Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of aortic valve replacement on ventricular recovery and functional class in patients with reduced left ventricular function

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the effects of aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) or regurgitation (AR) and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Patients and methods: Retrospective analysis identified 75 consecutive patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) assessed by echocardiography 10.9% in the AS and AR groups after echocardiography control. The survival rates at 1, 5 and 10 years were respectively 94.4%, 87% and 80% in AS group and 95.2%, 93% and 89% in AR group. Conclusion: Despite higher perioperative mortality in patients with aortic valve disease (AS or AR) and LV dysfunction, long-term outcome is excellent. We, therefore, conclude that AVR can be performed and it should not be denied to patients on the basis of low EF alone.
The efficacy of Terminalia chebula rinse on Streptococcus mutans count in saliva and its effect on salivary pH.

PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of Terminalia chebula aqueous extract rinse on salivary pH and Streptococcus mutans. Mouthrinses have been in use from time immemorial as a supplement for routine oral hygiene practice. Although a large number of mouthrinses are currently available, many of them possess certain drawbacks, which has necessitated the search for alternate agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten per cent of T. chebula extract was prepared. A purposive sample of 30 subjects was selected and randomly divided into extract and control groups. Baseline salivary sample was collected. The freshly prepared extract rinse and control were given to the respective groups. Distilled water was used as a negative control. Salivary samples were collected at 5 and 60 min after rinsing and were subjected to pH and microbiological analyses. An acceptability questionnaire was given to all of the participants. Statistical analysis was done using paired and unpaired t tests. RESULTS There was a significant reduction in the S. mutans count at 5 and 60 min after rinsing the extract. Salivary pH remained alkaline for a period of 1 h after rinsing the extract. Results of the acceptability questionnaire indicated that the mouthrinse was acceptable to 80% of the subjects. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study indicate that T. chebula may prove to be an effective anticaries mouthwash owing to its ability to increase salivary pH and inhibit S. mutans. This may also be a valuable public health intervention as it is economical and has multiple health benefits.
Evidence for Menstrual Cycle Shifts in Women's Preferences for Masculinity: A Response to Harris (in Press) “Menstrual Cycle and Facial Preferences Reconsidered”

Over the last decade, a growing literature has shown that women in the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle demonstrate stronger preferences for men with masculine traits than they do when in the non-fertile phases of the cycle (see Gangestad and Thornhill, 2008 and Jones et al., 2008 for recent reviews). In a recent article, Harris (in press; Sex Roles) failed to replicate this increase in women's preferences for masculine faces when women are near ovulation. Harris represented her study as one of only three studies on the topic, and as the largest of the existing studies. There are, however, many more studies on menstrual cycle shifts in preferences for facial masculinity in the published literature, including one that is 2.5 times larger in size than the Harris study. In this article, we review the evidence for cyclic shifts in mate preferences and related behaviors and discuss weaknesses of Harris's methods. Considered as a whole, the evidence for menstrual cycle shifts in women's preferences and behaviors is compelling, despite the failure of replication reported by Harris.
Molecular analysis of spv virulence genes of the salmonella virulence plasmids

Genes on an 8 kb region common to the virulence plasmids of several serovars of Salmonella are sufficient to replace the entire plasmid in enabling systemic infection in animal models. This virulence region encompasses five genes which previously have been designated with different names from each investigating laboratory. A common nomenclature has been devised for the five genes, i.e. spv for salmonella plasmid virulence. The first gene, spvR, encodes a positive activator for the following four genes, spvABCD. DNA sequence analysis of the spv genes from Salmonella typhimurium. Salmonella dublin, and Salmonella choleraesuis demonstrated extremely high conservation of the DNA and amino acid sequences. The spv genes are induced at stationary phase and in carbon‐poor media, and optimal expression is dependent on the katF locus. The cirulence functions of the spv genes are not known, but these genes may increase the growth rate of salmonellae in host cells and affect the interaction of salmonellae with the host immune system.
Edema‐induced intestinal dysfunction is mediated by Stat3 activation

