Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Allo- and autotransplantation of carotid artery--a new model of chronic graft vessel disease: evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging and histology.

BACKGROUND Graft vessel disease is a special form of accelerated arteriosclerosis. Because immunological and nonimmunological factors can contribute to graft vessel disease, we developed a model that enables the study of both factors simultaneously. METHODS A carotid artery was allografted from DA to Lewis rats, with the excised native artery autografted on the contralateral side. Five groups of six to seven rats were treated for 8 weeks with vehicle (placebo) or cyclosporine (CsA) (0.3, 1, 3, and 10 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1)), which was administered using subcutaneous osmotic minipumps. The carotid lumen area was estimated in vivo at 2, 4, and 8 weeks by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); CsA blood levels were determined twice. Carotid neointimal thickening and medial and luminal area were measured with histological techniques. RESULTS MRI showed bulging of the allografts but not autografts. Bulging disappeared over time with narrowing of the allograft lumina estimated by both MRI and histology. Histologically, vehicle-treated animals developed a massive neointima, which was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by CsA. Autografts remained normal except for minimal subintimal thickening of two of four arteries in the group given the highest dose of CsA. Cellular rejection was detected in the allografts of all but the highest-dose group. The CsA blood levels were similar to those used in man at the two lower doses and about 10-fold higher at the highest dose. CONCLUSIONS Subintimal thickening did not correlate with in vivo lumen size, a phenomenon that we have previously described for balloon catheter-induced lesions. CsA blood concentrations similar to those used in patients suppressed neointima formation in part, and 10-fold higher concentrations almost completely suppressed neointima formation.
Kalman Filter-Based Control System for Power Quality Conditioning Devices

A new control scheme based on the Kalman filter and the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) is proposed to improve the performance of power quality conditioning devices. Grid perturbations such as load variations, frequency deviation, voltage distortion, line impedance, unbalance, and measurement noise are taken into account. A new model of the plant is developed that allows the use of the LQR controller with a better performance. This new controller structure is feasible thanks to an algorithm based on the Kalman filter (KF), which estimates the state space variables at the point of common coupling, used in the proposed control system. This algorithm is also responsible for generating the references for the controller. The proposed control system was implemented using a digital signal controller. Extensive tests and experimental results are presented in order to verify the performance of the proposal.
Communication of Uncertainty Regarding Individualized Cancer Risk Estimates

Objective. To examine the effects of communicating uncertainty regarding individualized colorectal cancer risk estimates and to identify factors that influence these effects. Methods. Two Web-based experiments were conducted, in which adults aged 40 years and older were provided with hypothetical individualized colorectal cancer risk estimates differing in the extent and representation of expressed uncertainty. The uncertainty consisted of imprecision (otherwise known as “ambiguity”) of the risk estimates and was communicated using different representations of confidence intervals. Experiment 1 (n = 240) tested the effects of ambiguity (confidence interval v. point estimate) and representational format (textual v. visual) on cancer risk perceptions and worry. Potential effect modifiers, including personality type (optimism), numeracy, and the information’s perceived credibility, were examined, along with the influence of communicating uncertainty on responses to comparative risk information. Experiment 2 (n = 135) tested enhanced representations of ambiguity that incorporated supplemental textual and visual depictions. Results. Communicating uncertainty led to heightened cancer-related worry in participants, exemplifying the phenomenon of “ambiguity aversion. ” This effect was moderated by representational format and dispositional optimism; textual (v. visual) format and low (v. high) optimism were associated with greater ambiguity aversion. However, when enhanced representations were used to communicate uncertainty, textual and visual formats showed similar effects. Both the communication of uncertainty and use of the visual format diminished the influence of comparative risk information on risk perceptions. Conclusions. The communication of uncertainty regarding cancer risk estimates has complex effects, which include heightening cancer-related worry—consistent with ambiguity aversion—and diminishing the influence of comparative risk information on risk perceptions. These responses are influenced by representational format and personality type, and the influence of format appears to be modifiable and content dependent.
Cigarette consumption and sales of nicotine replacement products

