Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Collagen types I and III in giant papillae of vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

AIMS--The objective of this study was to investigate alterations in conjunctival collagen and proteoglycans in the conjunctival giant papillae of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). METHODS--Tissue samples from tarsal giant papillae of seven eyes from five patients with VKC, and five tarsal conjunctival samples from five normal patients were obtained. Tissues were processed and stained with haematoxylin and eosin, Van Gieson, trichromic Mallory, toluidine blue, Alcian blue, and alkaline Giemsa. Collagen extraction was performed in acetic acid and pepsin, total collagen was quantified using hydroxy-proline levels, and collagen types I and III were analysed by gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Proteoglycans were quantified using uronic acid levels. RESULTS--Histological evaluation showed a significant increase of mast cells in the epithelium (0/mm2 v 147/mm2, p < 0.01) and in the stroma (5.1/mm2 v 80/mm2, p < 0.01) of VKC patients. Collagen fibres were thicker and arranged irregularly, with the total amount significantly increased. Owing to an increased percentage of type III collagen, the ratio of collagen types I to III was decreased. Proteoglycans were also reduced in VKC samples. CONCLUSION--The well known morphological abnormalities observed in VKC correspond to alterations in the ratio between collagens and proteoglycans, and between different types of collagen. The greatly increased number of mast cells found in these tissues suggests an active role for these cells in the abnormal connective tissue metabolism observed in VKC.
Homologous recombination catalyzed by human cell extracts

Two plasmids containing noncomplementing and nonreverting deletions in a bacterial phosphotransferase gene conferring resistance to neomycin (Neor) were incubated with human cell extracts, and the mixtures were used to transform recombination-deficient (recA-) Escherichia coli cells. We were able to obtain Neor colonies at a frequency of 2 X 10(-3). This frequency was 100 to 1,000 times higher than that obtained with no extracts. The removal of riboadenosine 5'-triphosphate, Mg2+, or deoxynucleoside triphosphates from the reaction mixture severely reduced the yield of Neor colonies. Examination of plasmid DNA from the Neor colonies revealed that they resulted from gene conversion and reciprocal recombination. On the basis of these results, we conclude that mammalian somatic cells in culture have the enzymatic machinery to catalyze homologous recombination in vitro.
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Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Correspondence: Dr Carolyn M Levis, Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, St Joseph’s Healthcare, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Room G820, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 4A6. Telephone 905-522-1155 ext 34969, fax 905-525-6424, e-mail levisc@mcmaster.ca The common peroneal nerve (CPN) is the most commonly injured nerve in the lower limb. Injury to the CPN and, more specifically, the deep peroneal nerve (DPN), can lead to permanent weakness or paresis of toe and ankle dorsiflexors. Causes include trauma, dislocation, iatrogenic injury and peripheral nerve lesions (1). Patients experience difficulties with the swing phase of gait. To compensate, patients adopt a high stepping gait to lift the foot higher off the ground. These injuries can be treated nonoperatively using an anklefoot orthotic. It is known that an individual using an ankle-foot orthotic has a significantly lower quality of life in the domains of physical functioning, mental health, vitality, bodily pain and general health perception when compared with a patient without an impairment necessitating the device (2). Current surgical treatments include decompression at the fibular head for compressive palsies (3,4). Injuries that do not show signs of recovery require early nerve grafting to reconstruct the injured nerve segment with or without tendon transfers (5,6). Tendon transfers alone may also be performed depending on the duration of time since injury (7). However, for both of these procedures, functional outcomes are often poor compared with similar reconstructive procedures for other major nerves in the upper extremity. The current literature characterizes nerve transfers using expendable donor nerves in the lower limb as experimental or alternative surgical procedures, rather than as an accepted surgical option. The authors suggest that this may be a preferred treatment plan – over other traditional options – for several reasons. Nerve transfers minimize dissection and potential injury to surrounding tissues. They facilitate faster recovery because they can lead to more rapid reinnervation than nerve grafts due to the fact that the transferred axons are closer to the targeted motor end plates. In addition, nerve transfers avoid the problem of ‘missed zone of injury’ when using nerve grafts. This is of particular concern for the common peroneal nerve, which can suffer significant and widespread stretch in lateral knee injuries. originAl Article
Performance improvement of various antennas using inclusions of split-ring resonators

