Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
17beta-estradiol suppresses proliferation of fibroblasts derived from cardinal ligaments in patients with or without pelvic organ prolapse.

BACKGROUND Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) has been used in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) but clinical results are inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) on the proliferation of fibroblasts derived from cardinal ligaments in women with or without POP. METHODS Fibroblasts were derived from seven patients with POP and seven age-matched controls. The growth rate of POP fibroblasts was compared with that of control by 3-(4,5,-dimethyl thiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Four cell strains from each patient and control group were treated with different concentrations of E2 (10(-4), 10(-8), 10(-9) and 10(-10) mol/l). The effect of E2 on cell proliferation was then measured by MTT assay. RESULTS The overall growth rate of POP fibroblasts was significantly slower than that of controls under normal culture conditions. Addition of E2 suppressed cell proliferation of all the fibroblasts, especially in POP fibroblasts. POP fibroblasts showed a significantly lower proliferative rate than that of controls at all E2 concentrations, with the most prominent inhibitory effect at physiological concentration (10.83 34.41% versus 81.56 48.10% at 10(-8) mol/l). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that decreased fibroblast turnover may contribute to the development of POP; and ERT may not be an effective POP treatment.
Pressure Ulcer Prevalence, Use of Preventive Measures, and Mortality Risk in an Acute Care Population: A Quality Improvement Project

The primary aim of this quality improvement project was to determine pressure prevalence, risk of mortality, and use of preventive measures in a group of hospitalized patients. Two hundred fifty-eight patients recruited from Skaraborg Hospital in Sweden were assessed. A 1-day point prevalence study was carried out using a protocol advocated by the European PU Advisory Panel. Patients' age, gender, severity of PU (grades I-IV), anatomical location of PU, and use of preventive measures were recorded. The Swedish language version of the Modified Norton Scale was used for PU risk assessment. Data were collected by nurses trained according to the Web-based training: PU classification, “ePuclas2. ” After 21 months, a retrospective audit of the electronic records for patients identified with pressure ulcers was completed. The point prevalence of pressure ulcers was 23%. The total number of ulcers was 85, most were grade 1 (n = 39). The most common locations were the sacrum (n = 15) and the heel (n = 10). Three percent of patients (n = 9) had been assessed during their current hospital stay using a risk assessment tool. There was a statistically significant relationship between pressure ulcer occurrence and a low total score on the Modified Norton Scale. The patients' ages correlated significantly to the presence of a pressure ulcer. Patients with a pressure ulcer had a 3.6-fold increased risk of dying within 21 months, as compared with those without a pressure ulcer. Based on results from this quality improvement project, we recommend routine pressure ulcer risk assessment for all patients managed in a hospital setting such as ours. We further recommend that particular attention should be given to older and frail patients who are at higher risk for pressure ulcer occurrence and mortality.
Cytomegalovirus seropositivity is negatively associated with multiple sclerosis

Background: Epidemiological data suggest a role for common viruses in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), and recent data showed a negative association of past cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on pediatric MS risk. Objective: Our aim was to analyze the association of CMV infection with MS risk in an adult case-control material. A meta-analysis was performed to validate our findings. Methods: Epidemiological Investigation in MS (EIMS) is a case-control study with incident cases and population-based controls. Anti-CMV antibody titers were measured with ELISA, and HLA-A and DRB1 genotyping was performed with SSP-PCR, in 658 MS cases, who all fulfilled the McDonald criteria for MS, and 786 controls. Results: CMV seropositivity was associated with a decreased MS risk, OR = 0.73 (0.58–0.92 95% CI), p = 0.005, adjusted for index age, gender, smoking, sun exposure, EBNA1 IgG titer and HLA-A*02 and DRB1*15. When we removed all cases and controls younger than 18 years at index, the protective effect was still apparent. Conclusions: CMV is negatively associated with adult-onset MS pathology, consistent with results from a study on pediatric MS cases. It remains to be shown whether this negative association is due to a true protective effect of CMV infection on MS risk.
Herbs of the genus Phyllanthus in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B: observations with three preparations from different geographic sites.

