Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kinematic Modeling of Jaw-closing Movement during Food Breakage

It has been demonstrated that the vertical jaw movement trajectories during gum-chewing can be explained by jerk-cost minimization. However, it is uncertain whether the masticatory jaw movement in space can be predicted by the minimum-jerk model. The aims of the present study were to develop minimum-jerk models that would explain 3D masticatory jaw movements with different hardnesses of foods, and to evaluate if the models can predict the movements accurately. The 3D masticatory jaw movement during food breakage was formulated for two types of test foods. The coefficients of determination (R2) between the measured and model-based values ranged from 0.846 to 0.882. Differences were found in the kinematic parameters between the test foods. The results suggest that the models predict the 3D jaw movements during food breakage and are effective in differentiating among the kinematic features of masticatory jaw movements that are peculiar to the mechanical properties of foodstuffs.
Maternal Death in the United States: A Problem Solved or a Problem Ignored?

The United States has a higher ratio of maternal deaths than at least 40 other countries, even though it spends more money per capita for maternity care than any other. The lack of a comprehensive, confidential system of ascertainment of maternal death designed to record and analyze every maternal death continues to subject U.S. women to unnecessary risk of preventable mortality. Maternal deaths must be reviewed to make motherhood safer. The United Kingdom’s Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health is considered the “gold standard” of national professional self-evaluation. The aim of the Safe Motherhood Quilt Project is to raise public awareness of the rising U.S. maternal death rate and necessary steps to a solution.
The suitability of metallic iron for environmental remediation

Aqueous contaminant removal in the presence of metallic iron is often regarded as a reductive transformation mediated by the Fe0 surface. However, successful removal of theoretically nonreducible contaminants has been largely reported. This article presents a rebuttal of the concept of contaminant reductive transformation. It is argued through a careful examination of the evolution of the volume and adsorptive properties of iron and its corrosion products that contaminants are primarily adsorbed and coprecipitated with iron corrosion products. One may wonder how the Fe0 technology will develop with the new concept. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2010
Regulation and Corporate Board Composition

The papers of this dissertation (pages 15-134) are not available in BI Brage, due to copyright matters: • Article 1: Does mandatory gender balance work? Changing organizational form to avoid board upheaval Authors: Oyvind Bohren and Siv Staubo • Article 2: Female directors and board independence: Evidence from boards with mandatory gender balance Authors: Oyvind Bohren and Siv Staubo • Article 3: Determinants of board independence in a free contracting environment Authors: Siv Staubo. - A complete version of the dissertation (print copy) may be ordered from BI’s website: http://www.bi. edu/research/Research-Publications
A MAPK pathway is involved in the control of cortical granule reaction and mitosis during bovine fertilization

In order to understand the mechanism by which mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) regulates fertilization, we examined the effect of the MAPK pathway inhibitor U0126 on polyspermy, cortical granule reaction and mitosis in bovine oocytes during and after fertilization. Oocytes were treated with 30 µM U0126 for 30 min prior to insemination, or from 15 to 27 hr following insemination. Western blotting with antibodies that detect active, phosphorylated MAPK revealed that MAPK activity was decreased in U0126 treated oocytes. Oocytes that were treated with U0126 before insemination displayed a significantly higher incidence of polyspermic penetration and incomplete cortical granule reaction than that observed in untreated oocytes (P < 0.05). Exposure of oocytes to 30µM U0126 15–27 hr after insemination induced aberrant microtubule assembly and cell division, often resulting in the formation of two or three daughter cells with altered shapes and sizes. These results suggest that an ERK‐like cascade is part of a mechanism that controls cortical granule reaction and the formation of the mitotic spindle following sperm penetration in the bovine. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 1300–1306, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Incorporation of the nuclear pore basket protein Nup153 into nuclear pore structures is dependent upon lamina assembly: evidence from cell‐free extracts of Xenopus eggs

