Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of an ankle-foot orthosis on walking ability in chronic stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: Regaining walking ability is a major goal during the rehabilitation of stroke patients. To support this process an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) is often prescribed. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of an AFO on walking ability in chronic stroke patients. Design: Cross-over design with randomization for the interventions. Methods: Twenty chronic stroke patients, wearing an AFO for at least six months, were included. Walking ability was operationalized as comfortable walking speed, scores on the timed up and go (TUG) test and stairs test. Patients were measured with and without their AFO, the sequence of which was randomized. Additionally, subjective impressions of self-confidence and difficulty of the tasks were scored. Clinically relevant differences based on literature were defined for walking speed (20 cm/s), the TUG test (10 s). Gathered data were statistically analysed using a paired t-test. Results: The mean difference in favour of the AFO in walking speed was 4.8 cm/s (95% CI 0.85–8.7), in the TUG test 3.6 s (95% CI 2.4 4.8) and in the stairs test 8.6 s (95% CI 3.1 –14.1). Sixty-five per cent of the patients experienced less difficulty and 70% of the patients felt more self-confident while wearing the AFO. Conclusions: The effect of an AFO on walking ability is statistically significant, but compared with the a priori defined differences it is too small to be clinically relevant. The effect on self-confidence suggests that other factors might play an important role in the motivation to use an AFO.
Functional effects of mutations identified in patients with Multiminicore disease

Multiminicore disease is a recessive congenital myopathy characterized by the presence of small cores or areas lacking oxidative enzymes, in skeletal muscle fibres. From a clinical point of view, the condition is widely heterogeneous and at least four phenotypes have been identified; genetic analysis has revealed that most patients with the classical form of multiminicore characterized by rigidity of the spine, early onset and respiratory impairment harbour recessive mutations in the SEPN1 gene, whereas the majority of patients belonging to the other categories, including patients with ophthalmoplegia or patients with a phenotype similar to central core disease, carry recessive mutations in the RYR1. In the present review we discuss the most recent findings on the functional effect of mutations in SEPN1 and RYR1 and discuss how they may adversely affect muscle function and lead to the clinical phenotype. IUBMB Life, 59: 14‐20, 2007
Inhibition of infection of macrophages with Ehrlichia risticii by cytochalasins, monodansylcadaverine, and taxol

The requirement of functions of clathrin, microfilaments, and microtubules in binding, internalization, proliferation, and spreading of Ehrlichia risticii in macrophages was studied. Monodansylcadaverine (MDC), which inhibits clustering and internalization of the ligand-receptor complexes into clathrin-coated vesicles; cytochalasin B or D, which depolymerizes microfilaments; and taxol, which binds and stabilizes polymerized microtubules, were found to prevent ehrlichial infection in murine peritoneal macrophages when they were present throughout the infection period. [35S]methionine-labeled ehrlichial binding to the macrophage was reduced by 0 to 22%; therefore, the binding was not the major point of inhibition. However, MDC, cytochalasin D, and taxol inhibited ehrlichial internalization into macrophages by 80, 58, and 32%, respectively. When MDC, cytochalasin B or D, or taxol was added immediately after internalization of E. risticii (3 h postinfection), ehrlichial replication in P388D1 cells was almost completely prevented. Also, all of these agents almost completely prevented ehrlichial spreading from P388D1 cells to THP-1 human monocytes. These agents were not found to be ehrlichiacidal when approximately 40%-infected P388D1 cells were treated for 2 days, although further intracellular proliferation was prevented. Furthermore, none of these compounds directly inhibited the metabolic activity of E. risticii, since 14CO2 production from L-[14C]glutamine by Percoll density gradient-purified host-cell-free E. risticii was not shown to be impaired. The action of taxol was probably due to impairment of the microtubule function since a microtubule-depolymerizing agent, colchicine, also inhibited intracellular proliferation of E. risticii. Neither reactive oxygen intermediates, nitric oxide, nor tumor necrosis factor alpha appeared to be involved in taxol-induced inhibition of E. risticii in macrophages. Thus, our findings indicate that ehrlichial internalization appears to take place by a mechanism that is more dependent on the functions of clathrin and less dependent on the functions of microfilaments or microtubules. Replication within macrophages and intercellular spreading appear to require clathrin, microfilaments, and microtubules. Consequently, alteration of these structures with inhibitors can result in complete prevention of infection.
Lectin-dependent attachment of Actinomyces naeslundii to receptors on epithelial cells

