Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical Features and Outcome in North American Adults With Idiopathic Basal Arterial Occlusive Disease Without Moyamoya Collaterals

OBJECTIVETo define the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with idiopathic stenosis or occlusion of the basal arteries, without moyamoya collateral vessel formation. METHODSWe identified patients who presented to our institution from 1996 to 2005 with occlusive disease of the distal internal carotid artery or the proximal middle or anterior cerebral arteries demonstrated by digital subtraction cerebral angiography. We excluded those with evidence of atherosclerotic disease, systemic vasculitis, moyamoya phenomenon, or any other condition that could otherwise explain their arterial occlusive disease. Medical records were reviewed for presenting symptoms and clinical characteristics. Outcome was determined from chart review and phone interviews. RESULTSTwelve patients were identified. All presented with transient ischemic attack or stroke. Eleven were women. Age at presentation ranged from 34 to 71 years. Nine had a history of hypertension; 5 had unilateral intracranial disease. Recurrent stroke on medical therapy occurred in none of the 5 during an average follow-up of 29 months. Seven had bilateral disease. Ischemic stroke occurred between 2 and 107 months after the initial event in 5 of 8 medically treated hemispheres. Moyamoya collateral vessels developed in 1 patient as shown on follow-up angiography. CONCLUSIONThe clinical features and outcome of these patients are similar to those reported in large case series of North American patients with moyamoya phenomenon. These data suggest a common etiology for the basal arterial occlusive process and a variable ability to form moyamoya collateral vessels.
Age-related changes in the 25-hydroxyvitamin D versus parathyroid hormone relationship suggest a different reason why older adults require more vitamin D.

Vitamin D requirements are thought to vary with age, but there is little comparative evidence for this. One goal in establishing a vitamin D requirement is to avoid secondary hyperparathyroidism. We studied 1741 euthyroid, thyroid clinic outpatients without evidence of calcium abnormalities, ranging in age from 19 to 97 yr, whose serum and urine had been analyzed for calcium, vitamin D, and parathyroid status. We found no effect of age on the 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration associated with specific vitamin D intakes, and there was no relationship between 25(OH)D and 1,25hydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D]. In every age group, serum 1,25(OH)2D declined with increasing creatinine (P < 0.001). What changed with age included creatinine, which correlated with 25(OH)D (r = 0.146, P < 0.001) only in the youngest age group (19-50 yr) but not in the older age groups (P > 0.1). Creatinine did not correlate with PTH in the youngest age group, but the relationship became significant as age increased (e.g. for the elderly, r = 0.365, P < 0.001). Linear regression of log PTH vs. log 25(OH)D agreed with the natural shape of the relationship observed with scatterplot smoothing, and this showed no plateau in PTH as 25(OH)D increased. We compared PTH concentrations among age groups, based on 20 nmol/liter increments in 25(OH)D. Mean PTH in adults older than 70 yr was consistently higher than in adults younger than 50 yr (P < 0.05 by ANOVA and Dunnett's t test). PTH levels of the elderly who had 25(OH)D concentrations greater than 100 nmol/liter matched PTH of younger adults having 25(OH)D concentrations near 70 nmol/liter. This study shows that all age groups exhibit a high prevalence of 25(OH)D insufficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Older adults are just as efficient in maintaining 25(OH)D, but they need more vitamin D to produce the higher 25(OH)D concentrations required to overcome the hyperparathyroidism associated with their diminishing renal function.
Patterns of flexibility, laxity, and strength in normal shoulders and shoulders with instability and impingement

