Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel Cardiac Precursor‐Like Cells from Human Menstrual Blood‐Derived Mesenchymal Cells

Stem cell therapy can help repair damaged heart tissue. Yet many of the suitable cells currently identified for human use are difficult to obtain and involve invasive procedures. In our search for novel stem cells with a higher cardiomyogenic potential than those available from bone marrow, we discovered that potent cardiac precursor‐like cells can be harvested from human menstrual blood. This represents a new, noninvasive, and potent source of cardiac stem cell therapeutic material. We demonstrate that menstrual blood‐derived mesenchymal cells (MMCs) began beating spontaneously after induction, exhibiting cardiomyocyte‐specific action potentials. Cardiac troponin‐I‐positive cardiomyocytes accounted for 27%–32% of the MMCs in vitro. The MMCs proliferated, on average, 28 generations without affecting cardiomyogenic transdifferentiation ability, and expressed mRNA of GATA‐4 before cardiomyogenic induction. Hypothesizing that the majority of cardiomyogenic cells in MMCs originated from detached uterine endometrial glands, we established monoclonal endometrial gland‐derived mesenchymal cells (EMCs), 76%–97% of which transdifferentiated into cardiac cells in vitro. Both EMCs and MMCs were positive for CD29, CD105 and negative for CD34, CD45. EMCs engrafted onto a recipient's heart using a novel 3‐dimensional EMC cell sheet manipulation transdifferentiated into cardiac tissue layer in vivo. Transplanted MMCs also significantly restored impaired cardiac function, decreasing the myocardial infarction (MI) area in the nude rat model, with tissue of MMC‐derived cardiomyocytes observed in the MI area in vivo. Thus, MMCs appear to be a potential novel, easily accessible source of material for cardiac stem cell‐based therapy.
Impact of multiple earthing connections of the LPS on the lightning efficiency of substation grounding grids

This paper assesses the impact of multiple earth terminations on reducing the impulse impedance of large grounding grids. The analysis are developed using an accurate electromagnetic model. According to the obtained results, the grounding impulse impedance decreases with increasing the number of earth connections, until saturation is reached. Such saturation occurs for a fewer number of earth terminations in case of first stroke currents and soils of higher resistivity. The results presented in this paper can support complementary actions to be applied in substations grounding grids, in order to improve their lightning performance.
Structural Elements Contribute to the Calcium/Calmodulin Dependence on Enzyme Activation in Human Endothelial Nitric-oxide Synthase*

Two regions, located at residues 594–606/614–645 and residues 1165–1178, are present in the reductase domain of human endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) but absent in its counterpart, inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS). We previously demonstrated that removing residues 594–606/614–645 resulted in an enzyme (Δ45) containing an intrinsic calmodulin (CaM) purified from an Sf9/baculovirus expression system (Chen, P.-F., and Wu, K.K. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 13155–13163). Here we have further elucidated the differential requirement of Ca2+/CaM for enzyme activation between eNOS and iNOS by either deletion of residues 1165–1178 (Δ14) or combined deletions of residues 594–606/614–645 and 1165–1178 (Δ45/ Δ14) from eNOS to mimic iNOS. We measured the catalytic rates using purified proteins completely free of CaM. Steady-state analysis indicated that the Δ45 supported NO synthesis in the absence of CaM at 60% of the rate in its presence, consistent with our prior result that CaM-bound Δ45 retained 60% of its activity in the presence of 10 mm EGTA. Mutant Δ14 displayed a 1.5-fold reduction of EC50 for Ca2+/CaM-dependence in l-citrulline formation, and a 2–4-fold increase in the rates of NO synthesis, NADPH oxidation, and cytochrome c reduction relative to the wild type. The basal rates of double mutant Δ45/Δ14 in NO production, NADPH oxidation, and cytochrome c reduction were 3-fold greater than those of CaM-stimulated wild-type eNOS. Interestingly, all three activities of Δ45/ Δ14 were suppressed rather than enhanced by Ca2+/CaM, indicating a complete Ca2+/CaM independence for those reactions. The results suggest that the Ca2+/CaM-dependent catalytic activity of eNOS appears to be conferred mainly by these two structural elements, and the interdomain electron transfer from reductase to oxygenase domain does not require Ca2+/CaM when eNOS lacks these two segments.
An Evaluation of Protocols for UAV Science Applications

This paper identifies data transport needs for current and future science payloads deployed on the NASA Global Hawk Unmanned Aeronautical Vehicle (UAV). The NASA Global Hawk communication system and operational constrains are presented. The Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) mission is used to provide the baseline communication requirements as a variety of payloads were utilized in this mission. User needs and desires are addressed. Protocols are matched to the payload needs and an evaluation of various techniques and tradeoffs are presented. Such techniques include utilization rate-base selective negative acknowledgement protocols and possible use of protocol enhancing proxies. Tradeoffs of communication architectures that address ease-of-use and security considerations are also presented.
Mechanism of oil-pulling therapy - in vitro study.

