiary‐level students in New Zealand

Since the late 1990s, the overall number of international students studying at tertiary level in New Zealand has increased over 400% and, although enrolments have declined recently, there are still significant numbers of overseas students. This situation has brought continuing pedagogical challenges for tertiary teachers and students. The main purposes of this case study project were to uncover what was occurring within classrooms at one New Zealand university, what types of language and instructional styles were being used by lecturers, and which aspects of degree study international students found most difficult. It was anticipated that through developing a better understanding of key factors interacting with students' emerging academic literacy, improvements to educational practices in our multicultural, multilingual program could be established.
Prevalence of Papillomaviruses, Polyomaviruses, and Herpesviruses in Triple-Negative and Inflammatory Breast Tumors from Algeria Compared with Other Types of Breast Cancer Tumors

Background The possible role of viruses in breast cancer etiology remains an unresolved question. We hypothesized that if some viruses are involved, it may be in a subgroup of breast cancers only. Epidemiological arguments drove our interest in breast cancer subgroups that are more frequent in Africa, namely inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and triple-negative breast cancer. We tested whether viral prevalence was significantly higher in these subgroups. Materials and Methods One hundred fifty-five paraffin-embedded malignant breast tumors were randomly selected at the pathology laboratory of the University Hospital of Annaba (Algeria) to include one third of IBC and two thirds of non-IBC. They were tested for the presence of DNA from 61 viral agents (46 human papillomaviruses, 10 polyomaviruses, and 5 herpesviruses) using type-specific multiplex genotyping assays, which combine multiplex PCR and bead-based Luminex technology. Results Viral DNA was found in 22 (17.9%) of 123 tumors. The most prevalent viruses were EBV1 and HPV16. IBC tumors carried significantly more viruses (any type) than non-IBC tumors (30% vs. 13%, p<0.04). Similarly, triple-negative tumors displayed higher virus-positivity than non-triple-negative tumors (44% vs. 14%, p<0.009). Conclusions Our results suggest an association between the presence of viral DNA and aggressive breast cancer phenotypes (IBC, triple-negative). While preliminary, they underline the importance of focusing on subgroups when studying viral etiology in breast cancer. Further studies on viruses in breast cancer should be conducted in much larger samples to confirm these initial findings.
Gendered Realities and Women's Leadership Development: Participant Voices from Faith-Based Higher Education

Women who seek high-level administrative leadership positions in various sectors of higher education continue to meet a variety of barriers (Eagly & Carli, 2007). These challenges are especially evident among the 105-member Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), an association of faith-based liberal arts institutions. Seeking to identify, equip, and encourage more women to enter high-level positions of leadership, in 1998 the CCCU launched a series of year-long leadership programs, each of which began with a five-day Women's Leadership Development Institute (WLDI). During four institutes held between 1998 and 2004, the WLDI involved 71 “emerging leaders” in a multifaceted leadership development program specifically intended for women. Survey responses from 53 of the 71 participants were used to assess which experiences in the one-year WLDI project had been most significant in encouraging and preparing participants for higher-level administrative leadership. Multiple regression analyses indicated that the experiences perceived as most beneficial by the participants were the shadowing/mentoring experience on another campus, the WLDI participation restriction to women, and the informal conversations and networking with other women. The shadowing/mentoring experience had the greatest influence on increasing the participants’ confidence in themselves as academic leaders and changing their thinking about their own leadership potential. Participation in a leadership program that was limited to women was frequently cited as a source of encouragement for these participants to remain in Christian higher education. More than half of the survey respondents moved into broader leadership responsibilities within one year of participating in the WLDI.
Inflammatory Markers as Prognostic Factors of Survival in Patients Affected by Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Transarterial Chemoembolization

