Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and risk of nontraumatic fractures in the Bruneck study.

BACKGROUND Chronic inflammatory diseases are associated with bone loss and an enhanced fracture risk. It is unknown, however, whether low-grade inflammation in healthy individuals, as estimated by the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level, interferes with bone metabolism and affects the risk of nontraumatic fractures. METHODS Lifetime bone fractures were carefully recorded in the cohort of the population-based Bruneck Study (n = 919) along with information on the date of occurrence and associated circumstances. The serum level of hs-CRP was measured from blood samples collected during the 1990 baseline examination and the 1995, 2000, and 2005 follow-up examinations. In addition, lifestyle and demographic characteristics, bone ultrasonographic data at the heel, and variables of bone metabolism were assessed. RESULTS Between September 1, 1990, and August 31, 2005, 69 subjects experienced nontraumatic hip or vertebral fractures. The incidence of nontraumatic fractures was 1.3, 3.8, and 13.9 per 1000 person-years in the tertile groups for hs-CRP. In multivariate pooled logistic regression analysis, the adjusted relative risk (95% confidence interval) of nontraumatic fracture in the highest vs lowest tertile group for hs-CRP was 9.4 (3.6-24.8) (P < .001). The exclusion of subjects with cardiovascular disease, dementia, malignancies, and chronic inflammatory disease had little effect on the results obtained. The hs-CRP level was unrelated to ultrasonographic measures of bone density, but showed an inverse relation to laboratory markers of bone turnover, like beta-crosslaps and osteocalcin concentration (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS The hs-CRP level is a significant and independent risk predictor of nontraumatic fracture. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis of a tight interplay between low-grade inflammation and bone turnover.
Finite Element Analysis of Action Potential Generation in the Cortico-Spinal Tract During Transcranial Electrical Stimulation

Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (TES) is an important procedure in intraoperative motor monitoring. When neurosurgery is performed at certain difficult locations within the central nervous system (CNS), TES evaluates CNS functions during surgical manipulations to prevent post-operative complications. In TES, electrical stimulation is provided to the motor cortex through electrodes placed on the scalp, generating action potentials (APs) which travel through the nervous system. Although TES is in widespread use, the sites of AP generation within the brain, particularly with respect to the parameters of stimulation, are not well understood. We have constructed a finite elements model to analyze TES elicited neuron activation based on a 3D volume conductor model. A simulation domain is constructed with inhomogeneous electrical conductivity values for different tissues and a model of the Cortical-Spinal Tract (CST) is created through Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). Laplace's equation is numerically solved with a set of appropriately selected boundary conditions using the finite element method. Our simulation has yielded clear results of both electric potential and field distributions along the CST, providing valuable information on the mechanism of TES-elicited neuron activation.
OST Rift: Temporally consistent augmented reality with a consumer optical see-through head-mounted display

We present an off-the-shelf, low-latency Optical See-through Head-Mounted Displays (OST-HMD) for Augmented Reality (AR). Temporally consistent visualization is crucial for realizing immersive AR experiences. This is challenging since it requires both accurate head-tracking and low-latency rendering of AR content. Building a system which meets both constraints usually requires experts on computer vision/graphics and expensive display hardware. This work demonstrates that such high spatio-temporal fidelity is achievable with commodity hardware available today. We build a custom OST-HMD system that consists of a virtual reality HMD, i.e., the Oculus Rift DK2, and half-mirror optics, and adapt the rendering pipeline in order to integrate the OST-HMD calibration framework. An evaluation with a user-perspective camera shows that the system achieves mean temporal error of <;1 ms (95% reduction of the latency from naive, no-predictive rendering), and median spatial error <;0.3° in the viewing angle with maximum error at most 1.0°.
A Novel Function of Siglec-9 A391C Polymorphism on T Cell Receptor Signaling

Background: Sialic-acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglecs) are the best-characterized immunoglobulin-type lectins. There is a growing amount of data linking Siglec and autoimmune diseases. The recently identified Siglec-9 inhibits T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated signaling which has been demonstrated by site-directed mutagenesis. In human Siglec-9, at least 8 nonsynonymous SNPs have been detected without functional studies. This study examined the SNP(s) related to TCR-mediated signaling. Methods: Since the functions of Siglecs are modulated by their interaction with sialic-acid-containing carbohydrate groups, a molecular modeling analysis of carbohydrate binding interactions and an RBC binding analysis were performed using the 8 SNPs. The TCR-mediated signaling was analyzed with the downstream signaling molecules ZAP-70 and IL-2. Results: This study revealed that an A391C polymorphism is the only mutant related to the binding. Jurkat T cells transfected with the A391C mutant reduced the inhibition of ZAP-70 phosphorylation and IL-2 production compared to cells transfected with the wild type. Conclusions: Siglec-9 A391C was the only polymorphism related to TCR-mediated signaling in human Siglec-9, resulting in less inhibition compared to the wild type.
Behavior of Tip-Steerable Needles in Ex Vivo and In Vivo Tissue

