Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decrease in erythrocyte glycophorin sialic acid content is associated with increased erythrocyte aggregation in human diabetes.

1. Sialic acid moieties of erythrocyte membrane glycoproteins are the principal determinants of the negative charge on the cell surface. The resultant electrostatic repulsion between the cells reduces erythrocyte aggregation and hence the low shear rate viscosity and yield stress of blood. 2. Using g.c. -m.s., a decrease in sialic acid content has been observed in the major erythrocyte membrane glycoprotein, glycophorin A, obtained from nine diabetic patients compared with that from seven normal control subjects [median (range): 3.30 (0.01-11.90) versus 18.60 (3.20-32.60) micrograms/100 micrograms of protein, P less than 0.02]. 3. Erythrocyte aggregation, measured by viscometry as the ratio of suspension viscosity to supernatant viscosity (LS/S) in fibrinogen solution, was increased in ten diabetic patients compared with ten normal control subjects (mean +/- SEM, 37.6 +/- 1.3 versus 33.8 +/- 0.6, P less than 0.02). 4. In the patients in whom both viscometry and carbohydrate analysis were performed, the decrease in erythrocyte glycophorin sialylation and the increase in erythrocyte aggregation in fibrinogen solution were related statistically (LS/S correlated negatively with glycophorin sialic acid content, r = 0.73, P less than 0.05). 5. Decreased glycophorin sialylation provides an explanation at the molecular level for increased erythrocyte aggregation and it may be important in the pathogenesis of vascular disease in diabetes.
Reassessing manual proportions in Australopithecus afarensis.

Previous analyses of hand morphology in Australopithecus afarensis have concluded that this taxon had modern human-like manual proportions, with relatively long thumbs and short fingers. These conclusions are based on the A.L. 333 composite fossil assemblage from Hadar, Ethiopia, and are premised on the ability to assign phalanges to a single individual, and to the correct side and digit. Neither assignment is secure, however, given the taphonomy and sample composition at A.L. 333. We use a resampling approach that includes the entire assemblage of complete hand elements at Hadar, and takes into account uncertainties in identifying phalanges by individual, side and digit number. This approach provides the most conservative estimates of manual proportions in Au. afarensis. We resampled hand long bone lengths in Au. afarensis and extant hominoids, and obtained confidence limits for distributions of manual proportions in the latter. Results confirm that intrinsic manual proportions in Au. afarensis are dissimilar to Pan and Pongo. However, manual proportions in Au. afarensis often fall at the upper end of the distribution in Gorilla, and very lower end in Homo, corresponding to disproportionately short thumbs and long medial digits in Homo. This suggests that manual proportions in Au. afarensis, particularly metacarpal proportions, were not as derived towards Homo as previously described, but rather are intermediate between gorillas and humans. Functionally, these results suggest Au. afarensis could not produce precision grips with the same efficiency as modern humans, which may in part account for the absence of lithic technology in this fossil taxon.
Health and Health Care of Medicare Beneficiaries in 2030

Abstract On Medicare’s 50th anniversary, we use the Future Elderly Model (FEM) – a microsimulation model of health and economic outcomes for older Americans – to generate a snapshot of changing Medicare demographics and spending between 2010 and 2030. During this period, the baby boomers, who began turning 65 and aging into Medicare in 2011, will drive Medicare demographic changes, swelling the estimated US population aged 65 or older from 39.7 million to 67.0 million. Among the risks for Medicare sustainability, the size of the elderly population in the future likely will have the highest impact on spending but is easiest to forecast. Population health and the proportion of the future elderly with disabilities are more uncertain, though tools such as the FEM can provide reasonable forecasts to guide policymakers. Finally, medical technology breakthroughs and their effect on longevity are most uncertain and perhaps riskiest. Policymakers will need to keep these risks in mind if Medicare is to be sustained for another 50 years. Policymakers may also want to monitor the equity of Medicare financing amid signs that the program’s progressivity is declining, resulting in higher-income people benefiting relatively more from Medicare than lower-income people.
Brand Extension: a Strategy for Competitive Advantage