BACKGROUND The first nicotine replacement product, Nicorette Gum, was marketed in 1984 as an adjuvant to help smokers quit smoking. In 1992, sales of nicotine patches were begun. Before 1996, nicotine gums and nicotine patches were prescribed by physicians and supplemented with behavioural counselling. Since 1996, nicotine gums and patches became available over the counter. OBJECTIVES To examine the effect of sales of nicotine replacement products on national cigarette consumption. DESIGN National time series quarterly cigarette consumption, sales of nicotine gums and patches data between 1976 and 1998 are used to estimate a time series autoregressive moving average intervention model. PARTICIPANTS National reported statistics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Per capita cigarette sales. RESULTS A 10% increase in sales of nicotine replacement products will lead to a 0.04% reduction in cigarette sales. The model indicates that a 0.076% reduction in cigarette consumption is associated with the availability of nicotine patches after 1992. The over the counter dummy variable (after 1996) has a negative sign, but is not significant, perhaps due to only a few quarters of data in the study period. CONCLUSIONS Nicotine replacement products (nicotine gums and nicotine patches) play a significant role in reducing cigarette consumption, in addition to the negative effect of increasing cigarette price and the overall trend of declining cigarette consumption (as reflected by the time trend variable). The findings of this study suggest that additional efforts for promoting sales of nicotine replacement products will be another effective alternative to discouraging cigarette consumption.
Unified methodology for heterogeneous integration with CoWoS technology

Interposer has emerged as a promising alternative of multiple-die integration to provide high-bandwidth transmission and smaller power consumption. However, few works study the design methodology to utilize interposer advantages and explore the relationship among different dies. As TSMC's Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate (CoWoS™) technology offered as an enabling solution to system integration, this paper presents complete design methodology validated by CoWoS™ to implement an interposer design. Along with the introduced methodology, three critical stages are further discussed: design planning, interposer testing, and RC extraction. With unified bump planning and routing co-design, inter-die wirelength and routability are greatly improved. An efficient testing scheme is introduced to adopt probe-pads for enabling interposer testability, and a general RC extraction modeling is discussed to help commercial tools capture the coupling between metal wires in the interposer. We develop an industrial test chip by the methodology, and the silicon result reveals that our methodology is compatible with commercial tools and achieves high correlation in interposer integration.
Comparative phylogeography across two trophic levels: the oak gall wasp Andricus kollari and its chalcid parasitoid Megastigmus stigmatizans

Insect parasitoids are important components of many terrestrial ecosystems. However, relatively little is known about the mechanisms responsible for structuring their populations. Here we investigate the ability of Megastigmus stigmatizans, an oak gall wasp parasitoid, to track its host Andricus kollari over two different timescales, and examine its current population structure across a divide in host population structure. The divide represents a transition in gall wasp host‐plant species and offers the opportunity to examine whether the split, which divides gall wasp populations, manifests itself in the next trophic level. Analysis of mitochondrial haplotype data for parasitoid and host reveals: (i) A similar phylogeographic population structure for both, with Iberian populations more derived with respect to more eastern populations. (ii) It is likely that the host colonized the Iberian refuge earlier than the parasitoid, probably by at least one glacial cycle. (iii) Recent range expansion of central European host populations northwards has resulted in pursuit by parasitoids from the same geographic origin. (iv) In addition, Iberian parasitoid populations have crossed a major divide in host population structure to invade northern Europe. Such human‐facilitated escape from natural refugial distributions may have important implications for the composition and structure of northern European gall wasp communities.
Calcifying tissue regeneration via biomimetic materials chemistry

Materials chemistry is making a fundamental impact in regenerative sciences providing many platforms for tissue development. However, there is a surprising paucity of replacements that accurately mimic the structure and function of the structural fabric of tissues or promote faithful tissue reconstruction. Methodologies in biomimetic materials chemistry have shown promise in replicating morphologies, architectures and functional building blocks of acellular mineralized tissues dentine, enamel and bone or that can be used to fully regenerate them with integrated cell populations. Biomimetic materials chemistry encompasses the two processes of crystal formation and mineralization of crystals into inorganic formations on organic templates. This review will revisit the successes of biomimetics materials chemistry in regenerative medicine, including coccolithophore simulants able to promote in vivo bone formation. In-depth knowledge of biomineralization throughout evolution informs the biomimetic materials chemist of the most effective techniques for regenerative framework construction exemplified via exploitation of liquid crystals (LCs) and complex self-organizing media. Therefore, a new innovative direction would be to create chemical environments that perform reaction–diffusion exchanges as the basis for building complex biomimetic inorganic structures. This has evolved widely in biology, as have LCs, serving as self-organizing templates in pattern formation of structural biomaterials. For instance, a study is highlighted in which artificially fabricated chiral LCs, made from bacteriophages are transformed into a faithful copy of enamel. While chemical-based strategies are highly promising at creating new biomimetic structures there are limits to the degree of complexity that can be generated. Thus, there may be good reason to implement living or artificial cells in ‘morphosynthesis’ of complex inorganic constructs. In the future, cellular construction is probably key to instruct building of ultimate biomimetic hierarchies with a totality of functions.
Rab7 induces clearance of α‐synuclein aggregates

