Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of Angiographic Determination of Left Main Coronary Arterial Narrowing: Angiographic‐Histologic Correlative Analysis in 28 Patients

To evaluate the accuracy of coronary angiography in identifying severe narrowing of the left main coronary artery (LMCA), the degree of narrowing observed by angiography was compared to that observed at necropsy in 28 patients with symptomatic coronary heart disease in whom angiography had been performed within 40 days of death. The angiograms were evaluated independently by three experienced angiographers. In 20 of the 28 patients (71%), the degree of narrowing of the LMCA was either underestimated (13 patients) or overestimated (10 patients) by two or three of three angiographers; of 84 angiographic judgments made by the three angiographers in the 28 patients, 54 (64%) were underestimates (33 judgments, 39%) or overestimates (21 judgments, 25%) of the degree of LMCA narrowing. Of 12 LMCAs narrowed 76–100% in cross-sectional area at necropsy, six were underestimated at preoperative angiography by two or three of three angiographers; of 12 LMCAs narrowed 51–75% in cross-sectional area at necropsy, all 12 were either under- or overestimated angiographically by two or three of three angiographers; of four LMCAs narrowed 26–50% in cross-section at necropsy, two were overestimated by two of three angiographers. Thus, angiographic determination of degrees of narrowing of the LMCA during life is subject to considerable error. The angiographic errors appear to have resulted primarily from the presence of atherosclerotic plaque in the LMCA and an insufficient number of angiographic projections.
New Solar Opacities, Abundances, Helioseismology, and Neutrino Fluxes

We construct solar models with the newly calculated radiative opacities from the Opacity Project (OP) and with recently determined (lower) heavy-element abundances. We compare the results from the new models with the predictions of a series of models that use OPAL radiative opacities, older determinations of the surface heavy-element abundances, and refinements of nuclear reaction rates. For all the variations we consider, solar models that are constructed with the newer and lower heavy-element abundances advocated by Asplund et al. disagree by much more than the estimated measuring errors with the helioseismological determinations of the depth of the solar convective zone, the surface helium composition, the internal sound speeds, and the density profile. Using the new OP radiative opacities, the ratio of the 8B neutrino flux calculated with the older and larger heavy-element abundances (or with the newer and lower heavy-element abundances) to the total neutrino flux measured by the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory is 1.09 (0.87) with a 9% experimental uncertainty and a 16% theoretical uncertainty, 1 σ errors.
Delft-Java link translation buffer

Describes the hardware support in the Delft-Java processor which enables efficient dynamic linking of Java programs. The proposed mechanism supports method invocation of dynamically linked classes through the use of a link translation buffer (LTB). Since our instruction set architecture directly supports dynamically linked method invocation, the LTB is architecturally transparent to the executing program. The operation of the LTB is described and preliminary performance results are reported. Method invocation differences between the C++ programming language and the Java programming language are outlined. Preliminary performance results for the LTB suggest that program performance may improve from 1.1/spl times/ to 1.5/spl times/ when a suitable LTB is used to cache frequently utilized methods.
Facial myokymia in multiple system atrophy

Two patients are described with clinical and neuroimaging features consistent with a diagnosis of multiple system atrophy (MSA). The patients are unusual in that facial myokymia became apparent clinically at some stage in their illness. In each patient, the nature and severity of the involuntary facial movements evolved over the course of the illness. Electrophysiologically the movement pattern was consistent with myokymia, and studies of blink‐reflex responses suggested that the myokymic discharges were of brainstem origin. Involuntary facial movements described as facial action myoclonus with electrical characteristics consistent with myoclonus have been described previously in hereditary olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA). Our report describes electrical and clinical features of facial myokymia in MSA with electrical features suggesting hyperexcitability of the facial motorneurons in the brainstem. Such myokymic movements may occur more frequently in MSA than previously recognised but may be missed clinically because of their evolving nature.
Nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIA mediates integrin LFA-1 de-adhesion during T lymphocyte migration

