Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Abnormalities in plasma fatty acid composition in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children treated with protease inhibitors.

AIM To study plasma fatty acid composition in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children treated with protease inhibitors and its relation with other components of the metabolic syndrome observed after this therapy. DESIGN Cross-sectional study from collected clinical database. SUBJECTS 17 children with HIV infection treated with protease inhibitors. Nine patients received ritonavir (20-30 mg/kg/d) and the remaining eight received nelfinavir (60-90 mg/kg/d). Duration of protease inhibitors treatment was 711+/-208 d. As controls, we used 112 matched blood samples from apparently healthy children admitted for minor surgical procedures. METHODS Plasma fatty acids were determined using a Hewlett Packard GC 5890 gas chromatograph. RESULTS Plasma levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) tended to be high in protease inhibitor-treated patients. Plasma content of omega6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and, in particular, of the highly unsaturated 22ratio4omega6 and 22ratio5omega6, was significantly increased. Also, infected children had increased Delta6 and Delta4 desaturase activities and decreased Delta5 desaturase activity. Significant correlations were present between plasma IGF-1 level and plasma triglycerides, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity and Delta6 desaturase activity. CONCLUSION HIV-infected, protease inhibitor-treated children exhibit a metabolic syndrome which is associated with significant changes in plasma fatty acid composition. These changes are similar to those observed in situations of insulin resistance and are linked to variations in plasma IGF-1 concentration.
Experimental comparison of bearing estimation techniques for short passive towed sonar arrays

Although Low Frequency Active Sonar (LFAS) is considered one of the best means of detection and localization of a submarine in shallow water, the use of an active system is not always possible for tactical reasons. It is therefore interesting to include a passive mode in these systems by using the receiving array as a passive array. However, those arrays are smaller than conventional passive towed arrays and the frequencies used for passive submarine detection are lower than the LFAS frequencies, resulting in reduced bearing resolution and accuracy compared to dedicated passive systems. Several signal processing techniques have been studied to improve the performance of such systems in terms of bearing localization. The Extended Towed Array Measurement (ETAM) algorithm is a Synthetic Aperture technique based on the correlation of data snapshots on overlapping hydrophones. It creates a virtual longer aperture that offers better bearing resolution power than a conventional technique. Another widely considered approach is the Minimum Variance Distortionless Response beamformer (MVDR). We have implemented both algorithms and applied them to simulated as well as experimental data sets. In this paper, several passive experiments that were part of a larger Netherlands trial devoted to multistatic Low Frequency Active Sonar (LFAS) are analyzed. The receiving array aperture was 24 m. A target submarine was fitted with a broadband low frequency projector transmitting five intermittent tonals in the 500 Hz-700 Hz band. The bearing estimation accuracy and beamforming gain of MVDR, ETAM and of the conventional beamformer are measured on this data set and compared.
Arabidopsis Trehalose-6-Phosphate Synthase 1 Is Essential for Normal Vegetative Growth and Transition to Flowering1

In resurrection plants and yeast, trehalose has a function in stress protection, but the absence of measurable amounts of trehalose in other plants precludes such a function. The identification of a trehalose biosynthetic pathway in angiosperms raises questions on the function of trehalose metabolism in nonresurrection plants. We previously identified a mutant in the Arabidopsis trehalose biosynthesis gene AtTPS1. Plants homozygous for the tps1 mutation do not develop mature seeds (Eastmond et al., 2002). AtTPS1 expression analysis and the spatial and temporal activity of its promoter suggest that this gene is active outside the seed-filling stage of development as well. A generally low expression is observed in all organs analyzed, peaking in metabolic sinks such as flower buds, ripening siliques, and young rosette leaves. The arrested tps1/tps1 embryonic state could be rescued using a dexamethasone-inducible AtTPS1 expression system enabling generation of homozygous mutant plants. When depleted in AtTPS1 expression, such mutant plants show reduced root growth, which is correlated with a reduced root meristematic region. Moreover, tps1/tps1 plants are retarded in growth and remain generative during their lifetime. Absence of Trehalose-6-Phosphate Synthase 1 in Arabidopsis plants precludes transition to flowering.
Eye growth in sharks: Ecological implications for changes in retinal topography and visual resolution

