Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential Time Trends of Outcomes and Costs of Care for Acute Myocardial Infarction Hospitalizations by ST Elevation and Type of Intervention in the United States, 2001–2011

Background Little is known whether time trends of in‐hospital mortality and costs of care for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) differ by type of AMI (ST‐elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] vs. non‐ST‐elevation [NSTEMI]) and by the intervention received (percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI], coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG], or no intervention) in the United States. Methods and Results We conducted a serial cross‐sectional study of all hospitalizations for AMI aged 30 years or older using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2001–2011 (1 456 154 discharges; a weighted estimate of 7 135 592 discharges). Hospitalizations were stratified by type of AMI and intervention, and the time trends of in‐hospital mortality and hospital costs were examined for each combination of the AMI type and intervention, after adjusting for both patient‐ and hospital‐level characteristics. Compared with 2001, adjusted in‐hospital mortality improved significantly for NSTEMI patients in 2011, regardless of the intervention received (PCI odds ratio [OR] 0.68, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.83; CABG OR 0.57, 0.45 to 0.72; without intervention OR 0.61, 0.57 to 0.65). As for STEMI, a decline in adjusted in‐hospital mortality was significant for those who underwent PCI (OR 0.83; 0.73 to 0.94); however, no significant improvement was observed for those who received CABG or without intervention. Hospital costs per hospitalization increased significantly for patients who underwent intervention, but not for those without intervention. Conclusions In the United States, the decrease in in‐hospital mortality and the increase in costs differed by the AMI type and the intervention received. These non‐uniform trends may be informative for designing effective health policies to reduce the health and economic burdens of AMI.
Deletion of phospholipase C β4 in thalamocortical relay nucleus leads to absence seizures

Absence seizures are characterized by cortical spike-wave discharges (SWDs) on electroencephalography, often accompanied by a shift in the firing pattern of thalamocortical (TC) neurons from tonic to burst firing driven by T-type Ca2+ currents. We recently demonstrated that the phospholipase C β4 (PLCβ4) pathway tunes the firing mode of TC neurons via the simultaneous regulation of T- and L-type Ca2+ currents, which prompted us to investigate the contribution of TC firing modes to absence seizures. PLCβ4-deficient TC neurons were readily shifted to the oscillatory burst firing mode after a slight hyperpolarization of membrane potential. TC-limited knockdown as well as whole-animal knockout of PLCβ4 induced spontaneous SWDs with simultaneous behavioral arrests and increased the susceptibility to drug-induced SWDs, indicating that the deletion of thalamic PLCβ4 leads to the genesis of absence seizures. The SWDs were effectively suppressed by thalamic infusion of a T-type, but not an L-type, Ca2+ channel blocker. These results reveal a primary role of TC neurons in the genesis of absence seizures and provide strong evidence that an alteration of the firing property of TC neurons is sufficient to generate absence seizures. Our study presents PLCβ4-deficient mice as a potential animal model for absence seizures.
Low-complexity adaptive tree search algorithm for MIMO detection

In this paper, a reduced-complexity multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) detector for the spatial multiplexing systems is described. It incorporates the idea of Ungerboeck's set partitioning in the tree search to reduce the computational complexity. An algorithm that adapts the number of partitions based on the channel conditions is proposed to achieve a better tradeoff between complexity and performance. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed algorithm under the assumptions of perfect channel and noise power estimates.
Protective role of 17β‐estradiol on medulloblastoma development in Patched1 heterozygous mice

