Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison between aortic annulus motion and mitral annulus motion obtained using echocardiography

Earlier studies have shown that the aortic root, in analogy with the mitral annulus, moves towards the left ventricular apex during systole. However, there are no earlier studies comparing the amplitude of the aortic annulus motion (AAM) with that of the mitral annulus (MAM), which was the main aim of the study. Another aim was to study the intra‐ and interobserver reproducibility (IIOR) of measuring AAM with M‐mode and 2‐D echocardiography as it is not obvious which of the methods that should be used. Twenty‐one healthy subjects were examined by echocardiography. AAM and MAM were measured at different sites. IIOR was measured in 10 of the subjects. There was no significant difference between average AAM (15·3 ± 1·5 mm) and average MAM (15·6 ± 1·5 mm) and there was a rather good agreement between the variables. There was also no significant difference between AAM at the septal site (16·3 ± 2 mm) and average MAM, but a significant difference between AAM at the lateral site (14·2 ± 1·6 mm) and average MAM (P<0·001) and between the both sites of measuring AAM (P<0·001). The significant difference between the two sites of measuring AAM may have anatomical reasons but may also depend on difficulties in measuring AAM at the septal site where it has lower reproducibility than at the lateral site. IIOR of measuring AAM was good when using M‐mode but poor when using 2‐D echocardiography and AAM should preferably be measured using M‐mode and not using 2‐D echocardiography.
The Effect of Rupture of the Membranes Upon the Mechanism of Labour

Spontaneous rupture of the fetal membranes shortly before or early in labour may be associated with delayed labour but in such cases there are often other obstetrical complications such as contracted pelvis, occipito-posterior position, breech presentation or primary uterine inertia. I t is not uncommon, however, to see very rapid dilatation of the cervix to occur after rupture of the membranes (Calcins , 1952; E m b r e y , 1953). I t is a common experience that in the second stage of labour the fetal membranes prevent the descent of the presenting part. The observations mentioned have been confirmed recently by B a i n b r i d ge et al. (1958) who investigated parity, fetal weight, duration of pregnancy, and the moment of spontaneous or artificial rupture of the membranes in relation to the duration of the first stage, counted from the time when contractions started. In order to investigate how the uterine contraction mechanism during the first stage is influenced by rupture of the membranes and to try to elucidate the causes of the more rapid cervical dilatation in certain cases, the intra-uterine pressures have been studied under different conditions. Intra-uterine tocography ( I n g e l m a n S u n d b e r g et al., 1953, 1955; S m y t h , 1954; L i n d g r e n , 1955; S m y t h and N i x o n , 1957) has shown that the increased amniotic pressure during the uterine contractions
Inhibition of the in Vitro Renin Reaction by Circulating Neutral Lipids

SUMMARY We have previously reported that the addition of plasma from normotensive human subjects to reninrenin substrate inhibits the in vitro rate of angiotensin generation. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether a renin-inhibiting factor could be identified in human plasma. Neutral lipids and phospholipids were extracted from plasma of seven normotensive control subjects. During 30-, 60-, and 180-minute incubations, neutral lipids inhibited the reaction between human renin and homologous renin substrate (P < 0.01). Phospholipids did not affect the rate of angiotensin generation (P > 0.05). The neutral lipid extract was further separated on silica gel chromatographic plates, and several fractions inhibited renin (P < 0.01). Addition of each of six synthetic neutral lipids to renin-renin substrate did not affect the rate of angiotensin generation. In conclusion, several neutral lipid fractions extracted from human plasma inhibit the in vitro renin reaction.
Personality and sexuality in older adults

