Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Flotation of Heterocoagulated Particulates in Ulexite/SDS/Electrolyte System.

Salt-type minerals can be usually floated with either anionic or cationic collectors. In a number of systems, flotation has been reported to remarkably increase above the concentrations where precipitation of the collector salt is initiated. Some studies attribute this phenomenon to heterocoagulation of oppositely charged colloidal precipitate and mineral particles. In this study, ulexite, a semisoluble boron mineral, in the presence of various multivalent ions, i.e. Ba2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and Al3+, was found to exhibit excellent flotation even when particles, colloidal precipitates, and bubbles acquire a similar charge, which indicates that attractive structural forces exceed the forces of electrostatic repulsion. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.
Breathing May Be Dangerous to Your Health: Some Days Are More Dangerous Than Others

One of the great joys of academic life is the opportunity to comment on the research of one’s colleagues and to be amongst the first to see the unveiling of new knowledge in an area of interest. The joy becomes a challenge when asked to comment publicly via editorial (1) and doubly so when an extension of published work merits a further editorial! So how does one summarize without being repetitive and dissect without being obsessive? It is of course a matter of balance and reflection to see the overview, which is relevant for the broad community not just the niche market. So, it is with air pollution, which affects us, all, well almost all of us who work in urban environments, particularly those near major roads. An often-repeated joke about returning to the city after a weekend in the country is that is good to be able to see the air that you breathe. Such black humor belies the deadly nature of the particulate matter (PM) in the air that is at once irritant and carcinogenic.
The sexual lives of residents and fellows in graduate medical education programs: a single institution survey.

INTRODUCTION The prevalence of sexual problems among resident physicians has not been investigated. AIM To explore the sexual behavior of residents and fellows in training and to determine the incidence of sexual dysfunction in this population. METHODS Residents and fellows at our institution were invited to complete a demographic questionnaire, as well as two to three gender-specific validated instruments for the assessment of human sexuality. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The validated survey instruments selected were the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), the Index of Premature Ejaculation (IPE), and the Self-Esteem and Relationship Quality (SEAR) survey for male residents, and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Index of Sex Life (ISL) for female residents. Results were compared with established normative data and validated cut-off scores that were available. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess for relationships between variables. RESULTS There were 180 responses (83 female, 97 male, mean age 29 years), for a response rate of 20%. Among men, 90%, 67%, and 98% were in a relationship, married, and heterosexual, respectively. Among women, the same numbers were 80%, 55%, and 96%, respectively. Based on validated cut-off scores for the IIEF and FSFI, 13% of men reported ED (3% reported mild ED, 4% reported moderate ED, and 6% reported severe ED) and 60% of women were classified as "at high risk" for sexual problems, with desire disorders the most prevalent and orgasmic disorders the second most prevalent. There were significant gender differences with respect to the associations between sexual and relationship problems. CONCLUSIONS Sexual problems may be prevalent among residents in training, particularly female residents. Additional, larger studies that assess other quality of life measures and query sexual partners of residents are needed.
Low-Cost, Direct-Fed Slot Antenna Built in Metal Cover of Notebook Computer for 2.4-/5.2-/5.8-GHz WLAN Operation

The slot antenna has been utilized for some recent notebook computers on the market. The FR4 substrates are usually required to print the metal patterns for coupled-feeding the 2.4 GHz (2400–2484 MHz) slot and also for contributing the 5.2 GHz (5150–5350 MHz) and 5.8 GHz (5725–5825 MHz) bands. This communication presents a simple, direct-fed slot antenna with a low profile of 7 mm to the top edge of the metal cover for 2.4-/5.2-/5.8-GHz WLAN operation. The antenna design did not require any substrate and can be implemented directly in the metal cover of a notebook computer at low cost. The design comprised two parallel-connected, 0.5-wavelength-slot portions, formed in a linear structure of length 79 mm and constant width 2 mm, and fed by a common antenna feed port using a mini-coaxial cable. The larger slot generated a 0.5-wavelength resonant mode in the 2.4-GHz band and a 1-wavelength mode for 5.2-GHz operation. The smaller slot operated in a 0.5-wavelength resonant mode, which covered the 5.8-GHz band. With a matching inductor properly set in the slot, good input impedance over the 2.4-, 5.2-, and 5.8-GHz bands can be attained.
Stem cell therapy in oral and maxillofacial region: An overview

