Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In vivo MRI of fresh stored osteochondral allograft transplantation with delayed gadolinium‐enhanced MRI of cartilage: Protocol considerations and recommendations

The protocol for delayed gadolinium‐enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC) was adapted for the evaluation of transplanted osteochondral allograft cartilage. Eight patients with focal grade 4 cartilage defects of the femoral condyle were treated with single cylindrical osteochondral allografts. At 1 and 2 years, dGEMRIC image sequences were acquired and regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn in repair and native control cartilage. Mean T1 values of region of interest were used to calculate established dGEMRIC metrics. The correlation was measured between the ΔR1 and R1‐Post metrics for repair and native cartilage. T1 times were measured in deep and superficial zones of cartilage. A strong correlation was identified between full‐thickness, deep, and superficial ΔR1 and R1‐Post values for native cartilage and repair cartilage for all years (range: 0.893–1.0). The mean T1 times and ΔR1 rate between deep and superficial regions of articular cartilage were statistically different for all regions of the distal femora analyzed at 1 year and 2 years after osteochondral allograft transplantation (P < 0.05). The dGEMRIC pre‐Gadolinium scan is unnecessary when evaluating transplanted osteochondral allograft cartilage. The observation of stratified T1 and ΔR1 values indicates a need to re‐evaluate the methodology behind the placement of region of interest in dGEMRIC. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Position tracking of a hexacopter using a geometric backstepping control law - Experimental results

In this paper a position tracking controller for a hexacopter is presented. The controller design exploits the fact that for position tracking, the control of the whole attitude is not needed, but only the control of the body-fixed z-axis. This results in a position controller which is independent of the heading controller. This is achieved by introducing the thrust vector as a system's state, i.e. using the body-fixed z-axis as a reduced attitude parameter and extending the thrust input T dynamically. This parameter choice also avoids drawbacks of local attitude parameterizations like singularities or unwinding and thus maximizes the flight envelope. The position controller is designed using a three-step backstepping control law, such that no time-scale separation is needed. The performance of the controller is demonstrated in outdoor flight tests.
Prenatal smoking and childhood behavior problems: is the association mediated by birth weight?

Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with both reduced birth weight and adverse neurobehavioral outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate longitudinal associations between maternal smoking during pregnancy and childhood behavioral outcomes, and to determine the role of birth weight in mediating such associations. The study included 489 mother–child pairs. Prenatal exposures were assessed via maternal interviews conducted on average 1 year after delivery and child behavior assessments were completed at 5–12 years of age using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Teacher Report Form (TRF). Maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with externalizing and total behavior problems according to both mother and teacher report. Maternal smoking was also associated with the following percentage increases in scores: 41% (CBCL) and 44% (TRF) for aggressive behavior and 65% (CBCL) and 47% (TRF) for attention problems. Associations with behavior problems were attenuated or no longer observed for mothers that quit smoking in early pregnancy. The proportion of the total effect of maternal smoking on behavioral outcomes explained by differences in birth weight was small and ranged from 6.6% for externalizing behavior on the CBCL to 20.1% for rule-breaking behavior on the CBCL. Our results suggest that birth weight differences explain only a small proportion of the magnitude of association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and selected behavioral outcomes.
Reconstruction of promoter activity statistics from reporter protein population snapshot data

A critical step in the analysis of the dynamics of gene expression and regulation from protein reporter data is the reconstruction of promoter activity. While devoted significant attention in a population-average setting, the problem has not been addressed in much detail for stochastic models and individual cell data. In this work we address the reconstruction of time profiles of promoter activity statistics, such as population mean and variance, from the corresponding statistics of reporter protein abundance in cell samples collected at subsequent times. Based on the so-called random telegraph model of gene expression, we address the problem both in terms of structural and practical identifiability of the model parameters and of the direct reconstruction of promoter activity mean and variance profiles via regularized deconvolution, providing analysis tools, theoretical results and application of our methods to the in silico analysis of a relevant example.
Formulating and Optimizing a Novel Biochar-Based Fertilizer for Simultaneous Slow-Release of Nitrogen and Immobilization of Cadmium

