Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anterior Subannular T-Tube for Prolonged Middle Ear Ventilation During Tympanoplasty: Evaluation of Efficacy and Complications

Objective We previously described the use of anterior subannular T-tubes (n = 20) for long-term middle ear ventilation. In the current study, we examine a larger patient population (n = 38) and a longer follow-up interval (average >2 years) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anterior subannular tympanostomy. Study Design Retrospective nonrandomized case review. Setting Tertiary referral hospital. Patients Our series consisted of 38 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of eustachian tube dysfunction, adhesive otitis media, or chronic otitis media with a perforation who underwent a tympanoplasty. Intervention A subannular T-tube was placed anteriorly at the time of tympanoplasty to provide long-term middle ear ventilation. Main Outcome Measures The main outcomes of this study are tube position, tube patency, and middle ear ventilation. In addition, hearing was evaluated both preoperatively and postoperatively and any complications were noted. Results There were 38 patients and 38 ears that received an anterior subannular T-tube at the time of tympanoplasty. The study group consisted of 24 female patients and 14 male patents with a median age of 36 years (range, 10–75 yr). All 38 patients had eustachian tube dysfunction, 22 had adhesive otitis media, 23 had chronic otitis media, 13 had a cholesteatoma, 11 had tympanic membrane perforations, and 3 patients had a cleft palate. All patients underwent tympanoplasty. Eighteen patients had a concomitant ossiculoplasty and 7 had a mastoidectomy. Follow-up ranged from 1 month to 48 months (average, 26 mo). Three tubes had extruded within 2 years, in 1 case resulting in a persistent perforation. Postoperative complications included 1 patient with a partially extruded prosthesis, 2 patients with tipped prosthesis and persistent tympanic membrane retraction, and 1 patient with a plugged tube. All other tubes were patent and showed no evidence of migration. Furthermore, there were no cases of anterior canal blunting or ingrowth of epithelium around the tube. Conclusion Anterior subannular tympanostomy is a safe and effective method for long-term middle ear ventilation in patients with chronic eustachian tube dysfunction.
On analysis and design of stealth-resilient control systems

The interest in cyber-physical system security has been growing exponentially in the last five years as the research community has realized that control loops embedded in complex systems can be compromised once attackers are capable to breach the cyber intrusion protection and detection systems. In this paper, we consider the class of attacks known as stealth attacks where the attacker can compromise information flow between all remotely located components of a closed-loop control system. We develop design strategies that can prevent or make stealth attacks difficult to be carried out. Our methods enhance a legacy system, so that stealth attacks can be detected and counteracted at the cost of an increased system complexity.
Orderly migration of neurons to the principal sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve of the rat

As nuclei in the central nervous system develop, neurons actively migrate from their site of generation to their permanent residence. This study examines the spatiotemporal sequence of the migration of neurons to the principal sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve (PSN) of the rat. Tritiated thymidine autoradiography and bromodeoxyuridine immunohistochemistry were used to examine the spatiotemporal patterns of migration of PSN neurons born on gestational day (G) 12 (early‐generated neurons) and of those born on G14 (late‐generated neurons). The final residence of early‐ and late‐generated neurons was determined by injecting a thymidine analog into a pregnant rat on G12 or G14 and sacrificing the pups on postnatal day (P) 30. Early‐ and late‐generated neurons were distributed medially and laterally, respectively. The schedule of the migration of PSN neurons was also determined. A few pioneer neurons born on G12 reached the PSN by G14; however, the last of the neurons born on G12 arrived in the PSN by G18. The migration of neurons born on G14 was completed 2–6 days later than that of the early‐generated neurons. The path followed by migrating neurons was delineated by radial glial fibers. These processes were identified in the developing metencephalon by RAT‐401 immunohistochemistry. Radial glial fibers extended from the lateral part of the ventricular zone through the tegmentum and the PSN to the surface of the metencephalon external to the sensory tract of the trigeminal nerve. RAT‐401‐immunoreactive processes were detected during the period of neuronal migration, but disappeared by P5. Thus, the migration of PSN neurons follows an inside‐to‐outside sequence, which apparently is organized by radial glial fibers. The inside‐to‐outside sequence of neuronal migration directly opposes the outside‐to‐inside gradient of synaptogenesis.
A Nanomedicine Transports a Peptide Caspase-3 Inhibitor across the Blood–Brain Barrier and Provides Neuroprotection

