Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hormonal and Reproductive Factors are Associated With Chronic Low Back Pain and Chronic Upper Extremity Pain in Women–The MORGEN Study

Study Design. Cross-sectional study of 11,428 women aged 20–59 years who were included in a postal questionnaire survey in the Dutch general population. Objective. To examine how hormonal and reproductive factors are associated with chronic low back pain (LBP) and chronic upper extremity pain (UEP) in women. Summary of Background Data. Although LBP is suggested to be linked to hormonal and reproductive factors in women, results from previous studies are inconclusive. In addition, the association with chronic UEP is unknown. Methods. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine associations between hormonal and reproductive factors (independent variables) and, respectively, chronic LBP, chronic UEP and combined chronic LBP/UEP. Associations were adjusted for age, level of education, working status, smoking, and overweight. Results. Past pregnancy, young maternal age at first birth, duration of oral contraceptive use, and use of estrogens during menopause were associated with chronic LBP, while young age at menarche was associated with chronic UEP. Irregular or prolonged menstruation and hysterectomy were associated both with chronic LBP and chronic UEP. No positive associations were found for current pregnancy and number of children. Conclusions. In adult women, hormonal and reproductive factors are associated with chronic musculoskeletal pain in general. Factors related to increased estrogen levels may specifically increase the risk of chronic LBP.
Initial results of the management of aortoiliac aneurysms with GORE® Excluder® Iliac Branched Endoprosthesis.

AIM We prospectively observed the outcomes of all patients (N.=15) with an aortoiliac and a common iliac artery aneurysm who were electively treated with the GORE® Excluder® Iliac Branched Endoprosthesis (IBE) with regard to clinical, anatomical and radiological results. METHODS We evaluated operative mortality, aneurysm rupture rate and aneurysm related mortality as well as conversion to open surgery, incidence of endoleak, rate of aneurysm migration, aneurysm enlargement, graft patency, reintervention rate and the clinical outcome. Postoperative follow-up included a computed tomography angiography (CTA) before discharge, clinical evaluation and Duplex ultrasound or CTA 3 weeks after the intervention and Duplex ultrasound every 3 months afterwards. RESULTS Mean patient age was 79 years (range 61-83 years); f/m: 1/2; mean follow-up was 9 months; 80% of the patients presented 2 or more major comorbidities and 1/3 were considered to be not eligible for open repair. Mean hospitalization time was 5 days. Technical success rate was 93.3% (intent-to-treat basis). Mortality within 30 days was 0%; there were no ruptures; type II endoleak directly after the procedure occurred in 20%, dropping to 13.3% after 3 months. We defined the initial technical success in absence of type I endoleaks. The initial technical success rate was 100%. No IBE occlusion or type Ia, Ib or III endoleak was observed during the postoperative follow-up (mean follow-up: 9 months). All of the internal iliac side branches remained patent. Reintervention rate, buttock claudication rate and pelvic complication rate were 0%. CONCLUSION The GORE® IBE provides a new and safe alternative for the management of complete endovascular repair of an extensive aortoiliac or common iliac aneurysm while maintaining pelvic blood flow in iliac branched devices. Due to the lower complexity if compared to previous endovascular or hybrid methods, it should be performed in every anatomically suitable case.
Hypoxia-Induced Tumour Cell Migration in an in vivo Chicken Model

To investigate the relationship between hypoxia, neovascularisation and tumour cell spread, experiments on the area vasculosa of the early chick embryo under different oxygen concentrations were performed in vivo. Human glioblastoma cells (U-138MG) were inoculated onto the area vasculosa and the fertilised eggs were incubated under conditions of normoxia or hypoxia. For evaluation, we performed in vivo video-microscopy of the area vasculosa and determination of microvessel density (MVD), as well as a histological examination of the fixed specimen. Under hypoxia, MVD was significantly increased compared to normoxic conditions. Only under hypoxic conditions was tumour cell spread found outside the main tumour mass and within the vessels, at times followed by the subsequent development of secondary tumour cell bulks on the area vasculosa. These data lead to the conclusion that hypoxia can stimulate tumour cell migration in this in vivo model.
Refined Asymptotics for the Infinite Heat Equation with Homogeneous Dirichlet Boundary Conditions

