Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cartilage Implantation in Head and Neck Surgery: Report of a National Survey

As enthusiasm for alloplastic grafts wanes, the use of biologic materials for facial reconstructive and aesthetic surgery is regaining popularity. A plethora of methods exists for preservation of one of the most popular implants, human cartilage. The con-troversy over the efficacy of autologous v preserved homologous cartilage grafts continues. A national study was developed to determine the efficacy of autologous v the various techniques of cartilage preservation based on the criteria of graft extrusion, infection, and absorption. Autologous grafts were most commonly used. The most popular preservation methods used alcohol or merthiolate. Autologous grafts had less absorption than preserved grafts, but both groups had approximately equivalent infection and extrusion rates. Irradiated cartilage showed the least absorption of all preservation methods.
Active systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with depletion of the natural generic anti-idiotype (anti-F(ab')2) system.

OBJECTIVE To study the relationship of serum IgG anti-F(ab')2 and clinical disease activity in 108 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to determine whether low serum anti-F(ab')2 with active renal disease is accompanied by deposition of anti-F(ab')2 in renal immune complex lesions. METHODS We studied 108 patients with definite SLE over a 5 yr period and assayed serum anti-F(ab')2 levels in relation to degree of clinical disease activity. Renal biopsy eluates of 26 patients with SLE were examined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for relative amounts of IgG, anti-DNA, and IgG anti-F(ab')2. RESULTS Active SLE was strongly associated with low serum anti-F(ab')2. SLE renal biopsy eluates frequently contained high levels of IgG and IgG anti-DNA and lower, but definite, IgG anti-F(ab')2 activity. When specific activity of IgG anti-DNA and IgG anti-F(ab')2 was compared between kidney biopsy eluates and concomitant serum, marked relative renal concentration was found for both anti-DNA (19-fold) and anti-F(ab')2 (74-fold). Some biopsy eluates contained IgG antibodies bearing apparent double specificity for both DNA and F(ab')2. CONCLUSION Active SLE is often associated with low serum anti-F(ab')2. Relative enrichment over specific activity in serum of both IgG anti-F(ab')2 and anti-DNA in SLE kidney biopsy eluates may indicate participation of both reactants in the glomerular disease process. Low serum anti-F(ab')2 in active SLE may reflect down modulation of failure of idiotypic control mechanisms associated with disease progression.
Children’s body image and social comparisons with peers and the media

Social comparisons are related to the development of body dissatisfaction among adolescents and adults, yet this relationship remains relatively unexamined among children. This study examines children’s peer and media-related social comparisons, and how this impacts on their body image. Children aged 8–10 years completed interviews (17 girls and 19 boys in individual interviews, and 16 girls and 16 boys in focus groups). Analyses revealed that appearance-related comparisons were more common among girls, whereas sports/ability-related comparisons were more common for boys. In addition, boys viewed media comparisons as inspiring, whereas girls reported negative emotions. Implications for future research and prevention programmes are discussed.
Oxidative Macromolecular Damage in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose: To evaluate oxidative damage to the macromolecules, including protein, lipid, and DNA, in association with total oxidation status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Materials and Methods: Serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) as an index of lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl (PC) as a marker of protein oxidation, 8-hydroxy-29-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as an indicator of oxidative DNA damage along with TOS, TAC were measured by specific methods in 47 patients with exudative AMD and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. Results: Significantly higher MDA, PC, 8-OHdG, TOS, and lower TAC levels were detected in the serum of patients with exudative AMD compared with their controls (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The results indicate that an imbalance between TOS and TAC leads to not only increased lipid damage, but also protein and DNA damage. These first reported results suggest that protein and DNA damage might also play a role in the pathogenesis of AMD.
Thin-layer chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-based assays for sialyltransferases using tetramethylrhodamine-labeled acceptors.

