Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epithelial barrier function in vivo is sustained despite gaps in epithelial layers.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Epithelial cells of the small intestine migrate to the tip of the villus at which they are shed. It is not understood how the intestinal barrier is maintained during this high cell turnover. The aim of this study was to use high-resolution in vivo light microscopy to investigate the mechanism of epithelial shedding and the site of the permeability barrier during cell shedding. METHODS A laparotomy was performed on anesthetized mice, and a segment of small intestine was opened. The exposed epithelial surface of the intestine was imaged by multiphoton microscopy. Nuclei, cytosol, and cell membranes were imaged using the dyes Hoescht 33258, BCECF, a transgenically expressed fluorescent protein, and the membrane dye DiI. The fluorescent caspase substrate PhiPhiLux was used to detect apoptosis. RESULTS In the epithelial monolayer, gaps were observed that lacked nuclei or cytosol but appeared to be filled with an impermeable substance. Studies with membrane impermeant fluorophores (Lucifer Yellow and Alexa-dextran) showed that the impermeable substance completely fills the void left by the absent cell. Only a fraction of gaps have either ZO-1 staining or cytoplasmic extensions from neighboring cells at the basal pole. Time-lapse studies reveal that cell shedding results in genesis of a gap and that shedding usually occurs prior to detectable cellular activation of caspase 3 or nuclear condensation. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that epithelial barrier function is sustained at the apical pole of the epithelial layer, despite discontinuities in the cellular layer.
Positional Plagiocephaly: Experience with a Passive Orthotic Mattress

Abstract Positional plagiocephaly (deformational or occipital plagiocephaly) is the most common head-shape deformity, which is presented to specialist craniofacial units. The aim of management is to reduce pressure on the affected area in the expectation that brain growth will drive normalization of the head shape. Current management includes a variety of protocols based on repositioning advice or helmet orthotics. The aim of this study is to document changes in head shape associated with use of a passive orthotic mattress for the management of positional plagiocephaly of a series of 30 patients at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital between April 2008 and June 2010. Cranial vault asymmetry was assessed before treatment and was classified into mild, moderate, or severe plagiocephaly. Follow-up demonstrated a significant improvement in cranial vault asymmetry in those treated with the passive orthotic mattress.
Portal vein Doppler: a tool for non-invasive prediction of esophageal varices in cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Esophageal varices (EV), a major complication of liver cirrhosis, can lead to life threatening gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is the gold standard for diagnosis and management of esophageal varices. However, it is not always available in resource-constrained settings.This study was aimed at evaluating portal vein indices (PVI) using Doppler on ultrasound abdomen, which is more widely available, as tools to predict the presence of EV. METHODS A total of 50 adult patients with cirrhosis were included in the study. All subjects underwent a percutaneous liver biopsy, abdominal ultrasound and EGD along with other tests as part of the work up for cirrhosis. The portal vein indices that were studied included hepatic congestion index (HCI), portal vein diameter (PVD) and portal vein velocity (PVV). Their sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were calculated using EGD as a gold standard. RESULTS Association of PVD, PVV and HCI with presence of EV was statistically significant (p-value <0.01). PVV had the highest sensitivity 84% (95% CI 66.45%- 94.10%) for detecting the presence of EV. PVD and HCI had the highest specificity of 55% (95% CI 0.31-0.77) and the highest negative predictive value of 38%(95% CI 0.24-0.52). Positive predictive value was highest PVV at 76%. (95% CI 0.61-0.86). CONCLUSION In resources- constricted settings where EGD is not available, PVI (PVV, PVD and HCI) on ultrasound abdomen can be used as non-invasive parameters to predict the presence of EV. Although EGD remains the gold standard for the diagnosis and management of EV, when this is not possible due to scarcity of resources, PVV may be used a tool to triage patients for referral for an EGD as it has the highest sensitivity of 84% (95% CI 66.45%-94.10%) and positive predictive value of 76% (95% CI 61.51%-86.47%) amongst the PVI studied for detecting the presence of EV.
Hardware-software co-implementation of a H.263 video codec

