Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical Outcomes of Osteochondral Lesions of the Tibial Plafond Following Arthroscopic Microfracture

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and the level of sports activity following arthroscopic microfracture for osteochondral lesions of the tibial plafond. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted for patients who underwent arthroscopic microfracture surgery for osteochondral lesions of the tibial plafond from January 2014 to June 2017. For functional evaluation, the visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) score, and Short Form-12 (SF-12) general health questionnaire were used. We also investigated the level of sports activity before and after the surgery. Sixteen patients were included in this study, and the mean follow-up period was 29.8 months. Results: The mean VAS score improved from 8.3 (range, 6-10) preoperatively to 1.8 (range, 0-4) postoperatively. The mean FAAM score was improved from 57.6 (range, 6.0-88.9) for the activities of daily living subscale and 34.5 (range, 3.1-92.6) for the sports subscale to 84.3 (range, 46.4-100.0) and 65.2 (range, 23.3-55.1) for each subscale, respectively, at the final follow-up. There were also improvements in the SF-12 score, from 36.3 (range, 23.3-55.1) preoperatively to 46.0 (range, 18.9-56.6) postoperatively for the SF-12 PCS, and from 41.3 (range, 14.2-65.0) preoperatively to 52.6 (range, 32.8-60.8) postoperatively for the SF-12 MCS. All functional scores showed significant differences clinically and statistically at the final follow-up. The level of sports activity after the surgery was significantly lower than their level before the surgery (P = .012). Conclusion: Arthroscopic microfracture provided satisfactory clinical outcomes for osteochondral lesions of the tibial plafond. Though all the patients in this study were able to return to sports activity after the surgery, the postoperative level of sports activity was significantly lower than their preoperative level. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.
Phosphoproteomic and proteomic profiling of serine/threonine protein kinase PkaE of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) and its role in secondary metabolism and morphogenesis

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the role of serine/threonine kinase PkaE in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was performed for comparative phosphoproteome and proteome analyses of S. coelicolor A3(2), followed by an in vitro phosphorylation assay. Actinorhodin production in the pkaE deletion mutant was lower than that in wild-type S. coelicolor A3(2), and the spores of the pkaE deletion mutant were damaged. Furthermore, phosphoproteome analysis revealed that 6 proteins were significantly differentially hypophosphorylated in pkaE deletion mutant (p < 0.05, fold-change ≤ 0.66), including BldG and FtsZ. In addition, the in vitro phosphorylation assay revealed that PkaE phosphorylated FtsZ. Comparative proteome analysis revealed 362 differentially expressed proteins (p < 0.05) and six downregulated proteins in the pkaE deletion mutant involved in actinorhodin biosynthesis. Gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that PkaE participates in various biological and cellular processes. Hence, S. coelicolor PkaE participates in actinorhodin biosynthesis and morphogenesis. Graphical Abstract Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was performed for comparative phosphoproteome and proteome analyses of S. coelicolor A3(2) wild-type and pkaE deletion mutant, followed by an in vitro phosphorylation assay.
Imbalance of desmoplastic stromal cell numbers drives aggressive cancer processes

Epithelial tissues have sparse stroma, in contrast to their corresponding tumours. The effect of cancer cells on stromal cells is well recognized. Increasingly, stromal components, such as endothelial and immune cells, are considered indispensable for cancer progression. The role of desmoplastic stroma, in contrast, is poorly understood. Targeting such cellular components within the tumour is attractive. Recent evidence strongly points towards a dynamic stromal cell participation in cancer progression that impacts patient prognosis. The role of specific desmoplastic stromal cells, such as stellate cells and myofibroblasts in pancreatic, oesophageal and skin cancers, was studied in bio‐engineered, physiomimetic organotypic cultures and by regression analysis. For pancreatic cancer, the maximal effect on increasing cancer cell proliferation and invasion, as well as decreasing cancer cell apoptosis, occurs when stromal (pancreatic stellate cells) cells constitute the majority of the cellular population (maximal effect at a stromal cell proportion of 0.66–0.83), accompanied by change in expression of key molecules such as E‐cadherin and β‐catenin. Gene‐expression microarrays, across three tumour types, indicate that stromal cells consistently and significantly alter global cancer cell functions such as cell cycle, cell–cell signalling, cell movement, cell death and inflammatory response. However, these changes are mediated through cancer type‐specific alteration of expression, with very few common targets across tumour types. As highlighted by these in vitro data, the reciprocal relationship of E‐cadherin and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR) expression in cancer cells could be shown, in vivo, to be dependent on the stromal content of human pancreatic cancer. These studies demonstrate that context‐specific cancer–stroma crosstalk requires to be precisely defined for effective therapeutic targeting. These data may be relevant to non‐malignant processes where epithelial cells interact with stromal cells, such as chronic inflammatory and fibrotic conditions. Copyright © 2013 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Geopostors: a real-time geometry / impostor crowd rendering system

