Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparison of differential oscillometric device with invasive mean arterial blood pressure monitoring in intensive care patients

Non‐invasive beat‐to‐beat mean arterial pressure (MAP) in finger arteries recorded by the differential oscillometric device was compared with MAP recorded invasively from A. radialis in 22 patients after cardiac surgery. Based on all 132 paired measurements, the MAP values measured at the radial artery were 2.7 ± 4.9 mmHg higher than those measured on fingers. Among 22 patients there were 8 patients receiving inotropic support, their difference being 2.1 ± 5.6 mmHg. The present study revealed that the mean discrepancy between the invasive radial pressure and finger pressure was small; however, patient data sets showed marked variability in average pressure differences when examined individually.
Freehand Tracking Based on Behavioral Model Analysis

A novel framework for 3D freehand tracking is put forward in this paper. Firstly, we model and investigate this problem under our virtual assembly system (VAS), so as to decrease the arbitrariness and complexity of this issue. Secondly, we put emphasis on building cognitive and behavioral model (BM) for users in VAS. Thirdly, we research on the way to track 3D freehand based on BM. Our experimental results show that the proposed approach raises the quality of each sampled particle or avoid sampling "poor" particles which appear with low probability in each frame, and it tracks 3D freehand in real-time with high accuracy. The number of the drawn particles is reduced up to 5 and the tracking speed increase up to 81 ms per frame.
Calcium Homeostatic Pathways Change with Gestation in Human Myometrium1

Abstract A rise in intracellular calcium is the primary trigger for contractile activity in pregnant human myometrium. It is hypothesized that key proteins involved in myometrial calcium homeostasis are gestationally regulated and play an important role in the preparation for labor. The aims of the study were to investigate the role of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca ATPases (SERCAs) in regulating spontaneous contractile activity in myometrium, and to determine the expression of SERCA isoforms 2a and 2b, and the plasma membrane Ca ATPase (PMCA), at term and during labor. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the expression of SERCA 2a and 2b significantly increased in myometrium of women in labor compared with those not in labor. The augmentation of contractile activity in laboring myometrium in the presence of a SERCA 2 inhibitor, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), demonstrated the functional significance of this observation. It is interesting that the application of CPA in the presence of a calcium-activated potassium channel inhibitor to term nonlabor myometrium mimicked the response of myometrium from women in active labor to CPA alone. We conclude that the activity of SERCA isoforms becomes increasingly important in the maintenance of regular contractile activity during labor and may compensate for the functional loss of other calcium control pathways at term.
Small molecule kinase inhibitors approved by the FDA from 2000 to 2011: a systematic review of preclinical ADME data

Introduction: Fourteen drugs targeting protein kinases have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between the years 2000 and 2011. While the mechanisms of action and clinical data have been reported, the preclinical absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination (ADME) data on these compounds are not readily available. Areas covered: This review summarizes the structural, physicochemical and preclinical ADME properties of the 14 kinase inhibitors. For this purpose, the authors identified common preclinical ADME features of the majority of these inhibitors. Expert opinion: The authors believe engendering a combination of the following attributes will greatly improve one's chance of discovering kinase inhibitors with a successful development path: i) Lipinski Rule of Five and Veber's rules, ii) most basic pKa values ≤ 9, iii) low to moderate clearance values for each species and iv) moderate to high Caco-2 permeability. Furthermore, they recommend primarily focusing on in vitro hepatic stability and rodent in vivo disposition properties at early screening stage and using Caco-2 permeability/efflux ratio to salvage compounds with rapid rodent plasma clearance. In vitro drug–drug interaction data should be evaluated in the context of the dosing route, dosing regimen, elimination pathways, enzyme phenotyping profile, efficacious exposure and the target disease.
Patterns of Environmental Coverage in Omani Newspapers: A Constructionist Study of News Frames and Production Influences

