Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variations of the Position of the Cerebellar Tonsil in Idiopathic Scoliotic Adolescents With a Cobb Angle >40°: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Study Design. A retrospective study was performed through measurements on MRI images in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients and age-matched adolescents. Objectives. To investigate the position of the cerebellar tonsil in AIS patients with a Cobb angle >40° in comparison with age-matched healthy adolescents and to determine the relationships of the tonsil position with age, sex, curve severity, and curve patterns. Summary of Background Data. There have been increasing evidences implying that AIS patients may present with subtle or subclinical neurologic dysfunction and a higher incidence of tonsillar ectopia was documented in AIS patients. However, the tonsil position has not been clearly addressed in AIS patients with a severe curve. Methods. According to the method described by Aboulezz et al, measurements of the tonsil position relative to the magnum foramen on magnetic resonance images were performed in 203 AIS patients with a Cobb angle >40° and 86 age-matched healthy adolescents. The inferior displacement of the cerebellar tonsil with an extent within 5 mm was defined as tonsillar ectopia when it located below the magnum foramen. On the basis of measurement results, the incidence of tonsillar ectopia was determined in both AIS and control groups. The associations of tonsillar ectopia with curve severity and curve patterns for AIS patients and the relationships of the tonsil positions with age and gender in all subjects were analyzed. Results. In AIS patients and healthy controls, the median position of the cerebellar tonsil was 0.8 and 2.9 mm above the magnum foramen, respectively. The incidence of tonsillar ectopia (0–4.8 mm below the magnum foramen) in AIS was found to be significantly higher than healthy adolescents (range 0–1.8 mm vs. 0–4.8 mm below the magnum foramen; ratio 34.5% vs. 5.8%; P < 0.01). No significant correlations were found between the position of the cerebellar tonsil with age or gender in AIS and control subjects. It was shown the position of the cerebellar tonsil was not significantly different among AIS patients with different curve severity. However, it was noted that there was a highest incidence (62.5%) of tonsillar ectopia in atypical scoliotic cases with a double thoracic curve. Additionally, a significantly higher incidence of tonsillar ectopia was found in patients with thoracic or thoracolumbar curves when compared with those with lumbar curves (37.4% vs. 21.6%, P = 0.049). Conclusion. Tonsillar ectopia with the extent >2 mm in AIS patients should be regarded as abnormal. AIS patients had a lower tonsil position and a higher prevalence of tonsillar ectopia than controls, and tonsillar ectopia was found to be associated with curve patterns. It is suggested that a lower position of the cerebellar tonsil might be associated with the etiopathogenesis of AIS and might contribute to subclinical neurologic dysfunction in AIS patients.
Targeting Bacterial Virulence: The Role of Protein Synthesis Inhibitors in Severe Infections

Morbidity and mortality due to certain bacterial pathogens have not declined despite the availability of effective antimicrobial treatments. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes cause a number of serious infections, such as necrotizing fasciitis and toxic shock syndrome, which are associated with the release of bacterial toxins. Animal studies have demonstrated clindamycin, a protein synthesis inhibitor, to be more effective in treating these severe infections than other more susceptible antimicrobial treatments. Linezolid, another protein synthesis inhibitor, also has shown efficacy in in vitro studies. Human trials to validate the effects of antibiotic therapies on bacterial virulence have not been performed. Future animal and human studies are needed to help elucidate the immunomodulatory mechanisms of protein synthesis inhibitors in order to optimize antimicrobial treatment and decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with severe bacterial infections.
Work in progress — Programming in a confined space — A case study in porting modern robot software to an antique platform

