Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gender differences in coronary plaque composition by coronary computed tomography angiography

BackgroundCoronary computed tomography angiography allows the differentiation of non-calcified (NCAP), calcified (CAP), and mixed coronary artery plaques (MCAP). Although males are thought to have a higher prevalence of atherosclerosis for a given age, there are currently few data regarding age-adjusted sex differences in plaque morphology and composition. MethodsWe studied 1015 consecutive asymptomatic South Korean patients (49±10 years, 64% men) who underwent 64-slice coronary computed tomography angiography during a routine health evaluation. Coronary plaque characteristics were analyzed on a per-segment basis according to the modified AHA classification. Plaques with more than 50% calcified tissue were classified as CAP, plaques with less than 50% calcified tissue were classified as MCAP, and plaques without calcium were classified as NCAP. Multiple regression analysis was used to describe the cross-sectional association between sex and plaque-type burden (≥2 affected segments) after adjustment for age and other cardiovascular risk factors. ResultsThere was a greater prevalence of coronary plaque among men (13 vs. 4%, P<0.001). Males were more likely to have an increased burden of CAP (4 vs. 1%, P = 0.01) and MCAP (5 vs. 1%, P<0.001), whereas the burden of NCAP was similar across sex (2 vs. 1%, P = 0.28). After multivariable adjustment, men have six to seven times greater odds of having an increased burden of CAP and MCAP, whereas no sex difference was observed in the burden of NCAP. ConclusionIn this population of asymptomatic middle-aged Korean individuals, males had a significantly greater burden of MCAP and CAP. Future studies will determine whether these differences contribute to the accelerated cardiovascular risk observed in men.
Construction and evaluation of food‐grade vectors for Lactococcus lactis using aspartate aminotransferase and α‐galactosidase as selectable markers

Aims: We report development of two food‐grade cloning vectors for Lactococcus lactis, which utilize either a lactococcal aspartate aminotransferase gene (aspC), or Bifidobacterium longumα‐galactosidase gene (aglL) as selectable markers.
An investigation of the DNA‐damaging ability of benzene and its metabolites in human lymphocytes, using the comet assay

Benzene and five of its known metabolites—muconic acid, hydroquinone, catechol, p‐benzoquinone, and benzentriol—were examined for DNA damage in human lymphocytes using the alkaline Comet assay, and conditions were optimised to determine responses. Metabolic activation (S‐9 mix) was included in the assay for varying times to try to enhance effects. In addition, the effects of catalase were investigated as it is known to be present in S‐9 mix reducing oxidative damage, and some benzene metabolites are known to react through oxygen radical mechanisms. Effects were also examined in cycling cells to determine whether they were more sensitive to damage then noncycling cells. Comets were measured either by eye or by image analysis. Data have been presented according to length of treatments.
Risk Factors and Injury Associated With Falls in Elderly Hospitalized Patients in a Community Hospital

Objective: Hospitalized patient falls are a major cause of disability, functional impairment, and even death. The objective of this prospective study was to assess the frequency and contributing factors of falls in hospitalized patients. Methods: Between December 2004 and November 2005, data related to falls in hospitalized patients were recorded: patient demographics, the patient's functionality, mental status, surrounding circumstances, and the level of injury. Outcome measures were overall rates of patient falls as a function of ward, shift, month, age, and incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Results: Falls were recorded in 611 patients. The overall patient fall rate was 4.36 (95% confidence interval, 4.02 to 4.72) per 1000 patient-days. The fall rate was significantly above the mean for the neurosurgical (IRR = 2.32; P < 0.001) and short-stay wards (IRR = 1.69; P = 0.013). Patients aged 56 to 70 years or older than 70 years fell 1.45 and 1.78 times more frequently, respectively, versus patients aged 55 years or younger (P < 0.001). The odds that a fall resulted in injury were multiplied by 1.19 for each additional decade of age (P = 0.018), and the age-adjusted injury rate for the oncology ward (46.4%) was significantly higher than the overall average (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Age and the patient condition before and during hospitalization resulted as the most important determinants of falls in hospitalized patients.
Studies of Fibroblast-Like Cells from the Bone Marrow of Leukemic and Nonleukemic Children.∗

