Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Um novo estudo da conformidade da resistência do concreto produzido no Brasil

Este artigo apresenta uma nova avaliacao da conformidade dos concretos atualmente produzidos no Brasil. Ela esta pautada em resultados de ensaios de resistencia a compressao axial de mais de vinte e sete mil corpos de prova de concretos moldados in loco, no ato de seu recebimento, em diferentes obras do pais. Os resultados mostram que parte do concreto produzido no Brasil nao alcanca a resistencia caracteristica (fck) prevista em projeto, e que o percentual de amostras nao-conformes tende a ser superior a 5%. Este estudo tambem evidencia que os concretos produzidos nas regioes Sul e Centro-Oeste apresentam menor variabilidade que aqueles produzidos nas demais regioes do pais. Estes resultados reforcam a importância de um controle rigoroso na fabricacao e no recebimento do concreto visando diminuir a ocorrencia de nao-conformidades.
The involvement of distinct neural systems in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder with autogenous and reactive obsessions

Besiroglu L, Sozen M, Ozbebit Ö, Avcu S, Selvi Y, Bora A, Atli A, Unal O, Bulut MD. The involvement of distinct neural systems in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) with autogenous and reactive obsessions.
Mutations in FIE, a WD Polycomb Group Gene, Allow Endosperm Development without Fertilization

A fundamental problem in biology is to understand how fertilization initiates reproductive development. Higher plant reproduction is unique because two fertilization events are required for sexual reproduction. First, a sperm must fuse with the egg to form an embryo. A second sperm must then fuse with the adjacent central cell nucleus that replicates to form an endosperm, which is the support tissue required for embryo and/or seedling development. Here, we report cloning of the Arabidopsis FERTILIZATION-INDEPENDENT ENDOSPERM (FIE) gene. The FIE protein is a homolog of the WD motif–containing Polycomb proteins from Drosophila and mammals. These proteins function as repressors of homeotic genes. A female gametophyte with a loss-of-function allele of fie undergoes replication of the central cell nucleus and initiates endosperm development without fertilization. These results suggest that the FIE Polycomb protein functions to suppress a critical aspect of early plant reproduction, namely, endosperm development, until fertilization occurs.
Acquiring Lexical Generalizations from Corpora: A Case Study for Diathesis Alternations

This paper examines the extent to which verb diathesis alternations are empirically attested in corpus data. We automatically acquire alternating verbs from large balanced corpora by using partialparsing methods and taxonomic information, and discuss how corpus data can be used to quantify linguistic generalizations. We estimate the productivity of an alternation and the typicality of its members using type and token frequencies.
Efficacy and Pharmacological Mechanism of Pronase-Enhanced Low-Dose Antibiotics for Helicobacter pylori Eradication

ABSTRACT This study examined the efficacy and pharmacological mechanism of pronase-assisted low-dose antibiotics for eradication of Helicobacter pylori. Mongolian gerbils infected with H. pylori received 7-day treatment (omeprazole, different concentrations of pronase, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin), and the efficacy was assessed using the eradication rate and the colonization of H. pylori. In Mongolian gerbils orally administered pronase, the thickness of the gastric mucous layer (GML) was examined using immunohistochemical and alcian blue staining, and the concentrations of amoxicillin in gastric tissue and serum were detected using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The eradication rates were 80.0% (12/15) in the high-pronase quadruple group (HPQG) and 86.7% (13/15) in the high-antibiotic group (HAG) (P = 1.000). The antibiotic dose in the HPQG was only 1/20 that in the HAG. Thirty minutes after oral treatment with pronase, the sticky protein of the GML was hydrolyzed, and the GML became thinner. Higher amoxicillin concentrations in both the gastric tissue and serum were observed in the pronase group than in the Am10 group. The concentration of amoxicillin in the Am10-plus-Pr108 group in gastric tissue was 3.8 times higher than in the Am10 group in 5 min. Together, these data suggest that pronase significantly reduced the dose of antibiotics used in H. pylori eradication. The pharmacological mechanism is likely pronase removal of the mucus layer, promoting chemical factor (i.e., gastric acid and pepsinogen) distribution and increasing the antibiotic concentrations in the deep GML, which acted on H. pylori collectively. Thus, pronase may enhance the level of antibiotics for eradication of H. pylori in the clinic.
REM Sleep, Prefrontal Theta, and the Consolidation of Human Emotional Memory

