Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Critical evaluation of vascular embolization in patients with Rendu-Osler disease].

BACKGROUND As causal therapy of Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome is not yet possible, there are many different therapeutical approaches. It seemed expedient to investigate the efficacy of super-selective angiography in treating Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome after this technique proved effective in other therapeutic settings. This method is known to be efficient in controlling tumor bleeding. PATIENTS Between March 1993 and September 1995, eight patients with an average age of 57 years were treated by super-selective intraarterial embolization. RESULTS In all cases epistaxis occurred on both sides. Unilateral embolization was performed in ten cases and bilateral embolization in five cases. In two of three patients with nasal packing the embolization permitted removal of the packing. Nevertheless nosebleeds reoccurred on an average of 3.5 days after therapy. Two of eight patients showed long-term improvement after therapy. They suffered fewer nosebleeds than before. Complications included one patient who suffered from partial hemiparesis after embolization, which lasted 1.5 hours and was completely reversible. Another patient died because of pulmonic bleeding caused by manifestation of the disease in this organ. Often patients complained of facial pain or headache which occasionally lasted for a few weeks. CONCLUSIONS Endovasal embolization obviously is an alternative to artery ligation in emergency cases whereas the long-term success is currently impaired by formation of new anastomoses. Further development of this technique is necessary.
Evaluation of the sustained effect of inpatient falls prevention education and predictors of falls after hospital discharge--follow-up to a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to determine (i) risk factors for postdischarge falls and (ii) the effect of inpatient falls prevention education on rates of falls after discharge. METHODS Participants (n = 343) were a prospective cohort nested within a randomized controlled trial (n = 1,206) of falls prevention patient education in hospital compared with usual care. Participants were followed up for 6 months after discharge and falls recorded via a falls diary and monthly telephone calls. Potential falls risk factors were assessed at point of discharge and at 6 months postdischarge using a telephone survey. RESULTS There were 276 falls among 138 (40.2%) participants in the 6 months following discharge (4.52/1,000 person days) of which 150 were injurious falls (2.46/1,000 person days). Pairwise comparisons found no significant differences between groups in rates of falls after adjustment for confounding variables. Independent risk factors for all falls outcomes were male gender, history of falls prior to hospital admission, fall during hospital admission, depressed mood at discharge, using a walking aid at discharge, and receiving assistance with activities of daily living at 6 months following discharge. Receiving assistance with activities of daily living significantly reduced the risk of falls and injurious falls for high risk patients. CONCLUSIONS Older patients are at increased risk of falls and falls injuries following discharge. Education that effectively reduced inpatient falls appears to have no ongoing protective effect after discharge. Independent risk factors for falls in this population differ from both hospital and general community settings.
Cardiac arrest and sudden death in dialysis units.

BACKGROUND For patients with end-stage renal disease and their providers, dialysis unit-based cardiac arrest is the most feared complication of hemodialysis. However, relatively little is known regarding its frequency or epidemiology, or whether a fraction of these events could be prevented. METHODS To explore clinical correlates of dialysis unit-based cardiac arrest, 400 reported arrests over a nine-month period from October 1998 through June 1999 were reviewed in detail. Clinical characteristics of patients who suffered cardiac arrest were compared with a nationally representative cohort of> 77,000 hemodialysis patients dialyzed at Fresenius Medical Care North America-affiliated facilities. RESULTS The cardiac arrest rate was 400 out of 5,744,708, corresponding to a rate of 7 per 100,000 hemodialysis sessions. Cardiac arrest was more frequent during Monday dialysis sessions than on other days of the week. Case patients were nearly twice as likely to have been dialyzed against a 0 or 1.0 mEq/L potassium dialysate on the day of cardiac arrest (17.1 vs. 8.8%). Patients who suffered a cardiac arrest were on average older (66.3 +/- 12.9 vs. 60.2 +/- 15.4 years), more likely to have diabetes (61.8 vs. 46.8%), and more likely to use a catheter for vascular access (34.1 vs. 27.8%) than the general hemodialysis population. Sixteen percent of patients experienced a drop in systolic pressure of 30 mm Hg or more prior to the arrest. Thirty-seven percent of patients who suffered cardiac arrest had been hospitalized within the past 30 days. Sixty percent of patients died within 48 hours of the arrest, including 13% while in the dialysis unit. CONCLUSIONS Cardiac arrest is a relatively infrequent but devastating complication of hemodialysis. To reduce the risk of adverse cardiac events on hemodialysis, the dialysate prescription should be evaluated and modified on an ongoing basis, especially following hospitalization in high-risk patients.
Isolation and functional characterization of the actin‐binding region in the tight junction protein ZO‐1

