Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous Mapping in the Left Sinus of Valsalva and Coronary Venous System Predicts Successful Catheter Ablation from the Left Sinus of Valsalva

Idiopathic ventricular tachycardia originating from the left epicardium (Epi‐VT) can be ablated from the left sinus of Valsalva (LSV) in selected patients. We hypothesized that the analysis of electrograms at the LSV and transitional zone from the great cardiac vein to the anterior interventricular vein (GCV‐AIV) could predict the efficacy of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) from the LSV. Simultaneous mapping in the LSV and coronary venous system was performed in 25 patients (12 VTs and 13 premature ventricular contractions). The earliest ventricular activation (VA) during the arrhythmias was found at the LSV or GCV‐AIV in all patients. RF applications from the LSV were successful in 17 patients success group (S‐Gr) and failed in 8 failure group (F‐Gr). The earliness of the VA recorded in the LSV (VA[LSV]) and in GCV‐AIV (VA[GCV‐AIV]) was compared between the two groups. (1) The VA[LSV] preceded the QRS onset by 28 ± 11 ms in S‐Gr and 14 ± 10 ms in F‐Gr (P < 0.01). (2) In S‐Gr, the VA[GCV‐AIV] was earlier than the VA[LSV] in 5 five patients (35%). However, in F‐Gr, the VA[GCV‐AIV] was earlier than the VA[LSV] in all patients. (3) In patients in whom the earliest VA was found at the LSV or GCV‐AIV, a VA [GCV‐AIV] preceding the VA[LSV] by less than 10 ms identified successful RFCA from the LSV with a sensitivity of 88 %, specificity of 100%, and high predictive value. With a detailed analysis of the electrograms recorded from the GCV‐AIV and LSV, it was possible to identify the successful catheter ablation of Epi‐VT from the LSV.
Increased acute phase reactants are associated with levels of lipoproteins and increased carotid plaque volume.

OBJECTIVES to test the hypotheses that increased acute phase reactants predict elevated levels of lipoproteins and increased plaque volume as well as echolucency of carotid plaques. MATERIALS AND METHODS the study included 258 patients with >or =50% carotid artery stenosis. Acute phase reactants (orosomucoid, C-reactive protein (CRP)) were measured in the fasting state, and ultracentrifugated lipoproteins before and after a standardised fat load test. Echogenicity of carotid plaques was detected using high-resolution B-mode ultrasound and computer-assisted image processing. A subgroup of 81 patients underwent carotid endarterectomy. RESULTS on linear regression analysis orosomucoid levels were positively associated with fasting and postprandial levels of all triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, and negatively associated with HDL cholesterol (p -values <0.0001); results for CRP were less pronounced. Orosomucoid and CRP both predicted the presence of an increased carotid plaque volume on univariate analysis (p =0.01 and p =0.02). Finally, orosomucoid was negatively associated with echolucency of carotid plaques ( p =0.05). CONCLUSIONS elevated levels of acute phase reactants are strongly associated with elevated levels of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, increased plaque volume, and borderline significantly associated with echolucency of carotid plaques. Elevated acute phase reactants possibly predict severity of atherosclerosis, and presence of lipid-rich, rupture-prone plaques.
Deficient Responses of Pulmonary Macrophages from Healthy Smokers to Antiviral Lymphokines in Vitro

Abstract The antiviral function of pulmonary macrophages obtained by broncholavage of healthy smokers and nonsmokers was studied. Compared with nonsmokers' cells, smokers' macrophages produced significantly more virus during in vitro infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Exposure of macrophages to either antiviral macrophage-activating factor or interferon-y for 20 hr before infection resulted in diminished production of HSV-1 by both types of macrophages. However, in contrast to smokers' cells, exposure of nonsmokers' macrophages to these antiviral lymphokines totally prevented viral replication. This difference could not be attributed to diminished adsorption of virus to smokers' macrophages or to an increased proportion of extracellular to intracellular virus in smokers' cell cultures. The effect of smoking on viral infectivity did not appear to be mediated by secretion of a soluble factor by the macrophage because incubation of nonsmokers' cells with supernatant from smokers' cell cultures did not affect the growth of HSV-1.
Experience of musculoskeletal pain. Comparison of immigrant and Swedish patient.

