Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Normal bone marrow in the sacrum of young adults: differences between the sexes seen on chemical-shift MR imaging.

OBJECTIVE Age-related changes in the distribution of fatty and nonfatty bone marrow in the pelvis and femur are well recognized. However, mapping not only of age-related MR appearance of normal bone marrow but also of potential variations in females versus males is necessary to differentiate normal findings from marrow disease. Accordingly, we studied possible sex-related differences in the MR imaging appearance of sacral bone marrow in young adults. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A population of 21 healthy men and 21 healthy women (17-42 years old) was prospectively studied with chemical-shift pulse sequences. MR imaging (1.5 T) of the sacrum was done with frequency-selective fat images (SENEX [selective nonexcitation] 300/27) and water images (SENEX 1000/27) by using an elliptical surface coil. Two independent observers compared the signal intensity of sacral marrow with the signal of fatty tissue planes adjacent to the sacrum (fat images) and the signal of gluteus muscle (water images). T2 relaxation times were estimated by using a two-parametric monoexponential fit on SENEX 1000/27 and SENEX 1000/54 images. RESULTS In both sexes, fat MR images showed a higher fat content and greater heterogeneity in the bone marrow of the lateral masses than in the vertebral bodies of the sacrum (p < .05). Yellow marrow in the lateral masses of the sacrum appeared brighter in men than in women (p < .05). The heterogeneity of fatty marrow did not differ significantly between the sexes. On water MR images, the signal intensity of the sacrum was higher in women (p < .05). T2 relaxation times were longer in nonfatty marrow with a high water signal intensity (41.8 +/- 5.5 msec versus 33.4 +/- 2.6 msec p < .01). CONCLUSION Our findings show that the normal appearance of the sacral bone marrow depicted on chemical-shift MR imaging differs between young men and women. Awareness of these differences is important to avoid misinterpretation of normal MR findings seen in patients in this age group.
Understanding Key Antecedents of User Loyalty toward Mobile Messenger Applications: An Integrative View of Emotions and the Dedication-Constraint Model

ABSTRACT Given the growth of and competition among mobile messenger applications (MMAs), attracting users’ attention and enhancing their loyalty have become large challenges for MMA service providers. This study provides a theoretical view for understanding the mechanisms that lead to user loyalty toward MMAs. Although emotions and the dedication-constraint model are the two main research disciplines via which the formation of user loyalty has been investigated, few studies have unified these two disciplines. A theoretical model is developed by synthesizing emotional responses and the dedication-constraint model. Based on the ambivalent view of emotions, we examine the exact effects of positive and negative emotions on user loyalty to MMA. Moreover, we identify an encompassing set of antecedents to affective and calculative commitments in the MMA context. A structural equation modeling (SEM) method is used to test the research model based on a sample of 300 KakaoTalk users in South Korea. Our findings reveal that user loyalty to MMAs is jointly shaped by dedication- and constraint-based mechanisms and emotional responses. The findings indicate that affective commitment significantly influences user loyalty, both directly and indirectly, through positive emotions. However, calculative commitment has significant positive effects on positive emotions and user loyalty, but it is also positively related to negative emotions. Perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, and trust significantly influence affective commitment to MMAs, while social norms significantly affect calculative commitment to MMAs. Theoretical and managerial implications and future research directions are subsequently discussed.
Sex Pheromone Response, Clumping, and Slime Production in Enterococcal Strains Isolated from Occluded Biliary Stents