An H.263 video codec is implemented by adopting the concept of hardware and software co-design. Each module of the codec is investigated to find which approach between hardware and software is better to achieve real-time processing speed as well as flexibility. The hardware portion includes motion-related engines, such as motion estimation and compensation, and a memory control part. The remaining portion of the H.263 video codec is implemented in software using a RISC processor. This paper also introduces efficient design methods for hardware and software modules. In hardware, an area-efficient architecture for the motion estimator of a multi-resolution block matching algorithm using multiple candidates and spatial correlation in motion vector fields (MRMCS), is suggested to reduce the chip size. Software optimization techniques are also explored by using the statistics of transformed coefficients and the minimum sum of absolute difference (SAD) obtained from the motion estimator.
Shinerbots : Navigating Large-Scale Robot Swarms Inspired by Golden Shiner Fish

We propose a collective robot swarm navigation algorithm inspired by the emergent navigation behavior of the Golden Shiner fish. The navigation algorithm combines two simple navigation operations. First, each agent in the swarm individually modulates its speed based on sensing its environment at its current location, but without acquiring location information and environmental gradients. Second, each agent moves toward its neighbors by sensing only their relative positions with respect to its current location. To implement the algorithm, we designed and built a swarm of 85 robots, named “Shinerbots”. Each individual Shinerbot has a diameter of 40.6mm and a material cost of USD $20. We used vibration motors for mobility, a photodiode for light intensity sensing, infrared reflection for neighbor proximity sensing, and a microcontroller for processing. To make large-scale swarm operations tractable, we also designed a swarm messaging system and a swarm charging plate. We have demonstrated with simulation as well as with experiments using Shinerbots that our proposed algorithm successfully enables the robot swarm to collectively navigate towards a target region using minimal sensing and control.
Outcomes of varicocele ligation done for pain.

PURPOSE Surgical ligation is an option in the management of patients with painful varicocele. Little objective data exist addressing the effectiveness of this treatment. We reviewed records from 58 patients who underwent varicocele ligation at our institution from January 1985 to May 1996 to establish success of surgical ligation of the painful varicocele. MATERIALS AND METHODS ICD-9 billing codes were used to identify all patients who had undergone varicocele ligation for pain since 1985. We documented patient age, grade and location of varicocele, duration and quality of pain, response to conservative therapy and surgical approach to ligation. Telephone interviews and chart reviews were conducted to determine resolution of pain, complications of the procedure and if the patient would choose surgery again. RESULTS We obtained followup on 35 of the 58 painful varicocele patients (60%). Average patient age was 25.7 years (range 15 to 65). The varicocele was on the left side in 30 men and bilateral in 5. Of the patients 31 described the pain as a dull throbbing ache, 2 as sharp and 2 as a pulling sensation. Initial conservative therapy failed in all 35 men. Varicocele was grade III in 18 cases, grade II in 16 and grade I in 1. The inguinal or subinguinal approach was used in 24 patients, high ligation in 10 and laparoscopic repair in 1. In 30 patients there was (86%) complete resolution of pain postoperatively and 1 had partial resolution. Only 4 patients (11%) had persistent or worse symptoms. CONCLUSIONS This retrospective review supports the conclusion that varicocele ligation is an effective treatment for painful varicocele in properly selected patients.
Low Vancomycin MICs and Fecal Densities Reduce the Sensitivity of Screening Methods for Vancomycin Resistance in Enterococci

ABSTRACT Active surveillance is part of a multifaceted approach used to prevent the spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). The impact of fecal density, the vancomycin MIC of the isolate, and the vancomycin concentration in liquid medium on test performance are uncertain. Using fecal specimens spiked with a collection of 18 VRE (predominantly vanB) with a wide vancomycin MIC range, we compared the performances of commercial chromogenic agars (CHROMagar VRE, chromID VRE, Brilliance VRE, and VRE Select) and 1 liquid medium (Enterococcosel enrichment broth) for VRE detection. The specificity of solid media was excellent; however, the sensitivity at 48 h varied from 78 to 94%. Screening using liquid medium was less sensitive than screening with solid media, particularly as the vancomycin content increased. Sensitivity declined (i) as the fecal VRE density decreased, (ii) when the media were assessed at 24 h (versus 48 h), and (iii) for isolates with a low vancomycin MIC (sensitivity, 25 to 75% versus 100% for isolates with vancomycin MIC of <16 mg/liter versus >32 mg/liter on solid medium using 106 CFU/ml of feces). Depending on local epidemiology and in particular VRE vancomycin MICs, the sensitivity of culture-based methods for VRE screening of stool or rectal specimens may be suboptimal, potentially facilitating secondary transmission.
Rac2 Specificity in Macrophage Integrin Signaling