Robotic needle steering is a promising technique to improve the effectiveness of needle-based clinical procedures, such as biopsies and ablation, by computer-controlled, curved insertions of needles within solid organs. In this paper, we explore the capabilities, challenges, and clinical relevance of asymmetric-tip needle steering through experiments in ex vivo and in vivo tissue. We evaluate the repeatability of needle insertion in inhomogeneous biological tissue and compare ex vivo and in vivo needle curvature and insertion forces. Steerable needles curved more in kidney than in liver and prostate, likely due to differences in tissue properties. Pre-bent needles produced higher insertion forces in liver and more curvature in vivo than ex vivo. When compared to straight stainless steel needles, steerable needles did not cause a measurable increase in tissue damage and did not exert more force during insertion. The minimum radius of curvature achieved by prebent needles was 5.23 cm in ex vivo tissue, and 10.4 cm in in vivo tissue. The curvatures achieved by bevel tip needles were negligible for in vivo tissue. The minimum radius of curvature for bevel tip needles in ex vivo tissue was 16.4 cm; however, about half of the bevel tip needles had negligible curvatures. We also demonstrate a potential clinical application of needle steering by targeting and ablating overlapping regions of cadaveric canine liver.
In Vivo Synthesis of the Periplasmic Domain of TonB Inhibits Transport through the FecA and FhuA Iron Siderophore Transporters of Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT The siderophore transport activities of the two outer membrane proteins FhuA and FecA of Escherichia coli require the proton motive force of the cytoplasmic membrane. The energy of the proton motive force is postulated to be transduced to the transport proteins by a protein complex that consists of the TonB, ExbB, and ExbD proteins. In the present study, TonB fragments lacking the cytoplasmic membrane anchor were exported to the periplasm by fusing them to the cleavable signal sequence of FecA. Overexpressed TonB(33-239), TonB(103-239), and TonB(122-239) fragments inhibited transport of ferrichrome by FhuA and of ferric citrate by FecA, transcriptional induction of the fecABCDE transport genes by FecA, infection by phage φ80, and killing of cells by colicin M via FhuA. Transport of ferrichrome by FhuAΔ5-160 was also inhibited by TonB(33-239), although FhuAΔ5-160 lacks the TonB box which is involved in TonB binding. The results show that TonB fragments as small as the last 118 amino acids of the protein interfere with the function of wild-type TonB, presumably by competing for binding sites at the transporters or by forming mixed dimers with TonB that are nonfunctional. In addition, the interactions that are inhibited by the TonB fragments must include more than the TonB box, since transport through corkless FhuA was also inhibited. Since the periplasmic TonB fragments cannot assume an energized conformation, these in vivo studies also agree with previous cross-linking and in vitro results, suggesting that neither recognition nor binding to loaded siderophore receptors is the energy-requiring step in the TonB-receptor interactions.
Culture and Domestic Violence

Cultural competence continues to receive limited attention in domestic violence service provision from research to the evaluation of programs. Yet with changing demo-graphics reflecting larger numbers of people of color and increasing needs for more effective responses, it is critical that we change the way we think about domestic violence. Using a feminist framework, this article examines how knowledge has been developed in domestic violence and its consequence related to service provision and perceptions. The article ends with recommendations as to how to better include culturally competent responses in domestic violence.
Zoledronic acid suppresses lung metastases and prolongs overall survival of osteosarcoma‐bearing mice

Although there is no doubt that bisphosphonates (BPs), specific inhibitors of osteoclasts, are beneficial for the treatment of bone metastases, their effects on visceral metastases are unclear. The effect of zoledronic acid (ZOL) was examined in vivo on lung metastasis progression and animal survival, and in vitro on the cellular mechanisms involved.
A comparative clinical trial of the efficacy of two different aqueous solutions of cyclosporine for the treatment of moderate-to-severe dry eye syndrome

