Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Obesity and vehicle type as risk factors for injury caused by motor vehicle collision

BACKGROUND This study sought to describe variations in the risk of motor vehicle collision (MVC) injury and death by occupant body mass index (BMI) class and vehicle type. We hypothesized that the relationship between BMI and the risk of MVC injury or mortality would be modified by vehicle type. METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study of occupants involved in MVCs using data from the Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network and the National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System. Occupants were grouped based on vehicle body style (passenger car, sport utility vehicle, or light truck) and vehicle size (compact or normal, corresponding to below- or above-average curb weight). The relationship between occupant BMI class (underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese) and risk of injury or mortality was examined for each vehicle type. Odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for various occupant and collision characteristics were estimated. RESULTS Of an estimated 44 million occupants of MVCs sampled from 2000 to 2009, 37.1% sustained an injury. We limited our analysis to injuries achieving an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score of 2 or more severe, totaling 17 million injuries. Occupants differed substantially in terms of demographic and collision characteristics. After adjustment for confounding factors, we found that obesity was a risk factor for mortality caused by MVC (OR, 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2–2.0). When stratified by vehicle type, we found that obesity was a risk factor for mortality in larger vehicles, including any-sized light trucks (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.3–3.5), normal-sized passenger cars (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1–2.3), and normal-sized sports utility vehicles or vans (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.0–3.8). Being overweight was a risk factor in any-sized light trucks (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1–2.1). CONCLUSION We identified a significant interaction between occupant BMI class and vehicle type in terms of MVC-related mortality risk. Both factors should be taken into account when considering occupant safety, and additional study is needed to determine underlying causes of the observed relationships. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic study, level III.
Clinical Significance of the Antibody against Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein in Acute Myocardial Infarction

To establish the clinical significance of the antibody against oxidized low-density lipoprotein (anti-Ox-LDL) titer in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), we measured the anti-Ox-LDL titer in 39 patients with AMI and 25 controls. In all AMI patients, the anti-Ox-LDL titer on admission was higher (p < 0.05) than the value in the controls. One month after admission, the titer decreased significantly (p < 0.001) reaching control levels. In patients who underwent thrombolytic therapy, the anti-Ox-LDL titer on admission was identical in patients with occluded infarct-related arteries (IRA) and patients with patent IRA during emergency coronary angiography. In patients who did not undergo thrombolytic therapy, the anti-Ox-LDL titer on admission was higher in patients with occluded IRA than in patients with patent IRA. An increased anti-Ox-LDL titer may be a risk factor for the onset of AMI. Spontaneous recanalization of the IRA may be associated with increased anti-Ox-LDL titers, while thrombolysis-induced recanalization may be independent of it.
Performance of UASB reactor in the biotreatment of 1,1,2-Trichloroethane

This article aims to examine the performance of bench-scale Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor operated under varying operating conditions, during the treatment of simulated wastewater containing 1,1,2-Trichloroethane (TCA). Initially, reactor R1 (control) and reactor R2 (test) containing TCA were operated at 5 different Hydraulic Retention Times (HRTs) of 36, 30, 24, 18 and 12 hours. TCA removal decreased from 99.8% to 96.5%, when the HRT was reduced from 36 to 12 hours in discrete steps. Later, when the OLR was varied periodically from 1.5 to 3.1 kg COD/m3.d to obtain a different substrate: co-substrate ratios; lower TCA removal efficiencies were observed at an OLR of 2.5 kg COD/ m3.d and above. The average effluent concentrations of TCA and COD were 0.12 and 79 mg/L, respectively, at the optimum HRT of 24 hours; whereas the effluent TCA and COD concentrations at the substrate: co-substrate ratio of 50:1 was 0.06 mg/L and 48 mg/L, respectively.
Double Inversion Recovery: Impact of Incidental Magnetic Transfer Effects on Optimal Inversion Times