This thesis investigated the magnitude, type and framing of environmental coverage in Oman and Alwatan newspapers. In addition, the influences (e.g. cultural, political and organizational) on the scale, type and framing of environmental issues on the macro and micro levels of production were examined. Social constructionism’s acknowledgment of societal forces in influencing news production, and the ability of media content to construct an understanding of environmental problems, guided the examination of content and production. The theoretical contribution of this study to the literature is providing a framework that interwove constructionism-friendly concepts upon which a mixed-methods framework comprising content analysis, framing analysis, interviews and observation to address the research questions. It was found that privately-owned Alwatan covered more environmental issues in general than government-owned Oman. Natural disaster was the most prominent problem. The prominence of local news unveiled the dominance and therefore the variables of time and space in which these problems were contextualised, which shows why context matters. Thus, the reporting of environmental issues was situational due to contextual differences which were governed by societal forces. The coverage was event-oriented, spontaneous, sporadic and produced without specialised journalists. Officials were positively presented to give an impression of legitimacy and invoking action. Attribution of responsibility frame dominated the coverage. The second most prominent frame, human interest showed how emotive language (i.e. text and visuals) was apparent in the coverage. Journalists used visuals to authenticate environmental reporting. Morality frame was used as a source of comfort and authority. Conflict frame was tactfully avoided when it was perceived by journalists as threatening to the country. As much as journalists demonstrated their active agency in addressing environmental issues, they reflected on how these influences can be a source of either appreciation or resistance.
Epstein-Barr Virus in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system in which the body’s immune system is abnormally directed towards the myelin sheaths covering the nerve fibers. What triggers the neuroinflammation and autoimmune destruction of the myelin sheaths remains unknown. However, it is widely accepted that susceptibility depends on a combination of genetic and environmental factors and their interactions. With little chance of influencing genetic predisposition, the importance of identifying risk factors which could be modulated to either prevent the on-set of MS or to ameliorate the course of the disease, is an attractive alternative. An accumulating body of evidence, including our own recent study involving over 1000 MS and non-MS samples, indicates that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common herpesvirus, could be involved. In this chapter, we review the studies linking EBV to MS and propose an explanation by which this common virus could be involved in the pathogenesis of MS.
Differentiated thyroid cancer: feasibility of loboisthmectomy in an endemic region.

AIM The aim of the present retrospective study was to assess the feasibility of loboisthmectomy for the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer in a endemic area, evaluating the histopathological features and the results of a case series of 1154 patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS The clinical records of 1154 patients submitted to total thyroidectomy in our Department were retrospectively reviewed to analyze the histopathological characters and the results. RESULTS In 1044 cases (90.5%) a papillary cancer was observed, in 110 (9.5%) a follicular carcinoma; microcarcinomas were 399 (34.5%). Multifocality was present in 323 cases (28%), in 142 unilateral (12.3%) and in 181 bilateral (15.7%). Thyroiditis coexisted in 472 patients (40.9%), multinodular goiter in 404 (35%), Graves' disease in 48 (4.1%), and multinodular toxic goiter in 38 (3.3%). Complications were: postoperative bleeding in 20 patients (1.7%), transient unilateral vocal cord paralysis in 20 (1.7%) definitive in 10 (0.86%), a transient bilateral paralysis in 1 (0.08%), a transient hypoparathyroidism in 351 (30.4%), and a definitive in 24 (2.07%). Nodal recurrence occurred in 25 patients (2.16%). CONCLUSIONS Total thyroidectomy remains the safest treatment in differentiated thyroid cancer, especially if performed in high volume centers in which complications can be minimized. Loboisthmectomy can be a viable and safe alternative in small (< 1 cm) unifocal tumors in patients at low risk. Loboisthmectomy is limited in endemic areas by the association with other thyroid diseases. A correct and detailed information of the patient is essential before planning surgery.
An Environmentally Benign Process Model Development for Printed Circuit Board Recycling