We explored differences regarding several psychosocial constructs (e.g. coping with pain) between immigrant (n = 140) and Swedish (n = 446) patients seeking treatment for pain at health and physiotherapy centres. A cross-sectional study design was used. The findings showed that, compared with Swedes, immigrants more often relied on benefits for their support and were more concerned with their financial situation. They also had longer periods of sick-leave. In addition, immigrants felt more disabled, reported more job strain and relied more on passive coping strategies for pain. Finally, they were more emotionally distressed, as they showed more symptoms of burnout, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress reactions, and lower self-confidence. Multivariate analyses performed separately for immigrant and Swedish patients showed differential patterns of associations between sociodemographic variables, financial strain, emotional distress, perceived disability, passive coping and job strain. We conclude that immigrant patients live under more strained psychosocial conditions and experience a deeper impact of pain than do their Swedish counterparts.
Diversity of Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis Patterns of Mycobacterium abscessus Type 2 Clinical Isolates

ABSTRACT An epidemic of infections by rapidly growing mycobacteria related to surgical procedures between 2004 and 2008 in Brazil was caused by a unique strain showing the Mycobacterium abscessus type 2 pattern when it was analyzed by the molecular method of PCR-restriction enzyme analysis of the hsp65 gene (PRA-hsp65). In order to investigate the diversity of M. abscessus type 2 clinical isolates and to assess whether this epidemic strain was present in specimens from nonsurgical patients, we studied 52 isolates from 38 patients showing this characteristic PRA-hsp65 pattern obtained between 2005 and 2009. All isolates were identified by sequencing of region V of the rpoB gene and typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using two restriction enzymes, DraI and AseI. Seven isolates obtained from sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and urine in three different Brazilian states showed rpoB sequences 100% similar to the rpoB sequence of epidemic strain INCQS 594 and PFGE patterns highly related to the patterns of isolates, evidencing the presence of the epidemic strain in isolates from patients not associated with the surgical epidemic. The remaining isolates showed diverse rpoB sequences, with the highest similarities being to the corresponding sequences of M. massiliense T CIP 108297 (21 isolates), M. bolletii T CIP 108541 (19 isolates), or M. abscessus T ATCC 19977 (5 isolates). Two additional clusters could be detected by PFGE. PFGE showed 100% typeability and reproducibility and discriminatory powers, calculated by Simpson's index of diversity, of 0.978 (DraI) and 0.986 (AseI), confirming its suitability for the discrimination of M. abscessus type 2 isolates.
Using GPS and activity tracking to reveal the influence of adolescents' food environment exposure on junk food purchasing.

OBJECTIVES This study examines the influence of adolescents' exposure to unhealthy food outlets on junk food purchasing during trips between home and school, with particular attention to how exposure and purchasing differ according to child's biological sex, mode of transportation, and direction to or from school. METHODS Between 2010 and 2013, students (n = 654) aged 9-13 years from 25 schools in London and Middlesex County, ON, completed a socio-demographic survey and an activity diary (to identify food purchases), and were observed via a global positioning system for 2 weeks (to track routes for trips to/from school). Spatial data on routes and purchase data were integrated with a validated food outlet database in a geographic information system, and exposure was measured as the minutes a child spent within 50 m of an unhealthy food outlet (i.e., fast food restaurants, variety stores). For trips involving junk food exposure (n = 4588), multilevel logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between exposure and purchasing. RESULTS Multilevel analyses indicated that adolescents' duration of exposure to unhealthy food outlets between home and school had a significant effect on the likelihood of junk food purchasing. This relationship remained significant when the data were stratified by sex (female/male), trip direction (to/from school) and travel mode (active/car), with the exception of adolescents who travelled by bus. CONCLUSION Policies and programs that mitigate the concentration of unhealthy food outlets close to schools are critical for encouraging healthy eating behaviours among children and reducing diet-related health issues such as obesity.
Do Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance Influence Intellectual Capital Efficiency?

