Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of hyaluronic acid concentration polarization on hydraulic permeability

In normal joints, tissues such as synovium and articular cartilage provide resistance to outflow of water and macromolecules in synovial fluid (SF). Hyaluronan (HA) normally contributes to hydraulic outflow resistance under increased pressure by a reduction of the driving force via a concentration polarized layer at the surfaces of the joint capsule [11, 44, 58, 66]. Changes in the synovial joint that occur in osteoarthritis (OA) and injury, including decreased HA content and joint tissue degeneration, are likely to alter the formation of this layer. An ultrafiltration model was solved to evaluate the dynamics and steady-state properties of HA concentration polarization across the synovium in health and disease, and the model was validated by comparing results to experimental data. Validation simulations were similar to measured transient and steady-state values for concentration and retention. The model predicted that HA at a normal concentration and molecular weight is mostly retained, resulting in physiologically observed intra- articular pressures. Predicted HA retention, concentration distributions, and dynamic hydraulic permeability were altered with decreased initial HA concentration and molecular weight, as observed in disease. In diseased joints, after a period of temporary slight concentration polarization, HA is predicted to be depleted from the joint cavity due to steady loss through the membrane. These studies extend current understanding of hyaluronic acid concentration polarization in the normal and diseased synovial joint by modeling flow of HA solutions through a membrane, as well as the effect of HA concentration and retention on the formation of the concentration polarization layer
Failure of Thymopoietin, Ubiquitin and Synthetic Serum Thymic Factor to Restore Immunocompetence in T-Cell Deficient Mice

Abstract Thymopoietin, ubiquitin, and serum thymic factor, all of which induce T cell markers on lymphocytes, have been evaluated for their capacity to induce thymus-de-pendent activities in vivo. Multiple treatments over a period of weeks failed to restore either resistance to line lb leukemia or responses to T cell mitogens in T cell-deficient C58 mice. The findings suggest that these substances are ineffective in inducing thymus-dependent im-munocompetence that is meaningful in the intact animal.
Discrete derived categories II: the silting pairs CW complex and the stability manifold

Discrete derived categories were studied initially by Vossieck [‘The algebras with discrete derived category’, J. Algebra 243 (2001) 168–176] and later by Bobiński, Geiß and Skowroński [‘Classification of discrete derived categories’, Cent. Eur. J. Math. 2 (2004) 19–49]. In this article, we define the CW complex of silting pairs for a triangulated category and show that it is contractible in the case of discrete derived categories. We provide an explicit embedding from the silting CW complex into the stability manifold. By work of Qiu and Woolf [‘Contractible stability spaces and faithful braid group actions’, Preprint, 2014, arXiv:1407.5986], there is a deformation retract of the stability manifold onto the silting pairs CW complex. We obtain that the space of stability conditions of discrete derived categories is contractible.
Obesity and Low-Grade Inflammation Increase Plasma Follistatin-Like 3 in Humans

Background. Rodent models suggest that follistatin-like 3 (fstl3) is associated with diabetes and obesity. In humans, plasma fstl3 is reduced with gestational diabetes. In vitro, TNF-α induces fstl3 secretion, which suggests a link to inflammation. Objective. To elucidate the association between plasma fstl3 and obesity, insulin resistance, and low-grade inflammation in humans. Study Design. Plasma fstl3 levels were determined in a cross-sectional study including three groups: patients with type 2 diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, and healthy controls. In addition, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), TNF-α, or interleukin-6 (IL-6) as well as a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp were used to examine if plasma fstl3 was acutely regulated in humans. Results. Plasma fstl3 was increased in obese subjects independent of glycemic state. Moreover, plasma fstl3 was positively correlated with fat mass, plasma leptin, fasting insulin, and HOMA B and negatively with HOMA S. Furthermore plasma fstl3 correlated positively with plasma TNF-α and IL-6 levels. Infusion of LPS and TNF-α, but not IL-6 and insulin, increased plasma fstl3 in humans. Conclusion. Plasma fstl3 is increased in obese subjects and associated with fat mass and low-grade inflammation. Furthermore, TNF-α increased plasma fstl3, suggesting that TNF-α is one of the inflammatory drivers of increased systemic levels of fstl3.
Analyzing Software as a Service with Per-Transaction Charges