In cell‐free extracts of Xenopus eggs that support the assembly of replication‐competent nuclei, we found that lamin B3 specifically associates with four polypeptides (termed SLAPs, soluble lamin associated proteins). Here, one SLAP is identified as the nuclear pore complex protein Nup153, one member of the F/GXFG motif‐containing nucleoporins. In vitro translated Nup153 and lamin B3 co‐immunoprecipitate, and lamin B3 interacts specifically with the C‐terminal domain of Nup153. During nuclear envelope assembly, other F/GXFG‐containing nucleoporins are incorporated into the nuclear envelope preceding lamina assembly. Incorporation of Nup153 occurs at the same time as lamina assembly. When lamina assembly is prevented using the dominant‐negative mutant XlaminBΔ2+, Nup153 does not appear at the nuclear envelope, while other F/GXFG‐containing nucleoporins and Nup93 are recruited normally. When the lamina of pre‐assembled nuclei is disrupted using the same dominant‐negative mutant, the distribution of other nucleoporins is unaffected. However, Nup153 recruitment at the nuclear envelope is lost. Our results indicate that both the recruitment and maintenance of Nup153 at the pore are dependent upon the integrity of the lamina.
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is involved in the severity of ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a progressive chronic inflammatory disease mainly characterized by axial skeleton and sacroiliac joint involvement. We aimed to investigate the relation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and disease severity of AS and to explore its availability in clinical practice. METHODS A total of 102 AS patients and 60 individuals who were age- and gender-compatible with the control group were included into the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) scores. Patients with BASDAI scores < 4 were considered to be having mild disease activity, whereas those with scores ≥ 4 were considered to be displaying severe disease activity. Hemogram test during the diagnosis, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) and other laboratory values of the control group were recorded. RESULTS NLR was observed to be higher in AS patients compared to the controls (2.47 ± 1.33 and 1.72 ± 0.47; respectively; p<0.0001). NLR was observed to be significantly higher in severe AS disease activity compared to the mild AS disease activity (2.72 ± 1.41, 2.20 ± 1.19; respectively; p = 0.001). NLR had statistical significant differences between mild disease activity compared to the controls (2.20 ± 1.19 and 1.72 ± 0.47, respectively; p = 0.263). There was a positive correlation between NLR and BASDAI (r = 0.193, p = 0.041). The performance of NLR evaluating the disease severity by Roc analysis had sensitivity of 69%, specificity of 54% (cut-off value 1.91), and AUC of 0.652 (95% Cl, 0.549-0.755) (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS NLR may be a simple and inexpensive marker to indicate disease activity in patients with AS in daily clinical practice (Tab. 3, Fig. 3, Ref. 25).
Rediscovering MDMA (ecstasy): the role of the American chemist Alexander T. Shulgin.

AIMS Alexander T. Shulgin is widely thought of as the 'father' of +/-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). This paper re-assesses his role in the modern history of this drug. METHODS We analysed systematically Shulgin's original publications on MDMA, his publications on the history of MDMA and his laboratory notebook. RESULTS According to Shulgin's book PIHKAL (1991), he synthesized MDMA in 1965, but did not try it. In the 1960s Shulgin also synthesized MDMA-related compounds such as 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MMDA) and 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDE), but this had no impact on his rediscovery of MDMA. In the mid-1970s Shulgin learned of a 'special effect' caused by MDMA, whereupon he re-synthesized it and tried it himself in September 1976, as confirmed by his laboratory notebook. In 1977 he gave MDMA to Leo Zeff PhD, who used it as an adjunct to psychotherapy and introduced it to other psychotherapists. CONCLUSION Shulgin was not the first to synthesize MDMA, but he played an important role in its history. It seems plausible that he was so impressed by its effects that he introduced it to psychotherapist Zeff in 1977. This, and the fact that in 1978 he published with David Nichols the first paper on the pharmacological action of MDMA in humans, explains why Shulgin is sometimes (erroneously) called the 'father' of MDMA.
Muscle progenitor cell regenerative capacity in the torn rotator cuff

