Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bone Lengthening in Children: How to Predict the Complications Rate and Complexity?

Purpose: Complications arising from limb-lengthening procedures are often severe leading to long-term residuals. The aim of this study was to determine whether the complication rate and complexity could be predicted using a distraction index for bone lengthening in children. Study Design: This study retrospectively reviewed a series of 116 lower limbs lengthening in 88 consecutive patients (mean age 13.5). Mean follow-up 3.8 years. Lengthening percentage, lengthening index, distraction regenerate length, additional surgeries, and complications rate were used to evaluate the results of limb lengthening. The correlation between lengthening percentage and complication rate was particularly analyzed and its practicability illustrated. Scatter plots of complication rate (%) against lengthening percentage were constructed, and linear regression was used to investigate mathematical relationship between the variables. Results: The lengthening index was 33 ± 12.1 days/cm. The length of distraction regenerate was 6 ± 3.2 cm. The lengthening percentage was 21 ± 16.5. The scatter plots of neurological complication rate, residual deformities rate, broken pins rate, joint contractures rate, and hypertension rate against lengthening percentage showed a positive linear relationship with r = 0.8. Conclusions: The number of complications increased considerably with the increase in lengthening percentage. The lengthening percentage correlates very well with the complication rate and can be used to predict the complication rate. Clinical Relevance: During planning a lengthening procedure, the lengthening percentage should be a useful tool to predict the complications rate and to discuss the risks and benefits with patients and their families. The knowledge about predictable complications should help prevent and early detect expected complications.
Expression and Functional Characteristics of Calpain 3 Isoforms Generated through Tissue-Specific Transcriptional and Posttranscriptional Events

ABSTRACT Calpain 3 is a nonlysosomal cysteine protease whose biological functions remain unknown. We previously demonstrated that this protease is altered in limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A patients. Preliminary observations suggested that its gene is subjected to alternative splicing. In this paper, we characterize transcriptional and posttranscriptional events leading to alterations involving the NS, IS1, and IS2 regions and/or the calcium binding domains of the mouse calpain 3 gene (capn3). These events can be divided into three groups: (i) splicing of exons that preserve the translation frame, (ii) inclusion of two distinct intronic sequences between exons 16 and 17 that disrupt the frame and would lead, if translated, to a truncated protein lacking domain IV, and (iii) use of an alternative first exon specific to lens tissue. In addition, expression of these isoforms seems to be regulated. Investigation of the proteolytic activities and titin binding abilities of the translation products of some of these isoforms clearly indicated that removal of these different protein segments affects differentially the biochemical properties examined. In particular, removal of exon 6 impaired the autolytic but not fodrinolytic activity and loss of exon 16 led to an increased titin binding and a loss of fodrinolytic activity. These results are likely to impact our understanding of the pathophysiology of calpainopathies and the development of therapeutic strategies.
Immunopathogenesis of classical swine fever: role of monocytic cells

Virulent classical swine fever (CSF) represents an immunomodulatory viral infection that perturbs immune functions. Circulatory and immunopathological disorders include leukopenia, immunosuppression and haemorrhage. Monocytic cells – targets for CSF virus (CSFV) infection – could play critical roles in the immunopathology, owing to their production of immunomodulatory and vasoactive factors. Monocytes and macrophages (Mφ) are susceptible to virus infection, as a consequence of which prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production is enhanced. The presence of PGE2 in serum from CSFV‐infected pigs correlated with elevated PGE2 productivity by the peripheral blood mononuclear cells from these same animals. It was noted that these PGE2‐containing preparations did not inhibit, but actually enhanced, lymphocyte proliferation. The proinflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interleukin (IL)‐6 were not involved, although elevated IL‐1 production could relate to lymphocyte activation. Nevertheless, IL‐1 was not the sole element: infected Mφ produced lympho‐stimulatory activity but little IL‐1. This release of immunomodulatory factors, following CSFV infection of monocytic cells, was compared with other characteristics of the disease. Therein, PGE2 and IL‐1 production was noted to coincide with the onset of fever and the coagulation disorders typical of CSF. Consequently, these factors are of greater relevance to the haemorrhagic disturbances, such as petechia and infarction, rather than the leukopenia found in CSF.
PPPYVEPTAP Motif Is the Late Domain of Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Gag and Mediates Its Functional Interaction with Cellular Proteins Nedd4 and Tsg101