The simulation of large crowds of humans is important in many fields of computer graphics, including real-time applications such as games, as they can breathe life into otherwise static scenes and enhance believability. We present a novel hybrid rendering system for crowds that solves the classic problem of degraded quality of image-based representations at close distances by building an impostor rendering system on top of a full, geometry-based, human animation system. This enables almost imperceptible switching between the two representations based on a "pixel to texel" ratio, with minimal popping artefacts. Seamless interchanges are further facilitated by exploiting programmable graphics hardware to efficiently enhance the realism and variety of the dynamically-lit impostors, thereby also improving on existing impostor techniques. To test our system, our virtual crowds are embedded in an urban simulation system (as shown in Figure 1). The results demonstrate a system capable of rendering large realistic crowds with the visual realism of a high-resolution geometry rendering system, but at a fraction of the rendering cost.
A Higher Mediterranean Diet Score, Including Unprocessed Red Meat, Is Associated with Reduced Risk of Central Nervous System Demyelination in a Case-Control Study of Australian Adults.

BACKGROUND The evidence associating diet and risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) is inconclusive. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate associations between a Mediterranean diet and risk of a first clinical diagnosis of central nervous system demyelination (FCD), a common precursor to MS. METHODS We used data from the 2003-2006 Ausimmune Study, an Australian multicenter, case-control study examining environmental risk factors for FCD, with participants matched on age, sex, and study region (282 cases, 558 controls; 18-59 y old; 78% female). The alternate Mediterranean diet score (aMED) was calculated based on data from a food-frequency questionnaire. We created a modified version of the aMED (aMED-Red) where ∼1 daily serving (65 g) of unprocessed red meat received 1 point. All other components remained the same as aMED. Conditional logistic regression (254 cases, 451 controls) was used to test associations between aMED and aMED-Red scores and categories and risk of FCD, adjusting for history of infectious mononucleosis, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, smoking, education, total energy intake, and dietary underreporting. RESULTS There was no statistically significant association between aMED and risk of FCD [per 1-SD increase in aMED score: adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.89; 95% CI: 0.75, 1.06; P = 0.181]. There was evidence of a nonlinear relation between aMED-Red and risk of FCD when a quadratic term was used (P = 0.016). Compared with the lowest category of aMED-Red, higher categories were significantly associated with reduced risk of FCD, corresponding to a 37% (aOR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.98; P = 0.039), 52% (aOR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.28, 0.83; P = 0.009), and 42% (aOR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.35, 0.96; P = 0.034) reduced risk of FCD in categories 2, 3, and 4, respectively. CONCLUSIONS A Mediterranean diet, including unprocessed red meat, was associated with reduced risk of FCD in this Australian adult population. The addition of unprocessed red meat to a Mediterranean diet may be beneficial for those at high risk of MS.
Efficacy and safety of curcumin in primary sclerosing cholangitis: an open label pilot study