Both emotion and sleep are independently known to modulate declarative memory. Memory can be facilitated by emotion, leading to enhanced consolidation across increasing time delays. Sleep also facilitates offline memory processing, resulting in superior recall the next day. Here we explore whether rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and aspects of its unique neurophysiology, underlie these convergent influences on memory. Using a nap paradigm, we measured the consolidation of neutral and negative emotional memories, and the association with REM-sleep electrophysiology. Subjects that napped showed a consolidation benefit for emotional but not neutral memories. The No-Nap control group showed no evidence of a consolidation benefit for either memory type. Within the Nap group, the extent of emotional memory facilitation was significantly correlated with the amount of REM sleep and also with right-dominant prefrontal theta power during REM. Together, these data support the role of REM-sleep neurobiology in the consolidation of emotional human memories, findings that have direct translational implications for affective psychiatric and mood disorders.
Association between expression of immunoglobulin G-binding proteins by group A streptococci and virulence in a mouse skin infection model

In this study, we developed a mouse model of skin infection to test the association between expression of immunoglobulin-binding proteins by and infectivity of group A streptococci. Group A streptococci capable of crossing tissue barriers and establishing a lethal systemic infection in mice showed a higher level of immunoglobulin-binding protein expression. The group A streptococci recovered from the spleen of a mouse that died following a skin infection were found to be more virulent when injected into the skin of naive mice. Together, these results suggest that immunoglobulin-binding protein expression by group A streptococci correlates with their ability to establish invasive skin infections.
Less contribution of mast cells to the progression of renal fibrosis in Rat kidneys with chronic renal failure

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is histopathologically characterized by tubulointerstitial fibrosis in addition to glomerulosclerosis. Although mast cells are known to infiltrate into the kidneys with chronic inflammation, we know little about their contribution to the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis associated with CRF. The aim of this study was to reveal the involvement of mast cells in the progression of renal fibrosis in CRF.
Study of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties Effects on Workpiece Quality in Sheet Metal Extrusion Process

Sheet metal extrusion is a metal forming process in which the movement of a punch penetrates a sheet metal surface and it flows through a die orifice; the extruded parts can be deflected to have an extrusion cavity and protrusion on the opposite side. Therefore, this process results in a narrow region of highly localized plastic deformation due to the formation and microstructure effect on the work piece. This research investigated the characteristics of the material-flow behavior during the formation and its effect on the microstructure of the extruded sheet metal using the finite element method (FEM). The actual parts and FEM simulation model were developed using a blank material made from AISI-1045 steel with a thickness of 5 mm; the material's behavior was determined subject to the punch penetration depths of 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of the sheet thickness. The results indicated the formation and microstructure effects on the sheet metal extrusion parts and defects. Namely, when increasing penetration, narrowing the die orifice the material flows through, the material was formed by extruding, and defects were visibility, and the microstructure of the material's grains' size was flat and very fine. Extrusion defects were not found in the control material flow. The region of highly localized plastic deformation affected the material gain and mechanical properties. The FEM simulation results agreed with the experimental results. Moreover, FEM could be investigated as a tool to decrease the cost and time in trial and error procedures.
The CLIP-Domain Serine Protease Homolog SPCLIP1 Regulates Complement Recruitment to Microbial Surfaces in the Malaria Mosquito Anopheles gambiae