Software as a Service SaaS delivers a bundle of applications and services through the Web. Its on-demand feature allows users to enjoy full scalability and to handle possible demand fluctuations at no risk. In recent years, SaaS has become an appealing alternative to purchasing, installing, and maintaining modifiable off-the-shelf MOTS software packages. We present a game-theoretical model to study the competitive dynamics between the SaaS provider, who charges a variable per-transaction fee, and the traditional MOTS provider. We characterize the equilibrium conditions under which the two coexist in a competitive market and those under which each provider will fail and exit the market. Decreasing the lack-of-fit or the cross-application data integration costs of SaaS results in four structural regimes in the market. These are MOTS Dominance â Segmented Market â Competitive Market â SaaS Dominance. Based on our findings, we recommend distinct competitive strategies for each provider. We suggest that the SaaS provider should invest in reducing both its lack-of-fit costs and its per-transaction price so that it can offer increasing economies of scale. The MOTS provider, by contrast, should not resort to a price-cutting strategy; rather, it should enhance software functionality and features to deliver superior value. We further examine this problem from the software life-cycle perspective, with multiple stages over which users can depreciate the fixed costs of installing and customizing their MOTS solutions on site. We then present an analysis that characterizes the competitive outcomes when future technological developments could change the relative levels of the lack-of-fit costs. Specifically, we explain why the SaaS provider will always use a forward-looking pricing strategy: When lack-of-fit costs are expected to decrease increase in the future, the SaaS provider should reduce increase its current price. This is in contrast with the MOTS provider, who will use the forward-looking pricing strategy only when lack-of-fit costs are expected to increase. Surprisingly, when such costs are expected to decrease, the MOTS provider should ignore this expectation and use the same pricing strategy as in the benchmark with invariant lack-of-fit costs.
Torque history of electrically stimulated human quadriceps: Implications for stimulation therapy

The time course of knee extension torque was measured in human quadriceps muscles during 30 min of transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). Ninety subjects were divided into six experimental groups (n = 15 per group), which received stimulation at one of the following frequency/duty cycle combinations: 10 Hz/50%, 30 Hz/50%, 50 Hz/50%, 10 Hz/70%, 30 Hz/70%, and 50 Hz/70%. Two‐way analysis of variance revealed that the magnitude of the relative torque decrease (the percentage of decrease in torque relative to the initial value) was significantly different between frequencies (p < 0.005) and duty cycles (p < 0.02), with no significant interaction (p > 0.6). Increasing either frequency or duty cycle caused a greater decrease in torque. In spite of this result, there was no significant difference between groups in the total activity (torque‐time integral) achieved during the 30 min treatment session. The magnitude of this activity corresponded to only about 7–14 maximum voluntary contractions. Finally, the average torque during the treatment session was significantly different among groups (p < 0.001), being greatest for the 50 Hz/50% group and least for the 10 Hz/70% group. Taken together, these data suggest that a smaller number of longer duration contractions produces the greatest muscle tension. They also suggest that the absolute torque levels achieved with NMES are relatively low compared with voluntary muscular activity.
Quo natas, Danio?—Recent Progress in Modeling Cancer in Zebrafish

Over the last decade, zebrafish has proven to be a powerful model in cancer research. Zebrafish form tumors that histologically and genetically resemble human cancers. The live imaging and cost-effective compound screening possible with zebrafish especially complement classic mouse cancer models. Here, we report recent progress in the field, including genetically engineered zebrafish cancer models, xenotransplantation of human cancer cells into zebrafish, promising approaches toward live investigation of the tumor microenvironment, and identification of therapeutic strategies by performing compound screens on zebrafish cancer models. Given the recent advances in genome editing, personalized zebrafish cancer models are now a realistic possibility. In addition, ongoing automation will soon allow high-throughput compound screening using zebrafish cancer models to be part of preclinical precision medicine approaches.
Enhanced drug transport through alginate biofilms using magnetic nanoparticles