Intestinal edema has been shown to slow intestinal transit by decreasing intestinal contractile activity via decreased myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation. Increased Stat3 activation has been shown to be associated with intestinal dysfunction in both hemorrhagic shock and surgical manipulation of the gut. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Stat3 in edema‐induced intestinal dysfunction. Intestinal edema was induced in male Sprague Dawley rats by a combination of mesenteric venous hypertension and fluid resuscitation (RESUS+VH). Sham operated rats were used as controls (CONTROL). Wet to dry ratios, Stat3 activation, nuclear translocation, and phosphorylation were measured in rat distal small intestinal muscularis. Rats in the RESUS+VH group developed a significant amount of edema as indicated by increased wet to dry ratios compared to CONTROL as early as 30 minutes and lasting longer than 6 hours post‐surgery. A greater than 2 fold increase in Stat3 activation was observed from 30 minutes to 6 hours after surgery in the RESUS+VH group compared to CONTROL. In addition, a significant increase in Stat3 nuclear translocation and phosphorylation were measured in the RESUS+VH group compared to CONTROL. Rats in both the RESUS+VH and CONTROL groups were treated with AG490 (5 mg/kg IP) to block Stat3 activation. Although the Stat3 inhibition did not affect edema development, AG490 attenuated the edema‐induced decrease in intestinal contractile activity and MLC phosphorylation. We conclude from these data that edema‐induced decreases in intestinal contractile activity are mediated by Stat3 activation.
From Public Health Emergency to Public Health Service: The Implications of Evolving Criteria for Newborn Screening Panels

PEDIATRICS is the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. A monthly publication, it has been published continuously since 1948. PEDIATRICS is owned, published, and trademarked by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Boulevard, Elk Grove Village, Illinois, 60007. Copyright © 2006 by the American Academy of Pediatrics. All rights reserved. Print ISSN: 0031-4005. Online ISSN: 1098-4275.
Effects of light on respiration and oxygen isotope fractionation in soybean cotyledons

Light effects on electron flow through the cyanide-resistant respiratory pathway, oxygen isotope fractionation and total respiration were studied in soybean (Glycine max L.) cotyledons. During the first 12 h of illumination there was an increase in both electron partitioning through the alternative pathway and oxygen isotope fractionation by the alternative oxidase. The latter probably indicates a change in the properties of the alternative oxidase. There was no engagement of the alternative oxidase in darkness and its fractionation was 27‰. In green cotyledons 60% of the respiration flux was through the alternative pathway and the alternative oxidase fractionation was 32‰. Exposing previously illuminated tissue to continuous darkness induced a decrease in the electron partitioning through the alternative pathway. However, this decrease was not directly linked with the low cellular sugar concentration resulting from the lack of light because 5 min of light every 12 h was sufficient to keep the alternative pathway engaged to the same extent as plants grown under control conditions.
The metabolism of [U-14C]glucose, [1-14C]palmitic acid and [1-14C]stearic acid by the lactating mammary gland of the sow

Summary (1) Lactating Large White sows were given an intravenous infusion of [U-14C]glucose (3 sows), or of triglycerides containing [1-14C]palmitic acid (1 sow) or [1-14C]stearic acid (1 sow). (2) The contribution of labelled plasma constituents to the synthesis of milk citrate, lactose, triglyceride glycerol, individual amino acids of the milk proteins and individual fatty acids of the triglyceride fraction was estimated by the ‘transfer quotient’ method. For the glucose infusions the mean values for the transfer quotients were: lactose, 70%; citrate, 42%; glyceride glycerol, 38%; protein, 3%; laurate, 6%; myristate, 12%; palmitate, 6%; palmitoleate, 4% and stearate, 2%. Palmitic acid of the plasma triglycerides made similar contributions of about 60% to the palmitic and palmitoleic acids of milk fat, whereas stearic acid made a major contribution (71 %) to the stearic acid of milk fat but a smaller contribution (42%) to oleic acid. (3) The results are compared with corresponding values for the goat and the cow.
Comparison of Operative Techniques in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Performing the Distal Anastomosis