Using a large sample of public firms in 51 countries during the period from 2010 to 2015 and a two-stage least squares (2SLS) regression with an instrumental variable (IV), this study investigates how corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate governance (CG) mechanisms interact to influence a firm’s intellectual capital (IC) efficiency. The empirical results reveal that CSR engagement and CG structures influence the firm efficiency in managing IC. This study contributes to managerial practice by demonstrating the causal effect of CSR on value-added intellectual capital (VAIC) measures and the positive impact of CG on both CSR engagement and the efficiency with which firms manage their IC. Furthermore, the current study provides an additional understanding of the relationship among CSR engagement, CG practices, and the determining factors of IC efficiency within a comprehensive framework.
Synthesis and in Silico Evaluation of Novel Compounds for PET-Based Investigations of the Norepinephrine Transporter

Since the norepinephrine transporter (NET) is involved in a variety of diseases, the investigation of underlying dysregulation-mechanisms of the norepinephrine (NE) system is of major interest. Based on the previously described highly potent and selective NET ligand 1-(3-(methylamino)-1-phenylpropyl)-3-phenyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidaz- ol-2-one (Me@APPI), this paper aims at the development of several fluorinated methylamine-based analogs of this compound. The newly synthesized compounds were computationally evaluated for their interactions with the monoamine transporters and represent reference compounds for PET-based investigation of the NET.
A cka-gfp Transcriptional Fusion Reveals that the Colicin K Activity Gene Is Induced in Only 3 Percent of the Population

ABSTRACT In prokaryotes, only a few examples of differential gene expression in cell populations have been described. Colicin production in natural populations of Escherichia coli, while providing a competitive advantage in the natural habitat, also leads to lysis of the toxin-producing cell. Colicin K synthesis has been found to be induced due to an increase in ppGpp (I. Kuhar, J. P. van Putten, D. Žgur-Bertok, W. Gaastra, and B. J. Jordi, Mol. Microbiol. 41:207-216). Using two transcriptional fusions, cka-gfp and cki-gfp, we show that at the single-cell level, the colicin K activity gene cka is expressed in only 3% of the bacterial population upon induction by nutrient starvation. In contrast, the immunity gene cki is expressed in the large majority of the cells. Expression of the cka-gfp fusion in a lexA-defective strain and in a relA spoT mutant strain indicates that differential expression of cka is established primarily at the level of transcription.
High Incidence of Erysipelas After Surgical Treatment for Vulvar Carcinoma: An Observational Study

Objectives Vulvar carcinoma is mainly treated surgically and has an overall good prognosis. Despite the development of minimally invasive surgical procedures in recent years, morbidity remains significant. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of erysipelas after surgical treatment for vulvar carcinoma. Methods This retrospective observational study was performed within the Comprehensive Cancer Centre South. The study included patients (N = 116) who underwent surgery for primary vulvar carcinoma between 2005 and 2012. Patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IA and IV were excluded. Clinical and histopathological data were analyzed using logistic regression, &khgr;2 tests, Fisher exact tests, independent t tests, and nonparametric tests. Primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative erysipelas and determination of risk factors for erysipelas. Secondary outcome included other comorbidities. Results A total of 23 patients (20%) with vulvar carcinoma had 1 or more episodes of erysipelas. The risk of developing erysipelas was significantly higher in patients who underwent lymph node dissection than in those who underwent sentinel node biopsy (36% [n = 12] and 14% [n = 11], respectively, P = 0.008) and in patients with lymphedema than in those without (30% [n = 7] and 12% [n = 11], respectively, P = 0.048). Patients with diabetes tended to have a higher incidence of erysipelas than those without (28% vs 18%, P = 0.27). Conclusions Erysipelas occurs frequently in patients who undergo surgical treatment for vulvar carcinoma. The risk of erysipelas is 3 times higher in patients who undergo lymph node dissection and in those with lymphedema than in those without, and it tends to be high in patients with diabetes.
Effect of Leptin on LH Levels and Hypothalamic Release of GnRH. Its Relationship with the Hypothalamic Neurotransmitter Amino Acids System in Adult Male Rats

