Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Injury Rates and Risk Factors in Competitive Professional Boxing

Objective: To determine injury rates and risk factors for injury in a cohort of professional boxers. Design: Retrospective cohort design reporting on data collected for a fight statistics database maintained by the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board of Victoria, Australia. Data were extracted for the years January 1997 through June 2005. Setting: Victoria, Australia. Participants: 545 professional boxers (age, 18 to 43 years) who participated in a total of 907 fights over the study period. Assessment of Risk Factors: Independent variables under investigation included age, gender, weight, bout exposure, and location of the bout (within or outside of the State of Victoria). Main Outcome Measures: Physician-reported acute boxing injuries occurring during bouts of any region or nature. Results: 214 injuries were sustained over the 8.5 years, corresponding to an injury rate of 23.6 per 100 professional fights. The majority of these injuries were lacerations to the head and face. An increasing age and an increasing number of fights were both significant predictors of injury. Conclusions: Injury reduction strategies for professional boxing might include restrictions of eligibility to fight based on age and boxing bout exposure. Future research using prospective cohort designs and standardized injury definitions are needed to confirm these results. Greater mechanistic detail and more complete data entry are necessary to ensure that optimal injury prevention strategies can be developed and implemented. Upon confirmation of the results of this study, the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board of Victoria may consider different criteria upon which to sanction a fight.
Putting the puzzle together: the role of ‘problem definition’ in complex clinical judgement

We teach judgement in pieces; that is, we talk about each aspect separately (patient, plan, resources, technique, etc.). We also let trainees figure out how to put the pieces together. In complex situations, this might be problematic. Using data from a drawing‐based study on surgeons’ experiences with complex situations, we explore the notion of ‘problem definition’ in real‐world clinical judgement using the theoretical lens of systems engineering.
Epigenetic disorders and altered gene expression after use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies in domestic cattle

The use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) in modern cattle breeding is an important tool for improving the production of dairy and beef cattle. A frequently employed ART in the cattle industry is in vitro production of embryos. However, bovine in vitro produced embryos differ greatly from their in vivo produced counterparts in many facets, including developmental competence. The lower developmental capacity of these embryos could be due to the stress to which the gametes and/or embryos are exposed during in vitro embryo production, specifically ovarian hormonal stimulation, follicular aspiration, oocyte in vitro maturation in hormone supplemented medium, sperm handling, gamete cryopreservation, and culture of embryos. The negative effects of some ARTs on embryo development could, at least partially, be explained by disruption of the physiological epigenetic profile of the gametes and/or embryos. Here, we review the current literature with regard to the putative link between ARTs used in bovine reproduction and epigenetic disorders and changes in the expression profile of embryonic genes. Information on the relationship between reproductive biotechnologies and epigenetic disorders and aberrant gene expression in bovine embryos is limited and novel approaches are needed to explore ways in which ARTs can be improved to avoid epigenetic disorders.
Postmenopausal status and early menopause as independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis

Objective: Loss of ovarian function and subsequent deficiency of endogenous estrogens is suggested to enhance cardiovascular disease risk and related death after menopause. The aim was to obtain valid estimates of the cardiovascular disease risk associated with postmenopausal status and early menopause. Design: A literature search of observational studies was performed using PubMed and EMBASE (1966 to May 1, 2004). Eighteen studies on postmenopausal status and age at menopause in relation to cardiovascular disease were selected. Six studies investigated menopausal status, nine studies investigated menopausal age, and three studied both. General variance-based methods were used to pool relative risk estimates and corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Stratification was performed for study design, type of menopause, outcome, and adjustment for age and smoking. Results: The pooled relative risk estimate for postmenopausal versus premenopausal status and cardiovascular disease was 1.36 (95% CI, 1.15-1.60). In the stratified analysis, the pooled effect was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.77-1.21) after controlling for age and smoking. The pooled effect of bilateral oophorectomy on cardiovascular disease was 2.62 (95% CI, 2.05-3.35). For early menopause and cardiovascular disease, with the menopausal age category containing 50 years as a reference, the pooled relative risk estimate was 1.25 (95% CI, 1.15-1.35). In the stratified analysis, the pooled effect was 1.38 (95% CI, 1.21-1.58) after controlling for age and smoking. The pooled effect of bilateral oophorectomy on cardiovascular disease was 4.55 (95% CI, 2.56-8.01). Conclusions: Overall, there was no convincing relationship between postmenopausal status and cardiovascular disease. However, there was a modest effect of early menopause on cardiovascular disease. The effect was more pronounced for women with an artificial menopause than for women with a natural menopause.
Clustered DNA Damages Induced by X Rays in Human Cells

