Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Calprotectin S100A9 Calcium-binding Loops I and II Are Essential for Keratinocyte Resistance to Bacterial Invasion*

Epithelial cells expressing calprotectin, a heterodimer of S100A8 and S100A9 proteins, are more resistant to bacterial invasion. To determine structural motifs that affect resistance to bacterial invasion, mutations were constructed in S100A9 targeting the calcium-binding loops I and II (E36Q, E78Q, E36Q,E78Q) and the C terminus (S100A91–99 and S100A91–112), which contains putative antimicrobial zinc-binding and phosphorylation sites. The S100A8 and mutated S100A9 encoding plasmids were transfected into calprotectin-negative KB carcinoma cells. All transfected cells (except KB-sham) expressed 27E10-reactive heterodimers. In bacterial invasion assays with Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (Salmonella typhimurium), cell lines expressing S100A8 in complex with S100A9E36Q, S100A9E78Q, S100A91–99, or S100A91–112 mutants or the S100A91–114 (full-length) calprotectin resisted bacterial invasion better than KB-sham. When compared with KB-S100A8/A91–114, cells expressing truncated S100A91–99 or S100A91–112 with S100A8 also showed increased resistance to bacterial invasion. In contrast, glutamic acid residues 36 and 78 in calcium-binding loops I and II promote resistance in epithelial cells, because cells expressing S100A9E36Q,E78Q with S100A8 were unable to resist bacterial invasion. Mutations in S100A9 E36Q, E78Q were predicted to cause loss of the calcium-induced positive face in calprotectin, reducing interactions with microtubules and appearing to be crucial for keratinocyte resistance to bacterial invasion.
Understanding the Role of Chemokines and Cytokines in Experimental Models of Herpes Simplex Keratitis

Herpes simplex keratitis is a disease of the cornea caused by HSV-1. It is a leading cause of corneal blindness in the world. Underlying molecular mechanism is still unknown, but experimental models have helped give a better understanding of the underlying molecular pathology. Cytokines and chemokines are small proteins released by cells that play an important proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory role in modulating the disease process. Cytokines such as IL-17, IL-6, IL-1α, and IFN-γ and chemokines such as MIP-2, MCP-1, MIP-1α, and MIP-1β have proinflammatory role in the destruction caused by HSV including neutrophil infiltration and corneal inflammation, and other chemokines and cytokines such as IL-10 and CCL3 can have a protective role. Most of the damage results from neutrophil infiltration and neovascularization. While many more studies are needed to better understand the role of these molecules in both experimental models and human corneas, current studies indicate that these molecules hold potential to be targets of future therapy.
The Effect of Various β Values on Image Quality and Semiquantitative Measurements in 68Ga-RM2 and 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/MRI Images Reconstructed With a Block Sequential Regularized Expectation Maximization Algorithm

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Purpose To compare the block sequential regularized expectation maximization (BSREM) algorithm with the ordered subsets expectation maximization (OSEM) algorithm and to evaluate how different penalty factors (b values) influence image quality and SUV measurements. Methods We analyzed data from 78 prostate cancer patients who underwent 68Ga-RM2 (n = 42) or 68Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-11 (n = 36) PET/MRI. The raw PET data were retrospectively reconstructed using both time-of-flight (TOF)–BSREM with b values of 250, 350, 500, 750, and 1000 and TOF-OSEM. Each reconstruction was reviewed independently by 3 nuclear medicine physicians and scored qualitatively using a Likert scale (1 = poor, 5 = excellent quality). SUV measurements were analyzed as well. Results Fifty-seven lesions were detected (21 on 68Ga-RM2 and 36 on 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/MRI); SUVmax decreased with the increase of β values for both tracers. Background noise (SUVsd) decreased with increasing of β values for both tracers. The mean ± SD scores for 68Ga-RM2 PET images were 2.4 ± 0.5 for b = 250 reconstructions, 3.2 ± 0.6 for b = 350, 4 ± 0.6 for b = 500, 4.5 ± 0.5 for b = 750, 4.4 ± 0.7 for b = 1000, and 3.4 ± 0.6 for TOF-OSEM. The mean ± SD scores for 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET images were 3.2 ± 0.8 for b = 250 reconstructions, 4.1 ± 0.8 for b = 350, 4.7 ± 0.6 for b = 500, 4.8 ± 0.4 for b = 750, 4.7 ± 0.6 for b = 1000, and 3.8 ± 0.5 for TOF-OSEM. Conclusions Time-of-flight–BSREM algorithm improves image quality. Different b values should be used for different 68Ga-labeled radiopharmaceuticals such as those targeting GRPR and PSMA receptors. Once selected, the same b value should be consistently used because SUVmax measurements differ with different b values.
COMPARISON OF OUTBREAKS OF H5N1 HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN WILD BIRDS AND POULTRY IN THAILAND