Abstract Goals: To assess if curcumin improves markers of cholestasis among subjects with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Background: PSC is a chronic cholestatic liver disorder for which there is no established medical therapy. Preclinical data suggest curcumin may have a beneficial effect in PSC. Study: Subjects with PSC and a serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) received curcumin 750 mg orally twice daily for 12 weeks in an open-label pilot study. The primary composite endpoint was proportion of subjects who had a reduction of SAP to less than 1.5 times ULN or a 40% reduction in SAP between baseline and week 12. Secondary endpoints included changes in serum aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, Mayo PSC risk score and self-reported health questionnaires. Results: Two-hundred and fifty-eight patients with PSC were screened and 15 subjects were enrolled and all completed 12 weeks of therapy. The most common reason for subject exclusion was SAP less than 1.5 times the ULN (n = 98). Curcumin did not result in a significant median (interquartile range) change in SAP times the ULN [3.43 (2.10–4.32) to 2.46 (1.89–4.41), p = . 36], and only 20% (3/15) subjects achieved the primary endpoint. Similarly, there was no significant change in the secondary endpoints. There were no serious adverse events reported. Conclusion: While curcumin was well tolerated, it was not associated with significant improvements in cholestasis or symptoms. Moreover, this study also illustrates that a low SAP is common among those with PSC. Abbreviations PSC: Primary sclerosing cholangitis; IBD: inflammatory bowel disease; CCA: cholangiocarcinoma; SAP: serum alkaline phosphatase; ULN: upper limit of normal; UDCA: ursodeoxycholic acid; CRP: c-reactive protein; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; INR: international normalized ratio; FIS: fatigue impact scale; AE: adverse events; PREsTo: PSC risk estimate tool; IQR: interquartile range; ELF: enhanced liver fibrosis
'Candidatus Phytoplasma costaricanum' a novel phytoplasma associated with an emerging disease in soybean (Glycine max).

A novel phytoplasma, designated strain SoyST1c1, associated with a newly emerging disease in soybean (Glycine max), known as soybean stunt (SoyST), was found in 2002 in a soybean plantation in Alajuela Province, Costa Rica. The same phytoplasma, or a very closely related strain, also infected sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) with purple vein syndrome (SwPPV) and passion fruit vine (Passiflora edulis) with bud proliferation disease (PasFBP) in the same region. Sequence analysis of cloned 16S rRNA gene sequences (GenBank accession nos FJ226068-FJ226073 and HQ225624-HQ225635) indicated that all three affected plants were infected by phytoplasmas that shared <97.5% sequence similarity with previously described phytoplasmas. The SoyST-causing phytoplasma represents a new taxon, most closely related to phytoplasma group 16SrI and 16SrXII strains. Virtual RFLP analysis indicated that the SoyST-causing phytoplasma and its closely related strains represent a novel 16Sr group, designated 16SrXXXI. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences from the new phytoplasma strains, those previously described as 'Candidatus Phytoplasma spp. ' and other distinct, as yet unnamed, phytoplasmas indicated that the SoyST-causing phytoplasma represents a distinct lineage within the aster yellows/stolbur branch on the phylogenetic tree. On the basis of its unique 16S rRNA gene sequence and biological properties, strain SoyST1c1 represents a novel taxon, for which the name 'Candidatus Phytoplasma costaricanum' is proposed with SoyST1c1 as the reference strain.
Design study of piezoelectric energy-harvesting devices for generation of higher electrical power using a coupled piezoelectric-circuit finite element method

