Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament deficient knees in soccer players with an iliotibial band autograft

One hundred and thirty‐two consecutive soccer players (117 males and 15 females, median age 23, range 16–39 years) underwent primary reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) with an iliotibial band (ITB) autograft. All patients were followed prospectively for a minimum of 2 years. One hundred and eighteen patients (89%) attended an independent observer follow‐up after a median of 47 (24–92) months. The time before participating in soccer was a median of 7 (5–24) months. At a median of 4 years, 80 (68%) were still active soccer players, while 38 had changed activity to a lower level. Twenty‐five gave up soccer playing for reasons unrelated to the knee, and 13 (11%) gave up due to problems from the reconstructed knee. The Lysholm score improved from a median of 82 (range 42–99, mean [SD] 80.5 [±11.9]) points prior to the operation to a median of 99 (range 57–100, mean [SD] 94.6 [±8.5]) at follow‐up. The Tegner score improved from a median of 3.5 (0–7) preoperatively to 9 (1–10). Four patients (3%) sustained a rupture of the graft: three ruptures occurred among the 15 females (20%), and one was seen among the 117 males (0.8%) (P=0.01). Eight per cent had predominantly minor cosmetic complaints from the donor‐site hernia, while 51% had temporary discomfort from the staples used for graft fixation. Using the ITB autograft for ACL reconstruction, we found excellent and good results in soccer players with ACL deficiency and high demands for optimal knee function. The failure rate in general was comparable with other methods, and the majority was still active in soccer sports at a median of 4 years after surgery. An unacceptably high rerupture rate was registered in female players.
Multibase/wavelet transform coding of still images without blocking artifacts

This paper suggests a method which utilizes the possibility to adjust locally the transform as it was done in the multibase transform coding method and remove blocking artifacts using the multiresolution decomposition by the wavelet transform. Through the combination of two transforms, multibase and wavelet, the advantages of both are utilized. Also a suboptimal technique has been presented to select transforms and entropy coders and the general coding gain expression for the multibase transform has been derived.
Assembly and molecular mode of action of the Helicobacter pylori Cag type IV secretion apparatus

Bacterial type IV secretion systems (T4SS) form supramolecular protein complexes that are capable of transporting DNA or protein substrates across the bacterial cell envelope and, in many cases, also across eukaryotic target cell membranes. Because of these characteristics, they are often used by pathogenic bacteria for the injection of host cell‐modulating virulence factors. One example is the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori, which uses the Cag‐T4SS to induce a pro‐inflammatory response and multiple cytoskeletal and gene regulatory effects in gastric epithelial cells. Work in recent years has shown that the Cag‐T4SS exhibits marked differences in relation to other systems, both with respect to the composition of its secretion apparatus and the molecular details of its secretion mechanisms. This review describes the molecular properties of the Cag‐T4SS and compares these with prototypical systems of this family of protein transporters.
Using Group Investigation for Chemistry in Teacher Education.

In the context of Group Investigation in e-learning environment, learning to work together productively as well as to interact socially and effectively in a group is a difficult task. A variety of skills, for example, interpersonal, problem solving, and study skills would be needed. It is also not uncommon to assume that learners would have acquired these skills and the processes of group work from their experiences on social interactions and discourse. Therefore, modeling of Group Investigation is one way to address this problem. This paper provides insights on using constructivist paradigm for instructional design that maximises the potential of Group Investigation to enhance e-learning. An on-line module on computer-based learning in chemistry is
Motor activity of pregnant tethered sows.

