Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic value of urinary molecular markers in bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES In an attempt to find a more sensitive and specific non-invasive diagnostic assay for the detection of bladder cancer cells, the authors assayed the exfoliated cells from patient's voided urine and bladder washing fluids for the presence of telomerase, an enzyme that maintains a cell's chromosomal length, metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), which has been associated with tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Their results were compared with both voided urine cytology (VUC) and bladder wash cytology (BWC) for the detection of bladder cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS The authors used preoperative voided morning urine samples from 110 subjects for telomerase, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and cytology. Bladder wash samples were obtained for telomerase and cytology. Of 110 cases 73 were histologically diagnosed as bladder cancer, whereas the remaining 16 had benign urological disorders. A group of 21 healthy volunteers were also enrolled in this study. Cystoscopy was done for all patients as the reference standard for the identification of bladder cancer. Biopsy of any suspicious lesion was performed for histopathological examination. RESULTS Receiver-operator characteristics (ROC) curves were used to determine the optimal threshold values for telomerase activity in urine, bladder wash and MMP-9 [0.05, 0.088 and 0.51 (ng/ml), respectively]. The levels and the positivity rates of telomerase activity and MMP-9 were significantly higher in the malignant group compared to either the benign group or normal controls. Bladder cancer patients with positive cytology revealed positive telomerase activity in urine, bladder wash, and MMP-9 in 92%, 87% and 61%, respectively. Also, these positive rates were significantly higher in bilharzial bladder cancer cases (88%, 89%, 69%, respectively) compared to non-bilharzial cases (50%, 62.5%, 50%). The overall sensitivity and specificity were 83% and 88.6%, 86.3% and 78.3% for telomerase activity in urine, and in bladder wash, respectively. 66.6% and 80% for MMP-9, 58.5% and 100% for voided urine cytology and 64.4% and 100% for bladder wash cytology. Combined sensitivity of VUC with the 2 biomarkers together was higher than either combined sensitivity of VUC with one of the biomarkers or than that of the biomarker alone. CONCLUSION Urinary telomerase and MMP-9 had superior sensitivities over VUC; moreover, combined use of these markers increased the sensitivity of cytology from 58.46% to 95%. The higher sensitivities of markers in bilharzial bladder cancer than non-bilharzial type highlight their clinical utility in screening patients with urinary bilharziasis.
Null Mutation of gp91phox Reduces Muscle Membrane Lysis During Muscle Inflammation in Mice

Muscle inflammation is a common feature in muscle injury and disease. Recently, investigators have speculated that inflammatory cells may increase or decrease muscle damage following modified muscle use, although there are few experimental observations to confirm either possibility. In the present study, a null mutation of gp91phox in neutrophils prevented superoxide production in cytotoxicity assays in which muscle cells were targets, and prevented most neutrophil‐mediated cytolysis of muscle cells in comparison to wild‐type neutrophils in vitro. We further tested whether deficiency in superoxide production caused a decrease in muscle membrane damage in vivo during modified muscle use. Gp91phox null mutant mice and wild‐type mice were subjected to 10 days of muscle hindlimb unloading followed by reloading through return to normal locomotion, which induced muscle membrane lesions and muscle inflammation. Membrane lesions were quantified by measuring the presence of extracellular marker dye in reloaded soleus muscle fibres. There was a 90 % reduction in the number of fibres showing extensive membrane injury in gp91phox null mice compared to controls. Mutation of gp91phox did not change the concentration of neutrophils or macrophages in the reloaded muscle. Furthermore, muscle fibre growth during the reloading period was unaffected by the reduction in membrane injury. Together, these findings show that neutrophils can induce muscle membrane lysis through superoxide‐mediated events, and indicate that superoxide‐mediated membrane damage in vivo is not required for myeloid cell chemotaxis or muscle growth during muscle reloading.
Comparison between a conventional technique and two bone regeneration techniques in periradicular surgery.