The success of a product depends upon its positioning which in turn is related to its brand name. A brand name may be defined as, a name, term, sign, symbol, or design, or a combination of these, that identifies the manufacturer or seller of a product or service (Kotler and Armstrong, 2002). Zikmund and d’Amico (1984) defined brand as any name, term, symbol sign, design, or unifying combination of all these that identifies and distinguishes one product from another competitive product.
Input-Output finite-time stability and stabilization for a class of distributed parameter systems

In this paper, the input-output finite-time stability and stabilization for distributed parameter systems was studied. The concept of input-output finite-time stability for distributed parameter systems was defined. By employing Lyapunov functional theory, sufficient conditions of input-output finite-time stability for distributed parameter systems were given. Sufficient conditions for the existence of distributed state feedback controllers which ensure the closed-loop distributed parameter systems be input-output finite-time stable were also proposed. Finally, a numerical example was given to illustrate our results.
Vibration pain provocation can improve the specificity of MRI in the diagnosis of symptomatic lumbar disc rupture.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine if vibration pain provocation could be combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to increase its specificity in identifying symptomatic disc disruption identified by discography. DESIGN Prospective single-blind study. SETTING Data were collected at a spine specialty clinic and at a diagnostic imaging center. PATIENTS A total of 206 discs in 78 patients (41 males, 37 females; average age, 39.7 years; range, 18-73 years) were evaluated by MRI, spinous process vibration, and discography. INTERVENTIONS A hand-held prototype vibrator was applied to the spinous process of each intervertebral disc level to be evaluated. The type of pain provoked with vibration as well as with discography was recorded as painless, dissimilar to clinical pain, or similar/exact reproduction of clinical pain. The discograms and MRI scans were scored on a 0-4 scale. A system was defined for combining the vibration results with MRI. OUTCOME MEASURES The results of the vibration and MRI were compared with the results of computed tomography/discography to determine how well the results of the evaluations agreed. RESULTS Vibration pain provocation agreed with discographic pain provocation in 70.9% of the discs. The specificity of MRI compared with discographic findings was only 55.7%. However, this figure improved significantly to 81.3% when relying on the vibration pain provocation in discs with mild or moderate disruption. The sensitivity of the combined evaluation was 85.9% and the accuracy 83.0%. CONCLUSIONS A small hand-held vibrator could produce pain provocation results similar to those obtained by discography. Results of this noninvasive pain provocation method can improve the specificity and accuracy of MRI in identifying symptomatic disc lesions.
Inflammation and Herpes Simplex Virus: Release of a Chemotaxis-Generating Factor from Infected Cells

Infection of primary rabbit kidney cells with herpes simplex virus leads to the release of a cell factor or factors that upon incubation with serum results in the cleavage of the fifth component, C5, of complement. The product of this cleavage, C5a, is chemotactic for polymorphonuclear leukocytes and could be responsible for the accumulation of these cells at the site of herpetic lesions.
Rapid and Specific Method for Evaluating Streptomyces Competitive Dynamics in Complex Soil Communities

ABSTRACT Quantifying target microbial populations in complex communities remains a barrier to studying species interactions in soil environments. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays were developed for quantifying pathogenic Streptomyces scabiei and antibiotic-producing Streptomyces lavendulae strains in complex soil communities. This assay will be useful for evaluating the competitive dynamics of streptomycetes in soil.
Ipilimumab as a Cause of Severe Pan-Colitis and Colonic Perforation

