Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aneurysm geometry in predicting the risk of rupture. A review of the literature

Abstract The management of unruptured aneurysms (UAs), whose incidence is increasing, is still a controversial issue. Many studies have been investigating the link between the geometry of the aneurysm and the risk of future rupture in order to bring forth a clear decision plan. The different estimators studied are the aneurysm’s geometry and hemodynamic features on one hand, and the patient’s clinical characteristics on the other. We reviewed the literature while focusing on the different geometrical parameters that have been used in estimating the future risk of rupture. These include mainly the size ratio (SR), the aspect ratio, the non-sphericity index (NI), the undulation index (UI), and the vessel aneurysm inclination angle (AA), to name a few.
High Rates of Self-Fertilization in a Marine Ribbon Worm (Nemertea)

Organisms capable of self-fertilization (“selfing”) typically exhibit two evolutionary syndromes: uniting high inbreeding depression with low levels of selfing, or low inbreeding depression with high levels of selfing. We examined the effect of inbreeding on fecundity and time to first reproduction in an apparently self-compatible, simultaneously hermaphroditic marine nemertean worm Prosorhochmus americanus. Adult and juvenile worms were raised in isolation or in pairs. Isolated worms produced significantly more offspring than paired worms (in the adult experiment), and did not exhibit inbreeding avoidance (in the juvenile experiment). The selfing rate of six natural populations was evaluated using 17 species-specific, microsatellite markers, and was consistent with preferential selfing (mean: 0.843, SD: 0.027). Our results showed that P. americanus exhibited an interesting suite of life-history traits, uniting high colonization potential through self-fertilization and high fecundity, with no dispersive larval stage, and with moderate levels of gene flow. We believe that P. americanus is an ideal model system for studies of mating system evolution, inbreeding, and sex allocation.
A LARGE SPHERICAL NEAR-FIELD ARCH SCANNER FOR CHARACTERIZING LOW-FREQUENCY PHASED ARRAYS

An arch-based spherical near-field measurement system has been commissioned at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Syracuse, New York. This system is designed for highfidelity testing of large, low-frequency, phased-array radars. The near-field scanner system consists of a 9.5meter-radius arch with an active probe-position-error correction, and a large azimuth axis capable of carrying large arrays. The shielded anechoic chamber designed to house the measurement system includes full treatment with curvilinear absorber to achieve low levels of stray signal at UHF band frequencies, FM-200 / VESDA fire protection, and a glycol based system for removing heat loads generated by the radars. The overall measurement system details are presented, along with mechanical accuracies achieved for the scanner system. Details of the chamber and host facility are described. Finally, the paper concludes with measurements of a UHF-band Standard Gain Horn using the system. The challenges and benefits of such a system will be highlighted.
Toward a simplification of the protein folding problem: a stabilizing polyalanine alpha-helix engineered in T4 lysozyme.

In an attempt to simplify the protein folding problem, and also to further investigate the role of alanine as a helix-stabilizing residue, a series of alanines was introduced within the alpha-helix that includes residues 126-134 of T4 lysozyme. In wild-type lysozyme this alpha-helix contains alanine residues at positions 129, 130, and 134. Mutant lysozymes with alanines substituted at positions 128, 131, 132, and 133, either as single substitutions or in selected combinations, were constructed by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. With the exception of the replacement of Leu 133, which is buried within the hydrophobic core of the protein, all the variants were more stable than wild-type lysozyme. The variant with alanines substituted at positions 128, 131, and 132 (E128A/V131A/N132A), which incorporates the sequence Ala 128-Ala 129-Ala 130-Ala 131-Ala 132-Leu 133-Ala 134, has a melting temperature 3.3 degrees C above that of wild-type lysozyme. Determination of the crystal structure of this mutant lysozyme shows that the replacement of Glu 128, Val 131, and Asn 132 with alanine causes alpha-helix 126-134 to rotate 3.4 degrees about an axis parallel to its own axis. This rotation seems to be triggered primarily by the loss of a hydrogen bond between Asn 132 and Ser 117 and is associated with the repacking of several side chains at the interface between alpha-helix 126-134 and the adjacent alpha-helix 115-122. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of LMX and Differential Treatment on Work Unit Commitment

The Leader-Member exchange (LMX) theory of leadership states that leaders do behave differently towards the various members in their work unit. Relatively little attention has been devoted to the question of whether members' perceptions of differential treatment on the part of the leader affects their commitment to the work unit. Perceptions of the amount of differential treatment within their work unit did not explain additional variance in members' work unit commitment after the effects of LMX quality were accounted for. There was, however, a significant interaction effect of LMX quality and differential treatment on work unit commitment. The perception of a large number of differential treatment incidents seems to act as a neutralizer with respect to the positive effects LMX quality may have.
Treatment of Kawasaki Disease: Analysis of 27 US Pediatric Hospitals From 2001 to 2006