Wild bird surveillance for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus from 2004 to 2007 in Thailand indicated that the prevalence of infection with avian influenza H5N1 virus in wild birds was low (1.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7–1.2, 60/6,263 pooled samples). However, the annual prevalence varied considerably over this period, with a peak of 2.7% (95% CI: 1.4, 4.1) in 2004. Prevalence dropped to 0.5% (95% CI: 0.3, 0.8]) and 0.6% (95% CI: 0.3, 1.0) in 2005 and 2006, respectively, and then increased to 1.8% (95% CI: 1.0, 2.6) in 2007. During this period, 16 species from 12 families of wild birds tested positive for H5N1 virus infection. All samples from juvenile birds were negative for H5N1 virus, whereas 0.6% (95% CI: 0.4, 0.9) of pooled samples from adult birds were positive. Most positive samples originated from peridomestic resident species. Infected wild bird samples were only found in provinces where poultry outbreaks had occurred. Detection of H5N1 virus infection in wild birds was reported up to 3 yr after eradication of the poultry outbreaks in those provinces. As observed with outbreaks in poultry, the frequencies of H5N1 outbreaks in wild birds were significantly higher in winter. Further understanding of the mechanisms of persistence and ongoing HPAI H5N1 transmission between wild birds and domestic poultry is needed.
Elevated serum and CSF levels of soluble CD30 during clinical remission in multiple sclerosis

Objective: To ascertain the presence of the Th2 response in MS patients by evaluating the level of soluble (s) CD30 across the clinical spectrum of MS and during relapse and remission. Background: MS is considered a T-cell-mediated disorder with the immune attack dominated by a Th1 cytokine response. Elevated levels of sCD30 have been associated with CD4+ cells that secrete Th2-type cytokines. Methods: Levels of sCD30 were determined in the serum and CSF of patients with primary progressive MS, secondary progressive MS, relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), both in relapse and remission, and in patients with other inflammatory neurologic disease (IND) and noninflammatory neurologic disease (NIND). None of the patients were on immunomodulatory treatment. Results: Higher serum levels of sCD30 were detected in all MS subgroups and IND patients compared with NIND patients. RRMS patients in remission had significantly higher levels than those in relapse (median, 45.7 U/mL versus 18.3 U/mL; p = 0.04). Significantly higher CSF levels were also found in all groups, except those with RRMS in relapse compared with NIND patients. Again, RRMS patients in remission had higher CSF sCD30 levels compared with those in relapse (median, 4.0 U/mL versus 3.0 U/mL; p = 0.08). Conclusions: Serum and CSF levels of sCD30 are increased in MS, particularly during remission. The results provide additional evidence for the presence of a Th2 response and indicate that sCD30 may be of value as a marker of lesion resolution.
The acceptance of a computerised decision-support system in primary care: A preliminary investigation