Parkinson's disease can be caused by mutations in the α‐synuclein gene and is characterized by aggregates of α‐synuclein protein. Aggregates are degraded by the autophago‐lysosomal pathway. Since Rab7 has been shown to regulate trafficking of late endosomes and autophagosomes, we hypothesized that over‐expressing Rab7 might be beneficial in Parkinson's disease. To test this hypothesis, we expressed the pathogenic A53T mutant of α‐synuclein in HEK293 cells and Drosophila melanogaster. In HEK293 cells, EGFP‐Rab7‐decorated vesicles contain α‐synuclein. Rab7 over‐expression reduced the percentage of cells with α‐synuclein particles and the amount of α‐synuclein protein. Time‐lapse microscopy confirmed that particles frequently disappeared with Rab7 over‐expression. Clearance of α‐synuclein is explained by the increased occurrence of acidified α‐synuclein vesicles with Rab7 over‐expression, presumably representing autolysosomes. Rab7 over‐expression reduced apoptosis and the percentage of dead cells in trypan blue staining. In the fly model, Rab7 rescued the locomotor deficit induced by neuronal expression of A53T‐α‐synuclein. These beneficial effects were not produced by Rab7 missense mutations causing Charcot Marie Tooth neuropathy, or by the related GTPases Rab5, Rab9, or Rab23. Using mass spectrometry, we identified Rab7 in neuromelanin granules purified from human substantia nigra, indicating that Rab7 might be involved in the biogenesis of these possibly protective, autophagosome‐like organelles in dopaminergic neurons. Taken together, Rab7 increased the clearance of α‐synuclein aggregates, reduced cell death, and rescued the phenotype in a fly model of Parkinson's disease. These findings indicate that Rab7 is rate‐limiting for aggregate clearance, and that Rab7 activation may offer a therapeutic strategy for Parkinson's disease.
Lack of a Role of Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor 1 Toxin from Escherichia coli in Bacterial Pathogenicity and Host Cytokine Response in Infected Germfree Piglets

ABSTRACT Some Escherichia coli strains isolated from intestinal or extraintestinal infections in pigs produce cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1). In order to analyze the role of CNF1 in the pathogenesis of porcine colibacillosis, newborn colostrum-deprived germfree piglets were orally inoculated with a wild-type CNF1-producing strain (M623) or with an isogenic cnf1 mutant (M623ΔCNF1). The two isogenic strains induced a high mortality with similar lung and serosal inflammatory lesions, indicating that both strains were pathogenic in these piglets. Bacterial counts in various organs of inoculated piglets revealed an intestinal predisposition of M623 and M623ΔCNF1 strains for the cecum and colon. Extraintestinal organs (lungs, liver, spleen, and kidney) were also colonized by both strains. Similar colonization of intestinal and extraintestinal tissues in animals inoculated with either strain was observed, except in the ileum, where M623 showed a higher colonization than M623ΔCNF1. Intestinal (ileum and colon), extraintestinal (lung and kidney), and immune (mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen) tissues were sampled at 1 day postinoculation and analyzed for cytokine expression by a reverse transcriptase PCR technique. Inoculation with E. coli M623 induced an enhanced expression of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1α [IL-1α], tumor necrosis factor α, and IL-12p40) in the intestinal organs compared to uninoculated piglets or piglets inoculated with nonpathogenic intestinal E. coli 862B, which is also able to colonize the intestinal tract. There was little difference in cytokine transcript levels in the intestinal and extraintestinal organs in piglets inoculated with E. colistrains M623 or M623ΔCNF1, except in the ileum, where IL-1α and IL-8 mRNA levels correlated with bacterial colonization. Expression of regulatory cytokines (gamma interferon and IL-4) was weak in immune tissues from piglets inoculated with M623 or M623ΔCNF1. Taken together, our data indicate that the CNF1-producing strain, M623, is pathogenic and induces inflammatory cytokine expression in germfree, colostrum-deprived piglets. Nevertheless, in this model, the CNF1 toxin does not appear to be a major factor for pathogenicity or cytokine response, as demonstrated by the use of an isogenic cnf1mutant.
Transmission of HIV-1 drug resistance in Benin could jeopardise future treatment options

Objectives As access to antiretrovirals (ARV) increases in developing countries, the identification of optimal therapeutic regimens and prevention strategies requires the identification of resistance pathways in non-B subtypes as well as the surveillance of drug mutation resistance (SDMR) including the trafficking of viral strains between high-risk groups such as commercial sex workers (CSW) and the general population (GP). In this study, the authors evaluated the rate of primary resistance mutations and the epidemiological link between isolates from GP and CSW from Bénin. Methods Plasma samples were obtained from 129 HIV-1-infected treatment-naïve individuals. Drug resistance mutations were identified using SDMR list and compared with other resistance algorithms. Results No nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor resistance mutations were found. Four patients had non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor resistance (K103N, G190A). One patient exhibited protease inhibitors resistance mutation, F53Y. Using the SDMR list, the authors obtained a rate of 3.9% of primary resistance. Nevertheless, the authors observed several mutations not on SDMR list but included in others resistance database, taking those mutations into account, the authors obtained a rate of 15.5%. Conclusions Although our results show a low rate of SDMR, this algorithm may underestimate resistance mutations that may impact treatment options in developing countries. Primary resistance rates were similar in CSW and in the GP. Our phylogenetic analysis confirmed the genetic exchange between groups.
Influencia de las prácticas de responsabilidad social corporativa en la actitud del consumidor: análisis comparado de Mercadona, Carrefour y Eroski