Summary Human bone marrow aspirates were suspended in nutrient media and dispensed into Leighton tubes with coverslips but no feeder layer. Fibroblast-like cell sheets were cultivated from 17 of 18 (94%) nonleukemic children and from 42 of 47 (89%) children with leukemia or lymphomas. Such cell cultures could be maintained in serial subcultivation for 1 to 21 passages. No differences in morphology or rate of metabolism in vitro were observed between nonleukemic and leukemic cultures. Leukemic cell cultures survived significantly longer than nonleukemic cultures when cultivated in human serum. None became permanent cell lines. Unstained and stained preparations of every passage of each cell line failed to reveal the unmasking of any latent viral agent. Leukemic cell cultures failed to hemadsorb guinea pig erythrocytes. The technic described provides a simple method for cultivation of human fibroblast-like cells on coverslips without a feeder layer. Such preparations may be useful in hematological or microbiological studies where cytological observations are important.
Da Vinci Robotic System in the surgery for mediastinal bronchogenic cyst: a report on five patients.

BACKGROUND To present the results of the patients with mediastinal bronchogenic cysts that underwent robotic surgery using Da Vinci Robotic System in our institution. METHODS Five patients with mediastinal bronchogenic cyst undergoing robotic resection between October 2011 and September 2015 were retrospectively evaluated. Their pre-, peri- and post-operative results were investigated. RESULTS There were five patients (male/female: 3/2) with a mean age of 43±28 years. Three patients (60%) were asymptomatic. The lesions had been detected in the remaining two patients during the investigation of cough and abdominal pain. All the lesions were located at the posterior mediastinum. The mean diameter of lesion was 48±17 mm. One patient underwent robotic decortication in addition to robotic cystectomy. Operative times are outlined as: mean docking time 20±12 min, mean console time 63±32 min, and mean operating time 88±41 min. The mean length of stay was 3.6±2.2 days. There was no mortality or morbidity. CONCLUSIONS Bronchogenic cyst is among the commonest congenital lesions. The treatment is surgical resection, and mostly via thoracotomy and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). There exist less than 15 patients who underwent robotic resection in the English literature, and most of them are presented as single case reports. Robotic resection of mediastinal bronchogenic cysts could be considered as a safe method.
Nominal Income Versus Taylor-Type Rules in Practice

Since the beginning of the financial crisis, a lively debate has emerged regarding which monetary policy rule the Fed (and other central banks) should follow, if any. To clarify this debate, several questions must be answered. Which monetary policy rule best the historical data? Which monetary policy rule best minimizes economic uncertainty and the Feds loss function? Which rule is best in terms of household welfare? Among the different rules, are NGDP growth or level targeting rules a good option, and when? Do they perform better than Taylor-type rules? To answer these questions, we use Bayesian estimations to test the Smets and Wouters (2007) model under nine different monetary policy rules with US data from 1955 to 2015 and over three different sub-periods. We find that when considering only the central bank’s loss function, the estimates generally indicate the superiority of NGDP level targeting rules, whatever the period. However, if other criteria are considered, the central banks objectives are not consistently met by a single rule for all periods.
The Role of Human Resource Information System in the Process of Manpower Activities

The evolution of technology has encouraged organizations to use human resource information systems (HRIS). HRIS is perceived to contribute to the effectiveness of manpower activities (human resources planning) in organizations. This paper interviewed two HRIS managers in the hospitality industry in Greater Region (Ghana) to identify the benefits, contributions and the challenges of HRIS. It was revealed that HRIS identified unfilled positions, accurately analyzed each job position and its job title in the organization, providing insight into organizational training needs, selected the right persons to be trained at the right time, evaluated the effectiveness of training programs and made faster and better decisions about successor ranking. It was therefore concluded that HRIS played a major role in the management of human resources. Organizations should integrate HRIS with other organizational systems to facilitate speedily sharing of information and decision making.
Surface step effects on nanoindentation.