Abstract Sutherland, B. M. , Bennett, P. V. , Sutherland, J. C. and Laval, J. Clustered DNA Damages Induced by X Rays in Human Cells. Radiat. Res. 157, 611–616 (2002). Although DNA DSBs are known to be important in producing the damaging effects of ionizing radiation in cells, bistranded clustered DNA damages—two or more oxidized bases, abasic sites or strand breaks on opposing DNA strands within a few helical turns—are postulated to be difficult to repair and thus to be critical radiation-induced lesions. Gamma rays can induce clustered damages in DNA in solution, and high-energy iron ions produce DSBs and oxidized pyrimidine clusters in human cells, but it was not known whether sparsely ionizing radiation can produce clustered damages in mammalian cells. We show here that X rays induce abasic clusters, oxidized pyrimidine clusters, and oxidized purine clusters in DNA in human cells. Non-DSB clustered damages comprise about 70% of the complex lesions produced in cells. The relative levels of specific cluster classes depend on the environment of the DNA.
Oxidation of gonadotrophin (PMSG) by oxygen free radicals alters its structure and hormonal activity

The effect of oxygen free radicals produced by the Fenton reaction was used to induce oxidation and other structural changes in pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG). Modifications in the spectrophotometric scan, an increase in exposed carbonyl groups, and the ability to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium, was achieved by the oxidized hormone when compared to the control PMSG. PMSG loses its biological activity when coming in contact with the free‐radical generating system. This lack of activity is manifested as a loss of ovulation and a decrease in the weight of the ovaries and uterus. It was demonstrated that oxygen free radicals can induce structural and biological changes in the gonadotrophin. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 52:264–268, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Safety and efficacy of a patient‐controlled bladder management system for treating urinary retention in men

The CymActive™ Bladder Management System (BMS) is a self‐retaining, intraurethral catheter with a patient‐controlled magnetic valve that allows cyclical bladder filling and emptying, without external appliances. We determined the safety and efficacy of the BMS in men with urinary retention who required catheterization for more than 7 days.
Modeling the SIS immunization epidemic on finite size of BA network

An immunization strategy is often defined as the choice of a set of individuals who cannot catch nor transmit the disease. The choice is mainly based on the attributes of nodes in the network topology. In BA networks, the spread threshold value of virus is very small, and decreases with the increase of network scale. If the scale of BA network is infinite, the spread threshold value of virus is zero. In the past decade, the studies about interactions between two pathogens spread show that the interactions can change propagation threshold value of each other, which provides a new thinking of immune method that one kind of spread eradication or inhibition. The immunization agent is put on a few of individual, and spreads out from these individuals on network in SIS propagation method just like a virus. The immunization agent, with certain immune success rate, prevents virus infecting their nodes. On a finite scale of BA network, the analysis and simulation of evolution equation of the model show that immune propagation have a significant impact on the threshold of infectious virus spread and its steady-state density.
Effects of crest factor reduction on the predistortion performance for multi-carrier 3G RF power amplifiers

