Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Complication and Reoperation Rates After Apical Vaginal Prolapse Surgical Repair: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE: To compare postoperative complication and reoperation rates for surgical procedures correcting apical vaginal prolapse. DATA SOURCES: Eligible studies were selected through an electronic literature search covering January 1985 to January 2008 using PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Database of Abstracts of Reviews and Effects. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Only clinical trials and observational studies addressing apical prolapse repair and recurrence or complication rates were included. The search was restricted to original articles published in English with 50 or more participants and a follow-up period of 3 months or longer. Oral platform and poster presentations from the American Urogynecological Society, the Society for Gynecologic Surgeons, the International Urogynecological Association, and the International Continence Society from January 2005 to December 2007 were hand searched to determine whether they were eligible for inclusion. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Procedures were separated into three groups: traditional vaginal surgery, sacral colpopexy, and vaginal mesh kits. Complications were classified using the Dindo grading system. Weighted averages were calculated for each Dindo grade, complication, and reoperation. Dindo grade IIIa (433/3,425 women) and IIIb (245/3,425) rates were highest in the mesh kit group owing to higher rates of mesh erosion (198/3,425) and fistulae (8/3,425). Reoperation rates for prolapse recurrence were highest in the traditional vaginal surgery group (308/7,827). The total reoperation rate was greatest in the mesh kit group (291/3, 425, 8.5%). CONCLUSION: The rate of complications requiring reoperation and the total reoperation rate was highest for vaginal mesh kits despite a lower reoperation rate for prolapse recurrence and shorter overall follow-up.
Effects of pre‐existing anti‐carrier immunity and antigenic element multiplicity on efficacy of a modular virus‐like particle vaccine

Modularization of a peptide antigen for presentation on a microbially synthesized murine polyomavirus (MuPyV) virus‐like particle (VLP) offers a new alternative for rapid and low‐cost vaccine delivery at a global scale. In this approach, heterologous modules containing peptide antigenic elements are fused to and displayed on the VLP carrier, allowing enhancement of peptide immunogenicity via ordered and densely repeated presentation of the modules. This study addresses two key engineering questions pertaining to this platform, exploring the effects of (i) pre‐existing carrier‐specific immunity on modular VLP vaccine effectiveness and (ii) increase in the antigenic element number per VLP on peptide‐specific immune response. These effects were studied in a mouse model and with modular MuPyV VLPs presenting a group A streptococcus (GAS) peptide antigen, J8i. The data presented here demonstrate that immunization with a modular VLP could induce high levels of J8i‐specific antibodies despite a strong pre‐existing anti‐carrier immune response. Doubling of the J8i antigenic element number per VLP did not enhance J8i immunogenicity at a constant peptide dose. However, the strategy, when used in conjunction with increased VLP dose, could effectively increase the peptide dose up to 10‐fold, leading to a significantly higher J8i‐specific antibody titer. This study further supports feasibility of the MuPyV modular VLP vaccine platform by showing that, in the absence of adjuvant, modularized GAS antigenic peptide at a dose as low as 150 ng was sufficient to raise a high level of peptide‐specific IgGs indicative of bactericidal activity. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110:2343–2351. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Acute effects of 3G mobile phone radiations on frontal haemodynamics during a cognitive task in teenagers and possible protective value of Om chanting