Imbalance of the internal and external rotator muscu lature of the shoulder, excess capsular laxity, and loss of capsular flexibility, have all been implicated as etio logic factors in glenohumeral instability and impinge ment syndrome; however, these assertions are based largely on qualitative clinical observations. In order to quantitatively define the requirements of adequate pro tective synergy of the internal and external rotator musculature, as well as the primary capsulolabral re straints, we prospectively evaluated 53 subjects: 15 asymptomatic volunteers, 28 patients with glenohu meral instability, and 10 patients with impingement syndrome. Range of motion was evaluated by gonio metric technique in all patients with glenohumeral insta bility and impingement. Laxity assessment was per formed and anterior, posterior, and inferior humeral head translation was graded on a scale of 0 to 3+. Isokinetic strength assessment was performed in a modified abducted position using the Biodex Clinical Data Station with test speeds of 90 and 180 deg/sec. Internal and external rotator ratios and internal and external rotator strength deficits were calculated for both peak torque and total work. Patients with impingement demonstrated marked lim itation of shoulder motion and minimal laxity on drawer testing. Both anterior and multidirectional instability pa tients had excessive external rotation as well as in creased capsular laxity in all directions. Sixty-eight per cent of the patients with instability had significant im pingement signs in addition to apprehension and capsular laxity. Isokinetic testing of asymptomatic subjects demon strated a 30% greater internal rotator strength in the dominant shoulder. Comparison of all three experimen tal groups demonstrated a significant difference be tween internal and external rotator ratios for both peak torque and total work. Conclusions are that there appears to be a domi nance tendency with regard to internal rotator strength in asymptomatic individuals. Impingement syndrome and anterior instability have significant differences in both strength patterns of the rotator muscles and flex ibility and laxity of the shoulder. Isokinetic testing po tentially may be helpful in diagnostically differentiating between these two groups in cases where there is clinical overlap of signs and symptoms.
Converter temperature regulation with dual mode control of fault-tolerant permanent magnet motors

A control strategy for fault tolerant PM motors is developed and addresses the operation during a cooling failure in the power-electronic converter. A fault tolerant PM motor interfaced with a parallel H-bridge per-phase topology is considered. Conventional pulse-width modulation (PWM) based voltage generation is used under normal operation. However, the parallel H-bridge module per-phase topology benefits from the capability to generate quasi-square wave (QSW) voltages as an alternative to PWM voltages. The generation of a QSW voltage incurs lower switching losses compared with PWM based voltage generation and the former can be utilized as a safe operating mode for the converter. Typically, converters designed for aero-space applications are equipped with liquid cooling systems and may also require continuous duty operation under cooling system failure. This paper considers the possibility to alternate between these two switching methods for the regulation of converter temperature under contingency e.g., during reduced cooling conditions. Simulated operating point waveforms of current, voltage and torque during PWM and QSW modes are presented for a 18kW 20krpm machine. A reduction in losses in the range of 20%-50% is estimated via simulations. Thermal simulations present the temperature regulation capability with the dual mode controller.
Phylogenetic Analysis Reveals Multiple Lateral Transfers of Adenosine-5′-Phosphosulfate Reductase Genes among Sulfate-Reducing Microorganisms

ABSTRACT Lateral gene transfer affects the evolutionary path of key genes involved in ancient metabolic traits, such as sulfate respiration, even more than previously expected. In this study, the phylogeny of the adenosine-5′-phosphosulfate (APS) reductase was analyzed. APS reductase is a key enzyme in sulfate respiration present in all sulfate-respiring prokaryotes. A newly developed PCR assay was used to amplify and sequence a fragment (∼900 bp) of the APS reductase gene, apsA, from a taxonomically wide range of sulfate-reducing prokaryotes (n = 60). Comparative phylogenetic analysis of all obtained and available ApsA sequences indicated a high degree of sequence conservation in the region analyzed. However, a comparison of ApsA- and 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic trees revealed topological incongruences affecting seven members of the Syntrophobacteraceae and three members of the Nitrospinaceae, which were clearly monophyletic with gram-positive sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). In addition, Thermodesulfovibrio islandicus and Thermodesulfobacterium thermophilum, Thermodesulfobacterium commune, and Thermodesulfobacterium hveragerdense clearly branched off between the radiation of the δ-proteobacterial gram-negative SRB and the gram-positive SRB and not close to the root of the tree as expected from 16S rRNA phylogeny. The most parsimonious explanation for these discrepancies in tree topologies is lateral transfer of apsA genes across bacterial divisions. Similar patterns of insertions and deletions in ApsA sequences of donor and recipient lineages provide additional evidence for lateral gene transfer. From a subset of reference strains (n = 25), a fragment of the dissimilatory sulfite reductase genes (dsrAB), which have recently been proposed to have undergone multiple lateral gene transfers (M. Klein et al., J. Bacteriol. 183:6028–6035, 2001), was also amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic comparison of DsrAB- and ApsA-based trees suggests a frequent involvement of gram-positive and thermophilic SRB in lateral gene transfer events among SRB.
Decreased nNOS in the PVN leads to increased sympathoexcitation in chronic heart failure: role for CAPON and Ang II.

