Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Obliterative lesions in a heterotopic bronchial xenograft model--a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND We further developed our heterotopic pig model of obliterative bronchiolitis to study airway obliteration in xenografts. METHODS Four domestic piglets each received 40 bronchial xenografts s.c. from a donor lamb. Piglet X was not immunosuppressed. The other animals received daily oral cyclosporine, 15 mg/kg (XC), or SDZ RAD, 1.5 mg/kg (XR), or both (XCR). Five implants at a time were serially removed from each animal during 17 days for histological assessment. RESULTS In contrast to the grafts of the others, the xenografts of XCR recovered after initial ischemic damage. No epithelial damage (P<0.01) or mural necrosis occurred on day 7. Airway obliteration developed in all, but was significantly delayed in XCR. CONCLUSIONS Invariably developing airway obliteration in nontreated xenografts was delayed by immunosuppression, making the model useful, especially in testing the efficacy of immunosuppressive drugs in a xenogeneic system.
HIGH‐SPEED POWER TRAINING: ANOVEL APPROACH TO RESISTANCE TRAINING IN OLDER MEN AND WOMEN.ABRIEF REVIEW AND PILOT STUDY

Over the past century, increases in both longevity and the number of older adults in the U.S.A. have given rise to greater numbers of functionally limited and disabled older adults. This has resulted in a decline in the quality of life of our elderly population, as well as an increased burden on our health care system. Resistance training (RT) with a strengthening component has traditionally been recommended to improve health and physical functioning in older adults. Muscle power (force + velocity), or the ability to produce force rapidly, has recently emerged as an important predictor of functioning in older men and women and has been the current focus of many RT studies. In this review, the physiological changes that contribute to the declines in muscle strength and power with aging will first be examined, followed by a discussion of the prevailing theories behind the use of traditional RT in older men and women. The rationale for high-velocity RT will then be explored, and the recent literature on novel training interventions designed to improve muscle power in older adults will be discussed. Finally, some preliminary evidence demonstrating the benefits of high-velocity power training in older men and women will be presented.
Comparison of bipolar vs. tripolar concentric ring electrode Laplacian estimates

Potentials on the body surface from the heart are of a spatial and temporal function. The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) provides useful global temporal assessment, but it yields limited spatial information due to the smoothing effect caused by the volume conductor. The smoothing complicates identification of multiple simultaneous bioelectrical events. In an attempt to circumvent the smoothing problem, some researchers used a five-point method (FPM) to numerically estimate the analytical solution of the Laplacian with an array of monopolar electrodes. The FPM is generalized to develop a bi-polar concentric ring electrode system. We have developed a new Laplacian ECG sensor, a trielectrode sensor, based on a nine-point method (NPM) numerical approximation of the analytical Laplacian. For a comparison, the NPM, FPM and compact NPM were calculated over a 400 /spl times/ 400 mesh with 1/400 spacing. Tri and bi-electrode sensors were also simulated and their Laplacian estimates were compared against the analytical Laplacian. We found that tri-electrode sensors have a much-improved accuracy with significantly less relative and maximum errors in estimating the Laplacian operator. Apart from the higher accuracy, our new electrode configuration will allow better localization of the electrical activity of the heart than bi-electrode configurations.
Rat models of spinal cord injury: from pathology to potential therapies

ABSTRACT A long-standing goal of spinal cord injury research is to develop effective spinal cord repair strategies for the clinic. Rat models of spinal cord injury provide an important mammalian model in which to evaluate treatment strategies and to understand the pathological basis of spinal cord injuries. These models have facilitated the development of robust tests for assessing the recovery of locomotor and sensory functions. Rat models have also allowed us to understand how neuronal circuitry changes following spinal cord injury and how recovery could be promoted by enhancing spontaneous regenerative mechanisms and by counteracting intrinsic inhibitory factors. Rat studies have also revealed possible routes to rescuing circuitry and cells in the acute stage of injury. Spatiotemporal and functional studies in these models highlight the therapeutic potential of manipulating inflammation, scarring and myelination. In addition, potential replacement therapies for spinal cord injury, including grafts and bridges, stem primarily from rat studies. Here, we discuss advantages and disadvantages of rat experimental spinal cord injury models and summarize knowledge gained from these models. We also discuss how an emerging understanding of different forms of injury, their pathology and degree of recovery has inspired numerous treatment strategies, some of which have led to clinical trials. Summary: In this Review, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the rat for studies of experimental spinal cord injury and summarize the knowledge gained from such studies.
Raman spectroscopy system with hollow fiber probes