Abstract Objective: The aim of our retrospective study was to evaluate early and midterm clinical outcomes of two surgical techniques: open anastomosis in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) compared to anastomosis with clamped aorta while continuing on extracorporeal circulation (CECC). Methods: Between November 1997 and February 2002, 67 patients were operated for acute type A aortic dissection. Records of 35 patients with isolated replacement of the ascending aorta without intervention on the aortic arch were retrospectively reviewed. The influence of two techniques (DHCA n = 15, CECC n = 20) on clinical outcome and midterm follow up was investigated. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in preoperative data. Female gender in the DHCA group was coincidentally more frequent. Intraoperative management did not result in different early clinical outcome. 30‐day mortality was not statistically different. Mean follow up time was 20.7 ± 11.1 months in the DHCA group and 28.7 ± 14.3 months in the CECC group. One‐year and 3‐year survival estimates in DHCA group were 85%± 7% and 79%± 9%, respectively. In the CECC group similar survivals were 80%± 10% and 73%± 11%, respectively. No statistically significant differences between the two groups were obtained in early or midterm outcome. Conclusion: While there is no difference in clinical outcome in surgical treatment of acute type A aortic dissection with or without circulatory arrest, there are some practical technical advantages if the distal anastomosis is performed in an open manner. Probably the long‐term outcome too is better with this anastomosis technique.
Development and Validation of a Pediatric Sports Activity Rating Scale

Background: Having simple and reliable validated outcome measures is vital to conducting high-quality outcomes research in the field of orthopaedic surgery. Activity level is a key prognostic variable for patients with sports injuries. There is a paucity of such activity scales for children and adolescents who are otherwise healthy and athletically active. In addition to frequency and intensity of athletic activity, level of play and coach/trainer supervision are important variables unique to children and adolescents that are not captured in available adult scoring systems. Purpose: To create and validate a concise and comprehensive activity rating scale for athletically active children and adolescents 10 to 18 years of age. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Item generation was performed with a panel of orthopaedic surgeons and adolescent athletes. Item reduction, pilot testing and scale refinement resulted in a final 8-item instrument, the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (HSS Pedi-FABS). Existing methods were used to determine reliability and validation. The Flesch-Kincaid score was calculated at a 6.6th-grade reading level (approximately 13 years old); therefore, although all subjects provided their own answers, parents were allowed to assist children younger than 13 years with reading the questionnaire. Results: Scale reliability was excellent (test-retest reliability, intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.91; internal consistency, Cronbach alpha = .914), and there were no floor or ceiling effects. There was also robust construct validity: Convergent validity testing revealed positive correlations between the HSS Pedi-FABS and level of competition in athletic activity, number of reported hours of athletic activity per week, and existing comparable adult and pediatric scales. Discriminant validity was shown with age, body mass index, and type of sport as measured by the Daniel scale. Conclusion: The 8-item HSS Pedi-FABS can be used to reliably and accurately evaluate activity level as a prognostic variable for clinical research studies. It is a simple, reliable, and valid metric to assess activity in children and adolescents 10 to 18 years of age. This instrument will lead to better evaluation of posttreatment outcomes and patient-reported activity for child and adolescent athletes.
EFFECTS OF WORKGROUP AND ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT ON DISCRETIONARY BEHAVIOR

Today, it is important for many organizations to use workgroups for solving complex problems and tasks. The purpose of this paper is to examine and compare how commitment among workgroup members, directed towards the workgroup and organization respectively, influences discretionary work behavior. A deductive and quantitative method is used that was translated into a descriptive cross-sectional study of 138 individuals in 33 different workgroups operating in a professional environment. Various statistical methods including regression analysis was used to test the drafted hypotheses. The results indicated commitment among workgroup participants, both directed towards the organization and workgroup appears to be positively related to organization citizenship behavior. Also, Commitment directed towards the workgroup is observed to be a stronger predictor of organization citizenship behavior, and in turn discretionary behaviors, than commitment focused towards the organization.
A high-fecundity aedine: factors affecting egg production of the western treehole mosquito, Aedes sierrensis (Diptera: Culicidae).