Abstract Mobile phone induced electromagnetic field (MPEMF) as well as chanting of Vedic mantra ‘OM’ has been shown to affect cognition and brain haemodynamics, but findings are still inconclusive. Twenty right-handed healthy teenagers (eight males and 12 females) in the age range of 18.25 ± 0.44 years were randomly divided into four groups: (1) MPONOM (mobile phone ‘ON’ followed by ‘OM’ chanting); (2) MPOFOM (mobile phone ‘OFF’ followed by ‘OM’ chanting); (3) MPONSS (mobile phone ‘ON’ followed by ‘SS’ chanting); and (4) MPOFSS (mobile phone ‘OFF’ followed by ‘SS’ chanting). Brain haemodynamics during Stroop task were recorded using a 64-channel fNIRS device at three points of time: (1) baseline, (2) after 30 min of MPON/OF exposure, and (3) after 5 min of OM/SS chanting. RM-ANOVA was applied to perform within- and between-group comparisons, respectively. Between-group analysis revealed that total scores on incongruent Stroop task were significantly better after OM as compared to SS chanting (MPOFOM vs MPOFSS), pre-frontal activation was significantly lesser after OM as compared to SS chanting in channel 13. There was no significant difference between MPON and MPOF conditions for Stroop performance, as well as brain haemodynamics. These findings need confirmation through a larger trial in future.
Impact of FLT3 internal tandem duplications on Indian acute promyelocytic leukemia patients: Prognostic implications

Abstract Despite recent advances in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), early mortality and relapses still occur. With the view to evaluate the role of FLT3 mutation in APL, 54 patients (median age 28 years, range 11–57 years, male to female ratio 1.2:1, median TLC 8.4 × 109/l, range 1–170 × 109/l) were studied by reverse transcriptase-PCR. Forty-two patients (77%) achieved first remission (CR1). Ten (18.5%) of the 54 patients had internal tandem duplication of exons 11 and 12 of the FLT3 gene. The median TLC count was significantly higher in FLT3 positive cases (Median TLC 55.0 × 109/l) as compared to FLT3 negative cases (Median TLC 6.8 × 109/l) (p = 0.001). Induction CR was much lower (40%) in FLT3/ITD positive cases as compared to 86% of FLT3/ITD negative cases (p = 0.005). Early deaths too were significantly associated with FLT3/ITD positive cases (50 vs. 16% p = 0.033). The difference in the occurrence of bcrl and bcr3 isoforms was not statistically significant between the two groups. The data suggest that the presence of FLT3/ITD in APL patients confers a poor prognosis.
The effects of internet shoppers' trust on their purchasing intention in China

Owing to the rapid development of the Internet and information technology in China, the growth of consumers’ purchasing activities in Internet shopping malls has been truly phenomenal in recent years. Taobao.com, Ebay.com. cn, and Paipai.com have 67,360,000 customer to customer (C2C) users and 99% of the market share in China’s C2C market (www.163.com). Dangdang.com and Joyo.com have occupied 87% of the business to customer (B2C) market with 58,360,000 users (www.sohu.com). Because of these significant numbers of users, it is important to understand what affects Chinese consumers’ decisions to purchase in Internet shopping malls. Based on past studies, trust is considered a key factor affecting a Chinese consumer’s purchasing intention. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Chinese shoppers’ trust on their purchasing intention in Internet shopping malls. In order to accomplish the purpose of this study, we developed a research model. This model suggests that there exists a significant relationship between trust and purchasing intention. According to this model, on purchasing intention, trust also mediates effects of other independent variables such as e-commerce knowledge, perceived reputation, perceived risk, and perceived ease of use. The results of this study show that the relationships between these variables are all significant except that between
Induction of Apoptosis and Cytokine Gene Expression in T‐Cell Lines by Sera of Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Accelerated apoptosis and improper expression of cytokine genes have been considered as important defects of lymphocytes for the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study was undertaken to test the possible contribution of serum factors obtained from SLE patients to these abnormalities. Molt‐4 and Jurkat cells constantly exhibited a slower growth rate as well as more dead cells in culture with SLE sera tested than controls, although the cell cycle progression was apparently unaffected. Increased apoptosis was demonstrable among SLE sera‐cultured cells by ELISA for apoptosis‐specific DNA fragments and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) in situ death analysis. Different levels of Fas, Fas‐L, and Bcl‐2 gene products were not detected between SLE sera‐treated cells and the controls. The transcripts of interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) and interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) genes of these two T cell lines were evidently increased in the presence of SLE sera, while IL‐2 and IL‐4 were unaffected. Elevated expression of IL‐5 was also found in Molt‐4 cells. By contrast, SLE sera reduced the transcripts of IL‐6 gene in Jurkat cells. The effects of SLE sera were independent of corticosteroid medication. These results suggest that serum abnormalities may also play a role in T cell dysfunction.
Does the Effectiveness of Employment Incentive Programs Vary by Firm Size?