BACKGROUND Oil pulling has been used extensively as a traditional Indian folk remedy without scientific proof for many years for strengthening teeth, gums and jaws and to prevent decay, oral malodor, bleeding gums and dryness of throat and cracked lips. AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of sesame oil and lignans isolated from sesame oil on oral microorganisms and to check whether saponification or emulsification occurs during oil-pulling therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS The in vitro study was carried out in three different phases: (1) Antibacterial activity of the lignans and sesame oil were tested by minimum inhibitory concentration assay by agar dilution method and agar well diffusion method, respectively. (2) Increase in free fatty acid level of oil and the quantity of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) used up in the titration are good indicators of saponification process. This was assessed using analytical tests for vegetable oils. (3) Swished oil was observed under light microscope to assess the status of the oil, presence of microorganisms, oral debris and foreign bodies. RESULTS Sesamin and sesamolin isolated from sesame oil did not have any antibacterial effect against oral microorganisms like Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus viridans. Emulsification of sesame oil occurs during oil-pulling therapy. Increased consumption of NaOH in titration is a definite indication of a possible saponification process. CONCLUSION The myth that the effect of oil-pulling therapy on oral health was just a placebo effect has been broken and there are clear indications of possible saponification and emulsification process, which enhances its mechanical cleaning action.
Decreasing seasonal variation of births in schizophrenia

Background. Patients with schizophrenia have a winter–spring excess of births compared with the general population, the cause of which is unresolved. Fluctuations in the magnitude of the seasonal variation may provide clues to its aetiology. Methods. All Finnish patients with schizophrenia born between 1950 and 1969 (N = 15892) were identified from two nationwide health-care registers. Their background demographic information was obtained from the Population Register Centre, which also provided monthly numbers of births in each municipality of Finland as multidimensional tables, with sex and year, month and place of birth as marginals. The incidence of schizophrenia was modelled using Poisson regression analysis, with sex, onset age, birth cohort, place of birth (urban/rural), trend and seasonal variation as explanatory variables. We also constructed a monthly time series and decomposed it into three components – seasonal, trend and remainder. Results. Seasonal variation of births among patients born in the 1950s, especially between 1955 and 1959, was marked, but decreased among patients born in the 1960s. No interaction between place of birth or sex and seasonal variation was observed. The incidence was higher among the rural-born than the urban-born, but declined more slowly among the urban-born than the rural-born. Conclusions. The intensity of the factor causing the seasonal variation of births in schizophrenia may be decreasing. Urban birth may be emerging as a risk factor for schizophrenia in Finland, as elsewhere.
Optimum transponder gain and power for fully loaded satellite

This correspondence derives expressions for the total satellite transponder power, transponder gain, and all the terminals' transmit links power taking into account all of the system parameters such as uplink and downlink satellite antenna gains, the ground terminals' receive gain and noise temperature, path losses and fades, data rates, required Eb over No, etc. Both orthogonal waveforms as well as self-interfering waveforms such as pseudonoise spread spectrum in presence of jamming are included.
Exposure to non-arsenic pesticides is associated with lymphoma among farmers in Spain

Objectives: To estimate the risk of lymphoma among farmers in Spain. Methods: This is a multicentre case control study conducted in Spain. Cases were subjects diagnosed with lymphoma according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification in four hospitals between 1998–2002. Hospital controls were frequency matched to the cases by sex, age, and centre. All subjects were interviewed about jobs ever held in lifetime for at least one year and the exposures in those jobs were recorded. The risk of lymphomas among subjects ever having had a job as a farmer was compared with all other occupations. Farmers were analysed according to the type of farming job performed: crop farming, animal farming, and general farming. Occupational exposure was summarised into 15 main categories: organic dust, radiation, contact with animals, PAH, non-arsenic pesticides (carbamates, organophosphates, chlorinated hydrocarbons, triazines and triazoles, phenoxy herbicides, chlorophenols, dibenzodioxin, and dibenzofuran), arsenic pesticides, contact with meat, contact with children, solvents, asbestos, soldering fumes, organic colourants, polychlorinated biphenyls, ethylene oxide, and hair dyes. Results: Although farmers were not at an increased risk of lymphoma as compared with all other occupations, farmers exposed to non-arsenic pesticides were found to be at increased risk of lymphoma (OR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.1 to 2). This increased risk was observed among farmers working exclusively either as crop farmers or as animal farmers (OR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.3 to 5.8). Risk was highest for exposure to non-arsenic pesticides for over nine years (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.8). Conclusions: Long term exposure to non-arsenic pesticides may induce lymphomagenesis among farmers.
Utility of pre- and post-MR arthrogram imaging of the shoulder: effect on patient care.