Two novel assay systems for the determination of sialyltransferase activity using a tetramethylrhodamine-labeled disaccharide Galbeta1-4GlcNAc (2) as the acceptor are described. The TMR-labeled disaccharide 2 was synthesized by directly coupling Galbeta1-4GlcNAc-O-(CH(2))(6)NH(2) (1) with 5-tetramethylrhodamine N-hydroxysuccinimide ester. The K(m) value for compound 2 obtained with alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase from rat liver (EC 2.4.99.1) was 160 +/- 20 microM. After incubation of compound 2 with sialyltransferase the product and the unreacted acceptor substrate were separated either by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on C-18 silica gel plates or by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The density of the spots on the TLC plates and the fluorescence of the bands on the gel were quantified. The assay conditions were optimized using crude bovine colostrum extract and also alpha-2, 6-sialyltransferase from rat liver. The detection limits for the TLC and PAGE assays were 1 and 0.4 microU of the rat liver enzyme, respectively. Either assay allows the parallel investigation of several samples at a time and is useful for the testing of fractions during enzyme purification.
A non-scan DFT method for controllers to achieve complete fault efficiency

This paper presents a non-scan design-for-testability method for controllers that are synthesized from FSMs (Finite State Machines). The proposed method can achieve complete fault efficiency: test patterns for a combinational circuit of a controller are applied to the controller using state transitions of the FSM. In the proposed method, at-speed test application can be performed and the test application time is shorter than previous methods. Moreover, experimental results show the area overhead is low.
Alantolactone sensitivity in chrysanthemum contact dermatitis

A case of occupational chrysanthemum contact dermatitis is reported. Patch tests showed the patienttobe sensitized to Chrysanthemum morifolium (Chr M) leaves, flowers, and stems (alcoholic extracts) and to alantolactone. An attempt at desensitizalion appears to have been successful.
Predictive model for serious bacterial infections among infants younger than 3 months of age.

OBJECTIVE To develop a data-derived model for predicting serious bacterial infection (SBI) among febrile infants <3 months old. METHODS All infants </=90 days old with a temperature >/=38.0 degrees C seen in an urban emergency department (ED) were retrospectively identified. SBI was defined as a positive culture of urine, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid. Tree-structured analysis via recursive partitioning was used to develop the model. SBI or No-SBI was the dichotomous outcome variable, and age, temperature, urinalysis (UA), white blood cell (WBC) count, absolute neutrophil count, and cerebrospinal fluid WBC were entered as potential predictors. The model was tested by V-fold cross-validation. RESULTS Of 5279 febrile infants studied, SBI was diagnosed in 373 patients (7%): 316 urinary tract infections (UTIs), 17 meningitis, and 59 bacteremia (8 with meningitis, 11 with UTIs). The model sequentially used 4 clinical parameters to define high-risk patients: positive UA, WBC count >/=20 000/mm(3) or </=4100/mm(3), temperature >/=39.6 degrees C, and age <13 days. The sensitivity of the model for SBI is 82% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 78%-86%) and the negative predictive value is 98.3% (95% CI: 97.8%-98.7%). The negative predictive value for bacteremia or meningitis is 99.6% (95% CI: 99.4%-99.8%). The relative risk between high- and low-risk groups is 12.1 (95% CI: 9.3-15.6). Sixty-six SBI patients (18%) were misclassified into the lower risk group: 51 UTIs, 14 with bacteremia, and 1 with meningitis. CONCLUSIONS Decision-tree analysis using common clinical variables can reasonably predict febrile infants at high-risk for SBI. Sequential use of UA, WBC count, temperature, and age can identify infants who are at high risk of SBI with a relative risk of 12.1 compared with lower-risk infants.
[Changes in serum and urine ceruloplasmin concentrations in type 2 diabetes].