The nonnegative viscosity solutions to the infinite heat equation with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions are shown to converge as t → ∞ to a uniquely determined limit after a suitable time rescaling. The proof relies on the half-relaxed limits technique as well as interior positivity estimates and boundary estimates. The expansion of the support is also studied.
Diagnostic and prognostic importance of the neutrophil lymphocyte ratio in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine diagnostic and prognostic roles of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in breast cancer patients. To date, data are limited on associations of primary breast carcinoma (PBC) and benign proliferative breast disease (BPBD) with preoperative NLR values. MATERIALS AND METHODS Our study covered of 120 female patients with PBC and 50 with BPBD. Diagnostic values of NLR were estimated using sensitivity, specificity and areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC). RESULTS NLR values were significantly higher in the PBC patients than in those with BPBD, with an AUC of 0.668 in the PBC case. The optimal cut-off for NLR was 2.96 and this was validated in the testing set, giving a sensitivity and a specificity of 79.7% and 76.2%, respectively, in PBC patients. CONCLUSIONS Preoperative high NLR is a significant diagnostic predictor of distinction of breast cancer from BPBD and elevated NLR is also an important prognostic marker for primary invasive breast cancer.
Prescription prevalence and continuing medication use for secondary prevention after myocardial infarction: the reality of care revealed by claims data analysis.

BACKGROUND Current guidelines recommend using aspirin, clopidogrel, beta-blockers, statins, and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Although there is evidence that patients often stop taking these medications prematurely, long-term data reflecting the actual reality of care are lacking. We studied prescription prevalence and treatment persistence of secondary prevention in patients who had an AMI by analyzing relevant claims data from a German sickness fund, the Techniker Krankenkasse (these data are not necessarily representative of the entire German population). METHODS Insurees who were discharged from the hospital between 2001 and 2006 with AMI as their main discharge diagnosis were classified as users or non-users of each of the types of drug listed above on the basis of the prescriptions that they obtained in the first 90 days after they left the hospital. Treatment persistence was statistically assessed with survival analysis. Switches from one drug class to another were not examined. RESULTS Of 30,028 AMI patients, 82% were initially prescribed a beta-blocker, 73% a statin, 69% an ACE inhibitor, 66% aspirin (without self-medication), and 61% clopidogrel. Five years after discharge, 10% of the patients for whom aspirin was initially prescribed were still taking it; the corresponding figures for the other drug classes were 17% for statins, 31% for ACE inhibitors, and 36% for beta-blockers. The greatest drop in treatment persistence occurred approximately one year after the AMI. CONCLUSION Treatment persistence with recommended medication after AMI is still in need of improvement. Patient education should start as soon as possible after infarction, because the greatest drops in medication use appear to occur within one year after AMI.
Test and Analysis of the ESD Robustness for the Diode-Connected a-IGZO Thin Film Transistors

In this work, wafer level TLP testing is applied to amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) to study the factors of their electrostatic discharge (ESD) robustness. Two kinds of TFTs with N2O and O2 treatments are subject to the ESD test. It is found that the contact resistance of the TFTs, instead of the channel quality, dominates the ESD power for them to be damaged.
A critique of research on sexual-minority youths.