A Raman remote spectroscopy system was realized using flexible hollow optical fiber as laser emittion and signal collection probes. A silver-coated hollow fiber has low-loss property and flat transmission characteristics in the visible wavelength regions. Compared with conventional silica optical fiber, little background fluorescence noise was observed with optical fiber as the probe, which would be of great advantages to the detection in low frequency Raman shift region. The complex filtering and focusing system was thus unnecessary. The Raman spectra of CaCO3 and PE were obtained by using the system and a reasonable signal to noise ratio was attained without any lens. Experiments with probes made of conventional silica optical fibers were also conducted for comparisons. Furthermore, a silver-coated hollow glass waveguide was used as sample cell to detect liquid phase sample. We used a 6 cm-long hollow fiber as the liquid cell and Butt-couplings with emitting and collecting fibers. Experiment results show that the system obtained high signal to noise ratio because of the longer optical length between sample and laser light. We also give the elementary theoretical analysis for the hollow fiber sample cell. The parameters of the fiber which would affect the system were discussed. Hollow fiber has shown to be a potential fiber probe or sample cell for Raman spectroscopy.
Rituximab in cutaneous B‐cell lymphoma: a report of two cases

We report two patients with primary cutaneous B‐cell lymphoma who were treated with rituximab, a new anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody. The first patient, who had a diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma of the lower leg, achieved an 85% improvement. The second patient, who had a primary cutaneous B‐cell lymphoma, which had undergone high‐grade transformation and systemic spread, achieved a minor response of approximately 30%. Both patients subsequently relapsed. The first patient achieved complete clearance with a second course of rituximab given with systemic chemotherapy, but again relapsed. Treatment with rituximab has been reported to produce response rates of 48% in relapsed systemic low‐grade or follicular lymphoma, but there are no previous reports of the use of rituximab in primary cutaneous B‐cell lymphoma.
High-resolution calculations of merging neutron stars - III. Gamma-ray bursts

Recent three-dimensional, high-resolution simulations of neutron star coalescences are analysed to assess whether short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) could originate from such encounters. The two most popular modes of energy extraction - namely the annihilation of and magnetohydrodynamic processes - are explored in order to investigate their viability in launching GRBs. We find that annihilation can provide the necessary stresses to drive a highly relativistic expansion. However, unless the outflow is beamed into less than 1 per cent of the solid angle, this mechanism may fail to explain the apparent isotropized energies implied for short GRBs at cosmological distances. We argue that the energetic, neutrino-driven wind that accompanies the merger event will have enough pressure to provide adequate collimation to the -annihilation-driven jet, thereby comfortably satisfying constraints on event rate and apparent luminosity. We also assess magnetic mechanisms to transform the available energy into a GRB. If the central object does not collapse immediately into a black hole, it will be convective and it is expected to act as an effective large scale dynamo, amplifying the seed magnetic fields to a few times 1017 G within a small fraction of a second. The associated spindown time-scale is 0.2 s, coinciding with the typical duration of a short GRB. The efficiencies of the various assessed magnetic processes are high enough to produce isotropized luminosities in excess of 1052 erg s-1 even without beaming. (Less)
Optogenetic Activation of a Lateral Hypothalamic-Ventral Tegmental Drive-Reward Pathway

Electrical stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus can motivate feeding or can serve as a reward in its own right. It remains unclear whether the same or independent but anatomically overlapping circuitries mediate the two effects. Electrical stimulation findings implicate medial forebrain bundle (MFB) fibers of passage in both effects, and optogenetic studies confirm a contribution from fibers originating in the lateral hypothalamic area and projecting to or through the ventral tegmental area. Here we report that optogenetic activation of ventral tegmental fibers from cells of origin in more anterior or posterior portions of the MFB failed to induce either reward or feeding. The feeding and reward induced by optogenetic activation of fibers from the lateral hypothalamic cells of origin were influenced similarly by variations in stimulation pulse width and pulse frequency, consistent with the hypothesis of a common substrate for the two effects. There were, however, several cases where feeding but not self-stimulation or self-stimulation but not feeding were induced, consistent with the hypothesis that distinct but anatomically overlapping systems mediate the two effects. Thus while optogenetic stimulation provides a more selective tool for characterizing the mechanisms of stimulation-induced feeding and reward, it does not yet resolve the question of common or independent substrates.
Endoscopic management of common patologies with a new suturing system.