ABSTRACT Bile-resistant bacteria, particularly gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium, play an important role in biliary stent occlusion, because their sessile mode of growth protects them against host defenses and antimicrobial agents. Twelve E. faecalis and seven E. faecium strains isolated from occluded biliary stents have been investigated for slime production, presence of aggregation substance genes, and ability to adhere to Caco-2 cells. Ten isolates were strong producers of slime, and seven isolates produced clumps when exposed to pheromones of E. faecalis JH2-2 and/or OG1RF. The small E. faecium clumps differed from the large clumps of E. faecalis and were similar to those of E. faecium LS10(pBRG1) carrying a pheromone response plasmid. After induction with pheromones, the adhesion to Caco-2 cells of clumping-positive strains was found to increase from two- to fourfold. Amplicons of the expected size were detected in three clumping-positive and three clumping-negative E. faecalis isolates by using primers (agg) internal to a highly conserved region of the E. faecalis pheromone response plasmids pAD1, pPD1, and pCF10 and primers internal to prgB of the E. faecalis plasmid pCF10. The agg/prgB-positive E. faecalis strains were also positive in Southern hybridization experiments with a prgB-specific probe. No PCR products were obtained with the same primers from four clumping-positive isolates (one E. faecalis and three E. faecium strains), which were also Southern hybridization negative. Our results demonstrate that slime production and pheromone response are both present in isolated enterococci, suggesting that clinical strains with these features might have a selective advantage in colonizing biliary stents.
Speciation of heavy metals in recent sediments of three coastal ecosystems in the Gulf of Cadiz, Southwest Iberian Peninsula

A five‐step sequential extraction technique was used to determine the partitioning of Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb among the operative sedimentary phases (exchangeable ions, carbonates, manganese and iron oxides, sulfides and organic matter, and residual minerals) in coastal sediment from three locations in the southwest Iberian Peninsula. Two sites are located close to industrial areas, the salt marshes of the Odiel River and Bay of Cádiz, and one in a nonindustrial area, the Barbate River salt marshes. The Odiel River salt marshes also receive the drainage from mining activities in the Huelva region. In the sediments from the Bay of Cádiz and Barbate River salt marshes, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Zn were extracted from the residual fraction at percentages higher than 60%. In the sediments from the Odiel River salt marshes, concentrations of all the metals, except Cu, zn, and cd, exceeded 60% in the residual fraction as well. In the sediments from the Bay of Cádiz and Barbate River salt marshes, the main bioavailable metals were Mn and Cd; in those from the Odiel River salt marshes, the main bioavailable metals were Zn and Cd, respectively. The environmental risk was determined by employing the environmental risk factor (ERF), defined as ERF = (CSQV — Ci/CSQV), where Ci is the heavy metal concentration in the first four fractions and CSQV is concentration sediment quality value (the highest concentration with no associated biological effect). Our results showed that the sediments from the Cádiz Bay and Barbate River salt marshes do not constitute any environmental risk under the current natural conditions. In contrast, in the Odiel River salt marshes, Cu, Zn, and Pb yielded ERFs of less than zero at several sampling stations and, consequently, pose a potential threat for the organisms in the area. This is a consequence of the high levels of metals in the area derived from the mining activity (pyrite) and industrial activities and the association of these heavy metals with more labile fractions of the sediments.
A Clinical Study on Visual Outcome and Complications of Penetrating Keratoplasty

Aim: To evaluate visual outcome and complications of penetrating keratoplasty. Materials and Methods: 30 cases underwent penetrating keratoplasty for optical and therapeutic purpose. Clinical examination and investigations were conducted. Indications, demographic profile, visual outcome and complications were assessed.Follow up period was 6 months. Results: 93.33% operated for optical and 6.67% for therapeutic purpose.Most common indication was corneal opacity(36.7%) followed by bullous keratopathy (33.3%). Others wereregraft (13.3%), non-healing infectious keratitis (6.7%), fuch’s endothelial dystrophy (6.7%), andkeratoconus (3.3%). Majority of patients (54%) were involved in agriculturaland construction work.Preoperative vision of30% wasPL, 20% had HM,16.7% had CFCF and23.3% had CF 0.5 meter.BCVA improved in 76.7 % cases and there was no improvement in 23.3% cases and the causes wererejection due to ocular inflammation, graftinfection,glaucoma and retinal pathology detected after surgery.Complications were AC reaction, persistent epithelial defect, filamentary keratitis, suture infiltrate, fistula, vascularization, graft infection, glaucoma, cystoid macular edema and rejection. Surgical success wasachieved in 83.3% cases and therapeutic success in 100% cases. Conclusion: Penetrating keratoplasty may be considered in patients with corneal blindness and refractory corneal ulcers as it can save the eye and bring back vision.
Frequency of replication errors in colorectal cancer and their association with family history

