Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Energy allocation strategies of young temperate fish: an eco-genetic modeling approach

We use an individual-based eco-genetic model to explore the relative selective pressures of size-dependent predation, overwinter mortality, and density-dependent energy acquisition in structuring plastic and adaptive energy allocation during the first year of life of a temperate fish population. While several patterns emerging from a suite of eco-genetic model simulations were consistent with past theoretical models and empirical evaluations of energy allocation by young fishes, results also highlight the utility of eco-genetic models for simultaneous consideration of plastic and adaptive processes. Across simulations, variation in genetic control of energy allocation was limited during very early ontogeny when size-dependent predation pressure was particularly high. While this stabilizing selection on energy allocation diminished later in the growing season, predation, overwinter mortality, and density-dependent processes simultaneously structured energy partitioning later in ontogeny through the interac.
Long-Term Oral Nutrition Supplementation Improves Outcomes in Malnourished Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease on Hemodialysis

Background: There is no consensus on the type, time of initiation, or duration of use of enteral nutrition in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aimed to compare the effects of a renal-specific oral nutrition supplement (RS-ONS) and a standard recommended nutrition regime on biochemical and nutrition markers in malnourished patients with CKD on hemodialysis. Methods: Sixty-two malnourished patients with CKD, divided into experimental (RS-ONS; n = 32; mean [SD] age, 62.0 [11.3] years; 55.2% female) and control (CON; n = 30; mean [SD] age, 57.2 [12.3] years; 31% female) groups, were evaluated for anthropometric, biochemical, and inflammatory parameters. Results: Mean (SD) serum albumin levels were significantly increased in the RS-ONS group from 3.5 (0.3) g/dL at baseline to 3.7 (0.2) g/dL at 6 months (P = .028). Significantly fewer patients had serum albumin levels of <3.5 g/dL after month 6. Dry weight of patients significantly increased in the RS-ONS but decreased in the CON groups (P < .001 for each). Percent change from baseline revealed negative results for bioelectrical impedance analysis (P < .001) in the CON group. Malnutrition inflammation score at 6 months (P = .006) and erythropoietin (EPO) dose requirements were higher in the CON group (P = .012). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that consuming RS-ONS improves serum albumin and anthropometric measures, as well as reduces EPO dose, in patients with CKD.
Transient and persistent symptoms in patients with lacunar infarction: results from a prospective cohort study

Background The transient symptoms with lacunar infarction (TSI) and persistent symptoms with lacunar infarction (PSI) are the most common forms of symptomatic lacunar infarction (LI). The aim of this study was to compare the differences in TSI and PSI of symptomatic LI. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted in the neurologic outpatients of the tertiary teaching hospital in Northern China between February 2011 and February 2012. The TSI and PSI in participants aged 35 years or over were assessed. Patients were followed up and their outcomes were compared. Results Of the 453 symptomatic outpatients, 251 patients with LI were diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging. Approximately 77.3% (194/251) of the patients with LI at this time had TSI. and the remaining 23.7% had PSI. After the adjusted odds ratios, only middle age (risk ratio [RR], 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.157–1.189), lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (RR, 20.6; 95% CI, 6.705–13.31), smaller lacunae on brain images (RR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.960–4.245), and LI frequently in the anterior circulation territory (RR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.079–0.721) were independently associated with TSI. During a mean follow-up of 6 months, survival rate was significantly higher among patients with TSI than among those with PSI (log rank, 6.9; P=0.010); estimated unadjusted incidence of vascular subsequent events (30.9% vs 54.4%, P=0.001) was significantly lower in TSI than in PSI. Conclusion The TSI has a higher prevalence and is associated with a lower risk of vascular subsequent events and death than PSI. The implications of these findings for TSI and PSI may require different interventions.
Free flap reconstruction for infection of ankle fracture hardware: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND Clinical management of orthopedic hardware infections related to ankle fracture fixation may present difficult therapeutic dilemmas. Typically, management includes removal of the hardware, debridement of necrotic tissue, and eventual placement of an alternative method of stabilization, usually, an external fixator or cast. However, problems arise when the fracture cannot be managed adequately with an external method. Such is the case with supination external rotation (SER) fractures, yet maintaining the hardware in the setting of infection typically is not considered an option. METHODS Case report and review of pertinent English-language literature. RESULTS The patient was a 47-year-old man with diabetes mellitus who sustained a type IV SER fracture that was treated with plate and screw fixation. Six weeks postoperatively, he presented with infection of the lateral ankle incision and the hardware. This was treated with debridement of the wound and dressing changes while leaving the hardware in place. It was decided to use a free muscle flap in an effort to preserve the ankle for a functional outcome versus the alternative of a below-knee amputation. With a free rectus abdominis flap, the lower extremity was preserved, and after four months, the patient was able to walk. One year postoperatively, the patient was ambulating without difficulty, and the hardware was still in place. CONCLUSIONS This report examines the dilemma of SER ankle fractures and how management strategies must be tailored to the individual situation. In some cases, the hardware must be considered essential to avoid below-knee amputation.
Pirfenidone induces intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) down‐regulation on cultured human synovial fibroblasts

