Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reinforced aortic root reconstruction for acute type A aortic dissection involving the aortic root.

OBJECTIVE There are debates regarding the optimal approach for AAAD involving the aortic root. We described a modified reinforced aortic root reconstruction approach for treating AAAD involving the aortic root. METHODS A total of 161 patients with AAAD involving the aortic root were treated by our modified reinforced aortic root reconstruction approach from January 1998 to December 2008. Key features of our modified approach were placement of an autologous pericardial patch in the false lumen, lining of the sinotubular junction lumen with a polyester vascular ring, and wrapping of the vessel with Teflon strips. Outcome measures included post-operative mortality, survival, complications, and level of aortic regurgitation. RESULTS A total of 161 patients were included in the study (mean age: 43.3 1 15.5 years). The mean duration of follow-up was 5.1 1 2.96 years (2-12 years). A total of 10 (6.2%) and 11 (6.8%) patients died during hospitalization and during follow-up, respectively. Thirty-one (19.3%) patients experienced postoperative complications. The 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 99.3%, 98%, 93.8%, and 75.5%, respectively. There were no instances of recurrent aortic dissection, aortic aneurysm, or pseudoaneurysm during the entire study period. The severity of aortic regurgitation dramatically decreased immediately after surgery (from 28.6% to 0% grade 3-4) and thereafter slightly increased (from 0% to 7.2% at 5 years and 9.1% at 10 years). CONCLUSION This modified reinforced aortic root reconstruction was feasible, safe and durable/effective, as indicated by its low mortality, low postoperative complications and high survival rate.
Metabolic , Endocrine and Genitourinary Pathobiology Olfactomedin-4 Regulation by Estrogen in the Human Endometrium Requires Epidermal Growth Factor Signaling

Olfactomedin-4 (OLFM-4) is an extracellular matrix protein that is highly expressed in human endometrium. We have examined the regulation and function of OLFM-4 in normal endometrium and in cases of endometriosis and endometrial cancer. OLFM-4 expression levels are highest in proliferative-phase endometrium, and 17 -estradiol up-regulates OLFM-4 mRNA in endometrial explant cultures. Using the luciferase reporter under control of the OLFM-4 promoter, it was shown that both 17 -estradiol and OHtamoxifen induce luciferase activity, and epidermal growth factor receptor-1 is required for this estrogenic response. In turn, EGF activates the OLFM-4 promoter, and estrogen receptoris needed for the complete EGF response. The cellular functions of OLFM-4 were examined by its expression in OLFM-4negative HEK-293 cells, which resulted in decreased vimentin expression and cell adherence as well as increased apoptosis resistance. In cases of endometriosis and endometrial cancer, OLFM-4 expression correlated with the presence of epidermal growth factor receptor-1 and estrogen receptor(or estrogen signaling). An increase of OLFM-4 mRNA was observed in the endometrium of endometriosis patients. No change in OLFM-4 expression levels were observed in patients with endometrial cancer relative with controls. In conclusion, cross-talk between estrogen and EGF signaling regulates OLFM-4 expression. The role of OLFM-4 in endometrial tissue remodeling before the secretory phase and during the predisposition and early events in endometriosis can be postulated but requires additional investigation. (Am J Pathol 2010, 177:2495–2508; DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.100026)
Terminally Repeated Sequences on a Herpesvirus Genome Are Deleted following Circularization but Are Reconstituted by Duplication during Cleavage and Packaging of Concatemeric DNA

