Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rotator cuff tears: correlation between geometric tear patterns on MRI and arthroscopy and pre- and postoperative clinical findings

Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered to be the best non-invasive procedure for the evaluation of rotator cuff (RC) tendon tears. Burkhart’s classification is a geometric classification of full-thickness RC tears on MRI. Purpose To correlate MRI and arthroscopic geometric full-thickness RC tears according to the Burkhart’s classification with pre- and postoperative clinical findings. Material and Methods Patients who underwent arthroscopic RC repair between 2006 and 2010 were retrospectively evaluated. Preoperative MRI and arthroscopic surgical reports were reviewed for tear geometry (Burkhart’s) by three (1 radiologist, 2 surgeons) and two (surgeons) readers. MRIs were also evaluated for tear size and change of tear size in successive sagittal sections and for muscle mass and fatty infiltration. Clinical examinations were performed preoperatively and at least 12 months afterwards. Postoperative function questionnaires were filled in by the patients. Results Forty-six patients (35 men, 11 women; mean age, 57 years; range, 41–72 years) were evaluated. Tears depicted on MRIs were classified as crescent in 11 patients (24%), longitudinal in three (6.5%), massive contracted in 29 (63%), and cuff arthropathy in three (6.5%). Muscle changes were noted almost exclusively in patients with massive tears and cuff arthropathy (16/32 patients, P = 0.013). MRIs and arthroscopic geometric classifications were in close agreement. Tear type did not correlate with pre- and postoperative physical examination or with postoperative clinical questionnaires scores. Conclusion Geometric RC tear characterizations on preoperative MRIs were closely associated with arthroscopic findings. Postoperative results were not affected by the geometric pattern of the tears.
Sexual dimorphisms of mRNA and miRNA in human/murine heart disease

Background Sexual dimorphisms are well recognized in various cardiac diseases such as ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Thorough understanding of the underlying genetic programs is crucial to optimize treatment strategies specified for each gender. By performing meta-analysis and microarray analysis, we sought to comprehensively characterize the sexual dimorphisms in the healthy and diseased heart at the level of both mRNA and miRNA transcriptome. Results Existing mRNA microarray data of both mouse and human heart were integrated, identifying dozens/ hundreds of sexually dimorphic genes in healthy heart, ICM, HCM, and DCM. These sexually dimorphic genes overrepresented gene ontologies (GOs) important for cardiac homeostasis. Further, microarray of miRNA, isolated from mouse sham left ventricle (LV) (n = 6 & n = 5 for male & female) and chronic MI LV (n = 19 & n = 19) and from human normal LV (n = 6 & n = 6) and ICM LV (n = 4 & n = 5), was conducted. This revealed that 13 mouse miRNAs are sexually dimorphic in MI and 6 in normal heart. In human, 3 miRNAs were sexually dimorphic in ICM and 15 in normal heart. These data revealed miRNA-mRNA networks that operate in a sexually-biased fashion. Conclusions mRNA and miRNA transcriptome of normal and disease heart show significant sex differences, which might impact the cardiac homeostasis. Together this study provides the first comprehensive picture of the genome-wide program underlying the heart sexual dimorphisms, laying the foundation for gender specific treatment strategies.
Conventional taxonomy of lactobacilli surviving radurization of meat.

All of the 113 catalase-negative, Gram-positive, rod-shaped strains isolated from radurized minced beef (5 kGy) were homofermentative, non-thermophilic, and belonged to the sub-genus Streptobacterium. The majority of the strains (100) were identified as Lactobacillus sake. These were divided into four sub-groups based on their sugar fermentation pattern: group IA1 (melibiose (+), maltose (-), amygdalin (-), 76 strains); group IA2 (melibiose (+), maltose (-), amygdalin (+), 14 strains); group IB1 (melibiose (+), maltose (+), amygdalin (+), four strains); group IB2 (melibiose (+), maltose (+), amygdalin (-), six strains). Of the remaining strains, two produced L(+)-lactic acid and were identified as L. farciminis, three were identified as L. curvatus and eight showed characteristics of both L. sake and L. curvatus and were designated 'L. sake/curvatus. ' With one exception, all strains were aciduric and relatively insensitive to the chemical preservatives tested. Most L. sake strains produced significant amounts of H2O2. Electron microscopy confirmed a possible relationship between the thickness of the cells and radiation resistance. The problems and limitations of this type of taxonomic study and possible reasons for the predominance of L. sake species in radurized meat are discussed.
The Impacts of Service Provider Name, Ethnicity, and Menu Information on Perceived Authenticity and Behaviors