Atomistic simulation is used to examine nanoindentation of a Au(111) crystal both near and far from a surface step. While the load needed to nucleate dislocations decreases significantly when indenting close to the step, the extent of the step's influence is not as great as seen experimentally. This behavior is explained by measuring the contact area from the simulation data. A new metric, the slip vector, shows material slip coinciding with the <112> directions of a lowest unstable stacking fault barrier. The slip vector is used to calculate an atomic critical resolved shear stress, which is shown to be a good dislocation nucleation criterion.
Paracrine stimulation of human renal fibroblasts by proximal tubule cells.

UNLABELLED Paracrine stimulation of human renal fibroblasts by proximal tubule cells. BACKGROUND Interstitial fibrosis strongly predicts the degree and progression of renal failure in human renal disorders. Since active fibrosis tends to initially occur in a peritubular distribution, the possibility that human proximal tubule cells (PTC) relay fibrogenic signals to neighboring cortical fibroblasts was examined in vitro. METHODS Cell proliferation (cell counts and thymidine incorporation), total collagen synthesis (proline incorporation), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity (gelatin zymography), and autocrine secretion of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) were measured in primary cultures of human cortical fibroblasts cocultured with PTC or exposed to PTC-conditioned media (PTCCM). RESULTS Cell numbers and thymidine incorporation rates were increased in cortical fibroblasts cocultured with PTC (136.4+/-7.3% and 119.3+/-8.2% of control values, respectively, P < 0.05) or incubated in PTC-CM (114.0+/-5.9%, P < 0.05 and 146.7+/-13.3%, P < 0.05, respectively). PTC-CM stimulated cortical fibroblast collagen synthesis (13.5+/-1.0% vs. 10.8+/-0.7%, respectively, N = 24, P < 0.05) and MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion. Cortical fibroblast secretion of IGF-I binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), which in turn modulates the autocrine and paracrine actions of IGF-I, was enhanced in the presence of PTC-CM compared with control (1162.2+/-94.2 vs. 969.1+/-58.9 ng/mg protein/day, P < 0.05), but no change was observed in cortical fibroblast secretion of IGFBP-2 (260.9+/-38.8 vs. 290.9+/-36.6 ng/mg protein/day, P = NS) or IGF-I (56.7+/-6.6 vs. 57.0+/-6.8 ng/mg protein/day, P = NS). Human PTC secreted transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and the AB heterodimer of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-AB) in a time-dependent fashion and the augmentation of cortical fibroblasts mitogenesis, collagen synthesis and IGFBP-3 secretion induced by PTC-CM was replicated by exogenous TGF-beta1 and PDGF. Furthermore, the stimulatory effects of PTC on cortical fibroblasts were potentiated in transiently acidified PTC-CM (which activated latent TGF-beta1), and were abrogated by neutralizing antibodies specifically directed against TGF-beta1 and PDGF-AB. Cortical fibroblasts in turn released a soluble factor(s) into cortical fibroblast-conditioned media that reciprocally stimulated PDGF-AB production by PTC (4.79+/-1.55 vs. 0.78+/-.06 ng/mg protein/day, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS PTC modulate the biological behavior of neighboring cortical fibroblasts in the human kidney through paracrine mechanisms, which include the production and release of PDGF-AB and TGF-beta1. Renal insults that result in proximal tubule injury may perturb this paracrine interaction, thereby culminating in excessive fibroblast proliferation and interstitial fibrosis.
Gene Knockout of tau Expression Does Not Contribute to the Pathogenesis of Prion Disease