ABSTRACT The mechanisms underlying cleavage of herpesvirus genomes from replicative concatemers are unknown. Evidence from herpes simplex virus type 1 suggests that cleavage occurs by a nonduplicative process; however, additional evidence suggests that terminal repeats may also be duplicated during the cleavage process. This issue has been difficult to resolve due to the variable numbers of reiterated terminal repeats that the herpes simplex virus type 1 genome can contain. Guinea pig cytomegalovirus is a herpesvirus with a simple terminal repeat arrangement that defines two genome types. Type II genomes have a single copy of a 1-kb terminal repeat at both their left and right termini, whereas type I genomes have only one copy at their left termini and lack the repeat at their right termini. In a previous study, we constructed a recombinant guinea pig cytomegalovirus in which certain cis elements were disrupted such that only type II genomes were produced. Here we show that double repeats that are formed by circularization of infecting genomes are rapidly converted to single repeats, such that the junctions between genomes within replicative concatemers formed late in infection almost exclusively contain single copies of the terminal repeat. Therefore, for the recombinant virus, each cleavage event begins with a single repeat within a concatemer yet produces two repeats, one at each of the resulting termini, demonstrating that terminal repeat duplication occurs in conjunction with cleavage. For wild-type guinea pig cytomegalovirus, the formation of type I genomes further suggests that cleavage can also occur by a nonduplicative process and that duplicative and nonduplicative cleavage can occur concurrently. Other herpesviruses having terminal repeats, such as the herpes simplex viruses and human cytomegalovirus, may also utilize repeat duplication and deletion; however, the biological importance of these events remains unknown.
Pistacia chinensis: A Potent Ameliorator of CCl4 Induced Lung and Thyroid Toxicity in Rat Model

In the current study protective effect of ethanol extract of Pistacia chinensis bark (PCEB) was investigated in rats against CCl4 induced lung and thyroid injuries. PCEB dose dependently inhibited the rise of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, hydrogen peroxide, nitrite, and protein content and restored the levels of antioxidant enzymes, that is, catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and quinone reductase in both lung and thyroid tissues of CCl4 treated rats. Decrease in number of leukocytes, neutrophils, and hemoglobin and T3 and T4 content as well as increase in monocytes, eosinophils, and lymphocytes count with CCl4 were restored to normal level with PCEB treatment. Histological study of CCl4 treated rats showed various lung injuries like rupture of alveolar walls and bronchioles, aggregation of fibroblasts, and disorganized Clara cells. Similarly, histology of CCl4 treated thyroid tissues displayed damaged thyroid follicles, hypertrophy, and colloidal depletion. However, PCEB exhibited protective behaviour for lungs and thyroid, with improved histological structure in a dose dependant manner. Presence of three known phenolic compounds, that is, rutin, tannin, and gallic acid, and three unknown compounds was verified in thin layer chromatographic assessment of PCEB. In conclusion, P. chinensis exhibited antioxidant activity by the presence of free radical quenching constituents.
Synthesis and Properties of Biocompatible Water-Soluble Silica-Coated CdSe/ZnS Semiconductor Quantum Dots†

We describe the synthesis of water-soluble semiconductor nanoparticles and discuss and characterize their properties. Hydrophobic CdSe/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals with a core size between 2 and 5 nm are embedded in a siloxane shell and functionalized with thiol and/or amine groups. Structural characterization by AFM indicates that the siloxane shell is 1−5 nm thick, yielding final particle sizes of 6−17 nm, depending on the initial CdSe core size. The silica coating does not significantly modify the optical properties of the nanocrystals. Their fluorescence emission is about 32−35 nm fwhm and can be tuned from blue to red with quantum yields up to 18%, mainly determined by the quantum yield of the underlying CdSe/ZnS nanocrystals. Silanized nanocrystals exhibit enhanced photochemical stability over organic fluorophores. They also display high stability in buffers at physiological conditions (>150 mM NaCl). The introduction of functionalized groups onto the siloxane surface would permit the conjugation of .
Single-cell versus network properties and the use of models