Split-ring resonators (SRRs) are fundamental elements of metamaterials, which exhibit attractive properties and find various electromagnetic applications. In this paper, we consider the inclusion of SRRs for improving the performance of various antennas, with respect to their radiation patterns, electrical size or wideband response. The provided results verify that incorporating SRRs in the radiator design provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for upgrading the characteristics of standard antenna elements, without resorting to more complex or costly alternative solutions.
Diversification and Refinement in Collaborative Filtering Recommender ( Full Version )

This paper considers a popular class of recommender systems that are based on Collaborative Filtering (CF) and proposes a novel technique for diversifying the recommendations that they give to users. Items are clustered based on a unique notion of priority-medoids that provides a natural balance between the need to present highly ranked items vs. highly diverse ones. Our solution estimates items diversity by comparing the rankings that different users gave to the items, thereby enabling diversification even in common scenarios where no semantic information on the items is available. It also provides a natural zoom-in mechanism to focus on items (clusters) of interest and recommending diversified similar items. We present DiRec , a plug-in that implements the above concepts and allows CF Recommender systems to diversify their recommendations. We illustrate the operation of DiRec in the context of a movie recommendation system and present a thorough experimental study that demonstrates the effectiveness of our recommendation diversification technique and its superiority over previous solutions.
Radiocarbon Dating, Chronologic Framework, and Changes in Accumulation Rates of Holocene Estuarine Sediments from Chesapeake Bay

Abstract Rapidly accumulating Holocene sediments in estuaries commonly are difficult to sample and date. In Chesapeake Bay, we obtained sediment cores as much as 20 m in length and used numerous radiocarbon ages measured by accelerator mass spectrometry methods to provide the first detailed chronologies of Holocene sediment accumulation in the bay. Carbon in these sediments is a complex mixture of materials from a variety of sources. Analyses of different components of the sediments show that total organic carbon ages are largely unreliable, because much of the carbon (including coal) has been transported to the bay from upstream sources and is older than sediments in which it was deposited. Mollusk shells (clams, oysters) and foraminifera appear to give reliable results, although reworking and burrowing are potential problems. Analyses of museum specimens collected alive before atmospheric nuclear testing suggest that the standard reservoir correction for marine samples is appropriate for middle to lower Chesapeake Bay. The biogenic carbonate radiocarbon ages are compatible with 210Pb and 137Cs data and pollen stratigraphy from the same sites. Post-settlement changes in sediment transport and accumulation is an important environmental issue in many estuaries, including the Chesapeake. Our data show that large variations in sediment mass accumulation rates occur among sites. At shallow water sites, local factors seem to control changes in accumulation rates with time. Our two relatively deep-water sites in the axial channel of the bay have different long-term average accumulation rates, but the history of sediment accumulation at these sites appears to reflect overall conditions in the bay. Mass accumulation rates at the two deep-water sites rapidly increased by about fourfold coincident with widespread land clearance for agriculture in the Chesapeake watershed.
High-Efficiency MOSFET Inverter with H6-Type Configuration for Photovoltaic Nonisolated AC-Module Applications

A novel, high-efficiency inverter using MOSFETs for all active switches is presented for photovoltaic, nonisolated, ac-module applications. The proposed H6-type configuration features high efficiency over a wide load range, low ground leakage current, no need for split capacitors, and low-output ac-current distortion. The detailed power stage operating principles, pulsewidth modulation scheme, associated multilevel bootstrap power supply, and integrated gate drivers for the proposed inverter are described. Experimental results of a 300 W hardware prototype show that not only are MOSFET body diode reverse-recovery and ground leakage current issues alleviated in the proposed inverter, but also that 98.3% maximum efficiency and 98.1% European Union efficiency of the dc-ac power train and the associated driver circuit are achieved.
Examining the accuracy of caregivers' assessments of young children's oral health status.