Herein we report that, despite the similarity of Rac2 to Rac1 (92% amino acid identity), macrophages derived from Rac2–/– mice, which continue to express Rac1, display a marked defect in αvβ3/αvβ5 and α4β1 integrin-directed migration measured on vitronectin and fibronectin fragments (FN-H296), respectively. In contrast, mouse embryo fibroblasts derived from the Rac2 knockout mice utilize Rac1 for migration via αvβ3/αvβ5 and α4β1. The genetic reconstitution of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMθ) with Rac2 restores the integrin-dependent migration of Rac2-deficient macrophages on vitronectin (VN) and FN-H296. The levels of GTP-Rac2 generated upon specific integrin engagement in wild type macrophages parallels the phenotypic defect observed in Rac2-deficient macrophages; i.e. FN-H296, α4β1 > VN, αvβ3/αvβ5 > FN-CH271, α5β1 > intact FN. In a COS7 cell system, the expression of Syk kinase alone is sufficient to convert the α4β1 migration response to Rac2 dependence. Therefore, we present the first evidence that the α4β1 receptor in blood cells has evolved a Syk-Rac2 signaling axis to transmit signals required for integrin-directed migration suggesting that Syk kinase in part encodes myeloid Rac2 specificity in vivo.
Analysis of Path-Length Effects in Multiloop Cross-Eye Jamming

The effect of path-length differences on multiloop retrodirective cross-eye jammers is evaluated. It is shown that such jammers may act as beacons, and the conditions under which this occurs are investigated for two-loop jammers. The sensitivity of the two-loop cross-eye gain to path-length differences is also studied and is found to be small for small path-length differences, but to increase rapidly. The effect of the two-loop cross-eye jammer parameters on path-length effects is also considered.
Modulation of schwann cell phenotype by TGF‐β1: Inhibition of P0 mRNA expression and downregulation of the low affinity NGF receptor

The phenotype of a fully differentiated, mature Schwann cell is appar‐ently largely determined by Schwann cell‐axon interactions. In vitro, elevation of intra‐cellular cAMP levels in Schwann cells induces a phenotype which resembles that of a mature, i.e., axon‐related, Schwann cell. Therefore, an important role for cAMP as a second messenger of axon‐Schwann cell interactions in vivo is assumed.
Relatives’ experiences during the next of kin’s hospital stay after surviving cardiac arrest and therapeutic hypothermia

Aim: To describe relatives’ experiences during the next of kin’s hospital stay after surviving a cardiac arrest (CA) treated with hypothermia at an intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: Twenty relatives were interviewed when the person having suffered the CA was discharged from hospital, 1.5 to 6 weeks post-CA. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Three themes are described: The first period of chaos, Feeling secure in a difficult situation, and Living in a changed existence. Relatives found it difficult to assimilate the medical information and wanted it in written form. They wanted honest and clear information about their next of kin’s condition and prognosis. They lacked rehabilitation plans after discharge from the medical ward. Relatives felt a need to maintain telephone contact with family members and friends, which was time-consuming. They felt guilty and had a conscience about these feelings. Relatives felt uncertain about the future, but still hopeful. Conclusion: Relatives asked for more information and individual rehabilitation plans. Booklets describing CA, the ICU stay and continuing care and rehabilitation directed at both the patients and their relatives are needed. Follow-up visits to the ICU staff, for both patients and relatives, need to be arranged. Hospitals should consider having a rehabilitation plan for this group of patients, which is presented by a team of healthcare professionals and that focuses on the individual’s situation, including the consequences of their heart disease and brain damage.
Apolipoprotein E alleles and sensorineural hearing loss