The complement C3-like protein TEP1 of the mosquito Anopheles gambiae is required for defense against malaria parasites and bacteria. Two forms of TEP1 are present in the mosquito hemolymph, the full-length TEP1-F and the proteolytically processed TEP1cut that is part of a complex including the leucine-rich repeat proteins LRIM1 and APL1C. Here we show that the non-catalytic serine protease SPCLIP1 is a key regulator of the complement-like pathway. SPCLIP1 is required for accumulation of TEP1 on microbial surfaces, a reaction that leads to lysis of malaria parasites or triggers activation of a cascade culminating with melanization of malaria parasites and bacteria. We also demonstrate that the two forms of TEP1 have distinct roles in the complement-like pathway and provide the first evidence for a complement convertase-like cascade in insects analogous to that in vertebrates. Our findings establish that core principles of complement activation are conserved throughout the evolution of animals.
Modeling and simulation of intracellular dynamics: choosing an appropriate framework

Systems biology is a reemerging paradigm which, among other things, focuses on mathematical modeling and simulation of biochemical reaction networks in intracellular processes. For most simulation tools and publications, they are usually characterized by either preferring stochastic simulation or rate equation models. The use of stochastic simulation is occasionally accompanied with arguments against rate equations. Motivated by these arguments, we discuss in this paper the relationship between these two forms of representation. Toward this end, we provide a novel compact derivation for the stochastic rate constant that forms the basis of the popular Gillespie algorithm. Comparing the mathematical basis of the two popular conceptual frameworks of generalized mass action models and the chemical master equation, we argue that some of the arguments that have been put forward are ignoring subtle differences and similarities that are important for answering the question in which conceptual framework one should investigate intracellular dynamics.
The Utility of a Paired-Choice Preference Assessment in Predicting Reinforcer Effectiveness for an Infant

This study examined the utility of a paired-choice preference assessment in predicting reinforcer efficacy for a 13-month old with a history of prenatal drug exposure. First, two paired-choice assessments were conducted one week apart, using the same items. A high level of correspondence between the two assessments was observed. Next, a reinforcer assessment was conducted indicating that the high-preference items identified by the pairedchoice assessments served as reinforcers for the participant. The results suggest that the paired choice assessment was effective in predicting reinforcers for this infant. Limitations of the current study and suggestions for future early intervention research are discussed.
Amiodarone prophylaxis for tachycardias after coronary artery surgery: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial.

BACKGROUND--Arrhythmias are a common cause of morbidity after cardiac surgery. This study assessed the efficacy of prophylactic amiodarone in reducing the incidence of atrial fibrillation or flutter and ventricular arrhythmias after coronary artery surgery. METHODS--A double blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial. 60 patients received a 24 hour intravenous infusion of amiodarone (15 mg/kg started after removal of the aortic cross clamp) followed by 200 mg orally three times daily for 5 days, and 60 patients received placebo. RESULTS--6 patients (10%) in the amiodarone group and 14 (23%) in the placebo group needed treatment for arrhythmias (95% confidence interval (95% CI) for the difference between groups was 0 to 26%, p = 0.05). The incidence of supraventricular tachycardia detected clinically and requiring treatment was lower in the amiodarone group (8% amiodarone v 20% placebo, 95% CI 0 to 24%, p = 0.07). The incidence detected by 24 hour Holter monitoring was similar (17% amiodarone v 20% placebo). Untreated arrhythmias in the amiodarone group were either clinically benign and undetected (n = 3) or the ventricular response rate was slow (n = 2). Age > 60 years was a positive risk factor for the development of supraventricular tachycardia in the amiodarone group but not in the placebo group. Fewer patients had episodes of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation recorded on Holter monitoring in the amiodarone group (15% amiodarone v 33% placebo, 95% CI 3 to 33%, p = 0.02). Bradycardia (78% amiodarone v 48% placebo, 95% CI 14% to 46%, p < 0.005) and pauses (7% amiodarone v 0% placebo) occurred in more amiodarone treated patients. Bradycardia warranted discontinuation of treatment in one patient treated with amiodarone. CONCLUSIONS--The incidence of clinically significant tachycardia was reduced by amiodarone. The ventricular response rate was slowed in supraventricular tachycardia, but the induction of bradycardia may preclude the routine use of amiodarone for prophylaxis.
A Current Estimation of the Early Risk of Stroke after Transient Ischemic Attack: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Recent Intervention Studies

