Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Biphasic Effect of Vitamin D on the Musculoskeletal and Cardiovascular System

This narrative review summarizes beneficial and harmful vitamin D effects on the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular system. Special attention is paid to the dose-response relationship of vitamin D with clinical outcomes. In infants and adults, the risk of musculoskeletal diseases is highest at circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations below 25 nmol/L and is low if 40–60 nmol/L are achieved. However, evidence is also accumulating that in elderly people the risk of falls and fractures increases again at circulating 25OHD levels > 100 nmol/L. Cohort studies report a progressive increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) events at 25OHD levels < 50 nmol/L. Nevertheless, meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials suggest only small beneficial effects of vitamin D supplements on surrogate parameters of CVD risk and no reduction in CVD events. Evidence is accumulating for adverse vitamin D effects on CVD outcomes at 25OHD levels > 100 nmol/L, but the threshold may be influenced by the level of physical activity. In conclusion, dose-response relationships indicate deleterious effects on the musculoskeletal system and probably on the cardiovascular system at circulating 25OHD levels < 40–60 nmol/L and >100 nmol/L. Future studies should focus on populations with 25OHD levels < 40 nmol/L and should avoid vitamin D doses achieving 25OHD levels > 100 nmol/L.
Trajectory tracking for inertial systems using a right inverse approach

A new hybrid control scheme for inertial systems is proposed. The horizontal displacement controller is such that, the system moves from one hovering position to another one by following a desired continuous trajectory. The closed-loop behaves as a discrete first order system. The control scheme is illustrated in a numerical simulation of a PVTOL (Planar Vertical Take-Off and Landing).
THE THREE-PHASE INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM REVISITED

▪ Abstract The interstellar medium in the vicinity of the Sun is arranged in large-scale structures of bubble walls, sheets, and filaments of warm gas, within which close to the midplane there are subsheets and filaments of cold dense material; the whole occupies roughly half the available volume and extends with decreasing mean density to at least a kiloparsec off the plane. The remainder of the volume is in bubble interiors, cavities, and tunnels of much lower density, with some but not all of those lower density regions hot enough to be observable via their X-ray emission. This entire system is pervaded by a rather strong and irregular magnetic field and cosmic rays, the pressures of which are confined by the weight of the interstellar gas, particularly that far from the plane where gravity is strong. Observations suggest that the cosmic rays and magnetic field have an even more extended vertical distribution than the warm gas, requiring either the weight of additional coronal material or magnetic tens.
Enhancement of proliferation of intrasplenically transplanted hepatocytes in cirrhotic rats by hepatic stimulatory substance.

