Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Micro-Needling Depth Penetration, Presence of Pigment Particles, and Fluorescein-Stained Platelets: Clinical Usage for Aesthetic Concerns

Background Aesthetic micro-needling (MN) has demonstrated skin permeability to cosmeceutical ingredients and platelet-rich plasma by creating reversible micro-channels in the skin. Objectives The purposes of this study were to determine: (1) actual needle depth-penetrations by adjusting needle lengths in a disposable tip of an electric MN device; (2) time-dependent passage of pigment and platelets; and (3) safety and efficacy profiles in patients. Methods Excised micro-needled pre-auricular skin was used to determine actual depths of tissue penetration with six needle lengths, and the presence of massaged pigment particles (histological examination) and fluorescein-labeled platelets (confocal laser microscopy) in 1 mm depth micro-channels over an hour. Patients were treated for wrinkles and skin laxity, scars, and alopecia with cosmeceuticals and plasma-rich platelets. Results Actual needle penetrations closely matched settings up to 1.0 mm, but were less consistent at settings from 1.5 to 2.5 mm. The optimal time for massaging pigment particles and labeled platelet-rich plasma (PRP) down 1.0 mm micro-channels was between 5 to 30 minutes after MN. Patients treated in the Skin Care Center (cosmeceuticals, 0.25-1 mm depth) and Surgical Center (PRP, 0.25-2.5 mm) demonstrated statistically significant improvements (P ⩽ .05) in wrinkle effacement, skin laxity, scar softening, and hair growth by Patient and Observer Satisfaction Scores at 12 months. The average hair count in a 10 mm spot size at baseline (88.3 ± 22.5) increased at the 12 month evaluation period (133.6 ± 13.8). All patients experienced minimal side-effects. Conclusions MN alone or in combination therapy resulted in safe and effective treatments from implemented guidelines. Level of Evidence 3 Therapeutic
Serum osteoprotegerin, sRANKL and carotid plaque formation and growth in a general population – the Tromsø study

Summary. Background: Intervention studies in animal models suggest that osteoprotegerin (OPG) functions as an inhibitor or marker of atherosclerosis, whereas one prospective epidemiological study in humans indicated that OPG was an independent risk factor for progression of atherosclerosis. Objective: To study the association between serum levels of OPG, soluble RANK ligand (sRANKL) and carotid artery plaque formation and plaque growth. Patients/methods: The prevalence of carotid plaque and plaque area were assessed by ultrasonographic imaging at baseline and after 7 years follow‐up in 2191 men and 2329 women who participated in a population‐based study. Results: OPG was significantly associated with atherosclerotic plaque burden and cardiovascular risk factors such as age, body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, HbA1c and fibrinogen at baseline, but not with sRANKL. In subjects without plaque at baseline, OPG predicted plaque formation in crude analysis in both women and men, but not after adjustment for age and other atherosclerotic risk factors. OPG predicted plaque growth in women (+1.8 mm2, 0.6–3.0) (mean, 95% CI) per 1 SD increase in OPG (P = 0.003), whereas no associations were demonstrated in men (0.1 mm2 (−1.3–1.4), P = 0.93). Soluble RANKL did not predict plaque formation or plaque growth. Conclusions: OPG was an independent predictor of plaque growth in women, but not in men, suggesting gender‐specific actions of OPG in plaque growth. OPG was not associated with novel plaque formation.
LIFE HISTORY TRAITS IN HUMANS: Theory and Empirical Studies

▪ Abstract Life history theory offers evolutionary explanations for the timing of life events, with a particular focus on age-schedules of fertility and mortality and growth. Traditional models examine trade-offs between current and future reproduction and quality versus quantity of offspring. These models can be used to understand questions concerning time of gestation, age of weaning, juvenile mortality profiles, age at maturation, adult body size, fertility rates, senescence, menopause, and the length of the life span. The trajectory of energy acquisition and its allocations is also an important part of life history theory. Modifications of these models have been developed to examine the period of learning, postweaning parental investment, and patterns of development. In this article, we combine energetic and demographic approaches in order to examine the human life course from an optimality perspective. The evolved life history solves related problems across two generations. The first set of decisions.
Analytical modeling of thermal stresses in plated through via (PTV) structures

