Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sudden and unexpected loading generates high forces on the lumbar spine.

STUDY DESIGN A cross-sectional study of spinal loading in healthy volunteers. OBJECTIVES To measure the bending and compressive forces acting on the lumbar spine, in a range of postures, when unknown loads are delivered unexpectedly to the hands. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Epidemiologic studies suggest that sudden and unexpected loading events often lead to back injuries. Such incidents have been shown to increase back muscle activity, but their effects on the compressive force and bending moment acting on the spine have not been fully quantified. Furthermore, previous investigations have focused on the upright posture only. METHODS In this study, 12 volunteers each stood on a force plate while weights of 0, 2, 4, and 6 kg (for men, 40% less for women) were delivered into their hands in one of three ways: 1) by the volunteer holding an empty box with handles, into which an unknown weight was dropped; 2) by the same way as in 1, but with volunteer wearing a blindfold and earphones to eliminate sensory cues; or 3) by the volunteer sliding a box of unknown weight off a smooth table. Experiments were carried out with participants standing in upright, partially flexed, and moderately flexed postures. Spinal compression resulting from muscular activity was quantified using electromyographic signals recorded from the back and abdominal muscles. The axial inertial force acting up the long axis of the spine was calculated from the vertical ground reaction force. The bending moment acting on the osteoligamentous spine was quantified by comparing measurements of lumbar curvature with the bending stiffness properties of cadaveric lumbar spines. RESULTS The contribution from abdominal muscle contraction to overall spinal compression was small (average, 8%), as was the axial inertial force (average, 2.5%), and both were highest in the upright posture. Peak bending moments were higher in flexed postures, but did not increase much at the moment of load delivery in any posture. Peak spinal compressive forces were increased by 30% to 70% when loads were suddenly and unexpectedly dropped into the box, and by 20% to 30% when they were slid off the table, as compared with loads simply held statically in the same posture (P < 0.001). The removal of audiovisual cues had little effect. CONCLUSIONS Sudden and alarming events associated with manual handling cause a reflex overreaction of the back muscles, which substantially increases spine compressive loading. Manual handling regulations should aim to prevent such events and limit the weight of objects to be lifted.
Risk assessment for food allergy – the industry viewpoint

A safe food supply is a legitimate expectation of consumers, which the food industry must meet. Allergic reactions to food are recognised as a significant public health problem. Protecting allergic consumers against such reactions, while minimising the impact of food allergy on their quality of life, poses a challenge to the industry. Risk assessment is the process whereby the likelihood of an adverse event is related to exposure. Allergic reactions to foods can arise in one of three ways, which are not mutually exclusive. Firstly, a known allergen may be present in a food at a level above that at which the allergic individual reacts, secondly, an individual may react to a known or novel allergen because of sensitisation to another, cross‐reactive, allergen and finally sensitisation may occur to a novel allergen, followed by reaction on subsequent exposure. A total absence of risk of reaction to an allergen implies no exposure, a situation which in most food manufacturing environments is unrealistic, and in any event would not help in the context of novel allergens. Possible approaches to risk assessment for food allergy in each of the contexts described above are examined, together with their limitations.
Cytochrome P450 3A-mediated human liver microsomal taxol 6 alpha-hydroxylation.