Abstract The visual abilities of sharks show substantial interspecific variability. In addition, sharks may change their habitat and feeding strategy throughout life. As the eyes of sharks continue to grow throughout the animal’s lifetime, ontogenetic variability in visual ability may also occur. The topographic analysis of the photoreceptor and ganglion cell distributions can identify visual specializations and assess changes in visual abilities that may occur concurrently with eye growth. This study examines an ontogenetic series of whole-mounted retinas in two elasmobranch species, the sandbar shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus, and the shortspine spurdog, Squalus mitsukurii, to identify regional specializations mediating zones for improved spatial resolution. The study examines retinal morphology and presents data on summation ratios between photoreceptor and ganglion cell layers, anatomically determined peak spatial resolving power, and the angular extent of the visual field. Peak densities of photoreceptors and ganglion cells occur in similar retinal locations. The topographic distribution of neurons in the ganglion cell layer does not differ substantially with eye growth. However, predicted peak spatial resolution increases with eye growth from 4.3 to 8.9 cycles/deg in C. plumbeus and from 5.7 to 7.2 cycles/deg in S. mitsukurii. The topographic distribution of different-sized ganglion cells is also mapped in C. plumbeus, and a population of large ganglion cells (soma area 120–350 μm2) form a narrow horizontal streak across the retinal meridian, while the spatial distribution of ordinary-sized ganglion cells (soma area 30–120 μm2) forms an area in the central retina. Species-specific retinal specializations highlight differences in visually mediated behaviors and foraging strategies between C. plumbeus and S. mitsukurii.
Topical formulations of miltefosine for cutaneous leishmaniasis in a BALB/c mouse model

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is caused by several species of the protozoan parasite Leishmania and affects approximately 10 million people worldwide. Currently available drugs are not ideal due to high cost, toxicity, parenteral administration and suboptimal efficacy. Miltefosine is the only oral treatment (Impavido®) available to treat CL, given over a period of 28 days with common side effects such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
A 500 Hz predictive visual servoing scheme to mechanically filter complex repetitive organ motions in robotized surgery

Periodic deformations of organs and soft tissues are complex, repetitive disturbances for surgeons manipulating robotic interfaces in computer-assisted surgery. They are due to respiratory movements or heart beats, and they have to be manually compensated for by the surgeon whenever accurate gestures are needed, as it is the case in cardiac or robotized laparoscopic surgery. This work presents a repetitive model predictive control scheme for the cancellation of fast periodic motions by a robot arm, which is controlled by visual servoing at 500 Hz by means of a high-speed camera. The problem we address is to keep a constant distance in the camera images from a surgical tool's tip to the organ surface. Contributions of the control input to reference tracking and to the fast-disturbance rejection are split and computed separately to ensure that the surgeon's interaction on the robot bas no influence on the cancellation performance. The system is tested in a laboratory experiment with an experimental surgical arm and in in vivo conditions on a living pig with a standard surgical robot. Results show the effectiveness and the potential of the proposed control scheme.
Antibody Technics and Blood Coagulation