OBJECTIVE To determine the changes in serum and urine ceruloplasmin (Cp) concentrations in type 2 diabetes, and to explore its clinical significance. METHODS Cp concentrations of 57 serum samples were measured by radioimmunoassay and ratenephelometry. In the meantime, the serum and urine Cp concentrations in 110 healthy individuals and 104 type 2 diabetic patients were determined by ratenephelometry. For analysis and comparison, 104 type 2 diabetic patients were divided into imperfect glycemic control subgroup (n = 54) and perfect glycemic control subgroup (n = 50), diabetic nephropathy subgroup (n = 47) and non-diabetic nephropathy subgroup (n = 57). RESULTS Serum Cp concentrations obtained with the radioimmunoassay and ratenephelometry methods were highly correlated and essentially indistinguishable. The cut-off point of the serum Cp concentrations was 542 mg/L and that of the ratio of Cp and creatinine was 0. 892 ng/mmol, which was determined according to the upper limit of 97.5% credit intervals or 97.5% percentile in 110 healthy individuals. Cp concentrations in type 2 diabetic patients were significantly higher than those in the healthy individuals (P <0.001). Of the type 2 diabetic patients, the imperfect glycemic subgroup had higher serum Cp concentrations than those of the perfect glycemic subgroup (P <0.01). The urine ratio of Cp and creatinine in diabetic nephropathy subgroup was significantly higher than that in non-diabetic nephropathy subgroup (P < 0.001). Urine ratio of Cp and creatinine in diagnosing diabetic nephropathy had 91.4% of sensitivity, 61.4% of specificity, and 75.0% of concordance. CONCLUSION Detection of serum Cp levels has some reference value in understanding the state of diabetes. Combined determination of urine ratio of Cp and creatinine and ratio of albumin and creatinine is significant in the early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy.
Adherence and tolerability of iron-containing prenatal multivitamins in pregnant women with pre-existing gastrointestinal conditions

Summary Prenatal multivitamin supplements (PMS) are recommended during pregnancy. Suboptimal adherence in women experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) conditions is thought to be attributed to the high elemental iron content in PMS. This study sought to quantify adherence and tolerability of iron-containing PMS in women with pre-existing GI conditions by recruiting women who called the Motherisk Helpline. Women with (n = 36) and without (n = 166) pre-existing GI conditions were randomised to either PregVit® (n = 106) or Orifer F® (n = 96). Monthly follow-up interviews were conducted to assess pill intake and GI adverse effects associated with PMS. The results of our study suggest that with the use of small size and low dose iron PMS, women with pre-existing GI conditions do not experience (1) more GI adverse effects, (2) lower adherence than women with no such conditions, and (3) may experience less severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Supplementing with small tablets of low dose iron PMS should be considered.
The emerging role of RNA‐binding proteins in the life cycle of Trypanosoma brucei

One of the key questions in understanding the biology of an organism is how to correlate cellular fate and function with gene expression patterns. This is particularly relevant for pathogenic organisms, like the parasitic protozoa Trypanosoma brucei, who often cycle between different hosts, thereby encountering vastly different environments. Survival in and adaptation to new surroundings requires activation of specific gene networks, which is most often achieved by regulatory mechanisms embedded in the transcriptional machinery. However, in T. brucei and related trypanosomatids these responses appear to be accomplished mainly by post‐transcriptional mechanisms. Although an understanding of how this parasite modulates gene regulatory networks is in the early stages, RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs) are beginning to take centre stage. Here, we discuss recent progress in the identification of RBPs with crucial roles in different stages of the T. brucei life cycle, and in elucidating targets of RBPs.
The Safety of Pediatric Acupuncture: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT: Acupuncture is increasingly used in children; however, the safety of pediatric acupuncture has yet to be reported from systematic review. OBJECTIVE: To identify adverse events (AEs) associated with needle acupuncture in children. METHODS: Eighteen databases were searched, from inception to September 2010, irrespective of language. Inclusion criteria were that the study (1) was original peer-reviewed research, (2) included children from birth to 17 years, inclusively, (3) involved needle acupuncture, and (4) included assessment of AEs in a child. Safety data were extracted from all included studies. RESULTS: Of 9537 references identified, 450 were assessed for inclusion. Twenty-eight reports were included, and searches of reference lists identified 9 additional reports (total: 37). A total of 279 AEs were identified, 146 from randomized controlled trials, 95 from cohort studies, and 38 from case reports/series. Of the AEs, 25 were serious (12 cases of thumb deformity, 5 infections, and 1 case each of cardiac rupture, pneumothorax, nerve impairment, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intestinal obstruction, hemoptysis, reversible coma, and overnight hospitalization), 1 was moderate (infection), and 253 were mild. The mild AEs included pain, bruising, bleeding, and worsening of symptoms. We calculated a mild AE incidence per patient of 168 in 1422 patients (11.8% [95% confidence interval: 10.1–13.5]). CONCLUSIONS: Of the AEs associated with pediatric needle acupuncture, a majority of them were mild in severity. Many of the serious AEs might have been caused by substandard practice. Our results support those from adult studies, which have found that acupuncture is safe when performed by appropriately trained practitioners.
13C NMR spectroscopy of D and B, D-ring seco-limonoids of Meliaceae family