Abstract: This article examines the impact of national employment incentive programs on employment growth of individual firms in the original fifteen member states of the European Union (EU-15). We investigate whether this impact differs among firms of different size classes, and whether the effectiveness of employment incentive programs depends on the business cycle. We find that expenditures on employment incentives have a positive impact on employment growth for firms of all sizes. However, this impact is significantly reduced for smaller firms, suggesting that employment incentive programs are less effective for small firms. We also find that the employment impact of incentive programs is stronger during recessionary periods, but only for firms without any employees (i.e., own-account workers).
Multiple Pharmacophore Models Combined with Molecular Docking: A Reliable Way for Efficiently Identifying Novel PDE4 Inhibitors with High Structural Diversity

Multiple pharmacophore models were constructed based on the 18 crystal structures of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) in complex with different inhibitors for discovering new potential PDE4 inhibitors. After validation of their efficiency in screening, 10 of the pharmacophore models were confirmed effective. Remarkably, the hits retrieved by these effective pharmacophore models were different, demonstrating that different pharmacophore models may have different performances in database screening. Therefore, all these models were employed to screen the compound database SPECS for finding potent leads with much structural diversity. Combining all the screened hits based on the 10 pharmacophore models, followed by molecular docking and bioassay, 4 of 53 tested compounds were found as active as rolipram (a well studied PDE4 inhibitor). More impressively, the four potent inhibitors with different chemical scaffolds were discovered by three different pharmacophore models separately, suggesting that a single pharmacophore model-based screening might not be efficient in thoroughly identifying potential hits from a compound database. This study also revealed that ligand-receptor complex structure-based pharmacophore is more efficient for identifying potent hits with great structural diversity in comparison with ligand-based pharmacophore and similarity search approaches. Therefore, multiple pharmacophore model-based virtual screenings should be used, if available, in combination with molecular docking for fully discovering hit compounds from compound databases.
An Orientation Estimator for the Wheelchair's Caster Wheels

Wheelchair ergometers are a highly valuable tool in the study of the biomechanics of manual wheelchair propulsion. However, current ergometers have some drawbacks that affect their level of realism. For example, the moment of inertia of the wheelchair-user system and the caster wheels' orientation are usually neglected, despite their high influence on the wheelchair's behavior. Taking these factors into account requires a complex dynamic model, and the calibration of such a model requires on-the-field recordings of the caster wheels' orientation, which are currently difficult to obtain. In this paper, we have proposed an open-loop observer that estimates each caster wheel's orientation (CWO) based only on the rear wheels' kinematics. The model was validated by propelling the wheelchair on three different floors (vinyl, carpet, and concrete) with five different normal forces between the caster wheels and the ground. Comparison between the estimated CWO and a reference one recorded by an optoelectronic device gave an accuracy error of less than ±8°. This error reduced to ±5° when the wheelchair was propelled following straight or slightly curved patterns. This observer has implications in the design of better wheelchair ergometers and simulators, as well as in the control of electric wheelchairs.
Monoclonal Antibodies as Diagnostics; an Appraisal