This study aimed at investigating the efficacy of hepatic stimulatory substance (HSS) on the proliferation of transplanted hepatocytes in the spleen of rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver cirrhosis. After hepatocyte transplantation (HTx; 1x10(7) cells/rat), the recipients received intravenous administration of HSS (3ml) of 2, 4, or 7 times/week to investigate the effect of the frequency of HSS treatment on the proliferation of intrasplenically transplanted hepatocytes. Next, to investigate the effect of the severity of liver cirrhosis on HSS-stimulated proliferation of transplanted hepatocytes, different doses (0.00, 0.08, 0.12, and 0.16 ml/week) of CCl4 were given to rats after HTx. The recipients were killed and the spleens were removed at 2 and 4 weeks after HTx and stained with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and hematoxylin and eosin for determining the BrdU labeling index (L.I.) and the hepatocyte-occupied area ratio in the longitudinal cut surface of the spleen (H:S ratio), respectively. The H:S ratio was measured in the hematoxylin and eosin-stained splenic sections under a light microscope connected to an image processor. HSS-treated rats showed significantly higher BrdU L.I. and H:S ratios than the untreated control rats at 2 and 4 weeks after HTx. However, the difference in the BrdU L.I. and H:S ratio was not statistically significant among the HSS-treated rats. Without HSS treatment, the severity of liver cirrhosis did not affect the proliferation of intrasplenically transplanted hepatocytes. On the other hand, HSS-induced proliferation of transplanted hepatocytes was further enhanced in proportion to the severity of liver cirrhosis. The H:S ratio of the rats treated with 0.04, 0.08, and 0.16 ml/week of CCl4 after HTx was 1.27+/-0.5%, 4.32+/-0.65%, and 6.25+/-0.70%, respectively, at week 4. During the long-term observation of up to 12 weeks, a marked decrease in the H:S ratio was observed in HSS-untreated control rats at weeks 4-12 compared with week 2. While HSS-treated rats revealed gradual proliferation of intrasplenically transplanted hepatocytes, the difference in the H:S ratio between HSS-treated and -untreated rats became larger. These results indicate that HSS treatment of recipient rats stimulated the proliferation of intrasplenically transplanted hepatocytes in cirrhotic rats and that the severity of liver cirrhosis enhanced the stimulative effect of HSS on the proliferation of transplanted hepatocytes.
Racial differences in severe perineal lacerations after vaginal delivery.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between maternal race and rates of third- and fourth-degree laceration after vaginal delivery. STUDY DESIGN An electronic audit of the medical procedures database at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital from 1983 through 2000 was completed. Univariate and multivariable models were computed with the use of logistic regression models. RESULTS From the database, 34,048 vaginal deliveries were identified, with 3487 deliveries resulting in third- or fourth-degree laceration (10.2%). Overall severe laceration rates by race with all vaginal deliveries for patients without and with episiotomy were as follows: white, 4.3% and 15.1%; black, 2.0% and 19.3%; Asian 9.1% and 32.3%; Hispanic, 3.4% and 17.0%, respectively. After being controled for other variables with multivariable logistic regression in all vaginal deliveries, Asian race (odds ratio, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.43-2.92), forceps (odds ratio, 3.71; 95% CI, 3.39-4.05), vacuum-assisted delivery (odds ratio, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.64-2.10), large size for gestational age (odds ratio, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.21-3.09), and episiotomy (odds ratio, 3.09; 95% CI, 2.66-3.59) were associated significantly with severe lacerations. CONCLUSION Race is an independent risk factor for severe perineal lacerations after vaginal delivery, with Asian women at highest risk. Asian women who undergo episiotomy and operative vaginal delivery are especially at high risk for rectal sphincter injury.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) and the mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) promoter in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND The aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) promoter contains a nuclear receptor response element (NRRE) that represents an overlapping direct repeat-1 (DR-1) and -5 (DR-5) element. Because DR-1 elements are preferred binding sites for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), we tested the hypothesis that PPARs regulate ALDH2 expression. METHODS We examined the ability of PPAR isoforms to bind to the ALDH2 NRRE in electrophoretic mobility shift assays, their ability to activate the transcription of promoter-reporter constructs containing this NRRE, the effect of PPAR ligands on ALDH2 expression in liver, and the role of the PPARalpha on the expression of ALDH2 by using PPARalpha-null mice. RESULTS In vitro translated PPARs bound the ALDH NRRE with high affinity. Mutation of the NRRE indicated that binding was mediated by the DR-1 element. Cotransfection of PPAR expression plasmids showed that PPARalpha had no effect on expression of heterologous promoter constructs containing the NRRE. PPARgamma slightly induced expression, whereas PPARdelta repressed basal activity of the promoter and blocked induction by hepatocyte nuclear factor 4. Treatment of rats with the PPAR ligand clofibrate repressed expression of ALDH2 in rats fed either stock rodent chow or a low-protein diet. Consistent with the transfection data, expression of ALDH2 protein was not different in PPARalpha-null mice. Treatment of the mice with the PPARalpha agonist WY14643 slightly decreased the level of ALDH2 protein in both wild-type and PPARalpha-null mice, suggesting that the effect of WY14643 was not mediated by the receptor. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that ALDH2 is not part of the battery of lipid metabolizing enzymes and proteins regulated by PPARalpha
Automated prediction of ligand‐binding sites in proteins

We present a method, termed AutoLigand, for the prediction of ligand‐binding sites in proteins of known structure. The method searches the space surrounding the protein and finds the contiguous envelope with the specified volume of atoms, which has the largest possible interaction energy with the protein. It uses a full atomic representation, with atom types for carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur (and others, if desired), and is designed to minimize the need for artificial geometry. Testing on a set of 187 diverse protein‐ligand complexes has shown that the method is successful in predicting the location and approximate volume of the binding site in 73% of cases. Additional testing was performed on a set of 96 protein‐ligand complexes with crystallographic structures of apo and holo forms, and AutoLigand was able to predict the binding site in 80% of the apo structures. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Deficiency of rds/peripherin causes photoreceptor death in mouse models of digenic and dominant retinitis pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited blinding diseases caused by mutations in multiple genes including RDS. RDS encodes rds/peripherin (rds), a 36-kDa glycoprotein in the rims of rod and cone outer-segment (OS) discs. Rom1 is related to rds with similar membrane topology and the identical distribution in OS. In contrast to RDS, no mutations in ROM1 alone have been associated with retinal disease. However, an unusual digenic form of RP has been described. Affected individuals in several families were doubly heterozygous for a mutation in RDS causing a leucine 185 to proline substitution in rds (L185P) and a null mutation in ROM1. Neither mutation alone caused clinical abnormalities. Here, we generated transgenic/knockout mice that duplicate the amino acid substitutions and predicted levels of rds and rom1 in patients with RDS-mediated digenic and dominant RP. Photoreceptor degeneration in the mouse model of digenic RP was faster than in the wild-type and monogenic controls by histological, electroretinographic, and biochemical analysis. We observed a positive correlation between the rate of photoreceptor loss and the extent of OS disorganization in mice of several genotypes. Photoreceptor degeneration in RDS-mediated RP appears to be caused by a simple deficiency of rds and rom1. The critical threshold for the combined abundance of rds and rom1 is ≈60% of wild type. Below this value, the extent of OS disorganization results in clinically significant photoreceptor degeneration.
The Impacts of Wikinomics on Open Innovation in Organizations: a Study based on SMEs in Taiwan