AIMS Previously, we showed an enhanced excitatory (N-methyl d-aspartate receptor-NR(1)) and decreased inhibitory neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthase (nNOS) influence within the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of rats with chronic heart failure (CHF). Although NR(1) and nNOS are normally linked, they can be disconnected by nNOS sequestering with nNOS-associated protein (CAPON). The aim of this study was to elucidate the underlying mechanism for the disconnection between increased expression of NR(1) and decreased nNOS in the PVN of rats with CHF which leads to enhanced sympathoexcitation. METHODS AND RESULTS CAPON expression was augmented while nNOS expression was decreased in the PVN of rats with CHF (6-8 weeks after left coronary artery ligation). Angiotensin II (Ang II) type I receptor (AT(1)) antagonist losartan (Los) treatment in rats with CHF reduced renal sympathetic nerve activity with concomitant normalization of protein expression of CAPON and nNOS in the PVN. Los treatment also reversed the blunting of endogenous NO-mediated sympatho-inhibition in rats with CHF. Moreover, Ang II-induced increase in CAPON expression in NG108 neuronal cells was also ameliorated by Los. CONCLUSION Blocking AT(1) receptors prevents the overexpression of CAPON and concomitant decrease in nNOS in the PVN, resulting in attenuation of sympathoexcitation commonly observed in CHF. Taken together, our data highlight the importance of altered expression and subsequent interaction of nNOS and CAPON within the PVN, leading to increased sympathoexcitation in CHF. Identifying this crucial nNOS/CAPON interaction regulated by AT(1) receptors may provide an important potential therapeutic target in CHF.
Bladder Cancer and Occupational Exposures in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

The relationship between exposure to carcinogenic substances and development of bladder cancer was assessed from a case-control study conducted in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The study consisted of 156 cases with bladder cancer and 336 controls with prostate cancer. The primary focus was the role of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), since most individuals were considered exposed mainly to substances in this group. Data were collected from male patients who had applied for cancer rehabilitation treatment. Nominally significant smoking-adjusted odds ratio (OR) estimates were obtained for frequent exposures to bitumen (OR = 2.92, 95% CI 1.32–6.48) and tar (OR = 2.09, 95% CI 1.04–4.21) and an ever exposure to paints (OR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.10–2.61). A frequent exposure to pitch showed a non-significant elevated risk (OR = 3.06, 95% CI 0.77–12.10).
Trailing artifact avoidance for low bit-rate block-based video coders

A method is provided to avoid or otherwise reduce luminance and/or chrominance trailing artifacts in block-based hybrid video coders. The proposed trailing artifact avoidance approach has at its core three main components. The first component is a method to identify flat blocks in the source frame where the appearance of trailing artifacts would be very noticeable, and where flatness is determined according to several proposed criteria. The second component is a method to identify bad blocks, which refer to predicted blocks in motion estimation that correspond to flat blocks in the source frame and that contain trailing artifacts. The third component is a high performance motion estimation approach to avoid trailing artifacts when they are detected within a bad block. Experimental results using an H.264 based-coder indicate the proposed method is very effective in reducing or eliminating the appearance of trailing artifacts.
The Effectiveness of a Law and Society’s Affluence: The Paradox of Cyprian Legislation’s Reform