Ipilimumab is a human monoclonal antibody that functions as a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitor that is used to treat malignant melanoma. Due to ipilimumab’s removal of immune regulation, specifically through the inactivation of CTLA-4, it is commonly associated with inflammatory and autoimmune events. Gastrointestinal (GI) related immune-related adverse events such as diarrhea occur in 29% of patients with 7.6% of patients specifically suffering from colitis. We describe a case of colonic perforation with ipilimumab use. Our goal is to raise awareness and alert practicing gastroenterologists of this particular adverse effect. A 74-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department with complaints of hematochezia, abdominal pain and decreased appetite. The patient’s past medical history included desmoplastic BRAF mutation negative melanoma with metastatic disease to the face, liver, and trigeminal nerve. He underwent his last treatment of ipilimumab three weeks prior to presentation. In total, the patient received four doses of 3 mg/kg of ipilimumab every three weeks. Since the initiation of ipilimumab, he reported diarrhea as its adverse effect, which was treated with tapering doses of prednisone one month at a time. Colonoscopy revealed mucosal ulceration and erosion in the rectum, sigmoid colon, and remaining descending colon up to the splenic flexure and cecum. After the colonoscopy, the patient became tachycardic, hypotensive and complained of sudden abdominal pain. A computed tomographic (CT) scan of the abdomen showed free intraperitoneal air. He was immediately taken to the operating room (OR) for an emergent laparotomy. In the operating room, perforations were noted at the splenic flexure and the cecum with large amounts of succus spilling from the perforations. The majority of the large bowel appeared cyanotic and dusky; consequently, a sub-total colectomy with terminal ileostomy was performed. After the procedure, the patient was started on antibiotics for severe peritonitis and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with septic shock. His clinical status continued to deteriorate due to acute respiratory failure, nosocomial pneumonia, severe protein calorie malnutrition and coagulopathy from disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The patient did not recover from his illness and died a few days later. It is imperative that physicians caring for patients receiving treatment with CTLA-4 inhibitors frequently monitor for and promptly treat possible immune-related adverse effects. For patients with ipilimumab-related colitis, prompt identification of symptoms and early treatment with steroids are crucial in preventing harmful or possibly fatal immune-related adverse events. Gastroenterologists should be wary of this adverse side effect in this high-risk population when performing colonoscopy and take necessary precautions.
Teaching NeuroImages: Leukodystrophy and progressive myoclonic epilepsy disclosing DRPLA

A 25-year-old Brazilian man presented with an 8-year history of progressive myoclonic epilepsy. Familial history disclosed a Japanese paternal grandmother with late-onset parkinsonism-dementia and a paternal uncle with atypical parkinsonism. Examination showed myoclonic jerks, ataxia, and brisk tendon reflexes. Brain MRI showed diffuse leukodystrophy (figure). Genetic testing (supplemental material on the Neurology® Web site at Neurology.org) exhibited 70/35 CAG expansions in the ATN1 gene, diagnostic of dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA).
Der Beneslider zur Distalisierung im Oberkiefer

Zusammenfassung In den letzten Jahren wurden die skelettale Verankerungshilfen (TADs, Temporary anchorage devices) in Distalisationsmechaniken integriert, um den Verankerungsverlust der anterioren Dentition zu verhindern. Jedoch haben Mini-Implantate im Alveolarfortsatz eine hohe Verlustrate. Des Weiteren behindern TAD’s zwischen den Zahnwurzeln die Zahnbewegung nach distal. Das Prinzip und das klinische Procedere beim Einsatz der Beneslider Mechanik mit einem oder zwei Mini-Implantaten im anterioren Gaumen werden dargestellt. Hierbei dient die Verwendung von Abutments der stabilen Kopplung der Apparatur mit den Mini-Implantaten. Verglichen mit dem Alveolarfortsatz ist der anteriore Gaumen die bessere Insertionsregion mit der geringeren Verlustrate. Wegen der Gleitmechanik konnte eine körperliche Molarenbewegung erreicht werden. Das Finishing nach Distalisierung kann mit bukkalen oder lingualen Brackets, in manchen Fällen auch mit Alignern durchgeführt werden.
Superaligned Carbon Nanotube Arrays, Films, and Yarns: A Road to Applications

A superaligned carbon nanotube (CNT) array is a special kind of vertically aligned CNT array with the capability of being converted into continuous films and yarns. The as‐produced CNT films are transparent and highly conductive, with aligned CNTs parallel to the direction of drawing. After passing through volatile solutions or being twisted, CNT films can be further condensed into shrunk yarns. These shrunk yarns possess high tensile strengths and Young’s moduli, and are good conductors. Many applications of CNT films and shrunk yarns have been demonstrated, such as TEM grids, loudspeakers, touch screens, etc.
Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Regulates Embryonic Myelopoiesis Independently of Its Effects on T Cell Development