The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Gag polyprotein contains two adjacent proline-rich motifs (sequence PPPYVEPTAP) in the C terminus of the matrix domain [corrected]. Proline-to-alanine mutations were introduced into either or both motifs of HTLV-1 to determine the effect on the release of HTLV-1 virus-like particles from 293T cells. The release of both single mutants was significantly reduced, whereas a double mutation in both motifs abolished the release of the HTLV-1 particles. Two-hybrid and in vitro binding assays showed that the HTLV-1 Gag polyprotein binds both Tsg101 and Nedd4 proteins. The interaction with HTLV-1 Gag required the central WW domain of Nedd4 and the ubiquitin enzyme variant (UEV) domain of Tsg101. We expressed various fragments of Nedd4 and Tsg101 proteins in 293T cells and tested for their ability to interfere with virion release mediated by the HTLV-1 Gag-Pro polyprotein. Fragments consisting of the N-terminal UEV domain of Tsg101 and the central WW and C-terminal Hect domains of Nedd4 protein all caused transdominant inhibition of HTLV-1 particle release. Similarly, inhibition of the proteasome significantly decreased HTLV-1 particle release. Furthermore, the WW domain overexpression caused an early arrest of HTLV-1 particle morphogenesis before the membrane is deformed into the typical half-shell structure. This result suggests that Nedd4 is involved early in budding of HTLV-1.
Posttraining intrahippocampal infusion of a protein kinase AII inhibitor impairs spatial memory retention in rats

The role of protein kinase AII (PKA II) in spatial memory retention in male rats and its regulation of cholinergic gene expression were explored through the effects of intrahippocampal infusion of H‐89, a selective PKA II inhibitor. Alterations in escape latency, travel distance, and swimming speed in a Morris water maze were measured. Animals were trained for 3 days; each day included two blocks, and each block contained four trials. Stereotaxic surgery was employed for the infusions after the last trial on the third day of training, and the animals were tested 48 hr after surgery. Bilateral intrahippocampal infusion of H‐89 (2.5 or 5 μM) into the CA1 region generated significant alterations in escape latency and traveled distance but not swimming speed. The response was fairly dose dependent, and the maximal effect was obtained with 5 μM H‐89. After behavioral testing, several of the infused animals were transcardially perfused and their brains removed. Brain tissue sections from these rats were subjected to immunohistochemical staining analysis with anticholine acetyltransferase (ChAT) antibodies. These analyses indicated that 5 μM H‐89 infusions qualitatively reduced the density of ChAT‐containing cholinergic nerve terminals in the dorsal hippocampus. The intrahippocampal infusions with 5 μM H‐89 also caused an apparent reduction in the number of ChAT‐containing neurons in the medial septum. Our results suggest that PKA II is involved in regulation of cholinergic gene expression and plays an important role in spatial memory retention in rats. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Loop-Improved Capacitor-Less Low-Dropout Regulator for SoC Power Management Application

Stability is the major obstacle for capacitor-less low- dropout regulator (LDO). By using Miller compensation, a low frequency dominant pole is internally generated, and two other non-dominant poles, which frequency are higher than unity gain frequency (UGF), can be configured by Damping-Factor-Control (DFC) block. With opposed zero cancellation, single pole system is formed before UGF and satisfied phase margin is achieved, hence both the system stability and optimized transient performance are ensured. Based on DFCFC, a 1.8V 100 mA capacitor-less LDO was designed by using HHNEC 0.25 mum standard CMOS process in this paper. Simulation results showed that the improved regulator could provide a full load transient response of 2 mus settling time and both overshoots and undershoots less than 70 mV. Furthermore, 50 mV dropout voltage, 40 muA quiescent current, and smaller compensation capacitors cater to low power and low cost SoC application.
Schizencephaly: Heterogeneous etiologies in a population of 4 million California births