Due to the rapid changing environment, shortening product life cycles, and increasing cost of R&D (Research and Development), the company cannot maintain its competitiveness by only relying on its internal R&D capability. Unlike the traditional closed innovation in the enterprise, open innovation and wikinomics have changed the innovation model and create a new way to success. The concepts of open innovation and wikinomics emphasize that the company should cooperate with external organizations to enhance the R&D capability and gain the competitiveness. The goal of this research is to investigate the impacts of organizational wikinomics on open innovation adoption and organizational performance. We applied five constructs to evaluate the organizational wikinomics, including collaboration, openness, interdependence, sharing and integrity. In addition, open innovations are divided into inbound and outbound one, and organizational performance is measured by R&D performance. A quantitative questionnaire survey will be conducted in this research, and SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) in Taiwan are selected as the research subjects. The Research results will be helpful to understand how to apply the wikinomic strategies in SMEs to gain open innovations and R&D performance, hence the SMEs can fight with the large companies in the competitive business environment.
The Pancreatic Islet as Rubik's Cube: Is Phospholipid Hydrolysis a piece of the Puzzle?

At least three types of phospholipase exist in the β-cells of the pancreatic islet. Data regarding their physiological activation are incomplete but suggest that glucose (or its metabolite glyceraldehyde) either activates or potentiates the activation of several phospholipases. At least seven phospholipid hydrolysis by-products (diacylglycerol, myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, lysophospholipids, arachidonic acid and its cyclooxygenase- and lipoxygenase-derived metabolites, phosphatidate) have been demonstrated to have effects compatible with their postulated roles as mediators or modulators of islet function. Presumptive mechanisms of action have been tentatively identified for these metabolites. However, key studies in the puzzle are missing, and current methodologies have important limitations. Shortcomings include the paucity of measurements of the mass of metabolites; the frequent use of static incubations rather than perfusions; a lack of complete time- and agonist concentration–dependence curves; the equation of metabolite accumulation with rates of metabolite generation (which ignores metabolite removal as a key variable); the use of nonspecific, insensitive, or ambiguous phospholipase assays; and the need for more studies directly correlating lipid metabolism and insulin secretion in physiologically functioning preparations. Like Rubik's Cube, the pancreatic islet is a dynamic puzzle comprised of many interrelated components requiring proper alignment and integration. Phospholipid turnover is one “panel” in the islet; however, an obligate role for phospholipase activation in glucose-induced insulin secretion is not yet rigorously established, despite tantalizing, inferential evidence. It may be that glucose serves principally to potentiate the phospholipase and secretory responses to other signals that act by initiating phospholipid hydrolysis.
Periodontal disease in gnotobiotic rats.

The present investigation was carried out in order to assess the development of periodontal disease in germfree rats infected with microorganisms associated with human gingivitis, periodontitis and periodontosis lesions. One hundred and forty gnotobiotic rats of the Spraque-Dawley strain were weaned 21 days after birth and then randomly divided into five groups (four experimental groups and one control) consisting of 28 animals each. After weaning the animals of the experimental groups were infected with one of the following strains; strain I (Actinomyces naeslundii), strain 1073 (Eikenella corrodens), strain 381 (Bacteroides asaccharolyticus), strain 4 (Capnocytophage sputigena). Animals were sacrificed to provide specimens for examination 14, 28, 56 and 84 days after infection. Germ-free controls were sacrificed at the same time intervals. The degree of alveolar bone loss was assessed on defleshed and dried jaws. Microscopic assessments regarding loss of connective tissue attachment, degree of bone resorption, and degree of impaction of hair and bedding material were determined in histological sections. In addition, a morphometric analysis of the gingival tissues was carried out using a standardized morphometric test procedure. The results showed that germfree rats monoinfected with different bacteria associated with human periodontal diseases may suffer severe breakdown of the periodontal tissues. The degree of breakdown tended to increase with increasing experimental time. However, periodontal tissue destruction was obviously related to the impaction of hair and bedding material. In fact, only in areas with severe impaction of foreign material could gross destruction of the supporting apparatus be recognized.
Ad-hoc on Demand Authentication Chain Protocol - An Authentication Protocol for Ad-Hoc Networks