In a typical introductory AI class, the topic of reinforcement learning may be allocated only a few hours of class time. One engaging example of reinforcement learning uses a crawling robot that learns to use its two-degree-of-freedom arm to drag itself forward. Unfortunately, the cost of the required hardware is prohibitively expensive for many departments for what is typically a once-a-semester demonstration. So we decided to port the algorithm to a platform that many departments may already have on hand: the LEGO Mindstorms RCX 2.0. Initially the task seemed relatively straightforward: build a robot base out of LEGO parts and implement the algorithm in the Not Quite C language. However the challenges of designing a robot arm without servos and attempting to trim code down to a size that would fit on the RCX has proven to be as educational to the undergraduates working on the project as we hope the final product will be to students in AI classes. This paper describes the challenges we have faced and the solutions we have implemented, as well as the work that remains to be completed.
Effects of ischemic preconditioning on the systemic and renal hemodynamic changes in renal ischemia reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) could protect against subsequent renal ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI). However, the mechanisms underlying IPC remain far from complete. Hence, we explored the effects of IPC on the renal and systemic hemodynamic changes, renal function and morphology, as well the involvement of endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase (eNOS/iNOS), and nitric oxide (NO). METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups after right-side nephrectomy: Sham group (surgery without vascular clamping); IRI group (the left renal artery was clamped for 45 min); IPC group (pretreated with 15 min of ischemia and 10 min of reperfusion); IPC + vehicle group (administrated with 0.9% saline 5 min before IPC); and IPC + N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) group (pretreated with L-NAME 5 min prior to IPC). The renal and systemic hemodynamic parameters, renal function and morphology, as well as eNOS, iNOS, and NO expression levels in the kidneys were measured at the indicated time points after reperfusion. RESULTS IPC rats exhibited significant improvements in renal function, morphology, and renal artery blood flow (RABF), without obvious influence on the systemic hemodynamics and renal vein blood flow. Increased eNOS, iNOS, and NO expression levels were detected in the kidneys of IPC rats 24 h after reperfusion. Furthermore, the beneficial effects were fully abolished by the administration of L-NAME. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that IPC contributes to early restoration of RABF, probably through eNOS/iNOS-mediated NO production, thereby alleviating the renal dysfunction and histological damage caused by IRI.
Structural Basis for Replication Origin Unwinding by an Initiator Primase of Plasmid ColE2-P9

Background: Duplex DNA is generally unwound by protein oligomers prior to replication. Results: The structure of the DNA-binding domain of the ColE2-P9 replication initiation protein bound to Ori DNA was determined. Conclusion: The ColE2 Rep-DBD unwinds duplex DNA by the concerted actions of its three contiguous structural modules. Significance: A novel mechanism for duplex DNA unwinding by a single protein was proposed. Duplex DNA is generally unwound by protein oligomers prior to replication. The Rep protein of plasmid ColE2-P9 (34 kDa) is an essential initiator for plasmid DNA replication. This protein binds the replication origin (Ori) in a sequence-specific manner as a monomer and unwinds DNA. Here we present the crystal structure of the DNA-binding domain of Rep (E2Rep-DBD) in complex with Ori DNA. The structure unveils the basis for Ori-specific recognition by the E2Rep-DBD and also reveals that it unwinds DNA by the concerted actions of its three contiguous structural modules. The structure also shows that the functionally unknown PriCT domain, which forms a compact module, plays a central role in DNA unwinding. The conservation of the PriCT domain in the C termini of some archaeo-eukaryotic primases indicates that it probably plays a similar role in these proteins. Thus, this is the first report providing the structural basis for the functional importance of the conserved PriCT domain and also reveals a novel mechanism for DNA unwinding by a single protein.
N‐ and L‐type calcium channel involvement in depolarization‐induced suppression of inhibition in rat hippocampal CA1 cells