Ever since the development of Hybridoma Technology in 1975 by Kohler and Milstein, our vision for antibodies as tools for research for prevention, detection and treatment of diseases, vaccine production, antigenic characterization of pathogens and in the study of genetic regulation of immune responses and disease susceptibility has been revolutionized. The monoclonal antibodies being directed against single epitopes are homogeneous, highly specific and can be produced in unlimited quantities. In animal disease diagnosis, they are very useful for identification and antigenic characterization of pathogens. Monoclonal antibodies have tremendous applications in the field of diagnostics, therapeutics and targeted drug delivery systems, not only for infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and protozoa but also for cancer, metabolic and hormonal disorders. They are also used in the diagnosis of lymphoid and myeloid malignancies, tissue typing, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, radio immunoassay, serotyping of microorganisms, immunological intervention with passive antibody, antiidiotype inhibition, or magic bullet therapy with cytotoxic agents coupled with anti mouse specific antibody. Recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid technology through genetic engineering has successfully led to the possibility of reconstruction of monoclonal antibodies viz. chimeric antibodies, humanized antibodies and complementarily determining region grafted antibodies and their enormous therapeutic use.
Hormones and Handedness

Background: The Wessex Growth Study has monitored the growth and psychological development of short normal (SN) and average height control subjects since they entered school in 1985/1986. During psychometric testing, we found that 25% SN compared to 9% control subjects wrote with their left hand. The short group also attained significantly lower scores on measures of IQ and attainment and displayed less internalisation of control. Laterality, however, is thought to be influenced by the intrauterine environment and has been associated with pubertal delay. At recruitment, short children had a relatively low birth weight, delayed bone age and were more likely than controls to be short for family. Objectives: To determine if birth conditions were associated with lateral preference and whether laterality could account for the differences found during the psychometric assessment or predict pubertal timing of SN children. Methods: Subjects were classified as right- (RH) or left-handed (LH) according to the writing hand and the data were investigated examining the effect of handedness and stature. Results: RH and LH SN children were no more likely to suffer birth complications than those of average height. Psychometric testing did not reveal any significant differences between RH and LH SN children and their patterns of growth appeared to be similar. However, both RH and LH SN children scored less well on tests of cognitive ability and analyses of covariance revealed significant gender/handedness effects for both the timing of puberty and final height. Conclusions: The increase in left-handedness among SN children did not appear to be related to adverse birth conditions, but it may be that the hormones responsible for growth and development also play some part in brain laterality and cognitive development.
A review of the evidence for the use of phytoestrogens as a replacement for traditional estrogen replacement therapy.

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) is recommended for postmenopausal women primarily for reduction of menopausal symptoms and prevention of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. However, only 35% to 40% of women ever start ERT, and many do not continue it. One of the reasons women are reluctant to receive postmenopausal ERT is that they perceive prescription estrogens as being "unnatural. " Because of this, there is increasing interest in the use of plant-derived estrogens, also known as phytoestrogens. This article reviews the evidence for the potential of phytoestrogens, either in dietary or supplemental form, to replace traditional forms of ERT. A comprehensive search of the English-language literature identified more than 1000 articles published in the past 30 years about phytoestrogens. In total, 74 studies were selected for inclusion in this review based on relevance, inclusion of human subjects wherever possible, and study design. The studies examine phytoestrogens' inhibition of the growth of cancer cell lines in vitro and in animals. They also look at the role of phytoestrogens in the reduction of cholesterol levels, and the use of one phytoestrogen derivative, ipriflavone, in the prevention of osteoporosis. Some small studies examine the role of phytoestrogens in the prevention of menopausal symptoms. Evidence for the potential health benefits of phytoestrogens is increasing. However, the clinically proven health benefits of prescribed ERT far outweigh those of phytoestrogens. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to recommend the use of phytoestrogens in place of traditional ERT, or to make recommendations to women about specific phytoestrogen products.
Leaf mass per area, not total leaf area, drives differences in above-ground biomass distribution among woody plant functional types.