Continuous recording of body postures (standing or lying) using photocells connected to an event recorder was carried out on 125 pregnant sows tethered either by a thoracic girth or by a neck harness in six different farms, at different times of the year. Standing activity occupied an average of 250 min per day. This position occurred mainly during daytime, with amount of standing during the night (10 p.m. to 6 p.m.) averaging less than 2% of the total time. This mean value was found in 4 farms out of 6. However, on one farm, standing postures lasted 390 min and this hyperactivity was associated with stereotypes. In another farm, time spent standing did not exceed 180 min. In all cases, multiparous sows spent about 60% more time standing than first or second litter sows. Time spent standing was dependent on other animal characteristics such as physical condition and foot condition, and also on environmental factors. Activity rhythms were synchronized by food distribution. These results are discussed together with the potential of using motor activity to characterize adaptability of sows to tethering.
Blood Parameters and Body Composition in Fetuses from Reciprocal Crosses of Genetically Lean and Obese Swine 1

Abstract Lines of swine previously selected for either high backfat (obese) or low backfat (lean) were investigated to determine the effect of maternal obesity and the relationship between serum parameters and body composition. Fetal weight, percentage body protein, fat, fat-free organic matter and ash, and serum concentrations of albumin, growth hormone, triiodothyronine, and cortisol were compared in fetuses from straight line and reciprocal crosses at 110 days of gestation. Fetuses from the obese line weighed less but had a greater percentage body protein, fat, and fat-free organic matter than did fetuses from the lean line. Serum concentrations of albumin and triiodothyronine were less whereas those of growth hormone were greater in fetuses from the lean line compared to fetuses from the obese line. Values for these parameters in fetuses from the reciprocal crosses were generally intermediate to those of fetuses from the lean and obese lines. Comparisons of fetuses from the reciprocal and line crosses by linear contrast showed that the observed differences were mainly due to the average genetic effect of individual fetal genotypes and not due to maternal effects. Correlations computed from the residual variance showed a positive relationship between percentage body protein, serum albumin, and triiodothyronine while percentage body fat was not correlated with any of the other traits. Serum growth hormone was negatively correlated with fetal weight. We conclude that there is no apparent maternal effect of obesity or relationship of fetal fat content with any of the other variables measured in these lines of swine at the stage of fetal development at which these determinations were made.
Nitric oxide activates guanylate cyclase and increases guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate levels in various tissue preparations.

Nitric oxide gas (NO) increased guanylate cyclase [GTP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6. 1.2] activity in soluble and particulate preparations from various tissues. The effect was dose-dependent and was observed with all tissue preparations examined. The extent of activation was variable among different tissue preparations and was greatest (19- to 33-fold) with supernatant fractions of homogenates from liver, lung, tracheal smooth muscle, heart, kidney, cerebral cortex, and cerebellum. Smaller effects (5- to 14-fold) were observed with supernatant fractions from skeletal muscle, spleen, intestinal muscle, adrenal, and epididymal fat. Activation was also observed with partially purified preparations of guanylate cyclase. Activation of rat liver supernatant preparations was augmented slightly with reducing agents, decreased with some oxidizing agents, and greater in a nitrogen than in an oxygen atmosphere. After activation with NO, guanylate cyclase activity decreased with a half-life of 3-4 at 4 degrees but re-exposure to NO resulted in reactivation of preparations. Sodium azide, sodium nitrite, hydroxylamine, and sodium nitroprusside also increased guanylate cyclase activity as reported previously. NO alone and in combination with these agents produced approximately the same degree of maximal activation, suggesting that all of these agents act through a similar mechanism. NO also increased the accumulation of cyclic GMP but not cyclic AMP in incubations of minces from various rat tissues. We propose that various nitro compounds and those capable of forming NO in incubations activate guanylate cyclase through a similar but undefined mechanism. These effects may explain the high activities of guanylate cyclase in certain tissues (e.g., lung and intestinal mucosa) that are exposed to environmental nitro compounds.
Delineating the functional map of the interaction between nimotuzumab and the epidermal growth factor receptor

