Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Setting up a multidisciplinary program for management of patent foramen ovale-mediated syndromes.

BACKGROUND These days no codified multidisciplinary protocol has been reported to manage all the different patent foramen ovale (PFO)-mediated syndromes. We sought to propose a multidisciplinary program of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of all PFO-mediated syndromes based on an in-hospital multidisciplinary task force and to review the activities during the first year. METHODS From September 2004, we organized in our hospital, a 600-bed tertiary hospital, a management program for PFO-mediated syndromes based on a task force composed of cardiologists, neurologists, and internists. Different levels of protocols were created in order to cover diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of PFO-mediated syndromes. We reviewed the activity of our program in the first year up to September 2005. RESULTS Thirty-five patients (23 female, mean age 65 +/- 24 years) were evaluated for suspected PFO-mediated syndromes: 20 for cryptogenic stroke, 2 for peripheral and coronary embolisms, 3 for platypnea-orthodeoxia, 9 for emicrania with aura, and 1 with hypoxiemia during neurosurgical intervention in the posterior cranial fossa. Diagnosis of PFO was confirmed in 25 patients. According to the multidisciplinary protocols, 15 patients failed to meet the requirements for transcatheter closure and were left in medical therapy whereas 11 patients (7 patients with PFO, 2 with multiperforated ASD, and 2 with a secundum ASD) underwent transcatheter closure. After a mean follow-up of 10.8 +/- 4.9 months, no recurrent PFO syndromes were noted in patients treated with devices. CONCLUSION The first year of our multidisciplinary program allowed a reasonable and potentially successful approach for correctly identifying patients with PFO-mediated syndromes until randomized studies are completed.
TVAC-PSO based optimal reactive power dispatch for reactive power cost allocation under deregulated environment

This paper proposes a comprehensive model for reactive power pricing in an ancillary services market. Reactive power dispatch is based on expected payment function bidding structure and reactive power zonal market. Reactive power providers receive payment at zonal market clearing prices. Optimal power dispatch is solved by time-varying acceleration coefficients particle swarm optimization (TVAC-PSO). The cost charge to consumers consists of cost of unused capacity, direct reactive consumption, and voltage control. Two methods of cost allocation are employed: tracing and sensitivity methods. The test system is the modified IEEE 30-bus system. Cost of unused capacity is an important component of reactive power production cost. Reactive loads pay less if they are located in reactive power surplus area e.g. high line charging. Tracing method is found be superior to sensitivity method.
RRT-based path planning for fixed-wing UAVs with arrival time and approach direction constraints

This paper proposes a path planning algorithm based on rapidly-exploring random trees (RRTs) for fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The algorithm uses a pre-defined motion primitive set to extend the tree, and can be designed to reflect the dynamic capability of a target aircraft. The proposed method produces collision-free, dynamically feasible, and smooth curves. Furthermore, the algorithm can determine the approach direction of each initial and goal position and the arrival time at the goal position by generating an inertial speed command. Estimated dynamic information, including roll, heading, required thrust, and aerodynamic force are also output. The algorithm is validated by performing several simulations and comparing its performance with the response of a nonlinear six-degrees-of-freedom simulation. The results show that this algorithm can be successfully applied to fixed-wing UAV applications.
Tumor selective replication of Newcastle disease virus: Association with defects of tumor cells in antiviral defence

To investigate tumor‐selective viral replication, we compared several tumorigenic human cell lines to nontumorigenic human cells from the blood for the sensitivity to become infected by a recombinant lentogenic strain of Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) with incorporated transgene EGFP (NDFL‐EGFP). Although fluorescence signals in nontumorigenic cells were only weak or missing completely, a massive and long‐lasting transgene‐expression was observed in all tumor cell lines. The majority of tumor cells (50–95%) could be infected, and viral replication was associated with an increase in the cell surface density of viral antigens. To clarify the underlying mechanism of the observed difference in virus susceptibility we examined the kinetics of interferon‐induced antiviral enzymes because NDV is a strong type‐I interferon inducer. This analysis revealed several defects of tumor cells in their antiviral defence responses: They showed no response to UV‐inactivated NDV, whereas nontumorigenic cells reacted with induction of high‐levels of the antiviral enzymes PKR and MxA. Upon coincubation with live NDV, tumor cells showed a delayed response in the increased expression of the antiviral enzymes in comparison with PBMC. In nontumorigenic cells the replication cycle of NDV stopped after the production of positive‐strand RNA, while tumor cells continued in the replication cycle and copied viral genomes 10–50 hr after infection. These results can explain the tumor selective replication behavior of this interesting antineoplastic virus. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ultrastructural localization of cell junctional components (desmoglein, plakoglobin, E‐cadherin, and β‐catenin) in Hailey‐Hailey disease, Darier's disease, and pemphigus vulgaris