Objective: This study explored cross-time associations between personality and multiple components of sexual functioning and behaviour in a large cohort of older adults (n = 5745). Design: Participants (Mage = 65.57 ± 8.28 years) completed questionnaires in 2010 and 2012. Main outcome measures: Outcomes explored included sexual attitudes, sexual activity, sexual satisfaction, lifetime sexual partners, sexual orientation and sexual dysfunction. Results: We found that higher levels of openness and lower levels of agreeableness were related to more liberal attitudes toward sex, a greater number of sexual partners, a higher sex drive, more frequent sexual activity, lower levels of sexual dysfunction and (for women) a greater tendency towards homosexuality. Higher levels of conscientiousness were also related to more conservative attitudes towards sex, lower levels of sexual dysfunction and a greater tendency towards heterosexuality. For sexually active older adults, higher levels of extraversion and lower levels of neuroticism were related to greater sexual satisfaction. Higher levels of extraversion and lower levels of conscientiousness were also related to a greater number of sexual partners in men but not women. Conclusion: These findings provide evidence that personality is an important correlate of sexual functioning and behaviour in older adults.
miR-21 predicts poor prognosis in patients with osteosarcoma

Abstract Background and aims: miR-21 has been demonstrated to play an important role in tumour progression. The aim of the present study was to analyse the correlation between miR-21 expression level and clinicopathologic features, as well as to assess the prognostic significance of miR-21 in osteosarcoma. Methods: Eighty-four pairs of osteosarcoma and corresponding non-cancerous bone tissues were obtained, and miR-21 expression levels were detected using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). A χ2 test was used to assess the relationship between miR-21 expression and clinicopathological features. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were determined by the Kaplan–Meier method and analysed by the log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis. Results: qRT-PCR indicated that miR-21 expression in tumour tissues was strongly elevated compared with the adjacent corresponding non-cancerous bone tissue (7.88 ± 1.04 vs. 1.12 ± 0.37, respectively; P < 0.001). High miR-21 expression levels were linked to advanced clinical stage (P = 0.001), distant metastasis (P = 0.001), high tumour grade (P = 0.032) and large-sized tumours (P = 0.013). A higher miR-21 expression was significantly linked to shorter OS and DFS (both P < 0.001). Furthermore, a multivariate analysis confirmed that miR-21 was an independent and significant prognostic factor to predict poor OS and DFS (both P < 0.001). Conclusions: Upregulation of miR-21 was associated with poor clinicopathological characteristics. It is used as a marker of poor prognosis in patients with osteosarcoma.
Evaluation of the allograft-prosthesis composite technique for proximal femoral reconstruction after resection of a primary bone tumour.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate clinical and functional outcomes resulting from the allograft-composite technique used for proximal femoral osteoarticular reconstruction in patients who had limb salvage surgery for primary bone tumours. DESIGN A retrospective review of a prospectively gathered database to provide a descriptive study. SETTING A tertiary care musculoskeletal oncology unit in a university hospital. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS Patients treated between 1987 and 1993 were eligible for inclusion in this study if they met the following criteria: they were treated surgically for a primary malignant bone tumour; and a proximal femoral allograft-implant composite technique was used for the reconstruction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Major postoperative complications with emphasis on mechanical complications in the reconstructive composite implant. Functional outcome in a subset of patients using the 1987 and 1994 versions of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society instrument, the Short-Form-36 and the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score. RESULTS There were 5 mechanical and 2 infectious complications requiring surgical intervention. Functional scores were generally low. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the perceived benefits of the composite technique may accrue only to a few patients, partly owing to the risk of mechanical complications. Although these can be reduced by avoiding the use of cement in the host femur, the generally poor functional outcomes suggest that this technique needs to be studied further in this group of patients and compared with other reconstructive techniques, particularly the prosthetic implant.
MR evaluation of the brain in central diabetes insipidus.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the role of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in determining the cause of central diabetes insipidus (CDI) by using MR imaging to describe the findings in the hypothalamic-pituitary area in patients with CDI. METHODS Thirty-one cases of clinically proved CDI were prospectively studied. A control study was also conducted in 200 normal subjects. MR imaging was performed on a 1.0 T superconductive unit with T1-weighted images obtained in the sagittal, coronal and axial planes. RESULTS Hypothalamic-pituitary masses or structural changes were identified in 26 cases and normal structures in 5. The normal high signal intensity of the posterior pituitary lobe was absent in 29 cases, but remained unchanged in 2. In the control group, the frequency of the high signal of the posterior lobe was 93%. CONCLUSIONS The absence of the normal high signal in the posterior pituitary lobe is closely related to the loss of hypothalamic-pituitary function. MR imaging is very sensitive in demonstrating the changes in this area in CDI and it can provide an accurate diagnosis when combined with the clinical information.
Involvement of the Matrix Protein in Attachment of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus to a Heparinlike Receptor on Porcine Alveolar Macrophages