Molecular details of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeting by nimotuzumab, a therapeutic anti-cancer antibody, have been largely unknown. The current study delineated a functional map of their interface, based on phage display and extensive mutagenesis of both the target antigen and the Fv antibody fragment. Five residues in EGFR domain III (R353, S356, F357, T358, and H359T) and the third hypervariable region of nimotuzumab heavy chain were shown to be major functional contributors to the interaction. Fine specificity differences between nimotuzumab and other anti-EGFR antibodies were revealed. Mapping information guided the generation of a plausible in silico binding model. Knowledge about the epitope/paratope interface opens new avenues for the study of tumor sensitivity/resistance to nimotuzumab and for further engineering of its binding site. The developed mapping platform, also validated with the well-known cetuximab epitope, allows a comprehensive exploration of antigenic regions and could be expanded to map other anti-EGFR antibodies.
The Split Bregman Method for L1-Regularized Problems

The class of L1-regularized optimization problems has received much attention recently because of the introduction of “compressed sensing,” which allows images and signals to be reconstructed from small amounts of data. Despite this recent attention, many L1-regularized problems still remain difficult to solve, or require techniques that are very problem-specific. In this paper, we show that Bregman iteration can be used to solve a wide variety of constrained optimization problems. Using this technique, we propose a “split Bregman” method, which can solve a very broad class of L1-regularized problems. We apply this technique to the Rudin-Osher-Fatemi functional for image denoising and to a compressed sensing problem that arises in magnetic resonance imaging.
The influence of biofilm structure and total interaction energy on Escherichia coli retention by Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm

The retention of a surrogate pathogenic bacterium, Escherichia coliT , in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms (with various EPS excreting capacities) was investigated using a laboratory flow cell system. The structural characteristics of the biofilm, as well as the quantity of E. coliT retained in the biofilm, were assessed using confocal laser scanning microscopy coupled with image analysis. In addition, the total interaction energy between E. coliT and the P. aeruginosa biofilm was computed with the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory, which provided an additional context to explain the pathogen interaction in aquatic biofilms. The correlations between the quantity of detained E. coliT cells and the structural characteristics of the biofilm were analysed and the results indicated that the heterogeneity of the biofilm could create a quiescent zone leading to temporary retention of E. coliT within the biofilm. Overall, this study provided insights toward understanding the retention of pathogenic bacteria in environmental biofilms.
Factors affecting the distribution of tumor metastases; experiments with V2 carcinoma of rabbits.

Scarcity of tumor metastases in certain organs, such as voluntary muscles, might be due to low tumor susceptibility (unfavorable “soil”) or to failure of cancer cells to reach these organs. If the latter explanation is correct, secondary tumors should arise in all organs receiving an adequate number of embolizing tumor cells. This can be accomplished by injecting a suspension of tumor cells into the arterial blood supply of an organ. The tumor employed was the V2 carcinoma derived from the Shope rabbit papilloma. When suspensions of cells from this tumor were injected into the femoral artery of rabbits, massive neoplastic growths infiltrated the leg muscles, showing that skeletal muscles readily support secondary tumors. If tumor cells are injected into the left side of the heart, they should be distributed to and produce metastases in all organs. This was verified experimentally. Hence scarcity of metastases in an organ is due to scarcity of tumor emboli in the systemic arterial blood, as the result of screening by the lungs. Screening of cells of this tumor was found to be highly efficient, as injection of cancer cells into the femoral vein was followed by a multitude of secondary tumors in the lungs but not one tumor was found elsewhere. It is concluded that scarcity of metastases in an organ is explainable by scarcity of tumor cells reaching that organ. Under the conditions of these experiments, no organ proved to be unfavorable soil.
Effect of inhibitors of protein synthesis and DNA replication on the induction of proteolytic activities, caspase-like activities and cell death in the unicellular chlorophyte Dunaliella tertiolecta