Prion diseases or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are agroup of fatal and transmissible disorders affecting the central nervous system of humans and animals. The principal agent of prion disease transmission and pathogenesis is proposed to be an abnormalprotease-resistant isoform of the normal cellular prion protein. The microtubule-associated protein tau is elevated in patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. To determine whether tau expression contributesto prion disease pathogenesis, tau knockout and control wild-type mice were infected with the M1000 strain of mouse-adapted human prions. Immunohistochemical analysis for total tau expressionin prion-infected wild-type mice indicated tau aggregation in the cytoplasm of a subpopulation of neurons in regions associated with spongiform change. Western immunoblot analysis of brain homogenates revealed a decrease in total tau immunoreactivity and epitope-specific changes in tau phosphorylation. No significant difference in incubation period or other disease features were observed between tau knockout and wild-type mice with clinical prion disease. These results demonstrate that, in this model of prion disease, tau does not contribute to the pathogenesis of prion disease and that changes in the tau protein profile observed in mice with clinical prion disease occurs as a consequence of the prion-induced pathogenesis.
Energetic impedances: Application to large signal stability analysis of DC power systems

A new method using energetic dynamic specifications, is proposed in this paper to study the stability of a cascaded electric system. To apply this method, a new modeling based on energetic variables, is introduced. Contrary to classical approach for which voltages and currents are the state variables, we propose to use electrostatic energies and powers as state variables. We will prove that with this approach the stability study, under some conditions, is few dependent of the operating point. Thus, the stability of large scale distributed system can be simplified if all the components of the system verify such properties. The proposed approach is verified with help of simulation results and experimental validation.
Higher Risk of Future Cardiovascular Events Among Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis Compared to Psoriatic Patients Between the Ages of 30-50

The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis between the ages of 30-50. The research covered 95 outpatients and inpatients: 51 with plaque psoriasis (23 women and 28 men) and 44 with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (16 women and 28 men). The risk of cardio-vascular incident was evaluated with the use of the Framingham algorithm covering the age, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, the habit of smoking and diabetes. The 10-year risk of the occurrence of a cardio-vascular incident was higher in patients with psoriatic arthritis than in patients with plaque psoriasis (9,9% vs6,2%). A high risk of cardio-vascular events was observed in 35% men with psoriatic arthritis in comparison to 11% men with only psoriasis. In patients with plaque psoriasis, the increase in the risk of cardio-vascular incident was connected with the late beginning of psoriasis; whereas in the group of patients with psoriatic arthritis, the risk of cardio-vascular incident was connected with the intensification of psoriatic lesions.
Diastolic heart dysfunction, increased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and impaired exercise tolerance in patients with systemic sclerosis.

BACKGROUND Diastolic heart dysfunction, responsible for dyspnoea in heart failure patients, is an important prognostic factor. Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) serve as a model of diastolic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. AIM To quantify diastolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and elevation of pulmonary capillary wedge pressures (PCWP) in SSc patients and to assess the effects of these parameters on exercise tolerance. METHODS In 46 SSc patients (43 females, three males, aged 24-73 years) and 30 healthy females, echocardiography with tissue Doppler (TDE) and cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPX) were performed. During TDE, the systolic (S) and early diastolic (E) velocities of mitral annulus were recorded. The PCWP was calculated on the basis of mitral inflow E velocity and E velocity of mitral annulus. The CPX was performed using a modified Bruce protocol. RESULTS Left ventricular ejection fraction was normal in the SSc group. Mitral inflow E/A ratio was pseudonormal in five SSc patients, and significantly decreased in the remainder as compared to controls (0.87 ± 0.2 vs 1.38 ± 0.5, p < 0.0002). The TDE examination confirmed normal systolic LV function, but severe LV diastolic dysfunction (E 8.66 ± 2.5 cm/s vs 12.39 ± 3.5 cm/s in controls, p < 0.000002). The PCWP was higher in the SSc group (11.8 ± 3.3 mm Hg vs 7.7 ± 1.7 mm Hg in controls, p < 0.0001). The PCWP > 10 mm Hg significantly decreased exercise duration, maximal oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide output and identified patients with oxygen uptake < 20 mL/kg/min with 100% sensitivity and 78% specificity. The ventilatory equivalent of carbon dioxide was increased in the SSc group (VE/VCO2 38.7 ± 7.5 vs 30.55 ± 4.2 in controls, p < 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Pure LV diastolic dysfunction, typical of SSc, leads to the elevation of PCWP. Values of PCWP > 10 mm Hg are associated with severe exercise intolerance demonstrated by shorter duration of exercise with decreased oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide output during exercise.
Escherichia coli translation initiation factor 3 discriminates the initiation codon in vivo