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) has been shown to play important roles in the immune system. It acts as a key negative regulator of signaling via receptors for IFNs and other cytokines controlling T cell development, as well as Toll receptor signaling in macrophages and other immune cells. To gain further insight into SOCS1, we have identified and characterized the zebrafish socs1 gene, which exhibited sequence and functional conservation with its mammalian counterparts. Initially maternally derived, the socs1 gene showed early zygotic expression in mesodermal structures, including the posterior intermediate cell mass, a site of primitive hematopoiesis. At later time points, expression was seen in a broad anterior domain, liver, notochord, and intersegmental vesicles. Morpholino-mediated knockdown of socs1 resulted in perturbation of specific hematopoietic populations prior to the commencement of lymphopoiesis, ruling out T cell involvement. However, socs1 knockdown also lead to a reduction in the size of the developing thymus later in embryogenesis. Zebrafish SOCS1 was shown to be able to interact with both zebrafish Jak2a and Stat5.1 in vitro and in vivo. These studies demonstrate a conserved role for SOCS1 in T cell development and suggest a novel T cell-independent function in embryonic myelopoiesis mediated, at least in part, via its effects on receptors using the Jak2–Stat5 pathway.
INFLUÊNCIA DA IDADE E DO NÚMERO DE CICLOS ESTRAIS PRÉVIOS À PRIMEIRA INSEMINAÇÃO NA EFICIÊNCIA REPRODUTIVA DE MATRIZES SUÍNAS INFLUENCE OF THE NUMBER OF PREVIOUS ESTROUS CYCLES AND AGE AT FIRST INSEMINATION IN REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY OF SOWS

O presente estudo investigou a influencia da idade ao primeiro estro e do numero de ciclos previos a primeira cobertura (a partir do segundo) no desempenho reprodutivo de matrizes no primeiro parto. Foram avaliadas 2.710 femeas da linhagem Camborough 25, nascidas entre 2007 e 2012, em sete granjas comerciais situadas na regiao de Ponte Nova – MG. Os dados foram obtidos a partir de bancos de dados dos programas de gerenciamento Pigchamp e Agriness. O tamanho da primeira leitegada nao foi influenciado (P>0,05) pela idade a primeira inseminacao, idade ao primeiro estro (P>0,05) e pelo numero de estros (P>0,05) em que a marra foi inseminada a primeira vez, nas sete granjas. A taxa de repeticao de estros tambem nao foi influenciada (p>0,05) pela idade a primeira inseminacao. Pode-se concluir para a linhagem avaliada, que a taxa de repeticao de estro e o tamanho da leitegada no primeiro parto nao sao influenciados pela idade ao primeiro estro, assim como pela idade e numero de estros a primeira inseminacao. Diante destas consideracoes, as marras devem ser inseminadas a partir do segundo estro, visando um menor periodo de dias nao produtivos, sem comprometimento da eficiencia reprodutiva.
Analysis and Optimization of System Intrusion Tolerance Capacity Based on Markov

After the occurrence of network intrusion, the system is running in a state of the lower quality. Along with the system’s tolerant capacity decline, it eventually stops providing services or even shutdown. This paper developed a Markov intrusion tolerance model (SMP), aiming at dif-ﬁcultly evaluates and enhances the system’s tolerant capacity issues. Based on formalized related security state of the model, the quantitative analysis of system’s tolerant capacity is performed. Then calling the parameters solution algorithm to calculate the SMP model’s average time of system fault (ATOSF) under each security state. After analyzing the variety track of ATOSF, found the system’s tolerant key points. Maintenance of these key points, it can enhance the system’s tolerant capacity, so as to increasing the availability of the system. The exper-iment results provide evidence that using the Markov to the system’s tolerant capacity in the quantization process is feasible and eﬀective.
Entailment of Causal Queries in Narratives using Action Language

In this paper, Action Language formalism has been used to reason about narratives in a multi agent framework. The actions have been given a semantic frame representation. Hypothetical situations have been dealt using different states for world knowledge and agents’ knowledge. A notion of plan recognition has been proposed to answer causal queries. Finally, an algorithm has been proposed for automatically translating a given narrative into the representation and causal query entailment has been shown.
Does periodontitis reflect inflammation and malnutrition status in hemodialysis patients?

