Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Apixaban and Rivaroxaban Safety After Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

Direct experimental safety comparisons of Xa coagulation factor direct inhibitors, apixaban and rivaroxaban, on their approved therapeutic indications have not been identified. Due to recently raised safety concerns, a meta-analysis was carried out pooling data from studies identified on a Medline and Cochrane Library search in order to better evaluate the safety profile of both drugs. Abstracts from scientific meetings were also searched from 2003 to 2011. Primary and secondary outcome measures were major bleeding and total bleeding, respectively. Relative risks (RRs) were estimated using random effects models and statistical heterogeneity was estimated with I2 statistics. Of the 160 screened publications, 12 clinical trials were included in which enoxaparin was the active control. For knee arthroplasty, apixaban was associated with significantly fewer major bleeding events (6496 patients, RR 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.32-0.96) and fewer total bleeding events (6496 patients, RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.67-0.97). There were no significant differences in the incidence of major bleeding events (5699 patients, RR 1.40, 95% CI 0.56-3.52) or in the incidence of total bleeding events for rivaroxaban (5699 patients, RR 1.09, 95% CI 0.91-1.30). No differences were found when thromboprophylaxis after hip replacement was the case. Apixaban seems to be associated with a lower risk of the incidence of hemorrhagic events after total knee arthroplasty. For hip arthroplasty, no differences were found between the studied drugs.
Modulation of tyrosine, serine, and threonine phosphorylation and intracellular processing of the epidermal growth factor receptor by antireceptor monoclonal antibody

To investigate the functional significance of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor phosphorylation, experimental systems were explored in which receptor phosphorylation on tyrosine and serine/threonine could be differentially stimulated. Exposure of A431 cells to 20 nM EGF at 37°C results in phosphorylation of serine, threonine, and tyrosine sites on the receptor. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) 225 binds to the EGF receptor with affinity comparable to EGF and competes with the binding of EGF. Exposure of A431 cells to 20 nM EGF in the presence of 300 nM anti‐EGF receptor mAb 225 (15‐fold excess) selectively activated serine and threonine phosphorylation of the receptor, but not tyrosine phosphorylation. This observation indicates that EGF‐mediated receptor phosphorylation on tyrosine and on serine/threonine residues is dissociable. The intracellular fate of the EGF receptor was examined under conditions that produce different phosphorylation states of receptor amino acids. Exposure of A431 cells to EGF decreased the half‐life (T1/2) of the receptor from 17.8 h to 5.6 h, with activation of tyrosine, serine, and threonine phosphorylation. Incubation with mAb 225 augmented the degradation rate (T1/2 = 8.5 h) without activation of receptor phosphorylation. Concurrent exposure to EGF (20 nM) and mAb 225 (300 nM) resulted in comparable enhanced degradation (T1/2 = 9.5 h), with increased phosphorylation only on serine and threonine residues. These results suggest that serine/threonine phosphorylation is irrelevant to the augmentation of receptor degradation. Methylamine, an inhibitor of lysosomal function that did not affect phosphory‐lation of the EGF receptor, completely protected EGF receptors from rapid degradation induced by EGF, but it only slightly altered the rate of EGF receptor degradation elicited by mAb 225 or by EGF plus 15‐fold excess mAb 225. In contrast, mAb 455, Which binds to the receptor but does not inhibit EGF binding and EGF‐induced activation of phosphorylation on tyrosine, serine, and threonine residues, did not influence EGF‐induced rapid, methylamine sensitive degradation of EGF receptor. The results suggest that when EGF receptors are internalized under conditions that do not activate the receptor tyrosine kinase, they are sorted into a nonlysosomal pathway that differs from the methylamine‐sensitive lysosomal pathway traversed following activation by EGF. The data indicate the possibility of a function for tyrosine kinase activation and tyrosine autophosphorylation in determining the lysosomal intracellular pathway of EGF receptor processing and degradation.
Gemfibrozil and Its Glucuronide Inhibit the Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide 2 (OATP2/OATP1B1:SLC21A6)-Mediated Hepatic Uptake and CYP2C8-Mediated Metabolism of Cerivastatin: Analysis of the Mechanism of the Clinically Relevant Drug-Drug Interaction between Cerivastatin and Gemfibrozil