Chronic rotator cuff (RC) tears affect a large portion of the population and result in substantial upper extremity impairment, shoulder weakness, pain, and limited range of motion. Regardless of surgical or conservative treatment, persistent atrophic muscle changes limit functional restoration and may contribute to surgical failure. We hypothesized that deficits in the skeletal muscle progenitor (SMP) cell pool could contribute to poor muscle recovery following tendon repair. Biopsies were obtained from patients undergoing arthroscopic RC surgery. The SMP population was quantified, isolated, and assayed in culture for its ability to proliferate and fuse in vitro and in vivo. The SMP population was larger in muscles from cuffs with partial tears compared with no tears or full thickness tears. However, SMPs from muscles in the partial tear group also exhibited reduced proliferative ability. Cells from all cuff states were able to fuse robustly in culture and engraft when injected into injured mouse muscle, suggesting that when given the correct signals, SMPs are capable of contributing to muscle hypertrophy and regeneration regardless of tear severity. The fact that this does not appear to happen in vivo helps focus future therapeutic targets for promoting muscle recovery following rotator cuff repairs and may help improve clinical outcomes. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:? –? , 2015.
Discrimination of minimal residual disease in acute lymphoblastic leukemia by using single-beam acoustic tweezer

Cellular functions, for example proliferation, migration or gene expression, usually accompany a relationship with their mechanical properties. Three main methods, including atomic force microscopy (AFM), optical tweezer and magnetic tweezers, have been developed to measure cell's mechanics. However, AFM needs to contact cell resulting in prominent physical changes in elasticity and a pericellular layer of cells. Optical tweezer could damage cells by increasing the temperature generated from the applied laser. Although magnetic tweezers show an enough trapping force, the cytoplasm of a cell has to be loaded magnetic beads as the main drawback. Acoustic tweezer can provide enough trapping force and good penetration deep with a non-contact situation. Minimal residual disease (MRD) is a small number of leukemia cells which still remain in the patients after chemotherapeutical treatment. None of the tests can with an enough sensitivity be used to detect MRD cells. Single-beam acoustic tweezer was performed to generate a radiation force to study whether MRD cells can be discriminated from acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.
Acanthamoeba Keratitis - A Diagnostic Challenge

This is a case study of a 23 year old male diagnosed with Acanthamoeba keratitis. Initial misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment lead to increased severity of the infection requiring surgical intervention. This case illustrates the complexity of Acanthamoeba keratitis infection, highlighting the diagnostic challenges which often begin with misdiagnosis and treatment, the role of the laboratory in providing confirmatory testing, and the relevance of patient knowledge related to contact lens wear and care.
Optimized bidding algorithm of real time bidding in online ads auction

RTB is one of the most popular topics on online advertising in recent years; RTB-based ads auction subverts traditional advertising strategy, explicitly stating the concept that “advertisement is commodity”. Most of the current researches on online ads auction focus at the point of linear programming or assignment problem, while there's little study on the macro-level auction mechanism, especially the characteristics of the general winning bids. Based on real log data from a DSP in China, this paper conducts empirical analysis of average deal price and bidding volume at different times of impressions. Finally, we design an optimized method for delivery of RTB ads through offline experiments.
Identifying High Risk Groups and Quantifying Absolute Risk of Cancer After Kidney Transplantation: A Cohort Study of 15 183 Recipients