BACKGROUND Caregivers' perceptions of their young children's oral health status (OHS) are a strong determinant of whether the children visit a dentist. Our aims were to quantify the correlation between caregivers' assessments and their children's clinically determined restorative treatment needs, while investigating factors related to this association. METHODS One hundred eight caregivers assessed their children's OHS by answering a question on the self-reported National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III instrument. Children underwent clinical oral examinations at one of two study sites of the Carolina Oral Health Literacy Project: a dental school-based clinic and a community-based health clinic. Examiners recorded the children's clinical treatment needs by using a modification of the caries severity index. The authors quantified concordance between the two measures with use of the Spearman rank correlation (ρ) and Kendall τ rank correlation, whereas they assessed differences in sociodemographic factors and oral health literacy (OHL) levels by using a homogeneity χ(2) test (P < .2 criterion). RESULTS The concordance between caregivers' assessments and clinically determined OHS was lower for younger children (< 2 years, ρ = 0.29 versus = 2 years, ρ = 0.63 [homogeneity P = .03]), a pattern that was evident in the community clinic but not in the university clinic. Caregivers' age, education and OHL did not influence the accuracy of self-reports. CONCLUSIONS For children younger than 2 years, caregivers' assessments correlated poorly with clinical needs, which routinely were underestimated. Practice Implications. These findings underscore the importance of preventive dental visits at a young age and the early establishment of a dental home.
Desmids in mountain lakes of the subpolar Urals

The species composition of desmids was studied in eight mountain lakes of the Kozhim and Malyi Patok River basins in the “Yugyd Va” National Park (subpolar Urals, Russia). A total of 98 desmid taxa representing 13 genera belonging to 4 families were identified. Geographical and ecological analyses showed that the desmid flora is typical, with a predominance of cosmopolitan species, planktic-benthic forms, acidophilic and pH indifferent species, and halophobic to salinity indifferent species. The investigated lakes can be classified as pristine and in good ecological condition on the basis of their hydrochemical and algal biodiversity characteristics.
Metabolism and DNA binding of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by human diploid fibroblasts

The metabolism of three carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was measured in mid‐(population doubling levels of 20–39) and late‐(population doubling levels > 55) passage cultures of WI‐38 human diploid fibroblasts. Cultures of mid‐and late‐passage cells metabolized these hydrocarbons to both water‐ and organic solvent‐soluble derivatives. In stationary cultures, the same amounts of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) and 3‐methyl‐cholanthrene were metabolized per cell, but late‐passage cells metabolized only one‐third as much 7,12‐dimethylbenz(a)anthracene per cell as mid‐passage cells. The DNA adducts formed from BP in WI‐38 cells were examined by chromatography of enzyme‐degraded DNA samples on Sephadex LH20 columns. On columns eluted with methanol‐water gradients, the [3H]BP‐deoxyribonucleoside adducts eluted in the same volume as the product peak isolated from DNA that had been reacted with 7,8‐dihydroxy‐9,10‐epoxy‐7,8,9,10‐tetrahydroBP. On columns eluted with borate‐containing methanol‐water gradients, 62% of the cellular products eluted in the same volume as the product peak isolated from DNA that had been reacted with (±) 7α,8β‐dihydroxy‐9β,10β‐epoxy‐7,8,9,10‐tetrahydroBP (the anti‐isomer) and 35% eluted in the same volume as a product peak isolated from DNA that had been reacted with (±) 7α,8β‐dihydroxy‐9α,10α‐epoxy‐7,8,9,10‐tetrahydroBP (the syn‐isomer). Thus, more than one type of DNA adduct is formed in these cells, possibly through the reacticn of different isomers of this BP‐diol‐epoxide with DNA.
The Five-Factor Model of Personality, Subjective Well-Being, and Social Adaptation: Generalizability to the Spanish Context