AIM The aim was to demonstrate the efficacy of two materials for bone regeneration during periradicular surgery and their effects on the healing of periapical tissues. METHODOLOGY Twenty-eight patients (30 surgical sites) were selected and distributed into three groups:group A, conventional technique; group B, conventional technique plus nonbioabsorbable GoreTex R Augmentation membrane; and group C, conventional technique plus the same membrane placed over a synthetic bioactive resorbable graft of a hydroxylapatite (OsteoGen) product in the bony defect. Clinical and radiological evaluations were completed immediately prior to surgery, a week later and every 3 months after surgery up to 12 months. Two histological evaluations were performed (at the beginning and at 12 months). RESULTS The results showed complete clinical and radiographic healing (eight cases) for group C, with histologic evidence of trabecular bone in all cases. For group B, six out of nine cases showed complete radiographic healing, incomplete in one case and uncertain in two cases, with histologic evidence of trabecular bone in five out of eight cases, scar tissue in one case and granuloma in two cases. For group A, there was complete radiographic healing in four out of nine cases, incomplete in four and unsuccessful in one case, with evidence of granuloma in four out of eight, scar tissue in two cases and trabecular bone in two cases. CONCLUSIONS It was concluded that the conventional technique was less predictable in its healing response during the 12 months of this study. The use of bone regeneration materials, such as nonbioabsorbablemembranes and resorbable hydroxylapatite improved the predictability of clinical, radiographic and histological healing.
Intracellular calcium and Na+‐Ca2+ exchange current in isolated toad pacemaker cells

1 Single pacemaker cells were isolated from the sinus venosus of cane toad (Bufo marinus) in order to study the mechanisms involved in the spontaneous firing rate of action potentials. Intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured with indo‐1 to determine whether [Ca2+]i influenced firing rate. A rapid transient rise of [Ca2+]i was recorded together with each spontaneous action potential. [Ca2+]i at the peak of systole was 655 ± 64 nM and the minimum at the end of diastole was 195 ± 15 nM. 2 Reduction of extracellular Ca2+ concentration from 2 to 0.5 mM caused a reduction in both systolic and diastolic [Ca2+]i and the spontaneous firing rate also gradually declined. 3 Application of the acetoxymethyl (AM) ester of BAPTA (10 μM), in order to increase intracellular calcium buffering, caused a decline in systolic and diastolic [Ca2+]i. The firing rate declined progressively until the cells stopped firing after 10‐15 min. At the time that firing ceased, the diastolic [Ca2+]i had declined by 141 ± 38 nM. 4 In the presence of ryanodine (2 μM), which interferes with Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, the systolic and diastolic [Ca2+]i both declined and the firing rate decreased until the cells stopped firing. At quiescence diastolic [Ca2+]i had declined by 93 ± 20 nM. 5 Exposure of the cells to Na+‐free solution caused a rise in [Ca2+]i which exceeded the systolic level after 4.8 ± 0.3 s. This rise is consistent with Ca2+ entry on a Na+‐Ca2+ exchanger. 6 Rapid application of caffeine (10‐20 mM) to cells clamped at ‐60 mV caused a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i which then spontaneously declined. An inward current with a similar time course to that of [Ca2+]i was also generated. Application of Ni2+ (5 mM) or 2,4‐dichlorobenzamil (25 μM) reduced the amplitude of the inward current produced by caffeine by 96 ± 1 % and 74 ± 10 %, respectively. In a Na+‐free solution the caffeine‐induced current was reduced by 93 ± 7 %. 7 Under a variety of circumstances the diastolic [Ca2+]i showed a close association with pacemaker firing rate. The existence of a Na+‐Ca2+ exchanger and its estimated contribution to inward current during the pacemaker potential suggest that the Na+‐Ca2+ exchange current makes a contribution to pacemaker activity.
Interplay between three global regulatory proteins mediates oxygen regulation of the Escherichia coli cytochrome d oxidase (cydAB) operon