The adherence of Actinomyces naeslundii WVU45 to monolayer cultures of human epithelial cell lines was mediated by the lactose-sensitive fimbriae (type 2) of strain WVU45. The attachment of Actinomyces viscosus T14V, which has both types 1 and 2 fimbriae, was approximately half that of A. naeslundii, and only minimal attachment of A. naeslundii and A. viscosus mutants lacking type 2 fimbriae was detected. The adherence of strain WVU45 was enhanced two- to threefold by neuraminidase treatment of the epithelial cells. The Fab fragments of antibodies which recognize the type 2 fimbriae inhibited the adherence of A. naeslundii WVU45 to the epithelial cells. The bacterial interaction with epithelial cells was inhibited by lactose, methyl-beta-D-galactoside, and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, but not by methyl-alpha-D-galactoside, cellobiose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, L-fucose, or D-mannose. To further characterize the epithelial cell receptors for the bacterial lectin, we utilized several plant and invertebrate lectins as potential inhibitors of bacterial adherence. Lectins from Bauhinia purpurea and Arachis hypogaea which recognize N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, D-galactose, and D-galactose-beta-(1----3)-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine inhibited bacterial attachment, and binding of these lectins to epithelial cells was enhanced by the addition of neuraminidase. Lectins reacting with alpha-linked D-galactose, alpha-linked N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, D-mannose, or sialic acid were not inhibitory. Under similar assay conditions, adherence of a mannose-sensitive strain of Escherichia coli was inhibited by concanavalin A but not by the lectin from Bauhinia purpurea. These results indicate that certain plant lectins have specificities similar to that of the actinomyces fimbrial lectin and are, therefore, useful probes for identifying receptors on epithelial cells for certain bacteria.
High-Mobility OFDM Downlink Transmission with Partly Calibrated Subarray-Based Massive Uniform Linear Array

In this paper, we address the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) downlink transmission in scenarios abundant of scatters when the high- speed rail (HSR), equipped with partly calibrated massive uniform linear array (ULA), is in high- speed motion relative to the base station. A high- resolution beamforming network is designed to separate multiple Doppler frequency offsets (DFOs) in spatial domain into a series of parallel beamforming branches, such that each branch is mainly affected by single dominant DFO, wherein the conventional carrier frequency offset (CFO) compensation and subsequent data detection could be carried out individually. In view of this, a joint- estimation algorithm is proposed to jointly estimate the CFO and equivalent channel of each beamforming branch. Moreover, the calibration- oriented beamforming parameter (COBP) is introduced to mitigate the detrimental effects in presence of inter-subarray uncertainties. Both numerical and theoretical results are provided to corroborate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Chronic suicidality among patients with borderline personality disorder.

OBJECTIVE This paper reviews research on chronic suicidality among patients with borderline personality disorder. METHODS MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases were searched for all English-language articles published between 1984 and 2000 containing the keywords "borderline personality disorder" and "suicide" or "suicidality. " A total of 170 articles located through this search and additional key articles published before 1990 were reviewed. The most relevant articles were selected of review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS One in ten patients with borderline personality disorder completes suicide, but this outcome is not readily preventable and does not necessarily occur during the course of treatment. In outpatient psychotherapy, chronic suicidal behavior by patients with borderline personality disorder can be best understood as a way of communicating distress. Hospitalization is of unproven value in preventing suicide by these patients and can sometimes have negative effects. Clinicians' fear of potential litigation resulting from a completed suicide should not be the basis for admission. With no evidence that full hospitalization prevents suicide completion by patients with borderline personality, suicidal risk is not a contraindication for day hospital treatment.
Interactive Out-Of-Core Texturing Using Point-Sampled Textures