This study aimed to develop and optimize a novel biochar-based fertilizer composed of rice husk biochar and urea–hydrogen peroxide (UHP), which can simultaneously slowly release nitrogen and immobilize cadmium (Cd). Response surface methodology (RSM) was adopted to optimize the fertilizer formulation with the lowest nitrogen release rate. Under the optimized conditions, the cumulative nitrogen release rate of the biochar-based fertilizer was 17.63%, which was significantly lower than that of ordinary fertilizer. Elementary analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy proved that UHP attached to the porous structures of the biochar. The adsorption test showed that the adsorption of Cd onto biochar-based fertilizer quickly reached equilibrium with an equilibrium adsorbing quantity (Qe) of 6.3279 mg·g−1 with an initial concentration of 10 mg·L−1. Compared to original biochar, the Cd immobilization ability of biochar-based fertilizer was significantly better. The adsorption of Cd on biochar-based fertilizer is mainly based on a monolayer adsorption behavior. Finally, improved crop growth was demonstrated by pot experiments, which showed a significant increase in the biomass of cabbage. The concept and findings presented in this study may be used as references in developing a novel biochar-based fertilizer for simultaneously enhancing crop yield and reducing environmental risk.
Age-dependent effects on the treatment response of natalizumab in MS patients

Background: Natalizumab is approved for treatment of active forms of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) based on a pivotal phase III study comprising patients aged 18–50 years. The effect of natalizumab has not been specifically studied in older patients. Objective: We analyzed age-dependent effects on treatment-related outcome measures in 1872 patients, 189 of whom were aged 50 or more, included in the Swedish post-marketing natalizumab surveillance program. Methods: In three MS centers registry data for patients aged >50 years were validated. Results: At baseline older patients had longer disease duration, higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and lower Symbol Digit Modality Test (SDMT) scores than younger patients. The influence from natalizumab on outcome measures was significantly reduced and 18.7% of patients >50 years stopped treatment for lack of effect compared to 7.7% in the younger age group. At baseline, the cerebrospinal fluid levels of the chemokine CXCL13 and the leukocyte cell count were negatively correlated with age in a smaller subgroup of patients. Conclusion: These results were in agreement with previous findings suggesting that inflammation is more pronounced in younger patients and therefore the beneficial effects of potent anti-inflammatory treatments are subsiding with older ages.
Risk Shifting and Corporate Pension Plans: Evidence from a Natural Experiment

Using a natural experiment to identify the causal effect of an increase in default risk on firm actions, I find little evidence managers shift risk to corporate pension plans following an exogenous shock to the firm’s long-term liabilities. The finding is robust to focusing on firms where the incentive to engage in risk shifting is arguably the greatest, such as financially vulnerable firms and firms with fewer agency conflicts. This study casts doubt on the risk-shifting hypothesis and shows managers do not take risk-shifting actions that would increase shareholder value even when those actions pose little threat to managerial utility.
Characterization of an in vitro-stimulated, Cryptococcus neoformans-specific second-order suppressor T cell and its precursor