Introduction Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a good choice for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment when surgery and liver transplantation are not feasible. Few studies reported the value of prognostic factors influencing survival after chemoembolization. In this study, we evaluated whether preoperative inflammatory factors such as neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and platelet to lymphocyte ratio affected our patient survival when affected by hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods We retrospectively evaluated a total of 72 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma that underwent TACE. We enrolled patients with different etiopathogeneses of hepatitis and histologically proven HCC not suitable for surgery. The overall study population was dichotomized in two groups according to the median NLR value and was analyzed also according to other prognostic factors. Results The global median overall survival (OS) was 28 months. The OS in patients with high NLR was statistically significantly shorter than that in patients with low NLR. The following pretreatment variables were significantly associated with the OS in univariate analyses: age, Child-Pugh score, BCLC stage, INR, and NLR. Pretreated high NLR was an independently unfavorable factor for OS. Conclusion NLR could be considered a good prognostic factor of survival useful to stratify patients that could benefit from TACE treatment.
Clonal Evolution through Loss of Chromosomes and Subsequent Polyploidization in Chondrosarcoma

Near-haploid chromosome numbers have been found in less than 1% of cytogenetically reported tumors, but seem to be more common in certain neoplasms including the malignant cartilage-producing tumor chondrosarcoma. By a literature survey of published karyotypes from chondrosarcomas we could confirm that loss of chromosomes resulting in hyperhaploid-hypodiploid cells is common and that these cells may polyploidize. Sixteen chondrosarcomas were investigated by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array and the majority displayed SNP patterns indicative of a hyperhaploid-hypodiploid origin, with or without subsequent polyploidization. Except for chromosomes 5, 7, 19, 20 and 21, autosomal loss of heterozygosity was commonly found, resulting from chromosome loss and subsequent duplication of monosomic chromosomes giving rise to uniparental disomy. Additional gains, losses and rearrangements of genetic material, and even repeated rounds of polyploidization, may affect chondrosarcoma cells resulting in highly complex karyotypes. Loss of chromosomes and subsequent polyploidization was not restricted to a particular chondrosarcoma subtype and, although commonly found in chondrosarcoma, binucleated cells did not seem to be involved in these events.
Maternal Endotoxin-Induced Preterm Birth in Mice: Fetal Responses in Toll-Like Receptors, Collectins, and Cytokines

Major cause of prematurity is spontaneous preterm birth (PTB) associated with intrauterine inflammation. Our aim was to establish a model of endotoxin Lipopolysaccharide-induced PTB of live-born pups and to study early immune activation in fetal and maternal compartments. Expression of several proteins that bind microbes (Toll-like receptors TLR4, TLR2; surfactant proteins SP-A, SP-D) was analyzed. At 16 or 17 d of gestation, C57BL/6 dams received a single dose of intraperitoneal LPS, leading to PTB within 17 h. Cytokine levels increased in maternal serum, followed by a modest increase in fetal serum and in amniotic fluid. In uterus, placenta, and fetal membranes, LPS mostly increased the expressions of TLR, SPs, and cytokines. The number of TLR2-positive macrophages increased in labyrinthine placenta. In fetal lung, intestine, liver, and brain there were modest changes in cytokine expressions. In fetal lung, SP and TLR mRNAs decreased and TLR2-positive macrophages redistributed around vessels. LPS-induced fetal deaths associated with early age (16 d gestation) rather than with proinflammatory activation. Here we propose that maternal LPS response leads to PTB and acute decrease of immune proteins in epithelial lining of fetal lung. Instead, acceleration of lung maturity has been previously observed in intraamniotic inflammation.
Popular Theatre for Science Engagement: Audience Engagement with Human Cloning Following a Production of Caryl Churchill's A Number

Research into the role of fiction in engaging people with science is a growing area, but a little studied medium in this respect is ‘popular theatre’, or non-pedagogic theatre that exists primarily as a work of art. This study investigated audience engagement with human cloning issues after seeing a performance of Caryl Churchill's 2002 cloning-themed play, A Number, and compared this to the level and quality of engagement shown by people who participated in a group discussion about human cloning. The play prompted a majority of audience members to be engaged with human cloning, markedly increased the salience of the issue for its audience, and brought to light new perspectives on it for them. The proportion of people who reported thinking about human cloning two months after the play was quantitatively similar to those who took part in a group discussion, but the conversations that resulted from each stimulus were qualitatively different, with the play providing a concrete case study that grounded discussion. The unique contributions that popular theatre can offer science communication are discussed.