The Escherichia coli cydAB operon, encoding the subunits of the high‐affinity cytochrome d oxidase, is maximally transcribed in microaerobiosis as a result of the combined action of the oxygen‐responsive regulators Fnr and ArcA. Here, we report that the histone‐like protein H‐NS is an aerobic repressor of cydAB expression. ArcA is shown to antagonize H‐NS action to render cydAB expression insensitive to H‐NS repression in anaerobiosis. The targets for H‐NS‐mediated aerobic repression are the four oxygen‐regulated promoters, designated P1, P2, P3 and P4. H‐NS control is the result of H‐NS binding to an extended region within the cydAB promoter element, including sequences upstream from and overlapping the four regulated promoters. We propose a regulatory model in which oxygen control of cydAB transcription is mediated by three alternative protein–DNA complexes that are assembled sequentially on the promoter region as the cells are shifted from aerobic to microaerobic and to anaerobic conditions. According to this model, ArcA‐P plays a central role in cydAB regulation by antagonizing H‐NS repression of cydAB transcription when oxygen becomes limiting. This allows peak gene expression and subsequent repression by Fnr under fully anaerobic conditions.
Evidence-based Forecasting for Climate Change Policies

In order to meet policy makers’ need for climate forecasts, this paper extends the application of evidence-based forecasting of global mean temperatures. The extensions utilize more years of global mean temperature data and 34 years of better data. Forecasts from the no-trend model were compared with forecasts from six moresophisticated methods that take account of more than the most recent data point to generate forecasts on the basis of recent levels, trends, and patterns. The more-sophisticated methods provided inconsequential improvements in forecast accuracy for horizons up to 10 years, beyond which horizon the no-change model provided the most accurate forecasts. The findings reinforce earlier conclusions that the IPCC scenario of dangerous increases in global mean temperatures fails to pass basic validation tests, and that the no-trend model provides the only scientific long-term climate forecasts. Without a scientific forecast of a global warming, there is no rational basis for government regulations, subsidies, funding, or penalties. Furthermore, a scientific forecast of global warming is not, by itself, a basis for action. That would require scientific forecasts that the warming would be harmful and forecasts that cost-effective policies would reduce the harm.
Magnetic Saturation in Semi-Analytical Harmonic Modeling for Electric Machine Analysis

A semi-analytical method based on the harmonic modeling (HM) technique is presented for the analysis of the magneto-static field distribution in the slotted structure of rotating electric machines. In contrast to the existing literature, the proposed model does not require the assumption of infinite tooth permeability, material property homogenization, or a hybrid modeling approach. In fact, the permeability variation in the slotted machine parts is embedded directly into the magnetostatic field solution. Currently, only linear soft-magnetic materials with finite permeability are considered. However, non-linear materials could be considered iteratively, and therefore the proposed model presents a first step toward including the magnetic saturation effects into HM. To validate the presented method, semi-analytical models are implemented for two benchmark topologies with slotted rotors. Magnetic field calculations are performed for two different values of linear rotor tooth permeability and compared to finite-element analysis predictions. The results show that a very good agreement is obtained.
Density dependence on tree survival in an old-growth temperate forest in northeastern China