This paper presents a design study on the geometric parameters of a cantilever-based piezoelectric energy-harvesting devices (EHD), which harvest energy from motion (vibration), for the purpose of scavenging more energy from ambient vibration energy sources. The design study is based on the coupled piezoelectric-circuit finite element method (CPCFEM), previously presented by Dr. Zhu. This model can calculate the power output of piezoelectric EHDS directly connected to a load resistor and is used in this paper to obtain the following simulation results for variations in geometric parameters such as the beam length, width and thickness, and the mass length, width, and height: 1) the current flowing through and the voltage developed across the load resistor, 2) the power dissipated by the resistor and the corresponding vibrational displacement amplitude, and 3) the resonant frequency. By studying these results, straightforward design strategies that enable the generation of more power are obtained for each geometric parameter, and a physical understanding of how each parameter affects the output power is given. It is suggested that, in designing with the aim of generating more power, the following strategies be used: 1) for the beam, a shorter length, larger width, and lower ratio of piezoelectric layer thickness to total beam thickness are preferred in the case of a fixed mass; 2) for the mass, a shortened mass length and a higher mass height are preferred in the case of variation in the mass length and the mass height with mass width and mass value remain fixed, and a wider width and small mass height are preferred in the case of variation in mass width and height (mass length and value remain fixed; and 3) for the case of a fixed total length, a shorter beam length and longer mass length are preferred. With the design strategies, output powers from the device can reach above 1 to 2 mW/cm3, much higher than the 200 ? W/cm3 currently achieved in the published literature. This is an encouraging prospect for enabling a wider range of applications of the EHDs. In addition, physical insights into how each parameter influences output power are also discussed in detail.
Monitoring response to neo‐adjuvant chemotherapy with F‐18 FDG PET/CT

In recent issue of the Journal of Surgical Oncology, Choi et al. [1] evaluated the role of PET/CT to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer compared with ultranosography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The authors concluded that MRI is better than PET/CT in monitoring the effect of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer. For assessment of clinical response of US and MRI during neoadjuvant chemotherapy, authors used Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) [2], which is one of the most widely applied criteria for tumor size measurement. Since PET/CT provides metabolic and functional information, which is not applicable to RECIST criteria, authors used EORTC (European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer) guidelines [3]. The authors wrote that they kept with the EORTC guidelines and defined >50% decline of peak standardized uptake value (pSUV) on FDG metabolism as complete response. However, according to the EORTC recommendations, complete metabolic response would be complete resolution of F-18 FDG uptake within the tumor volume so that it was indistinguishable from surrounding normal tissue [3]. There is no mentioning about 50% decline of pSUV in EORTC recommendations. Also, partial metabolic response is classified in EORTC recommendations as 15–25% reduction in SUV after one cycle of chemotherapy or more than 25% reduction after one treatment cycle, which was not used in this manuscript. For US and MRI, authors assessed of clinical response as complete response, partial response, and stable disease. On the other hand, for the PET/CT, authors assessed of clinical response only as responder and non-responder, which is discriminating against other modalities. In other studies, PET/CT shows accurate prediction of pathologic response compared to the other modalities in breast cancer [4–7]. In this manuscript, comparing the other modalities with inappropriate metabolic response criteria seems to make this study biased. Therefore, it is difficult to derive such a conclusion in this article that MRI is better than PET/CT in monitoring the effect of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer due to wrong metabolic response criteria [1]. Young Hwan Kim, MD Yun Young Choi, MD* Department of Nuclear Medicine Hanyang University Medical Center Seoul, Republic of Korea
Whole‐genome resequencing‐based QTL‐seq identified AhTc1 gene encoding a R2R3‐MYB transcription factor controlling peanut purple testa colour

Summary Peanut (Arachis hypogaea. L) is an important oil crop worldwide. The common testa colours of peanut varieties are pink or red. But the peanut varieties with dark purple testa have been focused in recent years due to the potential high levels of anthocyanin, an added nutritional value of antioxidant. However, the genetic mechanism regulating testa colour of peanut is unknown. In this study, we found that the purple testa was decided by the female parent and controlled by a single major gene named AhTc1. To identify the candidate gene controlling peanut purple testa, whole‐genome resequencing‐based approach (QTL‐seq) was applied, and a total of 260.9 Gb of data were generated from the parental and bulked lines. SNP index analysis indicated that AhTc1 located in a 4.7 Mb region in chromosome A10, which was confirmed by bulked segregant RNA sequencing (BSR) analysis in three segregation populations derived from the crosses between pink and purple testa varieties. Allele‐specific markers were developed and demonstrated that the marker pTesta1089 was closely linked with purple testa. Further, AhTc1 encoding a R2R3‐MYB gene was positional cloned. The expression of AhTc1 was significantly up‐regulated in the purple testa parent YH29. Overexpression of AhTc1 in transgenic tobacco plants led to purple colour of leaves, flowers, pods and seeds. In conclusion, AhTc1, encoding a R2R3‐MYB transcription factor and conferring peanut purple testa, was identified, which will be useful for peanut molecular breeding selection for cultivars with purple testa colour for potential increased nutritional value to consumers.
Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein Expression Is Decreased in the Adrenal Gland of the Growth-Restricted Sheep Fetus During Late Gestation1