OBJECTIVES: We sought to analyze trends in admissions and to describe therapies used for acute Kawasaki disease over a 6-year period. METHODS: The Pediatric Health Information System provides patient data including demographic variables, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes, and services billed to patients. Patient identifiers enable tracking of medication use in and across multiple admissions within a center. We analyzed data for patients with (1) a diagnosis code for Kawasaki disease, (2) intravenously administered immunoglobulin treatment during hospitalization, and (3) discharge between January 1, 2001, and December 30, 2006, from 27 hospitals contributing complete data over the study period. RESULTS: During the study period, 5197 Kawasaki disease admissions were identified for 4811 patients; numbers increased 32.6% from 2001 (n = 678) to 2006 (n = 899). Retreatment with intravenous immunoglobulin was administered to 712 patients (14.8%) over the study period. Other antiinflammatory therapies included intravenously administered methylprednisolone (5.8%), orally administered prednisone (2.8%), and infliximab (1%). Use of infliximab steadily increased from 0.0% (0 of 678 patients) in 2001 to 2.3% (21 of 899 patients) in 2006. Coronary artery aneurysms were coded for 3.3% of patients. Male patients, patients <1 year of age, and Hispanic patients were significantly more likely to have coding for coronary artery aneurysms. CONCLUSIONS: Our report provides the first large multicenter description of agents used in the treatment of intravenously administered immunoglobulin-resistant Kawasaki disease in the United States. Trends include increased numbers of admissions attributable to Kawasaki disease and increased usage of infliximab.
Long‐Term Effects of Electrical Neurostimulation in Patients With Unstable Angina: Refractory to Conventional Therapies

Background. Patients with unstable angina pectoris may become refractory to conventional therapies. Electrical neurostimulation with transcutaneous electrical stimulation and/or spinal cord stimulation has been shown to be effective for patients with refractory unstable angina pectoris in hospital settings. Our aim was to investigate the effects of electrical neurostimulation on outcomes of unstable angina after hospital discharge, in terms of hospital re‐admission rates and long‐term survival analysis.
Comparability Effects of Mandatory IFRS Adoption

The mandatory adoption of IFRS by many countries worldwide fuels the expectation that financial accounting information might become more comparable across countries. This expectation is opposed to an alternative view that stresses the importance of incentives in shaping accounting information. We provide early evidence on this debate by investigating the effects of mandatory IFRS adoption on the comparability of financial accounting information around the world. Using two comparability proxies based on De Franco et al. [2011], our results suggest that the overall comparability effect of mandatory IFRS adoption is marginal at best. To investigate the reasons for this finding, we first hand-collect data on IFRS compliance for a sample of German and Italian firms and find that firm-, region-, and country-level incentives systematically shape accounting compliance. We then use the identified compliance incentives to explain the variance in the comparability effect of mandatory IFRS adoption and find it to vary systematically with firm-level incentives, suggesting that only firms with high compliance incentives experience substantial increases in comparability.
Anatomical and ultrasonographic study of the stomach and liver in sheep and goats.

This work was conducted on (500) small ruminants, (225) sheep and (275) goats of different weights, ages and sex admitted to the Veterinary Hospital and Surgery Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University. Five goats of this number were used for studying the normal anatomical positions of the abdominal organs through serial cross and sagittal sections. The aim of performing anatomical study in this work was to determine the acoustic window of different abdominal organs in sheep and goats. The others were either normal (300 animal) or clinically affected cases (195 animal) and were examined ultrasonographically. From the results of this study, the liver of sheep and goats can be examined in standing position or with the animal on left lateral recumbency using 3.5/ 5MHz sector transducer. The right 7 th to12 th intercostal spaces were the suitable acoustic window for the liver which appeared as numerous weak echoes homogenously distributed with its blood vessels. The portal vein appeared with an echogenic wall while the hepatic vein had a less echogenic one. The gall bladder was examined in standing or lateral recumbency from the right side at 9 th and/or 10 th intercostals spaces using 6/8MHz linear transducer and appeared as elongated oval or circular shape with anechoic content "bile" with smooth and thin echogenic wall. Ultrasonographic examination of the rumen was done by using a 5MHz sector transducer put on the dorsal aspect of the left flank region. The ruminal wall appeared as an echogenic band only, while the ruminal content was appeared as a dark shadow. The reticulum in sheep and goats was examined from the ventral abdominal region just caudal to xiphoid cartilage using a 5MHz sector transducer. Reticular movements were detected through real time scanning in the form of 4-5 biphasic contractions within 4 minutes. The omasum was examined using a 3.5-5MHz sector transducer on the right side at 10 th intercostal space while the abomasum was imaged using a 3.5-5MHz sector transducer on both ventral midline and right paramedian areas. Cirrhotic liver with cholecystitis and ruminal foreign bodies was detected with the aid of ultrsonography in the examined clinical cases.
Exciton binding energy and electron effective-mass in strain compensated InGaAsN/GaAs single Quantum Well

