Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spectrophotometric properties of dwarf planet Ceres from VIR onboard Dawn mission

Aims. We present a study of the spectrophotometric properties of dwarf planet Ceres in the visual-to-infrared (VIS-IR) spectral range by means of hyper-spectral images acquired by the VIR imaging spectrometer on board the NASA Dawn mission. Methods. Disk-resolved observations with a phase angle within the 7 ◦ < α < 132 ◦ interval were used to characterize Ceres’ phase curve in the 0.465-4.05 µm spectral range. Hapke’s model was applied to perform the photometric correction of the dataset to standard observation geometry at VIS-IR wavelength, allowing us to produce albedo and color maps of the surface. The V-band magnitude phase function of Ceres as been computed from disk-resolved images and fitted with both the classical linear model and H-G formalism. Results. The single- scattering albedo and the asymmetry parameter at 0.55 µm are w = 0.14±0.02 and ξ = −0.11±0.08, respectively (two-lobe Henyey-Greenstein phase function); at the same wavelength, Ceres’ geometric albedo as derived from our modeling is 0.094±0.007; the roughness parameter is ¯ θ = 29 ◦ ±6 ◦ . Albedo maps indicate small variability on a global scale with an average reflectance at standard geometry of 0.034 ± 0.003. Nonetheless, isolated areas such as the Occator bright spots, Haulani, and Oxo show an albedo much higher than average. We measure a significant spectral phase reddening, and the average spectral slope of Ceres’ surface after photometric correction is 1.1%kA −1 and 0.85%kA −1 at VIS and IR wavelengths, respectively. Broadband color indices are V−R = 0.38±0.01 and R−I = 0.33±0.02. Color maps show that the brightest features typically exhibit smaller slopes. The H-G modeling of the V-band magnitude phase curve for α < 30 ◦ gives H = 3.14±0.04 and G = 0.10±0.04, while the classical linear model provides V(1,1,0 ◦ ) = 3.48±0.03 and β = 0.036±0.002. The comparison of our results with spectrophotometric properties of other minor bodies indicates that Ceres has a less back-scattering phase function and a slightly higher albedo than comets and C-type objects. However, the latter represents the closest match in the usual asteroid taxonomy.
Tamoxifen Efficacy in Advanced Breast Cancer Previously Treated with Endocrine and Cytotoxic Therapy

Sixty-nine postmenopausal women with disseminated breast cancer previously treated with endocrine and cytotoxic therapy were treated with tamoxifen (20 mg/day). Complete plus partial response (CR + PR) was observed in 29% (CR 16%) and stable disease in 28%. The objective response was higher in soft tissue sites (52%) compared to osseous (12 %) and visceral (13 %) disease. No regression or disease stabilization was observed in the presence of liver involvement. Free-interval, length and type of menopause, and estrogen receptor status (carried out in only 26 patients) did not statistically influence the percent of objective response. Only 1 of 16 paients (6 %) who did not respond to previous endocrine therapy responded to tamoxifen, while 3 of 9 previous hormonal responders (33 %) achieved objective regression with antiestrogen therapy. On the contrary, the response to previous chemotherapy failed to influence the subsequent response to tamoxifen. The median duration of the response was more than 12 months and the median survival more than 18 months. Treatment was generally very well tolerated and in only one patient was temporarily discontinued because of thrombocytopenia.
Nose and vein, speed and pain: comparing the use of intranasal diamorphine and intravenous morphine in a Scottish paediatric emergency department