A serious pharmacokinetic interaction between cerivastatin (CER) and gemfibrozil (GEM) has been reported. In the present study, we examined the inhibitory effects of GEM and its metabolites, M3 and gemfibrozil 1-O-β-glucuronide (GEM-1-O-glu), on the uptake of CER by human organic anion transporting polypeptide 2 (OATP2)-expressing cells and its metabolism in cytochrome P450 expression systems. Uptake studies showed that GEM and GEM-1-O-glu significantly inhibited the OATP2-mediated uptake of CER with IC50 values of 72 and 24 μM, respectively. They also inhibited the CYP2C8-mediated metabolism of CER with IC50 values of 28 and 4 μM, respectively, whereas M3 had no effects. GEM and GEM-1-O-glu minimally inhibited the CYP3A4-mediated metabolism of CER. The IC50 values of GEM and GEM-1-O-glu for the uptake and the metabolism of CER obtained in the present study were lower than their total, and not unbound, plasma concentrations. However, considering the possibly concentrated high unbound concentrations of GEM-1-O-glu in the liver and its relatively larger plasma unbound fraction compared with GEM itself, the glucuronide inhibition of the CYP2C8-mediated metabolism of CER appears to be the main mechanism for the clinically relevant drug-drug interaction. Previously reported clinical drug interaction studies showing that coadministration of GEM with pravastatin or pitavastatin, both of which are known to be cleared from the plasma by the uptake transporters in the liver, only minimally (less than 2-fold) increased the area under the plasma concentration-time curve of these statins, also supported our present conclusion.
Investigation of Dissolution in Diammonium Hydrogen Phosphate Solutions of Gypsum

Abstract—Gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) is a mineral that is found in large quantities in the Turkey and in the World. In this study, the dissolution of this mineral in the diammonium hydrogen phosphate solutions has been studied. The dissolution and dissolution kinetics of gypsum in diammonium hydrogen phosphate solutions will be useful for evaluating of solid wastes containing gypsum. Parameters such as diammonium hydrogen phosphate concentration, temperature and stirring speed affecting on the dissolution rate of the gypsum in diammonium hydrogen phosphate solutions were investigated. In experimental studies have researched effectiveness of the selected parameters. The dissolution of gypsum were examined in two parts at low and high temperatures. The experimental results were successfully correlated by linear regression using Statistica program. Dissolution curves were evaluated shrinking core models for solidfluid systems. The activation energy was found to be 34.58 kJ/mol and 44.45 kJ/mol for the low and the high temperatures. The dissolution of gypsum was controlled by chemical reaction both low temperatures and high temperatures.
(Re)thinking modality: A text-world perspective

Abstract The late Paul Werth’s model of human discourse processing, Text World Theory (Werth 1994, 1995a, 1995b, and 1999), has been subject to some dramatic evolutionary changes over the last decade. Here I examine in particular the text-worlds created by the presence of modalized propositions in literary fiction and suggest a number of modifications to Werth’s (1999) handling of this area of discourse. I question Werth’s explanation of modality and use Simpson’s (1993) modal grammar of narrative fiction to formulate a refined text-world account of the conceptual structure of modalized propositions. As a consequence of this investigation, however, I also suggest that a text-world perspective on modality may have much to offer both to Simpson’s modal grammar and to our understanding of modality as a whole.
Detection of parasitism in diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), using differential melanization and coagulation reactions