Precise spatial and temporal regulation of cell adhesion and de-adhesion is critical for dynamic lymphocyte migration. Although a great deal of information has been learned about integrin lymphocyte function–associated antigen (LFA)-1 adhesion, the mechanism that regulates efficient LFA-1 de-adhesion from intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 during T lymphocyte migration is unknown. Here, we show that nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIA (MyH9) is recruited to LFA-1 at the uropod of migrating T lymphocytes, and inhibition of the association of MyH9 with LFA-1 results in extreme uropod elongation, defective tail detachment, and decreased lymphocyte migration on ICAM-1, without affecting LFA-1 activation by chemokine CXCL-12. This defect was reversed by a small molecule antagonist that inhibits both LFA-1 affinity and avidity regulation, but not by an antagonist that inhibits only affinity regulation. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy of the contact zone between migrating T lymphocytes and ICAM-1 substrate revealed that inactive LFA-1 is selectively localized to the posterior of polarized T lymphocytes, whereas active LFA-1 is localized to their anterior. Thus, during T lymphocyte migration, uropodal adhesion depends on LFA-1 avidity, where MyH9 serves as a key mechanical link between LFA-1 and the cytoskeleton that is critical for LFA-1 de-adhesion.
Cervicogenic headache in the general population: The Akershus study of chronic headache

Objective: The objective was to study the prevalence of cervicogenic headache (CEH) in the general population. Methods: An age- and gender-stratified random sample of 30,000 persons aged 30–44 years received a mailed questionnaire. Those with self-reported chronic headache were interviewed by neurological residents. The criteria of the Cervicogenic Headache International Study Group and the International Classification of Headache Disorders, second edition, were applied. Results: The questionnaire response rate was 71% and the participation rate of the interview was 74%. The prevalence of CEH was 0.17% in the general population, with a female preponderance. Fifty per cent had co-occurrence of medication overuse and 42% had co-occurrence of migraine. The pericranial muscle tenderness score was significantly higher on the pain than non-pain side (p < .005). The cervical range of motion was significantly reduced compared to healthy controls (p < .005). The mean duration of CEH was eight years. Based on patients' self-reports, greater occipital nerve (GON) blockage and cryotherapy was reported effective in 90% of those who had this procedure, while other treatment alternatives were reported less effective.
Immune Responses to a Streptococcus GapC Chimera and its Potential Use as a Vaccine Candidate for Bovine Mastitis

ABST RACT Although bovine mastitis caused by Streptococcus strains is the most economically important disease affecting the dairy industry worldwide, the development of an effective vaccine has been hampered for many years. In this study, five S. agalactiae, three S. dysgalactiae, and three S. uberis were identified out of thirteen Streptococcus strains isolated during a study of clinical bovine mastitis from seven farms in China. The gapC genes, encoding the cell surface-associated GapC proteins of S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae and S. uberis were cloned and sequenced. To further identify potential vaccine candidates against Streptococcus-induced bovine mastitis, mice were vaccinated with GapC of S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae and S. uberis, resulting in a significant humoral immune for three weeks post-challenge. This observation together with previous studies conducted in our laboratory on GAPDH activity of Staphylococcus aureus possibly makes this protein an important target for vaccine development against bovine mastitis.
THE ROLE OF VITREORETINAL SURGERY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MYOPIC MACULAR HOLE WITHOUT RETINAL DETACHMENT

Purpose To evaluate the anatomic and functional outcome of vitreoretinal surgery in eyes with pathologic myopia and macular hole and to determine if surgery improves visual acuity. Methods Twenty-four consecutive highly myopic eyes with full-thickness macular hole without posterior retinal detachment were treated by vitrectomy. Posterior hyaloid dissection, removal of epiretinal and internal limiting membranes (ILM) if thickened, instillation of platelet concentrate, and flushing with 25% sulfur hexafluoride were performed. Results Patients’ refractive error ranged between −8.0 and −17.5 diopters, and axial length ranged from 27.1 to 31.4 mm. Two epimacular membranes and 10 macular ILM were removed. Ten patients also underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation at the same procedure. Mean preoperative best-corrected visual acuity was 20/200. Successful anatomic macular hole closure occurred 6 months postoperatively in 100% of eyes after one (21 eyes, 87.5%) or two surgeries (3 eyes, 12.5%). Visual acuity improved three or more lines in 83.3% of patients. Mean postoperative visual acuity was 20/70. No retinal detachment was observed during the follow-up period, which ranged from 12 to 45 months. Conclusion Our results suggest that vitreoretinal surgery may effectively manage myopic macular holes, thus improving anatomic and visual outcomes. By closing the hole, vitreoretinal surgery may decrease the risk of posterior retinal detachment in highly myopic eyes.
How Relevant is Volatility Forecasting for Financial Risk Management?