The obvious importance of blood coagulation in hemostasis justifies the fact that it has probably been more widely and thoroughly investigated over a span of two hundred years than any other biolog­ ical system. The evidence that all but one of the factors involved in forming a blood clot actually exists is mainly clinical and genetic in that for each factor, a corresponding hereditary coagulation dis­ order has been described in man. Until the midcentury, interest in the field was limited to relatively few people who were actually engaged in its invest­ igation, although the volume of work on the subject was enormous. Morawitz in 1905 [1] took account of facts known at that time and put forth the "clas­ sical theory" of blood coagulation. Research in 1935 led to the discovery of vitamin K [2] and to the de­ velopment of the one-stage prothrombin time test [3]. The next decade produced the two-stage method for measuring prothrombin [4] and the iso­ lation of the anticoagulant drug dicumarol [5]. However, it has been only during the past twenty years that scientists from widely varied disciplines have unraveled the specifics of the molecular events leading to the formation of a blood clot. The result­ ing growth in knowledge has been explosive. Valu­ able documentations on the early advances in the knowledge of blood coagulation and detailed re­ views of the most recent discoveries can be found in the literature [6-11]. As a result, facts pertaining to the role of 14 trace plasma proteins, to a tissue pro­ tein factor, to membrane surfaces, Ca , and plate­ lets in the ultimate formation of a blood clot have become available. Apparent in most reviews, but rarely empha­ sized, is the fact that investigators use biochemical, biologic, immunologic and animal model technic as well as equipment of limitless complexity. Coagula­ tion lends itself to being recorded by viscometric, photometric, nephelometric and potentiometric methods complete, of course, with the latest me­ chanical and electronic developments. Successful undertaking of coagulation research obviously not only relies on the skill of the investigators but also is heavily dependent on research tools. In some in­ stances, as in endocrinology, a single experimental tool, namely the utilization of antibodies, has proven to be instrumental in the advancement and sophistication of knowledge in the entire field. In­ vestigators have capitalized on the specificity of antibodies to identify and label hormones and ste­ roid receptors in cells and to separate them from mixtures [12,13]. Perhaps appreciation of the im­ pact of individual experimental approaches on the promotion of knowledge in the field of blood coag­ ulation could lead to further important develop­ ments. This work is devoted to antibody technics used as tools in coagulation research and is written with two objectives in mind: (1) to identify areas where From the Department of Medicine and Pathology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, ML
A broadband flat lens based on aperture-coupled patch FSSs with four-pole resonant behaviour

A 24-GHz flat lens antenna based on four-pole pass band aperture-coupled-patch frequency selective surfaces (FSSs) is designed in this paper. Features of design are discussed, and results for frequency response of FSSs and radiation patterns of the antenna are calculated and measured to certify the theory. The results show that the gain is enhanced after equipping the lens and the antenna can operate in a wide band.
IL‐35 is a novel cytokine with therapeutic effects against collagen‐induced arthritis through the expansion of regulatory T cells and suppression of Th17 cells

Epstein‐Barr virus‐induced gene 3 (EBI3) and the p35 subunit of IL‐12 have been reported to form a heterodimeric hematopoietin in human and mouse. We have constructed a heterodimeric protein covalently linking EBI3 and p35, to form a novel cytokine which we now call IL‐35. The Fc fusion protein of IL‐35 induced proliferation of murine CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25– T cells when stimulated with immobilized anti‐CD3 and anti‐CD28 antibodies in vitro. The IL‐35‐expanded CD4+CD25+ T cell population expressed Foxp3 and produced elevated levels of IL‐10, whereas the IL‐35‐induced CD4+CD25– T cells produced IFN‐γ but not IL‐4. The in vitro expanded CD4+CD25+ T cells retained their suppressive functions against CD4+CD25– effector cells. Furthermore, when cultured with soluble anti‐CD3 antibody and antigen‐presenting cells, IL‐35 suppressed the proliferation of CD4+CD25– effector cells. Moreover, IL‐35 inhibited the differentiation of Th17 cells in vitro. In vivo, IL‐35 effectively attenuated established collagen‐induced arthritis in mice, with concomitant suppression of IL‐17 production but enhanced IFN‐γ synthesis. Thus, IL‐35 is a novel anti‐inflammatory cytokine suppressing the immune response through the expansion of regulatory T cells and suppression of Th17 cell development.
Rivaroxaban versus enoxaparin for thromboprophylaxis after total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND We investigated the efficacy of rivaroxaban, an orally active direct factor Xa inhibitor, in preventing venous thrombosis after total knee arthroplasty. METHODS In this randomized, double-blind trial, 2531 patients who were to undergo total knee arthroplasty received either oral rivaroxaban, 10 mg once daily, beginning 6 to 8 hours after surgery, or subcutaneous enoxaparin, 40 mg once daily, beginning 12 hours before surgery. The primary efficacy outcome was the composite of any deep-vein thrombosis, nonfatal pulmonary embolism, or death from any cause within 13 to 17 days after surgery. Secondary efficacy outcomes included major venous thromboembolism (i.e., proximal deep-vein thrombosis, nonfatal pulmonary embolism, or death related to venous thromboembolism) and symptomatic venous thromboembolism. The primary safety outcome was major bleeding. RESULTS The primary efficacy outcome occurred in 79 of 824 patients (9.6%) who received rivaroxaban and in 166 of 878 (18.9%) who received enoxaparin (absolute risk reduction, 9.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.9 to 12.4; P<0.001). Major venous thromboembolism occurred in 9 of 908 patients (1.0%) given rivaroxaban and 24 of 925 (2.6%) given enoxaparin (absolute risk reduction, 1.6%; 95% CI, 0.4 to 2.8; P=0.01). Symptomatic events occurred less frequently with rivaroxaban than with enoxaparin (P=0.005). Major bleeding occurred in 0.6% of patients in the rivaroxaban group and 0.5% of patients in the enoxaparin group. The incidence of drug-related adverse events, mainly gastrointestinal, was 12.0% in the rivaroxaban group and 13.0% in the enoxaparin group. CONCLUSIONS Rivaroxaban was superior to enoxaparin for thromboprophylaxis after total knee arthroplasty, with similar rates of bleeding. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00361894.)
Hobbits and Ores : Acquisition of a Sequential Concept 1