Pirfenidone has been shown to modify some cytokine regulatory actions and inhibit fibroblast biochemical reactions resulting in inhibition of proliferation and collagen matrix synthesis by fibroblast. We have investigated the effect of pirfenidone on the expression of cell adhesion molecules. The synovial fibroblasts were treated with IL‐1α in the presence or absence of pirfenidone (range 0–1000 μM), and assayed for the expression of adhesion molecules such as ICAM‐1 and endothelial‐leucocyte adhesion molecule‐1 (E‐selectin) by cell ELISA. Pirfenidone significantly down‐regulated the expression of ICAM‐1 on cultured synovial fibroblasts in a dose‐dependent manner. In contrast, expression of E‐selectin was not affected. Furthermore, we examined whether pirfenidone affects the cellular binding between cultured lymphocytes and IL‐1α‐stimulated synovial fibroblasts by in vitro binding assay and found their mutual binding was significantly suppressed in a dose‐dependent manner by pirfenidone. It is speculated that down‐regulation of ICAM‐1 might be one of the novel mechanisms of action of pirfenidone. These data indicate a novel mechanism of action for pirfenidone to reduce the activation of synovial fibroblasts.
Effects of forest therapy camp on quality of life and stress in postmenopausal women

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of forest therapy camp on quality of life (QOL) and stress in postmenopausal women during a three-day and two-night forest camp. To observe the changes of QOL and stress, examinations of salivary cortisol were performed and a questionnaire concerning QOL was given four times: two weeks before the camp, immediately after the camp, two weeks after the camp, and four weeks after the camp. Immediately after the camp, little change was found concerning the concentration of salivary cortisol. It is supposed that this result was due to the exercise effect of being in the forest, which increased the subjects’ alertness. Two weeks and four weeks after the camp, meaningful changes appeared in the salivary cortisol levels, which confirmed that the effects of forest therapy continue after the camp. QOL results dramatically increased immediately after the camp, and while the two-week results dipped slightly from the initial post-camp results, the increase is still meaningful. The four-week post-camp results dipped slightly more, but the increase is still meaningful. The results of our analysis show that the benefits of forest therapy continue after the completion of the camp. After the camp, the positive effect on depression and QOL lasted for four weeks, and for this reason, we recommend postmenopausal women take monthly visits to forests to improve their mental and physiological stability.
Genetic analysis of 31 Swedish type 1 von Willebrand disease families reveals incomplete linkage to the von Willebrand factor gene and a high frequency of a certain disease haplotype