The visualization of huge 3D objects becomes available on common workstations thanks to highly optimized data-structures and out-of-core frameworks for rendering. However, the editing, and in particular, the tex-turing of such objects is still a challenging task, since usual methods for optimized rendering are not easily amenable to interactive modi(cid:2)cation. In this paper, we introduce the idea of point-sampled textures, and show how to interactively texture such a huge model at various scales, without any parameterization. An adaptive in-core point-based approximated geometry is (cid:2)rst created by employing an ef(cid:2)cient out-of-core point-sampling algorithm. This simpli(cid:2)ed geometry is then used for an interactive and multi-scale point-based texturing. Finally, a feature-preserving kernel is used to convert the point-based model into a global 3D texture which can be applied back on the initial huge geometry. Our technique thus provides a (cid:3)exible tool to generate, edit and apply size-independent textures to a wide range of huge 3D objects thanks to point-based methods. Example: Starting from a large (8M polygons here) out-of-core geometry (left), our technique generates an adaptive in-core point-based approximated geometry (150k samples) that is used for interactive multi-scale texturing (middle). The so-de(cid:2)ned (cid:147)point-sampled texture(cid:148) is then upscaled with a feature-preserving kernel, and applied on the initial geometry (right).
A Hybridization Model for the Plasmon Response of Complex Nanostructures

We present a simple and intuitive picture, an electromagnetic analog of molecular orbital theory, that describes the plasmon response of complex nanostructures of arbitrary shape. Our model can be understood as the interaction or “hybridization” of elementary plasmons supported by nanostructures of elementary geometries. As an example, the approach is applied to the important case of a four-layer concentric nanoshell, where the hybridization of the plasmons of the inner and outer nanoshells determines the resonant frequencies of the multilayer nanostructure.
Maximized reduction of primary breast tumor size using preoperative chemotherapy with doxorubicin and docetaxel.

PURPOSE To assess the toxicity and efficacy of preoperative chemotherapy with doxorubicin and docetaxel in patients with primary operable breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-two patients with histologically confirmed primary breast cancer tumors of at least 2 cm in diameter received doxorubicin (50 mg/m(2) intravenously [IV] over 15 minutes) and docetaxel (75 mg/m(2) IV over 1 hour) every 14 (24 patients) or 21 (18 patients) days for four cycles. RESULTS The median size of the primary tumor decreased significantly, from 4 cm (range, 2 to 10 cm) to 2 cm (range, 0 to 5 cm) on physical examination and from 3.4 cm (range, 1 to 8 cm) to 1. 8 cm (range, 0 to 4 cm) on sonography (P <.001). The overall response rate as assessed by physical examination was 93%, and complete remission of the primary tumor occurred in 33% of patients. The remission rate as assessed by sonographic measurement was 67%. Two patients (5%) had histologically confirmed complete responses. Sonography was more reliable than palpation in predicting histologically determined response. No grade 4 toxicity was noted, and grade 3 toxicity was reported with alopecia (95%), lethargy (17%), loss of appetite (10%), stomatitis (7%), leukopenia (5%), skin desquamation (5%), infection (5%), motor neuropathy (2%), and nausea (2%). The 3-week schedule was associated with less toxicity than the 2-week schedule. CONCLUSION Preoperative combination chemotherapy with doxorubicin and docetaxel is highly effective and feasible in primary operable breast cancer.
SIGNIFICANCE OF ERYTHROCYTE AGGREGATION TEST IN ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Erythrocyte acts as a scavenger. When reactive O2 species are produced beyond its antioxidant capacity, it loses its structural integrity resulting in aggregation. Thus, aggregation has been a useful marker to detect inflammatory state. This is assessed by slide test in this study, which was currently available indirectly through ESR. To test for erythrocyte aggregation by a slide test in myocardial infarction (MI) cases and controls and to correlate ESR values with that of erythrocyte aggregation on slide test. Our study included 40 cases of acute MI and 40 matched healthy controls. Blood samples were collected. ESR by Westergren’s method and slide test were performed. Slides were prepared and analysed under 40X magnification and grades A to D were assigned, based on degree of erythrocyte aggregation. Statistical Analysis carried out by Fisher exact “t” test and Independent “t” test. The mean age of the subjects was 55±9years. Aggregation was significantly severe in MI cases, where 19(47.5%) showed grade C and 18(45%) showed grade D. Controls showed predominantly grade A and B, constituting 37.5% and 50% respectively. ESR was significantly higher in MI patients. 37.5% cases and 77.5% controls with Grade A, B and D aggregation had ESR 20 mm/hr. Erythrocyte aggregation test is a simple, cost-effective, indirectly reveals the presence and proportion of inflammation. It can be used as screening test in high-risk individuals for MI.
DOENÇAS INTERSTICIAIS PULMONARES