Delaminating and separation of obsolete printed circuit board (PCB) is essential for its recycling. This paper presents an alternative environmentally benign process method for PCB recycling. Applying the solvent system, e.g. carbon dioxide and water under certain pressure and temperature, the PCB scraps could be delaminated easily. The separation of PCB into copper foil, glass fiber and polymer will be beneficial for further PCB recycling. The fundamental experiment mechanism is based on the polymer physics and polymerization. When the process temperature is raised above the polymer glass transition temperature Tg, polymer would be decomposed, which caused the main bonding force among PCB layers greatly reduced. Base on this principle several different processing circumstances were explored, including supercritical carbon dioxide; binary solvent system of CO2 and H2O; trinary solvent system of CO2, H2O and CH3CH 2OH. The experiment facilities were set up and the input & output parameters were defined to evaluate the PCB delaminating result. Utility functions were developed to optimize the process conditions. The recommendations for future study are illustrated at the end of this paper
Patterns of p57Kip2 expression in embryonic rat brain suggest roles in progenitor cell cycle exit and neuronal differentiation

In developing central nervous system, a variety of mechanisms couple cell cycle exit to differentiation during neurogenesis. The cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p57Kip2 controls the transition from proliferation to differentiation in many tissues, but roles in developing brain remain uncertain. To characterize possible functions, we defined p57Kip2 protein expression in embryonic (E) day 12.5 to 20.5 rat brains using immunohistochemistry combined with markers of proliferation and differentiation. The p57Kip2 was localized primarily in cell nuclei and positive cells formed two distinct patterns including wide dispersion and laminar aggregation that were brain region‐specific. From E12.5 to E16.5, p57Kip2 expression was detected mainly in ventricular zone (VZ) and/or mantle zone of hippocampus, septum, basal ganglia, thalamus, hypothalamus, midbrain, and spinal cord. After E18.5, p57Kip2 was detected in select regions undergoing differentiation. The p57Kip2 expression was also compared with regional transcription factors, including Ngn2, Nkx2.1, and Pax6. Time course studies performed in diencephalon showed that p57Kip2 immunoreactivity colocalized with BrdU at 8 hr in nuclei exhibiting the wide dispersion pattern, whereas colocalization in the laminar pattern occurred only later. Moreover, p57Kip2 frequently colocalized with neuronal marker, β‐III tubulin. Finally, we characterized relationships of p57Kip2 to CDK inhibitor p27Kip1: in proliferative regions, p57Kip2 expression preceded p27Kip1 as cells underwent differentiation, though the proteins colocalized in substantial numbers of cells, suggesting potentially related yet distinct functions of Cip/Kip family members during neurogenesis. Our observations that p57Kip2 exhibits nuclear expression as precursors exit the cell cycle and begin expressing neuronal characteristics suggests that the CDK inhibitor contributes to regulating the transition from proliferation to differentiation during brain development. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2009
Impaired Glucose Tolerance, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Profiles in the Elderly: The Honolulu Heart Program

OBJECTIVE The relationship between glucose tolerance status and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors was evaluated in a cohort of Japanese-American men (n = 3,741) ages 71–93 years who participated in the fourth examination of the Honolulu Heart Program in 1991–1993. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In this cross-sectional study, subjects were classified by reported diabetes and glucose tolerance status using questionnaires and the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, respectively. RESULTS The prevalence of reported diabetes was 17%. Among the men who completed an oral glucose tolerance test and had no history of diabetes (n = 1,900), 23% were diagnosed as diabetic and 39% had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) by WHO criteria. The CVD risk factor profiles of men with IGT and diabetes were significantly more adverse compared with men with normal glucose tolerance after adjustment for age. The rates of hypertension, mean levels of BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, triglycerides, and fasting insulin were higher in men with IGT and diabetes compared with normal subjects. Opposite trends were observed for HDL cholesterol. Two-hour insulin was significantly higher among men with IGT and previously undiagnosed diabetes. Men with known diabetes had a lower physical activity index and higher fibrinogen levels than normal subjects. No significant differences were observed for current smoking and alcohol intake. Differences in risk factor levels by glucose tolerance status remained after adjustment for age, physical activity, BMI, and waist-to-hip ratio. CONCLUSIONS These findings show that among elderly men of Japanese ancestry, impaired glucose tolerance and undiagnosed and known diabetes are highly prevalent, and these conditions are associated with adverse CVD factor profiles.
B-Cell Depletion Abrogates T Cell–Mediated Demyelination in an Antibody-Nondependent Common Marmoset Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Model