An electron effective mass (m<sub>e</sub>*) of (0.11plusmn0.015)m<sub>0</sub> is experimentally determined in high indium content InGaAsN quantum well. The impact of the large m<sub>e </sub>* in the material differential gain is analyzed through a gain model
Initiating Mechanisms of Experimentally Induced Tension-Type Headache

To elucidate possible myofascial mechanisms of tension-type headache, the effect of 30 min of sustained tooth clenching (10% of maximal EMG-signal) was studied in 58 patients with tension-type headache and in 30 age- and sex-matched controls. Pericranial tenderness, mechanical and thermal pain detection and tolerance thresholds and FMG levels were recorded before and after the clenching procedure. Within 24 h, 69% of patients and 17% of controls developed a tension-type headache. Shortly after clenching, tenderness was increased in the group who subsequently developed headache, whereas tenderness was stable in the group of patients who remained headache free. Mechanical pain thresholds evaluated by pressure algometry remained unchanged in the group which developed headache, whereas thresholds increased in the group which did not develop headache Thermal pain detection and tolerance thresholds remained unchanged in both groups. These findings indicate that, though there may be several different mechanisms of tension-type headache, one of them is sustained muscle contraction. A peripheral mechanism of tension-type headache is therefore possible, whereas a secondary segmental central sensitization seems to be involved in subjects with frequent, tension-type headache. Finally, the increase in pressure pain thresholds in patients who did not develop headache suggested that clenching activated their antinociceptive system, whereas those developing headache were, unable to do so.
The preventive effect of fish oil on abdominal aortic aneurysm development

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a vascular disease involving gradual dilation of the abdominal aorta and high rupture‐related mortality rates. AAA is histologically characterized by oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and extracellular matrix degradation in the vascular wall. We previously demonstrated that aortic hypoperfusion could cause the vascular inflammation and AAA formation. However, the preventive method for hypoperfusion‐induced AAA remains unknown. In this study, we evaluated the effect of fish oil on AAA development using a hypoperfusion‐induced AAA animal model. Dilation of the abdominal aorta in the fish oil administration group was smaller than in the control group. Collagen destruction and oxidative stress were suppressed in the fish oil administration group than in the control group. These results suggested that fish oil could prevent the development of AAA induced by hypoperfusion. Graphical abstract The aortic diameter of the dilated aorta (sac) in the fish oil administration group was significantly smaller than that in the control group.
Helping Aging Parents of Adult Children with Serious Mental Illness

ABSTRACT This manuscript reports the results of a study that pilot-tested a home-delivered, multidimensional problem-solving intervention aimed at helping aging parental caregivers of adult children with schizophrenia. The results indicate that the participants (N= 5) who received the 10-session intervention showed increased life satisfaction and emotional well-being and reduced feelings of burden compared with those participants in the control group (N= 10). If a planned larger-scale evaluation of the intervention provides evidence of its effectiveness, practitioners could have a valuable new treatment tool to provide assistance to this caregiver population.
Simultaneous administration of hesperidin or garlic oil modulates diazinon-induced hemato- and immunotoxicity in rats

Abstract Diazinon (DZN) has been used for several years in agriculture and urban applications leading to a variety of negative effects on health. Hesperidin (HDN) and garlic oil are naturally occurring compounds present in fruits and vegetables, which have been reported to have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory actions. This study was undertaken to throw light on the modulatory effect of HDN or garlic oil against hemato- and immunotoxicity induced by DZN in Wistar rats. Oral administration of DZN for 30 days resulted in significant decrease in RBCs count, Hb content, Ht value, platelet count, and relative lymphocyte and monocyte counts when compared with control groups. Moreover, DZN reduced significantly the serum total immunoglobulin concentration, hemagglutination titer, quantitative hemolysis of SRBCs, delayed type hypersensitivity, blood mononuclear cell proliferation, phagocytic index and blood T-cell subtypes (CD4+ and CD8+) in comparison with vehicle treatment. Co-administration of HDN or garlic oil, 30 min before DZN was able to normalize most of the hematological and immunological parameters. These results suggested that HDN or garlic oil, the natural antioxidants, can alleviate DZN induced hemato- and immunotoxicity.
Evidence behind the WHO guidelines: hospital care for children: should s/c adrenaline, hydrocortisone or antihistamines be used as premedication for snake antivenom?