Background—Replication errors (RERs) characterise tumours of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). RER status may therefore improve identification of such families previously diagnosed by family history alone. Aims—To assess RER and HNPCC frequency within a population of colorectal cancer patients and a regional population of family history defined (Amsterdam criteria) HNPCC families. Methods—Family history was assessed by personal interview in a population of 479 patients with colorectal cancer attending one follow up clinic. Seven fluorescently labelled microsatellites were used to investigate RER frequency in colorectal cancers from 89 patients of this population with varying degrees of family history and 20 Amsterdam criteria positive families (four with a known germline mutation, 16 with unknown mutation status) from the regional population. Results—Only four of the follow up population (0.8%) came from families meeting the Amsterdam criteria with only one showing RERs. The frequency of RERs was similar in the early onset cancer group (less than 50 years of age), those with a family history, and those with no family history of colorectal cancer. From the regional population, RERs were identified in 4/4 families with a mutation but only 8/16 families with unknown mutation status. Conclusions—No correlation was seen between RER status and strength of family history except in HNPCC families. Results also indicate that half of the Amsterdam criteria defined families do not exhibit RERs, perhaps suggesting a different mechanism of tumorigenesis.
The Role of Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) Complexes Signaling in the Immune Responses

The mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) is an evolutionarily conserved serine/threonine kinase which is a member of the PI3K related kinase (PIKK) family. mTOR emerged as a central node in cellular metabolism, cell growth, and differentiation, as well as cancer metabolism. mTOR senses the nutrients, energy, insulin, growth factors, and environmental cues and transmits signals to downstream targets to effectuate the cellular and metabolic response. Recently, mTOR was also implicated in the regulation of both the innate and adaptive immune responses. This paper will summarize the current knowledge of mTOR, as related to the immune microenvironment and immune responses.
The association between cannabis use, anxiety and depression in Norwegian adolescents

Cannabis is one of the most commonly used substances across different age groups. Comorbidity between anxiety, depressive episodes and substance use is furthermore common. The aim of the study was to explore the use of cannabis among Norwegian adolescents, and examine the association between self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression and the use of cannabis. The sample consisted of 36,715 Norwegian adolescents at the age of 13 to 17. Cannabis use was found to be more prevalent among the older grades and the use increases with age. The results show that cannabis users report significantly more symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to non-users. The difference between users and nonusers, is further emphasized in the findings that there were no significant difference on the anxiety and depression scores for those who had tried the drug once compared to six or more times. More longitudinal studies are needed to get a better understanding of the causality of cannabis use and mental health.
Regulation of d-Xylose Metabolism in Caulobacter crescentus by a LacI-Type Repressor

ABSTRACT In the oligotrophic freshwater bacterium Caulobacter crescentus, d-xylose induces expression of over 50 genes, including the xyl operon, which encodes key enzymes for xylose metabolism. The promoter (P xylX ) controlling expression of the xyl operon is widely used as a tool for inducible heterologous gene expression in C. crescentus. We show here that P xylX and at least one other promoter in the xylose regulon (P xylE ) are controlled by the CC3065 (xylR) gene product, a LacI-type repressor. Electrophoretic gel mobility shift assays showed that operator binding by XylR is greatly reduced in the presence of d-xylose. The data support the hypothesis that there is a simple regulatory mechanism in which XylR obstructs xylose-inducible promoters in the absence of the sugar; the repressor is induced to release DNA upon binding d-xylose, thereby freeing the promoter for productive interaction with RNA polymerase. XylR also has an effect on glucose metabolism, as xylR mutants exhibit reduced expression of the Entner-Doudoroff operon and their ability to utilize glucose as a sole carbon and energy source is compromised.
A daily process examination of the bidirectional relationship between craving and alcohol consumption as measured via interactive voice response.