Cells with unique capacity for self-renewal and potency are called stem cells. With appropriate biochemical signals stem cells can be transformed into desirable cells. The idea behind this article is to shortly review the obtained literature on stem cell with respect to their properties, types and advantages of dental stem cells. Emphasis has been given to the possibilities of stem cell therapy in the oral and maxillofacial region including regeneration of tooth and craniofacial defects.
Optimal medical therapy with or without PCI for stable coronary disease.

BACKGROUND In patients with stable coronary artery disease, it remains unclear whether an initial management strategy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with intensive pharmacologic therapy and lifestyle intervention (optimal medical therapy) is superior to optimal medical therapy alone in reducing the risk of cardiovascular events. METHODS We conducted a randomized trial involving 2287 patients who had objective evidence of myocardial ischemia and significant coronary artery disease at 50 U.S. and Canadian centers. Between 1999 and 2004, we assigned 1149 patients to undergo PCI with optimal medical therapy (PCI group) and 1138 to receive optimal medical therapy alone (medical-therapy group). The primary outcome was death from any cause and nonfatal myocardial infarction during a follow-up period of 2.5 to 7.0 years (median, 4.6). RESULTS There were 211 primary events in the PCI group and 202 events in the medical-therapy group. The 4.6-year cumulative primary-event rates were 19.0% in the PCI group and 18.5% in the medical-therapy group (hazard ratio for the PCI group, 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87 to 1.27; P=0.62). There were no significant differences between the PCI group and the medical-therapy group in the composite of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke (20.0% vs. 19.5%; hazard ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.87 to 1.27; P=0.62); hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome (12.4% vs. 11.8%; hazard ratio, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.84 to 1.37; P=0.56); or myocardial infarction (13.2% vs. 12.3%; hazard ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.89 to 1.43; P=0.33). CONCLUSIONS As an initial management strategy in patients with stable coronary artery disease, PCI did not reduce the risk of death, myocardial infarction, or other major cardiovascular events when added to optimal medical therapy. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00007657 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).
Development of a Brain PET System, PET-Hat: A Wearable PET System for Brain Research

Brain functional studies using PET have advantages over fMRI in some areas such as auditory research in part because PET systems produce no acoustic noise during acquisition. However commercially available PET systems are designed for whole body studies and are not optimized for brain functional studies. We developed a low cost, small, wearable brain PET system named PET-Hat dedicated for brain imaging. It employs double counter-balanced systems for mechanical supports of the detector ring while allowing the subject some freedom of motion. The motion enables subject to be measured in the sitting position and move relatively freely with the PET during acquisition. The detector consists of a Gd2 SiO5 (GSO) block, a tapered light guide and a flat panel photomultiplier tube (FP-PMT). Two types of GSO are used for depth-of-interaction (DOI) separation allowing the use of a small ring diameter without resolution degradation. The tapered light guide allows the use of larger GSO blocks with fewer FP-PMTs. Sixteen detector blocks are arranged in a 280 mm diameter ring. Transaxial and axial field-of-view (FOV) are 20 cm and 4.8 cm, respectively. Energy resolution of the block detectors was ~15% full width at half maximum (FWHM) and timing resolution was ~4.6 ns FWHM. Transaxial resolution and axial resolution at the center of the FOV were ~4.0 mm FWHM and ~3.5 mm FWHM, respectively. Sensitivity was 0.7% at the center of the axial FOV. Scatter fraction was ~0.6. Hoffman brain phantom images were successfully obtained. We conclude that the PET-Hat is a promising, low cost, small, wearable brain PET system for brain functional studies.
Identifying the critical determinants of service quality in retail banking: importance and effect