A mobile ad hoc network is an autonomous system that is made up of collaborative mobile nodes. Nodes in mobile ad hoc networks have limited capabilities and dynamic topology. Authentication of network nodes and the establishment of secret keys among nodes are both target security objectives in ad hoc networks. The constrained devices and other special properties of ad hoc networks make achieving those security properties a challenging task. This paper proposes an authentication protocol, Ad-hoc On Demand Authentication Chain Protocol (AOAC), which allow individual node to authenticate each other and to establish a shared key for secure peer-to-peer communication, the authentication does not rely on any centralize trusted authority or fixed server and is not based on public key cryptography. To provide both node authentication and pair-wise authenticated key establishment we proposed a transitive authentication technique by which active attacks, specially the man-in-the-middle attack, can be prevented. The security of our protocol is analyzed using GNY logic. We also provided simulation and performance analysis of the proposed authentication protocol.
Factors Associated With Prostate Cancer Patients' and Their Spouses' Satisfaction With a Family-Based Intervention

Only a few programs are designed to help couples cope with the effects of prostate cancer, and typically, only their intervention outcomes are reported. The purpose of this study was to assess prostate cancer patients' and their spouses' satisfaction with an efficacious supportive-educative, family-based intervention, and factors associated with their satisfaction. We assessed the relationship of overall satisfaction with the intervention to (1) the patients' and spouses' appraisal and the resource and quality-of-life baseline scores and (2) changes in those scores after completing the intervention. Results showed that participants were very satisfied with the program. Patients who had higher scores on baseline measures, indicating more positive appraisal of their illness, better use of resources (eg, coping, self-efficacy), and higher overall quality of life, reported more satisfaction with the intervention. For spouses, few baseline measures were related to their satisfaction; however, spouses who reported positive changes after intervention (less negative appraisal and uncertainty, better communication) reported higher satisfaction with the program. Although satisfied with the program, factors associated with patients' and spouses' satisfaction differed. To translate effective interventions to clinical practice settings, it is important to assess participants' satisfaction with program content and delivery, as well as program outcomes.
Replication and Consistency in a Distributed Environment

The issue of data replication is considered in the context of a restricted system model motivated by certain distributed data-warehousing applications. A new replica management protocol is defined for this model in which global serializability is ensured, while message overhead and deadlock frequency are less than in previously published work. The advantages of the protocol arise from its use of a lazy approach to update secondary copies of replicated data and the use of a new concept, virtual sites, to reduce the potential for conflict among global transactions.
Implementation of grid-connected power conditioner for renewable energy

A control system of grid-connected power conditioner for renewable energy is proposed and studied. The proposed control system consists of voltage and current control strategy, compensation control strategy and anti-islanding control strategy, which can be considered as a solution of the control strategy for renewable energy generation system. The power conditioner with the proposed control system can operate with high efficiency, high power factor and low current and voltage total harmonic distortion in a wide output range. The operation of the proposed control scheme is confirmed by the experimental results on a 10 kW design example.
Neurosurgical capacity building in the developing world through focused training.

OBJECT In Tanzania, there are 4 neurosurgeons for a population of 46 million. To address this critical shortage of neurosurgical care, the authors worked with local Tanzanian health care workers, neurosurgeons, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Office of the President of Tanzania to develop a train-forward method for sustainable, self-propagating basic and emergency neurosurgery in resource-poor settings. The goal of this study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of this method over a 6-year period. METHODS The training method utilizes a hands-on bedside teaching technique and was introduced in 2006 at a remote rural hospital in northern Tanzania. Local health care workers were trained to perform basic and emergency neurosurgical procedures independently and then were taught to train others. Outcome information was retrospectively collected from hospital records for the period from 2005 (1 year before method implementation) through 2010. Analysis of de-identified data included descriptive statistics and multivariable assessment of independent predictors of complications following a patient's first neurosurgical procedure. RESULTS By 2010, the initial Tanzanian trainee had trained a second Tanzanian health care worker, who in turn had trained a third. The number of neurosurgical procedures performed increased from 18 in 2005 to an average of 92 per year in the last 3 years of the study period. Additionally, the number of neurosurgical cases performed independently by Tanzanian health care providers increased significantly from 44% in 2005 to 86% in 2010 (p < 0.001), with the number of complex cases independently performed also increasing over the same time period from 34% to 83% (p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis of clinical patient outcome information to assess safety indicated that postoperative complications decreased significantly from 2005 through 2010, with patients who had been admitted as training progressed being 29% less likely to have postoperative complications (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.52-0.96, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS The Madaktari Africa train-forward method is a reasonable and sustainable approach to improving specialized care in a resource-poor setting.