Using a cryptococcal culture filtrate antigen (CneF) in a murine model, we have demonstrated previously that a cascade of Cryptococcus neoformans-specific suppressor T cells and soluble factors function in suppressing the cryptococcal delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response. In addition, we have successfully hybridized the C. neoformans-specific, first-order T-suppressor (Ts1) cell and have established that the culture supernatant (hTsF1) from this hybridoma induces second-order T-suppressor (Ts2) cells in vivo. Here we report the in vitro induction of expression-phase suppressor cells. The suppressor cells were induced by culturing nylon wool-nonadherent splenic cells from naive mice with hTsF1 in the absence of CneF. Nylon wool-nonadherent splenic cells similarly cultured with supernatants from the BW5147 thymoma cells, the fusion partners of the hybridoma, did not significantly suppress the cryptococcal DTH response. The suppressor cells were designated Ts2 cells based on their similarities in function, specificity, and phenotype, i.e. L3T4-, Lyt-2+, and I-J+, to the in vivo-induced Ts2 cells. By employing the in vitro culture technique, we demonstrated that the precursors of the functional Ts2 cells were L3T4- Lyt-1-2+ I-J- cells. The induction of Ts2 cells was not associated with [3H]thymidine incorporation; therefore, we concluded that hTsF1 induces the Lyt-2+ I-J- cells to differentiate into Lyt-2+ I-J+ functional Ts2 cells without a significant amount of proliferation. From the results of this study, a better understanding of the processes involved in the regulation of the DTH response to CneF was achieved. The in vitro culture technique will allow for further detailed studies of the interactions between the various cell populations and the Ts1 cell-derived soluble factor during the induction of Ts2 cells.
Actions of Halothane, Isoflurane, and Enflurane on the Regional Action Potential Characteristics of Canine Purkinje Fibers

The effects of halothane, isoflurane, and enflurane on proximal (false tendon) and distal (apical) canine Purkinje fibers were measured in vitro to assess their comparative effects on fibers exhibiting characteristically long (proximal) and short (distal) action potential duration. High- and low-dose anesthetic effects were evaluated in three groups of six left ventricular preparations and were compared with the changes occurring at identical times in six control preparations using analysis of variance with repeated measures. Under control conditions in all groups, the action potential duration, measured at 90% repolarization (APD90, mean ± sem), of proximal fibers was longer than that of distal fibers (320 ± 16 vs 252 ± 11 ms, P ≤ 0.01). Halothane (0.3 and 0.7 mM), isoflurane (0.4 and 0.8 mM), and enflurane (0.6 and 1.0 mM) produced a dose-dependent decrease (P ≤ 0.01) of proximal fiber APD90, with less (P ≤ 0.01) change of distal fiber APD, and reduced (P ≤ 0.05) regional differences of APD90, at the higher dose. The decreases of proximal fiber APD90, were greater (P ≤ 0.01) for 1.0 mM (1.7 MAC) enflurane (−66 ± 7 ms) and 0.8 mM (3.0 MAC) isoflurane (−69 ± 9 ms) than for 0.7 mM (2.9 MAC) halothane (−33 ± 8 ms). We conclude that the regional actions of anesthetics on Purkinje fiber repolarization may influence conduction during the relative refractory period und the occurrence of arrhythmias associated with isparity of regional refractory characteristics in the ventricular conduction system.
MeRLiN: Exploiting dynamic instruction behavior for fast and accurate microarchitecture level reliability assessment

Early reliability assessment of hardware structures using microarchitecture level simulators can effectively guide major error protection decisions in microprocessor design. Statistical fault injection on microarchitectural structures modeled in performance simulators is an accurate method to measure their Architectural Vulnerability Factor (AVF) but requires excessively long campaigns to obtain high statistical significance. We propose MeRLiN1, a methodology to boost microarchitecture level injection-based reliability assessment by several orders of magnitude and keep the accuracy of the assessment unaffected even for large injection campaigns with very high statistical significance. The core of MeRLiN is the grouping of faults of an initial list in equivalent classes. All faults in the same group target equivalent vulnerable intervals of program execution ending up to the same static instruction that reads the faulty entries. Faults in the same group occur in different times and entries of a structure and it is extremely likely that they all have the same effect in program execution; thus, fault injection is performed only on a few representatives from each group. We evaluate MeRLiN for different sizes of the physical register file, the store queue and the first level data cache of a contemporary microarchitecture running MiBench and SPEC CPU2006 benchmarks. For all our experiments, MeRLiN is from 2 to 3 orders of magnitude faster than an extremely high statistical significant injection campaign, reporting the same reliability measurements with negligible loss of accuracy. Finally, we theoretically analyze MeRLiN's statistical behavior to further justify its accuracy.
Rapidly growing mycobacterial infections after pedicures.