The distribution of desmoglein, plakoglobin, E‐cadherin, and β‐catenin in the peri‐lesional and lesional skin of Hailey‐Hailey disease, Darier's disease, and pemphigus vulgaris was examined by immunoelectron microscopy. In the peri‐lesional skin, the immunolabeling of these desmosomal components was localized to desmosomes. Adherens junction‐associated E‐cadherin and β‐catenin were at the cell periphery, excluding desmosomes. The labeling pattern was similar among these diseases, but the labeling intensity particularly that of plakoglobin in Hailey‐Hailey disease and Darier's disease, was less than that of normal controls, suggesting that these glycoproteins are quantitatively less concentrated in the normal epidermis of these inherited diseases. In the acantholytic cells of Hailey‐Hailey disease and Darier's disease the immunolabeling of the components of desmosomes was diffusely distributed in the cytoplasms, whereas that of adherens junction was mostly at the cell periphery and partly diffusely in the cytoplasm. In contrast, desmosomes of detaching keratinocytes in pemphigus vulgaris still showed the labeling of desmoglein and plakoglobin. These findings suggest that the inherited acantholytic diseases, i.e., Hailey‐Hailey disease and Darier's disease have a different pathogenesis from that of autoimmune acantholysis in pemphigus vulgaris: The intracellular components of desmosomes may primarily be disrupted in the genetic acantholytic diseases in the initial stages of acantholysis. Several unsolved questions in the previous light microscopic immunofluorescence sttidies using the same antibodies are now answered: 1) the diffusion of desmosomal proteins is not due to the internalization of desmosomes, 2) intracellular components of adherens junction are also finally dissolved, 3) diffuse cytoplasmic immunofluorescence patterns of desmosomal components could be explained by immunoelectron microscopy as those attached to cell membrane and trapped in tonofilament aggregates.
2-Aminoethoxydiphenyl Borate Activates and Sensitizes the Heat-Gated Ion Channel TRPV3

Six of the mammalian transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel subtypes are nonselective cation channels that can be activated by increases or decreases in ambient temperature. Five of them can alternatively be activated by nonthermal stimuli such as capsaicin [transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1)] or hypo-osmolarity (TRPV2 and TRPV4). No nonthermal stimuli have yet been described for TRPV3, a warmth-gated ion channel expressed prominently in skin keratinocytes. Here, we demonstrate that 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), a compound used to inhibit store-operated Ca2+ channels and IP3 receptors, produces robust activation of recombinant TRPV3 in human embryonic kidney 293 cells with an EC50 of 28 μm. 2-APB also sensitizes TRPV3 to activation by heat, even at subthreshold concentrations. In inside-out membrane patches from TRPV3-expressing cells, 2-APB increases the open probability of TRPV3. Also, whereas heat alone is capable of activating TRPV3-mediated currents in only a small proportion of primary mouse keratinocytes, 2-APB activates heat-evoked, TRPV3-mediated currents in the majority of these cells. Together, these findings identify 2-APB as the first known chemical activator of TRPV3 and enhance the notion that TRPV3 participates in the detection of heat by keratinocytes.
Comments on ‘Empirical vs natural weighting in random effects meta‐analysis’

Shuster criticizes the conventional weighting of study estimates used in random-effects meta-analysis, claiming that it leads to bias, and advocates instead an unweighted average of study estimates [1]. With his proposal, a study with 5000 participants would get weight equal to one with 50. We view his conclusion as seriously ﬂawed, and one which ignores a mass of relevant literature. His proposal that all previous publications using traditional random-effects meta-analysis should be re-visited is clearly unrealistic. Moreover, if one used his methods, we believe such re-analyses would produce misleading results and distort the evidence from systematic reviews that underpin important scientiﬁc and policy decisions. We disagree with the arguments in his paper, for three main reasons: (i) the weights are not random variables in the sense of his paper; (ii) the reasons for correlation between study estimates and their precision should be investigated in their own right; and (iii) adding a small amount of new data should not materially change the inference about the overall mean. We use the same statistical model as Shuster. The observed study estimate Y j from study j = 1 , . ,M follows Y j = (cid:2) + (cid:3) j + (cid:4) j , where, within each study j , E ( (cid:4) j ) = 0 and Var( (cid:4) j ) = v j , and across studies E ( (cid:3) j ) = 0 and Var( (cid:3) j ) = (cid:5) 2 . The target parameter for estimation is (cid:2) , while v j represents sampling variability and (cid:5) 2 represents heterogeneity in underlying effects among studies. (i) Are the weights random variables? The motivation for the above model is that it allows for heterogeneity between studies, in the sense that the underlying effect in study j is (cid:2) + (cid:3) j rather than (cid:2) . However,
Formation and stability of point defects in monolayer rhenium disulfide