It depends. If volatility fluctuates in a forecastable way, volatility forecasts are useful for risk management (hence the interest in volatility forecastability in the risk management literature). Volatility forecastability, however, varies with horizon, and different horizons are relevant in different applications. Moreover, existing assessments of volatility forecastability are plagued by the fact that they are joint assessments of volatility forecastability and an assumed model, and the results can vary not only with the horizon but also with the assumed model. To address this problem, we develop a model-free procedure for assessing volatility forecastability across horizons. Perhaps surprisingly, we find that volatility forecastability decays quickly with horizon. Volatility forecastabilityalthough clearly of relevance for risk management at the short horizons relevant for, say, trading desk managementmay be much less important at longer horizons.
Nonreciprocal data sharing in estimating HMM parameters

Parameter tying is often used in large vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR) systems to balance the model resolution and generalizability. However, one consequence of tying is that the differences among tied constructs are ignored. Parameter tying can be alternatively viewed as reciprocal data sharing in that a tied construct uses data associated with all others in its tied-class. To capture the ﬁne difference among tied HMM constructs, we propose to use nonreciprocal data sharing (NRDS) when estimating HMM parameters. In particular, when estimating Gaussian parameters for a HMM state, contributions from other acoustically similar HMM states will be weighted, thus allowing different statistics to govern different states. Data sharing weights are optimized using cross-validation. It can be shown that the objective function for cross-validation is a sum of rational functions and can be efﬁciently optimized by the growth-transform [5, 7]. Our results on Switchboard [4] show that NRDS reduces the word error rate (WER) signiﬁcantly compared with a state-of-art baseline system using HMM state-tying.
Decarburisation of bainitic ferrite laths and its influence on the microstructure in Fe-Cr-Si-C steel

Decarburisation of bainitic ferrite laths and its influence on the microstructure in Fe-Cr-Si-C steel The paper presents an investigation of the time required for the diffusion of carbon out of supersaturated laths of ferrite into the retained austenite. The purpose of the present paper is to demonstrate how a thermodynamic method can be used for solving a problem of the decarburisation of bainite laths. This should in principle enable to examine the partitioning of carbon from supersaturated ferrite laths into adjacent austenite and the carbon content in retained austenite using analytical method. The obtained results illustrates that the estimated times with the reference to the executed thermal processing are not capable of decarburising the sheaf of ferrite included thick laths of bainitic ferrite during the period of austempering. A consequence of the precipitation of cementite from austenite during austempering is that the growth of bainitic ferrite can continue to larger extent and that the resulting microstructure is not an ausferrite but it is a mixture of bainitic ferrite, retained austenite and carbides.
The LRS and SIN Domains: Two Structurally Equivalent but Functionally Distinct Nucleosomal Surfaces Required for Transcriptional Silencing

ABSTRACT Genetic experiments have identified two structurally similar nucleosomal domains, SIN and LRS, required for transcriptional repression at genes regulated by the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex or for heterochromatic gene silencing, respectively. Each of these domains consists of histone H3 and H4 L1 and L2 loops that form a DNA-binding surface at either superhelical location (SHL) ±2.5 (LRS) or SHL ±0.5 (SIN). Here we show that alterations in the LRS domain do not result in Sin− phenotypes, nor does disruption of the SIN domain lead to loss of ribosomal DNA heterochromatic gene silencing (Lrs− phenotype). Furthermore, whereas disruption of the SIN domain eliminates intramolecular folding of nucleosomal arrays in vitro, alterations in the LRS domain have no effect on chromatin folding in vitro. In contrast to these dissimilarities, we find that the SIN and LRS domains are both required for recruitment of Sir2p and Sir4p to telomeric and silent mating type loci, suggesting that both surfaces can contribute to heterochromatin formation. Our study shows that structurally similar nucleosomal surfaces provide distinct functionalities in vivo and in vitro.
Characterization of damp heat degradation of CuInGaSe2 solar cell components and devices by (electrochemical) impedance spectroscopy