Tangible cues are critical indicators of customer perceptions of authenticity and behavioral intentions. Few studies examine multiple dimensions of authenticity, the influence of language in service settings, and the effects of the service provider appearance. This research addresses these gaps by presenting two between-subjects experimental design studies, the first examines the tangible cues of menu presentation (menu item name and item description), and the second examines the tangible cues of the employee (ethnicity and name). Both measure customer perceptions of food, culture, and employee authenticity, customer revisit intentions, and willingness to pay more in an ethnic restaurant. Results find that using an ethnic menu name and possessing employees of referent ethnic origin have the largest impacts on customer perceptions of authenticity. Additionally, food authenticity has the largest impact on revisit intention and culture and employee authenticity have the largest impact on willingness to pay more.
Normal serum pepsinogen I levels in adults: A population‐based study with special reference to Helicobacter pylori infection and parietal cell antibodies

Objective. Low serum pepsinogen I (PG I) values are common in subjects with advanced corpus atrophy with or without parietal cell antibodies (PCA). Elevated values are usual during Helicobacter pylori infection. Material and methods. PG I levels were determined in two randomly selected cross‐sectional adult population samples using the Gastroset PGI test kits. The sera (408 in 1973 and 504 in 1994), tested earlier for H. pylori infection and now for PCA, represented subjects living in Vammala, Finland. Results. In the PCA‐negative population, the mean (±SD) PG I level was significantly higher in men than in women among both H. pylori‐negative (88.13±34.16 µg/l versus 72.43±29.31 µg/l; p<0.0001) and H. pylori‐positive (110.50±50.59 µg/l, versus 97.74±44.82 µg/l, p<0.0001) subjects; the difference between all H. pylori‐positive and ‐negative subjects was also significant (p<0.001). In the 10‐year age groups, age had no impact on the mean PG I levels in H. pylori‐negative subjects (p = 0.860). In the PCA‐positive population, the 10 H. pylori‐positive subjects had higher mean PG I levels (112.96±53.62 µg/l) than the 13 H. pylori‐negative subjects (32.57±27.59 µg/l; p = 0.002); the latter mean was also significantly lower than that of the PCA‐ and H. pylori‐negative subjects (80.08±32.69 µg/l; p<0.0001). Conclusions. Men had higher normal PG I values than women, but there was no significant variation by age. H. pylori infection was associated with elevated PG I levels and a small decrease with increasing age. Non‐infected PCA‐positive subjects showed the lowest mean PG I level.
From the Commodification to the Corporatization of Care: European Perspectives and Debates

Abstract: Recent developments in western Europe show that for-profit companies of different sizes, including large multinational firms, are increasingly investing in care and buying significant shares within the ongoing privatization of national health and care systems. Reflecting upon these developments, this article argues that the current reconfiguration of care is driven not only by processes of commodification and marketization but also by complex mechanisms of “corporatization. ” To substantiate this argument, we undertake an overview of the transformations in elder and childcare in some European countries and provide a “typology of care” in order to clarify our concept of care corporatization.
The effect of tightened hearing protection regulations on military noise-induced tinnitus