Here, we aim to understand differences in biomass distribution between major woody plant functional types (PFTs) (deciduous vs evergreen and gymnosperm vs angiosperm) in terms of underlying traits, in particular the leaf mass per area (LMA) and leaf area per unit stem basal area. We used a large compilation of plant biomass and size observations, including observations of 21 084 individuals on 656 species. We used a combination of semiparametric methods and variance partitioning to test the influence of PFT, plant height, LMA, total leaf area, stem basal area and climate on above-ground biomass distribution. The ratio of leaf mass to above-ground woody mass (MF /MS ) varied strongly among PFTs. We found that MF /MS at a given plant height was proportional to LMA across PFTs. As a result, the PFTs did not differ in the amount of leaf area supported per unit above-ground biomass or per unit stem basal area. Climate consistently explained very little additional variation in biomass distribution at a given plant size. Combined, these results demonstrate consistent patterns in above-ground biomass distribution and leaf area relationships among major woody PFTs, which can be used to further constrain global vegetation models.
Historical Loss and Current Rehabilitation of Shoreline Habitat along an Urban-Industrial River—Detroit River, Michigan, USA

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the historical loss and current shoreline habitat rehabilitation efforts along the urban-industrial Detroit River using geographical information system methods and a shoreline survey. This study found a 97% loss of historical coastal wetlands to human development. By 1985, 55% of the U.S. mainland shoreline had been hardened with steel sheet piling or concrete breakwater that provide limited habitat. Since 1995, 19 projects were implemented, improving 4.93 km of shoreline habitat. A comparison of the 1985 and 2015 georeferenced aerial imagery showed that 2.32 km of soft shoreline was also converted to hard shoreline during this timeframe. Of the 19 projects surveyed, 11 representing 3.35 km made habitat improvements to shoreline that was already georeferenced as “soft“, three representing 360 m converted shoreline from “hard” to “soft”, and five representing 1.22 km added incidental habitat to hardened shoreline. Even with the addition of 1.58 km of new soft shoreline and incidental habitat, there was an overall net loss of 0.74 km of soft shoreline over the 30-year timeframe. To reach the “good” state of at least 70% soft shoreline, an additional 12.1 km of soft shoreline will have to be added. This confirms that shoreline hardening continues despite the best efforts of resource managers and conservation organizations. Resource managers must become opportunistic and get involved up front in urban waterfront redevelopment projects to advocate for habitat. Incremental progress will undoubtedly be slow following adaptive management.
Delayed activation of the store-operated calcium current induced by calreticulin overexpression in RBL-1 cells.

Calreticulin (CRT) is a high-capacity, low-affinity Ca2+-binding protein located in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of all eukaryotic cells investigated so far. Its high level of conservation among different species suggests that it serves functions fundamental to cell survival. The role originally proposed for CRT, i.e., the main Ca2+ buffer of the ER, has been obscured or even casted by its implication in processes as diverse as gene expression, protein folding, and cell adhesion. In this work we seek the role of CRT in Ca2+ storing and signaling by evaluating its effects on the kinetics and amplitude of the store-operated Ca2+ current (ICRAC). We show that, in the rat basophilic leukemia cell line RBL-1, overexpression of CRT, but not of its mutant lacking the high-capacity Ca2+-binding domain, markedly retards the ICRAC development, however, only when store depletion is slower than the rate of current activation. On the contrary, when store depletion is rapid and complete, overexpression of CRT has no effect. The present results are compatible with a major Ca2+-buffering role of CRT within the ER but exclude a direct, or indirect, role of this protein on the mechanism of ICRAC activation.
Possibilities for VDD = 0.1V logic using carbon-based tunneling field effect transistors

A systematic evaluation of the possibilities of low-voltage logic using carbon-based tunneling field effect transistors (TFET) is performed using the non-equilibrium green function (NEGF) formalism for device simulation and ring-oscillator and load-driven inverter circuits. We found that the on-current is severely limited by quantum mechanical reflections due to wavefunction mismatch. The lower bound of subthreshold swing (SS) is limited by tunneling through the channel. Although the projected performance is well-below that of a recent prediction, we show that digital logic at VDD = 0.1 V is possible. Finally, we compare the TFET with its MOSFET counterpart and show that for VDD=0.1 V, the TFET out-performs the MOSFET.