Objectives:Doube inversion recovery (DIR) is increasingly used in clinical studies on multiple sclerosis, as it selectively images gray matter and lesions. The inversion times used in literature differ significantly from theoretical predictions. One explanation for this are incidental magnetic transfer (iMT) effects, which are caused by the high density of pulses. In this work, the influence of iMT on DIR was analyzed and compared with theoretical assumptions and inversion times found in literature. Materials and Methods:Three subjects were measured with 2D DIR sequences. The number of slices measured was varied. Optimum inversion times for white matter (WM) suppression were determined for 1 and for 24 slices by increasing TI2. The impact of slice-to-slice cross talk was evaluated with phantom measurements. Results:For constant inversion times TI1 = 3400 ms and TI2 = 325 ms signal intensity of WM decreased with increasing number of slices. The effective longitudinal relaxation time T1sat of WM was with 24 slices (strong iMT effect) 28% lower than at 1 slice (almost no iMT effect). The determined T1sat for 24 slices was 540 ms, compared with 750 ms with 1 slice. Conclusions:Incidental magnetic transfer effects have a huge impact on 2D DIR sequences. The number of slices measured affect strongly the severity of the iMT effect. This can lead to a strong decrease of T1sat for WM depending on the interleaving scheme. Results from different studies and at different field strengths are therefore not easily comparable, without exact knowledge of the sequence design.
A Neurodynamic Approach to Distributed Optimization With Globally Coupled Constraints

In this paper, a distributed neurodynamic approach is proposed for constrained convex optimization. The objective function is a sum of local convex subproblems, whereas the constraints of these subproblems are coupled. Each local objective function is minimized individually with the proposed neurodynamic optimization approach. Through information exchange between connected neighbors only, all nodes can reach consensus on the Lagrange multipliers of all global equality and inequality constraints, and the decision variables converge to the global optimum in a distributed manner. Simulation results of two power system cases are discussed to substantiate the effectiveness and characteristics of the proposed approach.
Modeling Multivariate Count Data Using Copulas

Multivariate count data occur in several different disciplines. However, existing models do not offer great flexibility for dependence modeling. Models based on copulas nowadays are widely used for continuous data dependence modeling. Modeling count data via copulas is still in its infancy; see the recent article of Genest and Nešlehová (2007). A series of different copula models providing various residual dependence structures are considered for vectors of count response variables whose marginal distributions depend on covariates through negative binomial regressions. A real data application related to the number of purchases of different products is provided.
Evidence for precession of the isolated neutron star RX J0720.4-3125

The XMM-Newton spectra of the isolated neutron star RXJ0720.4-3125 obtained over 4.5 years can be described by sinusoidal variations in the inferred blackbody temperature, the size of the emitting a e and the depth of the absorption line with a period of 7.1 +/- 0.5 years, which we suggest to be the precession period of the neutron star. Precession of a neutron star with two hot spots of different temperature and size, probably not located exactly in anti positions, may account for the variations in the X-ray spectra, changes in the pulsed fraction, shape of the light curve and the phase-lag between soft and hard energy bands observed from RXJ0720.4-3125. An independent sinusoidal fit to published and new pulse timing residuals from a coherent analysis covering similar to 12 years yields a consistent period of 7.7 +/- 0.6 years supporting the precession model.
Treatment Recommendations among Radiation Oncologists in the Treatment of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Perineural Invasion

Purpose: Post-operative radiotherapy (PORT) for resected cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) with perineural invasion (PNI) is controversial. Therefore, we conducted a survey to review treatment recommendations among Radiation Oncologists (ROs) in the management of CSCC with PNI. Materials & Methods: In March 2011, we contacted all ROs and trainees in the US through email addresses listed in the 2009 ASTRO directory. Our web-based survey presented clinical vignettes involving Mohs micrographically resected CSCC with microscopic PNI (mPNI) or clinical PNI (cPNI). For each vignette, ROs were asked to indicate if PORT was appropriate and to further specify the dose and volume to treat. Results: Three hundred fifty two responses were completed and analyzed. The majority of ROs (72%) had over 10 years of post residency experience. 64% of the sampled ROs had a special interest in treating head and neck cancers, and 64% treated 4 or more cases per year. Approximately 95% recommended PORT for cPNI whereas 59% recommended PORT for mPNI. Post residency experience (10+ yrs vs. = 0.005) and for mPNI of deep subcutaneous non-named nerve involvement (80% vs. 60%, p = 0.001). ROs treating 8 or more cases per year (vs. = 0.01). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates significant variability among ROs in the management of CSCC with mPNI. For cases of cPNI, an overwhelming majority recommended PORT. In cases of mPNI, there was no consensus for recommending PORT, although experienced practitioners had a lower threshold for offering treatment. These results indicate the need for prospective clinical studies to clarify the role of PORT in CSCC patients with mPNI.
Newtonian Potential and Geodesic Completeness in Infinite Derivative Gravity