The modified limonoids isolated from the Meliaceae are too complex or obtained in too small quantities to determine their structures by chemical and spectroscopic means, including 1H NMR. One method of dealing with such problem is direct crystallographic analysis, without or having a heavy atom, which requires an able crystallographic collaborator. The determination of the structure Utilin is one example. The analysis of the 13C NMR spectral data for different compounds has been very useful for the identification of the various skeletal types of limonoids and also for the determination of the substitution pattern. Owing to the great utilities that these data could help the scientific community, who are working in the area of limonoids, we here describe the application of NMR spectroscopy in the structure elucidation of D and B, D-ring seco-limonoids and a collection of 177 compound's 13C NMR spectral data. §This is CDRI manuscript No. 6675.
Role Ambiguity as a Moderator of Occupational Self-Efficacy and Job Satisfaction

Role ambiguity was examined as a moderator of occupational self-efficacy and job satisfaction on the basis of the data obtained from 280 employees of U.S. housing finance agencies in four states. The interaction effect was found to be small but significant. The practical implications of role ambiguity at different levels of occupational self-efficacy were discussed. The value of reducing role ambiguity is higher for those who have low self-efficacy The theoretical implications of the findings support the inclusion of dispositional and situational interactions in research regarding job satisfaction.
Determinants of short- and long-term mobility expectations for home owners and renters

Confusion about the role of residential satisfaction vis-a-vis structural factors in the mobility process stems from the failure to examine the determinants of mobility over varying time frames and housing tenures. Using survey data for a random sample of 580 Phoenix-area households, we test models of short-term (l year) and long-term (5 years) mobility expectations for home owners and renters. The results show that residential satisfaction mediates the effects of structural variables on mobility expectations in the short term for home owners. In the long-term model for home owners and the short-term model for renters, the role of satisfaction as an intervening force declines in relative importance. Among renters, structural variables operate directly on long-term mobility expectations.
Mechanism of Calcite Crystal Growth Inhibition by the N-terminal Undecapeptide of Lithostathine*

Pancreatic juice is supersaturated with calcium carbonate. Calcite crystals therefore may occur, obstruct pancreatic ducts, and finally cause a lithiasis. Human lithostathine, a protein synthesized by the pancreas, inhibits the growth of calcite crystals by inducing a habit modification: the rhombohedral {10 1̄4} usual habit is transformed into a needle-like habit through the {112̄0} crystal form. A similar observation was made with the N-terminal undecapeptide (pE1R11) of lithostathine. We therefore aimed at discovering how peptides inhibit calcium salt crystal growth. We solved the complete x-ray structure of lithostathine, including the flexible N-terminal domain, at 1.3 Å. Docking studies of pE1R11 with the (101̄4) and (11 2̄0) faces through molecular dynamics simulation resulted in three successive steps. First, the undecapeptide progressively unfolded as it approached the calcite surface. Second, mobile lateral chains of amino acids made hydrogen bonds with the calcite surface. Last, electrostatic bonds between calcium ions and peptide bonds stabilized and anchored pE1R11 on the crystal surface. pE1R11-calcite interaction was stronger with the (11 2̄0) face than with the (10 1̄4) face, confirming earlier experimental observations. Energy contributions showed that the peptide backbone governed the binding more than did the lateral chains. The ability of peptides to inhibit crystal growth is therefore essentially based on backbone flexibility.
Effect of interferon λ3 gene polymorphisms, rs8099917 and rs12979860, on response to hepatitis B virus vaccination and hepatitis B or C virus infections among hemodialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION The higher prevalence and risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are still observed in hemodialysis (HD) patients compared with healthy people. Interferons (IFNs) are known for their involvement in immune response. The addition of IFN-λ3 to immunization in animal models was shown to increase the immune response of T helper-1 cells. OBJECTIVES We studied whether polymorphisms of the IFN-λ3 gene (IFNL3) might be associated with the development of antibodies to HBV surface antigen [anti-HBs] in response to the HBV vaccination or HBV infection as well as spontaneous resolution of HCV infection in HD patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS The HD group consisted of 806 individuals without a history of HBV or HCV infection (of whom 672 developed anti-HBs in response to the HBV vaccination), 241 HBV-infected patients (of whom 186 developed anti-HBs), and 63 HCV-infected patients (including 39 HCV RNA-positive subjects). All patients were genotyped for IFNL3 rs8099917 and rs12979860 polymorphisms using a high-resolution melting curve analysis. RESULTS The comparison of responders and nonresponders to HBV vaccination revealed no significant differences in the IFNL3 genotype distribution. In HBV-infected patients, the differences in the distribution of IFNL3 variants between anti-HBs-negative and anti-HBs-positive patients were also nonsignificant. Spontaneous HCV clearance was significantly less common in the carriers of the rs8099917 allele G or rs12979860 allele T, while the CT rs12979860_rs8099917 haplotype was more frequent (P = 0.02) in patients showing spontaneous HCV clearance. CONCLUSIONS In HD patients, the IFNL3 polymorphisms do not affect anti-HBs development in response to HBV infection or vaccination, but might be involved in the resolution of HCV infection.
SUBJECTIVE PERCEPTIONS OF THE EFFECTS OF SUSTAINED PERFORMANCE UNDER SLEEP-DEPRIVATION CONDITIONS