OBJECTIVE MR arthrogram imaging of the shoulder is considered more accurate in assessing shoulder pathology than conventional MRI. Arthrography is a minimally invasive procedure. However, most patients prefer to have conventional MRI rather than MR arthrogram imaging. We report the benefit of assessing pre-arthrogram conventional MRI, to determine whether an MR arthrogram is needed for further evaluation. METHODS 100 consecutive conventional shoulder MR and MR arthrography examinations performed on the same patients were reviewed retrospectively by independent reading of 2 musculoskeletal radiologists. Both conventional MR and MR arthrogram examinations were performed on each patient on the same day. Conventional MR and MR arthrogram examinations were assessed for labral tears and supraspinatus tendon tears. All patients went on to arthroscopy. RESULTS Of these 100 patients, 43 patients had superior labral anterior to posterior (SLAP) tears, 28 patients had posterior labral tears, 23 patients had anterior labral tears and 47 patients had full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tears on conventional MR examination reading by Reader 1. There were 42 SLAP tears, 26 posterior labral tears, 24 anterior labral tears and 47 full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tears on conventional MR examination read by Reader 2. On MR arthrogram examination, 51 patients had SLAP tears, 33 patients had posterior labral tears, 29 patients had anterior labral tears and 49 patients had full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tears on reading by Reader 1. On MR arthrogram examination, 50 patients had SLAP tears, 31 patients had posterior labral tears, 30 patients had anterior labral tears and 49 patients had full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tears read by Reader 2. MR arthrogram detected eight SLAP tears, five posterior labral tears, six anterior labral tears and two supraspinatus tendon tears not detected on conventional MR examination read by Reader 1. MR arthrogram detected eight SLAP tears, five posterior labral tears, six anterior labral tears and two supraspinatus tendon tears not detected on conventional MR examination read by Reader 2. 18 of the 21 patients with additional finding on MR arthrogram examination had normal appearing conventional MR examinations. CONCLUSION Use of pre- and post-MR arthrogram imaging may benefit patient care. When positive findings are demonstrated on MR examination, few additional findings are demonstrated on MR arthrogram examination. These patients may not need to proceed to MR arthrography. If the conventional MR examination is negative, then additional information may be obtained by proceeding to MR arthrography. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE When positive findings are demonstrated on MR examination, few additional findings are demonstrated on MR arthrogram examination. These patients may not need to proceed to MR arthrography. If the conventional MR examination is negative, then additional information may be obtained by proceeding to MR arthrography.
One-stage versus two-stage implant placement. A Cochrane systematic review of randomised controlled clinical trials.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate if a one-stage implant placement procedure is as effective as a two-stage procedure. DATA SOURCES The Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE and EMBASE, were searched and several journals were hand-searched with no language restriction up to January 2009. REVIEW METHODS All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of osseointegrated dental implants comparing the same dental implants placed according to one- versus two-stage procedures with a minimum follow up of 6 months after loading were eligible. Screening of studies, quality assessment and data extraction were conducted in duplicate. Outcome measures were: prosthesis failure, implant failures, radiographic marginal bone level changes, patient preference including aesthetics, aesthetics evaluated by clinicians and complications. RESULTS Five RCTs were identified and included reporting data on 239 patients in total. On a patient basis, rather than a per implant basis, the meta-analyses showed no statistically significant differences for prosthesis and implant failures, though trends, especially in fully edentulous patients, favoured two-stage (submerged) implants. CONCLUSIONS The number of patients included in the trials was too small to draw definitive conclusions. The one-stage approach might be preferable in partially edentulous patients since it avoids one surgical intervention and shortens treatment times, while a two-stage submerged approach could be indicated when an implant has not obtained an optimal primary stability, when barriers are used for guided tissue regeneration or when it is expected that removable temporary prostheses could transmit excessive forces on the penetrating abutments, especially in fully edentulous patients.
Abolishing mammography screening programs?

Biller-Andorno and Jüni (2014), in a widely debated commentary published in the May 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, accept the concept that mammography every 2 years from age 50 can decrease breast cancer mortality by 20%, that is, from five to four deaths per 1000 women over a 10-year period. Both the absolute and the relative risk of breast cancer death may vary depending on the baseline mortality rates in various populations and on the impact of screening mammography in reducing breast cancer mortality, which may well vary around the 20% estimate adopted. We accept, therefore, that there are still uncertainties in the absolute and relative impact of mammography screening on breast cancer mortality, given the different study schemes and mammography intervals, the differences in populations, and the continuous improvements in technology (Warner, 2011; Independent UK Panel on Breast Cancer Screening, 2012). We also agree on the observation that mammography has an appreciable impact on breast cancer mortality (Bosetti et al., 2012), but clearly a much smaller one on total mortality.
The Use of an Interspinous Implant in Conjunction With a Graded Facetectomy Procedure