Aedes sierrensis is typical of most mosquitoes in that larger females lay more eggs per batch and females blood fed to repletion lay more eggs than those not taking a complete meal. Neither mating nor gonotrophic age affects egg maturation, but mated mosquitoes oviposit more readily than unmated ones. Pupal weight does not correlate with egg weight, survivorship of either sex, number of clutches produced, mating success, day of 1st feeding, or 1st day of oviposition. Aedes sierrensis is unusual in its high weight-specific fecundity and small egg size relative to 5 other Aedes species. High fecundity may be an adaptation allowing individual females of this species to oviposit single egg batches in a greater number of tree holes.
What is schizophrenia?

Many who pick up this book will be learning about schizophrenia for the first time, either because someone they care about has recently been diagnosed, or purely out of academic interest. As such, we aim to paint a very clear and basic picture of the disorder, and avoid jargon as much as possible (though sometimes this cannot be avoided). The first impression many people get about schizo­phrenia, however, is formed before they ever meet someone with the disorder, through exposure in films, television, or literature. Some of these portrayals are fair and accurate depictions of particular aspects of schizophrenia, and may be useful to review in combination with this book to help the reader develop a fuller picture of the disorder (though none is perfect in all regards). For ex­ample, some aspects of John Nash’s struggles with schizophrenia in the film A Beautiful Mind, and those of Nathaniel Ayers in The Soloist, ring true with these individuals’ first- person accounts of the disorder. The reality of schizophrenia has also been reasonably well captured in fictional films such as Clean, Shaven; Donnie Darko; and The Fisher King. Yet, far more commonly schizophrenia is portrayed in an unrealistic and unflattering light by authors and screenwriters, which adds to the stigma and negative views of the disorder held by many who have no first- hand experience of the illness. We will cover some examples of these faulty depictions later in the chapter ‘What is not schizophrenia’, but here, let us continue to describe the main facts about the disorder. Please keep in mind that schizophrenia is one of the most complicated and variable human disorders. Although this is a textbook on schizophrenia, there are no ‘textbook cases’ of schizophrenia. As such, you may sometimes find your­self reading these facts and thinking, ‘that doesn’t sound like what I’ve seen or experienced’. We try to paint as broad a picture of schizophrenia as possible to provide the reader with the best chance of recognizing and understanding schizophrenia when they see it. We use anecdotes about cases to illustrate fea­tures of the disorder, but these may not be relevant to the schizophrenia that you have seen.
Broken detailed balance and non-equilibrium dynamics in living systems: a review

Living systems operate far from thermodynamic equilibrium. Enzymatic activity can induce broken detailed balance at the molecular scale. This molecular scale breaking of detailed balance is crucial to achieve biological functions such as high-fidelity transcription and translation, sensing, adaptation, biochemical patterning, and force generation. While biological systems such as motor enzymes violate detailed balance at the molecular scale, it remains unclear how non-equilibrium dynamics manifests at the mesoscale in systems that are driven through the collective activity of many motors. Indeed, in several cellular systems the presence of non-equilibrium dynamics is not always evident at large scales. For example, in the cytoskeleton or in chromosomes one can observe stationary stochastic processes that appear at first glance thermally driven. This raises the question how non-equilibrium fluctuations can be discerned from thermal noise. We discuss approaches that have recently been developed to address this question, including methods based on measuring the extent to which the system violates the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. We also review applications of this approach to reconstituted cytoskeletal networks, the cytoplasm of living cells, and cell membranes. Furthermore, we discuss a more recent approach to detect actively driven dynamics, which is based on inferring broken detailed balance. This constitutes a non-invasive method that uses time-lapse microscopy data, and can be applied to a broad range of systems in cells and tissue. We discuss the ideas underlying this method and its application to several examples including flagella, primary cilia, and cytoskeletal networks. Finally, we briefly discuss recent developments in stochastic thermodynamics and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, which offer new perspectives to understand the physics of living systems.
Voltage‐dependent binding and calcium channel current inhibition by an anti‐α1D subunit antibody in rat dorsal root ganglion neurones and guinea‐pig myocytes