As doencas intersticiais pulmonares sao um grupo heterogeneo de patologias, cujas maiores anormalidades ocorrem distalmente aos bronquiolos terminais. Tais doencas costumam ser estudadas conjuntamente, porque compartilham caracteristicas clinicas, radiologicas, e funcionais comuns. No presente artigo, e discutido o diagnostico diferencial desse conjunto numeroso de doencas, e, em maior detalhe, algumas das enfermidades mais importantes na pratica clinica diaria.
Efficient robust predictive control

Invariant sets can be used in conjunction with known control laws to guarantee convergence of linear time varying (LTV) or uncertain systems with constraints. However, invariant sets are often associated with fixed control laws and hence can be limited in size by constraints. It is shown how to utilise degrees of freedom in the transient predictions in order to enlarge the invariant set and so widen the applicability of the convergence proof, for a given control law. The same degrees of freedom allow for computationally efficient and systematic performance optimisation.
Characterization of a Simian Foamy Virus Isolated from a Spontaneous Primate Lymphoma

Examination of tissues from a stump‐tailed monkey (Macaca arctoides) with a spontaneous lymphoid malignancy by light and electron microscopy confirmed the presence of a diffuse lymphoma of intermediate cell type. Membranes showed positivity with anti‐la‐like antisera and negativity with all other markers. In vitro cocultivation of affected tissues resulted in the isolation of an agent found to have properties identical to those described for simian foamy virus type 1. There was no evidence for the presence of oncoviruses.
Thyrotrophin Response to Thyreostimulin in Affectively Ill Women Relationship to Suicidal Behaviour

Summary Past history of suicidal behaviour was investigated in 51 depressed women (27 unipolar and 24 bipolar) in whom the TSH response to TRH was studied. Patients with a history of violent suicidal attempts were shown to have a reduced TSH response to TRH, compared to depressed patients with a history of non-violent suicidal attempts and depressed patients with no history of suicidal behaviour. A five-year follow-up study on these patients revealed that four patients who died from suicide had an absence of TSH response to TRH.
Thin Amorphous $\hbox{Si/Si}_{3}\hbox{N}_{4}$-Based Light-Emitting Device Prepared With Low Thermal Budget

This letter reports for the first time on an electrically pumped silicon light-emitting device with a thin multilayer stacked amorphous silicon (alpha-Si, in thickness of 3-7 nm)/silicon nitride (~10 nm) structure. The observed photoluminescence (PL) is tunable from ~700 to ~670 nm, and intensity increases by decreasing the alpha-Si thickness. The PL intensity can be enhanced through postdeposition annealing at relatively low temperatures and a short annealing time (e.g., as optimized at 700degC/10min). Electroluminescence from devices that are built upon the proposed structure originates from electron-hole pair recombination, and the carrier injection mechanism is through Frenkel-Poole tunneling. Our proposed structure, being highly complimentary metal-oxide-semiconductor compatible, benefits from a low thermal budget process coupled with an accurate layer thickness control.
Salutary Effects of N-Acetylcysteine on Apoptotic Damage in a Rat Model of Testicular Torsion