It has been suggested that herbs of the Phyllanthus family may have antiviral activity. We therefore tested the effects of three different Phyllanthus extracts on the serologic status of 123 patients with chronic hepatitis B. Eleven patients received an extract of Phyllanthus amarus (L) provided by S.P. Thyagarajan, Madras, India. Forty-two patients received Phyllanthus niruri (L), gathered from Hainan Province in China, and 35 patients received an extract of Phyllanthus urinaria (L), which had been gathered in Henan Province. Thirty-five control patients received no herbal therapy. The patients receiving Phyllanthus urinaria (L) were both more likely to lose detectable hepatitis B e-antigen from their serum and more likely to seroconvert hepatitis B e-antibody status from negative to positive than were patients given either of the other two preparations. No patient changed status with respect to hepatitis B s-antigen.
Two adjacent C/EBP-binding sequences that participate in the cell-specific expression of the mouse serum amyloid A3 gene

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a major acute-phase protein synthesized primarily in the liver. Its expression, very low in normal animals, is increased several hundredfold following acute inflammation. To examine DNA sequences involved in liver-specific expression, 5'-flanking regions of the mouse SAA3 gene were analyzed by transient transfection, band shift, and DNase I protection assays. We found that a 56-bp fragment immediately 5' to the TATA box spanning the region -93 to -38 relative to the transcription start site was sufficient to confer liver cell-specific transcriptional activation onto a heterologous promoter in a dose-dependent and orientation-independent manner. This DNA fragment could form DNA-protein complexes with heat-stable nuclear proteins, and the complexes formed could be specifically competed for by excess oligomers corresponding to the C/EBP- or DBP-binding sites but not by binding sites for three other liver-specific factors, HNF1, HNF3, and HNF4. Footprint analysis using Hep3B nuclear extracts revealed two adjacent footprint regions within this 56-bp fragment, the distal region having at least fivefold-greater affinity than the proximal region. Identical footprint patterns were observed when purified recombinant C/EBP protein was used. These results indicated that binding of C/EBP to this 56-bp fragment plays an important role in vivo in enhancing expression of the mouse SAA3 gene in hepatocytes.
A Cross-Genre Study of Online Gaming: Player Demographics, Motivation for Play, and Social Interactions Among Players

One key limitation with the contemporary online gaming research literature is that much of the published research has tended to examine only one genre of games (i.e., Massively Multi-player Online Role Playing Games). Three relatively little studied online games are First Person Shooter (FPS) Games, Role Play Games (RPG), and Real Time Strategy (RTS) Games. Therefore, the current study examines player behaviour and characteristics in these three relatively under-researched online gaming genres. The study examines the differences between the three different game genres in terms of: (i) the demographic profile of players, (ii) the social interactions of players including the number and quality of friends, and how gaming related to real life friendship, and (iii) motivations to play specific game genres. The sample comprised 353 self-selected players. The RPG genre had the highest percentage of female players. The number of hours played per week varied significantly between the genres. RPG players played significantly longer hours than FPS or RTS players. In relation to playing motivation, achievement levels were highest for the FPS genre with RPG genre having the lowest achievement levels. RPG players had the highest immersion levels. RTS players were significantly less likely to report having made friends than players of the other two genres.
Arterial blood gas analysis in the assessment of suspected acute pulmonary embolism.