Within the framework of technology acceptance modelling (Davis 1993), this study investigated the acceptance of a computerised decision-support system in primary care. Thirty general practitioners (GP) completed a questionnaire that detailed potential advantages of the system. A majority (70%) of GPs intended to use the system with a 2-min increase in consultation times (for proportion of GPs intending to use, CI0.95 = [0.54; 0.85]) and eight advantages of the system were predictors of intention to use (RL 2 = 0.51, p < 0.05). However, a majority (77%) did not intend to use the system with a 5-min increase in consultation time (CI0.95 = [0.12; 0.42]). Furthermore, a majority of 90% preferred the system to be used by non-physicians (CI0.95 = [0.78; 0.98]). These results confirm relationships between acceptance factors in a new domain, but most importantly they indicate the need to consider the balance of perceived advantages, or benefits, and disadvantages, or costs, of a new system in technology acceptance modelling. Implications for the design of a prototype system and further research are discussed.
Cyfra 21-1 in monitoring cervical cancer: a comparison with tissue polypeptide antigen and squamous cell carcinoma antigen.

Cyfra 21-1, measuring serum fragments of cytokeratin 19, has been found to be related to tumor stage and tumour size in patients with cervical cancer and suggested to be a promising marker in squamous lung cancer. We compared the value of this new marker with tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) in monitoring 30 patients with squamous cell cervical cancer. Serum levels of each marker were studied in relation to tumour stage and clinical status of patient. The clinical performance of the various assays to separate those patients with complete remission from those patients with the presence of tumour (i.e., partial remission, stable disease, or progressive disease) was assessed by their receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. We found that tumour stage was a prognostic factor for survival (p = 0.02). Pretreatment serum Cyfra 21-1, TPA, and SCC-Ag levels were not related to stage of disease and were not found to be predictive of survival. In contrast, an elevated post-treatment serum SCC-Ag level was associated with a poor survival rate (p = 0.03). Such a relation was not found for Cyfra 21-1 or TPA. The clinical performance of post-treatment serum SCC-Ag levels in predicting the presence of tumour was better than the Cyfra 21-1 or TPA assays. This is shown by the left uppermost position of the ROC curve for SCC-Ag. We concluded that SCC-Ag appeared to be a better parameter than Cyfra 21-1 and TPA in predicting the presence of tumour during follow-up and survival of patients with cervical cancer.
Ground-based remote sensing scheme for monitoring aerosol-cloud interactions

A new method for continuous observation of aerosol–cloud interactions with ground-based remote sensing instruments is presented. The main goal of this method is to enable the monitoring of the change of the cloud droplet size due to the change in the aerosol concentration. We use high-resolution measurements from a lidar, a radar and a radiometer, which allow us to collect and compare data continuously. This method is based on a standardised data format from Cloudnet and can be implemented at any observatory where the Cloudnet data set is available. Two example case studies were chosen from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program deployment on Graciosa Island, Azores, Portugal, in 2009 to present the method. We use the cloud droplet effective radius (re) to represent cloud microphysical properties and an integrated value of the attenuated backscatter coefficient (ATB) below the cloud to represent the aerosol concentration. All data from each case study are divided into bins of the liquid water path (LWP), each 10 gm—2 wide. For every LWP bin we present the correlation coefficient between ln re and lnATB, as well as ACIr (defined as ACIr = dln re=dlnATB, change in cloud droplet effective radius with aerosol concentration). Obtained values of ACIr are in the range 0.01–0.1. We show that ground-based remote sensing instruments used in synergy can efficiently and continuously monitor aerosol–cloud interactions
Ocular pathology in the rubella syndrome.

THE RELATIONSHIP between congenital cataracts, deafness, cardiovascular malformations, and other abnormalities in infants born to mothers who have had rubella in the first trimester of pregnancy has been widely recognized since Gregg 1 first described this association in 1941. Recent interest in the rubella syndrome has been due to the development of virologic techniques for the growth of rubella virus in tissue culture 2,3 and to the widespread epidemic in the United States during the winter and spring of 1963 to 1964. There have been many older and several recent reports 4,5 describing the ocular manifestations of the rubella syndrome. In the past, very few eyes have been examined pathologically, and little has been written regarding the pathologic changes in the eyes in the rubella syndrome. As a result of the recent epidemic, a fairly large number of eyes have become available for pathologic examination; the purpose of the present
Position and orientation error bound for wideband massive antenna arrays

