Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aortic and large artery stiffness: Current methodology and clinical correlations

Current methodology for the in vitro determination of aortic and large artery stiffness is reviewed and involves three approaches: (1) the estimation of distensibility by pulse wave velocity measurement; (2) the estimation of distensibility from the fractional diameter change of a given arterial segment by imaging techniques (e. g., angiography, Doppler ultrasound) against pressure change; (3) the estimation of compliance by determining volume change against pressure change in the arterial system during diastolic runoff from the Windkessel model of the circulation. Clinical correlations may be summarized as follows: (1) age: a progressive stiffening on aging due to structural changes up to the seventh decade; (2) sex: a lower degree of stiffness in women until menopause, after which they show an accelerated stiffening, catching up with men by the seventh decade; (3) atherosclerosis: a dissociation between degree of stiffness and extent of atherosclerosis, with a suggestion that in advanced atherosclerosis the extensive calcification may lead to increased stiffness; (4) coronary disease: an inconsistent correlation by pulse wave velocity studies, but a strongly positive correlation by angiographic study of the aortic root; (5) diabetes mellitus: a significant correlation by pulse wave velocity study, particularly in the presence of advanced peripheral vascular disease; (6) hypertension (both essential and elderly patients with systolic): positive correlation but only referable to the stiffening effect of a higher mean arterial pressure (i. e., unrelated to structural changes), although an experimental study did show a loss of compliance unrelated to the mean arterial pressure level in baboons with chronic renovascular hypertension.
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 gK Is Required for gB-Mediated Virus-Induced Cell Fusion, While neither gB and gK nor gB and UL20p Function Redundantly in Virion De-Envelopment

ABSTRACT Multiple amino acid changes within herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) gB and gK cause extensive virus-induced cell fusion and the formation of multinucleated cells (syncytia). Early reports established that syncytial mutations in gK could not cause cell-to-cell fusion in the absence of gB. To investigate the interdependence of gB, gK, and UL20p in virus-induced cell fusion and virion de-envelopment from perinuclear spaces as well as to compare the ultrastructural phenotypes of the different mutant viruses in a syngeneic HSV-1 (F) genetic background, gB-null, gK-null, UL20-null, gB/gK double-null, and gB/UL20 double-null viruses were constructed with the HSV-1 (F) bacterial artificial chromosome pYEBac102. The gK/gB double-null virus YEbacΔgBΔgK was used to isolate the recombinant viruses gBsyn3ΔgK and gBamb1511ΔgK, which lack the gK gene and carry the gBsyn3 or gBamb1511 syncytial mutation, respectively. Both viruses formed small nonsyncytial plaques on noncomplementing Vero cells and large syncytial plaques on gK-complementing cells, indicating that gK expression was necessary for gBsyn3- and gBamb1511-induced cell fusion. Lack of virus-induced cell fusion was not due to defects in virion egress, since recombinant viruses specifying the gBsyn3 or gKsyn20 mutation in the UL19/UL20 double-null genetic background caused extensive cell fusion on UL20-complementing cells. As expected, the gB-null virus failed to produce infectious virus, but enveloped virion particles egressed efficiently out of infected cells. The gK-null and UL20-null viruses exhibited cytoplasmic defects in virion morphogenesis like those of the corresponding HSV-1 (KOS) mutant viruses. Similarly, the gB/gK double-null and gB/UL20 double-null viruses accumulated capsids in the cytoplasm, indicating that gB, gK, and UL20p do not function redundantly in membrane fusion during virion de-envelopment at the outer nuclear lamellae.
Comparison of Two Creatinine Based Equations for Routine Estimation of GFR in a Speciality Clinic for Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE To compare the bias, absolute bias, precision and accuracies between the equations, viz., CKD-EPI (Scr), CKD-EPI (Scys) and MDRD in Indian patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS 198 patients who underwent 24 h urinary collection for assessing kidney function between November 2014-January 2015 were included. Cohen's κ coefficient, Bland-Altman plot were calculated between estimated kidney function equations, and bias, precision, accuracies was calculated between the formulae. RESULTS The mean eGFR based on MDRD, CKD-EPI (Scr) and CKD-EPI (Scys) equations were 64.5±21.9, 70.2±25.1 and 74.7±31.0 ml/min/ 1.73m2 respectively. The overall mean absolute bias was smallest for MDRD vs CKD EPI (Scr). The precision was also least for MDRD vs CKD EPI (Scr) indicating that the agreement between these equations is consistent for the range of values. MDRD vs CKD EPI (Scr) had the highest accuracy in comparison to other compared formula. The performance between MDRD versus CKD EPI (Scys) was different. There was a good agreement between MDRD and CKD EPI (Scr). in both stage 3 and stage 4 CKD. The MDRD vs CKD EPI (Scr) classified 72.2% of the patients correctly. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, there was a good agreement between CKD-EPI (Scr) and MDRD equations. CKD-EPI equation based on creatinine estimation is widely accepted method and clinicians may use this equation in routine clinical practice to assess kidney function among patients with type 2 diabetes.
Correlation Analysis on Familial Capital and Educational Attainment Disparity between Rural and Urban