Schizencephaly is a rare congenital brain defect characterized by gray matter lined clefts of the cerebral mantle, frequently accompanied by other defects of the CNS such as absence of the corpus callosum. This study in a California population of >4 million births from 1985–2001 found a population prevalence of 1.54/100,000. Among 63 cases, there was an association with young parental age in isolated schizencephaly (RR 3.9 mothers; 5.8 fathers), which was also seen in mothers but not fathers of non‐isolated cases (RR 3.2). Monozygotic twins may also be at increased risk for schizencephaly (RR 2.1). One third of cases had a non‐CNS abnormality, over half of which could be classified as secondary to vascular disruption, including gastroschisis, bowel atresias, and amniotic band disruption sequence. Other apparent rare causes included chromosomal aneuploidy, non‐random associations, and unusual syndromes. Our observations suggest that schizencephaly has heterogeneous etiologies many of which are vascular disruptive in origin. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cold Acclimation in Populations of Pinus contorta from the Northern Rocky Mountains

Freezing tests were conducted to follow cold acclimation in seedlings representing 30 populations of Pinus contorta from the northern Rocky Mountains. For each of 12 dates from August to November, leaves from 2-yr-old seedlings growing in a common environment were frozen at four test temperatures Injury from freezing was scored primarily by tissue discoloration. Hardiness of populations developed in a slow and uniform pattern Mean differences in the hardiness of populations were readily detected throughout acclimation, and the relative ranking of populations for hardiness remained essentially constant. Elevation and geographic region of the seed origin accounted for 78% of the variance in hardiness among populations.
Acute Smoking Induces Endothelial Dysfunction in Healthy Smokers. Is This Reversible by Red Wine's Antioxidant Constituents?

Objective: Acute smoking causes endothelial dysfunction through impairment of nitric oxide (NO) production, or increased oxidative stress, but the exact mechanism still needs to be elucidated. In healthy non-smokers acute endothelial dysfunction caused by smoking one cigarette was counterbalanced by red wine's antioxidants. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether red wine's antioxidant substances could counteract the acute endothelial dysfunction induced by acute cigarette smoking in healthy smokers as well. Methods: Twenty healthy volunteers (12 males) participated in a double-blind, cross-over study, comprised of three study days. All subjects either smoked one cigarette, or smoked and drank 250 ml of red wine, or smoked and drank 250 ml of dealcoholized red wine in each one of the study days. Flow mediated dilatation (FMD) was measured at fast and 30, 60 and 90 minutes after each trial. Results: Smoking one cigarette induced a significant decrease in FMD (p < 0.001), which remained significant 30 (p < 0.001), and 60 (p = 0.003) minutes after the end of smoking. FMD remained statistically unchanged after consumption of either regular red wine, or dealcoholized red wine together with smoking. Conclusions: The observed endothelial dysfunction following smoking of one cigarette was counterbalanced by consumption of either red wine or dealcoholized red wine in healthy smokers. It is possible that acute endothelial dysfunction caused by smoking could be attributed to increased oxidative stress and red wine's antioxidants counteract these acute effects of smoke on endothelium.
Psychometric properties of the Chinese-version Quality of Nursing Work Life Scale.

In this study, we developed and tested the psychometric properties of the Chinese-version Quality of Nursing Work Life Scale along seven subscales: supportive milieu with security and professional recognition, work arrangement and workload, work/home life balance, head nurse's/supervisor's management style, teamwork and communication, nursing staffing and patient care, and milieu of respect and autonomy. An instrument-development procedure with three phases was conducted in seven hospitals in 2010-2011. Phase I comprised translation and the cultural-adaptation process, phase II comprised a pilot study, and phase III comprised a field-testing process. Purposive sampling was used in the pilot study (n = 150) and the large field study (n = 1254). Five new items were added, and 85.7% of the original items were retained in the 41 item Chinese version. Principal component analysis revealed that a model accounted for 56.6% of the variance with acceptable internal consistency, concurrent validity, and discriminant validity. This study gave evidence of reliability and validity of the 41 item Chinese-version Quality of Nursing Work Life Scale.
Hearing dummies: Individualized computer models of hearing impairment