Introduction: Numerous studies performed in recent years have shown protective effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on cardiac and renal tissue damage following ischemia/reperfusion injury. We assessed the effectiveness of systemic administration of NAC, at a therapeutic dose, in a rat model of a 1-hour 720-degree testicular torsion/detorsion. Materials and Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups, 14 animals in each: group 1 animals underwent sham operation as the control group; group 2 rats underwent torsion/detorsion and received saline injection, and the animals in groups 3, 4, and 5 received intraperitoneal injections of 150 mg/kg NAC 30 min before torsion, after torsion, and after detorsion, respectively. Markers of oxidative stress as well as germ cell apoptosis indices were assessed 4 and 24 h after detorsion, respectively. Results: The apoptosis indices were significantly higher in group 2 as compared with the control group. Four hours after detorsion, the testicular level of lipid peroxidation was significantly increased, and antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly decreased in group 2 as compared with the controls. Administration of NAC either 30 min before or after torsion (groups 3 and 4) significantly improved the germ cell apoptosis indices and oxidant/antioxidant balance. Administration of NAC after detorsion had no significant effect on biochemical markers or germ cell apoptosis. Conclusion: Administration of NAC prior to torsion or detorsion, but not after detorsion, induces protective effects against ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat model of testicular torsion.
Cardiac troponin I: Its contribution to the diagnosis of perioperative myocardial infarction and various complications of cardiac surgery

ObjectiveTo study the value of assaying cardiac troponin I (cTnI) for the early diagnosis of perioperative myocardial infarction (PMI) and various complications of cardiac surgery. DesignA prospective observational clinical study. SettingBiochemical laboratory, anesthesia, and cardiac surgery department of Hôpital Broussais. PatientsTwo hundred and sixty consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery. InterventionsAll patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and/or valvular surgery under extracorporeal circulation. Per-operative and postoperative follow-up consisted of electrocardiogram, echocardiography (mainly by the transesophageal approach), and serial determinations of biochemical markers such as creatinine kinase-MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) and cTnI. PMI, new ST segment changes, and ventricular arrhythmias were considered postoperative adverse cardiac outcome. Measurements and Main Results CTnI was measured before cardiopulmonary bypass (T0) and 12 and 24 hrs after (T12, T24). CK-MB was measured on arrival in the intensive care unit and on the first postoperative day (D1). Patients were divided into three groups according to the type of surgery: coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), valvular surgery (VS), or both procedures. The plasma CK-MB and cTnI concentrations were high in all patients after extracorporeal circulation because of aortic clamping or cardioplegia. The CK-MB and cTnI values were higher in the VS group than in the CABG group. Values peaked at T12 and fell by T24, except when PMI occurred. Eight patients developed a PMI. Patients with PMI had significantly higher cTnI levels at T12 and T24, and higher CK-MB values at D1 than patients without PMI. Cutoff values of cTnI for diagnosing PMI were >19 &mgr;g/L at T12 with 100% sensitivity and 73% specificity, and >36 &mgr;g/L at T24, with 100% sensitivity and 93% specificity. Lower cTnI values were highly suggestive of the absence of PMI after CABG and/or VS. Other complications such as ST segment changes, ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac failure were indicated by high cTnI levels at T12 and T24. Myocardial protective measures were associated with a nonsignificant increase in cTnI values. ConclusionsCTnI is more sensitive and specific than CK-MB for diagnosing PMI and other forms of heart failure after cardiac surgery.