Recently, rhenium disulfide (${\mathrm{ReS}}_{2}$) monolayers were experimentally extracted by conventional mechanical exfoliation technique from as-grown ${\mathrm{ReS}}_{2}$ crystals. Unlike the well-known members of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), ${\mathrm{ReS}}_{2}$ crystallizes in a stable distorted-$1T$ structure and lacks an indirect to direct gap crossover. Here we present an experimental and theoretical study of the formation, energetics, and stability of the most prominent lattice defects in monolayer ${\mathrm{ReS}}_{2}$. Experimentally, irradiation with 3-MeV He${}^{+2}$ ions was used to break the strong covalent bonds in ${\mathrm{ReS}}_{2}$ flakes. Photoluminescence measurements showed that the luminescence from monolayers is mostly unchanged after highly energetic $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particle irradiation. In order to understand the energetics of possible vacancies in ${\mathrm{ReS}}_{2}$ we performed systematic first-principles calculations. Our calculations revealed that the formation of a single sulfur vacancy has the lowest formation energy in both Re and S rich conditions and a random distribution of such defects are energetically more preferable. Sulfur point defects do not result in any spin polarization whereas the creation of Re-containing point defects induce magnetization with a net magnetic moment of 1--3${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\mathrm{B}}$. Experimentally observed easy formation of sulfur vacancies is in good agreement with first-principles calculations.
A comparative analysis of conventional cytopreparatory and liquid based cytological techniques (Sure Path) in evaluation of serous effusion fluids

Clinically, detection of malignant cells in serous body fluids is critical, as their presence implies the upstaging of the disease. Cytology of body cavity fluids serves as an important tool when other diagnostic tests cannot be performed. In most laboratories, currently, the effusion fluid samples are analysed chiefly by the conventional cytopreparatory (CCP) technique. Although, there are several studies comparing the liquid‐based cytology (LBC), with CCP technique in the field of cervicovaginal cytology; the literature on such comparison with respect to serous body fluid examination is sparse.
The guitar-maker: model education.

This issue of Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease is dedicated to the nephrological education of medical learners of all types as well as patients Guest editors Campbell, Sturdivant, and Ullian present a group of authors who yield some answers to the questions each author poses. However, as anticipated, the reader may formulate more questions than answers, and that is not a bad thing because that is how we learn. As medical information and the ways to obtain it increase at rates that are far beyond anyone’s capacity to appreciate, much less absorb them, one must be selective, for it is this selectivity that ultimately determines the depth to which one learns a concept. Selectivity presupposes content expertise. To learn something today seems to involve multitasking, but this idea may be confounded by the fact that there are so many choices to learn from as well as different types of learners: auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. Most nephrologists embody all 3 types.
Salinity tolerance in plants: breeding and genetic engineering.

Salinity stress limits crop yield affecting plant growth and restricting the use of land. As world population is increasing at alarming rate, agricultural land is shrinking due to industrialization and/or habitat use. Hence, there is a need to utilize salt affected land to meet the food requirement. Although some success has been achieved through conventional breeding but its use is limited due to reproductive barrier and scarcity of genetic variations among major crops. The genetic engineering has proven a revolutionary technique to generate salt tolerant plants as one can transfer desired gene from any genetic resource and/or alter the expression of existing gene(s). There are examples of improved salinity tolerance in various crop plants through the use of genetic engineering. However, there is a further need of improvement for successful release of salt tolerant cultivars at field level. In this review, we have given a detailed update on production of salt-tolerant plants through genetic engineering. Future prospects and concerns, along with the importance of novel techniques, as well as plant breeding are also discussed.
Perceptions of Active Versus Passive Risks, and the Effect of Personal Responsibility

Not getting vaccinated or not backing up computer files are examples of passive risk taking: risk brought on or magnified by inaction. We suggest the difficulty in paying attention to absences, together with the reduced agency and responsibility that is associated with passive choices, leads to the perception of passive risks as being less risky than equivalent active risks. Using scenarios in which risk was taken either actively or passively, we demonstrate that passive risks are judged as less risky than equivalent active risks. We find the perception of personal responsibility mediates the differences between the perception of passive and active risks. The current research offers an additional explanation for omission or default biases: The passive nature of these choices causes them to appear less risky than they really are.
Mossy fiber synaptic reorganization in the epileptic human temporal lobe

The distribution of the mossy fiber synaptic terminals was examined using the Timm histochemical method in surgically excised hippocampus and dentate gyrus from patients who underwent lobectomy of the anterior part of the temporal lobe for refractory partial complex epilepsy. The dentate gyrus of epileptic patients demonstrated intense Timm granules and abundant mossy fiber synaptic terminals in the supragranular region and the inner molecular layer. In contrast, the dentate gyrus of presenescent nonepileptic primates demonstrated no Timm granules in the supragranular region. In nonepileptic senescent primates, occasional very sparse supragranuler Timm granules were observed that were easily distinguished from the dense pattern observed in association with human epilepsy. The results are morphological evidence of mossy fiber synaptic reorganization in the temporal lobe of epileptic humans, and suggest the intriguing possibility that mossy fiber sprouting and synaptic reorganization induced by repeated partial complex seizures may play a role in human epilepsy.
A Unifying Role for Prions in Neurodegenerative Diseases