Abstract CD20-positive B-cell depletion is a highly promising treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), but the mechanisms underlying therapeutic effects are poorly understood. B cells are thought to contribute to MS pathogenesis by producing autoantibodies that amplify demyelination via opsonization of myelin. To analyze autoantibody-nondependent functions of B cells in an animal model of MS, we used a novel T cell–driven experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model in marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus). In this model, demyelination of brain and spinal cord white and gray matter and the ensuing neurological deficits are induced by immunization with peptide 34 to 56 of myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG34–56) in incomplete Freund’s adjuvant. Although autoantibodies do not have a detectable pathogeniccontribution in the model, depletion of B cells with monoclonal antibody 7D8, a human IgG1&kgr; monoclonal antibody against human CD20, suppressed clinical and pathological EAE. In B cell–depleted monkeys, the activation of peptide-specific Th17-producing and cytotoxic T cells, which in previous studies were found to play an essential role in disease induction, was impaired. Thus, we demonstrate a critical antibody-nondependent role for B cells in EAE, that is, the activation of pathogenic T cells.
Bone grafting, orthopaedic biomaterials, and the clinical need for bone engineering

Abstract As the population ages, the number of operations performed on bone is expected to increase. Diseases such as arthritis, tumours, and trauma can lead to defects in the skeleton requiring an operation to replace or restore the lost bone. Surgeons can use autografts, allografts, and/or bone graft substitutes to restore areas of bone loss. Surgical implants are also used in addition or in isolation to replace the diseased bone. This review considers the application of available bone grafts in different clinical settings. It also discusses recently introduced bioactive biomaterials and highlights the clinical difficulties and technological deficiencies that exist in our current surgical practice.
[Impact of the extent of gastric resection on the prognosis of patients with middle one-third gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of the extent of gastric resection on the prognosis of patients with middle one-third gastric cancer. METHODS From January 1998 to December 2005, 222 patients with middle one-third gastric cancer underwent D2 radical resection in the Affiliated Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University. Among them, 66 underwent distal gastrectomy (DG group), while 156 underwent total gastrectomy (TG group). The 5-year survival rates were compared between two groups. The prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS The 5-year survival rates of DG group and TG group were 63.9% and 49.8% respectively, with significant difference (P<0.05). Nevertheless, compared to DG group, the tumors in TG group had bigger size, later TNM stage, and higher proportion of locating lesser curvature of stomach (all P<0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that invasion depth, lymph node metastasis and TNM classification were independent prognostic factors (all P<0.05), but the extent of gastric resection was not (P>0.05). CONCLUSION If curative resection can be performed, the long-term prognosis of patients with middle one-third gastric cancer is not affected by the extent of gastric resection, and distal gastrectomy is feasible.
Effects Factor of Growth Hormone and Insul 1 on Testosterone Secretion in in-Like Growth Premature Male Rats