Zonula occludens (ZO)‐1 is a member of the MAGUK (membrane‐associated guanylate kinase homologs) family of membrane‐associated signaling molecules that binds directly to both cytosolic and transmembrane components of the tight junction and is believed to organize these proteins within the apical junctional complex. It also binds directly to F‐actin, although the functional relevance of this interaction is unknown. To address this issue, we have used VSVG‐ tagged transgenes to dissect ZO‐1 and have identified a 220 amino acid region of ZO‐1 that is necessary for its association with F‐actin in MDCK cell pull‐down assays. A GST fusion expressing this region can bind directly to F‐actin in vitro, whereas a GFP fusion expressing this domain decorates actin stress fibers when expressed in MDCK cells. These results indicate that this actin‐binding region (ABR) is both necessary and sufficient for binding to F‐actin in vitro and in vivo. VSVG‐tagged transgenes that lack the ABR still accumulate at both early and late cell‐cell contacts in MDCK cells, suggesting that the ABR is not required for tight junction localization. However, accumulation of constructs lacking the ABR is markedly reduced at tight junctions in confluent cells, suggesting that the ABR does play an important role in the localization of ZO‐1 at junctions. Furthermore, the ABR is required for localization to a novel actin‐rich pool of ZO‐1 that accumulates in puncta at the free edge of cells before initiation of cell‐cell contact. We conclude that direct interactions between ZO‐1 and F‐actin play a role in several different steps of junction assembly.
Three models of temporal summation evaluated using normal-hearing and hearing-impaired subjects.

Temporal summation effects were measured in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired subjects using stimuli of different durations and temporal patterns. Threshold decreased with increasing stimulus duration for either single- or multiple-burst stimuli, but the hearing-impaired group showed smaller threshold shifts, which differed from those obtained with the normal-hearing group at the . 0001 level of significance. Three models of temporal summation were evaluated: One model employed a time constant in an exponential function, one used a power function characterized by an exponent, and the last combined the properties of the exponential and power functions and was also characterized by an exponent. Estimates of the parameters that best described the data were obtained for each model. Data from the hearing-impaired subjects provided the most critical test of the models. The power function model and the combined model were both satisfactory with the range of stimulus durations used, but the exponential model failed to describe the data from the hearing-impaired subjects. It is suggested that there may not be a decrease in the time constant for temporal summation for subjects with sensorineural hearing-loss, but that a factor related to the utilization of sensory input is altered.
Improvement of ID3 algorithm based on simplified information entropy and coordination degree

In data classification mining, the decision tree method is a key algorithm. ID3 (Iterative Dichotomiser 3) algorithm which was presented by Quinlan is a famous decision tree algorithms, but ID3 has some shortcomings such as high complex computation in computing the information entropy expression, multivalue bios problem in the process of selecting an optimal attribute, large scales, etc. In order to solve the above problems, the improved ID3 algorithm is proposed, which combines the simplified information entropy with coordination degree in rough set theory. The experiment result has proved the feasibility of the optimized way.
Role of Vitamin D Receptor in the Lithocholic Acid-Mediated CYP3A Induction in Vitro and in Vivo