Summary. Background: The most common type of von Willebrand disease (VWD), type 1, has in only a few cases been explained by an identified causative mutation in the von Willebrand factor (VWF) gene. The ABO blood group and other modifier loci outside the VWF gene may contribute to the development of type 1 VWD. Objectives and methods: Our aim was to determine whether there was genetic linkage to the VWF gene in 31 Swedish type 1 VWD families. Stringent diagnostic criteria in accordance with ISTH guidelines were used. Genetic linkage was investigated by using two highly informative dinucleotide microsatellite markers, which we have recently identified, located in introns six and 15 of the VWF gene. We also investigated the existence of common disease haplotypes and the relation between type 1 VWD and ABO blood group. Results: We found genetic linkage to the VWF gene in 27 (87%) of the families. However, in four (13%) of the families, there was clearly no genetic linkage. We found the 4751A>G (Tyr1584Cys) sequence variation in exon 28, which is a common mutation in the Canadian VWD population (14.3%), in only one of the 31 families (3.2%). A possible common mutation was identified in six of the 27 (22%) families with genetic linkage. Blood group O was over‐represented among type 1 VWD patients. Conclusion: We conclude that there is linkage between the VWF gene and hereditary type 1 VWD in a majority of families.
Measuring rDNA diversity in eukaryotic microbial systems: how intragenomic variation, pseudogenes, and PCR artifacts confound biodiversity estimates

Molecular approaches have revolutionized our ability to study the ecology and evolution of micro‐organisms. Among the most widely used genetic markers for these studies are genes and spacers of the rDNA operon. However, the presence of intragenomic rDNA variation, especially among eukaryotes, can potentially confound estimates of microbial diversity. To test this hypothesis, bacterially cloned PCR products of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region from clonal isolates of Symbiodinium, a large genus of dinoflagellates that live in symbiosis with many marine protists and invertebrate metazoa, were sequenced and analysed. We found widely differing levels of intragenomic sequence variation and divergence in representatives of Symbiodinium clades A to E, with only a small number of variants attributed to Taq polymerase/bacterial cloning error or PCR chimeras. Analyses of 5.8S‐rDNA and ITS2 secondary structure revealed that some variants possessed base substitutions and/or indels that destabilized the folded form of these molecules; given the vital nature of secondary structure to the function of these molecules, these likely represent pseudogenes. When similar controls were applied to bacterially cloned ITS sequences from a recent survey of Symbiodinium diversity in Hawaiian Porites spp. , most variants (~87.5%) possessed unstable secondary structures, had unprecedented mutations, and/or were PCR chimeras. Thus, data obtained from sequencing of bacterially cloned rDNA genes can substantially exaggerate the level of eukaryotic microbial diversity inferred from natural samples if appropriate controls are not applied. These considerations must be taken into account when interpreting sequence data generated by bacterial cloning of multicopy genes such as rDNA.
Bewertung automatisch erkannter Ausprägungen von Software-Mustern

Da die meisten bisherigen Mustererkennungsverfahren nur absolute Aussagen machen (eine Musterauspragung ist entweder vorhanden oder nicht), stehen dem Reverse Engineer keine Informationen uber die Qualitat der Suchergebnisse zur Verfugung. Die Identifikation der relevanten Suchergebnisse kann bei grosen Softwaresystemen und entsprechend vielen Ergebnissen muhsam und zeitraubend werden. Bei den wenigen Mustererkennungsverfahren, welche die Suchergebnisse bewerten [NWW03, Wen05], weist das Bewertungsverfahren erhebliche Mangel auf (Details in [Tra06]). Die Bewertungen haben nur eine geringe Aussagekraft.
3D reconstruction of multiple stained histology images

Context: Three dimensional (3D) tissue reconstructions from the histology images with different stains allows the spatial alignment of structural and functional elements highlighted by different stains for quantitative study of many physiological and pathological phenomena. This has significant potential to improve the understanding of the growth patterns and the spatial arrangement of diseased cells, and enhance the study of biomechanical behavior of the tissue structures towards better treatments (e.g. tissue-engineering applications). Methods: This paper evaluates three strategies for 3D reconstruction from sets of two dimensional (2D) histological sections with different stains, by combining methods of 2D multi-stain registration and 3D volumetric reconstruction from same stain sections. Setting and Design: The different strategies have been evaluated on two liver specimens (80 sections in total) stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H and E), Sirius Red, and Cytokeratin (CK) 7. Results and Conclusion: A strategy of using multi-stain registration to align images of a second stain to a volume reconstructed by same-stain registration results in the lowest overall error, although an interlaced image registration approach may be more robust to poor section quality.
Expression of human leukocyte antigen-G and acute rejection in patients following liver transplantation