Abstract• Density dependence is a major mechanism for shaping plant communities. However, its role in regulating diverse, mixed natural tree communities is less certain. • In this study we investigated density-dependent effects in a large-scale (25 ha) old-growth temperate forest in northeastern China. Spatial patterns of neighborhood distribution in the plot were analyzed using various methods for inferring competition, including (1) pair correlation function to determine spatial patterns of pre-mortality and post-mortality and (2) neighborhood analysis of individuals to examine the extent to which tree survival is correlated with other covariates. • Results showed that, for common species, 3 of 5 canopy species and 3 of 8 midstory and understory species were random in mortality. Negative density-dependent mortality was not found when trees reach 1 cm in DBH. There was no significant correlation for canopy species between tree survival and conspecific abundance, but largely positive correlations for midstory and understory species. In contrast, tree survival was found to negatively correlate with conspecific basal area for most species, indicating strong intraspecific competition. No strong interspecific density dependence was found in the forest. Résumé• La dépendance par rapport à la densité est un important mécanisme pour la formation des communautés végétales. Toutefois, son rôle dans la régulation de diverses communautés mélangées d’arbre est moins certain. • Dans cette étude, nous avons enquêté sur les effets densité-dépendance à une grande échelle (25 ha) dans une ancienne forêt tempérée, dans le nord de la Chine. Les modes de distribution spatiale de voisinage ont été analysés en utilisant diverses méthodes pour estimer la concurrence, y compris : (1) des paires de fonction de corrélation afin de déterminer les structures spatiales de pré et postmortalité et (2) l’analyse du voisinage des individus pour examiner dans quelle mesure la survie de l’arbre survivant est corrélée avec d’autres variables. • Les résultats ont montré que, pour les espèces communes, 3 des 5 espèces de la canopée et 3 des 8 de l’étage moyen et du sous-étage, la mortalité était aléatoire. Aucune mortalité densité-dépendante négative n’a été détectée lorsque les arbres atteignent 1 cm de diamètre à hauteur d’homme. Il n’y avait pas de corrélation significative pour les espèces de la canopée entre la survie des arbres et l’abondance conspécifique, mais il y avait des corrélations positives pour l’étage moyen et le sous-étage. • En revanche, la survie des arbres était corrélée négativement avec la surface terrière conspécifique pour la plupart des espèces, indiquant une forte concurrence intraspécifique. Aucune dépendance visible de la densité interspécifique n’a été détectée dans la forêt.
The Influence of Basic Conditioning Factors on Healthy Behaviors, Self-Efficacy, and Self-Care in Adults

This article presents secondary statistical analyses of data from a 2003 study by the author investigating the relationships among health-promoting self-care behaviors, self-care self-efficacy, and self-care agency in an adult population. The purpose of this article is to identify the influences of selected basic conditioning factors on the practice of healthy behaviors, self-efficacy beliefs, and ability for self-care. The sample consisted of 379 adult participants who completed four research instruments: Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II Scale, Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices Scale, Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale, and a demographic questionnaire assessing basic conditioning factors. Statistically significant relationships were found between the following basic conditioning factors and the study variables: age, gender, income, marital status, education, race, and routine practice of religion. These results give direction for nursing interventions that promote self-care and holistic health in an adult population.
Loneliness and Depressive Symptoms: The Mediating and Moderating Role of Uncontrollable Ruminative Thoughts

ABSTRACT Although feelings of loneliness often are accompanied by depressive symptoms, little is known about underlying mechanisms in this association. The present study sampled 370 college freshmen and investigated whether rumination (and its components of Uncontrollability, Causal Analysis, and Understanding) functioned as a mediator or moderator in the relationship between 2 types of loneliness (as experienced in the relationship with parents and with peers, respectively) and depressive symptoms. Results indicated that rumination partially mediated the relationship between peer-related loneliness and depressive symptoms and moderated the relationship between parent-related loneliness and depressive symptoms. In addition, the uncontrollable nature, rather than the content, of these ruminative thoughts about parent- and peer-related loneliness was particularly harmful in the development of depressive symptoms. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
At-Sea Trial of 24-h-Based Submarine Watchstanding Schedules with High and Low Correlated Color Temperature Light Sources