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of two different concentrations of cyclosporine A (CsA) in aqueous solution compared to vehicle in patients with dry eye syndrome. Design Multicentre, randomised, double-masked, vehicle-controlled, clinical trial. Methods A total of 183 patients were enrolled and randomised to either CsA 1% (group A), CsA 0.05% (group B) or vehicle only (group C). The main objective was to evaluate the efficacy of CsA aqueous solution in the reduction of signs and symptoms in patients with moderate to severe dry eye disease. Results An early (day 21) statistically significant improvement (p<0.05) was evident in four symptoms and three ocular signs in group A. An equivalent improvement in three symptoms and three ocular signs was demonstrated in group B. A significant improvement was identified in two symptoms and two ocular signs in group C. Comparing the three groups together, group A performed better in four symptoms than group B did with just one symptom. Group C did not show significant improvement. At day 42, group A showed improvement in four symptoms, while group B showed improvement in one symptom and one ocular sign. Conclusions Cyclosporine A reduced complaints and improved major ocular signs in patients with moderate-to-severe dry eye disease. The group treated with the 0.1% cyclosporine A aqueous solution outperformed the other groups.
Anti‐ICAM‐1 antibody reduces ischemic cell damage after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a glycoprotein expressed on endothelial cells that facilitates leukocyte adhesion. To test the hypothesis that reduction of leukocytes in an ischemic lesion reduces ischemic brain damage, we measured the effect of administration of an anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody on ischemic brain damage after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat. ICAM-1 expression increased in the ischemic lesion, and the lesion volume was significantly reduced by 41% in the anti-ICAM-1 antibody group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) were significantly reduced in the cortices of the anti-ICAM-1 antibody group compared with the control animals (p < 0.05). Our data indicate that administration of anti-ICAM-1 antibody results in a significant reduction of ischemic brain damage concomitant with a reduction of PMNs in the lesion after transient focal cerebral ischemia in the rat.
Post-transplant renal function in the first year predicts long-term kidney transplant survival.

BACKGROUND Improvements in long-term kidney graft survival have been recently noted. However, the reasons for this were unclear. This study examined post-transplant renal function within the first year as an independent variable influencing long-term survival. METHODS The influence of demographic characteristics (age, sex, race); transplant variables (cadaver versus living donor, cold ischemia time, HLA mismatching, delayed graft function and transplant year), and post-transplant variables (immunosuppressive agents for the prevention of acute rejection, clinical acute rejection and post-transplant renal function in the first year) on graft survival were analyzed for 105,742 adult renal transplants between 1988 and 1998. Renal function in the first year was expressed as serum creatinine at six months and one year and delta creatinine (change in serum creatinine between 6 months and 1 year). Graft half-life was used to measure long-term survival. RESULTS During this 11-year period, the one-year serum creatinine values for cadaver recipients steadily improved, from 1.82 +/- 0.82 mg/dL in 1988 to 1.67 +/- 0.82 mg/dL in 1998 (P < 0.001), as did the graft half-life. There was a progressive decline in graft half-life for each incremental increase of six month, one year and Delta creatinine for living and cadaver donor transplants as well for cadaver transplants with donor age > and < or =50 years. The Relative Hazard (RH) for graft failure was 1.63 (1.61, 1.65; P < 0.0001) with each increment of 1.0 mg/dL of serum creatinine at one year post-transplant and it increased to 2.26 (2.2, 2.31; P < 0.0001) when the Delta creatinine was 0.5 mg/dL. The RH reduction for graft failure was substantially lower for the years 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998 when post-transplant renal function was not included in the model (P < 0.05). However, the RH reduction per year was not different when post-transplant creatinine was included in the model, 1.01 (0.94 to 1.05; P = 0.89). CONCLUSION In conclusion, one-year creatinine and Delta creatinine values predict long-term renal graft survival. Recent improvements in graft half-life are related to conservation of renal function within the first year post-transplantation.
Effects of natural and recombinant IL 2 on regulation of IFN gamma production and natural killer activity: lack of involvement of the Tac antigen for these immunoregulatory effects.

Highly enriched populations of human large granular lymphocytes (LGL), natural killer (NK) cells, and T cells were obtained from low and high density fractions, respectively, of discontinuous Percoll gradients. The NK cells were composed of 75 to 90% LGL, with the majority of the contaminating cells being monocytes. The T cells were greater than 95% OKT3+. The proliferative and cytotoxic progenitors in both fractions were examined by using a limiting dilution assay with interleukin 2 (IL 2) from four sources: 1) crude supernatant of a gibbon lymphoma (MLA-144), 2) purified (150,000-fold) MLA-144 IL 2, 3) partially purified human IL 2, and 4) purified recombinant human IL 2. The proliferative capacity was measured at day 7 by [3H]thymidine incorporation, whereas the progenitors of cells with NK-like activity were evaluated by assessing cytotoxic activity against K562 cells at day 8 in a 4-hr 51Cr-release assay. The frequency of proliferative progenitors among T cells was approximately 1/5 and was approximately 1/60 with LGL. Titration of the highly purified IL 2 preparation demonstrated that LGL proliferated with as little as 2 U of IL 2. The frequency of detectable cytotoxic progenitors in the LGL population, however, fell sharply when less than 40 U of IL 2 were employed. The T cells failed to demonstrate cytotoxic activity against the NK-susceptible target cells at any concentration of IL 2 tested. The IL 2 preparations also were examined for their ability to directly and rapidly enhance the cytotoxic activity of highly purified NK cells. All four preparations of IL 2 enhanced the cytotoxic activity of LGL without any detectable accessory requirement after incubation for as little as 6 hr, even though the MLA-144 IL 2 preparations were devoid of detectable interferons (IFN). These data indicate that IL 2 has dual effects on NK cells, regulating their activity was well as promoting their proliferation. Collectively, these results demonstrate that highly purified IL 2, devoid of other detectable lymphokines, is capable of supporting the growth of human NK cells and augmenting their in vitro activity. In parallel experiments, these same IL 2 preparations were quite active in causing the proliferation of T lymphocytes, clearly demonstrating a role of IL 2 in promoting the proliferation of NK cells as well as T cells. The mechanism of IL 2 boosting appears to be a direct interaction with LGL, resulting in the production of IFN gamma. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Impact of electrical car charging on unbalance in public low voltage grids