This work evaluated the capability of (electrochemical) impedance spectroscopy (IS, or ECIS as used here) to monitor damp heat (DH) stability of contact materials, CuInGaSe2 (CIGS) solar cell components, and devices. Cell characteristics and its variation of the CIGS devices were also examined by the ECIS. Bare and encapsulated sample sets were separately prepared and exposed in an environmental chamber at 85°C and 85% relative humidity (RH). The ECIS results from bare samples tested within 50-100 h of DH exposure allowed the determination of the use of a conducting Ag paste and a low-melting-point solder alloy for making a DH-stable external connection with Au wires. Bare Mo and AlNi grid degraded (corroded) rapidly while Ni was DH-stable. The moisture-dampened Al-doped ZnO (AZO) and bilayer ZnO (BZO) likely underwent hydrolytic "capacitor-forming" reaction by DH, resulting in "transient" behavior of very high resistance in ECIS that was not detected by four-point probe. Using an encapsulation test structure that allowed moisture ingress control, DH-induced degradation (resistance increase) rates of BZO on glass decreased from 0.21 ohm/h using a moisture-permeable Tedlar/Polyester/Tedlar (TPT) backsheet to 1.0 x 10-3 ohm/h using a moisture barrier FG-200 film, while Mo on glass did not exhibit the same conducting degradation and corrosion as the bare samples after over 1270 h DH exposure. CIGS solar cells encapsulated with a TPT backsheet degraded irregularly over 774 h DH exposure. Key resistance and capacitance parameters extracted by curve fitting of impedance data clearly showed the variation and impact of DH exposure on cell characteristics. Profound "depression" or shorting of the "p-n junction capacitor" by DH was evident. ECIS results are shown to correlate reasonably well with the solar cells' currentvoltage (I-V) degrading trends. Furthermore, ECIS analysis was capable of differentiating cell degradation due to "junction capacitor" shorting, damage or breakdown from that due to electrical conduction failure on AlNi/BZO layers.
Third-trimester maternal glucose levels from diurnal profiles in nondiabetic pregnancies: correlation with sonographic parameters of fetal growth.

OBJECTIVE To assess the 24-h glucose levels in a group of nondiabetic, nonobese pregnant women and to verify the presence of correlations between maternal glucose levels and sonographic parameters of fetal growth. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 66 Caucasian nonobese pregnant women with normal glucose challenge tests (GCT) enrolled in the study; from this population, we selected 51 women who delivered term (from 37 to 42 weeks completed) live-born infants without evidence of congenital malformations. The women were requested to have three main meals and to perform daily glucose profiles fortnightly from 28-38 weeks without modifying their lifestyle or following any dietary restriction. All subjects were taught how to monitor their blood glucose by using a reflectance meter. Fetal biometry was evaluated by ultrasound scan according to standard methodology at 22, 28, 32, and 36 weeks of pregnancy. RESULTS The overall daily mean glucose level during the third trimester was 74.7 +/- 5.2 mg/dl. Daily mean glucose values increased between 28 (71.9 +/- 5.7 mg/dl) and 38 (78.3 +/- 5.4 mg/dl) weeks of pregnancy. We found a significant positive correlation at 28 weeks between 1-h postprandial glucose values and fetal abdominal circumference (AC). At 32 weeks, we documented positive correlations between fetal AC and maternal blood glucose levels 1 h after breakfast, 1 and 2 h after lunch, and 1 and 2 h after dinner. At 36 weeks, there was a positive correlation between fetal AC and 1- and 2-h postprandial blood glucose levels. In addition, there was a negative correlation between head-abdominal circumference ratio and 1-h postprandial blood glucose values. CONCLUSIONS This longitudinal study first provides a contribution toward the definition of normoglycemia in nondiabetic, nonobese pregnant women; moreover, it reveals significant correlations of postprandial blood glucose levels with the growth of insulin-sensitive fetal tissues and, in particular, between 1-h postprandial blood glucose values and fetal AC.
Dimensionamento estrutural de estradas de mina a céu aberto