Lipophilic bile acids are suggested to be involved in the endogenous expression of CYP3A4 in human and experimental animals as ligands of nuclear receptors. To verify the nuclear receptor specificity, the bile acid-mediated induction of CYP3A4 has been studied in vitro and in vivo in the present study. Lithocholic acid (LCA) strongly enhanced the activities of the CYP3A4 reporter gene, which contained multiple nuclear receptor binding elements, in both HepG2 and LS174T cells. The introduction of small interfering RNA for human vitamin D receptor (VDR), but not for human pregnane X receptor, reduced the LCA-induced activation of the reporter gene in these cells, suggesting the major role of VDR in the LCA induction of CYP3A4. Consistently, oral administration of LCA (100 mg/kg/day for 3 days) increased Cyp3a protein levels in the intestine but not in the liver, where a negligible level of VDR mRNA is detected. The selective role of VDR was tested in mice with the adenoviral overexpression of the receptor. Oral administration of LCA had no clear influence on the CYP3A4 reporter activity in the liver of control mice. In mice with the adenovirally expressed VDR, LCA treatment (100 or 400 mg/kg/day for 3 days) resulted in the enhanced reporter activities and increased levels of Cyp3a proteins in the liver. These results indicate the selective involvement of VDR, but not pregnane X receptor, in the LCA-mediated induction of both human and mouse CYP3As in vivo.
Multi view video based face recognition

With the prevalence of camera networks, multi view surveillance video have become commons. Multi view face recognition has become an active research area in recent years. In this paper, an approach for video-based face recognition in camera networks is proposed. Video scenes have unlimited orientation and poses. Video provide an efficient way for feature extraction. The proposed feature is developed using the spherical harmonic representation of the face. The texture map of the face is constructed by projecting the image intensity values on the surface of the spherical model. A particle filter is used to track the 3D location of the face. The similarity between feature sets can be measured using the reproducing Kernel Hilbert space.
Iron-Silicon Alloy in Earth's Core?

We have investigated the phase relations in the iron-rich portion of the iron-silicon (Fe-Si) alloys at high pressures and temperatures. Our study indicates that Si alloyed with Fe can stabilize the body-centered cubic (bcc) phase up to at least 84 gigapascals (compared to ∼10 gigapascals for pure Fe) and 2400 kelvin. Earth's inner core may be composed of hexagonal close-packed (hcp) Fe with up to 4 weight percent Si, but it is also conceivable that the inner core could be a mixture of a Si-rich bcc phase and a Si-poor hcp phase.
Ribosomal Mutations Conferring Resistance to Macrolides in Streptococcus pneumoniae Clinical Strains Isolated in Germany

ABSTRACT Among a collection of 4,281 pneumococcal isolates, 7 strains isolated in Germany had an unusual macrolide resistance phenotype. The isolates were found to have multiple mutations in the 23S rRNA and alterations in the L4 ribosomal protein. One strain had an amino acid alteration in the L22 ribosomal protein.
The Effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy on Serum Lipids

Background:morbid obesity is a growing health problem in the modern world and affects almost 20% of the population. Obesity associates with increased morbidity and mortality, one of which is dyslipidemia. Bariatric surgery is the only known method to induce significant weight loss and prevent its regain in morbidly obese patients. Aim of the work: the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy on serum lipids (Cholesterol - TG - LDL - HDL) and analysis of these data and compare with other results from different centers, institutes all over the world. Methods: our study was a retrospective study on 20 patients hospitalized in General Surgery department of Al-zhraa University hospital who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in order to treat morbid obesity from August 2018 to February 2019. Results: In our study 3 month after LSG we observed significant changes in lipid profile parameters including significant decrease in total cholesterol, TG, LDL and significant increase in HDL. Conclusion: our retrospective study shows that LSG is very good bariatric procedure with excellent results on short term follow up regarding body weight reduction, BMI. Three months after operation improve metabolism and lipid profile was accompanied by decrease in Total Cholesterol, Triglyceride and LDL cholesterol and increase in HDL cholesterol change in significant way
Facets of Conscientiousness in Relation to Academic Performance Across Programs of Study