Acute liver rejection is one of the most severe complications that may affect the liver transplantation procedure. Thus, one of the most important focal points in the field of liver transplantation research is to discover a non-invasive or less-invasive method of diagnosing and predicting cases of acute liver rejection. In the present study, 59 tissue samples, including blood and liver tissues, were collected from patients who underwent liver transplantation between March 2005 and November 2009. The patients were divided into acute rejection and no rejection groups, the latter of which was further divided into normal and abnormal liver function groups. The samples were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry methods. The results were analyzed and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted. The area under the ROC curve and the sensitivity and specificity of the cut-off point were analyzed statistically. The results indicated that the expression level of human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) in the serum and liver samples in the acute rejection group was markedly lower than that in the no rejection group (P<0.001 and P=0.004, respectively). Furthermore, in the no rejection group, no statistically significant difference was identified in the level of HLA-G between patients with normal or abnormal liver function (P=0.0593). The area under the ROC curve was 0.805. When 2.41 U/ml HLA-G was considered as the cut-off point for the diagnosis of acute liver rejection, the sensitivity and specificity were 72.7 and 83.8%, respectively. In conclusion, in the present study, a high expression of the HLA-G was shown to correlate with a reduced occurrence of acute liver rejection. HLA-G may thus be an effective factor for the diagnosis and prediction of acute liver rejection.
Two-dimensional flow of foam around a circular obstacle: local measurements of elasticity, plasticity and flow

We investigate the two-dimensional flow of a liquid foam around a circular obstacle by measuring all the local fields necessary to describe this flow: velocity, pressure, and bubble deformations and rearrangements. We show how our experimental set-up, a quasi-two-dimensional ‘liquid pool’ system, is adapted to the determination of these fields: the velocity and bubble deformations are easy to measure from two-dimensional movies, and the pressure can be measured by exploiting a specific feature of this system, a two-dimensional effective compressibility. To describe accurately neighbour swapping (so-called ‘T1’ processes), we propose a new, tensorial descriptor. All these quantities are evaluated via an averaging procedure that we justify by showing that the fluctuations of the fields are essentially Gaussian. The flow is extensively studied in a reference experimental case; the velocity presents an overshoot in the wake of the obstacle, and the pressure is maximum at the leading side and minimal at the trailing side. The study of the elastic deformations and of the velocity gradients shows that the transition between plug flow and yielded regions is smooth. Our tensorial description of T1s highlights their correlation both with the bubble deformations and the velocity gradients. A salient feature of the flow, notably for the velocity and T1 distribution, is a marked fore–aft asymmetry, the signature of the elastic behaviour of the foam. We show that the results do not change qualitatively when various control parameters (flow rate, bubble area, fluid fraction, bulk viscosity, obstacle size and boundary conditions) vary, identifying a robust quasi-static regime. These results are discussed in the framework of the foam rheology literature. A movie is available with the online version of the paper.
Functional Requirements for Interactions Between CD84 and Src Homology 2 Domain-Containing Proteins and Their Contribution to Human T Cell Activation 1