With integration and expansion of Coleman's and Bourdieu's theory,the article discusses the effect of familial capital disparity between rural and urban on educational attainment.It argues,that familial capitals,economic,cultural,social,all have strong correlation with children's educational attainment,and that the familial capital disparity between rural and urban is significant on the disparity of educational attainment between the rural and the urban.In the end,the author gives some pieces of policy advice on reduction of the disparity.
Foothold placement planning with a hexapod crawling robot

In this work, we concern the problem of motion planning for a hexapod walking robot crawling in a semi-structured environment where a precise foot-tip positioning is necessary. We propose pipelined approach utilizing an RGB-D camera to perceive and map the forthcoming terrain in 2.5 D which is then processed for available foot-tip positions. The robot motion control is based on sampling-based planning to determine the most suitable leg supporting configurations for the individual body positions in the created terrain map. The individual body positions are connected into a roadmap with taking into account a feasibility of the robot transition between the individual configurations. The resulting trajectory is then planned in the created roadmap using a standard A∗ planner. The proposed method has been experimentally evaluated in the on-line and onboard setup with a real hexapod crawling robot. The herein reported results support feasibility of the proposed approach for a precise motion planning of small hexapod crawling robot in a semi-structured environment.
Discursive resources: top managers' identities and the long-term survival of their organizations

This paper represents an attempt to understand the dynamics of the identity work in the context of the challenges top managers have to address. Managers' discursive resources influence what they notice and also the interpretation of what is noticed. Their ability to understand and challenge their discursive resources is crucial because the persistence of categories and metaphors that depicts a globalized world where they do not have capacity to react may explain the decline of their organizations. The stories they tell ground their emotions and their identities and then they see the world and themselves through them. Hence, their discursive resources and their emotions impact on the long-term survival of their organizations through the strategic exchange between top managers and organizations. The paper raises queries about the discursive resources that top managers use to define their identities, and how these identities may affect the long-term survival of organizations. The findings from this study add to the theoretical knowledge of the sense-making literature. They have practical consequences for the textile sector in Portugal and how strategic issues are addressed. This is in allowing an understanding of the influence that discursive resources have in managers' identity construction and the effects of their identities on the long-term survival of their organizations.
Seizures and Tissue Injury Induce Telomerase in Hippocampal Microglial Cells

Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase that adds repeats of a six-base DNA sequence to chromosome ends and thereby prevents their shortening during successive cell divisions. Telomerase activity and expression of the catalytic subunit of telomerase (TERT) are high in brain cells during embryonic development, but are undetectable in the adult. We now report that telomerase activity and expression of TERT are induced in the hippocampus of adult mice after administration of the seizure-inducing excitotoxin kainate. Telomerase activity is present at 24 h and 7 days after kainate administration, but is no longer detectable at 4 weeks. Because the time course of telomerase induction was similar to the time course of microglial activation, we performed studies to determine whether microglia were the source of the telomerase activity. Examination of brain sections immunostained with a TERT antibody and an antibody against a microglia-specific antigen revealed that TERT was not detectable in the uninjured brain, and was present in microglia 24 h and 7 days after kainate administration. This is the first evidence that telomerase can be induced by brain injury and the first evidence that TERT can be expressed in microglia, suggesting roles for telomerase in microglial responses to brain injury.
The use of schoolbags and musculoskeletal symptoms among primary school children: are the recommended weight limits adequate?