Objective: Recent studies have demonstrated that there is a decrease in the risk of subsequent stroke after transient ischemic attack (TIA) when urgent care (UC) is administered. However, no meta-analysis has been developed with contemporaneous TIA studies. We perform a systematic review and a meta-analysis to establish the risk of early stroke recurrence (SR) considering data from studies that offered UC to TIA patients. Methods: We searched for studies, without language restriction, from January 2007 to January 2015 according to PRISMA guidelines. We included studies with TIA patients who underwent UC and reported the proportion of SR at 90 days. We excluded studies that were centered on less than 100 patients and cohorts including both stroke and TIA, if stroke risk after TIA was not described. For its relevance, we included the TIAregistry.org study published in 2016. We performed both fixed and random effects meta-analyses to determine SR and assess sources of heterogeneity. Results: From 4,103 identified citations, we selected 15 papers that included 14,889 patients. There was great variation in terms of the number of patients included in each study, ranging from 115 to 4,160. Seven studies were TIA clinic based. The mean age and the percentage of men were similar among studies, ranging from 62.4 to 73.1 years and 45.1-62%, respectively. The reported risk of stroke ranged from 0 to 1.46% 2 days after TIA (9 studies included), 0-2.55% 7 days after TIA (11 studies included), 1.91-2.85% 30 days after TIA (4 studies included), and 0.62-4.76% 90 days after TIA (all studies included). The pooled stroke risk was 3.42% (95% CI 3.14-3.74) at 90 days, 2.78% (95% CI 2.47-3.12) at 30 days, 2.06% (95% CI 1.83-2.33) at 7 days and 1.36% (95% CI 1.15-1.59) at 2 days. Although we did not find statistically significant heterogeneity in SR among studies, those with a higher proportion of patients with motor weakness had a significantly higher risk of SR. No statistically significant association was observed between TIA clinic management and SR. Conclusion: The pooled early SR is lower than in previous meta-analyses and homogeneous for all studies with an urgent assessment and management strategy regardless of vascular risk factors and clinical characteristics. Therefore, the best setting for TIA management can be individualized for each center.
Adherence of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci onto Polyethylene Catheters in vitro and in vivo: A Study on the Influence of various Plasma Proteins

Bacterial adherence on PE catheters inserted into the carotid artery of rabbits was assessed at 5, 30, and 240 min after injection with bacteria of five coagulase-negative staphylococci (CN Staph). These studies revealed that CN Staph adhere onto PE catheters 5 min after injection with bacteria. At 240 min after injection with bacteria almost all catheters were sterile, indicating that initially adherent bacteria on PE catheters disappear with time. EM studies revealed high numbers of platelets and leukocytes and many fibrin
Persistently Increased Serum Concentrations of Cardiac Troponin T in Patients With Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy Are Predictive of Adverse Outcomes