BACKGROUND Overstitch endoscopic suturing system (Apollo Endosurgery. Austin, Texas) was created for NOTES procedures.As it demonstrated to be feasible, secure and effective in this field, further studies have evaluated its use in common gastrointestinal disorders in which current therapeutic tools, endoscopic or not, are not efficient or safe enough. Published results are promising. We present our initial experience with this system in the management of pathologies we usually face in our clinical practice. METHOD Suturing system was evaluated for: 1. Endoscopic fixation of metallic stent to prevent migration in patients with gastrointestinal non-neoformative pathology. 2. Outlet reduction in patients with weight regain following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. RESULTS During a period of 6 months Overstitch endoscopic suturing system was used in 5 patients: For stent fixation in 3 and for outlet reduction in 2. Technical success: Suture was performed in all the patients. Only 1 stitch was lost. Effectiveness: Stent fixation and outlet reduction were achieved in all the patients.However, in 1 patient the final anastomotic size was not close enough. Clinical success: Clinical recovery was achieved in all the patients in whom endoscopic stent fixation was performed. Thepatient which appropriated outlet closure developed a significant weight loss. The patient in which final size was not close enough did not lose weight. CONCLUSIONS We found Overstitch endoscopic suturing system feasible, safe and effective, as it has been previously described. We encourage the publication of further studies evaluating the real utility of this tool, mostly taking into account that it allows a successful management of usual disorders for which there are not current effective therapies.
Value Co-Creation and Trust in Social Commerce: an fsQCA Approach

This study aims to explain how value co-creation, between customers and companies, and key aspects of trust combine to influence customers’ purchase intentions in social commerce. Value co-creation is decomposed into two attributes, behavioral alignment, and empowerment and control, while trust is measured through the aspects of trusting beliefs, institutional trust, and disposition to trust. In order to examine the interplay of these factors and their combined effect on purchase intentions in social commerce, a conceptual model is developed and examined on a data sample of 379 users with experience in social commerce, through fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The findings indicate five configurations that lead to high intentions to purchase in social commerce, and three configurations that inhibit purchase intentions. The outcomes of the analysis show that value co-creation may be more important than trust in achieving high purchase intentions, while avoiding low/medium purchase intentions. This study contributes to the social commerce literature by demonstrating how value co-creation and trust interrelate and how their interplay influences purchase intentions.
First Evidence for the Decay B

Original citation: LHCb Collaboration (Including: Back, John J., Craik, Daniel, Dossett, D., Gershon, Timothy J., Harrison, Paul F., Kreps, Michal, Latham, Thomas, Pilar, T., Poluektov, Anton, Reid, Matthew M., Silva Coutinho, R., Whitehead, M. (Mark) and Williams, Matthew P.). (2013) First evidence for the decay B-s(0) -> mu(+) mu(-). Physical Review Letters, Volume 110 (Number 2). Article number 021801 . ISSN 0031-9007
Unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) reinforced with flax fibers, untreated and cold He plasma-treated: thermal, mechanical and DMA studies

Hemp, jute, flax, bagasse, coconut and bamboo fibers are some of the natural fibers that have attracted attention for the preparation of composite materials because of their low cost compared with synthetics fibers (glass, carbon). The performance of a natural fiber as reinforcement in composite materials is linked to its ability in term of adhesion with the synthetic matrix. This depends mainly on the quality of the fiber surface. In order to improve this adhesion, a thin reactive coating is generally used. In this study, cold He plasma treatments have been carried out on reinforcing flax fiber. Composites with unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) have been used with untreated flax fibers and plasma-treated fibers. The data characterizing the thermal, mechanical (dynamic and static) will be presented in order to analyze the efficiency of the He plasma treatment on the composite performances.
Use of a machine learning framework to predict substance use disorder treatment success

There are several methods for building prediction models. The wealth of currently available modeling techniques usually forces the researcher to judge, a priori, what will likely be the best method. Super learning (SL) is a methodology that facilitates this decision by combining all identified prediction algorithms pertinent for a particular prediction problem. SL generates a final model that is at least as good as any of the other models considered for predicting the outcome. The overarching aim of this work is to introduce SL to analysts and practitioners. This work compares the performance of logistic regression, penalized regression, random forests, deep learning neural networks, and SL to predict successful substance use disorders (SUD) treatment. A nationwide database including 99,013 SUD treatment patients was used. All algorithms were evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) in a test sample that was not included in the training sample used to fit the prediction models. AUC for the models ranged between 0.793 and 0.820. SL was superior to all but one of the algorithms compared. An explanation of SL steps is provided. SL is the first step in targeted learning, an analytic framework that yields double robust effect estimation and inference with fewer assumptions than the usual parametric methods. Different aspects of SL depending on the context, its function within the targeted learning framework, and the benefits of this methodology in the addiction field are discussed.
Notch Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics of Austempered Ductile Irons