When the chlorophyte alga Dunaliella tertiolecta is placed in darkness, a form of programmed cell death with many similarities to apoptosis (including the induction of caspase-like proteases) is induced. Many uncertainties about this process remain, two of which are whether it requires protein synthesis and whether there is potential viral involvement. In order to examine the relationship between the induction and/or activation of proteolytic activities and the cell death event, we used inhibitors of cytoplasmic protein synthesis (cycloheximide, CHX), organellar protein synthesis (chloramphenicol, CAP) and DNA synthesis (mitomycin C, MMC). Use of MMC also allowed us to examine whether temperate viruses were present in the D. tertiolecta isolate, since MMC treatment has been shown to induce lytic cycles. Addition of protein synthesis inhibitors (100 μM CHX or 1500 μM CAP applied singly or both inhibitors added together) did not prevent cell death from occurring when cultures were placed in the dark. There were no differences in caseinolytic activities visualized using zymograms, or in caspase 1, 3, 8 and 9 -like activities. Surprisingly, 100 μM MMC prevented the cell death event. Caseinolytic activities that appeared in darkness in controls did not appear in MMC-treated cultures, and caspase-like activities remained the same as in controls maintained in the light. The lack of effect of CHX and CAP suggests that the cell death programme we observe does not depend on protein synthesis, but rather on post-translational modification of pre-existing proteins. Results for MMC discount the involvement of temperate virus, but are difficult to interpret. MMC affects DNA synthesis and presumably transcription, but since inhibitors of translation did not prevent cell death, it is not clear why inhibiting transcription would. MMC affects cell cycle progression and cell division cycles, thus these processes may play as yet unexplained roles in mediating the cell death process observed.
The changes in age of peak swim speed for elite male and female Swiss freestyle swimmers between 1994 and 2012

Abstract This study determined the age and its changes across years of peak swimming performance from 50 to 1,500 m freestyle. Data of 70,059 Swiss freestyle swimmers (33,725 women and 36,334 men) aged 10–40 years and competing from 50 to 1,500 m were analysed. The association between age and swimming speed of the annual ten fastest swimmers was investigated using single and multi-level hierarchical regression analyses. For women, age of peak swimming speed increased in 50 m from 18.9 (s = 2.3) to 20.4 (s = 4.2) years but decreased in 1,500 m from 25.0 (s = 13.1) (1996) to 18.1 (s = 3.7) years. For 100–800 m, age remained at 19.1 (s = 1.1), 19.3 (s = 1.1), 18.7 (s = 1.5) and 18.5 (s = 1.3) years, respectively. For men, age of peak swimming speed decreased in 50 m from 23.0 (s = 4.0) to 23.0 (s = 3.5) but remained for 100–1,500 m at 22.5 (s = 1.4), 21.4 (s = 0.9), 20.3 (s = 0.9), 20.3 (s = 0.9) and 20.3 (s = 1.1) years, respectively. Age was positively associated with swimming speed for 50–800 m, but negatively for 1,500 m. In conclusion, the age of peak swimming speed was younger in women compared to men for 50–800 m freestyle. For women, age of peak swimming speed increased in 50 m but decreased in 1,500 m freestyle across years. For men, age of peak swimming speed decreased in 50 m freestyle.
Large Scale System Monitoring and Analysis on Blue Waters using OVIS.

Understanding the complex interplay between applications competing for shared platform resources can be key to maximizing both platform and application performance. At the same time, use of monitoring tools on platforms designed to support extreme scale applications presents a number of challenges with respect to scaling and impact on applications due to increased noise and jitter. In this paper, we present our approach to high fidelity whole system monitoring of resource utilization including High Speed Network link data on NCSA’s Cray XE/XK platform Blue Waters utilizing the OVIS monitoring framework. We then describe architectural implementation details that make this monitoring system suitable for scalable monitoring within the Cray hardware and software environment. Finally we present our methodologies for measuring impact and the results.
The viral association of neonatal cholestasis in Sweden: a possible link between cytomegalovirus infection and extrahepatic biliary atresia.