BACKGROUND Craving is a central component to alcohol use disorders, although there are contradictory findings in the literature regarding the importance of craving in alcohol use. The study goal was to examine the bidirectional relationship between craving and alcohol consumption in heavy drinkers. METHODS Participants received brief alcohol interventions from their primary care physicians and then were asked to make daily reports of craving and alcohol consumption to an interactive voice response (IVR) telephone system for 180 days. The study sample included 246 participants (166 men) with mean age of 46. Ninety-seven percent were Caucasian and 66% met criteria for alcohol dependence. Analysis used generalized estimating equations (GEE) to evaluate whether craving intensity predicted next day alcohol consumption and whether alcohol consumption predicted next day craving intensity. Significant interactions with gender led to stratified analyses. RESULTS GEE analyses revealed a significant bidirectional relationship between craving and drinking, where craving intensity predicted next day total drinks consumed (p = 0.001), and total drinks predicted next day craving intensity (p = 0.02). Exploratory analysis found that gender significantly moderated the craving-drinking relationship (p = 0.002) with men increasing next day alcohol use more (b = 0.19) than women (b = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest a bidirectional relationship between craving and drinking may contribute to the development or maintenance of heavy drinking, particularly for men. Based on our findings, we recommend that during brief interventions, physicians address both drinking and craving and provide advice for coping with craving.
Depressive psychosis: clinical usefulness of MR spectroscopy data in predicting prognosis.

PURPOSE To prospectively assess the usefulness of magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy data acquired before the initiation of medical therapy in predicting prognosis in patients with depressive psychosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS All subjects gave written informed consent to an institutional committee for clinical research-approved study protocol. The clinical course after medication in 52 patients with depressive psychosis (age range, 52-78 years; 21 men, 31 women) was investigated. In all patients, MR spectroscopy was performed with a 1.5-T MR imaging unit before the initiation of medical therapy. Cerebrovascular lesions (CVLs), which appear as high-signal-intensity areas on T2-weighted MR images, were evaluated by using the Fazekas rating scale. Patients were classified into two groups on the basis of the ratio of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) to creatine and phosphocreatine (Cr): Patients in group A had an NAA/Cr ratio greater than 1.91, and patients in group B had an NAA/Cr ratio of 1.91 or less. To assess the response of the patients to medication, standard psychiatric tests--the Verbal Associative Fluency Test (VAFT), the Digit Symbol Test (DST), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)--were administered before and after medical therapy was initiated. Mean test scores before and after medication were compared with paired t testing. P < . 05 was considered to indicate a significant difference. RESULTS There were 25 patients in group A and 27 in group B. In group A, the mean VAFT and DST scores increased and the mean HAM-D score decreased after medication. There was no significant difference in mean MMSE scores before and after medication (P = .945 for group A and P = .934 for group B). In group B, there were no significant differences in any of the psychiatric test scores before and after medication. The high-signal-intensity area score in group B was significantly higher than that in group A (P = .004). CONCLUSION MR spectroscopy data obtained before the initiation of medical therapy were useful in predicting prognosis in patients with depressive psychosis; this suggests that the combined burden of all CVLs may affect the response to antidepressant medication.
Adaptation of diaphyseal structure to aging and decreased mechanical loading in the adult rat: A densitometric and histomorphometric study

Nine‐month‐old female rats were subjected to right hindlimb immobilization or served as controls for 0, 2, 10, 18, and 26 weeks. They were double‐labeled with bone markers prior to sacrifice. Experimental unloading was produced by immobilizing the right limb against the abdomen with an elastic bandage. Single‐photon absorptiometry was performed on the intact femurs; static and dynamic histomorphometry were performed on 20‐μm thick toluidine blue‐stained, undecalcified cross sections of the tibial shafts. Changes in the continuously immobilized tibiae were compared to those in both tibiae of age‐matched controls.
Messung und Bilanzierung anthropogener Treibhausgase in Deutschland