United States Navy submariners have historically lived with circadian disruption while at sea due to 18-h-based watchschedules. Previous research demonstrated that circadian entrainment improved with 24-h-based watchschedules. Twenty-nine male crew members participated in the study, which took place on an actual submarine patrol. The crew were exposed, first, to experimental high correlated color temperature (CCT = 13,500 K) fluorescent light sources and then to standard-issue fluorescent light sources (CCT = 4100 K). A variety of outcome measures were employed to determine if higher levels of circadian-effective light during on-watch times would further promote behavioral alignment to 24-h-based watchschedules. The high CCT light source produced significantly higher circadian light exposures than the low CCT light source, which was associated with significantly greater 24-h behavioral alignment with work schedules using phasor analysis, greater levels of sleep efficiency measured with wrist actigraphy, lower levels of subjective sleepiness measured with the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, and higher nighttime melatonin concentrations measured by morning urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin/creatinine ratios. Unlike these diverse outcome measures, performance scores were significantly worse under the high CCT light source than under the low CCT light source, due to practice effects. As hypothesized, with the exception of the performance scores, all of the data converge to suggest that high CCT light sources, combined with 24-h watchschedules, promote better behavioral alignment with work schedules and greater sleep quality on submarines. Since the order and the type of light sources were confounded in this field study, the results should only be considered as consistent with our theoretical understanding of how regular, 24-h light-dark exposures combined with high circadian light exposures can promote greater behavioral alignment with work schedules and with sleep.
Applying in vitro elasticity imaging results to optimize in vivo breast lesion characterization using a combined 3D USs/digital X-ray system

Ultrasound-based reconstructive elasticity imaging has great potential for diagnosis and characterization of breast lesions. Applying external strain with a mammographic paddle as part of a combined 3D US/Digital X-ray system provides more uniform deformation and breast stability, offering opportunities to improve image fidelity. In this study, we examined phantom and in vivo strain image quality with three GE transducers (M12L, 10L, 7L) each operating at several frequencies between 5- 10 MHz and 3 TPX paddle thicknesses to predict optimal in vivo results with the combined system. Out-of-plane motion was measured by translating an ultrasonic transducer across a breast phantom (ATS, model BB-1) in 50um steps over 400um. Each image was correlated to the first in the sequence to determine rate of elevational decorrelation. Next, in-plane, strain-limited decorrelation was evaluated by correlating images at 0.25-1.0% steps up to 5% strain using two-pass 2D speckle tracking algorithms and accumulation. Adaptive strain estimation (ASE) was applied to maximize CNR throughout the final strain image. Overall the 10L transducer caused the least decorrelation due to out-of-plane motion (R = 0.97 at 7.5MHz and 400um elevational translation). In-plane decorrelation was also primarily strain- limited with the 10L transducer at 7.5MHz, with R = 0.9 for a 1.6% strain step. Accumulated strain images after ASE demonstrated a CNR = 13.6 with the 10L transducer at 7.5 MHz. Of the 3 paddles (0.25, 1.0, 2.5 mm) used in the phantom study, the 2.5mm paddle created strain images with less artifacts than the thinner paddles by providing more uniform deformation during compression. Next, we evaluated sources of in vivo chest wall motion in 7 subjects to minimize patient motion during the scan. Based on these experiments, patients were asked to breathe shallowly during exams as it caused less decorrelation due to chest wall motion (Ravg = 0.96 over 91 frames). In vivo results were acquired with the 10L at 7.5 MHz using continuous compression over 2.1 seconds. Strain images clearly distinguished between tissue types when accumulated up to 5% strain. In vivo results are limited by out-of-plane motion but are expected to improve with 3D tracking. These early successes indicate that using elasticity imaging with the combined system can potentially characterize breast lesions and monitor therapies.
A Correlation Between Clinical and Chest Radiographic Diagnosis of Pneumonia in Nigerian Children

This study aims to establish if there is a correlation between the clinical and chest radiographic diagnosis of pneumonia in Nigerian Children and the most vulnerable age of its occurrence. It also emphasizes the importance of a simple chest radiograph in management of paediatric pneumonia patients. A Total of 100 chest radiographs of children 16years and below with clinical symptoms of pneumonia and their request forms were reviewed. Thirty seven (37) of the radiographs were in agreement with clinical diagnosis of pneumonia while 63 radiographs had no evidence of infection or inflammation in the lung fields. Statistical analysis was done with Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 13 to determine the P value (P<0.05), this was thought to be statistically significant therefore; the authors are of the opinion that Chest radiographs are efficacious in the management of children suspected to have pneumonia. Plain chest radiograph has some value in the clinical diagnosis of pneumonia.