The World Health Organization has produced guidelines for the management of common illnesses in hospitals with limited resources, these can be found at; http://www.who. int/child-adolescent-health/ publications/CHILD_HEALTH/PB.htm. This series reviews the scientific evidence behind WHO's recommendations. The WHO guidelines, and more reviews are available at www.ichrc. org. This review addresses the question: Should s/c adrenaline, hydrocortisone or antihistamines be used as premedication for snake antivenom? The WHO Pocketbook of Hospital Care for Children recommends that in the event antivenom is given for snakebite then IM epinephrine and IV chlorpheniramine should be prepared in case allergic reaction occurs.
A highly precise and portable genome engineering method allows comparison of mutational effects across bacterial species

Significance Current tools for bacterial genome engineering suffer from major limitations. They have been optimized for a few laboratory model strains, lead to the accumulation of numerous undesired, off-target modifications, and demand extensive modification of the host genome prior to large-scale editing. Herein, we address these problems and present a simple, all-in-one solution. By utilizing a highly conserved mutant allele of the bacterial mismatch-repair system, we were able to gain unprecedented precision in the control over the generation of desired modifications in multiple bacterial species. These results have broad implications with regards to both biotechnological and clinical applications. Currently available tools for multiplex bacterial genome engineering are optimized for a few laboratory model strains, demand extensive prior modification of the host strain, and lead to the accumulation of numerous off-target modifications. Building on prior development of multiplex automated genome engineering (MAGE), our work addresses these problems in a single framework. Using a dominant-negative mutant protein of the methyl-directed mismatch repair (MMR) system, we achieved a transient suppression of DNA repair in Escherichia coli, which is necessary for efficient oligonucleotide integration. By integrating all necessary components into a broad-host vector, we developed a new workflow we term pORTMAGE. It allows efficient modification of multiple loci, without any observable off-target mutagenesis and prior modification of the host genome. Because of the conserved nature of the bacterial MMR system, pORTMAGE simultaneously allows genome editing and mutant library generation in other biotechnologically and clinically relevant bacterial species. Finally, we applied pORTMAGE to study a set of antibiotic resistance-conferring mutations in Salmonella enterica and E. coli. Despite over 100 million y of divergence between the two species, mutational effects remained generally conserved. In sum, a single transformation of a pORTMAGE plasmid allows bacterial species of interest to become an efficient host for genome engineering. These advances pave the way toward biotechnological and therapeutic applications. Finally, pORTMAGE allows systematic comparison of mutational effects and epistasis across a wide range of bacterial species.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in Medical Anthropology: The experience of Malaysian Chinese Cancer Survivors

Discussions on socially and culturally dominant values, beliefs and practices pertaining to patient’s health and culture are not isolated but integral to the practice of contemporary clinical medicine. Medical anthropologists play a unique role in redefining and repositioning the application of CAM in biomedical sciences. This article addresses the current state of knowledge regarding the distinction between medical anthropology and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Participant observations of, and in-depth interviews with ten Malaysian Chinese women cancer survivors were carried out to study their CAM use during and after cancer treatment. The results provide insights about the patterns of CAM use as well as the social and cultural factors under-pining the choice of CAM used by cancer survivors before and after treatment. The survivors’ preference for CAM use during cancer diagnosis was found to be influenced by their values, beliefs, and practices with respect to five distinct areas, namely, widespread acceptance of a combined Western and Eastern treatment, traditional Chinese philosophy, existential or life threatening situations, social relationships, and positive influences of global networks. Keywords: cancer, Chinese community, complementary and alternative medicine, existential threat, integrative medicine, traditional Chinese philosophy
BV-BFV approach to general relativity: Einstein-Hilbert action

The present paper shows that general relativity in the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner formalism admits a BV-BFV formulation. More precisely, for any d + 1 ≠ 2 (pseudo-) Riemannian manifold M with space-like or time-like boundary components, the BV data on the bulk induces compatible BFV data on the boundary. As a byproduct, the usual canonical formulation of general relativity is recovered in a straightforward way.
The aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs during obstetric anesthesia.

J N MOST texts on pulmonary complications, aspiration of stomach contents 1 into the lungs during general anesthesia is considered under the heading of postanesthetic pneumonia. Aspiration of infected material is said to produce atelectasis, pne-umonia, and lung abscess . A survey of New York Lying-In Hospital records of patients that aspirated gastric contents during obstetric anesthesia revealed the following different diagnoses: suffocation, massive atelectasis, partial atelectasis, disc atelectasis, pulmonary infarct, aspiration pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, lobar pneumonia, virus pneumonia, atypical pneumonia, tuberculous pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, fungus infection, pulmonary metastasis, drowned lung, cardiac failure, pulmonary edema, and paroxysmal tachycardia. Obviously, a better understanding of this condition is wanting.