Background Urgent analgesia is essential for all children who present in severe pain, but difficulties in obtaining venous access can delay the use of adequate opiate analgesia. Intranasal diamorphine (IND) is now in use in around 60% of emergency departments and is the preferred choice of analgesia as reported by both parents and healthcare professionals. While IND has similar efficacy to intramuscular morphine in children, no study has compared its use against the current gold standard, intravenous morphine (IVM). Methods IND was introduced to the Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital on 24 December 2009. A retrospective case series was constructed to compare its clinical performance with its predecessor IVM. Three unexplored factors were investigated: time to opiate analgesia, the requirement for further analgesia when still in the emergency department and the effect of simple coanalgesia (eg, paracetamol/ibuprofen) on these requirements. Results 297 patients were eligible for the study (147 IND, 150 IVM) over a 28-month period. There was a non-significant trend to a longer median time to administration of analgesia in patients receiving IND (p=0.170). Patients who received IND were less likely to require further analgesia (p<0.001). Both groups were less likely to require further analgesia when simple coanalgesia was given (p=0.049). Conclusion The authors found no significant difference in time to administration of analgesia between agents, but a learning curve has been identified. Sustained effort should be placed on the use of simple coanalgesia. The clinical performance of IND compares favourably with IVM in children with severe pain, and it remains an appropriate preferred agent.
The Ongoing Debate about the Merits of RCTs versus Observational Studies

Few topics engender stronger responses from researchers than their opinions about whether randomization is necessary in order to draw causal inferences from observational data. In one camp are those who argue that, due to the many potential sources of bias in observational studies, the best one can hope for is to draw inferences about correlation, rather than causation. Few would disagree with their conclusion that because randomization distributes both observed and unobserved characteristics of patients across treatment groups (assuming the sample size is sufficient), it is the strongest research design for the unbiased estimation of treatment effects.
Human cerebral activity with increasing inspiratory force: a study using positron emission tomography.

Human cerebral activity with increasing inspiratory force: a study using positron emission tomography. J. Appl. Physiol. 81(3): 1295-1305, 1996. --The major aim of this study was to use positron emission tomography (PET) to assess dose-dependent effects of inspiratory loads on relative regional cerebral blood flow as an indication of neuronal activation and recruitment. Six normal men underwent H2 15O-PET scanning during unloaded breathing and with external inspiratory loads (generating mouth pressures of -5, -10, and -15 cmH2O); positive-pressure ventilation against relaxed respiratory muscles acted as control. During unloaded breathing, the supplementary motor area was significantly activated. With the addition of the smallest load, activations also occurred in the right premotor area and bilaterally in the superolateral motor cortex (MI) in areas previously shown to be activated with deeper breathing. There was little further change in these areas with greater loads. Additional force-related activations occurred in the inferolateral sensorimotor cortex, parietal cortex, and midbrain/hypothalamus. The results suggest that volitionally induced increases in inspiratory muscle force are achieved via a complex integration of neuronal activations in cortical and subcortical regions associated with motor control.
Comparison of Two Skidding Methods in Beech Forests in Mountainous Conditions

Nacrtak Investigation of different skidding methods was done in the northwestern part of the Republic of Srpska, in the area of municipality of Ribnik. Two skidding methods were compared, assortment (short-log) method and half-tree length method. Investigation was conducted in four sample plots, in two compartments of beech forests. The difference between sample plots was based on working methods and mean DBH of felled trees. The aim of this research was to compare the productivity and costs of assortment method, which is currently dominant in the forestry of the Republic of Srpska, and half-tree method as a modification of tree length method. Skidding was done with forest skidder LKT 81T in winter conditions with almost no snow. Time and work study was performed. Different statistical methods were used for investigating the influence of different variables on the work process. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that work operations mainly depend on distance and load volume in both methods. Loaded drive depends on distance and load volume. Strength of correlation relationship is similar in both methods. These findings are in compliance with other investigations that can be found in literature. The results showed higher productivity and lower costs in half-tree-length method than in the assortment method. For the skidding distance of 250 m and similar stand conditions, the productivity is 42.29 m/day for assortment method (A1) and 50.50 m/ day for half-tree length (A2) method, and 62.93 m/day (B1) and 83.64 m/day (B2), respectively. Costs are 17% (A2 against A1) and 40% (B2 against B1) lower for half-tree length method when all other conditions are the same. The difference in cost increases with the increase of the difference of the average piece volume of the two skidding methods.
Comparison of the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive Subscale and the Vascular Dementia Assessment Scale in Differentiating Elderly Individuals with Different Degrees of White Matter Changes