In this paper the fatigue characterization of an austempered ductile iron (ADI) is presented. The aim of the work is to provide design engineers involved in fatigue assessments with an engineering tool suitable to deal with notches of different severity. Classically, U-notches are divided into blunt notches and sharp notches. The former are characterized by large notch tip radii such that the high cycle fatigue strength is controlled by the elastic peak stress, i.e. by the elastic stress concentration factor. The latter are characterized by reduced notch tip radii such that the effective stress which controls the high cycle fatigue strength is significantly lower than the elastic peak stress and their behaviour become similar to that of a crack having the same length. Blunt notches are assessed according to the classical Notch Mechanics principles, while sharp notches are treated with the Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics approach. After presenting the classical Frost diagram which highlights the different fatigue behaviour of sharp and blunt notches, fatigue test results generated from notches of different severity are presented as well as a synthesis in a diagram able to account for short cracks/notches, long cracks, sharp notches and blunt notches.
Changes in sexual behaviour leading to the decline in the prevalence of HIV in Uganda: confirmation from multiple sources of evidence

Objectives: To identify the changes in sexual behaviour that led to the dramatic reduction in the prevalence of HIV in Uganda in the early 1990s. Methods: Seven different types of evidence were examined: (1) models of HIV prevalence and incidence in Kampala and other sentinel sites in Uganda; (2) reports of behaviour change in the primary newspaper in Uganda; (3) surveys with questions about perceptions of personal behaviour change; (4) large demographic and health surveys (DHS) collected in 1988/9 and 1995 and large Global Program on AIDS (GPA) surveys in 1989 and 1995 with questions about reported sexual behaviour; (5) smaller less representative surveys of reported sexual behaviour collected in other years; (6) reports of numbers of condoms shipped to Uganda; and (7) historical documents describing the implementation of HIV prevention programmes in Uganda. Results: All seven types of data produced consistent evidence that people in Uganda first reduced their number of sexual partners prior to or outside of long-term marital or cohabiting relationships, and then increased their use of condoms with non-marital and non-cohabiting partners. Conclusions: Consistent with basic theories about transmission of sexually transmitted infections, first reducing the number of sexual partners and breaking up sexual networks and then reducing the chances of HIV transmission with remaining casual partners by using condoms can be achieved and can dramatically reduce the sexual transmission of HIV in generalised epidemics.
Adding Genetically Distant Individuals to Training Populations Reduces Genomic Prediction Accuracy in Barley

one of the most important factors affecting genomic prediction accuracy appears to be training population (Tp) composition. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of genomic relationship on genomic prediction accuracy and determine if adding increasingly unrelated individuals to a Tp can reduce prediction accuracy. To accomplish this, a population of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) lines from the University of Minnesota (lines denoted as MN) and North Dakota State University (lines denoted as ND) breeding programs were used for model training. predictions were validated using two independent sets of progenies derived from MN  MN crosses and ND  ND crosses. predictive ability sharply decreased with decreasing relationship between the Tp and validation population (Vp). More importantly, it was observed that adding increasingly unrelated individuals to the Tp can actually reduce predictive ability compared with smaller Tps consisting of highly related individuals only. reported results are possibly conditional on the relatively low marker density (342 single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNps]) used. Nevertheless, these findings suggest plant breeding programs desiring to use genomic selection could benefit from focusing on good phenotyping of smaller Tps closely related to the selection candidates rather than developing large and diverse Tps. A.J. Lorenz, Dep. of Agronomy and Horticulture, Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583; and K.P. Smith, Dep. of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108. Received 15 Dec. 2014. Accepted 30 Apr. 2015. *Corresponding author (lore0149@umn. edu). Abbreviations: BLUE, best linear unbiased estimate; CAP, Barley Coordinated Agricultural Project; DON, deoxynivalenol; FHB, Fusarium head blight; G-BLUP, genomic best linear unbiased prediction; HT, plant height; IBS, identity-by-state; LD, linkage disequilibrium; QTL, quantitative trait loci; RCBD, randomized complete-block design; RR-BLUP, ridge regression best linear unbiased prediction; SNP, single nucleotide polymorphism; TP, training population; VP, validation population. Published in Crop Sci. 55:2657–2667 (2015). doi: 10.2135/cropsci2014.12. 0827 © Crop Science Society of America | 5585 Guilford Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA All rights reserved. Published October 19, 2015