Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Hydrophobic Acrylic versus Hydrophilic Acrylic Intraocular Lens on Posterior Capsule Opacification: Meta-Analysis

Purpose This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the differences in performance of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) between hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens (IOLs) and hydrophilic acrylic IOLs. Setting Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin, China. Design Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or meta-analysis. Methods An electronic literature search was performed using the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library database before May in 2013 to identify prospective RCTs comparing hydrophobic acrylic IOLs and hydrophilic acrylic IOLs in patients after phacoemulsification with IOL implantation with a follow-up time of at least 1 year. Pertinent studies were selected by meeting predefined criteria and reviewed systematically by meta-analysis. The PCO scores and YAG capsulotomy rate, as indicator of PCO, were measured and discussed in a meta-analysis. Standardized mean differences (SMD), relative risk ratio (RR), and the pooled estimates were computed according to a random effect model or fixed effect model. Results Nine prospective RCTs involving 861 eyes were included in the current meta-analysis. The hydrophobic acrylic IOLs were favored and the pooled SMD of PCO severity was1.72 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.20 to 1.23, P = 0.0002) and 1.79 (95% CI, 0.95 to 2.64, P<0.0001) with 1-year follow-up and 2-year follow-up respectively. The pooled RR of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy rates at postoperative 2-year follow-up was 6.96 (95% CI, 3.69 to 13.11, P<0.00001) comparing hydrophilic acrylic IOLs with hydrophobic acrylic IOLs. Conclusions Compared with hydrophilic acrylic IOLs, the hydrophobic acrylic IOLs showed superior reduction in rates of PCO and laser capsulotomy in 2-year follow-up. More RCTs with standard methods for longer follow-up are needed to validate the association.
Neural population dynamics in human motor cortex during movements in people with ALS

The prevailing view of motor cortex holds that motor cortical neural activity represents muscle or movement parameters. However, recent studies in non-human primates have shown that neural activity does not simply represent muscle or movement parameters; instead, its temporal structure is well-described by a dynamical system where activity during movement evolves lawfully from an initial pre-movement state. In this study, we analyze neuronal ensemble activity in motor cortex in two clinical trial participants diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). We find that activity in human motor cortex has similar dynamical structure to that of non-human primates, indicating that human motor cortex contains a similar underlying dynamical system for movement generation. Clinical trial registration: NCT00912041. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.07436. 001
Emotional Expression Online: Gender Differences in Emoticon Use

The analysis of emoticon (emotional icon) use in online newsgroups appears to reinforce the stereotype of the emotional female and the inexpressive male until further examination suggests otherwise. The most interesting finding of this study is illustrated by the pattern of change that develops for both genders when they move from a predominantly same gender newsgroup to a mixed-gender newsgroup. The changes that take place in emoticon use when moving from same-gender to mixed-gender newsgroups indicate that rather than the emotional expression of females being silenced or muted by male encoding of emoticons, males adopt the female standard of expressing more emotion. Furthermore, women have added dimensions including solidarity, support, assertion of positive feelings, and thanks, which were absent from the male-created definition of emoticons and their use.
Paradoxical Effect of Increased Diastolic Ca2+ Release and Decreased Sinoatrial Node Activity in a Mouse Model of Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia

Background— Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia is characterized by stress-triggered syncope and sudden death. Patients with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia manifest sinoatrial node (SAN) dysfunction, the mechanisms of which remain unexplored. Methods and Results— We investigated SAN [Ca2+]i handling in mice carrying the catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia–linked mutation of ryanodine receptor (RyR2R4496C) and their wild-type (WT) littermates. In vivo telemetric recordings showed impaired SAN automaticity in RyR2R4496C mice after isoproterenol injection, analogous to what was observed in catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia patients after exercise. Pacemaker activity was explored by measuring spontaneous [Ca2+]i transients in SAN cells within the intact SAN by confocal microscopy. RyR2R4496C SAN presented significantly slower pacemaker activity and impaired chronotropic response under &bgr;-adrenergic stimulation, accompanied by the appearance of pauses (in spontaneous [Ca2+]i transients and action potentials) in 75% of the cases. Ca2+ spark frequency was increased by 2-fold in RyR2R4496C SAN. Whole-cell patch-clamp experiments performed on isolated RyR2R4496C SAN cells showed that L-type Ca2+ current (ICa,L) density was reduced by ≈50%, an effect blunted by internal Ca2+ buffering. Isoproterenol dramatically increased the frequency of Ca2+ sparks and waves by ≈5 and ≈10-fold, respectively. Interestingly, the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content was significantly reduced in RyR2R4496C SAN cells in the presence of isoproterenol, which may contribute to stopping the “Ca2+ clock” rhythm generation, originating SAN pauses. Conclusion— The increased activity of RyR2R4496C in SAN leads to an unanticipated decrease in SAN automaticity by a Ca2+-dependent decrease of ICa,L and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ depletion during diastole, identifying subcellular pathophysiological alterations contributing to the SAN dysfunction in catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia patients.
Study of Etiology and Varied Clinical Features of Megaloblastic Anemia in Adolescents at Niloufer Hospital