Abstract Objective: Our aim was to explore the usage of individualized computer models to simulate hearing loss based on detailed psychophysical assessment and to offer hypothetical diagnoses of the underlying pathology. Design: Individualized computer models of normal and impaired hearing were constructed and evaluated using the psychophysical data obtained from human listeners. Computer models of impaired hearing were generated to reflect the hypothesized underlying pathology (e.g. dead regions, outer hair cell dysfunction, or reductions in endocochlear potential). These models were evaluated in terms of their ability to replicate the original patient data. Study sample: Auditory profiles were measured for two normal and five hearing-impaired listeners using a battery of three psychophysical tests (absolute thresholds, frequency selectivity, and compression). Results: The individualized computer models were found to match the data. Useful fits to the impaired profiles could be obtained by changing only a single parameter in the model of normal hearing. Sometimes, however, it was necessary to include an additional dead region. Conclusion: The creation of individualized computer models of hearing loss can be used to simulate auditory profiles of impaired listeners and suggest hypotheses concerning the underlying peripheral pathology.
Distribution of nicotinic subtypes in human brain.

The distribution of high-affinity nicotine and alpha-bungarotoxin receptors has been compared in a number of human brain areas and related to the available data on receptor subtype mRNA expression. Nicotine binding is high in the thalamus, striatum, and substantia nigra pars compacta, and although not generally high in the hippocampal formation, it is concentrated in the entorhinal cortex, the subicular complex, and the stratum lacunosum moleculare. Nicotine binding is relatively low in the cerebral cortex, but it demonstrates varied patterns of distribution in different areas. Nicotine binding is also present in the cerebellar cortex and dentate nucleus. Nicotine binding in the thalamus corresponds to alpha 3 expression, but at variance to data from rodents, there is little evidence of beta 2 mRNA in this brain area. By contrast, there is beta 2 mRNA but not alpha 3 mRNA in the striatum. In the hippocampal formation both alpha 3 and beta 2 mRNAs are expressed, but the pattern of distribution does not resemble nicotine binding, only reaching moderate levels in the dentate granule cell layer and in the CA3 region. In the neocortex, alpha 4 expression is more widely distributed than alpha 3, but both are associated with pyramidal neurons. The distribution of nicotine binding, concentrated in brain areas gating multimodal inputs and often uncorrelated with cholinergic innervation, suggests a neuromodulatory role, possibly facilitating glutamatergic transmission. The distribution of alpha-bungarotoxin binding is different from that of nicotine in the hippocampal formation, being highest in the CA1 region and the dentate granule cell layer, but similar to nicotine binding in the substantia nigra pars compacta. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Organ-Specific and Environmentally Regulated Expression of Two Abscisic Acid-Induced Genes of Tomato : Nucleotide Sequence and Analysis of the Corresponding cDNAs.

The cDNAs, pLE4 and pLE25, represent mRNAs that accumulate in response to water deficit and elevated levels of endogenous abscisic acid in detached leaves of drought-stressed tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cv Ailsa Craig) (A Cohen, EA Bray [1990] Planta 182: 27-33). DNA sequence analysis of pLE4 and pLE25 showed that the deduced polypeptides were 13.9 and 9.3 kilodaltons, respectively. Each polypeptide was hydrophilic, cysteine- and tryptophan-free, and found to be similar to previously identified proteins that accumulate during the late stages of embryogenesis. pLE4 and pLE25 mRNA accumulated in a similar organ-specific pattern in response to specific abiotic stresses. Yet, expression patterns of the corresponding genes in response to developmental cues were not similar. pLE25 mRNA accumulated to much higher levels in developing seeds than in drought-stressed vegetative organs. pLE4 mRNA accumulated predominantly in drought-stressed leaves. The similarities and differences in the accumulation characteristics of these two mRNAs indicates that more than one mechanism exists for the regulation of their corresponding genes.
Fuzzy vector control of isolated induction generator taking the saturation effect into account