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of tightened hearing protection regulations on tinnitus in the Finnish Defence Forces. The initial study group comprised 252 officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs), of which 229 were included in the final study group. Subjective symptoms of tinnitus and audiometric test results for these officers and NCOs examined before retirement, from 1984 to 1986 (Period I), and 2003 to 2005 (Period II), were reviewed. Changes in tinnitus reports between the two time periods, during which regulations had been revised, were investigated. Prevalence of tinnitus showed a decline both in officers (from 68% to 63%) and in NCOs (from 76% to 72%) between the two study periods, in accordance with tightened hearing protection regulations. The Cox regression analysis showed a significantly decreased hazard ratio for constant or disturbing tinnitus for Period II. Tinnitus prevalence, especially constant or disturbing tinnitus, in the Finnish Defence Forces was diminished by tightened hearing protection regulations. Tinnitus might be more persistent than hearing loss and does not necessarily improve in direct relation to hearing loss after protective measures.
The regulatory characteristics of yeast fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase confer only a small selective advantage

The question of how the loss of regulatory mechanisms for a metabolic enzyme would affect the fitness of the corresponding organism has been addressed. For this, the fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FbPase) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been taken as a model. Yeast strains in which different controls on FbPase (catabolite repression and inactivation; inhibition by fructose-2,6-bisphosphate and AMP) have been removed have been constructed. These strains express during growth on glucose either the native yeast FbPase, the Escherichia coli FbPase which is insensitive to inhibition by fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, or a mutated E. coli FbPase with low sensitivity to AMP. Expression of the heterologous FbPases increases the fermentation rate of the yeast and its generation time, while it decreases its growth yield. In the strain containing high levels of an unregulated bacterial FbPase, cycling between fructose-6-phosphate and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate reaches 14%. It is shown that the regulatory mechanisms of FbPase provide a slight but definite competitive advantage during growth in mixed cultures.
Adolescent Conflict Appraisals Moderate the Link Between Marital Conflict and Physiological Stress Reactivity

The goal of this study was to advance understanding of how adolescent conflict appraisals contribute uniquely, and in combination with interparental conflict behavior, to individual differences in adolescent physiological reactivity. Saliva samples were collected from 153 adolescents (52% female; ages 10-17 years) before and after the Trier Social Stress Test. Saliva was assayed for cortisol and alpha-amylase. Results revealed interactive effects between marital conflict and conflict appraisals. For youth who appraised parental conflict negatively (particularly as threatening), negative marital conflict predicted dampened reactivity; for youth who appraised parental conflict less negatively, negative marital conflict predicted heightened reactivity. These findings support the notion that the family context and youth appraisals of family relationships are linked with individual differences in biological sensitivity to context.
Observation of the closing of individual hydrogen bonds during TFE–induced helix formation in a peptide

Helix formation of an S‐peptide analog, comprising the first 20 residues of Ribonuclease A and two additional N‐terminal residues, was studied by measuring hydrogen bond (H‐bond) h3JNC′ scalar couplings as a function of 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol (TFE) concentration. The h3JNC′ couplings give direct evidence for the closing of individual backbone N‐H•••O = C H‐bonds during the TFE‐induced formation of secondary structure. Whereas no h3JNC′ correlations could be detected without TFE, α‐helical (i,i +4) H‐bond correlations were observed for the amides of residues A5 to M15 in the presence of TFE. The analysis of individual coupling constants indicates that α‐helix formation starts at the center of the S‐peptide around residue E11 and proceeds gradually from there to both peptide ends as the TFE concentration is increased. At 60% to 90% TFE, well‐formed α‐helical H‐bonds were observed for the amides hydrogens of residues K9 to Q13, whereas H‐bonds of residues T5 to A8, H14, and M15 are affected by fraying. No intramolecular backbone H‐bonds are present at and beyond the putative helix stop signal D16. As the h3JNC′ constants represent ensemble averages and the dependence of h3JNC′ on H‐bond lengths is very steep, the size of the individual h3JNC′ coupling constants can be used as a measure for the population of a closed H‐bond. These individual populations are in agreement with results derived from the Lifson‐Roig theory for coil‐to‐helix transitions. The present work shows that the closing of individual H‐bonds during TFE‐induced helix formation can be monitored by changes in the size of H‐bond scalar couplings.
Speed of facial affect intensity recognition as an endophenotype of first-episode psychosis and associated limbic-cortical grey matter systems