: Most rhythmic behaviors are produced by a specialized ensemble of neurons found in the central nervous system. These central pattern generators (CPGs) have become a cornerstone of neuronal circuit analysis. Studying simple invertebrate nervous systems may reveal the interactions of the neurons involved in the production of rhythmic motor output. There has recently been progress in this area, but due to certain intrinsic features of CPCs it is unlikely that present techniques will ever yield a complete understanding of any but the simplest of them. The chief impediment seems to be our inability to identify and characterize the total interneuronal pool making up a CPG. In addition, our general analytic strategy relies on a descriptive, reductionist approach, with no analytical constructs beyond phenomenological modeling. Detailed descriptive data are usually not of sufficient depth for specific model testing, giving rise instead to ad hoc explanations of mechanisms which usually turn out to be incorrect. Because they make too many assumptions, modeling studies have not added much to our understanding of ('PCs; this is due not so much to inadequate simulations as to the poor quality and incomplete nature of the data provided by experimentalists. A basic strategy that would provide sufficient information for neural modeling would include: (1) identifying and characterizing each element in the CPG network; (2) specifying the synaptic connectivity between the elements; and (3) analyzing nonlinear synaptic properties and interactions by means of the connectivity matrix. Limitations based on our present technical capabilities are also discussed.
Binocular Rivalry Disrupts Visual Priming

Many results implicate perceptual processing in repetition priming, but little is known of potential mechanisms for priming. A new method was used to help determine the processing stage at which priming occurs. Priming pictures were presented under dominance or suppression generated by binocular rivalry. Although low-level, sensory attributes can be processed under rivalry suppression, there is no evidence that repetition priming can be supported by such low-level processing. Priming was found only for stimuli that were processed sufficiently to be identified in the priming stage. The results demonstrate that repetition priming requires processing of stimulus attributes into relatively high-level representations.
Voseo to Tuteo Accommodation among Salvadorans in the United States

Central America, including El Salvador, has been cited as the least studied of the Spanish-language dialect zones. The paucity of linguistic research extends to the language use of these populations in the United States, including that of Salvadorans who have relocated there. This paper analyzes Salvadorans’ utilization of voseo and tuteo, both pronominal and verbal, contrasting this linguistic phenomenon in the Salvadoran cities of San Salvador and San Miguel with that of Salvadoran diaspora communities in the US cities of Washington, DC and Houston. Accommodation Theory is employed to describe the decrease from high levels of voseo used by Salvadorans in El Salvador to significantly lower levels among their US counterparts who come into contact with tuteante speakers such as Mexicans. The difference in voseo usage between El Salvador and the United States is seen in the results of a survey completed by more than 350 respondents, as well as in the data obtained through protocols involving the actual speech of smaller groups comprised both of individuals and couples selected from among these same participants. The data are further analyzed according to social factors, such as the subjects’ age, gender, and education level. As participants are not queried regarding their income levels, which tend to be linked to educational opportunity, this last factor is seen as a variable indicative of social class.
The promise of cytokine antibody arrays in the drug discovery process

The introduction of cytokine antibody arrays has added a new approach for investigators to simultaneously measure multiple cytokine levels in biological samples. Several different platforms have been developed. The ability to measure hundreds of cytokine levels with high specificity and sensitivity within a very limited amount of samples is a powerful tool. Many investigators worldwide have applied this novel technology in their biomedical research, particularly in drug discovery. Undoubtedly, the technology will continue to be improved and the application increased in the next several years.
Structural and lexical factors in adjective placement in complex noun phrases across Romance languages

One of the most common features across all known languages is their variability in word order. We show that differences in the prenominal and postnominal placement of adjectives in the noun phrase across five main Romance languages is not only subject to heaviness effects, as previously reported, but also to subtler structural interactions among dependencies that are better explained as effects of the principle of dependency length minimisation. These effects are almost purely structural and show lexical conditioning only in highly frequent collocations.
About Truth and Bias

It is shown that the examination of truth implicitly requires universal values that derive from Universal Wholeness. Universal values such as truth, love, compassion and justice, by their nature transcend and subsume physical events that we perceive in space and time. Since we are required to meaningfully interpret phenomenal experience in order to coherently respond to circumstance, we tend to contrive frameworks of understanding in language. This introduces personal biases that we identify with. We implicitly assume that our social and cultural frameworks universally reflect realities of the cosmic order, whether they are religious, spiritual, scientific, ethnic, or whatever. It becomes apparent that left-brain language alone is not up to the task since the meaning implicit in words depends upon right-brain intuitive insight into aspects of the cosmic order as we perceive it to be. Although it is not possible to reduce the cosmic order to language a universal methodology is introduced that embraces all possible structural varieties of phenomenal experience. It both requires and facilitates direct intuitive insight into the structural dynamics of the creative process in any context. This can provide a universal means of weeding out biases in our frameworks of understanding without eroding their essential core.
A Requirements Engineering Approach for the Development of Multi-Agent Systems