The objective of the present paper was to determine the effect of leptin on the reproductive axis in adult male rats, as well as the hypothalamic mechanisms involved in this effect. For this purpose, we studied the in vivo effect of leptin in adult male rats on serum LH levels, and the in vitro effect on hypothalamic GnRH and amino acid neurotrasmitter release. For in vivo experiments, animals were injected i.p. with leptin at a dose of 30, 100 and 300 µg/kg. In the in vitro experiments, hypothalamic samples were incubated for 60 min in Earle's medium with leptin: 10− 9, 10− 10 and 10− 12 M for GnRH determination, and 10− 10 M for amino acids evaluation. Finally, we studied the effect of the lowest effective leptin dose on plasma LH levels in peripubertal male rats to compare the effect between this group and adults. Leptin induces significant decreases of serum LH levels with the different studied doses (p < 0.01 vs. control) in adult male rats, while in peripubertal male rats, it induced a significant (p < 0.01 vs. control) increment in serum LH levels. On the other hand, in vitro leptin in adult male rats, significantly decreases GnRH release as well as the hypothalamic release of glutamate (GLU). In contrast, leptin increased the GABA release by this hypothalamus in these animals. These results indicate that leptin has an inhibitory effect on the GnRH–LH axis in adult male rats and this effect appears to be connected with an inhibition of hypothalamic release of GLU (the excitatory amino acid) and a stimulatory effect on GABA release (the inhibitory amino acid). On the other hand, in peripubertal male rats, leptin showed a stimulatory effect.
Towards Sustainable Energy: What Have Natural Resource Extraction, Political Regime and Urbanization Got to Do With it?

Although energy is important, the increasing consumption has sustainable implications. Tunisia’s energy consumption in recent times has exceeded supply raising concerns for future energy security. However, the country’s energy intensity has been reducing for close to two decades. The study was embarked upon to investigate the drivers of Tunisia’s total energy consumption and energy intensity. Estimation results from the fully modified OLS using annual time series data from 1971-2014 indicate that income, forest extraction, oil extraction and urbanization have positive effects on total energy consumption while mining activities and political regime negatively affect total energy consumption. However, income, political regime, urbanization and mining activities were all found to reduce energy intensity. Further asymmetric analysis showed that the parameters have been influenced by a structural effect. The policy implications of the findings include the need for the government of Tunisia to encourage investment activities on research and development to deepen the formulation an improved energy savings technology to meet the rising demand for energy in the urban areas.
Shear bond strength of composite resin to high performance polymer PEKK according to surface treatments and bonding materials

PURPOSE The object of the present study was to evaluate the shear bonding strength of composite to PEKK by applying several methods of surface treatment associated with various bonding materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and fifty PEKK specimens were assigned randomly to fifteen groups (n = 10) with the combination of three different surface treatments (95% sulfuric acid etching, airborne abrasion with 50 µm alumina, and airborne abrasion with 110 µm silica-coating alumina) and five different bonding materials (Luxatemp Glaze & Bond, Visio.link, All-Bond Universal, Single Bond Universal, and Monobond Plus with Heliobond). After surface treatment, surface roughness and contact angles were examined. Topography modifications after surface treatment were assessed with scanning electron microscopy. Resin composite was mounted on each specimen and then subjected to shear bond strength (SBS) test. SBS data were analyzed statistically using two-way ANOVA, and post-hoc Tukey's test (P<.05). RESULTS Regardless of bonding materials, mechanical surface treatment groups yielded significantly higher shear bonding strength values than chemical surface treatment groups. Unlike other adhesives, MDP and silane containing self-etching universal adhesive (Single Bond Universal) showed an effective shear bonding strength regardless of surface treatment method. CONCLUSION Mechanical surface treatment behaves better in terms of PEKK bonding. In addition, self-etching universal adhesive (Single Bond Universal) can be an alternative bonding material to PEKK irrespective of surface treatment method.
Sequential Screening in Semiconductor Manufacturing, I: Exploiting Spatial Dependence