The antitumor drug taxol was metabolized to one major (6 alpha-hydroxytaxol) and two minor metabolites by human liver microsomes. A 10-fold interindividual variability with a Vmax of 1.16 +/- 0.85 nmol/hr/mg of microsomal protein and a Km of 18.0 +/- 12.2 microM was observed for taxol 6 alpha-hydroxylation (mean +/- S.D.; n = 6). The NADPH-dependency and the inhibitory effect of carbon monoxide and piperonyl butoxide on taxol metabolism indicated the involvement of cytochrome P450 (CYP) monooxygenases. Chemical inhibition studies pointed to the CYP 3A subfamily as being responsible for taxol 6 alpha-hydroxylation. However, although some CYP 3A substrates were inhibitory (midazolam, 17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol, quercetin, verapamil and testosterone), others were not (troleandomycin, erythromycin and cyclosporin A). The inhibition was found to be competitive with low Ki values for midazolam (10.5 microM) and 17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol (4.5 microM). Taxol 6 alpha-hydroxylation correlated well with the metabolism of 17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol (r = 0.874; P < .05) and midazolam (r = 0.954; P < .01) in the same livers. Rabbit anti-rat CYP 3A1 antibodies, which cross-react with human CYP 3A isoforms, were inhibitory of taxol 6 alpha-hydroxylation. Although the evidence from these experiments supported the CYP 3A mediation of taxol 6 alpha-hydroxylation, the lack of effect of some inhibitors combined with the inability of a human CYP 3A4 transfected cell line to metabolize taxol point to a CYP 3A isoform other than 3A4. The findings in this study could prove clinically useful for the prediction of potential drug interactions, both inhibitory and inductive of taxol metabolism.
On-line partial discharge (OLPD) insulation condition monitoring of complete high voltage (HV) networks in the oil & gas industry

The authors describe a new approach to on-line partial discharge (OLPD) insulation condition monitoring (CM) of complete high voltage (HV) networks (voltage range: 3.3 kV to 132 kV) in the oil & gas industry. The technique described is suitable for the condition monitoring of HV generators, switchgear, cables, motors and transformers. Comprehensive HV network OLPD condition monitoring coverage is achieved through the use of wideband, OLPD sensors and continuous monitors located at the central switchboards of the facility. The complete HV network condition monitoring system described in this paper is an extension of a CM system originally developed by the authors for remote OLPD monitoring of the stator winding condition of Ex/ATEX HV motors operating in hazardous gas zones. This technique utilises wideband, high frequency current transformer (HFCT) OLPD sensors located at the central HV switchboards to detect partial discharge (PD) signals that originate in remotely-connected HV plant and have propagated down the cable feeder circuit to the switchgear. This remote monitoring technique was presented by the lead author at the IEEE-PCIC 2012 [1] and IEEE-PCIC 2013 [2] for the application of OLPD condition monitoring of EX/ATEX HV motors, whilst avoiding the need to install sensors in the hazardous gas zone. In this paper, the authors describe how this remote OLPD monitoring technique can be extended to include the insulation condition monitoring of other HV assets including; generators, switchgear, cables and transformers, using the same wideband HFCT sensors attached to the HV cable terminations located at the central switchboards. The authors provide a number of case studies describing some past projects on the OLPD testing and monitoring of in-service HV generators, switchgear, cables, motors and transformers within the oil & gas industry. The applications knowledge obtained from these past projects on different plant types has been used by the authors in the development of this innovative, complete HV network condition monitoring solution.
Influences of Some Design Parameters on the Biomechanics of the Unreamed Tibial Intramedullary Nail

Summary: Several questions relating to the biomechanics of the AO unreamed tibial nail were addressed in this study. These included the effects of the location of the nail bend on the reduction of a high proximal fracture, and the relation of proximal locking screw hole orientation and fracture component cortical contact to the mechanical stiffness of the construct. To measure fracture site malalignment with nail insertion, a motion transducer mounted on the distal tibial shaft was used to track the position of the proximal component during and after insertion of the nail. For studying the effect of screw hole orientation, the intramedullary (IM) nail was modified by drilling a second set of proximal screw holes with oblique instead of parallel alignment. The axial, torsional, and varus-valgus stiffnesses of the constructs with parallel or oblique screws and with or without fracture site contact were determined. In an experimental model with an osteotomy located proximal to the position of the bend in the nail when fully inserted, anterior displacement of the proximal fracture component (or posterior displacement of the distal component) of up to 1 cm was measured. Oblique proximal locking screws significantly decreased both varus/valgus angulation and medial/lateral translation under load, compared with the parallel screws. Constructs were 117% and 55% as rigid as the intact tibia in axial loading with and without cortical contact, and 6.5% and 3.1% as stiff in torsion. This study led to the following conclusions: (a) If an unreamed tibial nail is used to stabilize a fracture located superior to the position of the bend of the nail when it is fully inserted, fracture malalignment may occur, (b) A pair of proximal locking screws oriented obliquely at 90° to each other produce a more rigid construct in varus/valgus loading than do a pair of parallel screws, (c) Cortical contact significantly improves the stiffness of the fixation, (d) More proximally positioned screws allow fixation of a larger range of fractures, but at a cost of decreasing the axial stiffness of the construct.
WET SPINNING OF POLYMERIC FIBERS WITH HIGH LOADING OF CARBON NANOTUBES