This cross-sectional study investigated the use of schoolbags and the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among a sample of 307 Iranian primary school children aged 7–12 years. The average load carried by the children was 2.9 kg (representing on average 10.1% of the child's body weight). Most children chose to carry the schoolbag across two shoulders, although significant numbers also carried it on one shoulder or in the hand. Although the amount of load carried by school children was within the currently suggested load limit of 10% to 15% of the child's body weight, the prevalence of musculoskeletal problems was very high among the study population. Multiple logistic regression models indicated that the method of carrying the schoolbag was significantly associated with hand/wrist and shoulder symptoms, and that the time spent carrying a schoolbag was associated with hand/wrist and upper back symptoms. Schoolbag weight (expressed as a percentage of body weight) was only associated with hand/wrist symptoms. The results suggest that the current recommended weight limit may not be appropriate for school children in primary school, and that guidelines ought to consider factors other than relative schoolbag weight that influence the use of schoolbags among this age group. Practitioner Summary: The carrying of schoolbags by primary school children and their musculoskeletal symptoms were investigated. The results provide evidence that the current weight limit may not be appropriate for younger school children, and that such guidelines should consider a broader combination of the factors that influence the use of schoolbags.
Strategic Use of the Secondary Market for Retail Consumer Goods

For years, goods that remained unsold or were returned were sold off, or disposed of, with little attention. More recently, companies have realized that they can significantly increase their revenue from sales of these goods by focusing more attention on when, how, and to whom they sell these goods. This article describes the way this "secondary market" works and presents suggestions for how firms can best maximize their revenues from the use of the secondary market.
Simulation of GaN HEMT with wide-linear-range transconductance

This paper presents a simulation study to achieve wide-linear-range transconductance of T-gate GaN HEMTs by introducing a δ-doped layer and a p-GaN back barrier. With optimized δ-doping density and location, the transconductance (g<inf>m</inf>) and current gain cutoff frequencies (f<inf>T</inf>) are ultra-flat and remain close to their peak values over a wide range of gate-source voltages (Vgs). In addition, a smaller absolute g<inf>m3</inf> (third-order derivative of the I<inf>ds</inf>-V<inf>gs</inf> curve) over a wide range of V<inf>gs</inf> is obtained in proposed HEMTs. These features are valuable in designing highly linear RF AlGaN/GaN HEMTs.
Likeness-Based Detection of Sleep Slow Oscillations in Normal and Altered Sleep Conditions: Application on Low-Density EEG Recordings

Sleep slow oscillation (SSO) is a common EEG pattern of spontaneous activity during nonrapid eye movement sleep. A new method for detecting SSOs is presented and compared to previous canonical methods. The main result of this research is that for the first time an extensive SSO analysis is applied to clinical EEG montages, based on low-density EEG recordings. The proposed method gives positive indications about its effectiveness also for altered sleep, extending the SSO analysis to extreme cases, and thus, opening a new front for investigating pathophysiological correlates of sleep disorders.
Feasibility of Single-Source Dual-Energy Computed Tomography for Urinary Stone Characterization and Value of Iterative Reconstructions