E-Mobility starts to become an important part of our live. Germany plans to bring 1 million cars into the market until 2020. Nowadays the cars mostly use single phase charging with charging currents up to 32A and sometimes even more. 2-phase charging is also in discussion. Unbalanced charging of electrical cars differs from the operation of other single phase domestic loads (e.g. water cooker) due to the long charging times and the higher coincidence. Therefore unbalanced charging may lead to an increase of unbalance in LV grids, especially in the weaker rural ones. Starting with some theory and an overview of the relevant standards the paper discusses the charging behaviour of 5 different electrical cars and presents measurements of actual unbalance levels in selected LV grids. The main part of the paper illustrates a stochastic simulation of unbalance caused by an increased penetration of single phase charging electrical cars. The ratio of grid utilization depending on the magnitude of charging current is discussed for different scenarios and is compared to the case that equivalent 3-phase charging would be used. The paper concludes with some recommendations.
MergedGrid — An algorithm for continuous constrained k nearest neighbor monitoring

A constrained k nearest neighbors (k-NN) query retrieves a set of k nearest objects within a predefined region. Although there are many proposed methods dedicated for continuously monitoring k-NN queries, most of them concerning traditional k-NN queries, only some methods focus on constrained k-NN queries. In this paper, the authors propose MergedGrid, an algorithm to further enhance the performance of GridTree, a novel method for continuously monitoring constrained k-NN queries. Without the need of prior knowledge about the number of objects in the dataset, our algorithm significantly reduces computation time in comparison with the previous algorithm.
A sodium channel gene SCN9A polymorphism that increases nociceptor excitability

Sodium channel NaV1.7, encoded by the SCN9A gene, is preferentially expressed in nociceptive primary sensory neurons, where it amplifies small depolarizations. In studies on a family with inherited erythromelalgia associated with NaV1.7 gain‐of‐function mutation A863P, we identified a nonsynonymous single‐nucleotide polymorphism within SCN9A in the affected proband and several unaffected family members; this polymorphism (c. 3448C&T, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms database rs6746030, which produces the amino acid substitution R1150W in human NaV1.7 [hNaV1.7]) is present in 1.1 to 12.7% of control chromosomes, depending on ethnicity. In this study, we examined the effect of the R1150W substitution on function of the hNaV1.7 channel, and on the firing of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in which this channel is normally expressed. We show that this polymorphism depolarizes activation (7.9–11mV in different assays). Current‐clamp analysis shows that the 1150W allele depolarizes (6mV) resting membrane potential and increases (∼2‐fold) the firing frequency in response to depolarization in DRG neurons in which it is present. Our results suggest that polymorphisms in the NaV1.7 channel may influence susceptibility to pain. Ann Neurol 2009;66:862–866
Aspergillus galactomannan antigen levels in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients given total parenteral nutrition

Abstract: False‐positive tests for Aspergillus galactomannan have been reported in neutropenic patients. We failed to detect any circulating antigen during the 2 weeks following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation of 12 patients who had severe mucositis but were unable to eat.
Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of JNK ameliorates hypoxia-induced retinopathy through interference with VEGF expression

Many ocular pathologies, including retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration, result in vision loss because of aberrant neoangiogenesis. A common feature of these conditions is the presence of hypoxic areas and overexpression of the proangiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The prevailing current treatment, laser ablation of the retina, is destructive and only partially effective. Preventive and less destructive therapies are much more desirable. Here, we show that mice lacking c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) exhibit reduced pathological angiogenesis and lower levels of retinal VEGF production in a murine model of ROP. We found that hypoxia induces JNK activation and regulates VEGF expression by enhancing the binding of phospho-c-Jun to the VEGF promoter. Intravitreal injection of a specific JNK inhibitor decreases retinal VEGF expression and reduces pathological retinal neovascularization without obvious side effects. These results strongly suggest that JNK1 plays a key role in retinal neoangiogenesis and that it represents a new pharmacological target for treatment of diseases where excessive neoangiogenesis is the underlying pathology.