Background: Megaloblastic anemia is becoming most common forms of anemia in adolescents during recent years . In India limited studies are available on megaloblastic anemia. Objectives: To study the etiology by relative prevalence of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency and varied clinical presentations in adolescent with megaloblastic anemia. Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional observational study among 40 Adolescents(age 10-19 years) conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, institute for mother and child health (Niloufer hospital) Hyderabad, India during September 2013 to September 2014 with megaloblastic anemia in whom detailed history, relevant physical examination and anthropometry (height and weight) were recorded. Diet pattern of all the patients were noted. Cobalamin and folic acid assays were done. Results: 70% were belongs to early adolescent age (10-14 yr). Significant proportion of patients were from middle and lower middle class (p value <0.05). 82.5% had vegetarian or a predominantly vegetarian diet pattern with a 95% confidence interval of 0.6722 to 0.9266. Most common symptoms were Pallor (87.5%) and fatigue (72.5%). The most common physical findings were hyper pigmented knuckles (90%) and Hyper pigmented distal phalanges (80%). Pancytopenia was found in 42.5% cases . 38 cases (95%) had either B12 or Folate deficiency. Conclusion: Deficiency of either folate or B12 deficiency is common among the adolescents, which is common in vegetarian’s diet patterns. Supplementation through implemented nutritional programmes and education regarding diet patterns may overcome this deficiency.
Frame Complexity-Based Rate-Quantization Model for H . 264 / AVC Intraframe Rate Control

In this letter, we present an adaptive intraframe ratequantization (R-Q) model for H.264/AVC video coding. The proposed method aims at selecting accurate quantization parameters (QP) for intra-coded frames according to the target bit rate. By taking gradient-based frame complexity measure into consideration, the model parameters can be adaptively updated. Experimental results show that when employing our proposed R-Q model, the intraframe target bits mismatch ratio can be reduced by up to 75% as compared to the traditional Cauchy-density-based model. Hence, this is extremely useful for H.264/AVC rate control applications.
Money and Monetary Policy: The ECB Experience 1999-2006

The paper analyses the practical experience of monetary analysis at the ECB since its beginning. The analysis is based on both a narrative description of the internal briefing and a quantitative evaluation of the forecast exercise. We exploit a rich data basis containing the vintages of data and models over the period in order to evaluate the role of money in the input and the output of monetary policy as it has been in real time.
Sensory and motor peripheral nerve function and longitudinal changes in quadriceps strength.

BACKGROUND Poor peripheral nerve function is common in older adults and may be a risk factor for strength decline, although this has not been assessed longitudinally. METHODS We assessed whether sensorimotor peripheral nerve function predicts strength longitudinally in 1,830 participants (age = 76.3 ± 2.8, body mass index = 27.2 ± 4.6kg/m(2), strength = 96.3 ± 34.7 Nm, 51.0% female, 34.8% black) from the Health ABC study. Isokinetic quadriceps strength was measured semiannually over 6 years. Peroneal motor nerve conduction amplitude and velocity were recorded. Sensory nerve function was assessed with 10-g and 1.4-g monofilaments and average vibration detection threshold at the toe. Lower-extremity neuropathy symptoms were self-reported. RESULTS Worse vibration detection threshold predicted 2.4% lower strength in men and worse motor amplitude and two symptoms predicted 2.5% and 8.1% lower strength, respectively, in women. Initial 10-g monofilament insensitivity predicted 14.2% lower strength and faster strength decline in women and 6.6% lower strength in men (all p < .05). CONCLUSION Poor nerve function predicted lower strength and faster strength decline. Future work should examine interventions aimed at preventing declines in strength in older adults with impaired nerve function.
Induction of Kidney Allograft Tolerance by Soluble CD83 Associated With Prevalence of Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells and Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase

Background. Tolerogenic dendritic cells (Tol-DCs) play a critical role in inducing and maintaining tolerance. Recognizing that both T-cell inactivation and activation are contingent on signals provided by DCs and that graft-specific activated T cells are major mediators of transplant rejection, we aimed to create an environment favoring Tol-DCs with a novel reagent, human soluble CD83 (hsCD83). Methods. Life-supporting orthotopic kidney transplantation was performed in a C57BL/6-to-BALB/c mouse model. The study group was treated with hsCD83 (100 &mgr;g/mouse/day, postoperative days −1 to +7, intravenously) and compared with untreated controls. Results. Treatment with hsCD83 achieved kidney allograft tolerance (>100 days), with negligible antidonor antibody detected. In contrast, kidney grafts in untreated recipients demonstrated severe rejection after 35 days, characterized by cellular infiltration, interstitial hemorrhage and edema, and glomerular and tubular necrosis, as well as high antidonor antibody titers. In addition, splenic DCs of tolerant recipients exhibited significantly decreased levels of surface major histocompatibility complex class II, CD40, CD80, and intracellular interleukin-12, as well as reduced allogeneic stimulatory capacity. Adoptive transfer of CD11c+ DCs from tolerant hsCD83-treated animals induced kidney allograft tolerance in syngeneic recipients. Blocking indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase with 1-methyl-tryptophan (15 mg/mouse/day; gavage) prevented the immunosuppressive effect of hsCD83, abrogating hsCD83-induced Tol-DCs and graft tolerance, and leading to acute kidney graft rejection in 22 days. Conclusion. hsCD83 alone was capable of inducing kidney allograft tolerance through a mechanism involving Tol-DC generation and, at least in part, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity. Because sCD83 is of human origin, the therapeutic approach used in our mouse transplant model holds significant promise for clinical transplantation.
Clinical significance of age at diagnosis among young non-small cell lung cancer patients under 40 years old: a population-based study

Background Young non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients under the age of 40 can further be categorized into different age subgroups. Whether they have homogeneous clinical features and survival outcomes remains unexplored. Methods Information of 4623 NSCLC patients up to 40 years old from 1988 to 2012 was retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Clinicopathologic characteristics and survival outcomes were compared between patients diagnosed at 18–30 years old (younger group) and those at 31–40 years old (older group). Results The proportion of patients in the younger group among all lung cancer patients was stable between 1988 and 2012. However, the proportion of patients in the older group decreased from 1.2% to 0.5%. The younger patients had a higher proportion of adenocarcinoma (P = 0.016), a lower proportion of large cell carcinoma (P = 0.008), a higher proportion of stage I disease (P = 0.002) and a lower proportion of stage III disease (P < 0.001). The younger patients had significantly better lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) in the whole cohort (P < 0.001) and in the subgroup of patients with stage I (P = 0.038) or stage IV (P < 0.001) disease. Multivariate survival analysis showed that patients under 30 years old was an independent predictor of both better LCSS (P = 0.010) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.018). Conclusions Adult NSCLC patients under 30 years old had distinctive clinicopathologic characteristics and survival outcomes compared to patients diagnosed at 31–40 years old.
Mandibular Reconstruction Using Microvascular Free Flaps: A Statistical Analysis of 178 Cases

&NA; For this article, 178 consecutive cases of mandibular reconstruction using microvascular free flaps and performed from 1979 to 1997 were studied. The purpose of this report is to compare flap success rates, complications, and aesthetic and functional results. The ages of the 131 men and 47 women ranged from 13 to 85 years, with an average of 55 years. Donor sites included the rib (11 cases), radius (one case), ilium (36 cases), scapula (51 cases), fibula (34 cases), and soft‐tissue flaps with implant (45 cases). Complications included total flap necrosis, partial flap necrosis, major fistula formation, and minor fistula formation. The rate of total flap necrosis involving the ilium and fibula was significantly higher than that of all other materials combined (p < 0.05). The overall rate of implant plate removal, which resulted from the exposure or fracture of the plate, was 35.6 percent (16 of 45 cases). Each mandibular defect was classified by the extent of the bony defect and by the extent of the soft‐tissue defect. The extent of the mandibular bony defect was classified according to the HCL method of Jewer et al. The extent of the soft‐tissue defect was classified into four groups: none, skin, mucosal, and through‐and‐through. According to these classifications, functional and aesthetic assessments of deglutition and contour were performed on 115 subjects, and speech was evaluated in 110. To evaluate the postoperative results, points were assigned to each assessment of deglutition, speech, and mandibular contour. Statistical analysis between pairs of bone‐defect groups revealed that there was no significant difference in each category. Regarding deglutition, statistical analysis between pairs of soft‐tissue‐defect groups revealed there were significant differences (p < 0.05) between the none and the mucosal groups and also between the none and the through‐and‐through groups. Regarding speech, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the none and the through‐and‐through groups. Regarding contour, there were significant differences (p < 0.01) between the none and the through‐and‐through groups and between the mucosal and the through‐and‐through groups. The points given for each function, depending on the reconstruction material, revealed that there was no significant difference between pairs of material groups. From this prospective study, the authors have developed an algorithm for oromandibular reconstruction. When the bony defect is lateral, the ilium, fibula, or scapula should be chosen as the donor site, depending on the extent of the soft‐tissue defect. When the bony defect is anterior, the fibula is always the best choice. When the soft‐tissue defect is extensive or through‐and‐through with an anterior bony defect, the fibula should be used with other soft‐tissue flaps. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 108: 1555, 2001.)
Morphology and synaptic organization of non-dopaminergic nigral projections to the medio dorsal thalamic nucleus of the rat, a study by anterograde transport of PHA-L.