PurposeThe purposes of this study were to demonstrate the feasibility and accuracy of single-source dual-energy (DE) computed tomography (CT) with sequential data acquisition and a coregistration motion correction algorithm for urinary stone characterization and to evaluate the value of iterative reconstructions (IRs) in DE imaging. Materials and MethodsThirty-five urinary stones were placed in cylindrical phantoms with diameters of 30 and 40 cm. The phantoms were scanned on a 64-section CT machine with a single-source DE protocol consisting of 2 sequential acquisitions at 80 and 140 kilovolt (peak). The phantom was moved between the 80– and 140–kilovolt (peak) scans. Images were reconstructed with weighted filtered back projection (FBP) and with IR, and data were coregistered. Two independent and blinded readers assessed data sets for stone detection, overall image quality, and visibility of stones. Image noise and Hounsfield unit values of the stones were measured, and the DE index was calculated. In addition, the data sets were analyzed on color-coded images using the standard postprocessing software for differentiating uric acid- (UA) from non–UA-containing stones. ResultsThe motion correction algorithm achieved a good coregistration of the 2 scans with different energy levels. Both readers detected all stones on all data sets with both reconstruction types. The overall image quality was rated significantly higher in IR images in the 40-cm phantom as compared with that in FBP images (P < 0.05), whereas no significant difference was found for the 30-cm phantom. Visibility of stones was rated significantly higher for both the 30- and 40-cm phantoms on IR as compared with that on FBP images, an effect that was pronounced for UA stones (P < 0.05). Noise was significantly reduced by up to 31% in the 40-cm phantom when using IR as compared with FBP (P < 0.001). The DE index was similar in the FBP and IR data sets for the 30- (P = 0.116) and 40-cm phantoms (P = 0.544), being significantly different between UA-containing stones, cystine, and struvite stones as well as stones of other compositions (P < 0.001). The postprocessing software classified all stones correctly as UA- or non–UA-containing stones on color-coded images. In the 40-cm phantom, false-positively colored voxels were found in the FBP data sets, which were not seen when using IR instead. ConclusionsOur study indicates that single-source dual-energy CT with sequential acquisitions at different energy levels and a coregistration motion correction algorithm is feasible and accurate for characterizing urinary stone composition on the basis of phantom evaluation. As compared with reconstructions with FBP, the use of IR in dual-energy CT reduces noise, improves overall image quality and visibility of stones particularly in large phantoms, and helps to avoid false classifications of urinary stones.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Tat Induces Apoptosis and Increases Sensitivity to Apoptotic Signals by Up-Regulating FLICE/Caspase-8

ABSTRACT Apoptosis contributes to the loss of CD4 cells during human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Although the product of the env gene, gp160/gp120, is known to play a role in cell death mediated by HIV-1, the role of other HIV-1 genes in the process is unclear. We found that HIV-1 lacking the envgene (HIVΔenv) still induced apoptosis in T-cell lines and primary CD4 T cells. The ability to induce apoptosis was attributable to Tat, a viral regulatory protein. Tat induction of apoptosis was separate from the transactivation function of Tat, required expression of the second exon of Tat, and was associated with the increased expression and activity of caspase-8 (casp-8), a signaling molecule in apoptotic pathways. Moreover, induction of apoptosis could be prevented by treating cells with an inhibitor of casp-8. In addition, we show that HIV-1Δenv infection and Tat expression increased the sensitivity of cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis, an apoptotic pathway that signals via casp-8. The up-regulation of casp-8 by HIV-1 Tat expression may contribute to the increased apoptosis and sensitivity to apoptotic signals observed in the cells of HIV-1-infected persons.
Solving the distribution network routing problem with artificial immune systems

Successful planning of electrical distribution networks is a complex problem. When solving that problem, it is commonly translated into combinatorial optimization problems, like single and multiple depot vehicle routing problems (MDVRP). Such optimization problems are NP-hard, hence exact solving is practically impossible. Evolutionary algorithms have been successful in solving those problems. Although they are very efficient, expected progress is related to obtaining better stability and lesser dependency on parameters. In this paper, an improvement of genetic algorithm for solving the MDVRP is shown, inspired by artificial immune systems' techniques. Based upon the analogy of MDVRP and spatially closed distribution network planning problem, some practical examples have been used to investigate the performance of the proposed algorithm.
Fish Rhabdovirus Cell Entry Is Mediated by Fibronectin

