Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of multilayered hosiery in reducing in-shoe plantar foot pressure in high-risk patients with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE High plantar pressure is an acknowledged risk factor in the development of plantar ulcers in the diabetic neuropathic foot. This study examines the ability of preventive foot care (PFC) socks to reduce plantar foot pressures in a sample of high-risk patients with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Nineteen patients with established peripheral neuropathy attending a complications clinic of the Manchester Diabetes Centre were recruited to the study. Fifteen (78%) of the patients were male, 40-80 years of age, and ulcer-free at the time of recruitment. In-shoe plantar pressure measurements were recorded using the F-Scan and compared PFC socks with ordinary supermarket socks. The analysis measured differences in maximum foot contact area and plantar pressure for the whole foot, forefoot, and peak plantar pressure areas. RESULTS The results showed a significant increase in maximum foot contact area of 11 cm2 (95% CI 7-11) when subjects wore the PFC socks (P < 0.01). This was accompanied by 5.4 kPa (3.5-7.3) or 9% reduction in total foot pressure (P < 0.01). Similar results were observed at the forefoot, which showed a 14.2% increase in contact area and a 10.2% reduction in peak forefoot pressure. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the wearing of PFC socks increases the underfoot contact area and hence decreases plantar foot pressures. Further studies are required to determine whether the pressure and friction reductions achieved by this simple intervention would be effective in reducing the incidence of foot ulcers in high-risk patients.
Effects of Exergaming and Message Framing in School Environments on Physical Activity Attitudes and Intentions of Children and Adolescents

Although interventions targeting the health of students in schools are becoming common, few studies have examined how health messages operate at the group level in school environments. This study examines the effects of message-based health interventions (extrinsic vs. intrinsic goal framing) in group environments (exergame competitive vs. exergame noncompetitive) on eliciting attitudes and intentions toward physical activity among children and adolescents. We conducted a 7-week school-based intervention program involving 336 children and 259 adolescents in Singapore in which pre- and post-intervention responses were recorded. Our findings revealed the difference in responses between child and adolescent groups. Children who participated in noncompetitive exergames with extrinsically framed health messages and those who participated in competitive exergames with intrinsically framed health messages demonstrated more favorable attitudes toward physical activity. However, the same effects were absent in our adolescent group. These findings suggest that the integration of exergames into competitive and noncompetitive environments can serve as a gateway to traditional physical activity in schools when strategically combined with intrinsically and extrinsically framed messages. Practical and theoretical implications for schools and health educators are discussed.
Platelet integrins and immunoreceptors

Summary: Stable platelet adhesion to extracellular matrices and the formation of a hemostatic or pathological thrombus are dependent on integrin αIIbβ3, also known as GPIIb–IIIa. However, maximal platelet responses to vascular injury may involve the participation of other integrins expressed in platelets (αVβ3, α2β1, α5β1, and α6β1). Platelet membrane ‘immunoreceptors’ contain at least one subunit with an extracellular immunoglobulin superfamily domain and/or an intracellular stimulatory immunoreceptor tyrosine‐based activation motif (ITAM) or immunoreceptor tyrosine‐based inhibitory motif (ITIM). Platelet ITAM receptors, such as FcγRIIA and the GPVI–FcRγ complex, promote activation of integrins, while ITIM receptors, such as platelet–endothelial cell adhesion molecule‐1, may promote their inhibition. This review summarizes the structure and function of platelet integrins and immunoreceptors, the emerging functional relationships between these receptor classes, and the consequences of their interaction for platelet function in hemostasis and thrombosis.
Prion Propagation and Toxicity Occur In Vitro with Two-Phase Kinetics Specific to Strain and Neuronal Type