Plated through via (PTV) structures are widely used in printed circuit boards for interconnect. Due to the mismatch in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between the PTV and the board material, high thermal stresses can be induced in the PTV during high temperature soldering and normal usage. In particular, PTVs can fail due to cyclic temperature changes which cause thermal fatigue. This paper describes an analytical model of the thermal stresses in PTV structures using variational mechanics. Stress components are compared with those obtained using finite element analysis and with another analytical model.
Comparison of Direct and Standardized Disk Diffusion Susceptibility Testing of Urine Cultures

A comparison between direct and standardized disk diffusion tests was made on a total of 300 urine specimens containing ≥105 organisms/ml. Of these, 246 represented pure cultures and 54 represented mixed cultures. The number of major discrepancies per organism tested in pure culture was 18 (7.3%) and in mixed cultures it was 23 (42.6%). The percentage of major discrepancies per total number of antimicrobial drug comparisons made was 1.4%. Although this procedure may be of value in selected cases with pure cultures of organisms present in quantities ≥105/ml, its use on a routine basis is not recommended.
Maternal Defense

Mothers in numerous species exhibit heightened aggression in defense of their young. This shift typically coincides with the duration of lactation in nonhuman mammals, which suggests that human mothers may display similarly accentuated aggressiveness while breast feeding. Here we report the first behavioral evidence for heightened aggression in lactating humans. Breast-feeding mothers inflicted louder and longer punitive sound bursts on unduly aggressive confederates than did formula-feeding mothers or women who had never been pregnant. Maternal aggression in other mammals is thought to be facilitated by the buffering effect of lactation on stress responses. Consistent with the animal literature, our results showed that while lactating women were aggressing, they exhibited lower systolic blood pressure than did formula-feeding or never-pregnant women while they were aggressing. Mediation analyses indicated that reduced arousal during lactation may disinhibit female aggression. Together, our results highlight the contributions of breast feeding to both protecting infants and buffering maternal stress.
Interference rejection capabilities of different types of array antennas in cellular systems

The suitable use of array antennas in cellular systems results in improvement in the signal-to-interference ratio (SIR). This property is the basis for introducing smart or adaptive antenna systems. In general, the SIR depends on the array configuration and is a function of the direction of the desired user and interferers. Here, the SIR performance for linear and circular arrays is analysed and compared.
Localization of penicillin-binding protein 1b in Escherichia coli: immunoelectron microscopy and immunotransfer studies

We report the localization of penicillin-binding protein 1b (PBP 1b) in Escherichia coli KN126 and in an overproducing construct containing plasmid pHK231. We used PBP 1b-specific antiserum for the immunoelectron microscopy of ultrathin sections of whole cells and for immunoelectrophoresis of cytoplasm and isolated membrane fractions. We studied ultrathin sections of both glutaraldehyde-fixed cells that had been embedded after progressively lowering the temperature and cryofixed cells that had been freeze-substituted in Lowicryl K4M and HM20. Most of the PBP 1b-specific label was observed in the inner membrane (IM) and the adjacent cytoplasm, much less was observed in the outer membrane (OM); appreciable amounts were also seen in the bulk cytoplasm. Distribution and intensity of label were both temperature dependent: temperature shift-up to 37 degrees C, causing PBP 1b overproduction in the construct, showed a statistically highly significant increase in label of the IM, including a cytoplasmic zone (of at least 30 nm in depth) adjacent to the IM, a zone we termed the membrane-associated area. Concomitant with the temperature shift-up, a decrease in label density was observed in the bulk cytoplasm. Increased label was also found in IM-OM contact areas (zones of membrane adhesion). The periplasm did not show significant label. Western blotting (immunoblotting) revealed PBP 1b in most of the isolated membrane fractions; however, the highest label density was found in membrane fractions of intermediate density, supporting the suggestion of an increased concentration of PBP 1b in the membrane adhesion zones. In summarizing, we propose that PBP 1b is present in the membrane-associated area of the cytoplasm, from where proteins (such as PBP 1b or thioredoxin) gain access to their specific insertion sites in the envelope. The use of several methods of immunoelectron microscopy provided the first unequivocal evidence for localization of PBP 1b at membrane adhesion sites. Since such sites are specifically labeled with anti-PBP 1b serum, we hypothesize that they contain parts of the machinery for assembly and growth of the murein layer.
iabetes insipidus following resection of pituitary tumors

Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a common complication following pituitary surgery and can be transient or permanent. Neurogenic DI occurs following injury to the magnocellular neurons in the hypothalamus that produce and transport arginine vasopressin (AVP) and form the hypothalamo–hypophyseal tract. DI is defined by a constellation of signs and symptoms resulting in dilute high-volume urine output and increasing serum osmolality. The body’s inability to concentrate urine leaves the patient dehydrated and leads to metabolic abnormalities that can be life threatening if not recognized and treated in a timely manner with an exogenous AVP analog. The reported incidence of postsurgical central DI varies from 1 to
Studies of ovarian biopsies from women cyclically treated with the combination ethynodiol diacetate+mestranol alone and together with human menopausal gonadotrophin (Pergonal)+HCG.

To assess Ovulens (1 mg. ethynodiol diacetate and .1 mg. mestranol) effectiveness a group of 39 women (aged 23 to 44) were treated with the drug for periods ranging from 1 to 24 cycles. In the last treatment cycle all women were operated upon and their ovarian function was assessed by direct inspection of the ovaries and by histological examination of ovarian biopsies. In 15 of the 39 women gonadotrophin HP-FSH or HMG (Pergonal) and HCG were administered to induce ovulation. Upon examination no fresh corpus luteum was found in the ovaries of the women treated with the oral contraceptive alone. In the group treated with the contraceptive and gonadotrophins 7 of 15 had functioning corpora lutea. These results demonstrate that Ovulen works as a contraceptive by inhibiting ovulation due to the suppression of pituitary gonadotrophins however a direct effect on the ovary can not be excluded.
Conchlear inner hair cells exist transiently in the fetal Bronx waltzer (bv/bv) mouse

In the cochlea of the adult Bronx waltzer (bv/bv) mouse, the majority of inner hair cells are missing or deformed. As a result, Bronx waltzer mice are severely hearing impaired or deaf. Previous studies determined that most inner hair cells in these mice are missing by the time of birth, but no studies have resolved whether the missing inner hair cells ever exist in the mutant cochlea. The present study used light and electron microscopy to locate inner hair cells in the mutant mouse before birth. Most, and possibly all, inner hair cells exist in the embryonic day (E) 17 mouse. The shapes of the cells vary from normal and elongated in the youngest animals, to round and protruding through the reticular lamina a few days later. The density of sensory cells in the inner hair cell region (inner hair cells/millimeter) decreases in the basal turn between E17 and birth, and in the apical turn between birth and the third postnatal day. The initial presence of the full complement of inner hair cells, taken together with the temporospatial pattern of degeneration, suggests that the cause of inner hair cell death in the Bronx waltzer mouse is related to a differentiation event subsequent to cell birth. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Use of inhaled corticosteroids and bone mineral density in a population based study: the Nord‐Trøndelag Health Study (the HUNT Study)

Conflicting results have been reported of the long‐term effects of treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on bone. The objective of this study was to compare ICS users and non‐users regarding bone mineral density (BMD) in a large population. A total of 65 225 adults participated in a cross‐sectional study in the Nord‐Trøndelag Health Study 1995–1997. Those reporting asthma or asthma‐related symptoms, were invited to have bone densitometry of the forearm, flow volume spirometry and a personal interview. Altogether 4482 women and 4142 men participated, of whom 2113 reported ever use and 6511 never use of ICS. Never‐users of corticosteroids had a mean BMD, adjusted for confounders (age, square age, sex, body mass index, height, physical activity, work load, packyears, family history of osteoporosis and in women number of years since menopause and use of hormone replacement therapy), of 0.493 g/cm2 at the distal site. Subjects having only used ICS or combined with courses of prednisolone, had 0.008 g/cm2 (95%CI: 0.005–0.011) lower BMD whilst users of prednisolone ≥6 months had 0.038 g/cm2 (0.021–0.055) lower level. No dose response association between ICS and BMD, or difference in BMD by type of ICS was found. The association between CS use and BMD was independent of the measuring site. ICS use was associated with lower BMD. The lack of dose response in this study might be due to a narrow dose range or indicates that other characteristics of the patient group are contributing to the observed difference in ICS users compared to never‐users. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Anisotropic Charge Transport in Spherulitic Poly(3‐hexylthiophene) Films

Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is one of the most important semiconducting polymers for organic photovoltaics and optoelectronics. [1] Yet, because of the structural complexity of semicrystalline polymers, comparatively little is known conclusively about the relationship between charge transport and microstructure in P3HT-containing semiconductors. [2–9] This lack of information arises mainly from an inability to manufacture samples with spontaneous long-range crystalline order approaching macroscopic dimensions, that allow characterisation in a similar fashion to inorganic single crystals. We have overcome this limitation and grown well-ordered P3HT spherulites, sufficiently large to measure charge transport within single oriented crystal domains, enabling measurements of the charge mobility both parallel and perpendicular to the characteristic π-stacked nanocrystalline lamellae and across spherulite boundaries. The importance of local order and molecular orientation in determining the electronic properties of polymer semiconductor films is now well established. [3] In the case of the poly(alkylthiophenes) (PAT)s an edge-on orientation of the molecules, such that the alkyl sidechains (a-axis) stand vertically and both the chain backbone (c-axis) and π-stacking direction (b-axis) lie in the plane of the film, is critical in achieving high in-plane
Association between Symptom Development and Inhibition of Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase in Bean Leaves Treated with Phaseolotoxin.

The chlorosis symptom that characterizes the halo blight disease of Phaseolus vulgaris L. is caused by phaseolotoxin produced by the plant pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv phaseolicola. Phaseolotoxin is hydrolyzed by plant peptidases to N(delta)(N'-sulpho-diaminophosphinyl) -l-ornithine which also causes chlorosis and is reported to be an irreversible inhibitor of ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OCTase). We have examined the hypothesis that inhibition of OCTase is the primary action of phaseolotoxin that leads to chlorosis.Chlorotic spots appeared on the primary leaves of P. vulgaris seedlings during the 2 days following leaf prick application of a minimum of 30 picomole phaseolotoxin. OCTase in extracts of the lesions was reduced to 20%, or less, of the activity in controls. Four hours after the application of phaseolotoxin the concentration of free ornithine increased more than 2-fold. Other amino acids, especially glutamine and asparagine-but not arginine-increased later. Chlorophyll remained at a constant level in the phaseolotoxin-treated tissue and the appearance of chlorosis was due to the increase in chlorophyll in the surrounding unaffected tissue.Clear halo symptoms developed only on primary leaves of the youngest seedlings (treated 6-7 days after germination). Lesions did not develop on primary leaves of seedlings more than 14 days old, in which the chlorophyll concentration had reached a maximum. OCTase also was inhibited in the symptomless tissue from older leaves treated with phaseolotoxin, but there was no accumulation of amino acids, including ornithine. A single appliction of 200 nanomoles arginine resulted in the complete regreening of the chlorosis caused by phaseolotoxin. Soluble protein was lower in the chlorotic tissue than in the controls, but increased to greater than the control value following the appliction of arginine. These results suggest that phaseolotoxin-induced chlorosis results from reduced chlorophyll synthesis that is associated with arginine-starvation in the tissue where OCTase is inhibited.
Screening for SH3TC2, PMP2, and BSCL2 Variants in a Cohort of Chinese Patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth

Background: SH3TC2, PMP2, and BSCL2 genes are related to autosomal recessive (AR) Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease type 1, autosomal dominant (AD)-CMT1, and AD-CMT2, respectively. Pathogenic variants in these three genes were not well documented in Chinese CMT patients. Therefore, this study aims to detect SH3TC2, PMP2, and BSCL2 pathogenic variants in a cohort of 315 unrelated Chinese CMT families. Methods: A total of 315 probands from 315 unrelated Chinese CMT families were recruited from the Department of Neurology of Third Xiangya Hospital and Xiangya Hospital. We screened for SH3TC2 pathogenic variants in 84 AR or sporadic CMT probands, PMP2 pathogenic variants in 39 AD or sporadic CMT1 probands, and BSCL2 pathogenic variants in 50 AD or sporadic CMT2 probands, using polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing. All these patients were out of 315 unrelated Chinese CMT families and genetically undiagnosed after exclusion of pathogenic variants of PMP22, MFN2, MPZ, GJB1, GDAP1, HSPB1, HSPB8, EGR2, NEFL, and RAB7. Candidate variants were analyzed based on the standards and guidelines of American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). Clinical features were reevaluated. Results: We identified three novel heterozygous variants such as p.L95V (c.283C>G), p.L1048P (c.3143T>C), and p.V1105M (c.3313G>A) of SH3TC2 gene and no pathogenic variants of PMP2 and BSCL2 genes. Although evaluation in silico and screening in the healthy control revealed that the three SH3TC2 variants were likely pathogenic, no second allele variants were discovered. According to the standards and guidelines of ACMG, the heterozygous SH3TC2 variants such as p.L95V, p.L1048P, and p.V1105M were considered to be of uncertain significance. Conclusions: SH3TC2, PMP2, and BSCL2 pathogenic variants might be rare in Chinese CMT patients. Further studies to confirm our findings are needed.
Occult central nervous system involvement in patients with metastatic breast cancer: prevalence, predictive factors and impact on overall survival.

BACKGROUND As screening central nervous system (CNS) imaging is not routinely performed, the incidence and clinical relevance of occult CNS metastases in advanced breast cancer is unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS All patients screened for participation in one of four clinical trials were included; each of the trials excluded patients with known CNS involvement and required screening CNS imaging. A cohort of breast cancer patients with symptomatic CNS metastases was identified from the IU Cancer Center Tumor Registry for comparison. RESULTS From November 1998 to August 2001, 155 screening imaging studies were performed. Twenty-three patients (14.8%) had occult CNS metastases. HER-2 overexpression (P = 0.02) and number of metastatic sites (P = 0.03) were predictive of CNS involvement by multivariate analysis. Median survival from time of metastasis (1.78 versus 2.76 years; P <0.0001) and from screening (4.67 versus 10.4 months; P = 0.0013) was shorter in patients with than without occult CNS metastasis. Survival among patients with occult CNS metastasis was similar to patients with symptomatic CNS disease. CONCLUSIONS Patients with CNS involvement, whether occult or symptomatic, have an impaired survival. Occult CNS metastasis is relatively common, but impact on survival of treating occult CNS disease in patients with progressive systemic metastases is questionable.
MASTL is the human ortholog of Greatwall kinase that facilitates mitotic entry, anaphase and cytokinesis

Greatwall (Gwl) was originally discovered in Drosophila as an essential kinase for correct chromosome condensation and mitotic progression. In Xenopus, Gwl may influence the positive-feedback loop that directs cyclin B1-Cdk1 activation and the mitotic state by inhibiting the phosphatase PP2A. Here, we describe the human orthologue of Gwl called microtubule-associated serine/threonine kinase-like (MASTL). We found that MASTL localizes to the nucleus in interphase and re-localizes in part to centrosomes in mitosis, when it is active. Cells strongly depleted of MASTL by RNAi delay in G2 phase and reveal slow chromosome condensation. MASTL RNAi cells that enter and progress through mitosis often fail to completely separate their sister chromatids in anaphase. This causes chromatin to be trapped in the cleavage furrow, which may lead to formation of 4N G1 cells by cytokinesis failure. Further, our experiments indicate that MASTL supports the phosphorylation state of mitotic phospho-proteins downstream of cyclin B1-Cdk1, including the APC/C. Cyclin B1 destruction is incomplete when mitotic cells that are strongly depleted of MASTL exit mitosis. We propose that MASTL enhances cyclin B1-Cdk1-dependent mitotic phosphorylation-events, directing mitotic entry, anaphase and cytokinesis in human cells.