This paper presents RE4Gaia, which is a requirements modeling approach for the development of multi-agent systems that extends the Gaia methodology. The approach focuses on dealing with the organizational structure as a means to adequately capture and understand required roles and associated functions in the context of an organization prior to the analysis and design of MAS using Gaia. In addition, a traceability framework is introduced to facilitate moving from the requirements models to the analysis and design models proposed in Gaia.
Propaganda, Discurso e Identidade de Gênero

This paper aims at investigating how feminine identities are represented and constituted in advertising discourse (Magalhaes, 1995, 2005). The analysis, which adopts the theoretical-methodological principles of Critical Discourse Analysis (Chouliaraki and Fairclough, 1999; Fairclough, 2001) and Systemic- Functional Linguistics (Halliday, 1994), explores actions, feelings, beliefs and values expressed through this discourse, which constitutes social reality and identities.
Automatic extraction of relations between medical concepts in clinical texts

OBJECTIVE A supervised machine learning approach to discover relations between medical problems, treatments, and tests mentioned in electronic medical records. MATERIALS AND METHODS A single support vector machine classifier was used to identify relations between concepts and to assign their semantic type. Several resources such as Wikipedia, WordNet, General Inquirer, and a relation similarity metric inform the classifier. RESULTS The techniques reported in this paper were evaluated in the 2010 i2b2 Challenge and obtained the highest F1 score for the relation extraction task. When gold standard data for concepts and assertions were available, F1 was 73.7, precision was 72.0, and recall was 75.3. F1 is defined as 2*Precision*Recall/(Precision+Recall). Alternatively, when concepts and assertions were discovered automatically, F1 was 48.4, precision was 57.6, and recall was 41.7. DISCUSSION Although a rich set of features was developed for the classifiers presented in this paper, little knowledge mining was performed from medical ontologies such as those found in UMLS. Future studies should incorporate features extracted from such knowledge sources, which we expect to further improve the results. Moreover, each relation discovery was treated independently. Joint classification of relations may further improve the quality of results. Also, joint learning of the discovery of concepts, assertions, and relations may also improve the results of automatic relation extraction. CONCLUSION Lexical and contextual features proved to be very important in relation extraction from medical texts. When they are not available to the classifier, the F1 score decreases by 3.7%. In addition, features based on similarity contribute to a decrease of 1.1% when they are not available.
Case Conceptualization and Treatment Planning: Investigation of Problem-Solving and Clinical Judgment

This investigation examined the cognitive factors that influence case conceptualization (CC) and treatment planning (TP) tasks among experienced mental health professionals. A thinking aloud process-tracing strategy was used to identify problem-solving styles and clinical judgment strategies used by 25 licensed psychologists, clinical mental health counselors, and clinical social workers while responding to a standardized case conceptualization and treatment planning task. Cluster analysis revealed a four cluster solution that differentiated among treatment planning scores of these clinicians. SPSS discriminant analyses identified (a) three problem-solving styles (i.e., differentiation, integration, affiliation) that correctly predicted cluster membership in 96% of cases, and (b) three clinical judgment strategies (i.e., minimal, complex, heuristic) that correctly predicted cluster membership for all of these clinicians. Implications of these findings for training and research are presented.
A systematic approach for analyzing fast addition algorithms using counter tree diagrams