ABSTRACT The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has a very restricted tropism for well-differentiated cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage, which is probably determined by specific receptors on these cells. In this study, the importance of heparinlike molecules on porcine alveolar macrophages (PAM) for PRRSV infection was determined. Heparin interacted with the virus and reduced infection of PAM up to 92 or 88% for the American and European types of PRRSV, respectively. Other glycosaminoglycans, similar to heparin, had no significant effect on infection while heparinase treatment of PAM resulted in a significant reduction of the infection. Analysis of infection kinetics showed that PRRSV attachment to heparan sulfate occurs early in infection. A heparin-sensitive binding step was observed which converted completely into a heparin-resistant binding after 120 min at 4°C. Using heparin-affinity chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), it was observed that the structural matrix (M) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins attached to heparin. Nonreducing SDS-PAGE revealed that M bound to heparin mainly as a complex with glycoprotein GP5 and that the N protein bound to heparin as a homodimer. GP3, which was identified as a minor structural protein of European types of PRRSV, did not bind to heparin. Since the N protein is not exposed on the virion surface, it was concluded that the structural M protein and the M-GP5 complex contribute to PRRSV attachment on a heparinlike receptor on PAM. This is the first report that identifies a PRRSV ligand for a cell surface heparinlike receptor on PAM.
Altered apoptotic responses in neurons lacking RhoB GTPase

Caspase 3 activation has been linked to the acute neurotoxic effects of central nervous system damage, as in traumatic brain injury or cerebral ischaemia, and also to the early events leading to long‐term neurodegeneration, as in Alzheimer’s disease. However, the precise mechanisms activating caspase 3 in neuronal injury are unclear. RhoB is a member of the Rho GTPase family that is dramatically induced by cerebral ischaemia or neurotrauma, both in preclinical models and clinically. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that RhoB might directly modulate caspase 3 activity and apoptotic or necrotic responses in neurons. Over‐expression of RhoB in the NG108‐15 neuronal cell line or in cultured corticohippocampal neurons elevated caspase 3 activity without inducing overt toxicity. Cultured corticohippocampal neurons from RhoB knockout mice did not show any differences in sensitivity to a necrotic stimulus – acute calcium ionophore exposure – compared with neurons from wild‐type mice. However, corticohippocampal neurons lacking RhoB exhibited a reduction in the degree of DNA fragmentation and caspase 3 activation induced by the apoptotic agent staurosporine, in parallel with increased neuronal survival. Staurosporine induction of caspase 9 activity was also suppressed. RhoB knockout mice showed reduced basal levels of caspase 3 activity in the adult brain. These data directly implicate neuronal RhoB in caspase 3 activation and the initial stages of programmed cell death, and suggest that RhoB may represent an attractive target for therapeutic intervention in conditions involving elevated caspase 3 activity in the central nervous system.
Asprobacter aquaticus gen. nov., sp. nov., a prosthecate alphaproteobacterium isolated from fresh water.

A novel Gram-negative bacterium strain, DRW22-8T, was isolated from fresh water taken at a depth of 22 m at Daechung Reservoir, Republic of Korea. The cells of strain DRW22-8T were aerobic and motile with a single polar flagellum or non-motile (stalked), and formed creamy-white colonies on R2A agar. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that the strain formed a separate lineage within the order Rhodobacterales, showing similarity values under 91.8 % with its closest phylogenetic neighbours, Hirschia litorea, Hirschia baltica and Hirschia maritima. The chemotaxonomic results showed Q-10 as the predominant respiratory ubiquinone, three unidentified glycolipids, an unidentified lipid and phosphatidylglycerol as the major polar lipids, and C16 : 0, 11-methyl C18 : 1, C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C content was 64.4 mol%. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data showed that strain DRW22-8T could be distinguished from all genera within the family Hyphomonadaceae and represented a novel genus, Asprobacter gen. nov., with the name Asprobacter aquaticus sp. nov., in the family Hyphomonadaceae. The type strain is DRW22-8T (=KCTC 42356T=JCM 30469T).
Design of a Plug-In Repetitive Control Scheme for Eliminating Supply-Side Current Harmonics of Three-Phase PWM Boost Rectifiers Under Generalized Supply Voltage Conditions