Background Psychotic disorders are highly heritable such that the unaffected relatives of patients may manifest characteristics, or endophenotypes, that are more closely related to risk genes than the overt clinical condition. Facial affect processing is dependent on a distributed cortico-limbic network that is disrupted in psychosis. This study assessed facial affect processing and related brain structure as a candidate endophenotype of first-episode psychosis (FEP). Method Three samples comprising 30 FEP patients, 30 of their first-degree relatives and 31 unrelated healthy controls underwent assessment of facial affect processing and structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) data. Multivariate analysis (partial least squares, PLS) was used to identify a grey matter (GM) system in which anatomical variation was associated with variation in facial affect processing speed. Results The groups did not differ in their accuracy of facial affect intensity rating but differed significantly in speed of response, with controls responding faster than relatives, who responded faster than patients. Within the control group, variation in speed of affect processing was significantly associated with variation of GM density in amygdala, lateral temporal cortex, frontal cortex and cerebellum. However, this association between cortico-limbic GM density and speed of facial affect processing was absent in patients and their relatives. Conclusions Speed of facial affect processing presents as a candidate endophenotype of FEP. The normal association between speed of facial affect processing and cortico-limbic GM variation was disrupted in FEP patients and their relatives.
Globalization and Labor Market Dynamics

Historically, the trade research field has usually ignored dynamic adjustment of workers, but a recent wave of work has developed a rich set of theoretical and empirical tools to analyze this factor. Empirical approaches have ranged from reduced-form regressions to the structural estimation of underlying parameters, which is necessary to understand welfare effects. A major distinction is that between models that do and those that do not allow for unobserved heterogeneity across workers; these models are useful for different purposes. Consistent findings across methods and countries indicate that costs of switching sectors and occupations are high and that both switching costs and option value are crucial in computing the welfare effects of globalization for workers.
An Approach to measuring Integrated Care within a Maternity Care System: Experiences from the Maternity Care Network Study and the Dutch Birth Centre Study

Introduction: Integrated care is considered to be a means to reduce costs, improve the quality of care and generate better patient outcomes. At present, little is known about integrated care in maternity care systems. We developed questionnaires to examine integrated care in two different settings, using the taxonomy of the Rainbow Model of Integrated Care. The aim of this study was to explore the validity of these questionnaires. Methods: We used data collected between 2013 and 2015 from two studies: the Maternity Care Network Study (634 respondents) and the Dutch Birth Centre Study (56 respondents). We assessed the feasibility, discriminative validity, and reliability of the questionnaires. Results: Both questionnaires showed good feasibility (overall missing rate < 20%) and reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient > 0.70). Between-subgroups post-hoc comparisons showed statistically significant differences on integration profiles between regional networks (on all items, dimensions of integration and total integration score) and birth centres (on 50% of the items and dimensions of integration). Discussion: Both questionnaires are feasible and can discriminate between sites with different integration profiles in The Netherlands. They offer an opportunity to better understand integrated care as one step in understanding the complexity of the concept.
Impact of Sustainable Environmental Expenditures Policy on Air Pollution Reduction, During European Integration Framework