Abstract Diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, is known for causing damage to Brassica crops and developing resistance to chemical and biological pesticides; it has become one of the most difficult pests to manage in many regions around the world. The only way to reduce reliance on pesticides is to maximize the role of natural control agents for integrated pest management programs and be able to incorporate the mortality from control agents into pest control decision-making. More than 90 hymenopterous parasitoids are associated with DBM worldwide; among them, Diadegma semiclausum, is a major endoparasitoid of P. xylostella. To optimize parasitism of pests in pest control decision-making, it is necessary to develop rapid and simple methods for distinguishing parasitized from non-parasitized larvae in the field. Here we report on a number of diagnostic tools to identify parasitized larvae. One is based on differential melanization reactions in hemolymph due to immune suppression in parasitized larvae. The lack of coagulation reactions in hemolymph provides a simple initial test, where squashing a non-parasitized larva onto nitrocellulose membrane traps chlorophyll-containing gut content on the membrane leaving a green dot of clotted gut material. However, in immune-suppressed parasitized larvae, the gut content was washed away in absence of coagulation reactions and the membrane lacks a green dot. This tool alone or combined with others, allows quick detection of parasitized caterpillars in the field. We further showed that the antibody MAb 9A5 can be used to detect D. semiclausum parasitized larvae of DBM in Western blots.
Electromyographical and Motor Performance Studies in thepmnMouse Model of Neurodegenerative Disease

The mouse autosomal recessive mutation progressive motor neuronopathy (pmn) results in early onset motor neuron disease with rapidly progressive hindlimb paralysis, severe muscular wasting, and death at around 6 weeks of age. This mutant provides opportunities for testing novel therapeutic strategies, including the administration of trophic factors, to prevent the degeneration of diseased neurons. The construction of a strain expressing the pmn and the Extra-toe (Xt) phenotypes allows the detection, and therefore the treatment, of affected progeny before the onset of the clinical weakness. Electromyography is the most appropriate technique for a longitudinal study in which a given individual is examined repeatedly. We present the results of an electrophysiological and behavioral exploration of the pmn disease and show that electromyography is a powerful tool for following the course of the disease and evaluating potential therapies relevant to motor neuron diseases.
Consensus Research of Modified Multiagent Networks with Time Delay

Consensus of multiagent networks with time delay is studied. Based on two prior models, a modified network model in which each communication receiver has the same time delay is presented. Then a criterion is proposed for choosing the time delay in solving the multiagent consensus problem. Simulations show that each communication receiver with the same time delay determined by the proposed criterion can be asymptotically synchronized with a desired speed.
Graphene-based Antennas for Terahertz Systems: A Review

We review the use of graphene to develop reconfigurable, miniaturized, and efficient terahertz (THz) antennas and associated feeding networks, and attempt to identify current research trends and mid- and long-term challenges and prospects. We first discuss the state of the art in resonant, leaky-wave and reflectarray antennas, providing a critical assessment of their performance, limitations, and main challenges that remain to be addressed. Next, we examine different integrated feeding networks, including components such as switches, filters, and phase shifters, and we clarify the impact that graphene's intrinsic spatial dispersion may have in their performance. Our outlook clearly describes how graphene can bring exotic functionalities to all these devices, including quasi real-time reconfiguration capabilities and magnet-less non-reciprocal responses. Some exciting applications of THz antennas are then presented and discussed, including transceivers, biosensors, and first experimental realizations of detectors and modulators. We conclude by outlining our vision for the promising future of graphene-based THz antennas.
Reducing Multi-Secret Sharing Problem to Sharing a Single Secret Based on Cellular Automata

The aim of a secret sharing scheme is to share a secret among a group of participants in such a way that while authorized subsets of participants are able to recover the secret, non-authorized subsets of them obtain no information about it. Multi-secret sharing is the natural generalization of secret sharing for situations in which the simultaneous protection of more than one secret is required. However, there exist some secret sharing schemes for which there are no secure or efficient multi-secret sharing counterparts. In this paper, using cellular automata, an efficient general method is proposed to reduce the problem of sharing secrets (all assigned with the same access structure and needed to be reconstructed at once) under a certain secret sharing scheme ( ), to the problem of sharing one secret under such that none of the properties of are violated. Using the proposed approach, any secret sharing scheme can be converted to a multisecret sharing scheme. We provide examples to show the applicability of the proposed approach.
Statins and cancer-related mortality--let's work together.