Provides managers with an empirically derived framework to help them assess the likely impact of any service quality initiative. Categorizes quality factors in terms of their relative importance and their effect on satisfaction and dissatisfaction. States that the study is based on an analysis of over 200 customer anecdotes of incidents in the UK banking industry and 100 interviews. Research suggests that certain actions, such as increasing the speed of processing information and customers, are likely to have an important affect in terms of delighting customers, however other activities, such as improving the reliability of equipment, will lessen dissatisfaction rather than delight customers. Suggests that it is more important to ensure that the dissatisfiers are dealt with before the satisfiers. Also suggests that there are two areas where banks could achieve a distinct advantage, genuine commitment and attentiveness by front‐line staff. States that some other areas are not worth much attention and any time and money put into these areas might be better redirected elsewhere.
Abnormal sensorimotor integration in writer's cramp: Study of contingent negative variation

To investigate the pathophysiology of idiopathic focal dystonia, we recorded contingent negative variation (CNV) as a physiological index of sensorimotor intergration in 14 right‐handed patients with writer's cramp and compared it with normative data. CNV was recorded in the S2 choice reaction time paradigm: Two kinds of auditory S2 (Go or No‐Go) were given 2 s after the auditory S1, and the subject reacted only to the Go signal by extending the wrist. In normal subjects, the late CNV amplitude had no difference at Cz between left‐and right‐hand tasks and was symmetric without significant amplitude laterality irrespective of the side of hand movement. In patients with writer's cramp, the late CNV amplitude at Cz was relatively larger for the left‐hand task than the right‐hand task (p<0.03), and a significant amplitude laterality of the late CNV (larger on the right) was present especially at the central area for the right‐hand task (p<0.03). Since the late CNV is known to be generated, at least inpart, from primary and supplementary motor cortices, the significant laterality of the late CNV seen with the right‐hand task in patients with writer's cramp might represent functional abnormality of motor cortices possibly as the result of basal ganglia function.
ATV (quad bike) injuries in New Zealand children: their extent and severity.

AIMS Primary: To ascertain how many New Zealand (NZ) children are being injured or killed as the result of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) injuries and to define the nature and severity of their injuries. Secondary: to examine the effect of age, weight, helmet use, and ATV size on injury severity and to compare the demographics of injury in NZ to other countries. METHODS A retrospective review was undertaken of 643 cases of children less than 16 years old hospitalised between 2000-2006 due to possible ATV-related injury. New Zealand Health Information Statistics (NZHIS) identified the cases through discharge information, supplemented by a search of Auckland's Paediatric Intensive Care trauma database. Only confirmed ATV injuries were included. RESULTS Records were unavailable for 150 cases (26%). There were 218 confirmed cases of ATV injury. Mechanisms of injury were: a fall from the ATV, 105 cases (48%), a collision, 59 cases (31%), rolling 31 cases (14%). Mean age was 9.9 years (SD 3.9) with 133 (61%) under 12 years, and 32 (15%) 5 years and under. The child was the driver in 116 cases (53%) and the passenger in 61 cases (28%). Male to female ratio was 2:1. Mean injury severity score was 7.9 (SD 5.2). Median (IQR) length of stay was 2 days (1-4). Helmet use not stated in 62%, with only 30 cases (14%) identified as wearing helmets. The majority of injuries were orthopaedic, soft tissue injuries and head injuries. Multiple injuries occurred in 74 cases (34%). One hundred and eleven children (51%) required a general anaesthetic. Seventeen (7.8%) children required admission to intensive care. Six (2.8%) children were left with a permanent disability. Sixteen children died. There was no correlation between ISS and age or weight (Rho=-0.089, p=0.08 and Rho=0.49, p=0.79 respectively). The observed differences in ISS between helmet users and non-users, ATV drivers and passengers and size of ATV were not statistically significant. There was a trend towards reduced risk of head injury with helmet use RR =0.63 (95%CI 0.36-1.1), Chi-squared=3.09, p=0.09. The mean age of injured NZ children was lower than other countries and length of hospital stay was shorter. Gender distribution, injury type, and severity were similar to elsewhere. CONCLUSION ATVs are potentially lethal and have the capacity to inflict significant harm. It is clear that it is not appropriate for a young child to ride an adult sized ATV due to the risk of serious injury and death. Public debate is needed as to whether education or legislation is the answer.
A complex of Rab13 with MICAL-L2 and α-actinin-4 is essential for insulin-dependent GLUT4 exocytosis