Pursuant to the growth of society, against the boosting of scientific and technological progress, also arises the negative effect of pollution acceleration. In this context, we relate to risks that imply the growth of pollution, especially against nuisance air pollution increase (CO, SO2, NO etc.) with major implications on the growth of greenhouse effect, the melting of the ice fields, respectively the pollution of the soil with nitrates from fertilizers intensively used in agriculture. Our study is up-to-date, as pursuant to the ONU Conference from Paris (France 2015, Conference on Climate Changes), they reached an agreement and the adopted text admits the menace of climate modifications is far more important than previously acknowledged and engages the participants to reduce their pollutant emissions. The researchers’ current concerns focus on studying the effects of the redistribution of financial resources obtained by practising the ‘green’ fiscal policy on dependent variables. Observing them, we integrate the respective variables into complex models analysed by multiple regression (both standard and robust) and the fixed effects panel on 20 European countries which also reflect the different effects on the environmental policy and the expenses it incurred. The main purpose of the analysis we aim to accomplish is the impact of the policy for environment expenditure tenable within the European framework on against nuisance air pollution attenuation. The statistical analysis aims at identifying these effects by means of regression equations (OLS), robust regression (M method), fixed and random effects, using panel data from 18 EU countries, as well as Switzerland and Turkey due to their position in relation to the community block; we will analyse the period between 1995-2013. Further to the application of multiple regression statistical methods (OLS and robust M), our results show that teimiqgdp expenses played a major role in the reduction of carbon monoxide. These are the total investments made in the mining sector; when these expenses were raised by 1% of the GDP value, there was a decrease of 11 628.3 thousand tons Cot at the level of the European countries analysed, according to the result of the OLS analysis, based on the robust M estimation.
Continuous Passive Motion After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Study

ObjectiveContinuous passive motion (CPM) has been shown to increase significantly the amount of knee flexion for patients with total knee arthroplasty in the acute care hospital. Whether there is any additional benefit to using CPM for these patients who are transferred to a rehabilitation hospital is not known. There have been no prospective, randomized, controlled studies in this area. DesignFifty-one such patients on an inpatient rehabilitation service were randomly assigned to two groups. Group 1 (n = 23) received CPM for 5 consecutive hours per day plus physical therapy, whereas group 2 (n = 28) received only physical therapy. Knee flexion was measured by a blinded physical therapist on admission, on the third and seventh days of hospitalization, and at the time of discharge. ResultsThe results indicated no significant difference in passive range of motion between group 1 and group 2. Patients in group 1 achieved an average increase in passive range of motion of 16 degrees, whereas those in group 2 achieved an average of 19 degrees (P = 0.33). ConclusionAlthough power analysis indicated the need for differences in results for 32 patients per group to achieve significance, the difference between the two groups suggested neither statistical nor clinical significance. We concluded that the use of CPM in the rehabilitation hospital is likely of no added benefit to patients admitted after single total-knee replacement.
Rictor/mTORC2 regulates blood‐testis barrier dynamics via its effects on gap junction communications and actin filament network

In the mammalian testis, coexisting tight junctions (TJs), basal ectoplasmic specializations, and gap junctions (GJs), together with desmosomes near the basement membrane, constitute the blood‐testis barrier (BTB). The most notable feature of the BTB, however, is the extensive network of actin filament bundles, which makes it one of the tightest blood‐tissue barriers. The BTB undergoes restructuring to facilitate the transit of preleptotene spermatocytes at stage VIII‐IX of the epithelial cycle. Thus, the F‐actin network at the BTB undergoes cyclic reorganization via a yet‐to‐be explored mechanism. Rictor, the key component of mTORC2 that is known to regulate actin cytoskeleton, was shown to express stage‐specifically at the BTB in the seminiferous epithelium. Its expression was down‐regulated at the BTB in stage VIII‐IX tubules, coinciding with BTB restructuring at these stages. Using an in vivo model, a down‐regulation of rictor at the BTB was also detected during adjudin‐induced BTB disruption, illustrating rictor expression is positively correlated with the status of the BTB integrity. Indeed, the knockdown of rictor by RNAi was found to perturb the Sertoli cell TJ‐barrier function in vitro and the BTB integrity in vivo. This loss of barrier function was accompanied by changes in F‐actin organization at the Sertoli cell BTB in vitro and in vivo, associated with a loss of interaction between actin and α‐catenin or ZO‐1. Rictor knockdown by RNAi was also found to impede Sertoli cell‐cell GJ communication, disrupting protein distribution (e.g., occludin, ZO‐1) at the BTB, illustrating that rictor is a crucial BTB regulator. —Mok, K. , Mruk, D. D. , Lee, W. M. , Cheng, C. Y. Rictor/mTORC2 regulates blood‐testis barrier dynamics viaits effects on gap junction communications and actin filament network. FASEB J. 27, 1137–1152 (2013). www.fasebj. org