The purpose of this paper is to determine if a relationship exists between APOE alleles and nonsyndromic, sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in adults. APOE genotype was determined on DNA obtained from a sample of 89 subjects with nonsyndromic, adult onset SNHL. Median age was 64 years old, and 51 (57%) were males. Allele frequencies in the study population were compared to those in the general population. Subjects were divided into two groups, one by severity of hearing loss and another by severity of impairment of word recognition. Each group was stratified by severity, and allele frequencies were compared to the general population. The study found that the APOE allele ε4 was less prevalent in the study population with SNHL than in the general population. No relationship was found between the ε4 allele and severity of hearing loss or severity of impairment of word recognition. The study revealed that the APOE ε4 allele was under-represented in the study sample as compared to the general population. Future studies associating the ε4 allele with SNHL need to be population-based, longitudinal, or done in younger subjects.
Long‐term survival of heart grafts in the presence of donor‐pecific cytotoxic T‐cell precursors (CTLp) in the peripheral blood

Abstract To monitor their immunological status we determined donor and third‐party‐pecific cytotoxic T‐cell precursor frequencies (CTLpf) in the peripheral blood of 15 heart transplant recipients. PBL samples were obtained at different time points before and after transplantation. Donor‐pecific CTLpf and third‐party‐pecific CTLpf were within the same range for all samples (1–1489/106 cells). The donor‐pecific CTLpf were not different between patients who had never had an acute rejection (AR) and patients who had an acute rejection as diagnosed by endomyocardial biopsy (EMB). No difference was' observed between donor‐pecific CTLpf of samples taken on the day of transplantation and those obtained between 3 months and 3 years after transplantation. There was also no relationship between the donor‐pecific CTLpf in the PBL and the culturing success of lymphocytes from EMB taken at the same time. CTLpf were in the same range both when cultures could be propagated from the graft and when no cells grew out. We conclude that long‐term graft survival is possible in the presence of CTLpf in peripheral blood.
Hyperfibrinogenemia is a useful predictor for lymphatic metastasis in human gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND Although abnormal hemostasis has been described in cancer patients, the precise association between the plasma fibrinogen level and lymphatic metastasis has not been reported in a large-scale clinical study. METHODS Preoperative plasma levels of fibrinogen as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were retrospectively examined in 649 patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer, and the correlation between these factors and nodal status was evaluated. RESULTS Plasma fibrinogen level in patients with gastric cancer showed a positive association with nodal classification (P < 0.0001). Hyperfibrinogenemia (>310 mg/dl) as well as high CEA (>5 ng/ml) and CRP (>0.3 mg/dl) showed a significant association with nodal metastasis in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed that hyperfibrinogenemia had an independent association with nodal metastasis (odds ratio, 2.004 (1.140-3.521); P = 0.0157), whereas CEA and CRP were not independent factors. Hyperfibrinogenemia showed an independent association even in advanced cancer [odds ratio 2.611 (1.404-4.854), P = 0.0024, n = 319]. When the 649 gastric cancers were classified into intestinal-type and gastric-type adenocarcinomas, plasma fibrinogen level was correlated with nodal metastasis only in the intestinal-type. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that hyperfibrinogenemia may provide favorable circumstances for cancer cells to metastasize via the lymphatic system. Preoperative plasma fibrinogen level is a useful predictor of lymphatic metastasis in intestinal-type gastric cancer.
Children's thoughts and attitudes in China and Sweden: impacts of a restrictive versus a permissive environment

ABSTRACT– With a restrictive‐permissive hypothesis as a frame of reference, the aim of this explorative study is to obtain knowledge about the socialization process, i.e. how children in Sweden and China come to behave in accordance with cultural values and what the price is of this development. 273 school children (about 11‐12 years old) from six cities and 49 preschool children (age 6‐7 years old) from 10 cities in China are compared with a Swedish sample (329 and 48) from a single community. The Swedish school children came from both outskirt and central areas. Despite acknowledged limitations, the overall findings confirm two hypotheses: 1) Chinese children learn to a higher extent to control their emotions than Swedish children, and 2) Chinese children learn to orient towards collective norms as opposed to Swedish children who are more individualistically oriented,
Scientific Data Mining - A Practical Perspective