Subjects solved the hobbits-arcs problem repeatedly until they made no errors on two successive solutions. Groups varied in the kind of feedback given after errors. Further support was obtained for Thomas’ (this journal) conclusion that subjects organize the sequence of moves in smalI subsequences, rather than individual moves. Differences between feedback groups suggested that the organization is oriented forward in the problem, and this contrasts with GPS’ retroactive organization of this problem. Comparison between feedback groups also leads to the conclusion that subjects learned from positive information indicating which response is correct, rather than by a process of eliminating errors or sampling new strategies after errors. Analysis of acquisition data agreed with the hypothesis of all-or-none Ieaming at individual states, except for one state where the additional complexity was related to an ambiguity about backward moves. The general pattern of results was invariant over a change in the characters of the problem (men and elves) designed to produce a reversal of relationship between the characters concerning who was prevented from outnumbering whom.
Improvement of cytomegalovirus pp65 DNA vaccine efficacy by co-administration of siRNAs targeting BAK and BAX

The efficacy of DNA vaccines may be improved by small interfering (si)RNA adjuvants targeting pro-apoptotic genes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the capacity of siRNAs targeting B-cell lymphoma 2 homologous antagonist killer (BAK) and B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein (BAX) to improve the efficacy of a cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine. BALB/c mice were divided into four groups (n=18 in each): unimmunized and immunized with pcDNA 3.1-pp65 expressing CMV 65 kDa matrix phosphoprotein and BAK + BAX siRNAs, pcDNA 3.1-pp65 and control siRNA, or control pcDNA 3.1 and BAK + BAX siRNAs. Immunizations were performed twice with an interval of 3 weeks. CMV-specific mouse splenocyte interferon (IFN)-γ secretion was assessed by ELISPOT; furthermore, an in vivo cytotoxic T lymphocyte assay was performed 2 weeks after the last immunization. After lethal CMV challenge of the mice, body weight, virus titers in the spleens and salivary glands as well as survival were recorded. The amount of splenocytes secreting IFN-γ in response to CMV pp65 peptides and specific lysis of peptide-pulsed target cells were significantly higher in mice administered pcDNA3.1-pp65 and BAK + BAX siRNAs than those in mice administered pcDNA3.1-pp65 and control siRNA (P<0.05 for each). After the virus challenge, the virus titers in the spleens and salivary glands of mice given pcDNA3.1-pp65 and BAK + BAX siRNAs were significantly lower than those in mice immunized with pcDNA3.1-pp65 and control siRNA (P<0.05 for each). Furthermore, mice immunized with pcDNA 3.1-pp65 and control siRNA or BAK + BAX siRNAs survived for longer, and at 21 days after lethal CMV challenge, 66 and 100% of these mice survived, respectively. These mice also experienced less weight loss compared with mice immunized with pcDNA3.1-pp65 and control siRNA (P<0.05). In conclusion, intradermal administration of siRNAs targeting BAK and BAX improved the efficacy of CMV pp65 DNA vaccine.
Calibration of FISK, an Invasiveness Screening Tool for Nonnative Freshwater Fishes