1 We investigated depolarization‐induced suppression of inhibition (DSI) under whole‐cell voltage clamp in CA1 pyramidal neurons of rat hippocampal slices. DSI, a transient reduction in monosynaptic evoked GABAAergic IPSCs lasting for ∼1 min, was induced by depolarizing the pyramidal cell to −10 or 0 mV for 1 or 2 s. 2 Raising extracellular Ca2+ concentration increased DSI, and varying the DSI‐inducing voltage step showed that the voltage dependence of DSI was like that of high‐voltage‐activated Ca2+ channels. 3 The P‐ and Q‐type Ca2+ channel blocker ω‐agatoxin TK (200 nm and 1 μm) and the R‐ and T‐type Ca2+ channel blocker Ni2+ (100 μm) reduced IPSCs without reducing DSI. 4 The specific N‐type Ca2+ channel antagonist ω‐conotoxin GVIA (250 nm) reduced IPSC amplitudes and almost completely abolished DSI. 5 Blocking L‐type Ca2+ channels with nifedipine (10 μm) had no effect on IPSCs or DSI induced by our standard protocol, but reduced DSI induced by the unclamped Na+‐ and Ca2+‐dependent spikes that occurred when 2(triethylamino)‐N‐(2,6‐dimethylphenyl)acetamide (QX‐314) was omitted from the recording pipette solution. 6 Although intracellular Ca2+ stores were not measured, DSI was not affected by cyclopiazonic acid (CPA, 20–40 μm), a blocker of Ca2+ uptake into intracellular stores. 7 We conclude that DSI is initiated by Ca2+ influx through N‐ and, under certain conditions, L‐type Ca2+ channels.
Acute-phase reactants and cytokines in ischemic stroke: do they have any relationship with short-term mortality?

BACKGROUND Many unknown risk factors play a role in the etiopathogenesis of stroke. The appearance of inflammatory cells within the damaged tissue after cerebral ischemia suggests that an inflammatory response may play a role in stroke pathogenesis. In our study, we examined whether an association exists between the acute-phase reactants and the levels of cytokines, the volume and diameter of the stroke, and short-term mortality in patients who were diagnosed as acute ischemic a stroke after admission to the Emergency Department. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 50 consecutive patients who applied to the Emergency Service with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled in the study. Their stroke volume were calculated and serum samples were obtained as soon as they arrived into the Emergency Service. The patients were evaluated according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). RESULTS There was no significant correlations between stroke volume and levels of cytokine and acute-phase reactants in dead patient group or in living patient group. A correlation and statistical significance was found between stroke volume and hospital stay time in living patient group. In addition, GCS and NIHSS scores were correlated with stroke volume and was found a significant statistically. CONCLUSIONS Scales such as GKS and NIHHS, which evaluate the functional state of patients, are the best indicators for defining prognosis in our daily practices. In addition, we found a positive correlation between levels of CRP (C reactive protein) and prognosis. However, we did not observe a statistically significant correlation between prognosis and other acute-phase reactants such as TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, fibrinogen, and leukocytes.
Identification and characterization of mitochondria autoantigens in progressive systemic sclerosis: identity with the 72,000 dalton autoantigen in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Sera from eight out of 62 (14.5%) patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) reacted by immunoblotting with a 72,000 dalton antigen and one, a patient with concomitant primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), reacted with the 72,000 dalton and a 47,000 dalton antigen. Reactivity with these antigens was not seen with any of 111 control sera. The antigens with minor variations in m.w. were present in a variety of cultured cells and tissue homogenates from different species. Subcellular fractionation studies localized the antigens to the mitochondria. Of 19 sera from patients with other diseases selected for immunofluorescence staining for anti-mitochondria autoantibody, nine reacted with the 72,000 dalton antigen, seven reacted with both the 72,000 and 47,000 dalton antigens, and three reacted with the 47,000 dalton antigen. These results show that serum reactivity with the 72,000 dalton and 47,000 dalton mitochondria autoantigens is found with some patients with PSS. Because mitochondria autoantibodies that are reactive with the 72,000 dalton and 47,000 dalton polypeptides are also found in patients with PBC, the present finding provides additional support for the association of PSS with PBC. Prior absorption of rat liver homogenate with PBC sera removed PSS serum reactivity with a 63,000 dalton antigen, the equivalent 72,000 dalton antigen in rodents, and vice versa, showing that both PBC and PSS sera recognize the same antigen.
Fluid overload in AKI: epiphenomenon or putative effect on mortality?