BACKGROUND Mediodorsal (MD) thalamic nucleus, which is considered to take place between extra pyramidal and limbic feedback circuit, receives projective fibers from ventrolateral neurons of reticular part of substantia nigra (SNr). In order to better understand the influence and chemical reaction of these fibers upon MD nucleus, the morphology and synaptology of them were examined in the present study. METHODS Phaseolous vulgaris-leucoagglutin (PHA-L) was injected into substantia nigra pars reticulate. After 3-4 days, the sections of SNr injection site and MD nucleus were prepared. Then, we examined organization, morphology and, synaptology of PHA-L labeled SNr fibers that go to caudal and lateral part of MD thalamic nucleus. RESULTS At the electron microscopic level, the SNr terminals made synapses predominantly with the medium to small dendrites and far less frequently with soma and large dendrites. These terminals were packed with polymorphic synaptic vesicles and formed symmetrical synapses; furthermore, it has been already recognized that cortico straital fibers from sensory-motor cortex go to region of the SNr that give rise to the nigrothalamic fibers. CONCLUSION This data suggest that upon the synaptic organization, morphology and chemical nature of GABAergic, SNr fibers may have different inhibitory influence on MD neurons regulating the thalamic output from MD to cerebral cortex in the control of limbic and extra pyramidal feedback system.
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A global trend of increasing health hazards associated with proliferation of toxin-producing cyanobacteria makes the ability to project phytoplankton dynamics of paramount importance. Whilst ensemble (multi-)modelling approaches have been used for a number of years to improve the robustness of weather forecasts this approach has until now never been adopted for ecosystem modelling. We show that the average simulated phytoplankton biomass derived from three different aquatic ecosystem models is generally superior to any of the three individual models in describing observed phytoplankton biomass in a typical temperate lake ecosystem, and we simulate a series of climate change projections. While this is the first multi-model ensemble approach applied for some of the most complex aquatic ecosystem models available, we consider it sets a precedent for what will become commonplace methodology in the future, as it enables increased robustness of model projections, and scenario uncertainty estimation due to differences in model structures.
Strategies for Preventing and Treating Oral Mucosal Infections Associated with Removable Dentures: A Scoping Review

Oral infections occur due to contact between biofilm rich in Candida albicans formed on the inner surface of complete dentures and the mucosa. This study investigated historical advances in the prevention and treatment of oral mucosal infection and identified gaps in the literature. Bibliographic research was conducted, looking at PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus, where 935 articles were found. After removing duplicates and excluding articles by reading the title and abstract, 131 articles were selected for full reading and 104 articles were included. Another 38 articles were added from the gray literature. This review followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The historical period described ranges from 1969 to 2023, in which, during the 21st century, in vitro and in vivo studies became more common and, from 2010 to 2023, the number of randomized controlled trials increased. Among the various approaches tested are the incorporation of antimicrobial products into prosthetic materials, the improvement of oral and denture hygiene protocols, the development of synthetic and natural products for the chemical control of microorganisms, and intervention with local or systemic antimicrobial agents. Studies report good results with brushing combined with sodium hypochlorite, and new disinfectant solutions and products incorporated into prosthetic materials are promising.
Association of the Histone Methyltransferase Set2 with RNA Polymerase II Plays a Role in Transcription Elongation*

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein, Set2, has recently been shown to be a histone methyltransferase. To elucidate the function of Set2, its associated proteins were identified using tandem affinity purification and mass spectrometry. We found that Set2 associates with RNA polymerase II. The interaction between the Set2 protein and RNA polymerase II requires the WW domain in Set2 and phosphorylation of the carboxyl-terminal domain of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II. Set2 directly binds to the carboxyl-terminal domain with phosphorylated Ser2 in the heptapeptide repeats. set2 deletion mutant is sensitive to 6-azauracil, a property often associated with impaired transcription elongation. Together, our results suggest that Set2 through association with the elongating form of RNA polymerase II plays an important role in transcription elongation.