The purpose of this research is to show and to analyze the problems that appeared after the Cyprus legislative change οn the 1st January 2003 and mainly to point out the reactions of the shareholders of the off - shore companies, due to the changes of the tax legislation. Our theoretical model considers that a law in the Capital Market is effective, if it increases the expected social prosperity. In our analysis we examined the Bayesian model approach of the effectiveness of the law whose base was to analyze the data supports of the opinion from the asked company consultants.
Atopy in childhood. I. Gender and allergen related risks for development of hay fever and asthma

Reasons for the gender differences in prevalence rates for asthma remain unclear. We have examined the relationships between allergen skin‐test reactions and diagnoses of hay fever and asthma in New Zealand hoys and girls examined at the age of 13 years. Information on current and past wheezing, diagnosed asthma, and hay fever was obtained for 662 subjects (341 boys) of a birth cohort followed longitudinally to the age of 13 years, using a physician‐administered questionnaire. Atopic status was determined by skin‐prick tests to 11 common allergens. The proportion of 13‐year‐old boys with current asthma was 1.6 times higher and of ever‐diagnosed asthma 1.4 times higher than in girls, but the prevalence of recurrent wheeze ( three episodes per year) not diagnosed as asthma, or of hay fever, was not significantly different between the sexes. The prevalence of diagnosed asthma increased with increasing numbers of positive skin tests, but hay fever without asthma was little affected above one positive skin‐test. Boys had a greater prevalence of any positive skin‐test (50.1 % vs 37.1%), two or more positive tests (29.3 % vs 21.8%), and responses to house dust mite (34.0% vs 23.1 %) and cat (14.7% vs 11.2%). Gender differences for asthma became insignificant when adjusted for skin‐test responsiveness to house dust mite and/or cat. The proportion of children with diagnosed asthma increased with increasing size of weals to house dust mite and cat dander. Gender differences in allergen sensitivities partly explain the gender differences in diagnosed asthma in children. In both sexes, risk of asthma was primarily associated with sensitization to indoor allergens (house dust mite and cat), and was related to the magnitude of the skin‐test response, while the risk of hay fever was primarily associated with grass pollen sensitivity.
Suppression of hapten-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity responses in mice by idiotype-specific suppressor T cells after administration of anti-idiotypic antibodies

Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses specific for the phosphorylcholine (PC) hapten were induced in BALB/c mice by immunization with syngeneic peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) coupled with diazotized phenyl-phosphoryl-choline. PC-specific DTH responses were elicited in such immunized mice after footpad challenge with PC- derivatized syngeneic spleen cells. Moreover, PC-immune lymph node cells could passively transfer PC-specific DTH responses to naive BALB/c mice and it was possible to demonstrate that the cells responsible for such passively transferred responses were T lymphocytes. Because the T-15 idiotypic determinant displayed on the TEPC-15 PC-binding myeloma protein is known to be a dominant idiotype associated with anti-PC antibody responses in BALB/c mice, an analysis was made of the effects of anti-T-15 idiotypic antibodies on the induction and expression of murine PC-specific DTH responses. Repeated injections of anti-T-15 idiotypic antiserum, raised in A/J mice by immunization with TEPC-15 myeloma protein, into recipient BALB/c mice both immediately before and after sensitization with PC-PEC virtually abolished the development of PC-specific DTH responses. Although administration of anti-T-15 antiserum effectively inhibited the induction phase of PC-specific DTH responses, these anti-idiotypic antibodies had no suppressive activity at the effector phase of these responses. The inhibition observed with anti-T-15 antibodies was highly specific for the PC hapten, and for PC-specific DTH responses of BALB/c but not A/J mice. Studies were conducted to address the possibility that anti-Id treatment induced suppressor T lymphocytes capable of specifically inhibiting the activity of PC-specific T cells participating in DTH responses. The results demonstrate that idiotype- specific suppressor T cells are, indeed, induced by treatment with anti- Id; moreover, such suppressor T cells, once induced, are highly effective in abrogating both the induction and the effector phases of PC-specific T cell-mediated DTH responses in BALB/c mice.
Spontaneous oral chytridiomycosis in wild bullfrog tadpoles in Japan