Background/Aims: The Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) is a widely used rating instrument. The Vascular Dementia Assessment Scale cognitive subscale (VADAS-cog) includes additional tests reflecting mental speed and executive functions. The objective of this study was to compare the results of the two scales among subjects with various degrees of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). Methods:In the multicentre, multinational Leukoaraiosis and Disability in the Elderly (LADIS) study, 616 non-disabled subjects between the ages of 65 and 84 were examined using MRI, the ADAS-cog and VADAS-cog. The WMH rating from the MRI divided the patients into groups of mild (n = 280), moderate (n = 187) and severe (n = 149) degrees of change. Results: Covariance analysis controlling for the effect of age and education revealed that the ADAS-cog differentiated only the mild and severe WMH groups, while the differences between all three groups were highly significant with the VADAS-cog. Conclusions:The VADAS-cog significantly differentiated between all the white matter groups. In comparison, the ADAS-cog differentiated only severe changes. Accordingly, the VADAS-cog may be a more sensitive endpoint in studies of patients with white matter load and vascular burden of the brain.
More Pediatric NOD2/CARD Data

TO THE EDITOR: The data supplied by Tomer et al. give the first published data for allele frequencies of NOD2/CARD15 variants in an exclusively pediatric Crohn’s disease (CD) population in North America (1). This study reports a similar frequency of NOD2/CARD15 mutations compared to adult series from North America, with 31% of all patients possessing at least one NOD2/CARD15 mutation in this study. This contrasts with the only published European pediatric study (2) in which 65% of patients possessed at least one NOD2/CARD15 mutation. The European study reported significantly higher allele frequencies of the 1007fs mutation in particular, (allele frequency 26%, cf. 17% in the present study) in children with CD (2). The reason for these differences may be explained at least partially by the different ethnic backgrounds of the two populations under consideration. We are disappointed that Tomer’s article did not supply data on the number of subjects in the study with a Jewish background, despite giving this information on the controls. There has already been a novel NOD2/CARD15 haplotype described in Jewish populations named “JW1,” which has a higher population-attributable risk than the other three common NOD2/CARD15 mutations in the Jewish population (3). We commend the authors for using phenotypic criteria in the analysis, but the authors have not used the most widely accepted, and best validated classification. The Vienna classification (4) divides disease location into four separate areas: ileal, ileo-colonic, colonic, and upper GI. There are important differences between this system and the criteria in the present article. The authors have not given information on the upper GI location, which is relatively more common in childhoodonset disease, while including perineum as a location. In the Vienna classification, perianal disease is only included in the context of disease behavior, not in disease location. The absence of the upper GI location is potentially a very important omission, and may invalidate their conclusions. Previous studies have shown that small bowel disease, especially jejunal disease activity, is associated with reduced height/weight at diagnosis (5). It is interesting that ileal disease was associated with reduced weight at diagnosis, supporting the idea that the findings of the article may be more a reflection of ileal disease, rather than NOD2/CARD15 mutations themselves. We believe that these issues make the conclusions of Tomer’s study premature at present, and only further work can answer the research question posed. In future studies, information on both pubertal status and body mass index measurements (which is valid for screening for undernutrition, as well as obesity (6)) would help to clarify these research findings.
Purification and cloning of a nucleotide excision repair complex involving the xeroderma pigmentosum group C protein and a human homologue of yeast RAD23.

Complementation group C of xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) represents one of the most common forms of this cancer‐prone DNA repair syndrome. The primary defect is located in the subpathway of the nucleotide excision repair system, dealing with the removal of lesions from the non‐transcribing sequences (‘genome‐overall’ repair). Here we report the purification to homogeneity and subsequent cDNA cloning of a repair complex by in vitro complementation of the XP‐C defect in a cell‐free repair system containing UV‐damaged SV40 minichromosomes. The complex has a high affinity for ssDNA and consists of two tightly associated proteins of 125 and 58 kDa. The 125 kDa subunit is an N‐terminally extended version of previously reported XPCC gene product which is thought to represent the human homologue of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae repair gene RAD4. The 58 kDa species turned out to be a human homologue of yeast RAD23. Unexpectedly, a second human counterpart of RAD23 was identified. All RAD23 derivatives share a ubiquitin‐like N‐terminus. The nature of the XP‐C defect implies that the complex exerts a unique function in the genome‐overall repair pathway which is important for prevention of skin cancer.
Reliability of Indices Measured on Infant Hip MRI at Time of Spica Cast Application for Dysplasia