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common pediatric tumor of the CNS, representing ∼20% of all childhood CNS tumors. Although in recent years many molecular mechanisms that control MB development have been clarified, the effects of biological factors such as sex on this tumor remain to be explained. Epidemiological data, in fact, indicate a significant difference in the incidence of MB between the 2 sexes, with considerably higher susceptibility of males than females. Besides this different susceptibility, female sex is also a significant favorable prognostic factor in MB, with girls having a much better outcome. Despite these literature data, there has been little investigation into estrogen influence on MB development. In our study, we evaluated how hormone deficiency resulting from ovariectomy and hormone replacement influences the development of early and advanced MB stages in Patched1 heterozygous mice, a well‐characterized mouse model of radiation‐induced MB. Susceptibility to MB development was significantly increased in ovariectomized Ptch1+/− females and restored to levels observed in control mice after estrogen replacement. We next investigated the molecular mechanisms by which estrogen might influence tumor progression and show that ERβ, but not ERα, is involved in modulation of MB development by estrogens. Finally, our study shows that a functional interaction between estrogen‐ and IGF‐I‐mediated pathways may be responsible for the effects observed.
An Escherichia coli MG1655 Lipopolysaccharide Deep-Rough Core Mutant Grows and Survives in Mouse Cecal Mucus but Fails To Colonize the Mouse Large Intestine

ABSTRACT The ability of E. coli strains to colonize the mouse large intestine has been correlated with their ability to grow in cecal and colonic mucus. In the present study, an E. coli MG1655 strain was mutagenized with a mini-Tn5 Km (kanamycin) transposon, and mutants were tested for the ability to grow on agar plates with mouse cecal mucus as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. One mutant, designated MD42 (for mucus defective), grew poorly on cecal-mucus agar plates but grew well on Luria agar plates and on glucose minimal-agar plates. Sequencing revealed that the insertion in MD42 was in the waaQ gene, which is involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core biosynthesis. Like “deep-rough” E. coli mutants, MD42 was hypersensitive to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), bile salts, and the hydrophobic antibiotic novobiocin. Furthermore, its LPS core oligosaccharide was truncated, like that of a deep-rough mutant. MD42 initially grew in the large intestines of streptomycin-treated mice but then failed to colonize (<102 CFU per g of feces), whereas its parent colonized at levels between 107 and 108 CFU per g of feces. When mouse cecal mucosal sections were hybridized with an E. coli-specific rRNA probe, MD42 was observed in cecal mucus as clumps 24 h postfeeding, whereas its parent was present almost exclusively as single cells, suggesting that clumping may play a role in preventing MD42 colonization. Surprisingly, MD42 grew nearly as well as its parent during growth in undiluted, highly viscous cecal mucus isolated directly from the mouse cecum and, like its parent, survived well after reaching stationary phase, suggesting that there are no antimicrobials in mucus that prevent MD42 colonization. After mini-mariner transposon mutagenesis, an SDS-resistant suppressor mutant of MD42 was isolated. The mini-mariner insertion was shown to be in the bipA gene, a known regulator of E. coli surface components. When grown in Luria broth, the LPS core of the suppressor mutant remained truncated; however, the LPS core was not truncated when the suppressor mutant was grown in the presence of SDS. Moreover, when the suppressor mutant was grown in the presence of SDS and fed to mice, it colonized the mouse large intestine. Collectively, the data presented here suggest that BipA may play a role in E. coli MG1655 LPS core biosynthesis and that because MD42 forms clumps in intestinal mucus, it is unable to colonize the mouse large intestine.
Study on extracting implicit patterns of patent data based on timeline

Patent documents are provide a significant source of knowledge about future technologies. Many attempts have been conducted to mine important knowledge from patents to analyze new technology trends. In this paper, we will to analyze implicit knowledge derived from the patents dataset of Big Data domain from KIPRIS. Keywords that occur in the title of patents are classified into three categories: Approach, Goal Object, and Goal Predicate, in order to create a model of relations of title patterns. The same keywords found on the timeline interval will be analyzed and illustrated in the patent pattern which are able to depict the relationship of goals and approaches of the patents occurred in different time interval. As a result, implicit trends and knowledge related to of specific keywords of technology reflect of each time gap can be obtained. Search result using ‘Goal object, Goal predicate and Approach’ pattern query is also found efficient and meet the user enquiry related technologies in timeline.
Hypospadias and early gestation growth restriction in infants.