Transplant recipients have increased cancer risk, but data on risk variation across different patient groups are sparse. Rates and standardized rate ratios (SRR) of cancer (all sites, excluding nonmelanocytic skin and lip cancer) compared to the general population were calculated, using Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry data. Within the transplant population, risk factors were identified (hazard ratios: HR; 95% CI) and absolute risk estimated for recipient groups. A total of 1642 (10.8%) of 15 183 recipients developed cancer. Risk was inversely related to age (SRR 15–30 children, 2 if >65 years). Females aged 25–29 had rates equivalent to women aged 55–59 from the general population. Age trend for lymphoma, colorectal and breast risk was similar; melanoma showed less variability across ages, prostate showed no risk increase. Within the transplanted population, risk was affected by age differently for each sex (p = 0.007), elevated by prior malignancy (HR 1.40; 1.03–1.89), white race (HR 1.36; 1.12–1.89), but reduced by diabetic end‐stage kidney disease (ESKD) (HR 0.67; 0.50–0.89). Cancer rates in kidney recipients are similar to nontransplanted people 20–30 years older, but absolute risk differs across patient groups. Men aged 45–54 surviving 10 years have cancer risks varying from 1 in 13 (non‐white, no prior cancer, diabetic ESKD) to 1 in 5 (white, prior cancer, other ESKD).
Cloning and Characterization of COX18, aSaccharomyces cerevisiae PET Gene Required for the Assembly of Cytochrome Oxidase*

Nuclear mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae assigned to complementation group G34 are respiratory-deficient and lack cytochrome oxidase activity and the characteristic spectral peaks of cytochromes a anda 3. The corresponding gene was cloned by complementation, sequenced, and identified as reading frame YGR062C on chromosome VII. This gene was named COX18. TheCOX18 gene product is a polypeptide of 316 amino acids with a putative amino-terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence and predicted transmembrane domains. Respiratory chain carriers other than cytochromes a and a 3 and the ATPase complex are present at near wild-type levels in cox18mutants, indicating that the mutations specifically affect cytochrome oxidase. The synthesis of Cox1p and Cox3p in mutant mitochondria is normal whereas Cox2p is barely detected among labeled mitochondrial polypeptides. Transcription of COX2 does not requireCOX18 function, and a chimericCOX3-COX2 mRNA did not suppress the respiratory defect in the null mutant, indicating that the mutation does not impair transcription or translation of the mRNA. Western analysis of cytochrome oxidase subunits shows that inactivation of theCOX18 gene greatly reduces the steady state amounts of subunit 2 and results in variable decreases in other subunits of cytochrome oxidase. A gene fusion expressing a biotinylated form of Cox18p complements cox18 mutants. Biotinylated Cox18p is a mitochondrial integral membrane protein. These results indicate Cox18p to be a new member of a group of mitochondrial proteins that function at a late stage of the cytochrome oxidase assembly pathway.
Comparison study of transoral robotic surgery and radical open surgery for hypopharyngeal cancer

Abstract Conclusions: The oncologic outcome of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) was comparable to radical open surgery. The TORS group showed a better functional recovery and quality of life (QOL) than the radical surgery group. Therefore, TORS was a valid treatment option as a minimally invasive surgery for selected patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. Objectives: To affirm rapid functional recovery and improved QOL of patients who underwent TORS, which is a minimally invasive surgical technique. Methods: Between April 2008 and November 2011, 56 patients were enrolled in the study. During the study period, 30 patients underwent TORS and 26 patients underwent radical open surgery. Results: In the TORS and radical surgery groups, the 3-year overall survival rate was 85% and 78%, respectively, and disease-free survival was 81% and 76%, respectively. Significant differences were not observed in the overall survival and disease-free survival rates. As regards postoperative functional recovery, the TORS group showed statistically better results for decannulation, swallowing, and hospitalization compared with the radical surgery group. On the University of Washington (UW)-QOL, the TORS group showed better results than the radical open surgery group in the domains of pain, activity, recreation, swallowing, speech, anxiety, and health-related QOL.
Transovarial transmission of African swine fever virus in the argasid tick Ornithodoros moubata