PURPOSE The utility of arterial blood gas levels in excluding the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) was evaluated. METHODS Data are from the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis (PIOPED). PE was diagnosed or excluded by pulmonary angiography. Among 330 patients with no prior cardiopulmonary disease, 130 patients had PE and 200 did not. Among 438 patients with prior cardiopulmonary disease, 147 had PE and 291 did not. Definitions were low PaO2 (< 80 mm Hg), low PaCO2 (< 35 mm Hg), and high alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (P(A-a)O2 [> 20 mm Hg]). RESULTS Among patients with no prior cardiopulmonary disease who had values of the PaO2 and PaCO2 that were not low and a P(A-a)O2 that was normal, 16 of 42 or 38% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 24 to 54%) had PE. Among patients with prior cardiopulmonary disease who had PaO2 and PaCO2 values that were not low and a P(A-a)O2 that was normal, 4 of 28 or 14% (95% CI = 4 to 33%) had PE. Other combinations of blood gas levels and the P(A-a)O2 gradient, failed to exclude PE in larger percentages of patients. CONCLUSION With various combinations of the PaO2 of 80 mm Hg or more, the PaCO2 of 35 mm Hg or higher, and the P(A-a)O2 gradient of 20 mm Hg or less, PE could not be excluded in more than 30% of patients with no prior cardiopulmonary disease and PE could not be excluded in more than 14% of patients with prior cardiopulmonary disease. Blood gas levels, therefore, are of insufficient discriminant value to permit exclusion of the diagnosis of PE.
A Possible New Population of Sources with Extreme X-Ray/Optical Ratios

We describe a possible new class of X-ray sources that have robust detections in ultradeep Chandra data yet have no detections at all in our deep multiband Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) images, which represent the highest quality optical imaging obtained to date on these fields. These extreme X-ray/optical ratio sources (EXOs) have values of FX/Fopt at least an order of magnitude above those generally found for other active galactic nuclei (AGNs), even those that are harbored by reddened hosts. We thus infer two possible scenarios: (1) if these sources lie at redshifts z ≲ 6, then their hosts need to be exceedingly underluminous or more reddened, compared with other known sources, or (2) if these sources lie above z ~ 6-7, such that even their Lyα emission is redshifted out of the bandpass of our ACS z850 filter, then their optical and X-ray fluxes can be accounted for in terms of relatively normal ~L* hosts and moderate-luminosity AGNs.
Existence of mature human CD4+ T cells with genuine class I restriction

A human T cell receptor (TcR) α/β CD4+CD8− T cell clone (R416) is reactive with the minor histocompatibility antigen H‐Y in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and not class II molecules. Therewith clone R416 violates the so‐called specificity association of mature TcR α/β+ T cells. R416 displays H‐Y‐specific, HLA‐A2‐restricted proliferation as well as cytotoxicity in vitro. Its fine specificity is identical to that of a classical H‐Y‐reactive CD4−CD8+ MHC class I‐restricted CTL clone, showing that CTL expressing either CD4 or CD8 can display identical antigenic specificities. Exploiting the MHC class I restriction of this CD4+ T cell clone, it was found that interaction of CD4 with non‐TcR‐bound MHC class II molecules does not contribute to antigen specific activation of these CD4+ T cells. This coreceptor‐mismatched T cell clone was not generated in vitro but obtained by expansion of CD8‐depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a female who had been immunized against H‐Y. The existence of such MHC class I‐restricted mature TcR α/β+ T cells expressing CD4 and not CD8 is relevant because it indicates that the generally accepted model for thymic selection, in which the TcR specificity alone determines CD4/CD8 expression of mature thymocytes, may not be absolute.
Lifetime characterization of capacitive RF MEMS switches

RF MEMS switches provide a low-cost, high performance solution to many RF/microwave applications and these switches will be important building blocks for designing phase shifters, switched filters and reflector array antennas for military and commercial markets. In this paper, progress in characterizing of THALES capacitive MEMS devices under high RF power is presented. The design, fabrication and testing of capacitive RF MEMS switches for microwave/mm- wave applications on high-resistivity silicon substrate is presented. The switches tested demonstrated power handling capabilities of 1W (30 dbm) for continuous RF power. The reliability of these switches was tested at various power levels indicating that under continuous RF power. In addition a description of the power failures and their associated operating conditions is presented. The PC-based test stations to cycle switches and measure lifetime under DC and RF loads have been developed. Best-case lifetimes of 1010 cycles have been achieved in several switches from different lots under 30 dbm RF power.
Discharges of interpositus and Purkinje cells of the cat cerebellum during locomotion under different conditions.