Abstract Functional development of the adrenal cortex is critical for fetal maturation and postnatal survival. In the present study, we have determined the developmental profile of expression of the mRNA and protein of an essential cholesterol-transporting protein, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), in the adrenal of the sheep fetus. We have also investigated the effect of placental restriction (PR) on the expression of StAR mRNA and protein in the growth-restricted fetus. Adrenal glands were collected from fetal sheep at 82–91 days (n = 10), 125–133 days (n = 10), and 140–144 days (n = 9) and from PR fetuses at 141–145 days gestation (n = 9) (term = 147 ± 3 days gestation). The adrenal StAR mRNA:18S rRNA increased (P < 0.05) between 125 days (7.44 ± 1.61) and 141–144 days gestation (13.76 ± 1.88). There was also a 13-fold increase (P < 0.05) in the amount of adrenal StAR protein between 133 and 144 days gestation in these fetuses. However, the amount of StAR protein (6.9 ± 1.7 arbitrary densitometric units [AU]/μg adrenal protein) in the adrenal of the growth-restricted fetal sheep was significantly reduced, when compared with the expression of StAR protein (17.1 ± 1.9 AU/μg adrenal protein) in adrenals from the age-matched control group. In summary, there is a developmental increase in the expression of StAR mRNA and protein in the fetal sheep adrenal during the prepartum period when adrenal growth and steroidogenesis is dependent on ACTH stimulation. We have found that, while the level of expression of StAR protein is decreased in the adrenal gland of the growth-restricted fetus during late gestation, this does not impair adrenal steroidogenesis. Our data also suggest that the stimulation of adrenal growth and steroidogenesis in the growth-restricted fetus may not be ACTH dependent.
Design of InGaN based photodiodes by internal field engineering

In this paper, the role of piezoelectric fields on the performance of multiple-quantum-well based PIN photodetectors is studied. It is shown that the responsivity critically depends, through the effect of piezoelectric fields, on the growth sequence starting either from an n-type substrate (standard PIN) or from a p-type substrate (inverted PIN). Piezoelectric fields and junction built-in fields are aligned in the inverted PIN structure, thus increasing the collection efficiency as shown from theoretical calculations. In contrast to the blueshift found in the photoresponse of standard PIN structures, the inverted PIN structures exhibited a redshifted with increasing reverse voltage. Three different photodetector structures have been designed, grown, processed and characterized. Doping levels and barrier dimensions have also been engineered to improve the detector responsivity.
Rapid Alloy Development of Extremely High-Alloyed Metals Using Powder Blends in Laser Powder Bed Fusion

The design of new alloys by and for metal additive manufacturing (AM) is an emerging field of research. Currently, pre-alloyed powders are used in metal AM, which are expensive and inflexible in terms of varying chemical composition. The present study describes the adaption of rapid alloy development in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) by using elemental powder blends. This enables an agile and resource-efficient approach to designing and screening new alloys through fast generation of alloys with varying chemical compositions. This method was evaluated on the new and chemically complex materials group of multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs), also known as high-entropy alloys (HEAs). MPEAs constitute ideal candidates for the introduced methodology due to the large space for possible alloys. First, process parameters for LPBF with powder blends containing at least five different elemental powders were developed. Secondly, the influence of processing parameters and the resulting energy density input on the homogeneity of the manufactured parts were investigated. Microstructural characterization was carried out by optical microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), while mechanical properties were evaluated using tensile testing. Finally, the applicability of powder blends in LPBF was demonstrated through the manufacture of geometrically complex lattice structures with energy absorption functionality.