The relationships between the five-factor model of personality, subjective well-being, and social adaptation were examined in two Spanish groups, one of 112 undergraduate students and one of 177 participants from the general population. Analyses showed a clear pattern of low but positive associations among scores on well-being, social adaptation, and four of the five factors of personality (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Emotional Stability), very similar to those obtained by previous research in the American context.
Mycophenolate mofetil in patients with acute renal failure: evidence of metabolite (MPAG) accumulation and removal by dialysis

Abstract Pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid (MPA) was analyzed in eight patients with post‐transplant acute renal failure. Furthermore, the effect of hemodialysis upon blood levels of MPA and its major metabolite, MPA glucuronide (MPAG), was determined. The mean duration of the posttransplant renal failure was 18 days, but renal function resumed in all patients eventually. The patients were treated with 3 g/day of mycophenolate mofetil for 28 consecutive days combined with cyclosporine A, me‐thylprednisolone, and ATG for induction therapy. In all patients, accumulation of MPAG but not of MPA was observed. MPA trough levels were in the range between 0.5 pgiml at day 2 and 2.3 pgiml at the end of the study period. However, this concentration difference did not reach statistical significance. Trough levels of MPAG accumulated, reaching levels as high as 358 μg/ml. However, with increasing recovery of renal function, MPAG levels fell to a median trough concentration of 141 pg/ml. MPAG, but not MPA, could partially be removed from the circulation by hemodialysis treatment.
CNTF exerts opposite effects on in vitro development of rat and chick photoreceptors

Effects of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on photoreceptor development in dissociated cultures of embryonic chick and newborn rat retina were studied using opsin immunoreactivity to characterize photoreceptor differentiation. In the presence of CNTF, the number of photoreceptors was increased by up to 200% in chick cultures, but was reduced by 82–99% in rat cultures. The EC50 determined for CNTF effects in chick and rat cultures were 0.06 ng ml−1 and 0.02 ng ml−1 respectively. By studying the time course of in vitro development we showed that CNTF transiently stimulated the generation of photoreceptors from opsinnegative precursor cells of chick retina, but completely prevented the same process in rat cultures. These results suggest that CNTF is involved in the regulation of photoreceptor development, but that it can have different actions in the two species, at least in vitro.
Age-related differences in unruptured intracranial aneurysms: 1-year outcomes.

OBJECT The aim of this study was to determine age-related differences in short-term (1-year) outcomes in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). METHODS Four thousand fifty-nine patients prospectively enrolled in the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms were categorized into 3 groups by age at enrollment: < 50, 50-65, and > 65 years old. Outcomes assessed at 1 year included aneurysm rupture rates, combined morbidity and mortality from aneurysm procedure or hemorrhage, and all-cause mortality. Periprocedural morbidity, in-hospital morbidity, and poor neurological outcome on discharge (Rankin scale score of 3 or greater) were assessed in surgically and endovascularly treated groups. Univariate and multivariate associations of each outcome with age were tested. RESULTS The risk of aneurysmal hemorrhage did not increase significantly with age. Procedural and in-hospital morbidity and mortality increased with age in patients treated with surgery, but remained relatively constant with increasing age with endovascular treatment. Poor neurological outcome from aneurysm- or procedure-related morbidity and mortality did not differ between management groups for patients 65 years old and younger, but was significantly higher in the surgical group for patients older than 65 years: 19.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 13.9%-24.4%), compared with 8.0% (95% CI 2.3%-13.6%) in the endovascular group and 4.2% (95% CI 2.3%-6.2%) in the observation group. All-cause mortality increased steadily with increasing age, but differed between treatment groups only in patients < 50 years of age, with the surgical group showing a survival advantage at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS Surgical treatment of UIAs appears to be safe, prevents 1-year hemorrhage, and may confer a survival benefit in patients < 50 years of age. However, surgery poses a significant risk of morbidity and death in patients > 65 years of age. Risk of endovascular treatment does not appear to increase with age. Risks and benefits of treatment in older patients should be carefully considered, and if treatment is deemed necessary for patients older than 65 years, endovascular treatment may be the best option.
Prediction of Satisfied User Ratio for Compressed Video