ABSTRACT Prion diseases, or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), are fatal neurodegenerative disorders that occur in humans and animals. The neuropathological hallmarks of TSEs are spongiosis, glial proliferation, and neuronal loss. The only known specific molecular marker of TSEs is the abnormal isoform (PrPSc) of the host-encoded prion protein (PrPC), which accumulates in the brain of infected subjects and forms infectious prion particles. Although this transmissible agent lacks a specific nucleic acid component, several prion strains have been isolated. Prion strains are characterized by differences in disease outcome, PrPSc distribution patterns, and brain lesion profiles at the terminal stage of the disease. The molecular factors and cellular mechanisms involved in strain-specific neuronal tropism and toxicity remain largely unknown. Currently, no cellular model exists to facilitate in vitro studies of these processes. A few cultured cell lines that maintain persistent scrapie infections have been developed, but only two of them have shown the cytotoxic effects associated with prion propagation. In this study, we have developed primary neuronal cultures to assess in vitro neuronal tropism and toxicity of different prion strains (scrapie strains 139A, ME7, and 22L). We have tested primary neuronal cultures enriched in cerebellar granular, striatal, or cortical neurons. Our results showed that (i) a strain-specific neuronal tropism operated in vitro; (ii) the cytotoxic effect varied among strains and neuronal cell types; (iii) prion propagation and toxicity occurred in two kinetic phases, a replicative phase followed by a toxic phase; and (iv) neurotoxicity peaked when abnormal PrP accumulation reached a plateau.
Airway Epithelial MyD88 Restores Control of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Murine Infection via an IL-1–Dependent Pathway

The opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes rapidly progressive and tissue-destructive infections, such as hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonias. Innate immune responses are critical in controlling P. aeruginosa in the mammalian lung, as demonstrated by the increased susceptibility of MyD88−/− mice to this pathogen. Experiments conducted using bone marrow chimeric mice demonstrated that radio-resistant cells participated in initiating MyD88-dependent innate immune responses to P. aeruginosa. In this study we used a novel transgenic mouse model to demonstrate that MyD88 expression by epithelial cells is sufficient to generate a rapid and protective innate immune response following intranasal infection with P. aeruginosa. MyD88 functions as an adaptor for many TLRs. However, mice in which multiple TLR pathways (e.g., TLR2/TLR4/TLR5) are blocked are not as compromised in their response to P. aeruginosa as mice lacking MyD88. We demonstrate that IL-1R signaling is an essential element of MyD88-dependent epithelial cell responses to P. aeruginosa infection.
How many tree species are there in the Amazon and how many of them will go extinct?

New roads, agricultural projects, logging, and mining are claiming an ever greater area of once-pristine Amazonian forest. The Millennium Ecosystems Assessment (MA) forecasts the extinction of a large fraction of Amazonian tree species based on projected loss of forest cover over the next several decades. How accurate are these estimates of extinction rates? We use neutral theory to estimate the number, relative abundance, and range size of tree species in the Amazon metacommunity and estimate likely tree-species extinctions under published optimistic and nonoptimistic Amazon scenarios. We estimate that the Brazilian portion of the Amazon Basin has (or had) 11,210 tree species that reach sizes >10 cm DBH (stem diameter at breast height). Of these, 3,248 species have population sizes >1 million individuals, and, ignoring possible climate-change effects, almost all of these common species persist under both optimistic and nonoptimistic scenarios. At the rare end of the abundance spectrum, however, neutral theory predicts the existence of ≈5,308 species with <10,000 individuals each that are expected to suffer nearly a 50% extinction rate under the nonoptimistic deforestation scenario and an ≈37% loss rate even under the optimistic scenario. Most of these species have small range sizes and are highly vulnerable to local habitat loss. In ensembles of 100 stochastic simulations, we found mean total extinction rates of 20% and 33% of tree species in the Brazilian Amazon under the optimistic and nonoptimistic scenarios, respectively.
PLASMA OXYTOCIN IMMUNOREACTIVE PRODUCTS AND RESPONSE TO TRUST IN PATIENTS WITH SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER

Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder (GSAD) is characterized by excessive fear and avoidance of several types of social and performance situations. The pathophysiology is not well understood, but research in animals and humans has provided evidence that oxytocin helps regulate normal social affiliative behavior. Previous work in healthy male subjects demonstrated a rise in plasma oxytocin after receiving a high trust signal. To examine the oxytocin system in GSAD, we measured plasma oxytocin in GSAD patients and controls, before and after the social “Trust Game,” a neuroeconomic test examining trust behavior and reaction to trust using real monetary incentives.
Size effect on ductile-to-brittle transition in Cu-solder-Cu micro-joints

We report tensile properties of intermetallic compound (IMC)-based solder joints. A systematic study of the mechanical properties of solder joint covering a broad size spectrum from BGA (ball grid array), flip chip joint, to microbump, which are key components used in 3D IC packaging, has been performed. We found that when the size of solder joint is smaller than 70 μm, brittle fracture tends to occur due to IMC embrittlement. When the solder joint size is greater than 70 μm, ductile fracture within solder itself is dominant. The brittleness for microbump in 5-20 μm in diameter used for 3D IC packaging will be a long term mechanical reliability issue as IMC-based solder joint is highly susceptible to brittle fracture. Besides focusing on strengthening for solder, more of research effort should be paid on how to increase the fracture toughness of the intermetallics for sub-20 μm micro-joints. Four different fracture mechanisms are also summarized in this paper for the mechanical failure of solder joints.
The Patients Associated With TMPRSS3 Mutations Are Good Candidates for Electric Acoustic Stimulation

Objectives: To clarify the frequency of TMPRSS3 mutations in the hearing loss population, genetic analysis was performed, and detailed clinical characteristics were collected. Optical intervention for patients with TMPRSS3 mutations was also discussed. Methods: Massively parallel DNA sequencing (MPS) was applied for the target exon-sequencing of 63 deafness genes in a population of 1120 Japanese hearing loss patients. Results: Hearing loss in 5 patients was found to be caused by compound heterozygous TMPRSS3 mutations, and their detailed clinical features were collected and analyzed. Typically, all of the patients showed ski slope type audiograms and progressive hearing loss. Three of the 5 patients received electric acoustic stimulation (EAS), which showed good results. Further, the onset age was found to vary, and there were some correlations between genotype and phenotype (onset age). Conclusions: MPS is a powerful tool for the identification of rare causative deafness genes, such as TMPRSS3. The present clinical characteristics not only confirmed the findings from previous studies but also provided clinical evidence that EAS is beneficial for patients possessing TMPRSS3 mutations.
Super-shedding cattle and the transmission dynamics of Escherichia coli O157

SUMMARY The prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 displays striking variability across the Scottish cattle population. On 78% of farms, in a cross-sectional survey of 952, no shedding of E. coli O157 was detected, but on a small proportion, ∼2%, very high prevalences of infection were found (with 90–100% of pats sampled being positive). We ask whether this variation arises from the inherent stochasticity in transmission dynamics or whether it is a signature of underlying heterogeneities in the cattle population. A novel approach is taken whereby the cross-sectional data are viewed as providing independent snapshots of a dynamic process. Using maximum-likelihood methods to fit time-dependent epidemiological models to the data we obtain estimates for the rates of immigration and transmission of E. coli O157 infection – parameters which have not been previously quantified in the literature. A comparison of alternative model fits reveals that the variation in the prevalence data is best explained when a proportion of the cattle are assumed to transmit infection at much higher levels than the rest – the so-called super-shedders. Analysis of a second dataset, comprising samples taken from 32 farms at monthly intervals over a period of 1 year, additionally yields an estimate for the rate of recovery from infection. The pattern of prevalence displayed in the second dataset also strongly supports the super-shedder hypothesis.
Cochlear Blood Flow Modifications Induced by Anaesthetic Drugs in Middle Ear Surgery: Comparison Between Sevoflurane and Propofol