This work presents a unified representation of fast addition algorithms based on counter tree diagrams (CTDs). By using CTDs, we can describe and analyze various adder architectures in a systematic way without using specific knowledge about underlying arithmetic algorithms. Examples of adder architectures that can be handled by CTDs include redundant-binary (RB) adders, signed-digit (SD) adders, positive-digit (PD) adders, carry-save adders, parallel counters (e.g., 3-2 counters and 4-2 counters) and networks of such basic adders/counters. In this paper, we focus on an application of CTDs to the analysis of two-operand RB adders with limited carry propagation. The analysis result shows that there exists possible two types 3-stage CTDs for the RB adders. From this result, we can confirm that well-known RB adders are classified into one of the two types.
Appraisal of and Coping with a Real-Life Stressful Situation: The Contribution of Attachment Styles

The current study assesses the impact of attachment style on the ways young adults react to the stress of 4-month combat training. Ninety-two Israeli recruits completed an attachment scale at the beginning of the training. Their appraisal of the training their ways of coping with it, and peer evaluations of their leadership ability were assessed 4 months later. Compared with secure persons, ambivalent persons reported more emotion-focused coping, appraised the training in more threatening terms, appraised themselves as less capable of coping with the training, and were evaluated by their peers as less fitting for military leadership. Avoidant persons reported more distancing coping and less support seeking and appraised the training in more threatening terms. They did not differ from secure persons in the appraisal of their ability to cope with the training or in the nominations they received for leadership positions. Results are discussed in the framework of attachment theory.
Pharmacokinetics of Quinacrine Efflux from Mouse Brain via the P-glycoprotein Efflux Transporter

The lipophilic cationic compound quinacrine has been used as an antimalarial drug for over 75 years but its pharmacokinetic profile is limited. Here, we report on the pharmacokinetic properties of quinacrine in mice. Following an oral dose of 40 mg/kg/day for 30 days, quinacrine concentration in the brain of wild-type mice was maintained at a concentration of ∼1 µM. As a substrate of the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux transporter, quinacrine is actively exported from the brain, preventing its accumulation to levels that may show efficacy in some disease models. In the brains of P-gp–deficient Mdr1 0/0 mice, we found quinacrine reached concentrations of ∼80 µM without any signs of acute toxicity. Additionally, we examined the distribution and metabolism of quinacrine in the wild-type and Mdr1 0/0 brains. In wild-type mice, the co-administration of cyclosporin A, a known P-gp inhibitor, resulted in a 6-fold increase in the accumulation of quinacrine in the brain. Our findings argue that the inhibition of the P-gp efflux transporter should improve the poor pharmacokinetic properties of quinacrine in the CNS.
Taxonomical Security Consideration of OAEP Variants

We first model the variants of OAEP and SAEP by changing a construction and position of a redundancy, and establish a universal proof technique in the random oracle model, the comprehensive event dividing tree. We then make a taxonomical security consideration of the variants of OAEP and SAEP, based on the assumptions of one-wayness and partial-domain one-wayness of the encryption permutation, by applying the tree. Furthermore, we demonstrate the concrete attack procedures against all insecure schemes; we insist that the security proof failure leads to some attacks. From the security consideration, we find that one of the variants leads to a scheme without the redundancy; the scheme is not (plaintext aware) but IND-CCA2 secure. Finally, we conclude that some of them are practical in terms of security tightness and short bandwidth.
Self-Control and Criminal Opportunity

In this study, the authors tested two hypotheses drawn from the general theory of crime. The first hypothesis is that low self-control is a major individual-level cause of crime. The second, that the effect of self-control is contingent on criminal opportunity. The measure of self-control used was a 23-item self-report index. To measure criminal opportunity, two proxy variables were used: gender and crime-involved friends. Crime measures included number of criminal acts of force and number of criminal acts of fraud reported in a 6-month recall period by a sample of 522 criminal offenders. Self-control was lower among offenders reporting more crimes of force and fraud, but the variance explained by self-control was low in each case. The relationship between self-control and fraud crimes was contingent on criminal opportunity, but the relationship between self-control and force crimes was not. Implications of these findings for the general theory of crime are reviewed.