A large-scale video quality dataset called the VideoSet has been constructed recently to measure human subjective experience of H.264 coded video in terms of the just-noticeable-difference (JND). It measures the first three JND points of 5-second video of resolution 1080p, 720p, 540p and 360p. Based on the VideoSet, we propose a method to predict the satisfied-user-ratio (SUR) curves using a machine learning framework. First, we partition a video clip into local spatial-temporal segments and evaluate the quality of each segment using the VMAF quality index. Then, we aggregate these local VMAF measures to derive a global one. Finally, the masking effect is incorporated and the support vector regression (SVR) is used to predict the SUR curves, from which the JND points can be derived. Experimental results are given to demonstrate the performance of the proposed SUR prediction method.
Student Remediation: Practical Considerations for Counselor Educators and Supervisors

Counseling Association by Dr. Garry R. Walz and Dr. Jeanne C. Bleuer of Counseling Outfitters, LLC. Its purpose is to provide a means of capturing the ideas, information and experiences generated by the annual ACA Conference and selected ACA Division Conferences. Papers on a program or practice that has been validated through research or experience may also be submitted. This digital collection of peer-reviewed articles is authored by counselors, for counselors. VISTAS Online contains the full text of over 500 proprietary counseling articles published from 2004 to present.
Trends in the Treatment of Uterine Leiomyosarcoma in the Medicare Population

Objective Uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a relatively rare malignancy that is associated with a poor prognosis. The rarity of LMS has led to a lack of consensus regarding appropriate treatment. The goal of this study was to identify the role that chemotherapy and radiotherapy have played in the treatment of uterine LMS in the United States as well as the effectiveness of adjuvant treatment. Materials/Methods We used the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results)-Medicare database to gather information on uterine LMS patients older than the age of 66 years diagnosed between 1992 and 2009. Basic demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. A logistic regression model analysis was performed to determine predictors of treatment. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify clinical parameters and treatment strategies associated with survival differences. Results Our final study group included 230 patients. We found that the rate of use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the treatment of patients with uterine LMS increased over the period investigated. However, we identified no significant survival advantage associated with either mode of therapy. The strongest predictor of survival was stage at diagnosis. The logistic regression model analysis revealed that age at diagnosis, treatment year, stage, and underlying health status were all independent predictors of chemotherapy. Age at diagnosis was also a predictor of radiation therapy. Conclusions The increasing rates of chemotherapy and radiotherapy use in this population seem to be unfounded given the lack of survival benefit. Further investigation into alternative treatment regimens is merited. The prognostic significance of stage at diagnosis indicates the importance of improving early detection of uterine LMS.
Evaluation of the gastrointestinal tolerability of corn starch fiber, a novel dietary fiber, in two independent randomized, double-blind, crossover studies in healthy men and women

Abstract Two independent clinical studies were conducted to compare the gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability of corn starch fiber, a novel dietary fiber, at up to 50 g/day (single-dose study) or 90 g/day (multiple-serving study) with a negative control (no fiber) and a positive control (50 or 90 g polydextrose, for single- and multiple-serving studies, respectively) in generally healthy study volunteers. Flatulence and borborygmus were the primary symptoms reported at the higher doses of corn starch fiber and for the positive control interventions. Bowel movements were increased over 48 h with corn starch fiber at 90 g. Thresholds for mild GI effects were established at 30 g as a single dose and 60 g as multiple servings spread over the day. Other than moderate abdominal pain and mild increased appetite in one subject at 90-g corn starch fiber, no test article-related adverse events were reported.