Caspases play an important role as mediators of cell death in acute and chronic neurological disorders. Although peptide inhibitors of caspases provide neuroprotection, they have to be administered intracerebroventricularly because they cannot cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Herein, we present a nanocarrier system that can transfer chitosan nanospheres loaded with N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Asp(OMe)-Glu(OMe)-Val-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethyl ketone (Z-DEVD-FMK), a relatively specific caspase-3 inhibitor, across BBB. Caspase-3 was chosen as a pharmacological target because of its central role in cell death. Polyethylene glycol-coated nanospheres were conjugated to an anti-mouse transferrin receptor monoclonal antibody (TfRMAb) that selectively recognizes the TfR type 1 on the cerebral vasculature. We demonstrate with intravital microscopy that this nanomedicine is rapidly transported across the BBB without being measurably taken up by liver and spleen. Pre- or post-treatment (2 h) with intravenously injected Z-DEVD-FMK-loaded nanospheres dose dependently decreased the infarct volume, neurological deficit, and ischemia-induced caspase-3 activity in mice subjected to 2 h of MCA occlusion and 24 h of reperfusion, suggesting that they released an amount of peptide sufficient to inhibit caspase activity. Similarly, nanospheres inhibited physiological caspase-3 activity during development in the neonatal mouse cerebellum on postnatal day 17 after closure of the BBB. Neither nanospheres functionalized with TfRMAb but not loaded with Z-DEVD-FMK nor nanospheres lacking TfRMAb but loaded with Z-DEVD-FMK had any effect on either paradigm, suggesting that inhibition of caspase activity and subsequent neuroprotection were due to efficient penetration of the peptide into brain. Thus, chitosan nanospheres open new and exciting opportunities for brain delivery of biologically active peptides that are useful for the treatment of CNS disorders.
Does recent sexual intercourse during pregnancy affect the results of the fetal fibronectin rapid test? A comparative prospective study

Abstract Objective: We conducted a prospective comparative cohort study to determinate the influence of coitus on quantitative fetal fibronectin test results under normal pregnancy conditions. We also compared values obtained in cervical and vaginal secretions. Methods: In a population of women with normal singleton pregnancies between 22 and 28 weeks gestation, we have performed (cervical and vaginal) quantitative fetal fibronectin tests in two separate groups classified according to timing after coitus (one group of women had intercourse within 24 h before sampling and the control group had intercourse >24 h before sampling). The main outcome measures were the proportion of positive tests in both groups and the correlation between cervical and vaginal values through the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Both groups were similar in terms of general characteristics and pregnancy outcomes. The proportions of positive results in the vaginal secretions were 7.5% and 25.0% (P=0.007) in the control and coitus group, respectively. In the cervical secretions, the proportions of positive tests were greater, but not statistically different (39.7% and 40.0%, respectively). The Pearson correlation coefficients were very low (<0.3) indicating poor correlation between both sampling locations. Even if the cervical values were generally greater than the vaginal values, they were lower in 26% of the women. Conclusions: Coitus definitely interferes with vaginal fetal fibronectin test results. In cervical secretions, the positive rate was so high that coitus had no influence, but cervical sampling in this location should be avoided.
Genital Chlamydia trachomatis: Understanding the Roles of Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Vaccine Research

SUMMARY Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted disease worldwide, and despite significant advances in chlamydial research, a prophylactic vaccine has yet to be developed. This Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium, which often causes asymptomatic infection, may cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancies, scarring of the fallopian tubes, miscarriage, and infertility when left untreated. In the genital tract, Chlamydia trachomatis infects primarily epithelial cells and requires Th1 immunity for optimal clearance. This review first focuses on the immune cells important in a chlamydial infection. Second, we summarize the research and challenges associated with developing a chlamydial vaccine that elicits a protective Th1-mediated immune response without inducing adverse immunopathologies.
Unfavorable effect of smoking on the elastic properties of the human aorta.

BACKGROUND Smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Because previous studies have shown that smoking affects vasomotor response, we hypothesized that smoking may also acutely alter aortic elastic properties. METHODS AND RESULTS We studied 40 male current and long-term smokers who underwent diagnostic cardiac catheterization for chest-pain evaluation. Twenty subjects (age, 48 +/- 2 years, mean +/- SEM) were randomly assigned to smoking and 20 (age, 47 +/- 2 years) to sham smoking studies. Aortic elastic properties were studied with the determination of the aortic pressure-diameter relation before smoking, every minute for the first 5 minutes after the initiation of smoking or sham smoking, and every 5 minutes for the following 15 minutes. Instantaneous diameter of the thoracic aorta was measured with a special ultrasonic dimension catheter developed in our laboratory and previously validated. Instantaneous aortic pressure was measured at the same site as was diameter with a Millar micromanometer. Smoking was associated with significant changes in the aortic pressure-diameter relation that denote deterioration of the elastic properties and were maintained during the whole study period: the slope of the pressure-diameter loop became steeper (baseline, 35.43 +/- 1.38; minute 1, 45.26 +/- 1.65; peak at minute 10, 46.36 +/- 1.69 mm Hg/mm; P < .001) and aortic distensibility decreased (baseline, 2.08 +/- 0.12; minute 1, 1.60 +/- 0.08; nadir at minute 5, 1.54 +/- 0.07 x 10(-6) cm2.dyne-1; P < . 001). In contrast, no changes in aortic elasticity indexes were observed with sham smoking. CONCLUSIONS Smoking is associated with an acute deterioration of aortic elastic properties. This effect of smoking may contribute to the unfavorable consequences of smoking on the cardiovascular system.
Contour detection based on Gabor filter and directional DoG filter

