Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dietary factors, Mediterranean diet and erectile dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION Although epidemiological evidence seems to support a role for lifestyle factors in the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED), limited data are available suggesting that dietary changes may improve ED. AIM To provide an update on clinical evidence regarding the role of dietary factors in ED. METHODS A systematic literature search was performed using MEDLINE and other database (EMBASE, SCOPUS) with MeSH terms and keywords for "erectile dysfunction", "diet", "dietary patterns", "Mediterranean diet", and "lifestyle". MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES To examine the data relating to erectile dysfunction with dietary factors, its relationship and the impact of dietary treatment. RESULTS Only few studies assessed the role or the effect of diet on ED. A dietary pattern which is high in fruit, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and fish but low in red and processed meat and refined grains is more represented in subjects without ED. Mediterranean diet has been proposed as a healthy dietary pattern based on evidence that greater adherence to this diet is associated with lower all-cause and disease-specific survival. In type 2 diabetic men, those with the highest adherence to the Mediterranean diet had the lowest prevalence of ED and were more likely to be sexually active. In clinical trials, Mediterranean diet was more effective than a control diet in ameliorating ED or restoring absent ED in people with obesity or metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION The adoption of a Mediterranean diet may be associated with an improvement of erectile dysfunction.
Extraction et analyse automatiques de reseaux a partir de modeles numeriques de terrain. Contributions a l'analyse d'image de teledetection

La these est la compilation de trois articles parus dans des revues internationales. La premiere publication est un essai de systematisation d'une demarche consistant a se deplacer dans l'image suivant une certaine logique (contrainte d'avance) a partir d'une certaine classe de points, appeles points choisis. Trois algorithmes nouveaux sont presentes qui fournissent des resultats originaux. Le deuxieme article elabore un modele des formes binaires, a partir duquel on realise une squelettisation parametrisable, c'est-a-dire dont la severite de l'erosion est reglable. Ce modele binaire a ete transpose aux images en niveaux de gris. La squelettisation multi-niveaux (parametrisable dans les memes conditions) permet de preserver plus ou moins les cretes d'un processus de type erosif. Enfin le dernier algorithme, presente dans la derniere publication, exploite au maximum les enseignements du modele physique de ruissellement et de l'accumulation de l'eau sur un relief. Partant de chaque col (point de selle), la descente suivant la grande pente est realisee dans une image virtuelle utilisant un modele continu. L'ecoulement structure en segments hierarchise, s'echappe des depressions souvent artificielles par l'exutoire le plus naturel, c'est-a-dire le col le plus bas. La methode a ete appliquee a un modele numerique de terrain obtenu par correlation automatique de deux vues d'un couple stereoscopique d'images spot. Le reseau resultant, d'allure particulierement realiste, est satisfaisant dans toutes les zones presentant un peu de relief. La qualite du reseau extrait par ce dernier algorithme permet d'etudier statistiquement sa forme. Six mesures sont proposees (direction, courbure, longueur, angle de confluence, densite, indice de parallelisme) et permettent d'evaluer la correlation a des caracteristiques geologiques (structurales ou lithologiques) de la region
Synaptic connections of DB3 diffuse bipolar cell axons in macaque retina

In primate retinas, the dendrites of DB3 diffuse bipolar cells are known to receive inputs from cones. The goal of this study was to describe the synaptic connections of DB3 bipolar cell axons in the inner plexiform layer. DB3 bipolar cells in midperipheral retina were labeled with antibodies to calbindin, and their axons were analyzed in serial, ultrathin sections by electron microscopy. Synapses were found almost exclusively at the axonal varicosities of DB3 axon terminals. There were 2.14 synaptic ribbons per varicosity. There were 33 varicosities per DB3 cell, giving an average of 71 ribbons per axon terminal. Because there were 1.5 postsynaptic ganglion cell dendrites per DB3 axonal varicosity, we estimate that there is at least 1 synapse per varicosity onto a parasol ganglion cell dendrite. There were 3.4 input synapses from amacrine cells per axonal varicosity. Among these were feedback synapses to the DB3 bipolar cell axon varicosities, which were made by 47% of the postsynaptic amacrine cell processes. Some of the feedback synapses could be from amacrine cells immunoreactive for cholecystokinin precursor or choline acetyltransferase, because both types of amacrine cells costratify with parasol cells and are known to be presynaptic to bipolar cells. AII amacrine cells were both presynaptic and postsynaptic to DB3 axons, a finding consistent with the large rod input to parasol ganglion cells reported in physiological experiments. DB3 bipolar cell axons also made frequent contacts with neighboring DB3 axons, and gap junctions were always found at these sites. J. Comp. Neurol. 416:19–29, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression of the poliovirus receptor in intestinal epithelial cells is not sufficient to permit poliovirus replication in the mouse gut