In this issue of the Journal, Nielsen et al.1 provide data suggesting that statin use in Denmark has caused a substantial decline in all-cause and cancer-related mortality. Collectively, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, or statins, are the most commonly prescribed class of drugs worldwide, and after two and a half decades of use, this therapy has been credited with declines in cardiovascular events2 at the cost of some common side effects (myalgia and diabetes) and some that are rare (elevated liver enzyme levels and rhabdomyolysis). 3 Previous studies focusing on statins and the incidence of cancer have provided only weak .
Detección automática de personas mediante láser 2D y su aplicación a la robótica de servicios

En el marco del proyecto europeo URUS (Ubiquitous Networking Robotics in Urban Settings [10][1]) el IRI (Institut de Robotica i Informatica Industrial [11]) trabaja con plataformas roboticas moviles que cooperan con personas en entornos urbanos. Uno de los primeros pasos en dicha tarea de interaccion es la deteccion de las personas. La informacion extraida de la deteccion puede ser combinada con otras tecnologias como la vision o utilizarse en otros sistemas como el seguimiento (tracking) de personas. El objetivo principal del proyecto es la deteccion de personas a tiempo real mediante un telemetro laser bidimensional. Otros objetivos son, realizar el aprendizaje o entrenamiento de un algoritmo de clasificacion, clasificar mediante el algoritmo entrenado las formas percibidas por el laser, realizar la calibracion espacial de varios laseres, la deteccion de personas con dichos laseres de forma conjunta, y la implementacion de una herramienta sencilla para poder realizar nuevos entrenamientos del clasificador. El sensor utilizado es un telemetro laser bidimensional, que es un sistema robusto y fiable. El laser escanea un plano horizontal y se coloca a una altura ligeramente por debajo de la rodilla de una persona. La informacion extraida en cada escaneo consiste en una serie de puntos que se agrupan en segmentos y seran las muestras que deberian ser clasificadas. El metodo de clasificacion utilizado es el Boosting, que combina clasificadores sencillos para obtener uno mas robusto, siendo necesaria una etapa previa de entrenamiento a partir de unos datos de muestra. La implementacion se ha hecho usando el middleware ROS (Robot Operating System [13]), software de uso internacional que facilita el desarrollo de aplicaciones para robots y permite facilmente la comunicacion con otros sistemas basados en ROS. Ademas, se ha usado la estructura comun de proyectos del IRI, facilitando mucho el desarrollo y la cooperacion entre el personal del instituto. Actualmente el detector se esta utilizando en el IRI en experimentos de interaccion entre plataformas moviles y personas.
Right‐Wing Extremism and the Well‐Being of Immigrants

This study analyzes the effects of right-wing extremism on the well-being of immigrants based on data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) for the years 1984 to 2006 merged with state-level information on election outcomes. The results show that the life satisfaction of immigrants is significantly reduced if right-wing extremism in the native population increases. Moreover, the life satisfaction of highly educated immigrants is affected more strongly than that of low-skilled immigrants. This supports the view that policies aimed at making immigration more attractive to the high-skilled have to include measures that reduce xenophobic attitudes in the native population.
Transferable vancomycin and teicoplanin resistance in Enterococcus faecium