Purpose Infants with persistent developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) after harness treatment may be treated by operative reduction and spica casting, with post-reduction hip alignment assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can demonstrate three-dimensional hip geometry. This may provide valuable information regarding prognosis and adequacy of management, but such scans are difficult to assess due to limited spatial resolution and artefacts caused by patient motion. This may account for the limited success in correlating MRI findings to clinical outcomes to date. As a first step to improving these results we tested whether MRI indices of hip deformity and quality of femoral head reduction could be reliably measured. Procedures We retrospectively studied children with DDH, post-spica-cast MRI, and radiographic follow-up. We measured MRI indices adapted from other reports using computed tomography (CT) and MRI, and added new indices. Inter-observer reliability and inter-index correlations were evaluated and indices adapted during the process. Findings We observed 55 dysplastic hips in 41 infants. Despite difficulties inherent to infant hip MRI, several indices were measured with substantial agreement (kappa up to 0.88, intra-class correlation ICC up to 0.91), with highly significant (p<0.01) correlation with each other (up to r = 0.72). Reliable indices included coronal acetabular angle, pulvinar fat-pad thickness, presence of a barrier to reduction, and grades of subluxation and dysplasia. Conclusion Indices on MRI scan post hip spica cast placement can be measured reliably, assessing acetabular geometry, degree of hip reduction and barriers to reduction.
A Conserved Hsp10-like Domain in Mcm10 Is Required to Stabilize the Catalytic Subunit of DNA Polymerase-α in Budding Yeast*

Mcm10 is a conserved eukaryotic DNA replication factor that is required for S phase progression. Recently, Mcm10 has been shown to interact physically with the DNA polymerase-α (pol-α)·primase complex. We show now that Mcm10 is in a complex with pol-α throughout the cell cycle. In temperature-sensitive mcm10-1 mutants, depletion of Mcm10 results in degradation of the catalytic subunit of pol-α, Cdc17/Pol1, regardless of whether cells are in G1, S, or G2 phase. Importantly, Cdc17 protein levels can be restored upon overexpression of exogenous Mcm10 in mcm10-1 mutants that are grown at the nonpermissive temperature. Moreover, overexpressed Cdc17 that is normally subject to rapid degradation is stabilized by Mcm10 co-overexpression but not by co-overexpression of the B-subunit of pol-α, Pol12. These results are consistent with Mcm10 having a role as a nuclear chaperone for Cdc17. Mutational analysis indicates that a conserved heat-shock protein 10 (Hsp10)-like domain in Mcm10 is required to prevent the degradation of Cdc17. Substitution of a single residue in the Hsp10-like domain of endogenous Mcm10 results in a dramatic reduction of steady-state Cdc17 levels. The high degree of evolutionary conservation of this domain implies that stabilizing Cdc17 may be a conserved function of Mcm10.
Effects Of Birth On Baroreceptor‐Mediated Changes In Heart Rate Variability In Lambs And Fetal Sheep

1. In adult unanaesthetized sheep, there is a V‐shaped relationship between mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate variability (HRV), measured in both time and frequency domains. In contrast, in fetal sheep, there is only a positive direct relationship between MAP and HRV, which is determined by the cardiac vagus. We postulated that by the time lambs were 8–10 days old, the ‘adult like’ V‐shaped relationship between MAP and HRV would be present and it may appear at or after birth. To test these hypotheses, experiments were performed in six chronically catheterized fetal sheep (aged 132–138 days gestation), 10 newborn sheep (within 10 h of birth) and 10 lambs (aged 8–10 days). The relationships between MAP and HRV (in both time and frequency domains) were studied before and during β‐adrenoreceptor blockade with propranolol and before and during cardiac vagal blockade with atropine.
Impact of Very Advanced Donor Age on Hepatic Artery Thrombosis After Liver Transplantation