Purpose of reviewThe incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) is increasing dramatically, and despite advances in dialytic therapy and critical care, there has been little improvement in associated morbidity and mortality. Recently, several articles have suggested that fluid overload in patients with AKI is associated with an increased risk of death. Recent findingsObservational studies have demonstrated an association between fluid overload and poor outcomes (including death) in patients with AKI; however, whether this association is causal or due to residual confounding is unknown. A recent study testing the impact of fluid overload and diuretics on outcomes in the context of a randomized controlled trial suggests that the beneficial impact of diuretics in those with AKI is mediated by reducing fluid overload. Finally, potential mechanisms by which fluid overload may contribute to death include failure to recognize AKI due to creatinine dilution, direct tissue edema leading to decreased renal perfusion, and an increased risk of other complications such as sepsis. SummaryOn the basis of the current literature, the relative contributions of the direct effects of fluid overload versus the association of fluid overload with other patient characteristics associated with adverse outcome (e.g. sepsis) remain unknown. Additional human studies, including randomized controlled trials, are warranted to further clarify these issues.
Bibliometric Analysis of Advertising Endorser Research in Marketing

This study aims to identify the essential themes of advertising endorser research. By analyzing 1,801 citations of 39 advertising endorser articles published in marketing and advertising journals which listed in Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) in a twenty years period between 1990 and 2009, this study maps the intellectual structure of the research area. The results provide important insights on the development of advertising endorser research. Keywords-advertising endorser, literature review, bibliometrics, citation analysis, co-citation analysis, social network analysis
[Social determinants of chronic disease in a working population in China].

OBJECTIVE To identify the social determinants of chronic disease in China. METHODS Cross sectional data of working population aged from 18 to 60 years were drawn from the database of Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS) 2010. Logistic regression model was used for analyzing the difference of chronic conditions prevalence among the self-evaluated social status, income, education, working organizations and properties and management positions, respectively. RESULTS The highest and higher groups of subjective social status, the least and higher groups of education, low-income group had a higher probability of suffering from chronic diseases. In terms of the nature of jobs, the farmers and the self-employed had a higher risk of suffering from chronic diseases than those employed by other formal sectors. The people engaged in the management were also with a higher risk. CONCLUSION Income, education, nature and content of jobs are the social determinants of chronic diseases in China. All these determinants need to be considered during the policy-making aimed to improve health equity.
Coordinated motion generation and real-time grasping force control for multifingered manipulation

In this paper, we propose a unified control system architecture for multifingered manipulation (CoSAM/sup 2/). CoSAM/sup 2/ achieves simultaneously three objectives of multifingered manipulation: (a) Motion trajectory (velocity/force) tracking of a grasped object; (b) Improving the grasp configuration in the course of object manipulation; and (c) Optimizing grasping forces to enforce contact constraint and compensate for external object wrenches. CoSAM/sup 2/ is organized in a modular and hierarchic structure so that each module implements a specified function using inputs from its predecessors and a minimum number of sensory data signals. CoSAM/sup 2/ is also flexible in accommodating addition of new modules. Here, we give the details for the coordinated motion generation module and the grasping force generation module.
Colonoscopy-Specific Fears in African Americans and Hispanics

Although fears of colonoscopy may deter African Americans and Hispanics from having a screening colonoscopy, little is known about these fears. This study examined the proportion of African Americans and Hispanics who experience colonoscopy-specific fears and identified factors associated with these fears. Data were collected at an academic hospital in New York City between 2008–2010. African Americans (N = 383) and Hispanics (N = 407) who received a recommendation for a screening colonoscopy completed a questionnaire that assessed: colonoscopy-specific fears, demographics, and psychological variables. Presence of colonoscopy-specific fears was endorsed by 79.5% of participants. Being female (p < 0.001), speaking English (p < 0.001), having greater perceived risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) (p < 0.01), greater worry about risk of CRC (p < 0.01), greater fear of CRC (p < 0.001) and lower levels of self-efficacy of having a colonoscopy (p < 0.01) were associated with greater colonoscopy-specific fears. Results can inform interventions designed to assuage fears in African Americans and Hispanics.
Enhanced Anti-tumor Activity by the Combination of the Natural Compounds (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate and Luteolin