A contour detector with directional surround suppression, motivated by biological principles, is proposed in this paper. A bank of Gabor filters are used to simulate receptive filed for edge detection. The directional DoG filter is used to simulate the biological surround suppression mechanism. The resulting operator has strong response to the texture boundary, isolated edge and object contour. We use some natural images, with complex textured backgrounds, to test the performance of the proposed model. Result shows that contour detection using this method is more effectively than the classical contour detectors.
Abstract 507: Change in Pulse Wave Velocity and Short Term Development of Cardiovascular Events in the Hemodialysis Population

Objectives: It has previously been demonstrated that single elevated measurements of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV) among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events. However, the association between single measurements of CFPWV and CV events was mostly driven by the high incidence of late events beyond 12 months of follow-up. The present prospective study aims to compare single measurements of CFPWV vs. the 2-year change in CFPWV (delta CFPWV) and their association with short-term development of CV events through 12 months in hemodialysis patients. Methods: Patients on hemodialysis were enrolled for a first measurement of CFPWV (CFPWV t=0 ) followed by a second measurement (CFPWV t=1 ) 2 years ± 1 month later. Patients were then followed up for an additional 12 months for the development of CV events (CV death, acute coronary syndrome, acute ischemic peripheral event necessitating intervention, or stroke). Results: Both CFPWV t=0 and CFPWV t=1 were measured for a total of 66 hemodialysis patients. During the 12-month follow-up period, 13 patients developed a total of 15 events, almost half (7/15) of which were fatal, 4/15 attributed to acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and 4/15 attributed to acute ischemic peripheral artery disease (PAD) necessitating intervention. No stroke events were recorded over the 12-month follow-up duration. Delta CFPWV (CFPWV t=1 - CFPWV t=0 ) was significantly associated with the development of CV events through 12 months with and without adjustment for CV risk factors, including blood pressure parameters (unadjusted: HR=1.22; p=0.001 vs. adjusted: HR=1.14; p=0.002). When delta CFPWV was substituted for either CFPWV t=0 or CFPWV t=1 in both the unadjusted and adjusted Cox regression models, neither measurement was associated with the development of new CV events. Conclusions: The change in CFPWV, but not single measurements of CFPWV, was significantly associated with the short-term development of CV events through 12 months.
Real-Time Background Subtraction Using Adaptive Sampling and Cascade of Gaussians

Background-Foreground classification is a fundamental well-studied problem in computer vision. Due to the pixel-wise nature of modeling and processing in the algorithm, it is usually difficult to satisfy real-time constraints. There is a trade-off between the speed (because of model complexity) and accuracy. Inspired by the rejection cascade of Viola-Jones classifier, we decompose the Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) into an adaptive cascade of classifiers. This way we achieve a good improvement in speed without compensating for accuracy. In the training phase, we learn multiple KDEs for different durations to be used as strong prior distribution and detect probable oscillating pixels which usually results in misclassifications. We propose a confidence measure for the classifier based on temporal consistency and the prior distribution. The confidence measure thus derived is used to adapt the learning rate and the thresholds of the model, to improve accuracy. The confidence measure is also employed to perform temporal and spatial sampling in a principled way. We demonstrate a speed-up factor of 5x to 10x and 17 percent average improvement in accuracy over several standard videos.
Functional stability of the glenohumeral joint.

Normal shoulder function is determined by the stability provided by the passive, active and control subsystems of the joint complex. Given the complexity of the shoulder, it is not surprising that it is one of the most common joints presenting with pathology. Knowledge and understanding of the anatomy and the intricate relationships of each of the subsystems is essential for successful assessment and treatment. This paper presents a review of the anatomy, biomechanics and the integrated function of the glenohumeral joint which are essential for motion. The principles of rehabilitation of dynamic control of the glenohumeral joint are introduced.
Social media and civic engagement during calamities: the case of Twitter use during typhoon Yolanda

Abstract This study explores the nature and promise of citizen engagement in Twitter during calamities, specifically in the context of typhoon Yolanda. Through topic modeling and content analysis, the article explores the “acts of civic engagement” expressed in disaster tweets and how the character of the tweets changed over a five-month period. The article adopts the actualizing citizenship model which offers an alternative understanding of citizenship as performative and which is relevant for the analysis of social media engagement by citizens. The article concludes with a reflection of the nature and typology of Twitter-mediated communication during calamities, highlighting the active engagement of celebrities in disaster tweets, and analysis of whether and how these can be construed as acts of civic engagement.
Extraction of equivalent array dipole-moments model from only magnitude data of near-field scan