BACKGROUND Chronic infection and inflammation, including periodontitis, is linked to an increased risk for atherosclerosis. To investigate the possible adverse effects of periodontitis in maintenance hemodialysis patients, we compared periodontal severity with malnutrition and inflammation, which are associated with poor atherosclerotic outcome in hemodialysis patients. METHODS Two hundred fifty-three hemodialysis patients were included in this study to evaluate clinical periodontal status by using the Plaque Index, Gingival Index, and Periodontal Disease Index. Geographic, hematologic, biochemical, and dialysis-related data also were collected. Values for nutritional and inflammatory markers, such as albumin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, transferrin, absolute lymphocyte count, normalized protein catabolic rate, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and ferritin, were included for analysis with the Periodontal Index. RESULTS Poor oral health status was shown by 80.6% of hemodialysis patients with periodontal disease. In an analysis of geographic and disease-related parameters, we found that aging, smoking, diabetes, and longer dialysis duration were associated with severity of periodontitis. Parameters of malnutrition and inflammation also were associated with poor periodontal status. We next conducted multiple regression analysis and found that age, diabetes, smoking, albumin level, and dialysis duration were associated independently with periodontitis severity in hemodialysis patients. According to the severity of periodontitis, there were higher percentiles of patients with malnutrition (chi-square = 13.055; P = 0.005) and inflammation (chi-square = 10.046; P = 0.018) in the severe group. CONCLUSION Periodontal health is poor in hemodialysis patients and correlates with markers of malnutrition and inflammation. Its diagnosis and treatment deserve better awareness.
A typology of online child pornography offending

The internet has increased the range, volume and accessibility of sexually abusive imagery, including child pornography. Child pornography depicts the sexual or sexualised physical abuse of children under 16 years of age. Australia has joined many other nations in an international effort to combat this multi-faceted global menace that combines both heavily networked and highly individualised criminal behaviour. This paper outlines the legal definition of child pornography and Australian laws relating to this, and presents a typology of online child pornography offending. Implications for law enforcement responses are also discussed. This work is a result of a collaborative program between the Australian Institute of Criminology and the Australian High Tech Crime Centre.
Long-term follow-up of acupuncture and hormone therapy on hot flushes in women with breast cancer: a prospective, randomized, controlled multicenter trial

Objective To evaluate the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) and hormone therapy (HT) on vasomotor symptoms in women with a history of breast cancer. Methods Forty-five women were randomized to EA (n = 27) for 12 weeks or HT (n = 18) for 24 months. The number of and distress caused by hot flushes were registered daily before, during and up to 24 months after start of treatment. Results In 19 women who completed 12 weeks of EA, the median number of hot flushes/24 h decreased from 9.6 (interquartile range (IQR) 6.6–9.9) at baseline to 4.3 (IQR 1.0–7.1) at 12 weeks of treatment (p < 0.001). At 12 months after start of treatment, 14 women with only the initial 12 weeks of EA had a median number of flushes/24 h of 4.9 (IQR 1.8–7.3), and at 24 months seven women with no other treatment than EA had 2.1 (IQR 1.6–2.8) flushes/24 h. Another five women had a decreased number of flushes after having additional EA. The 18 women with HT had a baseline median number of flushes/24 h of 6.6 (IQR 4.0–8.9), and 0.0 (IQR 0.0–1.6; p = 0.001) at 12 weeks. Conclusion Electro-acupuncture is a possible treatment of vasomotor symptoms for women with breast cancer and should be further studied for this group of women.
Transport of Clostridium bifermentans DPH-1 Through the Laboratory Column can be Explained by Two-Region Model for Bioremediation

Transport of Clostridium bifermentans DPH-1 was characterized from laboratory-made column tests using fully saturated Toyoura sand. The conventional transport models were fitted to the column test results to investigate the applicability of prediction and assessment of bacterial transport in actual subsurface or ground water. Laboratory column tests confirmed that the transport characteristics of Clostridium bifermentans DPH-1 in activating tetrachloroethylene dechlorination could be described by mobile-immobile two-region model. The parameters of two-region model i.e. peclet number, retardation factor, fraction rate of mobile water and stanton number were characterized by fitting results. These parameters were also justified by a verification experiment. Two-region model parameters suggested that bacterial injection into the ground at a large concentration is difficult for rehabilitation of widely dispersed contaminated ground water.