BACKGROUND Rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) can cause a variety of cutaneous and systemic diseases. The causative organisms are typically Mycobacterium fortuitum or Mycobacterium chelonae (also known as Mycobacterium abscessus). Primary cutaneous lesions may develop after a variable latent period, from weeks to several months, and usually result from direct inoculation after trauma, from injections, or during surgery via contaminated medical instruments. Recently, investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga, and the California Department of Health Services, Berkeley, documented a large, unprecedented outbreak of community-acquired RGM infection, during which more than 100 patrons of a northern California nail salon contracted furunculosis in their legs as a result of exposure to whirlpool footbaths that were contaminated with M fortuitum. OBSERVATIONS We report the clinical and epidemiological findings in 3 cases of lower extremity RGM infections that occurred after similar whirlpool footbath exposure at several different nail salons in southern California. These infections typically presented as recurrent furunculosis, causing considerable morbidity as a result of scarring, delayed diagnosis, and the need for long-term polymicrobial therapy. CONCLUSIONS Rapidly growing mycobacterial infections related to pedicures may continue to occur in a sporadic fashion. Clinicians should consider the possibility of RGM infection and inquire about recent pedicures in a patient with recurrent lower extremity furunculosis and abscesses that are unresponsive to conventional antibiotic therapy.
Straelensiosis in dogs: a newly described nodular dermatitis induced by Straelensia cynotis

A distinctive nodular dermatitis induced by Straelensia cynotis, a newly described trombidioid larval mite which resides in hair follicles, was identified in 12 dogs living in France. They all had scattered, small (1 to 3 mm in diameter), pale, firm skin nodules, variable in distribution but always affecting the dorsal regions of the head and trunk; they were distributed over the whole body of seven of the dogs. The animals were otherwise healthy except for three severely infested fox terriers which had a decreased appetite, were lethargic, and whose skin nodules were painful to the touch. The nodules did not induce pruritus. The lesions usually began as erythematous papules which developed into firm pale nodules. The dermatitis resolved within two to 12 months. Topical acaricides were ineffective but the skin nodules regressed after treatments with systemic avermectins. Histologically, each nodule was composed of a dilated follicular ostium containing a well-preserved larval mite, and showed a pseudoepitheliomatous follicular hyperplasia and an abundant perifollicular mucinosis. The larvae were identified as belonging to the genus Straelensia (Acari: Leeuwenhoekiidae). It was clearly established that the three fox terriers had become infested within a fox's den. The nymphs and adults of this species of mite are believed to live in foxes' dens; foxes are considered to be the natural host for the larval stage, and dogs a permissive but occasional host.
Conserved Serine/Threonine Kinase Encoded by CBK1 Regulates Expression of Several Hypha-Associated Transcripts and Genes Encoding Cell Wall Proteins in Candida albicans

ABSTRACT The opportunistic fungal pathogen, Candida albicans, is reported to have several potential virulence factors. A potentially significant factor is the ability to undergo morphological transition from yeast to hypha. This alteration of form is accompanied by many changes within the cell, including alterations in gene expression and cell wall composition. We have isolated a gene that encodes a highly conserved serine/threonine kinase that appears to be involved in the regulation of proteins associated with the cell wall. We have assigned the designation CBK1 (cell wall biosynthesis kinase 1) to this gene. Mutants lacking CBK1 form large aggregates of round cells under all growth conditions and lack the ability to undergo morphological differentiation. Additionally, these mutants show an altered pattern of expression of several transcripts encoding proteins associated with the cell wall. The results suggest that the kinase encoded by CBK1 plays a general role in the maintenance and alteration of the cell wall of C. albicans in all morphologies.
Role of AT2 Receptors in the Cardioprotective Effect of AT1 Antagonists in Mice