In a genetic selection designed to isolate Escherichia coli mutations that increase expression of the IS10 transposase gene (tnp), we unexpectedly obtained viable mutants defective in translation initiation factor 3 (IF3). Several lines of evidence led us to conclude that transposase expression, per se, was not increased. Rather, these mutations appear to increase expression of the tnp′–′lacZ gene fusions used in this screen, by increasing translation initiation at downstream, atypical initiation codons. To test this hypothesis we undertook a systematic analysis of start codon requirements and measured the effects of IF3 mutations on initiation from various start codons. Beginning with an efficient translation initiation site, we varied the AUG start codon to all possible codons that differed from AUG by one nucleotide. These potential start codons fall into distinct classes with regard to translation efficiency in vivo: Class I codons (AUG, GUG, and UUG) support efficient translation; Class IIA codons (CUG, AUU, AUC, AUA, and ACG) support translation at levels only 1–3% that of AUG; and Class IIB codons (AGG and AAG) permit levels of translation too low for reliable quantification. Importantly, the IF3 mutations had no effect on translation from Class I codons, but they increased translation from Class II codons 3–5‐fold, and this same effect was seen in other gene contexts. Therefore, IF3 is generally able to discriminate between efficient and inefficient codons in vivo, consistent with earlier in vitro observations. We discuss these observations as they relate to IF3 autoregulation and the mechanism of IF3 function.
The prevalence of elevated serum thyroid-stimulating hormone in childhood/adolescent obesity and of autoimmune thyroid diseases in a subgroup.

OBJECTIVES 1) To ascertain the frequency of elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level in obese children and adolescents and 2) to determine the prevalence of positive thyroid antibodies in the subgroup of obese children with elevated serum TSH concentration. METHODS Retrospective chart review and prospective observation of 308 children, ages 6-17 years, with nonorganic, nonsyndromic obesity with BMI > 97th percentile. The control population consisted of 286 nonobese, otherwise-healthy children of the same age range. Thyroid function tests (free T4 or T4 with TSH) were obtained on all patients in both groups. Thyroid antibodies (thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin) were determined among those with elevated TSH levels. RESULTS Elevated TSH levels of > 4 uIU/ml (reference interval 0.4-4) were noted in 36 patients within the obese group (11.7%) but only two in the control group (< 0.7%). Five out of the 36 in the obese subgroup with elevated TSH levels had positive thyroid antibodies (14%). All five subjects in the obese subgroup with positive thyroid antibodies had TSH levels >7.4 uIU/ml, with an average of 9.8 uIU/ml. Thirty-one children in the obese subgroup with negative thyroid antibodies had TSH levels < 6.7 uIU/ml (average 5.33 uIU/ml). CONCLUSION A higher prevalence of TSH elevation was observed in the obese group (11.7%) than in the control group (0.7%). Positive thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies were observed in higher frequency in the obese subgroup with an elevated TSH level. The obese subgroup with positive thyroid antibodies also had higher TSH levels. Therefore, some instances of high TSH, especially those associated with antibodies, are likely due, at least in part, to thyroid disease, and others (possibly a majority) may be due to obesity, not its cause. It remains to be seen whether any children with mild TSH elevation benefit from thyroid hormone treatment.
Achene structure and taxonomy of North American Bolboschoenus (Cyperaceae)

Surface and transverse section achene structures ofBolboschoenus maritimus, B. robustus, B. fluviatilis, B. novae-angliae, B. glaucus, and the putative hybridsB. maritimus × B. rubustus andB. glaucus × B. maritimus from North America are described and illustrated with SEM micrographs. The same three type of pericarp structure reported by Browning and Gordon-Gray (1993) from southern Africa were found except that the “type 2” (B. glaucus) was not matched precisely. Intermediate achene structures and other evidence support both the hybrid origin ofB. novae-angliae (=B. fluviatilis × B. robustus) and hybridization betweenB. glaucus andB. maritimus. The new combinationBolboschoenus novae-angliae is made.