The development of microbiological biofilms greatly reduces the efficacy of antibiotic therapies and is a serious problem in chronic infection and for implantable medical devices. We investigated the potential of superparamagnetic nanoparticles to increase transport through in vitro models of alginate biofilms. An in vitro alginate biofilm model was developed to mimic the composition of in vivo samples of P. aeruginosa infections. Transport through this model biofilm was performed using both bulk diffusion methods and single particle tracking techniques in the presence and absence of an external magnetic field. Bulk diffusion of nanoparticles through the biofilm was significantly enhanced in the presence of a magnetic field, both visually and quantitatively. Nanoparticle trajectories also showed transport increases were significantly higher when magnetic fields were applied. We also showed that surface chemistry (cationic, anioni, or neutral) of the nanoparticles significantly influenced transport rates. Finally, nanoparticle size also influenced the transport rates and variability of transport rates through the biofilm. In these first studies using magnetic nanoparticles in bacterial biofilms, we demonstrate that transport enhancement can be achieved and further studies are warranted.
[Frantz-Gruber tumor: a case report].

OBJECTIVE The objective of this report is to describe the existence of a rare tumor that must be taken into consideration when studying the diagnosis of pancreatic tumors. CASE REPORT A 20-year-old female with abdominal pain as an only manifestation was seen. The diagnosis of a pancreatic head and body tumor was made. During surgery, we found a tumor in the head and body of the pancreas that measured approximately 10 x 7 cm; histopathologic study revealed a solid and cystic papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas. DISCUSSION Frantz-Gruber tumor is a rare pancreatic tumor suspected during the evaluation of a young female with abdominal pain and confirmed during surgery. It is important to consider the existence of this tumor in the evaluation of patients with these characteristics; even if the tumor's biological behavior is benign Frantz-Gruber tumor is considered a low-grade malignant tumor
The Darwin cure for apiculture? Natural selection and managed honeybee health

Recent major losses of managed honeybee, Apis mellifera, colonies at a global scale have resulted in a multitude of research efforts to identify the underlying mechanisms. Numerous factors acting singly and/or in combination have been identified, ranging from pathogens, over nutrition to pesticides. However, the role of apiculture in limiting natural selection has largely been ignored. This is unfortunate, because honeybees are more exposed to environmental stressors compared to other livestock and management can severely compromise bee health. Here, we briefly review apicultural factors that influence bee health and focus on those most likely interfering with natural selection, which offers a broad range of evolutionary applications for field practice. Despite intense breeding over centuries, natural selection appears to be much more relevant for the health of managed A. mellifera colonies than previously thought. We conclude that sustainable solutions for the apicultural sector can only be achieved by taking advantage of natural selection and not by attempting to limit it.
Ethnicity as a protective factor against internalization of a thin ideal and body dissatisfaction.

OBJECTIVE We examined the potential for ethnicity to moderate the relationships between awareness and internalization of sociocultural ideals of appearance and between internalization and body dissatisfaction. METHOD Spanish (n = 100), Mexican American (n = 100), and European American (n = 100) female participants completed measures of sociocultural attitudes and body dissatisfaction. Path analysis using maximum likelihood with robust standard errors tested the relationships across and within ethnic groups. RESULTS There was evidence for the mediational effect of internalization on the relationship between awareness and body dissatisfaction. Furthermore, both relationships were significantly stronger for European American women than for Mexican American or Spanish women (the predicted moderator effect). DISCUSSION Results demonstrate how ethnicity may protect against the development of eating disorder symptoms and suggest that eating disorder prevention should involve denouncing the thin ideal, minimizing appearance as an indicator of value, and emphasizing traits other than appearance as determinants of worth.
Immunogenicity and Lupus-Like Autoantibody Production Can Be Linked to Each Other along With Type I Interferon Production in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated With Infliximab: A Retrospective Study of a Single Center Cohort