1. Extracellular microelectrodes were used in free‐to‐move cats to study the locomotor‐related discharges of Purkinje cells in the intermediate part of lobule V of the cerebellar anterior lobe and of neurones in the underlying nucleus interpositus anterior. All cells studied discharged rhythmically during locomotion. 2. The discharges during walking at a speed of 0.5 m/s on a horizontal exercise belt were compared with those during (a) walking at 0.9 m/s (when the duration of the step cycle is shortened considerably and the amplitudes of the locomotor electromyograms (EMGs) recorded from flexor and extensor muscles of the limbs are markedly increased) and (b) during walking at 0.5 m/s with the belt tilted uphill by 30 deg (when step duration is little changed but locomotor EMGs are increased by 70‐100%). 3. In each of thirty Purkinje cells the timing of the discharges relative to the forelimb step cycle showed no major difference between the two speeds of walking. Most cells discharged at slightly higher overall rates at the faster walking speed but the increase was usually modest, the average being only 5.6 impulses/s (i.e. an increase of 8%). Peak rates sometimes underwent larger increases but the average was only 11.9 impulses/s (+11%). Changes in minimum rate were generally small (an average increase of 0.3 impulses/s). 4. Among twenty‐one interpositus neurones there was only one in which discharge timing relative to the step cycle was different between the two speeds. Like the Purkinje cells, most neurones discharged slightly faster at the higher speed but the average increase was only 5.5 impulses/s (+8.5%). Peak firing rates also usually showed a modest increase (averaging 6.2 impulses/s; +6.5%) while minimum rates were little changed. 5. Among nineteen Purkinje cells compared between walking uphill and on the flat only one showed any major difference in discharge phasing; overall firing rates were on average only 1.3 impulses/s (2%) higher for uphill locomotion. 6. Among twenty‐one interpositus neurones discharge phasing differed markedly between walking uphill and on the flat in only two cells. Overall discharge rates were on average slightly higher uphill (by 3.5 impulses/s; 6.7%) and peak rates also usually increased slightly (on average, by 6 impulses/s; 7.7%). Minimum rates were higher, on average, by 1.6 impulses/s (+5%). 7. The findings are discussed in relation to current notions of how the intermediate part of the cerebellum may contribute to movement control and it is concluded that the neurones studies probably make little contribution to determining the vigour of the movements of steady walking.
Digital imaging in European museums

The European Commission-funded MARC project ended in April 1996, with the publication of Flemish Baroque Painting, Masterpieces of the Alte Pinakothek, Muenchen (Hirmer 1996). To the best of our knowledge, this is the world's first all- digital colorimetric art catalogue. This paper will briefly introduce the MARC camera and the MARC printing technology, and then present a critical evaluation of the final book. The application of MARC results since the end of the project will be covered, and related EC imaging projects surveyed.
Significance of HDMX‐S (or MDM4) mRNA splice variant overexpression and HDMX gene amplification on primary soft tissue sarcoma prognosis

The product of the HDMX (or MDM4) gene is structurally related to the MDM2 oncoprotein and is also capable of interacting with the tumor suppressor protein p53. The aim of our study was to determine the amplification status of the HDMX gene and the expression of the HDMX mRNA (particularly that of the HDMX‐S splice variant) in soft‐tissue sarcomas (STS). Patients with STS were evaluated for the status of HDMX gene amplification (n = 66) and HDMX‐S mRNA expression (n = 57) within their tumors. DNA, total RNA and protein were isolated from frozen tumor tissue. We determined that the HDMX‐S splice variant transcript was predominant in a subset (14%) of tumor samples and that its expression was correlated with decreased patient survival (15 vs. 53 months, p < 0.0001, log‐rank test) and with a 17‐fold increased risk of a tumor‐related death (p < 0.0001, multivariate Cox's regression model). The tumors from these patients also expressed elevated levels of HDMX‐S protein. The HDMX gene was amplified in 17% of STSs, and the gene amplification was associated with poor prognosis (RR = 6.5, p < 0.0001). There was no correlation between the HDMX gene amplification and overexpression of the HDMX‐S splice variant. In summary, our data indicate that both the overexpression of the HDMX‐S transcript as well as HDMX gene amplification are important prognostic markers for STS. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sparse demixing