Angiotensin II (Ang II) acts mainly on two receptor subtypes: AT1 and AT2. Most of the known biological actions of Ang II are mediated by AT1 receptors; however, the role of AT2 receptors remains unclear. We tested the hypothesis that the cardioprotective effects of AT1 receptor antagonists (AT1-ant) after myocardial infarction (MI) are partially mediated by activation of AT2 receptors; thus in AT2 receptor gene knockout mice (AT2−/Y), the effect of AT1-ant will be diminished or absent. MI was induced by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. Four weeks later, AT2−/Y and their wild-type littermates (AT2+/Y) were started on vehicle, AT1-ant (valsartan, 50 mg/kg per day), or ACE inhibitor (enalapril, 20 mg/kg per day) for 20 weeks. Basal blood pressure and cardiac function as well as remodeling after MI did not differ between AT2+/Y and AT2−/Y. AT1-ant increased ejection fraction and cardiac output and decreased left ventricular diastolic dimension, myocyte cross-sectional area, and interstitial collagen deposition in AT2+/Y, and these effects were significantly diminished in AT2−/Y. ACE inhibitors improved cardiac function and remodeling similarly in both strains. We concluded that (1) activation of AT2 during AT1 blockade plays an important role in the therapeutic effect of AT1-ant and (2) the AT2 receptor may not play an important role in regulation of cardiac function, either under basal conditions after MI remodeling or in the therapeutic effect of ACE inhibitors.
An open study of pentoxifylline in the treatment of severe refractory rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE Recent data implicates the cytokine, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In vitro data suggest that pentoxifylline may possess anti-TNF-alpha properties. We have therefore carried out a prospective 3-month open evaluation of pentoxifylline in a group of adult patients with RA refractory to conventional disease remittive therapies. METHODS Nineteen patients with RA were included and clinical assessments were performed according to the World Health Organization/International League of Associations for Rheumatology (WHO/ILAR) criteria at baseline, and one and 3 months after the initiation of therapy. Laboratory assessments included a complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and whole blood assays of TNF-alpha production. TNF-alpha was assayed using ELISA and semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction methodologies. RESULTS A significant diminution in number of tender and swollen joints as well as the ESR was noted after 3 months (p < 0.05) although no consistent effects on TNF-alpha production were observed. Furthermore, whole blood assays of TNF-alpha production shortly after initiation of pentoxifylline therapy were not predictive of the clinical response to this agent. CONCLUSION Although pentoxifylline may possess therapeutic properties in RA, any beneficial effects appear to be unrelated to changes in TNF-alpha generation in whole blood assays.
Timing of neurologic deterioration in massive middle cerebral artery infarction: A multicenter review

ObjectiveTo determine the time interval between symptom onset and neurologic deterioration related to cerebral edema in patients with massive middle cerebral artery infarction. The time period between onset and neurologic deterioration represents the window for surgical intervention. DesignMulticenter retrospective chart review. SettingsFive university-affiliated medical centers. PatientsFifty-three patients with massive middle cerebral artery infarction who experienced neurologic deterioration defined by a decrease in the Glasgow Coma Scale score of two or more points attributable to mass effect. Measurements and Main ResultsA total of 53 patients (mean age, 62 ± 18 yrs; 25 [47%] were men) with neurologic deterioration were identified by using International Classification of Diseases (9th revision) codes and local registries. Medical records and neuroimaging studies were reviewed by a stroke neurologist or neurointensivist to identify the time of neurologic deterioration. Thrombolytics were used at presentation in 19 (35%) patients. A total of 19 (36%) patients had neurologic deterioration within 24 hrs of symptom onset. By 48 hrs, 36 (68%) patients had manifested clinical deterioration. A few patients had later neurologic deterioration on day 3 (n = 10), day 4 (n = 2), day 5 (n = 2), and day 6 or after (n = 3). A total of 25 (47%) of the 53 patients died during hospitalization. The highest frequency of deaths occurred on day 3. ConclusionsNeurologic deteriorations related to cerebral edema after massive middle cerebral artery infarction occur in most patients within 48 hrs of symptom onset.