A profound change in thinking about the etiologies of many neurodegenerative diseases has far-reaching implications for developing therapeutics. Many neurodegenerative diseases—including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)—share two remarkable characteristics. The first is that more than 80% of cases are sporadic. The second is that although many of the disease-specific mutant proteins are expressed in embryogenesis, the inherited forms of these neurodegenerative diseases are late-onset. This suggests that some event occurs with aging that renders a disease-specific protein pathogenic. More than 20 years ago, I argued that this event involves a stochastic refolding of the etiologic protein into a misfolded infectious state known as a prion. In the past decade, there has been renewed interest in the possibility that the proteins causing neurodegeneration are all prions, which would profoundly influence the development of diagnostics and effective therapies.
Blood-Feeding Patterns of the Culex pipiens Complex in Sacramento and Yolo Counties, California

ABSTRACT Mosquitoes in the Culex pipiens complex are competent vectors of West Nile virus (WNV; family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus) in the laboratory, and field-collected mosquitoes have tested positive for the virus in California and elsewhere. A better understanding of Cx. pipiens complex blood-feeding patterns will help define the threat that these mosquitoes pose to human health and their role in WNV amplification in northern California. We collected blood-engorged Cx. pipiens complex mosquitoes from resting sites near and away from human habitation in Sacramento and Yolo Counties. Cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene sequences were used to identify the vertebrate species from which blood meals were taken. Of 330 engorged mosquitoes collected at 28 sites from June through August 2007 and May through August 2008, >99% fed on an avian host. Three mosquitoes contained bovine blood and none had fed on a human. American Robins (Turdus migratorius) were bitten most often, and the proportion of American Robin blood meals increased significantly over the summer. Other important avian hosts included House Finches (Carpodacus mexicanus), Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica), Western Meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta), and Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura). In rural areas, Barn Swallows, Brewer's Blackbirds (Euphagus cyanocephalus), and House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) were frequent hosts. In settings near human habitation, Mourning Doves and Western Meadowlarks were common hosts. Our data indicate that in north central California mosquitoes in the Cx. pipiens complex may be more important as epiornitic than epidemic vectors of WNV.
Ligand Binding Affinities of Arctigenin and Its Demethylated Metabolites to Estrogen Receptor Alpha

Phytoestrogens are defined as plant-derived compounds with estrogen-like activities according to their chemical structures and activities. Plant lignans are generally categorized as phytoestrogens. It was reported that (−)-arctigenin, the aglycone of arctiin, was demethylated to (−)-dihydroxyenterolactone (DHENL) by Eubacterium (E.) sp. ARC-2. Through stepwise demethylation, E. sp. ARC-2 produced six intermediates, three mono-desmethylarctigenins and three di-desmethylarctigenins. In the present study, ligand binding affinities of (−)-arctigenin and its seven metabolites, including DHENL, were investigated for an estrogen receptor alpha, and found that demethylated metabolites had stronger binding affinities than (−)-arctigenin using a ligand binding screen assay method. The IC50 value of (2R,3R)-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)-3-(3,4-dihydroxybenzyl)-butyrolactone was 7.9 × 10−4 M.
Bayesian estimation of the proportion of treatment effect captured by a surrogate marker

Surrogate endpoints in clinical trials are biological markers or events observable earlier than the clinical endpoints (such as death) that are actually of primary interest. The ‘proportion of treatment effect captured’ by a surrogate endpoint (PTE) is a frequentist measure intended to address the question of whether trials based on a surrogate endpoint reach the same conclusions as would have been reached using the true endpoint. The question of inferential interest is whether PTE for a given marker exceeds some threshold value, say 0.5. Calculating PTE requires fitting two different models to the same data. We develop a Markov chain Monte Carlo based method for estimating the Bayesian posterior distribution of PTE. The new method conditions on the truth of a single model. Obtaining the full posterior distribution enables direct statements such as ‘the posterior probability that PTE>0.5 is 0.085’. Furthermore, credible sets do not depend on asymptotic approximations and can be computed using data sets for which the frequentist methods may be inaccurate or even impossible to apply. We illustrate with Bayesian proportional hazards models for clinical trial data. As a by‐product of developing the Bayesian method, we show that the frequentist estimate of PTE also may be computed from quantities in a single model and calculate frequentist confidence intervals for PTE that tend to be narrower than those produced by standard methods but that provide equally good coverage. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.