The linear mixture model for hyperspectral images assumes that all the image spectra lie on a high-dimensional simplex with corners called endmembers. Given the set of endmembers, one typically calculates fractional abundances for each pixel using constrained least squares. This method likely reconstructs the spectra as combinations of most, if not all, the endmembers. We instead assume that pixels are combinations of only a few of the endmembers, yielding sparse abundance vectors. We introduce a new method, similar to Matching Pursuit (MP) from the signal processing literature, to calculate these sparse abundances. We combine this sparse demixing algorithm with dictionary learning methods to automatically calculate endmembers for a provided set of spectra. We apply our method to an AVIRIS image of Cuprite, NV, for which we compare our endmembers with spectral signatures from the USGS spectral library.
Endemic fluorosis of the skeleton: radiographic features in 127 patients.

OBJECTIVE A wide range of radiographic appearances have been reported in skeletal fluorosis, but little has been written about the spectrum of radiographic features. We evaluated the spectrum of radiographic appearances in this disorder to help with its diagnosis and differentiation from other metabolic skeletal disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred twenty-seven patients with clinically proved endemic fluorosis had radiographs of the chest, spine, pelvis, elbow, forearm, and knee obtained. The radiographic findings were classified as osteosclerosis, osteopenia, intermittent growth lines, diaphyseal widening, or soft-tissue ossification. Two different osteopenic patterns were defined: an osteoporotic pattern with overall decreased bone density and an osteomalacic pattern that combines the features of osteoporosis with bone deformity. Soft-tissue ossification included involvement of ligaments, tendons, and interosseous membranes. RESULTS Ninety-eight of the patients (89% of the adults) had some evidence of calcification and/or ossification of the attachments of ligaments, tendons, muscles, and interosseous membranes. Osteosclerosis was seen in 54 patients (43%), and osteopenia was seen in 51 patients (40%). Of the patients with osteopenia, the osteoporotic pattern was seen in 28 and the osteomalacic pattern in 23. Growth lines were found in 89 patients (70%). Metaphyseal osteomalacic zones were found in children. Diaphyseal widening was present in 35 patients (28%). CONCLUSION Endemic skeletal fluorosis can have a wide variety of radiographic appearances, including calcification and/or ossification of the attachments of soft-tissue structures to bone, osteosclerosis, osteopenia, growth lines, and metaphyseal osteomalacic zones.
Using artificial neural network analysis of global ventilation-perfusion scan morphometry as a diagnostic tool.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine whether global statistical data from radionuclide ventilation-perfusion scans could predict the likelihood of pulmonary embolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS Digital data were obtained from 161 patients undergoing both radionuclide ventilation-perfusion scanning and subsequent pulmonary angiography. Morphometric data characterizing whole-lung perfusion and ventilation parameters were input into artificial neural networks in an attempt to predict the likelihood of pulmonary embolism. RESULTS The performance of artificial neural networks using only automated global region of interest-based data was superior to that of clinicians in predicting the likelihood of acute pulmonary embolism in patients with normal findings on chest radiographs with segmental or larger emboli (p < .005) and in patients with normal findings on chest radiographs and emboli of any size (p < .01). Network performance did not significantly differ from clinician performance in patients with abnormal findings on chest radiographs. CONCLUSION The adjunctive use of artificial neural networks using only user-independent, standard image statistics can significantly improve accuracy in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in patients with normal findings on chest radiographs.
High-speed monolithic p-i-n/HBT and HPT/HBT photoreceivers implemented with simple phototransistor structure

Monolithic photoreceivers, using the base-collector junction of an InP/InGaAs phototransistor structure for a p-i-n photodetector, have been fabricated for the first time. Bandwidths as high as 3 GHz and bit rates as high as 5 Gb/s, with sensitivities of -22.5 dBm and -21.5 dBm for light focused on the p-i-n or on the first stage transistor of the preamplifier, respectively, have been achieved. These results represent the highest operating speed demonstrated for any phototransistor-based receiver. <<ETX>>