A method to extract an equivalent array of dipole-moments model from only the magnitude data of near-field scan is proposed. The method can extract both magnitude and phases of the equivalent dipole-moments by using the nonlinear least square (NLS) method, although the information used for source modeling is limited to only the field magnitudes. The truncated singular-value decomposition (SVD) method is employed in realizing the regularization technique in NLS method. The proposed source modeling method does not require the measurement of field phases, which can reduce much labor in measurements.
Effectiveness of interventions to improve antidepressant medication adherence: a systematic review

Non‐adherence to antidepressant medications is a significant barrier to the successful treatment of depression in clinical practice. This review aims to systematically assess the effectiveness of interventions for improving antidepressant medication adherence among patients with unipolar depression, and to evaluate the effect of these interventions on depression clinical outcomes. MEDLINE, PsycINFO and EMBASE databases were searched for English‐language randomised controlled trials published between January 1990 and December 2010 on interventions to improve antidepressant adherence. The impact of interventions on antidepressant medication adherence (compliance and persistence) and depression clinical outcomes was evaluated. Data concerning the quality of the included studies were also extracted. Twenty‐six studies met the inclusion criteria. Interventions were classified as educational, behavioural and multifaceted interventions. A total of 28 interventions were tested, as two studies investigated two interventions each. Sixteen (57%) of the 28 interventions showed significant effects on antidepressant adherence outcomes, whereas 12 (43%) interventions demonstrated significant effects on both antidepressant adherence and depression outcomes. The interventions which showed significant improvement in outcomes were primarily multifaceted and complex, with proactive care management and involvement of mental health specialists. The most commonly used elements of multifaceted interventions included patient educational strategies, telephone follow‐up to monitor patients' progress, as well as providing medication support and feedback to primary care providers. Overall, educational interventions alone were ineffective in improving antidepressant medication adherence. In conclusion, improving adherence to antidepressants requires a complex behavioural change and there is some evidence to support behavioural and multifaceted interventions as the most effective in improving antidepressant medication adherence and depression outcomes. More carefully designed and well‐conducted studies are needed to clarify the effect of interventions in different patient populations and treatment settings.
Enhanced fetal growth in sheep administered progesterone during the first three days of pregnancy.

Two experiments were conducted to determine whether administration of progesterone during early pregnancy affects fetal growth in sheep and if any effect is specific to the days of treatment. In the first experiment, Merino ewes were randomly allocated to four treatment groups and inseminated at a synchronized oestrus. Three groups received progesterone on days 1-3, 3-6 or 1-6 of pregnancy while the fourth group was untreated. Concentrations of progesterone in peripheral plasma increased (P < 0.05) in all treatment groups. Fetal growth (to day 74) was greater in all treatment groups than in the control group (P < 0.001) and was greatest when treatments started on day 1. Pregnancy rate was not affected by progesterone treatment on days 3-6, but was reduced (P < 0.05) when treatment began on day 1. In the second experiment, embryos that had been exposed to either a normal (control) or a high concentration of progesterone on days 1-3 were randomly transferred, within groups, to recipient ewes that had or had not been treated with progesterone on days 1-3. In another group, embryos were exposed to a high concentration of progesterone on days 1-3 and the oviducts of the ewe were ligated. An increase in fetal mass was observed in the recipient group that had been treated with progesterone (P < 0.01) but was not observed in the initial group treated with progesterone. A greater fetal mass was also obtained when embryos that had been ligated in the oviducts of ewes treated with progesterone (P < 0.05) were transferred. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Antioxidant role of hydroxytyrosol on oxidative stress in cadmium-intoxicated rats: different effect in spleen and testes

Abstract Hydroxytyrosol (2-(3,4dihydroxyphenyl)ethanol, (DPE), a phenolic compound present in olive oil, is known to have antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of DPE on oxidative stress induced by cadmium injections (CdCl2 2.5 mg/kg body weight) in spleen and testes of adult male rats. Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in cytosol and mitochondria. We found that in spleen no TBARS formation was detected following CdCl2 injections; however, DPE induces decrease in TBARS level in treated and untreated rats. On the contrary, we observed that DPE showed no effect on cadmium-induced lipid peroxidation in testes. Cytosolic activities of SOD and CAT decreased significantly only in spleen, where DPE restores the values to the control levels. Noteworthy, mitochondrial activities of SOD and CAT were strongly reduced by cadmium treatment both in spleen and testes, and DPE was not be able to restore their activity. Overall, the results from this study indicated that the DPE has different antioxidant efficiency in spleen and testis of cadmium intoxicated rats.