Objective --Because it is necessary to maintain controlled hypotension during middle ear surgery in order to avoid bleeding and as it is known that cochlear blood flow (CBF) is related to blood pressure (BP), it is useful to evaluate CBF modifications induced by anaesthetics in order to prevent cochlear damage. The aim of this paper is to evaluate, using laser Doppler flowmetry, which anaesthetic drug, out of sevoflurane and propofol, has the smallest effect on CBF. Material and Methods --Twenty consenting adult patients scheduled for myringoplasty under general anaesthesia for simple tympanic membrane perforation were studied. Patients were divided into two groups: the first group was treated with sevoflurane and the second with propofol. For the first group, CBF measurement was carried out on three different occasions: (i) at a basal low drug dosage; (ii) having increased the drug dosage to a higher level; and (iii) having reduced the drug dosage to the basal low level again. For the second group, CBF measurement was carried out on three different occasions: (i) 10 min after injecting a bolus of propofol; (ii) immediately after a second propofol injection; and (iii) 10 min after a third injection of propofol. A probe was placed over the promontory in order to measure CBF levels. Results --In the subjects treated with sevoflurane, after having increased the drug dosage, BP decreased significantly while CBF did not change significantly. In the subjects treated with propofol we recorded a significant reduction in BP, as well as a decrease in CBF. Conclusion --The results obtained show that sevoflurane has a hypotensive effect without modifying CBF, while propofol, although having a similar effect on BP to sevoflurane, has less of a protective effect on inner ear microcirculation.
A novel voltage reference with an improved folded cascode current mirror OpAmp dedicated for energy harvesting application

In this paper, a CMOS ultra-low voltage reference circuit with ultra-low power consumption of 220nW is proposed. The circuit, simulated in 65nm standard CMOS process technology, operates with a supply voltage of 1V. It is based on sub-threshold MOSFETs using the technique of compensating a PTAT-based variable with the gate source voltage of a sub-threshold MOSFET. The novelty of circuit is the use of an improved folded cascode current mirror op-amp operating directly from a 1V power supply. The resulting voltage is equal to the extrapolated threshold voltage of a MOSFET at absolute zero temperature, which was about 435mV for the MOSFETs used. The proposed circuit achieves an average temperature coefficient of 30ppm/°C, 12ppm/V in line regulation for a supply voltage range of 0.6-1.2V, and a power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) of -38dB at 100Hz. The overall power consumption is only 220nW.
Polymorphism in APOB associated with increased low-density lipoprotein levels in both genders in the general population.

CONTEXT Rare mutations in APOB cause hypercholesterolemia. Whether common polymorphisms in APOB have similar effects remains controversial. OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that the APOB 7673C>T polymorphism (T2488T) is associated with variation in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels and with risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD), ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD), and total mortality in the general population. DESIGN The design was a cohort study with 22-yr follow-up (166,232 person years) and two case-control studies, The Copenhagen City Heart Study. SETTINGS The study was performed within the Danish general population and at a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS The study was comprised of 9185 individuals from the general population, 2157 patients with IHD, and 378 patients with ICVD. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The main outcome measures were lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins (apo), IHD, ICVD, and total mortality. RESULTS Genotype was associated with increases in total cholesterol (women/men), LDL cholesterol, and apoB of 0.20/0.26 mmol/liter (3.3%/4.4%), 0.22/0.28 mmol/liter (5.9%/7.8%), and 5.0/5.6 mg/dl (5.9%/6.7%) in TT vs. CC homozygotes, respectively. These results were consistent over time. Despite this, the 7673C>T polymorphism was not associated with risk of IHD, ICVD, or total mortality prospectively or in case-control studies. CONCLUSION The APOB 7673C>T polymorphism is associated with moderate increases in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and apoB in both genders in the general population, but not with risk of IHD, ICVD, or total mortality.
Analysis of Bub3 spindle checkpoint function in Xenopus egg extracts