Cell surface receptors belonging to the CD2 subset of the Ig superfamily of molecules include CD2, CD48, CD58, 2B4, signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM), Ly9, CD84, and the recently identified molecules NTB-A/Ly108/SLAM family (SF) 2000, CD84H-1/SF2001, B lymphocyte activator macrophage expressed (BLAME), and CRACC (CD2-like receptor-activating cytotoxic cells)/CS-1. Some of these receptors, such as CD2, SLAM, 2B4, CRACC, and NTB-A, contribute to the activation and effector function of T cells and NK cells. Signaling pathways elicited via some of these receptors are believed to involve the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing cytoplasmic adaptor protein SLAM-associated protein (SAP), as it is recruited to SLAM, 2B4, CD84, NTB-A, and Ly-9. Importantly, mutations in SAP cause the inherited human immunodeficiency X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP), suggesting that XLP may result from perturbed signaling via one or more of these SAP-associating receptors. We have now studied the requirements for SAP recruitment to CD84 and lymphocyte activation elicited following ligation of CD84 on primary and transformed human T cells. CD84 was found to be rapidly tyrosine phosphorylated following receptor ligation on activated T cells, an event that involved the Src kinase Lck. Phosphorylation of CD84 was indispensable for the recruitment of SAP, which was mediated by Y262 within the cytoplasmic domain of CD84 and by R32 within the SH2 domain of SAP. Furthermore, ligating CD84 enhanced the proliferation of anti-CD3 mAb-stimulated human T cells. Strikingly, this effect was also apparent in SAP-deficient T cells obtained from patients with XLP. These results reveal a novel function of CD84 on human lymphocytes and suggest that CD84 can activate human T cells via a SAP-independent mechanism.
Integrating Radio Imaging With Gene Expressions Toward a Personalized Management of Cancer

Radiographic-imaging modalities like computerized tomography, positron emission tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging are playing a major role in the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer. Gene and protein expression patterns, from the tumor genome, are seen to facilitate individualized selection of therapies. Along with breakthroughs in biotechnology, applicable within cancer radiation biology, a new research field called Radiogenomics has been born in radiation oncology. Associating genotypes with imaging phenotypes holds promise for personalized optimal treatment. Segmentation and feature selection from the region of interest in an image are followed by correlation with the gene expression profile of the tumor in order to determine its noninvasive surrogates. This paper highlights the roles of quantitative imaging, genomics, and radiogenomics for a patient-specific tumor management.
Design of configurable power efficient 2-dimensional crossbar switch for network-on-chip(NoC)

Network-on-Chip is an emerging paradigm for integrating very high number of Intellectual Property blocks on a single Integrated Chip. In this paper, crossbar switch is designed for 2-D Mesh Network-on-Chip to meet the current requirements of high speed networks. The design reduced the power consumption significantly and can meet the scalable bandwidth. The functional verification of the crossbar switch design using ModelSim 6.4a has been shown. Synthesis has been performed on Xilinx 13.3 and it is verified using FPGA.
Well-being on campus: testing the effectiveness of an online strengths-based intervention for first year college students

ABSTRACT The present research examined the effectiveness of an 8-week online strengths-based intervention in promoting subjective and psychological well-being of first year university students. The intervention was composed of five modules pertaining to (a) finding and cultivating on character strengths, (b) regulation of emotions and increasing positive emotions, (c) constructive communication, establishing social connectedness and positive relationships (d) effective decision-making and problem solving and (e) achieving flow and practicing gratitude. A total 92 students volunteered to participate in the study. They were randomly assigned to either the intervention or a control group. Students’ quality of life (psychological health and social relations domains), life satisfaction, subjective happiness and ontological well-being were measured before and after the intervention. Significant improvements in well-being of intervention group participants were observed over an 8-week period whereas control group participants did not show a significant increase in any of these well-being variables.
Exceptional blood loss anemia. Treatment with hyperbaric oxygen.

TREATMENT of blood loss anemia in patients who, for religious beliefs, refuse blood transfusion is vexing. Three schools of thought exist. The "aggressive" school would remove from the patient, by court order, the right to refuse transfusion. The "passive" school would let the patient lapse into coma, whereupon the nearest of kin would adjudicate the application of blood products. The third school would give blood to the patient when unconscious, but deny the fact if he or his family inquires. Damage to the central nervous system could occur from lack of oxygen if the last two approaches are adopted. Philosophically, the author agrees with Fitts et al, 1 who advocate the exploration of alternative treatment methods. Boerema et al 2 demonstrated that when treated with hyperbaric oxygen, pigs could survive otherwise intolerable reduction of red blood cell (RBC) mass for brief periods without neurological deficits. Lambertsen et al 3 observed