Study Design. The range of motion (ROM) of lumbar cadaver spines was measured during flexion, extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending following graded facetectomies and implantation of an X STOP interspinous spacer implant. Objective. The study was performed undertaken to understand better the influence of the interspinous spacer implant on the kinematics of the lumbar spine following graded facetectomies. Summary of the Background Data. Lateral lumbar spinal stenosis is often treated with a unilateral or bilateral facetectomy procedure. Previous biomechanical research has shown that a facetectomy may increase the ROM during flexion and axial rotation. Methods. Seven cadaver spines (L2–L5) were tested in flexion, extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending, and the individual ROM of each motion segment was measured. Specimens were tested intact and following 3 graded facetectomies (i.e., unilateral medial facetectomy [UMF], unilateral total facetectomy [UTF], and bilateral total facetectomy [BTF]), with and without the X STOP. Results. A BTF caused a significant increase in ROM during flexion and axial rotation but not extension and lateral bending. The UMF and UTF did not affect the ROM during any of the 4 motions. The interspinous implant: (1) significantly decreased the flexion ROM for the intact, UMF, UTF, and BTF treatments; (2) significantly decreased the extension ROM for the intact, UMF, and BTF treatments but not the UTF (P < 0.13); (3) had no significant effect on the axial rotation ROM; and (4) significantly increased the lateral bending ROM for the UMF, UTF, and BTF treatments. Conclusions. The results suggest that the implant may be used in conjunction with a UMF or UTF. However, the X STOP should not be used in conjunction with BTF.
Global and gene‐specific promoter methylation changes are related to anti‐B[a]PDE‐DNA adduct levels and influence micronuclei levels in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon‐exposed individuals

We investigated the effect of chronic exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on DNA methylation states (percentage of methylated cytosines (%mC)) in Polish male nonsmoking coke‐oven workers and matched controls. Methylation states of gene‐specific promoters (p53, p16, HIC1 and IL‐6) and of Alu and LINE‐1 repetitive elements, as surrogate measures of global methylation, were quantified by pyrosequencing in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). DNA methylation was evaluated in relation to PAH exposure, assessed by urinary 1‐pyrenol and anti‐benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide (anti‐B[a]PDE)‐DNA adduct levels, a critical genetic damage from B[a]P. We also evaluated whether PAH‐induced DNA methylation states were in turn associated with micronuclei in PBLs, an indicator of chromosomal instability. © 2009 UICC
Can Intergroup Behaviors Be Emitted Out of Self-Determined Reasons? Testing the Role of Group Norms and Behavioral Congruence in the Internalization of Discrimination and Parity Behaviors

Bringing self-determination theory to understand why intergroup behaviors are emitted, two studies were conducted to investigate how group norms and individuals’ congruence with these norms predicted self-determination to pursue two types of intergroup behaviors (parity and discrimination). Experiment 1 (N = 97) manipulated ingroup norms in favor of parity versus of discrimination and assessed the behavior participants displayed (congruent or incongruent with the norm) and their motivations for emitting this behavior. The manipulated norms significantly influenced group members’ behaviors. When the ingroup norm was parity, participants whose behavior was congruent with this norm reported more self-determination to emit this behavior. When the ingroup norm was prodiscrimination, participants whose behavior was congruent with this norm were less self-determined. Experiment 2 (N = 139) replicated and extended these findings in a more conflictual intergroup setting. Results are discussed in light of motivational and intergroup theories.
Thirty-month follow-up of sub-optimal responders to multiple treatments with ivermectin, in two onchocerciasis-endemic foci in Ghana

Abstract The pathogenesis of the sub-optimal response of Onchocerca volvulus to ivermectin was investigated in a 30-month follow-up of 28 individuals who, in a previous study, had been found to show a sub-optimal (N = 15) or adequate response (N = 13) to multiple treatments with the drug. Verbal informed consent was obtained before each subject was given a general clinical and ocular examination. Skin snips were taken from both iliac crests and both calves. Seventeen nodule carriers were hospitalized for nodulectomy. Adult worms were harvested, embryogrammes were constructed and all developmental stages were counted; degenerate, stretched microfilariae were noted separately. All the subjects were in good general health and all except one had received at least one additional treatment with ivermectin since the earlier study. A large proportion of the adult female worms in 10 out of the 11 sub-optimal responders who were nodule carriers were in full embryonic production but most of the stretched microfilariae they carried were degenerate. This picture is similar to that found in adult worms exposed to the first dose of ivermectin. In one subject who had no viable worms in his nodules, the existence of occult but actively reproductive worms was inferred from the high level of microfilaridermia observed less than 12 months after treatment. These observations confirm the existence of populations of adult female O. volvulus that respond poorly to repeated doses of ivermectin. The use of suramin in the treatment of the sub-optimal responders is discussed.