Rab13 is necessary for insulin-regulated GLUT4-vesicle exocytosis in muscle. Biochemical and imaging analyses provide evidence that activated Rab13 engages a scaffold protein MICAL-L2 to form a complex with Rab13 and α-actinin-4. Through GLUT4 interaction with α-actinin-4, GLUT4 vesicles are recruited to the muscle plasma membrane.
Congenital protein C deficiency and venous thromboembolism. A study of three Dutch families.

Protein C is the zymogen of a vitamin K-dependent serine protease involved in blood coagulation. In the absence of protein C the inactivation of activated factors V and VIIIC is impaired, and the fibrinolytic capacity of the circulating blood is reduced. These conditions promote excessive fibrin formation and thus constitute a risk factor for thrombosis. Using an immunologic assay for protein C, we identified 18 patients (11 male and 7 female) in three unrelated Dutch families as fulfilling the criteria for an isolated protein C deficiency. In 12 patients who were not receiving oral anticoagulant treatment the mean protein C antigen concentration was 0.48 +/- 0.09 U per milliliter (+/- S.D.), and in 6 patients who were receiving adjusted doses of oral anticoagulants and had stable anticoagulation, the mean value was 0.17 +/- 0.05 U per milliliter. (The value in healthy subjects is 0.98 +/- 0.19 U per milliliter.) Fourteen of the 18 patients had a history of venous thromboembolism, with superficial thrombophlebitis as the hallmark of this condition (in 13 patients). These data are consistent with an autosomal dominant trait with variable expressivity.
Improvement in glycemic excursions with a transcutaneous, real-time continuous glucose sensor: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE Hypoglycemia and wide glucose excursions continue to be major obstacles to achieving target HbA(1c) values and the associated reductions in long-term complications (and economic costs) in people with insulin-treated diabetes. In this study we evaluated the accuracy, safety, and clinical effectiveness of a continuous glucose-sensing device. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 91 insulin-requiring patients with type 1 (n = 75) and type 2 (n = 16) diabetes were enrolled in this multicenter randomized study. Subjects wore a transcutaneous, 3-day, continuous glucose-sensing system for three consecutive 72-h periods. Subjects were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to either a control group (continuous glucose data not provided) or a display group (continuous glucose data not provided during period 1 but displayed during periods 2 and 3). During periods 2 and 3, patients in the display group had real-time access to sensor glucose values, could review glucose trends over the preceding 1, 3, and 9 h, and were provided with high (> or = 200 mg/dl) and low (< or = 80 mg/dl) alerts and a low (< or = 55 mg/dl) alarm. Sensors were inserted by patients, and both groups used (or wore) the system during daily activities. Device accuracy was assessed by comparing continuous glucose values to paired self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) meter readings. Clinical effectiveness was evaluated by analyzing between-group (control vs. display, periods 2 and 3) and within-group (display, period 1 vs. period 3) differences in time spent in high, low, and target (81-140 mg/dl) glucose zones. RESULTS When prospective, real-time sensor values were compared with SMBG values, 95.4% of 6,767 paired glucose values fell within Clarke error grid A and B zones. Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.88, and mean and median absolute relative differences were 21.2 and 15.9%, respectively. No systematic bias was detected at any of the prespecified glucose levels (50, 80, 100, 150, and 200 mg/dl). When compared with control subjects, the display group spent 21% less time as hypoglycemic (<55 mg/dl), 23% less time as hyperglycemic (> or = 240 mg/dl), and 26% more time in the target (81-140 mg/dl) glucose range (P < 0.001 for each comparison). Nocturnal (10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.) hypoglycemia, as assessed at two thresholds, was also reduced by 38% (<55 mg/dl; P < 0.001) and 33% (55-80 mg/dl; P < 0.001) in the display group compared with control subjects. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that real-time continuous glucose monitoring for periods up to 72 h is accurate and safe in insulin-requiring subjects with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This study demonstrates that availability of real-time, continuously measured glucose levels can significantly improve glycemic excursions by reducing exposure to hyperglycemia without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia, which may reduce long-term diabetes complications and their associated economic costs.
In Vivo Function of a Gammaherpesvirus Virion Glycoprotein: Influence on B-Cell Infection and Mononucleosis