Recent study has shown that a nonsingular oscillating potential—a feature of infinite derivative gravity theories—matches current experimental data better than the standard General Relativity potential. In this work, we show that this nonsingular oscillating potential can be given by a wider class of theories which allows the defocusing of null rays and therefore geodesic completeness. We consolidate the conditions whereby null geodesic congruences may be made past complete, via the Raychaudhuri equation, with the requirement of a nonsingular Newtonian potential in an infinite derivative gravity theory. In doing so, we examine a class of Newtonian potentials characterized by an additional degree of freedom in the scalar propagator, which returns the familiar potential of General Relativity at large distances.
Surgical management of chronic total occlusion of the abdominal aorta Kronik total abdominal aort oklüzyonunun cerrahi tedavisi

Amaç: Bu çalışmada abdominal aortun kronik total oklüzyonu nedeniyle kliniğimizde ameliyat edilen hastalar retrospektif olarak incelendi. Ça­lış­ma­pla­nı:­Bu çalışmaya Mart 2001 Aralık 2009 tarihleri arasında abdominal aortun kronik total oklüzyonu nedeniyle kliniğimizde ameliyat edilen 20 ardışık erkek hasta (ort. yaş 61.8±8.0 yıl; dağılım 44-76 yıl) dahil edildi. Tüm hastalar elektif olarak ameliyat edildi. Dört hasta daha önceden koroner arter bypass greftleme ameliyatı geçirmişti. Abdominal aortun oklüzyonu tüm olgularda anjiyografi ile belgelendi. Altı hastada (%30) juxtarenal aort oklüzyonu, üç hastada (%15) suprarenal aort oklüzyonu ve 11 hastada (%55) infrarenal abdominal aort oklüzyonu tespit edildi. Tüm hastalarda abdominal aorta tromboendarterektomi ve aortobifemoral bypass yapıldı. Sol böbrek bir hastada (%5) safen ven grefti ile revaskülarize edildi. Bul gu lar: Tüm olgularda tam başarı elde edildi ve mortalite görülmedi. Ameliyat sırası veya sonrasında herhangi bir komplikasyon gelişmedi. Ortalama hastanede kalış süresi 7.1±1.4 (dağılım 5-11 gün), ortalama yoğun bakımda kalış süresi ise 2.4±0.6 (dağılım 1-3) gün idi. Yatış sırasında ne revizyon ne de tekrar girişim gerekli oldu. So­nuç:­ Deneyimlerimiz göz önüne alındığında aortik rekonstrüktif cerrahi, suprarenal, juxtarenal ya da infrarenal kronik total abdominal aort oklüzyonlarının tedavisinde uygulanabilecek başarılı bir seçenektir. Anah tar söz cük ler: Aort oklüzyonu; ateroskleroz; bypass greft; renal arter. Background:­ In this study, we evaluated patients who underwent surgery for chronic total occlusion of the abdominal aorta in our clinic retrospectively. Methods: Twenty consecutive male patients (mean age 61.8±8.0 years; range 44 to 76 years) who underwent surgery in our clinic for chronic total occlusion of the abdominal aorta between March 2001 and December 2009 were included in this study. All patients were operated on electively. Four patients (20%) had undergone previous coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. The occlusion of the abdominal aorta was documented with angiography in all patients. Juxtarenal aorta occlusion occurred in six patients (30%), occlusion of the suprarenal aorta in three patients (15%), and occlusion of the infrarenal abdominal aorta in 11 patients (55%). An aortobifemoral bypass and abdominal aortic thromboendarterectomy were performed in all patients. The left kidney was revascularized with a saphenous vein graft in one patient (5%). Results:­ There was complete immediate success with no mortality. No complications occurred during or after the operation. The average duration of hospital stay was 7.1±1.4 (range 5 to 11 days) and an average intensive care unit stay was 2.4±0.6 (range 1 to 3) days. Neither revision nor reintervention was required during hospitalization. Conclusion:­ Considering our experience, aortic reconstructive surgery is a successful option for the management of chronic suprarenal, juxtarenal, and, infrarenal abdominal aortic occlusions.
Development of Calbindin‐D28k Immunoreactive Neurons in the Embryonic Chick Lumbosacral Spinal Cord