This paper presents the voltage build up process and terminal voltage control of an isolated wind turbine powered induction generator driven by a variable speed wind turbine using fuzzy logic control (FLC) associated with rotor field oriented vector control. Here three-phase induction generator is excited using a PWM inverter/rectifier connected to a single capacitor on the DC side. Wind powered isolated induction generators have an input, wind, which is not controllable. Unlike a grid connected induction generator, in an isolated induction generator there should be a control system that keeps the DC bus voltage at a constant value when the speed of the rotor is varied. FLC allows a more intuitive approach to design which is due to being based on qualitative relations used in everyday language, and also have certain advantages over other conventional controllers such as the classical PI controller, it have the capability of handling uncertain and noisy signals and do not require the knowledge of a detailed mathematical model of the system. The simulation of the system was done with Matlab/Simulink. During voltage build up the variation of magnetizing inductance is taken into consideration.
HIV‐1 Tat neurotoxicity is prevented by matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors

The release of potentially neurotoxic molecules by HIV‐infected brain macrophages is accompanied by neuronal injury and death that results in the development of HIV‐associated dementia (HAD). Among the potential neurotoxins implicated in the development of HAD is the HIV‐1 transactivating protein, Tat. To investigate the mechanism by which Tat causes neurotoxicity, brain‐derived Tat sequences from nondemented (Tat‐ND) and demented (Tat‐HAD) AIDS patients, which differed primarily in the augmenting region of Tat, were expressed in U937 monoblastoid cells and primary human macrophages. Cells expressing Tat‐HAD protein exhibited elevated matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2 and ‐7 release and activation, but cells expressing Tat‐ND did not exhibit enhanced MMP expression. Conditioned media from Tat‐HAD–transfected cells caused significantly greater neuronal death (15.4 ± 4.3%) than did Tat‐ND (4.4 ± 2.1%) or nontransfected (2.1 ± 0.8%) cell‐derived conditioned media. The neurotoxicity induced by Tat‐HAD was inhibited by anti–MMP‐2 or ‐7 antibodies (p < 0.005) but not by antibodies against MMP‐9 or Tat. Similarly, scid/nod mice receiving striatal implants of Tat‐HAD–transfected cells exhibited greater neurobehavioral abnormalities and neuronal loss (p < 0.005) than did animals receiving Tat‐ND or nontransfected cells, which were reduced by treatment with the MMP inhibitor prinomastat (p < 0.005). These findings indicate that Tat causes neuronal death through an indirect mechanism that is Tat sequence dependent and involves the induction of MMPs. Ann Neurol 2001;49:230–241
Pipe smoking in the United States, 1965-1991: prevalence and attributable mortality.

BACKGROUND National pipe-smoking prevalence data have rarely been reported, and mortality associated with pipe smoking has not been estimated. METHODS We analyzed National Health Interview Survey data from 1965, 1966, 1970, 1987, and 1991 to estimate adult pipe-smoking prevalence in the United States. For each of these years, we estimated pipe smoking-attributable mortality from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancers of the oral cavity, larynx, esophagus, and lung. RESULTS From 1965 to 1991, the prevalence of current pipe smoking for men declined 12.1 percentage points (from 14.1% to 2.0%) while pipe smoking remained very uncommon among women. By 1991, pipe smoking was a behavior found primarily among men age 45 years or older. Most men who smoked pipes also used other tobacco products, especially cigarettes. About 830 deaths (range 720-2,495) in 1965 and 1,095 deaths (range 655-2,820) in 1991 were attributable to pipe smoking. CONCLUSIONS If current trends continue, pipe smoking will become extremely rare in the United States by the year 2000. Reasons for the decline in pipe smoking may include the lack of appeal of pipe smoking to women and adolescents or the increasingly unfavorable image of smoking behavior in general. Prevention and cessation efforts need to be directed against all forms of tobacco, including smokeless tobacco use, cigar smoking, and pipe smoking.