Adapted from the weed risk assessment (WRA) of Pheloung, Williams, and Halloy, the fish invasiveness scoring kit (FISK) was proposed as a screening tool for freshwater fishes. This article describes improvements to FISK, in particular the incorporation of confidence (certainty/uncertainty) ranking of the assessors' responses, and reports on the calibration of the score system, specifically: determination of most appropriate score thresholds for classifying nonnative species into low‐, medium‐, and high‐risk categories, assessment of the patterns of assessors' confidences in their responses in the FISK assessments. Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, FISK was demonstrated to distinguish accurately (and with statistical confidence) between potentially invasive and noninvasive species of nonnative fishes, with the statistically appropriate threshold score for high‐risk species scores being ≥19. Within the group of species classed as high risk using this new threshold, a “higher risk” category could be visually identified, at present consisting of two species (topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva and gibel carp Carassius gibelio). FISK represents a useful and viable tool to aid decision‐ and policymakers in assessing and classifying freshwater fishes according to their potential invasiveness.
Pancreatic heterotopia in the gall bladder: a case report and literature review

Pancreatic heterotopia in the gall bladder is a rare entity, with approximately 31 cases reported in English language literature until 2006; there are no Brazilian studies on the topic. As it is usually asymptomatic, the definitive diagnosis is made by the anatomopathological material excised due to common diseases of the organ, such as lithiasis, inflammatory processes, polyps and tumors. A case is reported of a 40-year-old female patient submitted to surgery with a diagnosis of lithiasic cholecystopathy. Ectopy was evidenced by the histological study, due to the presence of acinar and ductal components of the pancreas and gall bladder corpus. The authors used their own pathological classification for this ectopy, and recommended that this entity be included more frequently in the differential diagnosis of alithiasic cholecystopathy and intramural and exophytic lesions of the gall bladder.
Pay for Performance: Where's The Return?

BACKGROUND: Pay for performance (P4P) initiatives are designed to foster and reward improvement in health care delivery. These programs promote “value-based health care” by rewarding quality care that is characterized by a reduced amount of disproportionate spending. OBJECTIVE: To review the intent and design of P4P initiatives as well as the design and results of P4P programs in current practice. SUMMARY: Three key principles are fundamental to building a value-based health care system: measurement, transparency, and accountability. There are several levers currently driving P4P, each influencing the movement in its own way. Among these are employers, federal agencies such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Department of Health and Human Services, health plans, providers, accreditors, and Congress. One key player in the P4P movement, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), is a private, independent nonprofit health care quality oversight organization that measures and reports on health care quality and unites diverse groups around a common goal: improving health care quality. NCQA, has demonstrated several successful provider-level measurement initiatives connected to P4P programs, notable among them Bridges to Excellence programs in several markets, physician recognition programs, the Integrated Healthcare Association’s P4P initiative in California, the National Forum on Performance Benchmarking of Physician Offices and Organizations, and health plan accreditation. CONCLUSIONS: The initial data from developmental P4P programs across the nation have indicated that both financial and nonfinancial incentives motivate significant change in health care delivery, but the return on investment of these initiatives is not yet known.
Hörverlust und Sprachverstehen im Alter

Zusammenfassung Das Verstehen von Sprache bei Hintergrundgeräuschen bereitet vielen älteren Menschen Probleme. In der klinischen Praxis wird diese Qualität des Hörvermögens durch Sprachtests im Störgeräusch untersucht. Die Studie HÖRSTAT setzte den Göttinger Satztest (GÖSA) im Störgeräusch zusätzlich zur Tonaudiometrie und einer Befragung bei einer Zufallsstichprobe aus der Allgemeinbevölkerung ein. Wie erwartet nahm der Anteil Schwerhörender ab ca. 60 Jahren stark zu. Bei Ausschluss sehr hoher Hörverluste waren im Alter von 60–85 Jahren jedoch 68 % von 553 Probanden nach dem WHO-Kriterium als normalhörend einzustufen. Von diesen erreichte im GÖSA allerdings nur jeder Dritte annähernd das Sprachverstehen im Störgeräusch junger Normalhörender. Die Selbsteinschätzung des Hörvermögens folgte dabei nur eingeschränkt der messbaren Verschlechterung. Ab einem Alter von ca. 70 Jahren wurden die eigenen Hör-Fähigkeiten eher über- und die Defizite unterschätzt.