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) infects Anuran larvae (tadpole) mouthparts and causes oral chytridiomycosis, which can be diagnosed in tadpoles by detecting mouthparts deformities. However, oral chytridiomycosis may or may not be observable, depending on species, tadpole stage and season, and has never been reported in Japan. We aimed to observe oral chytridiomycosis characteristics in bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeiana) tadpoles, determine associated pathologic features and investigate the usability of bullfrog tadpoles in Japanese Bd field surveys. Wild-captured bullfrog tadpole mouthparts were examined macroscopically, histopathologically and by molecular biological examination. Macroscopic lesions were observed in 21 of 59 tadpole mouthparts. Lesions were most frequently located in the lower jaw sheaths and were mainly recognized by partial depigmentation (11 tadpoles; some were completely depigmented) and thinning of the pigmented layer (10 tadpoles). Partial defects of the tips and blunt cutting edges of the jaw sheaths were observed with severe jaw sheath depigmentation. Whitened tooth rows were observed in 7 tadpoles. Histologically, the stratified epithelium (pigmented epithelium) showed partial or diffuse hypopigmentation or pigment loss. Irregular stratified epithelium thickening with hyperkeratosis or parakeratosis was observed in the jaw sheaths. Bd infection was confirmed in 20 of 21 tadpoles presenting jaw sheath deformities, by histopathological examination and/or nested polymerase chain reaction. Depigmentation and thinning of the pigmented layers of jaw sheaths were associated with Bd infection. Thus, diagnosis of Bd infection by macroscopic observation of bullfrog tadpole mouthparts is feasible. This is the first report of oral chytridiomycosis in wild bullfrog tadpoles in Japan.
Small-size boost type DC-DC converter with the tiny embedded inductor

In this paper, we propose a small-size boost type DC-DC converter module with the tiny embedded inductor. The proposed converter module is composed with a boost converter controller IC chip with built-in switching devices and an inductor in one package, and it needs only two capacitors as external parts. Therefore it achieved the same usability as a series regulator of buck converter. The proposed boost type DC-DC converter is composed in 2.4 mm(typ.) by 2.4 mm(typ.) by 0.9 mm(max.) size 8 pin SON (small outline non-lead) package. The power supply voltage of the proposed boost type DC-DC converter is determined from applications of single lithium-ion cell inputs such as cellular phones. The proposed proto type DC-DC converter achieves high efficiency up to 93%.
Insulin Pump and CGM Usage in the United States and Germany

Background: This survey collected and evaluated user responses about routine tasks and preferences regarding insulin pumps and infusion sets (IIS) with comparison of intercountry differences between the United States (US) and Germany (GER), chosen for their large insulin pump populations. Methods: A total of 985 subjects (534 US, 451 GER; 60% female) with type 1 diabetes on pump therapy anonymously answered 20 pump-related questions. US subjects also answered 11 questions about continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) usage. Results: Length of use of insulin cartridges is shorter in US than in GER, mean (SD) 4.3 (5.0) versus 5.3 (3.2) days (P < .001), while the IIS is used longer: 3.3 (1.0) versus 2.7 (1.1) days (P < .001). Lower self-reported HbA1c levels were associated with longer use of insulin cartridges (7.3% for >3 days vs 7.7% for <3 days; P < .01), and with use of an auto-insertion device (vs manual IIS insertion) in the US (7.2% vs 6.9%), but not in GER (7.7% vs 7.9%). Only 47% of pump wearers stated that they were “very satisfied” with their pump (49% US vs 45% GER, ns). However, 98% would recommend the pump to others (95% vs 93%, ns). Analysis of CGM questions showed that 297 (60%) of 496 US responders currently wore one. Of these, 84% said they would recommend CGM to others. CGM wearers who stated they were “very satisfied” with their CGM had lower HbA1c than those who said they were “partly satisfied” (6.9% vs 7.2%). Conclusions: This survey shows interesting differences in real-world use of insulin pumps in 2 large markets, and suggests areas where insulin pumps and CGMs might be improved.