1 The presence of calcium channel α1D subunit mRNA in cultured rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurones and guinea‐pig cardiac myocytes was demonstrated using the reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction. 2 An antipeptide antibody targeted at a region of the voltage‐dependent calcium channel α1Dsubunit C‐terminal to the pore‐forming SS1–SS2 loop in domain IV (amino acids 1417–1434) only bound to this exofacial epitope if the DRG neurones and cardiac myocytes were depolarized with 30 mM K+. 3 Incubation of cells under depolarizing conditions for 2–4 h with the antibody resulted in a maximal inhibition of inward current density of 49% (P < 0.005) for DRGs and 30% (P < 0.05) for cardiac myocytes when compared with controls. 4 S‐(–)‐Bay K 8644 (1 μM) enhanced calcium channel currents in DRGs by 75 ± 19% (n= 5) in neurones incubated under depolarizing conditions with antibody that had been pre‐adsorbed with its immunizing peptide (100 μg ml−1). This was significantly (P < 0.05) larger than the enhancement by S‐(–)‐Bay K 8644 that was seen with cells incubated under identical conditions but with antibody alone, which was 15 ± 4% (n= 5). 5 These results demonstrate the presence of calcium channel α1D subunits in rat DRG neurones and guinea‐pig cardiac myocytes. They also show that amino acids 1417–1434 of the α1D subunit are only exposed to the extracellular face of the membrane following depolarization and that the binding of an antibody to these amino acids attenuates calcium channel current and reduces the ability of S‐(–)‐Bay K 8644 to enhance this current, indicating that it is an L‐type current that is attenuated.
Effect of map strength on polarization mode dispersion in dispersion-managed soliton systems

Solitons in dispersion managed lines have large tolerance to polarization mode dispersion (PMD) because of the strong nonlinear trap helped by a power enhancement factor compared with conventional solitons. We present numerical results on the effect of map strength S on PMD and discuss the optimum choice of S in practical soliton systems.
A study into the feasibility of generic programming in Java

A high degree of abstraction and capacity for reuse can be obtained in software design through the use of generic programming(GP). For this to be possible, the programming must be implemented in a language that is able to adapt and correctly transmit this capacity. In this study we show that Java is feasible for generic software design and that it is predisposed to making this software reusable. To this end, we consider the design of a library of generic components based on the GP and we implement it with Java.
Effect of driver, roadway, collision, and vehicle characteristics on crash severity: a conditional logistic regression approach

The aim of the study is to examine the factors that appear to have a higher potential for serious injury or death of drivers in traffic accidents in Turkey, such as collision type, roadway surface, vehicle speed, alcohol/drug use, and restraint use. Driver crash severity is the dependent variable of this study with two categories, fatal and non-fatal. Due to the binary nature of the dependent variable, a conditional logistic regression analysis was found suitable. Of the 16 independent variables obtained from Turkish police accident reports, 11 variables were found most significantly associated with driver crash severity. They are age, education level, restraint use, roadway condition, roadway type, time of day, collision location, collision type, number and direction of vehicles, vehicle speed, and alcohol/drug use. This study found that belted drivers aged 18–25 years involving two vehicles travelling in the same direction, in an urban area, during the daytime, and on an avenue or a street have better chances of survival in traffic accidents.