Natural dietary agents have drawn a great deal of attention toward cancer prevention because of their wide safety margin. However, single agent intervention has failed to bring the expected outcome in clinical trials; therefore, combinations of chemopreventive agents are gaining increasingly popularity. In the present study, we investigated a combinatorial approach using two natural dietary polyphenols, luteolin and EGCG, and found that their combination at low doses (at which single agents induce minimal apoptosis) synergistically increased apoptosis (3–5-fold more than the additive level of apoptosis) in both head and neck and lung cancer cell lines. This combination also significantly inhibited growth of xenografted tumors in nude mice. The in vivo findings also were supported by significant inhibition of Ki-67 expression and increase in TUNEL-positive cells in xenografted tissues. Mechanistic studies revealed that the combination induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in some cell lines and mitochondria-independent apoptosis in others. Moreover, we found more efficient stabilization and ATM-dependent Ser15 phosphorylation of p53 due to DNA damage by the combination, and ablation of p53 using shRNA strongly inhibited apoptosis as evidenced by decreased poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and caspase-3 cleavage. In addition, we observed mitochondrial translocation of p53 after treatment with luteolin or the combination of EGCG and luteolin. Taken together, our results for the first time suggest that the combination of luteolin and EGCG has synergistic/additive growth inhibitory effects and provides an important rationale for future chemoprevention trials of head and neck and lung cancers.
Analysis of the performance of a micromechanical test structure to measure stress in thick electroplated metal films

Previously reported suspended microrotating test structures designed to measure the stress in thick layers of electroplated Permalloy (NiFe alloy) have been analysed using finite element modelling and compared with experimental measurements. These results have been used to optimise a stress sensor test structure and design a new mask, with an array of test structures specifically designed to wafer map the stress of thick nickel and Permalloy films. This is the first time these structures have been employed for determining spatial variation in film stress and the results of this characterisation are reported for nickel.
RN to BSN Education: What Do RNs Think?

While most employers want more baccalaureate prepared registered nurses (RNs) in their staffing mix, returning to school is not easy for the RN. This qualitative program evaluation study explores the perceptions of 6 RNs who completed an on-campus, part-time baccalaureate program. Findings reveal that while these RNs originally questioned the value of further education, degree completion had a positive impact on their personal and professional lives. Implications for RN to BSN program design and recruitment into formal education programs are presented.
Seroconversion in context

This paper describes the accounts that homosexually active men give of their HIV seroconversion and interrogates these accounts for risk discourses. In particular, this paper asks whether the risk discourses of HIV researchers and educators are present in the men's narratives of their own seroconversion. Such discourses make reference to ‘unsafe’ sex – particularly the practice of unprotected anal intercourse, numbers of sexual partners or ‘promiscuity’, and the disinhibiting effect of drugs and alcohol. The data are drawn from an ongoing case-series study of seroconversion in which men who had seroconverted were asked to give an account of the occasion on which they believe they were infected. A number of themes were identified in the men's accounts. The men's descriptions of what they believe to be the seroconversion event indicate that their attributions, i.e., the reasons they give for their HIV infection, vary depending on the context. Within regular relationships, breakdown of negotiated safety, love and intimacy, and fatalism were among the explanations given. Seroconversion attributed to casual sexual encounters was more likely to be explained in terms of pleasure, lack of control, and with reference to particular sexual settings. The ways in which men understood their HIV infection were informed both by the risk discourse of HIV researchers and also by the discourses of love and pleasure, as well as that of control.