Besides anti-drug antibodies, anti-nuclear antibodies and anti-DNA antibodies are often induced in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. We examined the association between immunogenicity, autoantibody production, and serum cytokine profiles in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with infliximab. Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n = 57) were retrospectively examined. Serum trough levels of infliximab, anti-drug antibody, anti-nuclear antibody, and anti-DNA (Farr), anti-single-stranded DNA and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies were measured. Interleukin-6, interferon-γ, interferon-α, and B-cell activating factor levels were also measured in the same sera. Then, we validated the association between anti-drug antibody and these serum markers along with clinical response to infliximab. Anti-drug antibodies developed in twenty-one patients (36.8%), whose serum trough levels of infliximab were significantly lower than those in anti-drug antibody-negative patients (0.09 ± 0.03 vs. 2.48 ± 0.326 μg/mL, p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in clinical backgrounds between the two groups. The anti-drug antibody-positive patients were more likely to develop anti-nuclear antibody titers of ≥ ×160 compared to the negative patients (14 to 57% vs. 17 to 33%). In addition, anti-DNA antibodies (Farr) (from 1.5 ± 0.4 to 35 ± 17 IU/mL, p = 0.0001), especially IgM-anti-double stranded DNA antibody (from 5.1 ± 0.7 to 41 ± 8.9 IU/mL, p < 0.0001), and IgG-anti-single stranded DNA antibody (from 13 ± 1.1 to 35 ± 13, p = 0.0145) were significantly increased in anti-drug antibody-positive but not in negative patients. Moreover, the anti-drug antibody-positive, but not the negative patients, showed significant increased levels of interferon-α (from 248.7 ± 102.3 to 466.8 ± 135.1 pg/mL, p = 0.0353) and B-cell activating factor (from 1073 ± 75.1 to 1387 ± 136.5 pg/mL, p = 0.0208) following infliximab treatment. The development of anti-drug antibody against infliximab and lupus-like autoantibody production in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with infliximab can be linked each other along with increased lupus-associated cytokine levels including type I interferons.
GreenDelivery: proactive content caching and push with energy-harvesting-based small cells

The explosive growth of mobile multimedia traffic calls for scalable wireless access with high quality of service and low energy cost. Motivated by the emerging energy harvesting communications, and the trend of caching multimedia contents at the access edge and user terminals, we propose a paradigm shifting framework, GreenDelivery, enabling efficient content delivery with energy harvesting based small cells. To resolve the two-dimensional randomness of energy harvesting and content request arrivals, proactive caching and push are jointly optimized, with respect to the content popularity distribution and battery states. We thus develop a novel way of understanding the interplay between content and energy over time and space. Case studies are provided to show the substantial reduction of macro BS activities, and thus the related energy consumption from the power grid is reduced. Research issues of the proposed GreenDelivery framework are also discussed.
Computing the tight closure in dimension two

We study computational aspects of the tight closure of a homogeneous primary ideal in a two-dimensional normal standard-graded domain. We show how to use slope criteria for the sheaf of relations for generators of the ideal to compute its tight closure. In particular, our method gives an algorithm to compute the tight closure of three elements under the condition that we are able to compute the Harder-Narasimhan filtration. We apply this to the computation of (x a ,y a ,z a )* in K[x, y, z]/(F), where F is a homogeneous polynomial.
THE PROCEDURAL DEFICIT HYPOTHESIS