This paper presents a digital repetitive control (RC) scheme to minimize the even-order harmonics at the dc link voltage and odd-order harmonics in the line-side currents under distorted and unbalanced supply voltage conditions. The proposed current control scheme consists of a conventional PI and a plug-in repetitive controller. On the basis of the mathematical model of the three-phase pulsewidth-modulated (PWM) boost rectifier under the generalized supply voltage conditions, the control task is divided into: 1) dc-link voltage harmonics control and 2) line-side current harmonics control . In the voltage harmonics control scheme, a reference current calculation algorithm has been derived accordingly to ensure that the dc link voltage is maintained constant at the demanded value and the supply-side power factor is kept close to unity. In the line-side current harmonics control scheme, a plug-in repetitive controller is designed to achieve low total harmonic distortion (THD) line-side currents of the three-phase PWM boost rectifier. The experimental test results obtained from a 1.6-kVA laboratory-based PWM rectifier confirm that the proposed control scheme can reduce the line-side current THD from 16.63% to 4.70%, and improve the dc-link voltage tracking accuracy substantially over the conventional PI-based controller.
The Effect of Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring Among Inmates With Diabetes

The increasing prevalence and risk of complications from diabetes necessitate patient participation and attentiveness to select appropriate foods, perform regular physical activity, and be active in diabetes management and self-maintenance. Diabetes is often largely asymptomatic; consequently, early diagnosis and treatment are necessary. Inmates are a unique population challenged by the increased prevalence of chronic conditions including diabetes. Diabetes standards for inmates contain diagnostic and treatment management guidelines that incorporate personal glucose monitoring for insulin users. In December 2009, the Federal Bureau of Prisons initiated a program to distribute glucose meters to insulin-dependent inmates to facilitate self-monitoring blood glucose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of these glucose meters on hemoglobin A1c levels.
Clinical Evaluation of Zero-Echo-Time Attenuation Correction for Brain 18F-FDG PET/MRI: Comparison with Atlas Attenuation Correction

Accurate attenuation correction (AC) on PET/MR is still challenging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical feasibility of AC based on fast zero-echo-time (ZTE) MRI by comparing it with the default atlas-based AC on a clinical PET/MR scanner. Methods: We recruited 10 patients with malignant diseases not located on the brain. In all patients, a clinically indicated whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT scan was acquired. In addition, a head PET/MR scan was obtained voluntarily. For each patient, 2 AC maps were generated from the MR images. One was atlas-AC, derived from T1-weighted liver acquisition with volume acceleration flex images (clinical standard). The other was ZTE-AC, derived from proton-density-weighted ZTE images by applying tissue segmentation and assigning continuous attenuation values to the bone. The AC map generated by PET/CT was used as a silver standard. On the basis of each AC map, PET images were reconstructed from identical raw data on the PET/MR scanner. All PET images were normalized to the SPM5 PET template. After that, these images were qualified visually and quantified in 67 volumes of interest (VOIs; automated anatomic labeling, atlas). Relative differences and absolute relative differences between PET images based on each AC were calculated. 18F-FDG uptake in all 670 VOIs and generalized merged VOIs were compared using a paired t test. Results: Qualitative analysis shows that ZTE-AC was robust to patient variability. Nevertheless, misclassification of air and bone in mastoid and nasal areas led to the overestimation of PET in the temporal lobe and cerebellum (%diff of ZTE-AC, 2.46% ± 1.19% and 3.31% ± 1.70%, respectively). The |%diff| of all 670 VOIs on ZTE was improved by approximately 25% compared with atlas-AC (ZTE-AC vs. atlas-AC, 1.77% ± 1.41% vs. 2.44% ± 1.63%, P < 0.01). In 2 of 7 generalized VOIs, |%diff| on ZTE-AC was significantly smaller than atlas-AC (ZTE-AC vs. atlas-AC: insula and cingulate, 1.06% ± 0.67% vs. 2.22% ± 1.10%, P < 0.01; central structure, 1.03% ± 0.99% vs. 2.54% ± 1.20%, P < 0.05). Conclusion: The ZTE-AC could provide more accurate AC than clinical atlas-AC by improving the estimation of head–skull attenuation. The misclassification in mastoid and nasal areas must be addressed to prevent the overestimation of PET in regions near the skull base.
Multi-domain autonomous mobile network for Sensing