Developmental scientists should seriously reconsider traditional empirical and theoretical paradigms that narrowly define sexual-minority adolescents in terms of those who adopt a culturally defined sexual identity label. A broader consideration of youth populations who have same-sex desires but who might not necessarily identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual, lead one to a very different understanding of sexual-minority youths than is apparent in most published studies. First, they are in most regards just like all other adolescents with similar developmental needs and concerns. Second, they are not a homogeneous group but vary among themselves in predictable ways. Third, this expanded definition allows us to conclude that same-sex attraction per se does not lead to pathology or to problematic behavior such as drug abuse, suicide, prostitution or HIV infection. Indeed, researchers and clinicians should focus on the resiliency that often characterizes sexual-minority youths.
Does referral to a paediatric trauma unit affect outcome

Background: There has been much debate in international literature about whether it is better to treat trauma patients at the injury site, at a nearby facility, or to transport them to a specialized emergency health care facility. Previous studies comparing directly admitted and referred patients showed contradicting results and very few studies focused on children. The aim of this research was to obtain an overview of the potential differences in outcome between directly admitted and referred patients in the setting of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Methods: A 5-year retrospective medical folder audit was conducted of 209 children admitted to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital with an abbreviated injury score of three or four. We compared outcomes between directly admitted patients and patients referred from other health institutions. Results: There was no difference in mortality or length of stay of the patients in the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. Directly admitted patients reached the hospital within a median of 60 minutes (interquartile range, IQR, 52 to 84) compared to 185 minutes (IQR 120 to 302) for referred patients (p<0.01). Conclusions: To shorten delay time for referred patients, the on-field triage system needs to be improved. Also, ambulance personnel need to be trained to perform treatments on site, to replace an initial non-trauma hospital, and transport patients directly to a specialized emergency health care facility.
Model Complete Expansions of the Real Field by Modular Functions and Forms

We prove a strong form of model completenes for expansions of the field of real numbers by (the real and imaginary parts of) the modular function J, by the modular forms $E_4$ and $E_6$ and quasimodular form $E_2$ defined in the usual fundamental domain, and the restricted sine function and the (unrestricted) exponential function. This is done using ideas of Peterzil and Starchenko's paper \cite{peterzil-starchenko-wp2004} on the uniform definability of $\wp$ function in $\mathbb{R}_{\mathit{an}}$ (and of the modular function $J$). In the conclusion we pose some open problems related to this work.
Biased and Accurate

Are depressive symptoms associated with more biased or more accurate interpersonal perceptions? Both members of committed heterosexual couples (N = 78) reported on their perceptions of their partner’s commitment and behavior daily across a 3-week period. Using the partner’s reports as the benchmark, participants who reported more depressive symptoms not only underestimated their partner’s commitment and overestimated their partner’s negative behavior (greater directional bias) but were also more accurate in tracking changes in their partner’s commitment and behavior across days (greater tracking accuracy). More negative perceptions of the partner’s commitment and behavior was also associated with increases in relationship insecurity and depressed mood, particularly when the partner also reported lower commitment and more negative behavior. These results indicate that depressive symptoms are associated with both more accurate and more biased interpersonal perceptions and suggest that more accurate detection and more biased magnification of interpersonal threat has important implications for the maintenance of depressed mood.
Phase shift of amplitude-modulated optical signals in graphene oxide water dispersions due to thermal lens focal length oscillation

We analyze the phase shift induced in an amplitude-modulated laser beam propagating through a water dispersion of graphene oxide sheets in a fiber-to-fiber U-bench. This phase shift arises from the thermally induced nonlinear refraction in the sample. The system exhibits strong optical limiting performance for weak continuous-wave signals. A theoretical model including beam propagation and thermal lens focal length oscillation reproduces the experimental findings.
I. THE FORMATION OF PROTOPLANETS

2 1 2 1 I. THE FORMATION OF PROTOPLANETS o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o We c nsider several pr cesses perating during the late stages f planet f rmati n that can affect bserved rbital elements. Disk-planet interacti ns, including recent w rk n the fl w induced by embedded pr t planets and gap f rmati n, are reviewed. Recent results n phen mena caused by the tidal interacti n f an rbiting c mpani n with a central star, such as rbital circularizati n and spin synchr nizati n, are reviewed and applied t extras lar planets. Dynamical pr cesses that c uld pr duce sh rt-peri d planets r planets in highly eccentric rbits, such as l ng-term rbital instability and the K zai mechanism, are discussed.
Neurotrophins modulate monocyte chemotaxis without affecting macrophage function