BACKGROUND In addition to earlier reports on the association between viral infections and intrahepatic neonatal cholestasis, in recent studies, investigators have suggested a similar link to extrahepatic biliary atresia. METHODS Fifty-nine cholestatic infants (mean age 8 weeks) were investigated for signs of infection with a large spectrum of viruses. Twenty-one infants had extrahepatic biliary atresia, 38 had intrahepatic cholestasis. The virologic methods included serologic investigation in 59 infants and 54 mothers, virus isolation from stools (49 infants), urine (58 infants) and liver biopsies (40 infants). Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect cytomegalovirus DNA in 25 of the liver biopsy specimens. Two control groups, one with 35 noncholestatic infants and one with 111 healthy, pregnant women were checked for serologic signs of cytomegalovirus. RESULTS Nineteen of 59 (32%) cholestatic infants, including 8 of 21 (38%) with extrahepatic biliary atresia, compared with 2 of 35 (6%) control infants had cytomegalovirus-immunoglobulin (Ig) M detected in serum (p < 0.01). Fifty-one of 54 (94%) tested mothers of cholestatic infants were seropositive for cytomegalovirus, compared with 83 of 111 (75%) control mothers (p < 0.01). Cytomegalovirus DNA in liver specimens was detected by polymerase chain reaction in 9 of 18 (50%) analyzed patients with biliary atresia and in specimens from 3 of 7 patients with intrahepatic cholestasis. CONCLUSIONS Cytomegalovirus infection may play a role, not only in intrahepatic neonatal cholestasis, as was suggested earlier, but also in extrahepatic biliary atresia. The pathogenetic mechanism for this link remains to be established.
A Novel Strategy for Global Analysis of the Dynamic Thiol Redox Proteome*

Nitroxidative stress in cells occurs mainly through the action of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species (RNOS) on protein thiol groups. Reactive nitrogen and oxygen species-mediated protein modifications are associated with pathophysiological states, but can also convey physiological signals. Identification of Cys residues that are modified by oxidative stimuli still poses technical challenges and these changes have never been statistically analyzed from a proteome-wide perspective. Here we show that GELSILOX, a method that combines a robust proteomics protocol with a new computational approach that analyzes variance at the peptide level, allows a simultaneous analysis of dynamic alterations in the redox state of Cys sites and of protein abundance. GELSILOX permits the characterization of the major endothelial redox targets of hydrogen peroxide in endothelial cells and reveals that hypoxia induces a significant increase in the status of oxidized thiols. GELSILOX also detected thiols that are redox-modified by ischemia-reperfusion in heart mitochondria and demonstrated that these alterations are abolished in ischemia-preconditioned animals.
The Use of C1 Lateral Mass Screws in Complex Cervical Spine Surgery: Indications, Techniques, and Outcome in a Prospective Consecutive Series of 25 Cases

Objectives Direct C1 lateral mass/C2 pars or pedicle screw fixation has been recently proposed as an alternative method to C1-C2 transarticular screw fixation. Although this method seems attractive, there are currently limited clinical data on the use of this technique for multilevel fixation including complex craniocervical reconstructions. The objectives of this study were to assess the safety and the clinical/radiographic outcomes in patients undergoing cervical spine surgery using C1 lateral mass screws (C1-LMS). Methods A prospectively accrued database was reviewed to determine initial presentation, etiology, operations, complications, and clinical/radiologic outcomes. Results Twenty-five patients with a mean age of 56 underwent fixation with C1-LMS. Mean follow-up was 12 months. The indications for using C1-LMS instead of C1-C2 transarticular screws were: unfavorable bony or vascular anatomy, tumor destruction, thoracic kyphosis or cervical hyperlordosis, inability to reduce the C1-C2 dislocation intraoperatively and or surgeon preference. Satisfactory stability was achieved in all cases with no neurologic or vascular complications. In one case, the C1 screws breached the medial cortex. Three patients developed transient postoperative C2 neuralgia. One patient had an extended stay in ICU due to respiratory issues. Conclusions On the basis of our experience, proficiency with the use of C1-LMS screw fixation greatly enhances the ability to manage complex atlantoaxial or craniocervical pathologies with low morbidity. This technique should be considered an excellent adjunct or alternative to transarticular screw fixation.