Enterococcus faecium BM4165 and BM4178, isolated from immunocompromised patients, one treated with vancomycin, were inducibly resistant to high levels of the glycopeptide antibiotics vancomycin and teicoplanin but susceptible to the new lipopeptide daptomycin (LY146032). Strain BM4165 was also resistant to macrolidelincosamide-streptogramin B-type (MLS) antibiotics. The genes conferring resistance to glycopeptides and to MLS antibiotics in strain BM4165 were carried on plasmids pIP819 and pIP821, respectively; pIP819 also carried genes that encoded resistance to MLS antibiotics. The two plasmids, which were distinct although related, were self-transferable to other E. faecium strains. Plasmid pIP819 could also conjugate to E. faecalis, Streptococcus sanguis, S. pyogenes, S. lactis, and Listeria monocytogenes, in which it conferred inducible glycopeptide resistance, but not to S. aureus. Glycopeptide-inactivating activity was not detected, and the biochemical mechanism of resistance remains unknown. Based on this first report of transferable resistance to glycopeptides, we anticipate dissemination of resistance to these antibiotics in gram-positive cocci and bacilli in which it can be phenotypically expressed.
Cryopreservation of human fat for soft tissue augmentation: viability requires use of cryoprotectant and controlled freezing and storage.

BACKGROUND Autologous fat transfer for soft tissue augmentation has been increasing in recent years. Graft longevity may vary greatly from patient to patient, requiring repeat procedures, often using frozen adipose tissue. Storage usually involves placing syringes of fat directly into a -20 degrees C freezer. However, the viability of fat frozen in this way is controversial. OBJECTIVE This study tested methods for the optimal storage of adipose tissue harvested by tumescent liposuction. MATERIALS AND METHODS Aliquots of washed adipose tissue were frozen directly at -20 degrees C or mixed with cryoprotectants, frozen at 1 degree C/min, and subsequently stored in liquid nitrogen vapor phase. Aliquots were subsequently thawed, and adipocyte viability was determined by staining and culture methods. RESULTS Viability of adipocytes frozen at -20 degrees C was very low when analyzed by staining, and no cultures could be established from any of the specimens. In contrast, viable adipocytes were recovered from samples that were controlled-rate frozen in the presence of cryoprotectants and stored in nitrogen vapor. CONCLUSION. Our results indicate that fat frozen at -20 degrees C is not viable and thus provides no advantage over inert fillers. The methods here described could readily be transferred to the clinical setting after further laboratory study.
Psychological Predictors of Media Involvement

Does intense engagement with entertainment media programs and characters reflect a psychological need for companionship? The research findings to date have been equivocal. The present study investigates how parasocial interaction (PSI) with media characters and transportation into media programs are related to specific kinds of solitude experiences, as well as to the need to belong (NTB). Results of a questionnaire study (N = 301) show that solitude experienced as self-expansion (e.g., self-discovery), diversion (e.g., engaging in distracting activities), and Other orientation (e.g., loneliness) each contribute to increased PSI with favorite TV characters. Self-expansion and Other-oriented solitude each also predicts increased tendency to transport into media programs and identify with characters. Furthermore, Other-oriented solitude appears to account for the significant association between NTB and PSI. Results provide new evidence for both compensatory and complementary uses and gratifications of entertainment media.
The Medical Decision Model and Decision Maker Tools for Management of Radiological and Nuclear Incidents

AbstractEffective decision making during a rapidly evolving emergency such as a radiological or nuclear incident requires timely interim decisions and communications from onsite decision makers while further data processing, consultation, and review are ongoing by reachback experts. The authors have recently proposed a medical decision model for use during a radiological or nuclear disaster, which is similar in concept to that used in medical care, especially when delay in action can have disastrous effects. For decision makers to function most effectively during a complex response, they require access to onsite subject matter experts who can provide information, recommendations, and participate in public communication efforts. However, in the time before this expertise is available or during the planning phase, just-in-time tools are essential that provide critical overview of the subject matter written specifically for the decision makers. Recognizing the complexity of the science, risk assessment, and multitude of potential response assets that will be required after a nuclear incident, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, in collaboration with other government and non-government experts, has prepared a practical guide for decision makers. This paper illustrates how the medical decision model process could facilitate onsite decision making that includes using the deliberative reachback process from science and policy experts and describes the tools now available to facilitate timely and effective incident management.