Specific Language Impairment (SLI) has been explained by two broad classes of hypotheses, which posit either a deficit specific to grammar, or a non-linguistic processing impairment. Here we advance an alternative perspective. According to the Procedural Deficit Hypothesis (PDH), SLI can be largely explained by the abnormal development of brain structures that constitute the procedural memory system. This system, which is composed of a network of interconnected structures rooted in frontal/basal-ganglia circuits, subserves the learning and execution of motor and cognitive skills. Crucially, recent evidence also implicates this system in important aspects of grammar. The PDH posits that a significant proportion of individuals with SLI suffer from abnormalities of this brain network, leading to impairments of the linguistic and non-linguistic functions that depend on it. In contrast, functions such as lexical and declarative memory, which depend on other brain structures, are expected to remain largely spared. Evidence from an in-depth retrospective examination of the literature is presented. It is argued that the data support the predictions of the PDH, and particularly implicate Broca’s area within frontal cortex, and the caudate nucleus within the basal ganglia. Finally, broader implications are discussed, and predictions for future research are presented. It is argued that the PDH forms the basis of a novel and potentially productive perspective on SLI.
UHMWPE Biomaterials Handbook: Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene in Total Joint Replacement and Medical Devices

This book describes the science, development, properties and application of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) used in artificial joints. This material is currently used in 1.4 million patients around the world every year for use in the hip, knee, upper extremities, and spine. Since the publication of the 1st edition there have been major advances in the development and clinical adoption of highly crosslinked UHMWPE for hip and knee replacement. There has also been a major international effort to introduce Vitamin E stabilized UHMWPE for patients. The accumulated knowledge on these two classes of materials are a key feature of the 2nd edition, along with an additional 19 additional chapters providing coverage of the key engineering aspects (biomechanical and materials science) and clinical/biological performance of UHMWPE, providing a more complete reference for industrial and academic materials specialists, and for surgeons and clinicians who require an understanding of the biomaterials properties of UHMWPE to work successfully on patient applications. The UHMWPE Handbook is the comprehensive reference for professionals, researchers, and clinicians working with biomaterials technologies for joint replacement. New to this edition: 19 new chapters keep readers up to date with this fast moving topic, including a new section on UHMWPE biomaterials; highly crosslinked UHMWPE for hip and knee replacement; Vitamin E stabilized UHMWPE for patients; clinical performance, tribology an biologic interaction of UHMWPE. State-of-the-art coverage of UHMWPE technology, orthopedic applications, biomaterial characterisation and engineering aspects from recognised leaders in the field.
The design of shared aperture antennas consisting of differently sized elements

A consistent strategy for the design of finite array antennas consisting of differently sized radiating elements is discussed. In view of increasing the total bandwidth of the antenna system, while maintaining a low mutual coupling between the elementary radiators, sparse subarrays, operating at adjacent frequency ranges, are interleaved on a common (shared) aperture. The sparse architectures are designed using a combinatorial method that ensures an acceptable behavior in the side-lobes region in conjunction with a narrow beamwidth. The effect of the mutual coupling between identical and differently sized elements is accurately evaluated and is accounted for in predicting the performance of each individual radiator. The concept is illustrated by designing a shared aperture antenna consisting of two interwoven subarrays that jointly cover a fractional bandwidth of 14% in the X-band. Cavity-backed, stacked-patches antennas with coaxial feeding are used as elementary radiators.
The detection, investigation and management of hypertension in pregnancy: full consensus statement

Hypertension in pregnancy is associated with increased maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality I t is a common sign, reflecting a number of underlying disorders that may have different clinical outcomes. It is important that a woman with hypertension be diagnosed accurately so that the cause of the hypertension can be identified. She can then be informed about her likely clinical course and be managed appropriately. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are best managed with a multidisciplinary approach; the obstetrician should remain the doctor in charge and seek advice from other appropriate specialists (eg anaesthetists. neonatologists, physicians) where indicated. This document offers a framework for a team approach to the diagnosis, investigation and management of women with hypertension in pregnancy The recommendations are those of a multidisciplinary working party set up by the Australasian Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy to review and revise its previous guidelines for the detection, investigation and management of hypertension in pregnancy They are based on definitions and a classification system that reflect current knowledge. It is recommended that each obstetric unit develop its own management protocols.