Next generation cellular networks will experience the combination of femtocells, millimeter-wave (mmW) communications and massive antenna arrays. In addition to benefits in terms of an increased communication capacity, this mix of technologies can be fruitfully exploited to enable high-accuracy indoor positioning. In fact, thanks to the high beamforming capability of massive arrays, mobile terminal localization can be performed in principle by using only one single access point (AP), thus avoiding costly infrastructures with additional APs dedicated to positioning. In this context, our paper aims at investigating the localization and orientation performance limits of networks employing wideband massive arrays both at receiving and transmitting devices. In particular, the effects of the array structure, bandwidth and synchronization error are studied both at mmW and at 10GHz, when phased, timed and random arrays are employed.
Evaluation of an inpatient fall risk screening tool to identify the most critical fall risk factors in inpatients

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To evaluate the accuracy of the inpatient fall risk screening tool and to identify the most critical fall risk factors in inpatients. BACKGROUND Variations exist in several screening tools applied in acute care hospitals for examining risk factors for falls and identifying high-risk inpatients. DESIGN Secondary data analysis. METHODS A subset of inpatient data for the period from June 2011-June 2014 was extracted from the nursing information system and adverse event reporting system of an 818-bed teaching medical centre in Taipei. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS During the study period, 205 fallers and 37,232 nonfallers were identified. The results revealed that the inpatient fall risk screening tool (cut-off point of ≥3) had a low sensitivity level (60%), satisfactory specificity (87%), a positive predictive value of 2·0% and a negative predictive value of 99%. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0·805 (sensitivity, 71·8%; specificity, 78%). To increase the sensitivity values, the Youden index suggests at least 1·5 points to be the most suitable cut-off point for the inpatient fall risk screening tool. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a considerably increased fall risk in patients with impaired balance and impaired elimination. The fall risk factor was also significantly associated with days of hospital stay and with admission to surgical wards. CONCLUSIONS The findings can raise awareness about the two most critical risk factors for falls among future clinical nurses and other healthcare professionals and thus facilitate the development of fall prevention interventions. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE This study highlights the needs for redefining the cut-off points of the inpatient fall risk screening tool to effectively identify inpatients at a high risk of falls. Furthermore, inpatients with impaired balance and impaired elimination should be closely monitored by nurses to prevent falling during hospitalisations.
“All tibial foot” with sensory crossover innervation between the tibial and deep peroneal nerves

One of the most common and well studied innervation anomalies in the upper limbs is the Martin-Gruber anastomosis.1 2In the lower limbs, the anomaly is uncommon except for the accessory deep peroneal nerve.1 2 Recently, an exclusive innervation of the extensor digitorum brevis by the tibial nerve, “all tibial foot” has been reported.3-5 We experienced a similar patient with “all tibial foot”, who, in addition, showed sensory anomaly. A 23 year old man with encephalitis had nerve conduction studies (NCSs) to exclude coexistent peripheral neuropathy. The studies were normal except for the anomalous …
Recent H3N2 Influenza Virus Clinical Isolates Rapidly Acquire Hemagglutinin or Neuraminidase Mutations When Propagated for Antigenic Analyses

ABSTRACT Prior to serological testing, influenza viruses are typically propagated in eggs or cell culture. Recent human H3N2 strains bind to cells with low avidity. Here, we isolated nine primary H3N2 viral isolates from respiratory secretions of children. Upon propagation in vitro, five of these isolates acquired hemagglutinin or neuraminidase mutations that increased virus binding to cell surfaces. These mutations can potentially confound serological assays commonly used to identify antigenically novel influenza viruses.
Ejection injury to the spine in small aviators: sled tests of manikins vs. post mortem specimens.