The development of immunoreactivity for the calcium‐binding protein calbindin‐D28k (CaB) was investigated in the embryonic and hatched chick lumbosacral spinal cord. CaB‐immunoreactive neurons were revealed in the dorsal and ventral horns as well as in the intermediate grey matter from early stages of neuronal development. CaB immunoreactivity was first detected in large neurons in the presumptive dorsal horn at embyronic day 5, while small neurons in the lateral dorsal horn were the last to appear, at embryonic day 10. We have identified and traced the morphological maturation of six CaB‐immunoreactive cell groups, three in the dorsal horn and three in the ventral horn. In the dorsal horn these groups were (1) large neurons in the lateral dorsal horn (laminae I and IV), (2) small neurons in the lateral dorsal horn (lamina II), and (3) small neurons in the medial dorsal horn (lamina III). All three groups were present throughout the entire length of the lumbosacral spinal cord and showed persistent CaB immunoreactivity. In the ventral horn, CaB‐immunoreactive neurons were classified into the following three categories: (1) Neurons dorsal to the lateral motor column (lamina VII). These neurons were present exclusively in the upper lumbosacral segments (LS1 – 3), and they showed steady CaB immunoreactivity during their maturation. (2) Neurons at the dorsomedial aspect of the lateral motor column (at the border of laminae VII and IX). This population of neurons was characteristic of the lower segments of the lumbosacral cord (LS5 – 7) and presented transient CaB expression. (3) Neurons within the lateral motor column (lamina IX). These neurons were dispersed throughout the length of the lumbosacral spinal cord. They were three to four times more numerous in the upper than in the lower lumbosacral segments, and their numbers declined throughout LS1 – 7 as the animal matured. The characteristic features of the development of neurons immunoreactive for CaB are discussed and correlated with previous neuroanatomical and physiological studies concerning sensory and motor functions of the developing chick spinal cord.
Programmed Death 1 Expression as a Marker for Immune and Physiological Dysfunction in the Critically Ill Surgical Patient

ABSTRACT Programmed death 1 (PD-1) is an inhibitor protein receptor for the immune system and has been shown to be upregulated in animal models of critical illness as well as after trauma and in burn victims in humans. It is believed that PD-1 may play a role in the immune dysfunction seen in surgical critical illness. However, although prior studies have associated changes in PD-1 expression with altered immune cell function, it is not known if a correlation with clinical status exists. We therefore aimed to describe a potential role for PD-1 in the immune dysfunction seen in critically ill trauma and surgical patients. This is an observational cohort study. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores were calculated on critically ill and injured trauma and surgical intensive care unit patients from a tertiary care/level I trauma center. Blood was drawn within 24 h of establishment of diagnosis and admission to the intensive care unit to measure circulating cytokine levels, as well as PD-1 expression on circulating cells. Main outcome measures included PD-1 expression on leukocytes and the relationship to physiological dysfunction (APACHE II) as well as the correlation of PD-1 expression and interleukin 10 levels among patients with severe physiological dysfunction. Samples were collected from 90 critically ill surgical patients. Among patients with severe physiological dysfunction (APACHE II >20), there were increased numbers of granulocytes (median, 144 vs. 90 cells/&mgr;L; P = 0.037) and monocytes (median, 12 vs. 6 cells/&mgr;L; P = 0.022) with PD-1 expression. In addition, among patients with an APACHE II score of greater than 20, there was a larger percentage of CD3+ cells (44% vs. 29%; P = 0.015) expressing PD-1. When only patients with an APACHE II score greater than 20 were assessed, PD-1 expression on monocytes correlated positively with interleukin levels in the serum (r = 0.525, P = 0.05). Variability in the expression of PD-1 on leukocytes in critical surgical illness correlates with physiological dysfunction and suggests that PD-1 may be a valuable tool in the assessment of immune dysfunction following trauma or severe surgical insult.
Need for Formal Leadership Training for Students in a Land- Grant College of Agriculture