The spindle checkpoint delays the onset of anaphase if there are any defects in the interactions between spindle microtubules and kinetochores. This checkpoint has been reconstituted in vitro in Xenopus egg extracts, and here we use antibodies to Xenopus Bub3 (XBub3) to show that this protein is required for both the activation and the maintenance of a spindle checkpoint arrest in egg extracts. We detect two forms of XBub3 in egg extracts and find both to be complexed with the XBub1 and XBubR1 kinases. Only one form of XBub3 is apparent in Xenopus tissue culture (XTC) cells, and localisation studies reveal that, unlike the Mad proteins, which are concentrated at the nuclear periphery, XBub3 is diffusely localised throughout the nucleus during interphase. During early prophase it is recruited to kinetochores, where it remains until chromosomes align at the metaphase plate. We discuss the mechanism by which our α-XBub3 antibodies interfere with the checkpoint and possible roles for XBub3 in the spindle checkpoint pathway.
Specialization and complementarity in microbial molecule recognition by human myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Following encounter with pathogens, dendritic cells (DC) mature and migrate from peripheral tissues to the T cell areas of secondary lymphoid organs, where they produce regulatory cytokines and prime naive T lymphocytes. We investigated in two subsets of human peripheral blood DC the expression of Toll‐like receptors (TLR1 through TLR9) and the regulation of chemokine receptors and cytokine production in response to different maturation stimuli. Myeloid DC express all TLR except TLR7 and TLR9, which are selectively expressed by plasmacytoid DC. Myeloid and plasmacytoid DC respond to pathogen‐associated molecular patterns according to their TLR expression. In response to the appropriate stimuli both DC types up‐regulate CCR7, a receptor that drives DC migration to the T cell areas. Type I IFN was produced only by plasmacytoid DC and at early time points after stimulation. Furthermore, its production was elicited by some of the maturation stimuli tested. These results reveal a remarkable specialization and complementarity in microbial molecule recognition as well as a flexibility in effector function among myeloid and plasmacytoid DC.
Characterization and in vitro degradation of salicylate-derived poly(anhydride-ester microspheres)

The aim of this study was to investigate how glass transition temperature (Tg) influenced polymer microsphere formation and degradation of three chemically, similar novel salicylatebased poly(anhydride-esters): poly[1,6-bis(o-carboxyphenoxy)hexanoate] (CPH), Tg = 59°C; poly[1,8-bis(o-carboxyphenoxy)octanoate] (CPO), Tg = 30°C; and poly[1,10-bis(ocarboxyphenoxy) decanoate] (CPD), Tg = 27°C. Microspheres of these polymers were prepared using a modified oil-in-water solvent evaporation method and processed by either resuspension or washed by centrifugation. The morphology of the microspheres determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that an extra washing step appears to increase aggregation as the Tg decreases; whereas only limited aggregation occurred in the polymer with the lowest Tg, CPD, in those not washed by centrifugation. Residual polyvinyl alcohol apparently affected the drug release rates from the microspheres by a stabilization process that produced an 8 h lag time and a 5% decrease in the amount of drug released over a 7 day period compared to microspheres washed free of PVA. These results demonstrate that salicylate-based poly(anhydride-esters) with sufficiently high Tgs, can be processed into microspheres that release salicylate over a time period amenable for drug delivery applications.
Embedding Care Management in the Medical Home

Introduction: Care managers are playing increasingly significant roles in the redesign of primary care and in the evolution of patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs), yet their adoption within day-to-day practice remains uneven and approaches for implementation have been minimally reported. We introduce a strategy for incorporating care management into the operations of a PCMH and assess the preliminary effectiveness of this approach. Methods: A case study of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Family Medicine Center used an organizational model of innovation implementation to guide the parameters of implementation and evaluation. Two sources were used to determine the effectiveness of the implementation strategy: data elements from the care management informatics system in the health record and electronic survey data from the Family Medicine Center providers and care staff. Results: A majority of physicians (75%) and support staff (82%) reported interactions with the care manager, primarily via face-to-face, telephone, or electronic means, primarily for facilitating referrals for behavioral health services and assistance with financial and social and community-based resources. Trend line suggests an absolute decrease of 8 emergency department visits per month for recipients of care management services and an absolute decrease of 7.5 inpatient admissions per month during the initial 2-year implementation period. Discussion: An organizational model of innovation implementation is a potentially effective approach to guide the process of incorporating care management services into the structure and workflows of PCMHs.