Technological advances are enabling scientists to collect vast amounts of data in fields such as medicine, remote sensing, astronomy, and high-energy physics. These data arise not only from experiments and observations, but also from computer simulations of complex phenomena. They are often complex, with both spatial and temporal components. As a result, it has become impractical to manually explore, analyze, and understand the data. Scientific Data Mining: A Practical Perspective describes how techniques from the multi-disciplinary field of data mining can be used to address the modern problem of data overload in science and engineering domains. Starting with a survey of analysis problems in different applications, this book identifies the common themes across these domains and uses them to define an end-to-end process of scientific data mining. This multi-step process includes tasks such as processing the raw image or mesh data to identify objects of interest;extracting relevant features describing the objects; detecting patterns among the objects; and displaying the patterns for validation by the scientists. A majority of the book describes how techniques from disciplines such as image and video processing, statistics, machine learning, pattern recognition, and mathematical optimization can be used for the tasks in each step. It also includes a description of software systems developed for scientific data mining; general guidelines for getting started on the analysis of massive, complex data sets; and an extensive bibliography. Audience: This book is intended for data mining practitioners and scientists interested in applying data mining techniques to their data sets. It is also appropriate for advanced undergraduate and graduate-level courses on data analysis offered in mathematics, computer science, and statistics departments. Contents: Preface; Chapter 1: Introduction; Chapter 2: Data Mining in Science and Engineering; Chapter 3: Common Themes in Mining Scientific Data; Chapter 4: The Scientific Data Mining Process; Chapter 5: Reducing the Size of the Data; Chapter 6: Fusing Different Data Modalities; Chapter 7: Enhancing Image Data; Chapter 8: Finding Objects in the Data; Chapter 9: Extracting Features Describing the Objects; Chapter 10: Reducing the Dimension of the Data; Chapter 11: Finding Patterns in the Data; Chapter 12: Visualizing the Data and Validating the Results; Chapter 13: Scientific Data Mining Systems; Chapter 14: Lessons Learned, Challenges, and Opportunities; Bibliography; Index
Does a Healthy Diet Help Weight Management Among Overweight and Obese People?

A randomized dietary intervention trial across 4 years examined diet, weight, and obesity incidence (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m2) differences between study groups. Participants were 1,510 breast cancer survivors with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 at entry. Dietary intake was assessed yearly by telephone; weight and height were measured at clinic visits. Intervention participants consumed more fruit, vegetables, and fiber and less energy from fat than control participants during follow-up cross-sectionally (p < .0001) and longitudinally (p < .0001); weight did not differ between study groups at any follow-up visit, and significant weight change difference was observed between groups only in the 1st year (p < .0001). Diet and weight results remained unchanged after stratifying by age and BMI. No difference in obesity incidence was found during follow-up (p > .10) among overweight members of either study group. Without specific efforts to reduce total energy intake, dietary modification does not reduce obesity or result in long-term weight loss.
HIV entry inhibition by the envelope 2 glycoprotein of GB virus C

Epidemiological studies have revealed an association between GB virus C (GBV-C) long-term viraemia and ameliorated HIV disease progression. We have provided evidence that a single protein of GBV-C, the glycoprotein E2, interferes with early HIV replication steps of both X4- and R5-tropic HIV strains. Preincubation with anti-E2 antibody specifically abrogates the inhibitory effect. Results were confirmed by the in-vitro expression of GBV-C E1/E2 encoding RNA.
Ultra-Fast Perpendicular Spin–Orbit Torque MRAM

We demonstrate ultra-fast (down to 400 ps) bipolar magnetization switching of a three-terminal perpendicular Ta/FeCoB/MgO/FeCoB magnetic tunnel junction. The critical current density rises significantly as the current pulse shortens below 10 ns, which translates into a minimum in the write energy in the nanosecond range. Our results show that spin–orbit torque-MRAM allows for fast and low-power write operations, which makes it promising for non-volatile cache memory applications.