Multi-domain autonomous sensor networks are essential for reducing capability gaps between different kinds of sensing platforms. Design of an efficient network can provide seamless sensing capability. Furthermore, to achieve operational persistency, nodes of the networks are required to be robust and affordable. Field robotics has other challenges in addition to robustness and in particular the logistics cost is one of them. Hence, the flexibility to be able to reconfigure the structure of a vehicle in the field significantly reduces transportation of additional items. In this study our group presents our current robotic fleet's strength and the systems that have been developed in the recent years aiming to answer these challenges.
De novo transcriptome sequencing to identify the sex-determination genes in Hyriopsis schlegelii

This study presents the first analysis of expressed transcripts in the spermary and ovary of Hyriopsis schlegelii (H. schlegelii). A total of 132,055 unigenes were obtained and 31,781 of these genes were annotated. In addition, 19,511 upregulated and 25,911 downregulated unigenes were identified in the spermary. Ten sex-determination genes were selected and further analyzed by real-time PCR. In addition, mammalian genes reported to govern sex-determination pathways, including Sry, Dmrt1, Dmrt2, Sox9, GATA4, and WT1 in males and Wnt4, Rspo1, Foxl2, and β-catenin in females, were also identified in H. schlegelii. These results suggest that H. schlegelii and mammals use similar gene regulatory mechanisms to control sex determination. Moreover, genes associated with dosage compensation mechanisms, such as Msl1, Msl2, and Msl3, and hermaphrodite phenotypes, such as Tra-1, Tra-2α, Tra-2β, Fem1A, Fem1B, and Fem1C, were also identified in H. schlegelii. The identification of these genes indicates that diverse regulatory mechanisms regulate sexual polymorphism in H. schlegelii. Graphical abstract 19,511 upregulated and 25,911 downregulated genes were detected in the spermary compared to the ovary, including many sex determination and differentiation genes.
Conditions supporting Entrepreneurial Leadership

The study consists of a qualitative content analysis in which entrepreneurial leadership literature and data of 85 interviews are analysed. The research goal was to fill the existing literature gap about conditions that support entrepreneurial leadership. The study found 11 conditions divided over three levels (macro - external, meso - organisational, and micro - human capital) that support entrepreneurial leadership.
Alterations in transcriptome and proteome on metallothioneins following oxidative stress induced by sublethal doses of cadmium and gamma rays in Plantago ovata

Abstract Purpose: To study the oxidative stress-induced changes by sublethal doses of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) and gamma irradiation, two redox-inducing agents, on metallothionein (MT) gene and protein expression in Plantago ovata Forsk (P. ovata). Materials and methods: Chlorophyll content was estimated to study the stress response in P. ovata seedlings following exposure to gamma irradiation and CdCl2. Lipid peroxidation and proline content, two oxidative stress markers, were also studied. The level of metallothionein gene and protein expression was further investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. Results: Three MT genes of P. ovata namely PoMT 1, PoMT 2 and PoMT 3 were isolated, sequenced and characterized and their expressions were found to be altered in the case of both oxidative stresses in a dose-dependent and tissue-specific manner. The results were in agreement with the observations from immunocytochemistry and FACS analysis. Conclusions: The results suggest that both gamma irradiation and CdCl2 alter redox balance in P. ovata. The metallothionein gene may play an important role in metal tolerance and stress balance. It is conjectured that the stress-mediated imbalance is maintained by altered MT gene and protein expression.