Present study was planned to clarify the effects of GH and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on testosterone secretion using premature male rats. Forty rats were divided four groups. GH, IGF-I, both of them or normal saline solution as control were subcutaneously administered to the rats of each group for seven days from 3-week to 4-week of age. After the treatment, six of each group were used to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) loading and four to Leydig cell preparation. Serum testosterone responses to hCG loading were significantly higher in 4-week-old rats treated with GH and/or IGF-I for 1 week than in control rats. However, the responses were similar among three treated groups (GH, IGFI and both). After one-week treatment with GH and/or IGF-I, isolated Leydig cells were prepared from testes of 4-week-old rats and testosterone production by the stimulation of hCG was examined. Amounts of testosterone production stimulated by hCG were significantly greater in the treated rats than in control rats. These findings suggest that GH mediated by IGF-I promotes the testicular responsiveness to gonadotropin on testosterone production in premature rats.
Inhibition of Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase I Augments Sphingolipid Synthesis and Palmitate-induced Apoptosis*

To identify cell death-induced genes, we employed a subtractive hybridization approach and isolated a cDNA encoding a mouse homolog of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT I), an enzyme that resides at the outer mitochondrial membrane and facilitates passage of long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria for β-oxidation. Induced expression of CPT I mRNA was observed upon programmed cell death in the murine hematopoietic cell lines LyD9 and WEHI-231. To elucidate the role of CPT I in programmed cell death, we examined the effects of long-chain fatty acids and found that the addition of palmitate or stearate to cultured cells led to activation of a death program with a morphology resembling that of apoptosis. Other naturally occurring fatty acids, including myristate and palmitoleate, had no effect. Since both palmitate and stearate are sphingolipid precursors, the effect of these fatty acids on sphingolipid metabolism was tested. Our results indicate that apoptosis induced by palmitate or stearate is correlated with de novo synthesis of ceramide. Inhibition of CPT I by etomoxir enhanced palmitate-induced cell death and led to a further increase in ceramide synthesis.
Kinetics of spermatogenesis in mammals: seminiferous epithelium cycle and spermatogonial renewal.

The kinetics of spermatogenesis in mammals are reviewed with special emphasis on the seminiferous epithelium cycle and spermatogonial renewal . 2 features of the spermatogenic process are that for a given species each step of spermatogenesis has a constant duration and that many spermatogonial stem cells enter spermatogenesis simultaneously and almost synchronously. The seminiferous epithelium composed of 5 or 6 generations of germ cells form cellular associations of fixed compositi on. Spermatids at a given step of spermiogenesis are always associated with spermatocytes and spermatogonia at given steps of development. These cellular groupings were taken to represent stages of a cycle of the seminferous epithelium. The number of stages composing the cycle vary with the species and the criteria used to characterize them. The classifications of cell associations are particulary useful in investigations of the mode of renewal of the spermatogonial population. The stem cells that belong to the Type A category may be classified as "reserve" and "renewing" stem cells. The former appear to be actively involved in the production of spermatocytes in normal adult animals but the latter initiate at each cycle of the seminiferous epithelium a series of mitoses during which they renew themselves and simultaneously give rise to "differentiating" spermatogonia. The "nodal" or key mitosis that result appear to be equivalent in type and not bivalent.
An Empirical Test of the Materialist Framework for Understanding the General Population's Reaction to Nonpersonalized Genetic Health Messages

Genetic health messages are increasingly prevalent in our society. The materialist framework of laypeople's genetic knowledge may provide a good basis for understanding the effects of such messages on preventive behavior and related health cognitions. This study provides an empirical test of the predictions of this framework. We presented 929 participants who were aware or unaware of the existence of genetic risk factors for salt sensitivity with either a genetic health message or a general health message about salt sensitivity. Baseline, immediate follow-up, 1-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up questionnaires assessed risk perception, intention, and salt consumption. Compared with the general health message, previously unaware participants reported lower susceptibility to, and lower severity of, salt sensitivity and lower intentions to restrict salt intake immediately after reading the genetic health message, but not at the 1- and 6-month follow-ups. No such effects were observed for previously aware participants. In addition, the authors observed no effect of health message type on self-reported salt consumption. The authors' findings support the validity of the materialist framework for understanding laypeople's knowledge of genetics. On the basis of the results, several implications were deduced for public education of genetics.