An unpaved mine haul road, based on CBR and DNER empirical methods, was designed using materials which are typical in current Brazilian iron ore mining. By means of the mechanistic-empirical structural ELSYM5 software, the results obtained by previous methods were compared and an optimization of the DNER design was proposed. The results demonstrate that the total thickness of the pavement calculated by the two methods is basically the same and that the base layer thickness calculated by the DNER method is superior to the one obtained by the CBR method, whereas the opposite occurs in relation to the sub-base. Both designs show through the application of ELSYM5 software that they are not the most appropriate, since the strain of some layers, especially in the CBR case, is above the acceptable limit of 2000 µe. Analyzing the variation of the layer's thickness, it was possible to obtain an adequate design, which led to the reduction of the total pavement layer thickness from 1.97 m to 1.40 m. The reduction of the layer's strain in which the elastic modulus was submitted to variation, demonstrates the importance of performing tests for the physical characterization of materials.
Cross-cultural adaptation of the dysfunctional voiding score symptom (DVSS) questionnaire for Brazilian children.

PURPOSE To translate and culturally adapt the Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score (DVSS), questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese. MATERIALS AND METHODS The 10-item Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score (DVSS) was translated into Brazilian Portuguese according to a standard methodology: translation, synthesis, back-translation, Expert Committee, and pre-testing. After the translation process the final version was pre-tested and patient responses were analyzed to identify necessary modifications. Reliability was evaluated using the test-retest method, and internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated in the test and retest phases. Internal consistency was found to be satisfactory, as confirmed by a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.76 for the test and 0.77 for the retest. A high degree of stability was found in the test/retest, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.960 (p < 0.001; 95% CI: 0.943-0.972). CONCLUSIONS The cross-cultural adaptation process of the Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score questionnaire to be used on Brazilian children was successfully completed following internationally accepted methodologies.
Brainstem excitability is not influenced by blood lactate levels

The influence of blood lactate on brainstem excitability was tested by using the blink reflex (BR) recovery cycle on 18 sprinters. Blood lactate was measured before maximal cycling, at the end, as well as 5 and 10 min after the exhaustion. Blood lactate was associated with a decrement of R2 whereas only small changes were observed after an intravenous infusion of lactate. It seems, therefore, that lactate influences BR mainly by acting at the cortical level.
Severe hyponatraemia in medical in-patients: aetiology, assessment and outcome.

BACKGROUND Hyponatraemia is the most commonly identified electrolyte abnormality. Published data on severe hyponatraemia in general medical in-patients is lacking. AIM To determine the aetiology, adequacy of assessment, and outcome of severe hyponatraemia in general medical in-patients. DESIGN Retrospective case-note review. METHODS All general medical in-patients (n = 108) with serum sodium < or =125 mmol/l were identified from the clinical chemistry database, over a six-month period. A full review of notes and computer records was undertaken at the index date and a pre-determined follow-up date. RESULTS Follow-up data were available in 105 patients. There was a wide range of aetiologies: diuretic therapy (loop and thiazide), congestive cardiac failure and liver disease were the most common, and 75.3% of patients had multiple causes. None of the 48% of patients whose history suggested a possible diagnosis of the syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone (SIADH) met the generally accepted diagnostic criteria. Overall mortality was 20% during the index admission and 44.6% at follow-up, vs. 7.1% and 22%, respectively, for other patients admitted to the same directorate over the same time period (p < 0.001). Mortality was linked to aetiology, but not to reduced absolute serum sodium concentration at admission. DISCUSSION Severe hyponatraemia in general medical patients is associated with a complex, multifactoral aetiology and a very poor prognosis. Outlook is governed principally by aetiology, and not by serum sodium level. Assessment of patients with hyponatraemia requires a practical clinical algorithm for diagnosing SIADH.