Conscientiousness and its six facets (competence, order, dutifulness, achievement striving, self-discipline and deliberation) were examined in relation to cumulative grade point average (GPA) for undergraduate university students. The aim was to determine the degree to which conscientiousness predicted a higher GPA for students in varying programs, and to compare these results to previous findings. The programs examined were psychology, business, science/engineering, and general arts (i.e. B.A. programs other than psychology). Students were screened using Johnson’s (2014) “IPIP-NEO-120” (a 120-item version of the International Personality Item Pool-NEO: which measures constructs similar to those in the NEO Personality Inventory). Multiple regression analyses of the data revealed variations in concurrent validity of the facets of conscientiousness across majors. For psychology students, only Competence predicted GPA. For science and engineering students, Competence, Dutifulness and Achievement Striving predicted GPA. For general arts, only Deliberation predicted GPA. None of the facets were significant predictors for business students. Conscientiousness was thus a significant predictor of GPA across all majors, but the key facets were dependent on the area of study. The only gender difference detected was at low conscientiousness, with females having a significantly higher GPA than males. Additional research is necessary to further explore the predictive validity of the other Big Five personality traits and their facets, for a wider range of academic majors on academic success. Implications involve the role personality traits could play to the decision to enrol in a specific program, and how professors may bettor teach/mentor students in different programs.
A cost-utility scenario analysis of bilateral cochlear implantation.

CONTEXT Unilateral cochlear implantation is a cost-effective intervention for profound bilateral hearing loss. There is worldwide interest in providing implants bilaterally. OBJECTIVE To use modeling to estimate the cost of gaining a quality-adjusted life-year by providing implants to both ears of profoundly postlingually deafened adults. DESIGN Economic scenario analysis relating the costs of providing implants to estimates of the gain in health-related quality of life (utility) from unilateral and bilateral implantation. SETTING Fourteen hospitals in the United Kingdom National Health Service and 1 Medical Research Council research unit. PARTICIPANTS Normal-hearing adult volunteers with knowledge of implantation (n = 70). Adults undergoing unilateral implantation who either did not benefit from acoustic hearing aids preoperatively (type 1, n = 87) or benefited marginally (type 2, n = 115). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Changes in utility from unilateral and bilateral implantation estimated with the time trade-off technique (volunteers) and from unilateral implantation measured with the Mark II Health Utilities Index (patients); costs of providing implants and sustaining patients who have undergone implantation (health care perspective). RESULTS Gains in utility from unilateral implantation estimated by volunteers did not differ significantly from gains recorded by patients, giving credibility to the volunteers' estimate of the gain from bilateral compared with unilateral implantation. Cost-utility ratios, in pounds sterling per quality-adjusted life-year, based on volunteers' estimates, were pound 16,774 (type 1: unilateral implantation vs no intervention), pound 27,401 (type 2: unilateral implantation vs management with hearing aids), pound 61,734 (simultaneous bilateral implantation vs unilateral implantation), and pound 68,916 (provision of an additional implant vs no additional intervention). CONCLUSION More quality of life is likely to be gained per unit of expenditure on unilateral implantation than bilateral implantation.
Satellite-Based Estimation of Daily Ground-Level PM2.5 Concentrations over Urban Agglomeration of Chengdu Plain