Although the initial site of poliovirus replication in humans is the intestine, previously isolated transgenic mice which carry the human poliovirus receptor (PVR) gene (TgPVR mice), which develop poliomyelitis after intracerebral inoculation, are not susceptible to infection by the oral route. The low levels of PVR expressed in the TgPVR mouse intestine might explain the absence of poliovirus replication at that site. To ascertain whether PVR is the sole determinant of poliovirus susceptibility of the mouse intestine, we have generated transgenic mice by using the promoter for rat intestine fatty acid binding protein to direct PVR expression in mouse gut. Pvr was detected by immunohistochemistry in the enterocytes and M cells of transgenic mouse (TgFABP-PVR) small intestine. Upon oral inoculation with poliovirus, no increase in virus titer was detected in the feces of TgFABP-PVR mice, and no virus replication was observed in the small intestine, although poliovirus replicated in the brain after intracerebral inoculation. The failure of poliovirus to replicate in the TgFABP-PVR mouse small intestine was not due to lack of virus binding sites, because poliovirus could attach to fragments of small intestine from these mice. These results indicate that the inability of poliovirus to replicate in the mouse alimentary tract is not solely due to the absence of virus receptor, and other factors are involved in determining the ability of poliovirus to replicate in the mouse gut.
Easy Access to Soluble Polyanions-Stabilization of the One-Dimensional Chain 1∞ [K4 Sn9 ] by [18]Crown-6 in [K4 Sn9 ([18]crown-6)3 ]⋅ethylenediamine.

Well-characterized Group 14 Zintl anions were accessible by solution methods only in low yields up to now. An easy and inexpensive reaction route to polyanions, which starts from the elements, is admissible through the usage of [18]crown-6 as reaction medium at 40°C. The [K([18]crown-6)] unit proves to be an advantageous connecting device between intermetallic and organic networks. The title compound can be regarded as a supramolecular aggregate of a one-dimensional substructure of the composition K4 Sn9 (see picture) and an organic component.
Estimation on location of subsonic aerodynamic center for tandem airfoil configuration or multiple-lifting-surface system

With the effect of the aerodynamic interaction between lifting surfaces, the position of the airfoils' subsonic aerodynamic center will deviate from the quarter chord, so as to that of the whole aircraft. A method to estimate the location of subsonic aerodynamic center for tandem airfoil configuration or multiple-lifting-surface system is presented, which applies the increments of the aerodynamic force caused by the small change in angle of attack combined with the aerodynamic interaction between lifting surfaces. To simplify the calculation, the traditional approximation and the Taylors expansion are used. A series of tandem airfoil configurations with different parameters, such as the horizontal distance, the vertical distance, the incidence angle and the wingspan, are calculated by computational fluid dynamics and Prandtls lifting-line theory. The results indicate that the aerodynamic center are significantly influenced by the aerodynamic interaction between the two lifting surfaces. In the tandem airfoil configuration with the bigger horizontal distance, the negative vertical distance, the negative incidence angle and the smaller wingspan of the canard, the position of aerodynamic center is closer to the point without aerodynamic interaction.
Apoptosis and Differentiation of K562 Cells by Targeting GST-O1 to Inhibit 4-HNE Metabolism

Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitors are very effective drugs for treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), but treatment options are limited and relatively ineffective for patients with de-novo or acquired resistance. The K562 human erythroleukemia cell line, derived from a pleural effusion during blast crisis of a CML patient, is very useful for studying hematopoietic differentiation because it undergoes differentiation and apoptosis in response to chemicals that propagate lipid-peroxidation. 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), a reactive aldehyde produced from peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, is metabolized primarily by glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). 4-HNE causes differentiation, apoptosis and necrosis in K562 cells, but cannot be used as a drug for resistant CML because of its highly toxic nature. Present studies addressed the possibility of developing an alternative targeted treatment aimed at increasing intracellular 4-HNE through inhibition of GST. Because the major GST-isoenzymes in leukemia cells are also present in normal tissues, we explored the possibility of modulating cellular 4-HNE levels by inhibiting GST isozymes with high activity towards 4-HNE. Our studies identified the presence of the GSTO1 isoenzyme in K562 cells, demonstrated its activity towards 4-HNE, and showed that its depletion causes apoptosis, necrosis and differentiation of these cells. These effects of GSTO1 depletion appear to involve RUNX1 mediated transcriptional regulation of GM-CSF. These findings offer a new target for treatment of resistant CML.
Global Gov Jam: Motivational Aspects of Participants

Open innovation initiatives aimed at building and proposing service improvements for the Government increasingly include activities of programming marathons for Apps (hackathons), ideation and prototype challenges as different ways to stimulate civic engagement. In this scenario is the Global Gov Jam, a 48-hour event that happens simultaneously in several cities around the world, aiming to involve government people together with citizens to propose innovative ideas for solving governmental problems. This work investigates what are the main motivational aspects of factors that lead people to engage in Global Gov Jam and what are the correlations among those factors. The method used was the replication of a survey applied previously to participants of civic hackathon events, with some adaptations motivated by the characteristics of the type of event we studied. The results show that "thinking outside the box", which gives the possibility of producing innovation without the conventional limitations, is the most significant motivational aspect for participating in this event. Evidence points to the similarity of the main motivational factors, among the results found in the original research on hackathons and this work. We also demonstrate through empirical evidence that there is correlation among motivational factors related to social interactions, such as visibility among peers, performing teamwork, and networking.
[Early effects of 7.5% hypertonic saline solution on splanchnic perfusion after hemorrhagic shock].

PURPOSE To evaluate the effects of SSH resuscitation on systemic and splanchnic hemodynamic variables in an experimental model of controlled hemorrhagic shock. METHODS Ten mongrel dogs were bled (20 ml/min) to a target mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 40+/-5 mmHg. After 30 minutes of shock, animals received SSH infused in 5-minute and they were observed for 60 minutes thereafter. Systemic hemodynamics were evaluated through a Swan-Ganz and arterial catheters while gastrointestinal tract perfusion by a catheter inside the portal vein, an ultrasonic flowprobe around portal vein blood flow (PVBF) and a gastric tonometer. Splanchnic oxygen delivery and consumption, intramucosal pH and veno-arterial, portal-arterial and mucosal-arterial pCO2-gradients (D(ap-a)pCO2, D(vp-a)pCO2 e D(t-a)pCO2, respectively) were assessed. RESULTS Hemorrhage (29.8+/-2.4 ml/Kg) induced significant decreases in MAP (125+/-6 to 42+/-1 mmHg), in CO (1.9+/-0.2 to 0.6+/-0.1 L/min), and PVBF (504+/-73 to 126+/-12 ml/min) while significant increases were detected in D(ap-a)pCO2 (5.3+/-0.8 to 19.9+/-1.6 mmHg) D(vp-a)pCO2 (5.4+/-1.4 to 22.6+/-2.1 mmHg) and D(t-a)pCO2 (6.1+/-1.1 to 43.8+/-7.5 mmHg). SSH infusion promoted only partial benefits in systemic and splanchnic blood flows. Reduced pCO2 gradients but fewer effects in D(t-a)pCO2 were observed. CONCLUSION The SSH infusion promoted partial systemic and splanchnic hemodynamic benefits. Those benefits were especially poor at the splanchnic microcirculation, as evaluated by D(t-a)pCO2. In addition, systemic and regional oxygen-derived variables do not reflect the regional microcirculation disturbances. Gastrointestinal tonometry clearly represents a useful tool for monitoring splanchnic perfusion in patients in hemodynamic shock.
Cyber-support: An analysis of online self-help forums (online self-help forums in bipolar disorder)