OBJECTIVE There has been a major increase in the incidence of hypospadias in infants in the 1990s, but the risk factors are not known. Although there are scattered reports in the literature regarding the association of low birth weight and hypospadias, this has not been systematically studied. The objective of this study was to determine the association between early gestation intrauterine growth and hypospadias. METHODS A retrospective review of 13 years of admissions to 2 tertiary care neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Connecticut (1987--2000) showed that 112 (1.66%) of 6746 male infants had any degree of hypospadias. Of these, 8 were part of a genetic syndrome and were excluded. A retrospective cohort analysis of these 6738 infants was performed. Infant growth parameters at birth (weight, head circumference, and length) were analyzed along with maternal risk factors known to be associated with changes in fetal growth, including maternal age, race, diagnosis of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and maternal use of alcohol or tobacco or substance abuse during pregnancy. RESULTS The incidence of hypospadias in the NICU population increased 10-fold from 0.4% in 1987 to 4% in the first quarter of 2000. Hypospadias was significantly more common in infants who had uniformly poor intrauterine growth (<10th percentiles) in the various parameters measured: birth weight, length, or head circumference. There were no significant differences in maternal age or race, nor were there differences in the use of alcohol, tobacco, or street drugs by the mother. There were no differences between singletons and multiple-gestation births. However, the frequency of occurrence was significantly higher among first-born infants (1.9%) compared with all other infants (0.9%). CONCLUSIONS The incidence of hypospadias in our NICU population has increased 10-fold during the 13-year period of study. There was a significant association of hypospadias with poor intrauterine growth. The growth restriction was probably of early gestational cause as there was proportionate involvement of somatic (weight and length) and brain growth (head circumference). The increasing frequency of hypospadias and its association with poor intrauterine growth originating in early gestation suggests that common environmental factor(s) that have an impact on both conditions may be involved.
Characterization of a CD46 transgenic pig and protection of transgenic kidneys against hyperacute rejection in non‐immunosuppressed baboons

Abstract: Human membrane cofactor protein (CD46) controls complement activation and when expressed sufficiently as a transgene protects xenografts against complement‐mediated rejection, as shown here using non‐immunosuppressed baboons and heterotopic CD46 transgenic pig kidney xenografts. This report is of a carefully engineered transgene that enables high‐level CD46 expression. A novel CD46 minigene was validated by transfection and production of a transgenic pig line. Pig lymphocytes were tested for resistance to antibody and complement‐mediated lysis, transgenic tissues were characterized for CD46 expression, and kidneys were transplanted to baboons without immunosuppression. Absorption of anti‐Galα(1,3)Gal epitope (anti‐GAL) serum antibodies was measured. Transgenic pigs expressed high levels of CD46 in all tissues, especially vascular endothelium, with stable expression through three generations that was readily monitored by flow cytometry of transgenic peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Transgenic PBMC pre‐sensitized with antibody were highly resistant to human complement‐mediated lysis which readily lysed normal pig PBMC. Normal pig kidneys transplanted without cold ischemia into non‐immunosuppressed adult baboons survived a median of 3.5 h (n = 7) whereas transgenic grafts (n = 9), harvested at ∼24‐h intervals, were either macroscopically normal (at 29, 48 and 68 h) or showed limited macroscopic damage (median > 50 h). Microscopic assessment of transplanted transgenic kidneys showed only focal tubular infarcts with viable renal tissue elsewhere, no endothelial swelling or polymorph adherence and infiltration by lymphocytes beginning at 3 days. Coagulopathy was not a feature of the histology in four kidneys not rejected and assessed at 48 h or later after transplantation. Baboon anti‐GAL serum antibody titers were high before transplantation and, in one extensively analyzed recipient, reduced ∼8‐fold within 5.5 h. The data demonstrate that a single CD46 transgene controls hyperacute kidney graft rejection in untreated baboons despite the presence of antibody and complement deposition. The expression levels, tissue distribution and in vitro functional tests indicate highly efficient CD46 function, controlling both classical and alternative pathway complement activation, which suggests it might be the complement regulator of choice to protect xenografts.
Development of a frameless and armless stereotactic neuronavigation system with ultrasonographic registration.