Monitoring particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) is of great importance to assess its adverse effects on human health, especially densely populated regions. In this paper, an improved linear mixed effect model (LMEM) was developed. The model introduced meteorological variable, column water vapor (CWV), which has as the same resolution as satellite-derived aerosol optical thickness (AOT), to enhance PM2.5 estimation accuracy by considering spatiotemporal consistency of CWV and AOT. The model was implemented to urban agglomeration of Chengdu Plain during 2015. The results show that model accuracy has been improved significantly compared to linear regression model (R2 = 0.49), with R2 of 0.81 and root mean squared prediction error (RMSPE) of 15.47 μg/m3, mean prediction error (MPE) of 11.09 μg/m3, and effectively revealed the characteristics of spatiotemporal variations PM2.5 level across the study area: The PM2.5 level is higher in the central and southern areas with dense population, while it is lower in the northwest and southwest mountain areas; and the PM2.5 level is higher during autumn and winter, while it is lower during spring and summer. The product data in this paper are valuable for local government pollution monitoring, public health research, and urban air quality control.
Blind adaptive multiuser detection for code division multiple access using Cimmino's reflection method

This paper investigates adaptive implementation of the linear minimum mean square error (MMSE) detector in code division multiple access (CDMA). From linear algebra, Cimmino's reflection method is proposed as a possible way of achieving the MMSE solution blindly. Simulation results indicate that the proposed method converges four times faster than the blind least mean squares (LMS) algorithm and has roughly the same convergence performance as the blind recursive least squares (RLS) algorithm. Moreover the proposed algorithm is numerically more stable than the RLS algorithm and also exhibits parallelism for pipelined implementation.
Combination of the Cationic Surfactant Dimethyl Dioctadecyl Ammonium Bromide and Synthetic Mycobacterial Cord Factor as an Efficient Adjuvant for Tuberculosis Subunit Vaccines

ABSTRACT Recombinant, immunodominant antigens derived from Mycobacterium tuberculosis can be used to effectively vaccinate against subsequent infection. However, the efficacy of these recombinant proteins is dependent on the adjuvant used for their delivery. This problem affects many potential vaccines, not just those for tuberculosis, so the discovery of adjuvants that can promote the development of cell-mediated immunity is of great interest. We have previously shown that the combination of the cationic surfactant dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide and the immunomodulator modified lipid A synergistically potentiates Th1 T-cell responses. Here we report a screening program for other adjuvants with reported Th1-promoting activity and identify a second novel adjuvant formulation that drives the development of Th1 responses with an extremely high efficacy. The combination of dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide and the synthetic cord factor trehalose dibehenate promotes strong protective immune responses, without overt toxicity, against M. tuberculosis infection in a vaccination model and thus appears to be a very promising candidate for the development of human vaccines.
In Planta Expression Screens of Phytophthora infestans RXLR Effectors Reveal Diverse Phenotypes, Including Activation of the Solanum bulbocastanum Disease Resistance Protein Rpi-blb2[W]

The Irish potato famine pathogen Phytophthora infestans is predicted to secrete hundreds of effector proteins. To address the challenge of assigning biological functions to computationally predicted effector genes, we combined allele mining with high-throughput in planta expression. We developed a library of 62 infection-ready P. infestans RXLR effector clones, obtained using primer pairs corresponding to 32 genes and assigned activities to several of these genes. This approach revealed that 16 of the 62 examined effectors cause phenotypes when expressed inside plant cells. Besides the well-studied AVR3a effector, two additional effectors, PexRD8 and PexRD3645-1, suppressed the hypersensitive cell death triggered by the elicitin INF1, another secreted protein of P. infestans. One effector, PexRD2, promoted cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana and other solanaceous plants. Finally, two families of effectors induced hypersensitive cell death specifically in the presence of the Solanum bulbocastanum late blight resistance genes Rpi-blb1 and Rpi-blb2, thereby exhibiting the activities expected for Avrblb1 and Avrblb2. The AVRblb2 family was then studied in more detail and found to be highly variable and under diversifying selection in P. infestans. Structure-function experiments indicated that a 34–amino acid region in the C-terminal half of AVRblb2 is sufficient for triggering Rpi-blb2 hypersensitivity and that a single positively selected AVRblb2 residue is critical for recognition by Rpi-blb2.