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschaftigt sich mit der regionalen Bilanzierung von anthropogenen Treibhausgasemissionen aus atmospharischen Messungen. An den Stationen Schauinsland und Heidelberg (Sudwestdeutschland) sowie Neuglobsow und Zingst (Nordostdeutschland) wurden die CO2-, CH4-, N2O- und 222Rn-Mischungsverhaltnisse uber mehrere Jahre gemessen. Unter Verwendung von 222Rn als Transport Tracer konnten die CH4- und N2O-Emissionen bilanziert werden. Innerhalb der Unsicherheiten dieser Abschatzung sind die mittleren CH4-Quelldichten fur die Einzugsgebiete der vier Stationen mit (0.23±0.07) g CH4 km-2 s-1 identisch, was auf die relativ homogene Bestandsdichte von Milchkuhen, die mit fast 60 zu den CH4-Emissionen der jeweiligen Regionen beitragen, zuruckgefuhrt wird. Bei der Auswertung der N2O-Datensatze in Heidelberg konnten die Einflusse lokaler Punktquellen (Kliniken) eliminiert werden, und es wurde eine 50 prozentige Abnahme der N2O-Quelldichte von 1996/97 auf 1998 nachgewiesen. Diese fallt zeitlich zusammen mit einer dramatischen Reduktion der N2O-Emissionen aus der Adipinsaureproduktion der BASF AG Ende 1997. Eine quantitative Auswertung der CO2-Emissionen in Heidelberg konnte durch eine Analyse der CO2-Konzentrations- und Isotopenmesreihen unter Verwendung der Radon-Tracer-Methode erreicht werden. Die aus den atmospharischen 14C-Messungen fur die Jahre 1980 bis 1998 bestimmte fossile CO2-Quelldichte betragt im Mittel (510±28) t C km-2 a-1 und zeigt fur diesen Zeitraum keinen Trend. Dagegen ist die Anderung der Zusammensetzung der eingesetzten fossilen Energietrager (Gas, Erdol und Kohle) deutlich an der 13C-Signatur des fossilen CO2-Anteils von (-28.6±0.6) ‰ fur 1982/83 auf (-38.5±1) ‰ fur 1995 bis 1998 zu erkennen. Die Auswertung der kontinentalen CO2- und 222Rn-Uberhohungen an der Bergstation Schauinsland (Schwarzwald) erlaubte die Bestimmung grosraumiger Netto-CO2-Flusraten.
First release of the IPHAS catalogue of new extended planetary nebulae

We present the first results of our search for new, extended planetary nebulae (PNe) based on careful, systematic, visual scrutiny of the imaging data from the Isaac Newton Telescope Photometric Hα Survey of the Northern Galactic plane (IPHAS). The newly uncovered PNe will help to improve the census of this important population of Galactic objects that serve as key windows into the late-stage evolution of low- to intermediate-mass stars. They will also facilitate study of the faint end of the ensemble Galactic PN luminosity function. The sensitivity and coverage of IPHAS allows PNe to be found in regions of greater extinction in the Galactic plane and/or those PNe in a more advanced evolutionary state and at larger distances compared to the general Galactic PN population. Using a set of newly revised optical diagnostic diagrams in combination with access to a powerful, new, multiwavelength imaging data base, we have identified 159 true, likely and possible PNe for this first catalogue release. The ability of IPHAS to unveil PNe at low Galactic latitudes and towards the Galactic Anticentre, compared to previous surveys, makes this survey an ideal tool to contribute to the improvement of our knowledge of the whole Galactic PN population.
The role of listener familiarity in the perception of dysarthric speech

The effects of two qualitatively different familiarization procedures on listeners' perceptions of speech produced by a Korean woman with moderate-severe spastic-ataxic dysarthria were investigated. Thirty listeners were randomly assigned to one of three listening conditions. Prior to this task, members of the two experimental listening groups were familiarized with a speech sample produced by the woman with dysarthria. Listeners assigned to the Paragraph group heard the speaker read a paragraph twice as they followed along with a script. Listeners assigned to the Word List group heard the speaker read the same words comprising the paragraph, but the words were presented in a random order. This list was heard twice, as the listeners followed along with a script. The Control group performed the transcription task without receiving prior exposure to the dysarthric speech. The 30 listeners then orthographically transcribed sentences produced by the dysarthric speaker. Results showed that listeners familiariz.