La implantacion de practicas de Responsabilidad Social Corporativa (RSC) en las empresas es un tema relevante en los ultimos anos. Entre las cuestiones analizadas destaca la importancia de correlacionar la RSC con el comportamiento de los clientes por la influencia que puede tener en los beneficios de las empresas. Si bien diferentes investigaciones han estudiado esta relacion previamente, son pocos los trabajos que han tratado la influencia de la RSC percibida en la actitud del consumidor en el sector de la distribucion comercial minorista de Espana y menos aun en un contexto de crisis economica. En esta investigacion se analiza la relacion entre la RSC percibida y la actitud del consumidor de los tres grupos empresariales del sector minorista con mayor facturacion en Espana: la empresa familiar Mercadona y las ensenas Carrefour y Eroski. Los resultados corroboran que las acciones de RSC influyen de manera directa y positiva en la actitud del consumidor, por lo que la investigacion contribuye a consolidar el conocimiento de la relacion entre estas dos variables y orienta a los gestores hacia la implantacion de politicas de RSC para mejorar sus resultados.
Effects of long‐range electrostatic forces on simulated protein folding kinetics

Molecular dynamics simulations are a useful tool for characterizing protein folding pathways. There are several methods of treating electrostatic forces in these simulations with varying degrees of physical fidelity and computational efficiency. In this article, we compare the reaction field (RF) algorithm, particle‐mesh Ewald (PME), and tapered cutoffs with increasing cutoff radii to address the impact of the electrostatics method employed on the folding kinetics. We quantitatively compare different methods by a correlation of quantitative measures of protein folding kinetics. The results of these comparisons show that for protein folding kinetics, the RF algorithm can quantitatively reproduce the kinetics of the more costly PME algorithm. These results not only assist the selection of appropriate algorithms for future simulations, but also give insight on the role that long‐range electrostatic forces have in protein folding. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2008
Phase change events of volatile liquid perfluorocarbon contrast agents produce unique acoustic signatures

Phase-change contrast agents (PCCAs) provide a dynamic platform to approach problems in medical ultrasound (US). Upon US-mediated activation, the liquid core vaporizes and expands to produce a gas bubble ideal for US imaging and therapy. In this study, we demonstrate through high-speed video microscopy and US interrogation that PCCAs composed of highly volatile perfluorocarbons (PFCs) exhibit unique acoustic behavior that can be detected and differentiated from standard microbubble contrast agents. Experimental results show that when activated with short pulses PCCAs will over-expand and undergo unforced radial oscillation while settling to a final bubble diameter. The size-dependent oscillation phenomenon generates a unique acoustic signal that can be passively detected in both time and frequency domain using confocal piston transducers with an ‘activate high’ (8 MHz, 2 cycles), ‘listen low’ (1 MHz) scheme. Results show that the magnitude of the acoustic ‘signature’ increases as PFC boiling point decreases. By using a band-limited spectral processing technique, the droplet signals can be isolated from controls and used to build experimental relationships between concentration and vaporization pressure. The techniques shown here may be useful for physical studies as well as development of droplet-specific imaging techniques.
Recent clinical and epidemiological trends in parasuicide in Edinburgh and Oxford: a tale of two cities

Synopsis This is a report of clinical and epidemiological trends in parasuicide in Edinburgh and Oxford over the period 1976 to 1984. Rates of parasuicide declined in both cities, but more markedly among women than men. Male rates tended to be higher in Edinburgh and female rates higher in Oxford. Age-specific rates were similar for the two cities in 1983–84, with peak rates for females among 15–19 year olds and those for males among 20–24 year olds in Edinburgh and 25–34 year olds in Oxford. Parasuicide incidence was higher in lower social class groups and among the unemployed in both cities. During the study period there was a massive decline in barbiturate overdoses, a more modest decline in minor tranquillizer overdoses but, in Oxford, a marked increase in self-poisoning with paracetamol. By the end of the study period the proportion of patients receiving a diagnosis of drug addiction had doubled in Edinburgh, although it had remained fairly constant in Oxford. There were differences in patterns of aftercare offered to patients in the two cities; these almost certainly reflect differing clinical policies.