In this paper, an analysis of the crest factor reduction effects' on the predistortion performance of 3G multi-carrier power amplifiers is carried out. This study is performed at three different levels: the power amplifier level, the digital predistorter level, and the system level (linearized amplifier) for a Doherty amplifier driven by 3-carrier WCDMA signal. At the amplifier level, the use of crest factor reduction results in higher power efficiency, increased output power but also distortions. Experimental results show that this compromises the performance of the digital predistorter. The system level analysis highlighted that, in such case, the gained efficiency at the amplifier level will be lost after linearization. This is the first study that points out and experimentally reports the drawbacks of crest factor reduction when applied to digitally predistorted multi-carrier power amplifiers.
Electrically Evoked Brainstem Responses in Cochlear Implant Recipients

Electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve in the profoundly deaf population through implanted cochlear prostheses has increased the need for reliable electrophysiologic assessment tools. We have recorded electrically evoked brainstem responses (EABRs) in 21 subjects who have received a 3M/House cochlear implant. Recordings have been made, both intraoperatively and postoperatively, in the laboratory setting. The recording technique, methods of stimulus artifact suppression, and results of our measurements are described. Clinical applications of this technology are suggested.
A pathway‐specific transcriptional regulatory gene for nikkomycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces ansochromogenes that also influences colony development

DNA sequence analysis of a 7.5 kb XhoI DNA fragment from the region flanking the nikkomycin biosynthesis gene cluster in Streptomyces ansochromogenes revealed one 3.3 kb open reading frame (ORF), designated sanG. The deduced product of sanG (1061 amino acids), which is similar to PimR of Streptomyces natalensis, contains an OmpR‐like DNA binding domain in its N‐terminal portion and A‐ and B‐type nucleotide binding motifs in the middle of the protein. Disruption of sanG abolished nikkomycin biosynthesis, reduced sporulation and led to brown pigment accumulation. All aspects of this complex phenotype were complemented by a single copy sanG which was integrated into the chromosome. The introduction of multiple copies of sanG resulted in increased nikkomycin production. S1 mapping results indicated that sanG is transcribed from at least three promoters (P1, P2 and P3), P1 being strongly upregulated when production of nikkomycins starts. Two putative transcription units for nikkomycin biosynthesis, starting from sanN and sanO, are dependent on the expression of sanG, whereas a putative transcription unit starting from sanF was not regulated by sanG. These results suggested that sanG encodes a transcriptional activator important for nikkomycin biosynthesis that, unusually, also has pleiotropic effects on secondary metabolism and development.
Australia Antigen (Hepatitis B Antigen): A Conformational Antigen Dependent on Disulfide Bonds

Reduction and alkylation of purified hepatitis-associated Australia antigen (hepatitis B antigen) resulted in a total loss of serologic activity. The reduced and alkylated protein formed a single band with a sedimentation coefficient of 31S on analytical ultracentrifugation, and no subunits were detected by Sephadex gel filtration. Although this preparation induced a delayed hypersensitivity response when injected into guinea pigs, it failed to stimulate humoral antibody formation. The data suggest that hepatitis B antigen is a conformational antigen critically dependent upon the disulfide bonds of the protein moiety.
Study of constrained minimal supersymmetry.

Taking seriously the phenomenological indications for supersymmetry we have made a detailed study of unified minimal SUSY, including many effects at the few percent level in a consistent fashion. We report here a general analysis of what can be studied without choosing a particular gauge group at the unification scale. Firstly, we find that the encouraging SUSY unification results of recent years do survive the challenge of a more complete and accurate analysis. Taking into account effects at the 5--10 % level leads to several improvements of previous results and allows us to sharpen our predictions for SUSY in the light of unification. We perform a thorough study of the parameter space and look for patterns to indicate SUSY predictions, so that they do not depend on arbitrary choices of some parameters or untested assumptions. Our results can be viewed as a fully constrained minimal SUSY standard model. The resulting model forms a well-defined basis for comparing the physics potential of different facilities. Very little of the acceptable parameter space has been excluded by CERN LEP or Fermilab so far, but a significant fraction can be covered when these accelerators are upgraded. A number of initial applications to the understandingmore » of the values of [ital m][sub [ital h]] and [ital m][sub [ital t]], the SUSY spectrum, detectability of SUSY at LEP II or Fermilab, [ital B]([ital b][r arrow][ital s][gamma]), [Gamma]([ital Z][r arrow][ital b[bar b]]), dark matter, etc., are included in a separate section that might be of more interest to some readers than the technical aspects of model building. We formulate an approach to extracting SUSY parameters from data when superpartners are detected. For small tan[beta] or large [ital m][sub [ital t]] both [ital m][sub 1/2] and [ital m][sub 0] are entirely bounded from above at [similar to]1 TeV without having to use a fine-tuning constraint. « less
Eggplant origins: out of Africa, into the orient.

The eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), also known as aubergine or brinjal, has been cultivated for centuries in the Old World and is currently a crop species of global importance. Despite this, hypotheses of eggplant evolution have been fraught with controversy. Previous conclusions have relied solely on morphological characters or have been based on insufficient taxonomic sampling, leading to conflicting opinions of the number of species, phylogenetic relationships, and patterns of domestication in a group of related taxa termed the S. melongena complex. The S. melongena complex shows a series of morphological intermedi ates from small-fruited spiny plants to large-fruited non-spiny plants. We use DNA sequence data to show that eggplants arose in Africa and were dispersed throughout the Middle East to Asia. Solanum linnaeanum, a wild species not previously associated with eggplant evolution, is a member of the S. melongena complex. These data provide the most comprehensive evidence to date for the evolution of the cultivated eggplant.
A Modular Gene Regulation Network Model of Artificial Ontogenesis

A fundamental issue in evolution is the balance between variation and stability. Change is necessary for the evolution of fitter forms, but it cannot come at the expense of disrupting structures or processes that are critical to survival. The mechanisms that allow sufficient variation to occur while preserving critical features are, therefore, central to evolvability the viability of the evolutionary process in a class of systems. Recent work in evolutionary developmental biology has demonstrated that modularity is the key enabler for balancing variation and stability in animals. The deployment of the same developmental modules in different spatial and temporal combinations (called heterotopy and heterochrony, respectively) can generate a wide range of forms without the need for much change within the modules. Thus, useful and sometimes critical features evolved with great difficulty can be conserved as modules, while large changes in the regulatory mechanisms underlying their use can provide the variation needed for evolution. In this thesis, we combine the idea of regulatory variation in a modular developmental system with Kauffmans hypothesis of cell types as attractors. We present a simple model for the ontogenesis of two-dimensional shapes an attractor network of regulatory genes controls the deployment of genetic network modules that explicitly determine growth and phenomenological attributes. We use this model to show that: 1. A very wide variety of forms can be generated purely through changes in the connectivity and input weights of the regulatory network while conserving the rest of the network. 2. Systematic variations in the switching conditions for a fixed set of regulatory attractors produce systematic changes in the phenotypes, effectively generating a phylogeny. 3. Small variations in the initial conditions (distribution of maternal proteins, etc.) produces minimal phenotypic changes, somewhat larger variations generate phenotypes with a family resemblance, and much larger ones produce distinct phenotypes. In the future, we plan to extend the model to three-dimensional shapes and incorporate it into an evolutionary algorithm for generating more complex functional phenotypes.
FINDINGS FROM CREDIT DEFAULT SWAP PREMIUM BEHAVIOUR

This study conducts econometric analysis CDS Premium relations towards variables usually used as a sovereign rating explanatory. Estimation with data panel econometric found that global risk appetite is the most important influencing variable followed by foreign exchange reserve and yield spread. This item is consistent with the existing empiric literature and shows a high correlation between developing countries economy and world economic cycle.
Ultrastructural Characteristics of Fresh and Frozen-Thawed Ovine Embryos Using Two Cryoprotectants1