As noted by Love and Yoder, students perceived the development of their leadership abilities as an important part of their college education. Few departments, however, have required leadership development coursework as a part of their agriculture curricula. According to Morrill and Roush (1991), higher education has only recently given attention to the characteristics of effective leaders. Researchers have determined that the development of leadership skills was important to the success of high school vocational agriculture graduates. According to Shelhamer (1990). adults who were active in leadership activities were more likely to have completed their high school vocational agriculture curricula.
Renal Function After Cardiac Surgery: Adverse Effect of Furosemide

Renal failure is a frequent event after cardiopulmonary by-pass. Hemodynamic alterations that occur during surgery, as well as factors depending on the host, are the main risk factors for renal dysfunction. To evaluate the frequency and risk factors for renal dysfunction in this setting, a cohort of fifty patients with preoperative serum creatinine under 1.5 mg/dL, submitted to cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary by-pass was analyzed. Variables related to preoperative patient condition, intraoperative and postoperative periods were recorded. Renal function was assessed by clearances of creatinine, urea and free water, also by fractional excretion of sodium (FENa), at baseline, at anesthetic induction and during postoperative period. Patients were arbitrarily divided in two groups, according to the serum creatinine (SCr) value at the end of the postoperative period: Group I: SCr <2 mg/dL (n = 44 patients (88.5%)) and Group II: SCr >2 mg/dL (n = 6 patients (11.5%)). A decrease of renal function was observed in all patients: creatinemia raised from 1.04 ± 0.2 to 1.55 ± 0.4 mg/dL (33%), associated with a rise in FENa. Differences between group I and group II using univariate analysis were: baseline serum creatinine (1.01 ± 0.23 mg/dL vs. 1.26 ± 0.19 mg/dL, p = 0.03), FENa (0.99 ± 0.8 vs. 2.2 ± 2.1, p = 0.04), furosemide dose during surgery normalized to body surface area (93.2 ± 23 mg/1.73 m2 BSA vs. 135 ± 38 mg/1.73 m2 BSA, p<0.001), and hemodilution index (17.3 ± 4.3% vs. 22.8 ± 3.2%, p<0.01). In the multiple regression model, baseline creatinemia and furosemide dose were associated to renal dysfunction.
Invited Review: Cell Volume Control and Signal Transduction in Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a physiological form of death in which cells turn-on an intrinsic genetic program that eventually leads to their destruction in a highly regulated manner. This process renders elimination of “unwanted cells” in the body, and accounts for cellular turnover and homeostasi s of tissues in multicellular organisms. Consequently, an imbalance in the apoptotic rate in a particular tissue can lead to profound effects in the whole organism. Exposure of cells to apoptotic stimuli induces a rapid loss of cell volume (apoptotic volume decrease) that plays a pivotal role in the decision of a cell to undergo apoptosis. Interestingly, the apoptotic volume decrease is driven by changes in ionic fluxes across the plasma membrane that promote a decrease in the intracellular ions that ultimately also leads to a reduction in intracellular ionic strength. Despite an intensive research effort however, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that trigger changes in cell volume during apoptosis remain poorly understood. Nevertheless, this apoptotic volume decrease has been shown to be a necessary component of the apoptotic cascade and an important point of modulation for the entire cell death process. In this review, we will focus on the importance of the apoptotic volume decrease in the context of signaling and modulation of programmed cell death.