ABSTRACT The human gammaherpesviruses Epstein-Barr virus and Kaposi Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus both contain a glycoprotein (gp350/220 and K8.1, respectively) that mediates binding to target cells and has been studied in great detail in vitro. However, there is no direct information on the role that these glycoproteins play in pathogenesis in vivo. Infection of mice by murid herpesvirus 4 strain 68 (MHV-68) is an established animal model for gammaherpesvirus pathogenesis and expresses an analogous glycoprotein, gp150. To elucidate the in vivo function of gp150, a recombinant MHV-68 deficient in gp150 production was generated (vgp150Δ). The productive viral replication in vitro and in vivo was largely unaffected by mutation of gp150, aside from a partial defect in the release of extracellular virus. Likewise, B-cell latency was established. However, the transient mononucleosis and spike in latently infected cells associated with the spread of MHV-68 to the spleen was significantly reduced in vgp150Δ-infected mice. A soluble, recombinant gp150 was found to bind specifically to B cells but not to epithelial cells in culture. In addition, gp150-deficient MHV-68 derived from mouse lungs bound less well to spleen cells than wild-type virus. Thus, gp150 is highly similar in function in vitro to the Epstein-Barr virus gp350/220. These results suggest a role for these analogous proteins in mononucleosis and have implications for their use as vaccine antigens.
Predictors and impact of losses to follow-up in an HIV-1 perinatal transmission cohort in Malawi.

BACKGROUND Large simple trials which aim to study therapeutic interventions and epidemiological associations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, including perinatal transmission, in Africa may have substantial rates of loss to follow-up. A better understanding of the characteristics and the impact of women and children lost to follow-up is needed. METHODS We studied predictors and the impact of losses to follow-up of infants born in a large cohort of delivering women in urban Malawi. The cohort was established as part of a trial of vaginal cleansing with chlorhexidine during delivery to prevent mother-to-infant transmission of HIV. RESULTS The HIV infection status could not be determined for 797 (36.9%) of 2156 infants born to HIV-infected mothers; 144 (6.7%) with missing status because of various sample problems and 653 (30.3%) because they never returned to the clinic. Notably, the observed rates of perinatal transmission were significantly lower in infants who returned later for determination of their infection status (odds ratio = 0.94 per month, P = 0.03), even though these infants must have had an additional risk of infection from breastfeeding. In multivariate models, infants of lower birthweight (P = 0.003) and, marginally, singletons (P = 0.09) were less likely to return for follow-up. The parents of infants lost to follow-up tended to be less educated (P < 0.001) and more likely to be in farming occupations, although one educated group, teachers and students, were also significantly less likely to return. Of these variables, infant birthweight, twins versus singletons, and maternal education were also associated with significant variation in the observed risk of perinatal transmission among infants of known HIV status. CONCLUSIONS Several predictors of loss to follow-up were identified in this large HIV perinatal cohort. Losses to follow-up can impact the observed transmission rate and the risk associations in different studies.