Introduction Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are well known for their excellent mechanical and conductivity properties. These properties make SWCNTs ideal candidates as reinforcement elements in polymer composites [1]. In composite manufacturing, the main problem is the SWCNTs agglomeration in polymer matrix. This phenomenon limits the SWCNTs loading in composite fibers to 2-5 wt % of SWCNTs. For many applications such as artificial muscles, biosensors or support for biomedical devices one requires high electrical and thermal conductivity for fibers. Hence there is a need to further increase the SWCNT loading in the fibers [2]. Several methods for spinning of highly loaded SWCNT fibers have been reported in the literature [2-4]. Typically, prior to fiber spinning, the nanotubes are coated with surfactant, Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). Recently, we proposed to take advantage of an industrially available technology called wet spinning technology [5, 6]. We successfully produced fibers with 23% weight concentration of carbon nanotubes in the fiber. In our approach, the SWCNTSDS dispersion is mixed with the aqueous solution of sodium alginate followed by its wet spinning into calcium chloride (CaCl2) coagulation bath. We have shown that these fibers are comparable to best textile fibers. However, it was observed that ionic bonding of alginate through calcium bridges is not sufficient for chemical stability of fibers: when this fiber comes in contact with a stronger metal ion, the calcium ion has a tendency to be replaced and the fiber loses its integrity. Here we suggest to covalently cross-link the alginate chains thus improving the fiber stability.
Effects of two Prunella species on lymphocyte proliferation and nitric oxide production

Water extracts of Prunella vulgaris and P. laciniata have been investigated for their immunomodulatory and antiinflammatory activities concerning their effect on the mitogenic response of murine splenocytes and nitric oxide production by murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro. It was found that both extracts stimulated the proliferation of T‐lymphocytes and suppressed NO production in lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated macrophages dose dependently without any cytotoxicity. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Testing the unifying theory of ozone sensitivity with mature trees of Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies.

The broad range in plant responses to chronic O(3) exposure compels a search for integrative, underlying principles. One such approach is the unifying theory proposed by Reich (1987), which combines the O(3) response of contrasting physiognomic classes of plants on the basis of their intrinsic leaf diffusive conductance and, hence, capacity for O(3) uptake. Physiognomic classes differ in the proportional decline in photosynthesis and growth when compared on the basis of cumulative O(3) exposure per unit time, but converge when compared on the basis of O(3) uptake per unit time or cumulative O(3) uptake over the entire lifetime of the leaf. The theory is based on observations on a large number of contrasting plant species, relying primarily on studies of juvenile trees subjected to short-term O(3) exposure. To test the applicability of the unifying theory to mature trees, broadleaf deciduous European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and the evergreen conifer Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst. ) in a mature mixed stand were exposed to either ambient air (control) or air with twice the ambient O(3) concentration delivered into the canopy by means of a free-air fumigation system. We accounted for differences in growing season length, leaf longevity and O(3)-related effects on leaf diffusive conductance in determining total O(3) uptake over the lifetime of the leaf. On this basis, Norway spruce needles required 5 years to take up as much O(3) as did beech leaves in one growing season. The core of the unifying theory on O(3) sensitivity was substantiated in relation to O(3) exposure and uptake. However, contrary to the unifying theory, which was formulated on the basis of results with juvenile trees, the O(3) response of mature trees in a natural stand was more complex. The increased complexity was attributed to additional environmental stressors, stress compensation at the whole-tree level, and differential O(3) sensitivities of leaves according to age class and position within the canopy. Contrary to the theory, photosynthesis was no less sensitive to O(3) in Norway spruce than that of beech, and was reduced in the twice-ambient O(3) regime in the first year of exposure.
Human papillomavirus-11 DNA in a patient with chronic laryngotracheobronchial papillomatosis and metastatic squamous-cell carcinoma of the lung.