This paper addresses a problem of simultaneous quality and quantity control motivated by semiconductor manufacturing. After wafers are fabricated, the individual chips on the wafers are probed, or electrically tested, and, in some cases, the probing facility is the bottleneck for the entire IC manufacturing process. Under this assumption, we consider the problem of choosing the optimal start rate of lots of wafers into the fabrication facility and the optimal chip screening policy in front of the probing facility to maximize the expected profit, which is the revenue from good chips minus the variable fabrication and probing costs. These decisions are subject to capacity constraints at both the wafer fabrication and probing facilities. Over 300 wafers from two industrial facilities are analyzed in this paper, and a Markov random field model is employed to capture the spatial clustering of bad chips. Chip screening strategies are proposed that exploit the various types of yield nonuniformities that are detected in the data, such as radial effects, spatial clustering of bad chips, and yield variation by chip location. The numerical results suggest that screening at the chip level can be highly profitable in a semiconductor manufacturing process constrained by its probe capacity.
Evaluating Self-Efficacy After a Team-Based Learning Activity

Purpose Evidence suggests that confidence in learning may improve academic performance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) physician assistant (PA) student's self-efficacy for learning end-of-life (EOL) care after a team-based learning (TBL) activity. Confidence in the PA student's critical thinking skills after a TBL activity was also assessed. Methods This research used a pretest–posttest 2-group design. Eighty-seven UTMB didactic-year PA students were randomly assigned to a TBL group (n = 43) or non-TBL group (n = 44). All students completed online modules on EOL care. Self-efficacy of learning was measured in both groups using a modified general self-efficacy survey given before and after the instructional approach. Results In the TBL group, results indicated a statistically significant increase in the student's confidence level in learning EOL care in the posttest compared with the pretest (p < .001). Such results were not found in the non-TBL group (p = .838). In addition, the TBL group (p < .001) showed a statistically significant increase in confidence in critical thinking skills. No statistically significant difference in confidence in critical thinking was observed in the non-TBL group (p = .208). Conclusions The results indicated a statistically significant increase in the student's confidence in learning EOL care and in the student's critical thinking skills in the TBL group. The study findings allow UTMB PA faculty to continue to investigate self-efficacy for learning after a TBL activity in content areas other than EOL care; therefore, the results of this study indicate that further research is warranted.
A Republican Europe of States

Combining international political theory and EU studies, Richard Bellamy provides an original account of the democratic legitimacy of international organisations. He proposes a new interpretation of the EU's democratic failings and how they might be addressed. Drawing on the republican theory of freedom as non-domination, Bellamy proposes a way to combine national popular sovereignty with the pursuit of fair and equitable relations of non-domination among states and their citizens. Applying this approach to the EU, Bellamy shows that its democratic failings lie not with the democratic deficit at the EU level but with a democratic disconnect at the member state level. Rather than shifting democratic authority to the European Parliament, this book argues that the EU needs to reconnect with the different 'demoi' of the member states by empowering national parliaments in the EU policy-making process.
The E3 ubiquitin ligase SIAH2 is a prosurvival factor overexpressed in oral cancer.

BACKGROUND This study aimed at investigating the expression and functional significance of seven in absentia homologues 2 (SIAH2), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS Comparative genomic hybridization and real-time PCR were performed to examine the amplification of SIAH2 gene in clinical specimens of OSCC tissues. Expression of SIAH2 mRNA and protein was examined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical assays, respectively. Apoptosis was examined by annexing V staining and Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, with or without sienna-mediated SIAH2 knockdown. The expression of p53 was analyzed by immunoblotting. RESULTS Levels of SIAH2 DNA and mRNA were significantly greater in clinical OSCC specimens and in cultured OSCC cells, which also stained positively for the SAIH2 protein. Knockdown of SIAH2 led to growth suppression and apoptosis induction in a p53-independent mechanism. CONCLUSION These results revealed a tight correlation of SIAH2 overexpression with OSCC and suggest an oncogenic role of SIAH2 in oral cancer.