Abstract Cryopreservation of sheep embryos with ethylene glycol as a protectant appears to be more effective than glycerol, particularly at the morula stage, as has been demonstrated on the basis of in vitro and in vivo development rates after thawing. In this study we compare the ultrastructure of fresh morulae, thawed morulae, and blastocysts cryopreserved with either ethylene glycol or glycerol at the electron microscopic level, to look for cellular damage that could be responsible for proven differences in embryo survival after transfer. Embryos cryopreserved with glycerol showed unequal degrees of conservation even among blastomeres within a single embryo. In morulae, inner blastomeres were completely damaged, whereas external ones appeared to be intact. Both morulae and blastocysts cryopreserved with ethylene glycol showed a higher uniformity in blastomere conservation than embryos with glycerol. The most remarkable features in this experimental group were the presence of desmosomes following tight junctions between blastomeres and the presence of many microvilli on the outer surface of external blastomeres. These characteristics are similar in fresh embryos of the control group. Our results show that ethylene glycol protects membrane and cytoplasmic structures of embryonic cells from cryoinjury much better than glycerol. In vivo survival of embryos confirmed the ultrastructural observations. A limited permeability of glycerol would explain the observed ultrastructural differences in blastomere integrity, which depends on blastomere location and the differences between morulae and blastocysts. We conclude that the low reproductive yield after cryopreservation using glycerol can be attributed to the lack of protection of inner cells.
Effect of hyperoxia on regional oxygenation and metabolism after severe traumatic brain injury: Preliminary findings*

Objective:To determine the effect of normobaric hyperoxia on cerebral metabolism in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Design:Prospective clinical investigation. Setting:Neurosciences critical care unit of a university hospital. Patients:Eleven patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Interventions:Cerebral microdialysis, brain tissue oximetry (Pbo2), and oxygen-15 positron emission tomography (15O-PET) were undertaken at normoxia and repeated at hyperoxia (Fio2 increase of between 0.35 and 0.50). Measurements and Main Results:Established models were used to image cerebral blood flow, blood volume, oxygen metabolism, and oxygen extraction fraction. Physiology was characterized in a focal region of interest (surrounding the microdialysis catheter) and correlated with microdialysis and oximetry. Physiology was also characterized in a global region of interest (including the whole brain), and a physiologic region of interest (defined using a critical cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen threshold). Hyperoxia increased mean ± sd Pbo2 from 28 ± 21 mm Hg to 57 ± 47 mm Hg (p = .015). Microdialysate lactate and pyruvate were unchanged, but the lactate/pyruvate ratio showed a statistically significant reduction across the study population (34.1 ± 9.5 vs. 32.5 ± 9.0, p = .018). However, the magnitude of reduction was small, and its clinical significance doubtful. The focal region of interest and global 15O-PET variables were unchanged. “At-risk” tissue defined by the physiologic region of interest, however, showed a universal increase in cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen from a median (interquartile range) of 23 (22–25) &mgr;mol·100 mL−1·min−1 to 30 (28–36) &mgr;mol·100 mL−1·min−1 (p < .01). Conclusions:In severe traumatic brain injury, hyperoxia increases Pbo2 with a variable effect on lactate and lactate/pyruvate ratio. Microdialysis does not, however, predict the universal increases in cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen in at-risk tissue, which imply preferential metabolic benefit with hyperoxia.
Medical students, medical schools and international health

Over the past decade, student participation in international health has moved beyond individual elective terms in developing countries to collective responses led by student international health organisations. There are now at least 10 such organisations, with more than 500 medical students participating at a local or national level each year. Student international health organisations can deliver short‐ and long‐term benefits to developing countries, while equipping students with skills such as leadership, teamwork and cultural sensitivity. Activities include delivery of medical equipment, fundraising, educating university communities, and acting as advocates for social justice. We believe Australian medical schools must formally incorporate international health into their curricula, drawing upon the experiences of schools in Europe and North America.