Background. The impact of advanced donor age on hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) after liver transplantation (LT) is controversial. Methods. We analyzed the incidence of and risk factors for HAT in LT with donors aged 70 years or older. Eighty patients were transplanted between 1998 and 2002 (group A) and 132 between 2003 and 2008 (group B). Results. In the more recent approach to hepatic artery (HA) reconstruction, the donor HA was systematically preferred to the Carrel patch/celiac trunk, the reconstruction of donor accessory right HA on the donor gastroduodenal artery significantly increased, and the use of interposition grafts was minimized. Group B showed higher Model for End-stage Liver Disease score, lower ischemia time, and lower use of the folding technique/mesenteric conduits. There were 10 cases of HAT (4.7%): 8 (10%) in group A and 2 (1.5%) in group B (P=0.007). Early HAT occurred in 7 (8.8%) patients in group A and in 2 (1.5%) in group B (P=0.02). Group A (P=0.01), anatomical variations of HA (P=0.005), and the use of interposition grafts (P=0.004) were all factors independently affecting HAT. Conclusions. A low incidence of late HAT was observed in single-center LTs with very old donors. Early HAT decreased over time to largely acceptable rates because of more appropriate technical management.
Social Relations and the Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged Swedish Women

Background Both social isolation and the metabolic syndrome are independently associated with greater than normal cardiovascular risk. Design A population-based cross-sectional study of middle-aged Swedish women. Methods The study group consisted of 300 healthy women (aged 31 −65 years) who were representative of women living in the greater Stockholm area. Social isolation was measured by using a condensed version of the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List. Health behaviours were assessed and a full serum-lipid-level and haemostatic profile was obtained by standardized methods. The metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of two or more of these components: fasting serum level of glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/l, arterial blood pressure ≥ 160/90 mmHg, fasting serum level of triglycerides ≥ 1.7 mmol/l or high-density lipoprotein < 1.0 mmol/l, or both, and central obesity (waist:hip ratio >0.85 or body mass index >30 kg/m2 or both). Results After adjustment for age, menopausal status, educational level, smoking, exercise habits and consumption of alcohol, the risk ratio for the metabolic syndrome for women in the lower compared with women in the upper social-support quartile was 3.5 (95% confidence interval 1.1–11.4), whereas that of women in the two middle quartiles was 2.2 (95% confidence interval 0.67–7.2; P for trend 0.02). Conclusions Social isolation was associated with the metabolic syndrome for these middle-aged women, The findings suggest that the metabolic syndrome and its components may be mediators of the reported association between social isolation and cardiovascular disease.
Mixture of Fibroblasts and Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells Can Improve Epidermal Morphogenesis of Tissue-Engineered Skin

Many studies demonstrate that the type of adjacent mesenchymal cells can affect epidermal morphogenesis of bilayered tissue-engineered skin. However, whether a mixture of different mesenchymal cell types can improve epidermal morphogenesis of bioengineered skin remains unknown. In this study, keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts and adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were isolated and purified from human skin and subcutaneous fat. Conditioned medium generated from a mixture of dermal fibroblasts and ADSCs at the ratio of 1:1 was superior to that from fibroblasts or ADSCs alone in promoting keratinocyte proliferation, as indicated by MTT assay. Furthermore, ELISA results showed that the cytokine levels of human hepatocyte growth factor and keratinocyte growth factor (also known as FGF7) in the mixed fibroblasts/ADSC group were higher than those in the ADSC or dermal fibroblasts group. To examine the potential roles of mixed fibroblasts and ADSCs on epidermal morphogenesis, a three-dimensional tissue engineered skin system was applied. Histological analyses demonstrated that keratinocytes proliferated extensively over the mixture of fibroblasts and ADSCs, and formed a thick epidermal layer with well-differentiated structures. Keratin 10 (epidermal differentiation marker) was expressed in the suprabasal layer of bilayered tissue-engineered skin in the mixed fibroblasts and ADSCs group. Desmosomes and hemidesmosomes were detected in the newly formed epidermis by transmission electron microscopy analysis. Together, these findings revealed for the first time that a mixture of fibroblasts and ADSCs in bilayered tissue-engineered skin can improve epidermal morphogenesis.