The aim of this study was to determine filial infection prevalence of experimentally infected colony Ornithodoros moubata Walton (Ixodoidea: Argasidae) ticks for African swine fever virus (ASFV). Three groups of ticks were used: an uninfected control group, one group orally infected with the VIC T90/1 isolate and another group orally infected with the LIV 13/33 isolate of ASFV. The results show that filial infection prevalences were not constant but were highly variable between egg batches from different ticks and between successive egg batches from the same tick. Filial infection prevalences ranged from 1.8% to 31.8% for ticks infected with the VICT90/1 isolate and from 1.2% to 35.5% for ticks infected with the LIV 13/33 isolate. A similar pattern was noted after the third feed. Immunohistochemisty showed that virus replicates in the developing larval cells and not in the yolk sac cells or within the outer layers of the eggs. The results show that ASFV can replicate to a high titre (105.1log10HAD50) within the larval cells of the developing egg.
Sputum matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloprotinease-1, and their molar ratio in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND Matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors, the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), are involved in the turnover of extracellular matrix. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are inflammatory diseases characterized by excessive matrix degradation and tissue fibrosis. We have compared sputum concentrations of MMP-9, TIMP-1 and the controlling cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in patients with COPD, IPF and healthy subjects. METHODS In a cross-sectional analysis, 12 patients with stable COPD, 15 patients with IPF and 14 healthy subjects underwent sputum induction. Induced sputum cells were counted and concentrations of MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TNF were measured by enzyme immunoassays. RESULTS Sputum neutrophils were markedly elevated in COPD and IPF patients compared with controls (P<0.001, both comparisons). Concentrations of MMP-9 and the MMP-9:TIMP-1 ratio were increased in COPD (P<0.001 vs. IPF and controls), whereas sputum TIMP-1 levels were both elevated in COPD and IPF (P<0.01 vs. controls, both comparisons). TNF levels were similar in all three groups (P>0.2, all comparisons). MMP-9 concentrations were negatively correlated with airway obstruction (FEV1 FVC) in COPD (rho=-0.62, P=0.03), but not with diffusion capacity or vital capacity (% predicted) in IPF (rho=-0.06, P=0.85, and rho=-0.3, P=0.29, respectively). MMP-9 was positively correlated with sputum neutrophils in all patients (rho=0.68, P<0.0001), and with TNF in COPD patients (rho=0.76, P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS These data underline the significance of protease/antiprotease imbalance for the pathogenesis of inflammatory lung diseases. Despite similar cellular inflammatory patterns both in COPD and IPF sputa, marked differences were observed with regard to MMP-9:TIMP-1 balance.
Equine Pregnancy: Physical Interactions Between the Uterus and Conceptus

This report considers the equine intrauterine conceptus from the time of entry from the oviduct as a blastocyst to expulsion as a foal. A series of events involving physical interactions between the uterus and conceptus will be highlighted, and the associated morphologic and physiologic aspects will be considered. Most of the events were discovered and characterized by transrectal ultrasonic imaging and transcervical endoscopic viewing. Certain aspects of the phenomena have been reviewed for embryos,1‐3 fetuses,4 and both stages.5,6 The term embryo is well engrained and will be used in reference to the entire early conceptus.5 The terms embryonic vesicle and embryo proper will also be used when needed to emphasize or distinguish between the entire conceptus and the forerunner of the fetus, respectively. The embryo terms will be used only to Day 39 (Day 0=ovulation). From Day 40 to parturition, the terms fetus or fetal stage will be used. The choice of Day 40 as the transition day facilitates categorizing and discussing the phenomena highlighted in this paper. The beginning of umbilical cord formation, completion of replacement of the yolk sac with the allantoic sac, and the beginning of fetal activity (head nods) are on approximately Day 40. Equine theriogenologists and biologists should be deliberate in using the terms embryo and fetus. For example, the terms embryo mobility versus fetal mobility and embryo reduction versus fetal reduction involve distinctly different mechanisms for embryos versus fetuses.
Multiple alpha‐synuclein gene polymorphisms are associated with Parkinson’s disease in a Norwegian population

Objectives – Previous studies have found associations between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and polymorphisms located within both the alpha‐synuclein gene (SNCA) promoter and other gene regions. Our aim was to study SNCA gene markers in a closely matched Norwegian PD population to examine the genetic relationship between different polymorphisms associated with the disease.