Neurotrophins nerve growth factor (NGF), brain‐derived growth factor (BDNF), neurotrophin‐3 (NT‐3) and neurotrophin‐4 (NT‐4) and their high‐affinity tyrosine protein kinase receptor (Trk) family, TrkA, TrkB, TrkC, and low‐affinity p75NTR receptor, are key molecules implicated in the development of the central nervous system. Increasing evidence suggests that they also have physiological and pathological roles outside the nervous system. In this study we examined the expression of neurotrophins and their receptors in human activated macrophages and to what extent neurotrophins themselves modulate macrophage activation, in a model of primary adult monocyte‐derived macrophage. Our data indicate that macrophages express neurotrophin and neurotrophin receptor genes differentially, and respond to cell stimulation by specific inductions. Neurotrophins did not modify the antigen‐presenting capacities of macrophages or their production of proinflammatory cytokines, but somehow skewed their activation phenotype. In contrast, NGF clearly increased CXCR‐4 expression in macrophage and their chemotactic response to low CXCL‐12 concentration. The differential effect of specific macrophage stimuli on neurotrophin expression, in particular NGF and NT‐3, and the specific enhancement of CXCR‐4 expression suggest that neurotrophins might participate in tissue‐healing mechanisms that should be investigated further in vivo.
Interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility of peripheral blood and oxygen pressure measurements in the assessment of lower extremity arterial disease.

INTRODUCTION Peripheral blood pressure measurements play a prominent role in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with peripheral vascular diseases. Toe pressure of the hallux (TP1) and second toe (TP2) and transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TCPO2) measurements are becoming more important. The ankle/brachial pressure index (ABPI) is known to be a reliable parameter, but the toe pressure and TCPO2 are evaluated less thoroughly. Therefore, we evaluated the reproducibility of TP1, TP2, TCPO2, ABPI, ankle pressure (AP), and brachial pressure (BP). PATIENTS AND METHODS In 54 patients with various stages of peripheral vascular disease, the intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility of BP, AP, ABPI, TP1, TP2, and TCPO2 was investigated by calculating the repeatability coefficient (RC) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and by using Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS The intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility at 1 day and after 1 week of BP, AP, ABPI, and TP1 was substantial and comparable (ICC range, 0.80-0.99), except for the BP after 1 week. The TP2 and TCPO2 were less reproducible (ICC range, 0.62-0.98). The interobserver RC of BP was 31 mm Hg; of AP, 44 mm Hg; of ABPI, 27%; of TP1, 41 mm Hg; of TP2, 67 mm Hg; and of TCPO2; 30 mm Hg. The difference plot showed that the observer variability was equally distributed across the range of pressure in all measurements. CONCLUSION The BP, AP, ABPI, and TP1 have a substantial intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility, whereas TP2 and TCPO2 show worse reproducibility. Especially when low values (or values around a cutoff value) are measured, the RC should be taken into account, and repetition of the measurement is advocated.
Quantification of intravenously administered contrast medium transit through the peripheral arteries: implications for CT angiography.