INTRODUCTION This study presents the results of seven aerospace manikin and three post mortem human surrogate (PMHS) horizontal deceleration sled tests. The objective of this study was to establish a body of baseline data that examines the ability of small (fifth percentile) manikins to predict whole-body kinematics associated with aircraft ejection, and whether currently available head and neck injury criteria are applicable in these situations. METHODS Subjects were exposed to a short-duration local z-axis sled pulse while horizontally seated and restrained in an ejection seat. Test subjects included instrumented fifth percentile female and male manikins, and two small (163.8 cm, 48.3 kg; 143.5 cm, 48.6 kg) female and one small (166.2 cm, 54.3 kg) male PMHS. RESULTS The anterior (local x-axis) translations of the PMHS heads were less than those observed in the manikin tests, but the local z-axis translations of the PMHS heads were greater than those of the manikins. Z-axis translations of the manikins' T1 were generally similar to those of the PMHS T1, but the anterior x-axis translations of T1 were greater in the PMHS. The neck injury criterion (Nij) tended to under-predict observed injury (primarily ruptures of the posterior ligaments at C4-5, T2-3), and the Beam Criterion (BC) tended to over-predict observed injury for small occupants. The USN/USAF neck injury criteria (NIC) performed best in predicting the observed injuries. DISCUSSION Present manikin designs do not predict the kinematics of PMHS in ejection tests. Further refinement of existing injury criteria is required to accurately predict location and severity of ejection-induced injuries.
Gelation Temperature of a Gelatin Solution Determined by Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy

Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy (DWS) is a modern light scattering technique that is mainly utilized to probe the motion of particles in colloidal media [1]. A microrheological analysis of the particle motion may further provide the medium’s rheological properties, namely the frequency-dependent storage and loss moduli, G’(ω) and G’’(ω), respectively [2]. DWS can be applied to a rich variety of soft-matter systems, including gelling systems. In particular, DWS is able to accurately characterize their gel point, defined when the normalized intensity correlation function (ICF) no longer decays to zero [3]. Gelatin solutions (Figure 1a) are dispersions of biopolymers in water that form physical gels below the gelation temperature Tgel (Figure 1b)[4,5]. Furthermore, at the gelation temperature of polymeric gel-forming liquids, G’ ~ G’’ ~ ω, where 0.19 < n < 0.92 [6]. In this application note, we propose to determine Tgel of a food grade gelatin solution using the DWS RheoLab from LS Instruments.
Clinical impact of EUS elastography followed by contrast-enhanced EUS in patients with focal pancreatic masses and negative EUS-guided FNA.

AIMS It is well known that endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has a high sensitivity (over 85%) and specificity (100%) for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The aim of the study was to establish a EUS based clinical diagnostic algorithm in patients with pancreatic masses and negative cytopathology after EUS-FNA, based on previously published results and cut-offs of real-time elastographic (RTE) EUS and contrast-enhanced harmonic (CEH) EUS. MATERIAL AND METHODS We included in the study a subgroup of 50 consecutive patients with focal pancreatic masses which underwent EUS examinations with negative EUS-FNA. RTE-EUS and CEH-EUS were performed sequentially in all patients. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of these methods were calculated separately. A clinical decision algorithm based on elastography followed by CEH was established. RESULTS For the diagnosis of possible malignancy, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of RTE-EUS were: 97.7%, 77.4%, and 84% respectively. CEH-EUS had similar results: 89.5%, 80.7%, and 84%, respectively. In 25 patients with soft/mixed appearance during elastography,sequential assessment using contrast-enhanced EUSwas performed. The specificity of CEH-EUS for detection of chronic pancreatitis in this sub-set of patients was excellent (100%). In other 25 patients with hard appearance in elastography (low strain) CEH-EUS had an excellent specificity (100%) and accuracy (93%) in the detection of pancreatic cancer. CONCLUSIONS The proposed algorithm with sequential use of elastography followed by CEH could be a good clinical tool in the set of patients with negative EUS-FNA results for the differentiation between benign and malignant focal pancreatic masses.