LARYNGEAL papillomas are benign epithelial tumors that primarily involve the larynx and epiglottis but may extend into the trachea and the bronchi. The development of invasive squamous-cell carcinoma in association with laryngeal papillomatosis is rare and occurs almost exclusively in patients who have had radiation therapy.1 , 2 Laryngeal papillomas are caused by specific human papillomaviruses (HPVs), which have a specific tropism for squamous epithelial cells and which can induce cellular proliferation or dysplasia. More than 46 distinct types of HPVs have been identified, and two of them have been specifically associated with laryngeal papillomas. These are HPV-11, which was originally detected .
Suppression of p38α MAPK Signaling in Osteoblast Lineage Cells Impairs Bone Anabolic Action of Parathyroid Hormone

Intermittent parathyroid hormone administration (iPTH) increases bone mass and strength by stimulating osteoblast number and activity. PTH exerts its anabolic effects through cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway in mature osteoblasts and osteocytes. Here, we show that inactivation of the p38α MAPK‐encoding gene with the use of an osteocalcin‐cre transgene prevents iPTH bone anabolic action. Indeed, iPTH fails to increase insulin‐like growth factor 1 expression, osteoblast number and activity, and bone formation in mice lacking p38α in osteoblasts and osteocytes. Moreover, iPTH‐induced expression of receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand (RANKL) and subsequent increased bone resorption are suppressed in those mice. Finally, we found that PTH activates p38α MAPK downstream of cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in mature osteoblasts. Our findings identify p38α MAPK as a key component of PTH signaling in osteoblast lineage cells and highlight its requirement in iPTH osteoanabolic activity. © 2015 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Syphilis in Atlanta During an Era of Declining Incidence

Background: Syphilis transmission in Atlanta is ongoing despite declining incidence. Objectives: To identify risk factors and missed opportunities for prevention. Study Design: A case‐control study design was used. Twenty‐five sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic patients with primary or secondary syphilis by polymerase chain reaction and serology and 49 matched controls were interviewed. Results: Persons with syphilis more frequently had HIV infection (24% versus 2%; P = 0.005), crack‐using sex partners (52% versus 18%; odds ratio [OR] = 5.1; 95% CI = 1.7‐15.5), and a history of incarceration (80% versus 57%; OR = 3.0; CI = 1.0‐9.3). Many cases (48%) and controls (31%) had received drug‐abuse treatment. Only 40% of previously incarcerated patients and 74% of those with a history of drug treatment reported receiving STD/HIV education in those settings. Among all patients reporting recent HIV education, 41% were told about STD recognition and treatment. Unprotected sex and delay in seeking care were common. Conclusion: To prevent syphilis and associated HIV, more extensive STD education is needed in jails and drug‐treatment centers.
Challenges for structure-based HIV vaccine design

Purpose of reviewWe review structural information on the native HIV envelope trimer and the known epitopes for broadly neutralizing antibodies and discuss how this structural information should guide the design of more effective immunogens. Recent findingsRecent epitope mapping of HIV-positive sera demonstrates that the immune system is able to mount a potent and broadly neutralizing antibody response against conserved elements of the HIV envelope. The structure of trimeric envelope spikes on intact HIV-1 virions (the target of neutralizing antibodies) was determined at low resolution using cryo-electron tomography. Fitting high-resolution crystal structures of monomeric gp120 complexed with different neutralizing ligands into the cryo-electron density maps provides useful models for the native virion trimer and for mechanisms of neutralization. SummarySo far, all attempts to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV by immunization have failed. Recent structural information on the virion-associated HIV envelope spike and of the precise interaction of broadly neutralizing mAbs with their epitopes clarifies the steric and geometric constraints faced by antibodies targeting conserved HIV epitopes. Implications for vaccine design are discussed.
Aetiological factors contributing to road traffic accidents in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia

The study analysed 13,390 police records of road traffic accidents (RTAs) covering a three and a half year period according to different suspected aetiological factors. The majority of the accidents were recorded for vehicles in good condition on well-paved straight roads with well-operating traffic light systems. Adverse weather conditions such as precipitation, fog and dust were of minimal importance, with most of the accidents being reported during sunny days during the rush period of 12 noon to 3 pm. Driver's error was identified as the main contributing factor in about two thirds of all RTAs mainly as reckless driving and excess speeding. About 27% of the drivers were professional drivers and 41% were in the age group 25-35 years in good health with no alcohol or drug intake. Hence, human errors may be attributed to carelessness, experience, lack of knowledge or attention, over-exhaustion or fatigue. The effects of physical stressors on performance of drivers need to be further explored and clarified but this need not under estimate the importance of vehicle and environment since most accidents are multifactoral and a slight change in them may effectively enhance perception and minimise personal error. Recommendations for remedial measures adopting an interdisciplinary approach are presented.
Slow electrons in condensed matter.

The irreversible thermalization of energy lost by an electron in amorphous condensed matter makes successive losses incoherent. This allows us to extend a stochastic treatment of electron degradation down to the thermal range. The probability of a given momentum and energy transfer is viewed as a macroscopic property of each material, which reduces to the structure factor S-italic(q,.omega.) in the Born approximation. The identification of such bulk properties presents novel challenges for experimentalists.
Research on the influence of time delay on fundamental flux controllable reactor

This paper reveals a kind of adjustable reactor. Firstly, it introduces the basic principle of the reactor. The reactor is based on a transformer with air gap. The current signal of primary side is detected and then directly injected into the secondary side. In this paper, the phase difference(caused by time delay) between the detected current signal of primary winding and the injected current signal of secondary winding is taken into consideration. The effect of phase shift on the equivalent impedance of the reactor is analyzed. And its effect on system stability is also analyzed. The validity of the theory is proved by the simulation results.
A Chlamydia trachomatis strain with a 377-bp deletion in the cryptic plasmid causing false-negative nucleic acid amplification tests.

AFTER AN ALMOST STEADY increase for 10 years in reported Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) genital infections in Sweden, there was a leveling out in 2005 to 2006. In some areas of the country, like the county of Halland (290,000 inhabitants), we noted a decrease in diagnosed infections of 25% in the beginning of 2006. In Halland we have used nucleic acid ampliﬁcation tests (NAAT) to diagnose Ct infections since 1995, beginning with Abbott LCx (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL), October 2002 to March 2006, Roche Amplicor PCR (Roche Molecular Systems, Branch- burg, NJ), and then Abbott m200 real-time PCR, all with target areas on the cryptic plasmid. The unexplained decrease raised a suspicion of impairment of kit quality or a change in the target area in the microbe. By using ARTUS C. trachomatis (Hamburg, Germany) kit targeting the genomic ompA gene and not the cryptic plasmid, we found positive samples that had tested negative in Abbott’s test. DNA sequencing of the area in the cryptic plasmid containing the target region for the Abbott m 2000 assay of 12 of these discrepant samples revealed a 377-bp deletion (GenBank acces-sion no. EF 121757). 1 The deletion involves the entire target area for the Abbott m2000 assay as well as most of the target area for the assays supplied by Roche. Data on the exact target regions for the Abbott and Roche assays were kindly supplied by the compa- nies. The DNA sequencing of part of the cryptic plasmid was done in collaboration with Abbott Diagnostics, USA. A similar deletion in ORF1 has been described in an equine Chlamydophila pneumoniae N16, in 1990 by Wills et al. 2 Pickett et al. 3 suggested that the deletion in N16 was responsible for a decreased