PURPOSE To prospectively determine the range of aortopopliteal bolus transit times in patients with moderate-to-severe peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) as a guideline for developing injection strategies for computed tomographic (CT) angiography of peripheral arteries. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study protocol was approved by the local ethics board, and informed consent was obtained. Twenty patients with PAOD referred for CT angiography of the lower extremities were categorized into two groups, Fontaine stage IIb (group 1) and stage III or IV (group 2), and demographic information was collected. In all patients, a 16-mL test bolus was injected intravenously, and single-level dynamic acquisitions were obtained at the level of the abdominal aorta. After injection of a second 16-mL test bolus, dynamic acquisitions were obtained at the level of the knee (popliteal arteries). Aortopopliteal bolus transit times were calculated by subtracting the time to peak enhancement in the popliteal arteries from that in the aorta. Aortopopliteal transit speeds also were derived. Transit times and speeds were compared graphically between clinical stage groups. The time required for the contrast medium to enhance the entire peripheral arterial tree in patients with PAOD was estimated by using linear extrapolation. RESULTS Sixteen men and four women with a mean age of 69 years (range, 49-86 years) were included. Twelve patients were included in group 1, and eight patients, in group 2. Aortopopliteal bolus transit times ranged from 4 to 24 seconds (median, 8 seconds) in all subjects, which corresponded to bolus transit speeds of 177 and 29 mm/sec, respectively. Wide overlap of transit times and transit speeds was observed between clinical stage groups. The estimated time needed for the bolus to enhance the entire peripheral arterial tree was 6-39 seconds. CONCLUSION Aortopopliteal bolus transit times differ widely among patients and may be substantially delayed in all patients with PAOD. Empirical injection protocols should include an injection duration of 35 seconds or more, as well as an increased scanning delay, with table speeds of more than 30 mm/sec.
An optimal controlled selection procedure for sample coordination problem using linear programming and distance function

A number of procedures have been developed for maximizing and minimizing the overlap of sampling units in dierent/repeated surveys. The concepts of controlled selection, transportation theory and controlled rounding have been used to solve the sample co-ordination problem. In this article, we proposed a procedure for sample co-ordination problem using linear programming with the concept of distance function that facilitates variance estimation using the Horvitz-Thompson estimator. The proposed procedure can be applied to any two-sample surveys having identical universe and stratification. Some examples have been considered to demonstrate the utility of the proposed procedure in comparison to the existing procedures. 2000 AMS Classification: 62D05
Putative O-Glycosylation Sites and a Membrane Anchor Are Necessary for Apical Delivery of the Human Neurotrophin Receptor in Caco-2 Cells*

We have expressed the human neurotrophin receptor p75 (p75NTR) in the intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2 as a model to study intracellular transport and subcellular sorting signals in intestinal cells. p75NTR was localized at the apical membrane of Caco-2 cells and reached this membrane mainly via an indirect pathway. Apical localization, intracellular routing, and basolateral to apical transcytosis were not affected by truncation of the cytoplasmic domain or replacement of the transmembrane domain by a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol anchor. Removal of membrane anchoring resulted in basolateral secretion of the ectodomain of p75NTR in Caco-2 cells but in apical secretion in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Substitution of potentialO-glycosylation sites present in the stalk of p75NTR led to intracellular cleavage and secretion of the ectodomain into the basolateral medium both in Caco-2 and MDCK cells. These results suggest that the stalk of p75NTR carries an apical sorting information that is recognized efficiently by Caco-2 cells only when attached to the membrane. This apical sorting information is linked to the presence of predictedO-glycosylation sites in that region. These putative O-glycosylation sites also play a role in the regulation of p75NTR transport to the cell surface and in the prevention of rapid degradation by cleavage of the stalk domain.
Host range and host choice of Cuscuta species in Hungary

Abstract - Extensive field studies were carried out in Hungary to get a picture of the host range and host choice of the Cuscuta species under natural conditions.We examined both parasitised and unparasitised plant species and found some aspects in which they are different. Compiling the host spectra of the various Cuscuta species based on herbaria, literature and our own observations, we can say that dodders infest at least 26% of the vascular flora of the country. In our study, the Hungarian Cuscuta species parasitised all plants that had a coverage of more than 25% in the sampling sites.We prepared a list of the most frequent host species for the parasites and revealed the importance of exclusive hosts. The results suggest that the habitat differences of the Cuscuta species can be responsible for the different host ranges. Furthermore, it was found that the reason why dodders parasitise plants from various life-forms in different proportions is not (only) the active host choice, but the characteristic features of the habitats.