Background: The Internet is becoming increasingly important in psychiatry and psychotherapy. Aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate if and how online self-help forums are used by patients with bipolar disorders, their relatives and treating professionals. Methods: A total of 2400 postings in two online forums were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. Results: “Disclosure”, “friendship” and “online-group cohesion” were the main self-help mechanisms. The topics most discussed were “social network”, “symptoms of the illness” and “medication”. Factor analyses revealed three factors concerning self-help mechanisms: “group cohesion”, “emotional support” and “exchange of information”, as well as three factors concerning fields of interest: “illness-related aspects”, “social aspects” and “financial and legal issues”. Conclusion: We infer that the main interest in participating in online forums for patients with bipolar disorders and their relatives is to share emotions and to discuss their daily struggles with the illness. Our study also reveals that social networking is very important for patients coping with bipolar disorders. Psycho-educative programmes should focus on those aspects.
Comparative sequence of human and mouse BAC clones from the mnd2 region of chromosome 2p13.

The mnd2 mutation on mouse chromosome 6 produces a progressive neuromuscular disorder. To determine the gene content of the 400-kb mnd2 nonrecombinant region, we sequenced 108 kb of mouse genomic DNA and 92 kb of human genomic sequence from the corresponding region of chromosome 2p13.3. Three genes with the indicated sizes and intergenic distances were identified: D6Mm5e (>/=81 kb)-787 bp-DOK (2 kb)-845 bp-LOR2 (>/=6 kb). D6Mm5e is expressed in many tissues at very low abundance and the predicted 526-residue protein contains no known functional domains. DOK encodes the p62(dok) rasGAP binding protein involved in signal transduction. LOR2 encodes a novel lysyl oxidase-related protein of 757 amino acid residues. We describe a simple search protocol for identification of conserved internal exons in genomic sequence. Evolutionary conservation proved to be a useful criterion for distinguishing between authentic exons and artifactual products obtained by exon amplification, RT-PCR, and 5' RACE. Conserved noncoding sequence elements longer than 80 bp with >/=75% nucleotide sequence identity comprise approximately 1% of the genomic sequence in this region. Comparative analysis of this human and mouse genomic DNA sequence was an efficient method for gene identification and is independent of developmental stage or quantitative level of gene expression. [The sequence data described in this paper have been submitted to the GenBank data library under the following accession numbers: AC003061, mouse BAC clone 245c12; AC003065, human BAC clone h173(E10); AF053368, mouse Lor2 cDNA; AF084363, 108-kb contig from mouse BAC 245c12; AF084364, mouse D6Mm5e cDNA. ]
A comparison of the late patency rates of axillobilateral femoral and axillounilateral femoral grafts.

A total of 130 axillofemoral grafts were peformed in 120 patients from 1966 to present; 66 were axillobilateral femoral moral and 64 were axillounilateral femoral grafts. The average patient age was 66 years. The indications for operation were occlusive disease with rest pain or gangrene in 102 patients, severe claudication four, and bypass of a thoracic aneurysm in one. The one month operative mortality rate was 8 percent (ten patients). Four deaths occurred in elderly patients operated upon as emergencies with acute aortic occlusion. In the 126 elective cases, there were six postoperative deaths (4.7 percent). Twenty thrombectomies were performed in 15 axillobilateral femoral grafts of which 15 (75 percent) were successful. In the unilateral grafts there were 25 thrombectomies in 22 grafts, of which only eight (32 percent) were successful. The 5 year patency rate by the life-table method was 74 percent for axillobilateral femoral grafts and 37 percent for axillounilateral femoral grafts. This difference in patency rates is statistically significant (p < 0.01). Average flow measured by electromagnetic flow meter in six axillobilateral femoral grafts was 621 c.c. per minute and in 11 unilateral femoral grafts was 273 c.c. per minute. We attribute the higher patency rate in axillobilateral femoral grafts to this increased flow. These data indicate that axillobilateral femoral grafts may be performed with anticipation of a 5 year patency rate comparable to that with conventional aortoiliac reconstruction and that axillobilateral femoral grafts should be performed in preference to axillounilateral femoral grafts in poor-risk patients requiring extra-anatomic bypass for aortoiliac occlusive disease.
The incidence of carcinoma in cytologically benign thyroid cysts.