OBJECTIVE We have developed a frameless stereotactic neuronavigation system that allows navigation during neurosurgical procedures through an image formed from integrating ultrasonography and preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and/or x-ray computed tomography. METHODS The system consists of a ultrasound imaging scanner, a workstation with an image capture board, and an ultrasonic tracking sensor with a 5-MHz ultrasonographic transducer. The ultrasonic tracking sensor measures the position and orientation of the ultrasonographic transducer. The oblique plane of the MR/computed tomographic image corresponding to the ultrasound image is then displayed on the workstation monitor. A three-dimensional computer graphic representation of the integrated image is also reported as a preliminary test. For the patient-image registration, the coordinates of digitized and imaged markers on a specifically developed reference frame are used. The reference frame is noninvasive because it is not bolted but only fastened to the patient's head with silicon. RESULTS Based on the findings from the clinical application of the system in three cases, the system was advantageous because of the surgical procedures could be controlled by intraoperative ultrasonography as well as by preoperative MR/computed tomographic images. Missing parts in the ultrasonogram were supplemented with preoperative MR/computed tomographic images. At other times, spatial positioning and visualization by ultrasonography were useful for identifying anatomical objects in the image. CONCLUSION This preliminary study of the frameless integration of ultrasonography into stereotactic space demonstrated its clinical usefulness. We believe that the concept of pre- and intraoperative image-guided surgery presented here will find increasing use in the future.
Skin Manifestations Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis

We examined cutaneous manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of 142 Japanese patients who visited both the Departments of Dermatology and Rheumatology of our hospital. We classified cutaneous lesions into specific and/or characteristic or nonspecific ones. Nonspecific lesions predominated in our series. Among the specific skin manifestations, which comprised 10% of the total, rheumatoid nodules, rheumatoid papules, rheumatoid neutrophilic dermatitis, and severe vasculitic ulcers correlated with high titers of rheumatoid factors and progression of RA, while purpura and livedo did not. Nonspecific skin manifestations failed to correspond with the level of rheumatoid factors. Among the nonspecific lesions, asteatotic eczema, candida interdigitalis, and tinea unguium were commonly detected.
Recent progress in HIV-associated nephropathy.

The classic kidney disease of HIV infection, HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN), is an aggressive form of collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis with accompanying tubular and interstitial lesions. HIVAN was first described among African-Americans and Haitian immigrants with advanced HIV disease, an early suggestion of a strong genetic association. This genetic susceptibility was recently linked to polymorphisms on chromosome 22 in individuals of African descent. The association with advanced HIV infection and evidence from HIV-transgenic mice suggested the possibility that HIV directly infects the kidney and that specific HIV gene expression induces host cellular pathways that are responsible for HIVAN pathogenesis. Although combination antiretroviral therapy has substantially reduced the impact of HIVAN in the United States, continued growth of the HIV epidemic in susceptible African populations may have important public health implications. This article reviews recent progress in the pathogenesis.
Transmission of the X4 phenotype of HIV-1: is there evidence against the "random transmission" hypothesis?