ABSTRACT Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) generated against rainbow trout gonad cells (RTG-2) have been selected for their ability to protect cells from the viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) infection, a salmonid rhabdovirus. Protection from infection was restricted to the salmonid-derived cell lines indicating species specificity of the blocking MAbs. Surprisingly, the blocking activity of these MAbs was also effective against other nonantigenically related fish rhabdoviruses. Indirect immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy observations demonstrated that the three MAbs were all directed against an abundant cell plasma membrane component, and immunoprecipitation studies indicated that the target consisted of a heterodimeric complex with molecular masses of 200 and 44 kDa. Biochemical data provided the following evidence that fibronectin is part of this complex and that it could represent the main receptor for fish rhabdoviruses. (i) An antiserum generated against the 200-kDa protein reacted against the recombinant rainbow trout fibronectin expressed in Escherichia coli. (ii) The purified rainbow trout fibronectin was able to bind specifically to VHSV. To our knowledge, this is the first identification of a cellular component acting as a primary receptor for a virus replicating in lower vertebrates and, more interestingly, for viruses belonging to theRhabdoviridae family.
Dynamic Load Balancing on Distributed Listmode Time-of-Flight Image Reconstruction

A major obstacle in performing listmode reconstruction in PET imaging is the increased computation time compared to a conventional frame or histogrammed reconstruction. To overcome this challenge in a clinical setting, it is desirable to distribute the reconstruction task to multiple nodes. A previous work investigated the impact of high performance communication networks and focused mainly on static distribution. In practice, optimal static load balancing is difficult. Therefore we have developed a dynamic load balancing approach, which is flexible and can easily be adapted to a varying number of nodes, and the performance of which is not constrained by variation of the load levels of nodes needed for other tasks or by asymmetric network. In this approach, one of the nodes is designated as the distributor, whose task is to partition the events into small chunks and then distribute those chunks to other nodes for processing. Other nodes, which do the actual data processing, are called workers. Each worker requests a new chunk of data to process upon completion of an old one. In case of the OSEM algorithm, when all chunks have been processed in a subset, the workers are synchronized and the image is updated. This image forms the basis for the next subset. This system has been deployed in the Philips GEMINI-TF PET/CT system. For a whole-body patient scan of 150M events, the event processing time with 8 Xeon 3.6GHz dual-processor computers amounts to approximately 9 minutes for 3 iterations.
Agreement in Assessing Cup-to-Disc Ratio Measurement Among Stereoscopic Optic Nerve Head Photographs, HRT II, and Stratus OCT

PurposeTo compare the level of agreement between subjective and objective methods in estimating horizontal and vertical cup-to-disc ratios (HCDR and VCDR, respectively) to determine if objective techniques may be used as surrogates for subjective cup-to-disc (CDR) estimation. MethodsFifty-one glaucoma patients and 49 control subjects underwent full ophthalmic examination, stereoscopic optic nerve head photographs (ONHPs), confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (Heidelberg Retina Tomography II [HRT II]), and optical coherence tomography (Stratus OCT). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland Altman plots were used to assess the agreement across the three methods. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey adjustment, and pairwise P values were used to compare the HCDR and VCDR estimates between three clinicians who reviewed photos, Stratus OCT, and HRT II. ResultsFor the clinicians, the agreement in subjectively assessed HCDR and VCDR was substantial (ICC=0.84 and 0.85, respectively), and for all three methods, overall agreement was good (ICC=0.75 and 0.77 for the HCDR and VCDR, respectively). Stratus OCT provided the largest overall mean±SD HCDR (0.68±0.14) and VCDR (0.62±0.13). The smallest overall mean±SD HCDR was provided by ONHP (0.32±0.16), and the smallest overall mean±SD VCDR was provided by HRT II (0.26±0.20). Repeated measures ANOVA test demonstrated significant differences across the three methods for glaucomatous (P=0.0017 and 0.0016, HCDR and VCDR, respectively) and normal (P=0.0001 for both HCDR and VCDR) eyes. Tukey adjustment demonstrated specific statistical differences between pairs of methods. ConclusionsAlthough the overall agreement between various methods was good, the mean estimates were statistically different. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the sources of variability, their level of significance, and longitudinal agreement between various methods of the CDR estimation.