BackgroundThe measurement of serum concentrations of cardiac troponin T (TnT) is a simple, useful method to detect myocyte injury that may be repeated multiple times to follow patients without interobserver variability. Methods and ResultsMultiple measurements of TnT with a second-generation assay were performed in 60 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy confirmed by coronary angiography and endomyocardial biopsy between April 1996 and December 1999. Three evolutionary patterns of TnT concentrations were identified. Thirty-three patients had concentrations of TnT <0.02 ng/mL throughout the follow-up period (group 1). The remaining 27 patients had high initial serum concentrations of TnT (≥0.02 ng/mL). In 10 of these 27 patients, TnT decreased to <0.02 ng/mL during follow-up (group 2), whereas 17 had persistently high serum TnT concentrations despite being conventionally treated for chronic congestive heart failure (group 3). Although the initial echocardiographic left ventricular diastolic dimension (LVDd) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were not significantly different among the 3 groups, follow-up echocardiography showed significantly decreased LVDd and increased LVEF in group 1 (each P <0.01) and group 2 (each P <0.05) compared with increased LVDd and decreased LVEF in group 3 (each P <0.05). The cardiac event-free rate was significantly lower in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2 (each P <0.001), and the survival rate was lower in group 3 than in group 1 (P <0.05). ConclusionsPersistently increased TnT concentrations in dilated cardiomyopathy suggest ongoing subclinical myocyte degeneration associated with deterioration of the patients’ clinical status.
Hydranencephaly and Allied Disorders

It is proposed to present 11 cases of cerebral defect. Six of these can be classed as hydranencephaly, the others show varying degrees of cerebral mantle tissue loss. The diagnosis and aetiology of these defects will be discussed and pictorial evidence produced to show that hydranencephaly is probably the end result of a graduated series of cerebral cortical defects. Hydranencephaly is defined by Potter (1952) as 'an abnormality consisting of a complete or almost complete absence of the cerebral hemispheres. The leptomeninges and dura are completely formed occupying their normal positions in the skull'. Although Bettinger (1940) attributes the name of the condition to Cruveilhier (1835), and although the latter describes the anomaly and illustrates his case with an excellent colour plate, he does not in fact use the word, remarking, 'II y a deux especes d'anencephalies: l'anencephalie hydrocephalique et l'anencephalie avec l'absence de la votute cranienne, du plut6t avec dejettement et deformation des os de la vo'ute'. He continues, 'Dans l'un et l'autre cas l'absence du cerveau doit etre produite par la meme cause'. It seems that Spielmeyer (1905) was the first to use the word in the title of his paper, 'Ein hydranencephales Zwillingspaar'. The number of reported cases is probably about 70. Reliable figures are difficult to obtain as various authors have not hesitated to extend the definition to suit their own specimens. Others, e.g. Picaza, Cardelle and Martin Jimenez (1955) who would abolish the term altogether, hide within their term 'hydroencephalodysplasia' undoubted cases of the classical condition. Yet others, like Kiss (1951),
The value of measuring anti-Mullerian hormone in women with anovulatory polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing laparoscopic ovarian diathermy.

BACKGROUND Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim of this study was to measure circulating AMH before laparoscopic ovarian diathermy (LOD) to evaluate its prognostic value for an ovulatory response and to investigate AMH changes after LOD to further explore the effects of LOD. METHODS This prospective study included anovulatory women with PCOS undergoing LOD (n = 29) or receiving clomiphene citrate (n = 18). Plasma AMH concentrations were measured before and 1 week after treatment. Further measurements of AMH were made at 3- and 6-month follow-up. RESULTS The pretreatment median (range) plasma AMH concentrations were 6.1 (1.0-21.0) and 5.7 (1.3-9.5) ng/ml in women having LOD and clomiphene citrate treatment, respectively. Women who ovulated after LOD (n = 24) had a significantly (P = 0.032) lower pre-operative AMH [5.6 (1.0-21.0) ng/ml] compared with the non-responders [9.0 (6.1-17.1) ng/ml]. Using receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, AMH was found to be a useful predictor of no ovulation after LOD with area under the curve of 0.804 (P = 0.025). Using a cut-off of 7.7 ng/ml, AMH had a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 76% in the prediction of no ovulation after LOD. For all patients (n = 47, clomiphene citrate or LOD), plasma AMH >or=7.7 ng/ml was associated with a reduced chance of ovulation after treatment (P = 0.004). Following LOD, the median AMH concentration significantly (P = 0.003) decreased to 4.7 (0.3-15.1) ng/ml and remained low at 3- and 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Pretreatment circulating AMH level seems to be a good predictor of the ovarian response to LOD.