BACKGROUND The management of cytologically benign thyroid cysts is controversial. Treatment options include observation, chemical sclerosis, and surgery. This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of carcinoma in cytologically benign thyroid cysts that recur after complete aspiration and to determine the indications for surgery in these patients. METHODS The medical records of 1189 consecutive patients undergoing thyroid surgery between July 1995 and November 2000 were reviewed. In 34 patients the indication for surgery was a thyroid cyst with benign cytologic findings that refilled at least once after complete aspiration. These patients were selected for further study. RESULTS The 26 women and 8 men had a median age of 42 years. Fine-needle aspiration cytology was consistent with a benign cyst in all these cases. Final pathologic findings revealed the nodule to be a papillary carcinoma in 4 patients (12%). In another 4 patients (12%) an incidental microscopic papillary carcinoma, separate from the cyst, was identified on final pathologic findings. In all 4 patients with papillary carcinoma the cyst size was greater than 3 cm (range, 3.4 to 5.0 cm). CONCLUSIONS The incidence of malignancy in cytologically benign thyroid cysts that recur after aspiration is high enough to warrant surgical excision, especially if the cyst is greater than 3 cm in size.
Review article: alginate‐raft formulations in the treatment of heartburn and acid reflux

Alginate‐based raft‐forming formulations have been marketed word‐wide for over 30 years under various brand names, including Gaviscon. They are used for the symptomatic treatment of heartburn and oesophagitis, and appear to act by a unique mechanism which differs from that of traditional antacids. In the presence of gastric acid, alginates precipitate, forming a gel. Alginate‐based raft‐forming formulations usually contain sodium or potassium bicarbonate; in the presence of gastric acid, the bicarbonate is converted to carbon dioxide which becomes entrapped within the gel precipitate, converting it into a foam which floats on the surface of the gastric contents, much like a raft on water. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that alginate‐based rafts can entrap carbon dioxide, as well as antacid components contained in some formulations, thus providing a relatively pH‐neutral barrier. Several studies have demonstrated that the alginate raft can preferentially move into the oesophagus in place, or ahead, of acidic gastric contents during episodes of gastro‐oesophageal reflux; some studies further suggest that the raft can act as a physical barrier to reduce reflux episodes. Although some alginate‐based formulations also contain antacid components which can provide significant acid neutralization capacity, the efficacy of these formulations to reduce heartburn symptoms does not appear to be totally dependent on the neutralization of bulk gastric contents.
The Effect of Aldosterone Antagonists for Ventricular Arrhythmia: A Meta‐Analysis

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) from cardiac arrest, one of the most common types of cardiac‐related death, is most often triggered by ventricular arrhythmia (VA). It has been reported that aldosterone antagonists (AAs) have the benefit of reducing SCD in patients with heart failure (HF). It also has been indicated in animal experiments and clinical trials that AAs may have an antiarrhythmic effect.
Statistical Analysis of Bicyclists’ Injury Severity at Unsignalized Intersections

Objectives: This study investigated factors correlated with the severity of injuries sustained by bicyclists in bicycle–motor vehicle crashes at unsignalized intersections to develop site-specific countermeasures and interventions to improve bicycle safety. Method: Crash data were extracted from accident reports entered into the Kentucky State Police's Kentucky Collision Database in 2002–2012. A partial proportional odds model was developed for data analysis. Results: According to our modeling results, stop-controlled intersections, one-lane approaches, helmet usage, and lower speed limits were associated with decreased injury severity, whereas uncontrolled intersections, older (age > 55) drivers and bicyclists, child (age < 16) bicyclists, foggy and rainy weather, inadequate use of lights in dark conditions, and wet road surfaces were linked with increased injury severity. Conclusions: Based on these results, we suggest the development of educational programs focused on the following groups: child bicyclists, older bicyclists, and older drivers. Investigating and modifying street lighting could improve bicycle safety. Implementing road diets/traffic calming methods could create a safer traffic environment. Certain traffic control strategies (e.g., stop control) could be considered for uncontrolled intersections with high bicycle exposure, and helmet campaigns should be launched to increase helmet awareness and use. The study also suggests some interesting future research directions, including examining driver/bicyclist behaviors at uncontrolled intersections and studying the riding behaviors of child bicyclists in Kentucky.