same biological characteristics of HIV-1 isolates. The Dutch group also developed the MT-2 cell line assay as a convenient method to distinguish between the 2 biological phenotypes of HIV-1 [ 3 ]. Subsequent studies showed that MT-2–positive isolates occasionally are observed in patients with primary HIV infection, even though most asymptomatic patients have MT-2–negative isolates [ 4 – 7 ]. Furthermore, a switch from MT-2– negative to MT-2–positive isolates occurs in approximately 50% of patients during progression toward end-stage AIDS and is associated with an increased rate of CD4 cell decline [ 6 , 7 ]. These findings were interpreted to suggest that MT-2–positive isolates are more virulent in vivo, and their appearance is both a cause and
Endometrial evaluation in postmenopausal breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen: an ultrasound, color flow Doppler, hysteroscopic and histological study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of tamoxifen therapy on the endometrium by transvaginal color Doppler sonography, hysteroscopy and endometrial sampling. The study group (tamoxifen group) was composed of 38 asymptomatic postmenopausal women. All had been treated with tamoxifen (20–30 mg/day) for breast cancer for at least 1 year. The patients of the tamoxifen group underwent transvaginal color Doppler sonography, hysteroscopy and, if necessary, endometrial biopsy. Thirty asymptomatic post menopausal women (control group) and 25 asymptomatic postmenopausal breast cancer patients not on tamoxifen therapy (no‐tamoxifen group) served as the control groups. The endometrium was scanned by transvaginal ultrasound to evaluate thickness, echotexture, border and intraluminal fluid. Color and pulsed Doppler were used to evaluate the pulsatility (PI) and resistance (RI) indices of the uterine and endometrial arteries when possible. The patients receiving tamoxifen had a significantly thicker endometrium compared to the control groups. Endometrial pathology was observed in 61% (23/38) of cases and an endometrial thickness of ⩾ 10 mm was always associated with an endometrial lesion. Nineteen benign endometrial polyps were found, most of them having a typical sonographic endometrial pattern with regular borders and small hypoechoic cystic areas which we define as polypoid. Four endometrial hyperplasias, one of these atypical were observed. There were no endometrial cancers. The mean PI and RI of the uterine arteries in the tamoxifen group were 2.04 ± 0.77 and 0.82 ± 0.1, respectively and were significantly lower than those of the control group (2.93 ± 0.9 and 0.93 ± 0.06) and the no‐tamoxifen group (2.53 ± 0.7 and 0.89 ± 0.1). The blood velocity changes were very similar to those described in postmenopausal women receiving estrogen replacement therapy. A correlation between the time of beginning tamoxifen therapy after menopause and development of endometrial pathology was observed: in patients who started therapy many years after the onset of menopause, the risk of developing endometrial pathology was higher than in those who began therapy a few years after the onset of menopause. Patients receiving tamoxifen, particularly those who start therapy many years after the onset of menopause, should be closely monitored by transvaginal ultrasound and color Doppler imaging to detect endometrial lesions. Copyright © 1995 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Accounting for Failures May Improve Precision:Evidence Supporting Improved Validity of Self-Reported Condom Use

Objectives: To determine whether a measure of unprotected vaginal sex that is adjusted for condom failures would produce improved accuracy in predicting biologically confirmed STDs (chlamydia and gonorrhea) among female teens. Methods: Self-reported measures were collected using audio-computer-assisted self-interviewing. DNA amplification for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae was conducted. Results: The unadjusted measure of unprotected vaginal sex was not significantly associated with biologically confirmed prevalence of STDs (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.51; 95% CI = 0.71–3.21; P = 0.28). Alternatively, the adjusted measure achieved significance (PR = 3.59; 95% CI = 1.13–11.38; P = 0.014). More than one quarter (25.6%) of teens using condoms inconsistently and/or incorrectly tested positive for an STD compared to 7.1% among those reporting the consistent and correct use of condoms. Conclusion: Findings demonstrate that studies of condom effectiveness should use an adjusted measure of condom use to achieve precision and rigor.
Playing with food: Reconfiguring the gastronomic experience through play

: Research suggests that play is an influential factor in the eating experience. Yet, playing with food remains a common taboo. We explore ways that eating and play might unfold in gastronomic restau-rants. We review current practices and conduct mixed-method interviews with a range of stakeholders, using the PLEX framework for playful interactions to identify limitations of current approaches, as well as opportunities to take the convergence of gastronomy and play further. Our findings point to four design opportunities to extend playfulness in gastronomy: (1) eliciting play beyond surprise and make-believe; (2) facilitating socialization through emergent forms of play; (3) using common eating rituals as inspiration for gastronomy; and (4) using play to enhance degustation. Our contribution extends understanding of the potential of playful gastronomy for chefs and restauranteurs, by positing new experiences for diners.