In today's society, numerous situations arise in which sleep deprivation is a common occurrence. Subjective perceptions are a vital component to understanding the effects of sustained performance during sleep deprivation, as they may be the first indication of the effects of sustained performance or sleep deprivation on the individual. Using the theoretical framework of the Controlled Attention Model, this study examined the effects of 16 h of sustained performance under 28 h of acute sleep deprivation on perceived effort, motivation, and stress of 24 participants while completing a complex cognitive and a simple vigilance task. Perceived effort increased for both tasks, with higher effort reported on the cognitive than the vigilance task at the beginning of the experimental period, but with higher effort reported on the vigilance than the cognitive task at the end. Subjective motivation decreased for both tasks, with significantly higher levels of motivation on the cognitive than the vigilance task. Perceived stress did not change for either task. Results suggest that functioning under sustained performance and sleep-deprivation conditions affects subjective perceptions differently for cognitive versus vigilance tasks. The controlled attention model offers one means of understanding how different tasks could affect a person's subjective perceptions and ability to perform, in that different levels of controlled attention are required for the two tasks. (Author correspondence: hodle@gettysburg.edu)
Superconducting fluctuations in Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox thin films: Paraconductivity, excess Hall effect, and magnetoconductivity.

A detailed study of normal-state magnetotransport properties in (Bi,Pb)[sub 2]Sr[sub 2]Ca[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub [ital x]] thin films with a zero-resistance critical temperature [ital T][sub [ital c]0]=105 K prepared by dc-magnetron sputtering on MgO substrates is reported. Measurements of the electrical resistivity, the magnetoresistance, and the Hall effect are analyzed with regard to contributions of the superconducting order-parameter thermodynamic fluctuations, using theories for two-dimensional, layered superconductors. We have obtained a consistent set of parameters, i.e., the in-plane coherence length [xi][sub [ital a][ital b]](0)=1.6 nm, the out-of-plane coherence length [xi][sub [ital c]](0)=0.14 nm, and the electron-hole asymmetry parameter [beta]=[minus]0.38. At temperatures below 118 K, we observe a remarkable enhancement (above theoretical predictions) of both the excess Hall effect and magnetoconductivity, whereas no such effect is detected for the zero-field paraconductivity. The above anomalies are attributed to a nonuniform critical temperature distribution inside our samples and can be well explained assuming a Gaussian distribution of [ital T][sub [ital c]]'s with a standard deviation [delta][ital T][sub [ital c]]=2.3 K. The excess Hall effect caused by superconducting fluctuations is negative in the entire accessible temperature range, which indicates, together with the paraconductivity and magnetoconductivity results that the indirect (Maki-Thompson) fluctuation process for (Bi,Pb)[sub 2]Sr[sub 2]Ca[submore » 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub [ital x]] is vanishingly small at temperatures from [ital T][sub [ital c]] to 130 K. « less