Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The incidence and causes of erectile dysfunction after pelvic fractures associated with posterior urethral disruption.

PURPOSE Erectile dysfunction is a common sequel of pelvic fractures, particularly those associated with posterior urethral injury when it can be neurogenic or arteriogenic due to damage to the cavernous nerves or branches of the pudendal arteries. We studied erectile function of patients with posterior urethral injuries due to pelvic fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients referred for posterior urethral reconstruction and strictures due to pelvic fractures were evaluated before reconstruction. All patients underwent nocturnal penile tumescence testing, and if those results were abnormal, penile duplex ultrasound with intracavernous injection was performed. Patients with normal vascular function on duplex ultrasound were diagnosed with neurogenic erectile dysfunction. Those patients with abnormal arterial function on duplex ultrasound underwent arteriography to further define the extent and location of arterial damage. RESULTS The study included 25 consecutive patients with posterior urethral strictures and a mean age of 28.6 years. Of the patients 18 (72%) had erectile dysfunction as demonstrated by nocturnal penile tumescence and all underwent penile duplex ultrasound. Ultrasound confirmed normal vascular response in 13 of the 18 patients and they were diagnosed with probable neurogenic erectile dysfunction. The remaining 5 patients (28%) with erectile dysfunction had an abnormal arterial response, and significant arterial pathology was confirmed by arteriography. CONCLUSIONS Erectile dysfunction is common in patients with pelvic fractures associated with urethral injury. We believe that erectile function should be assessed and documented in such patients before attempting urethroplasty. In the majority of these patients erectile dysfunction is caused by disruption of the cavernous nerves with sparing of arterial inflow.
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY SPECIES OF BROODING ANTARCTIC ECHINOIDS?

Marine invertebrates display a great variety of life‐history traits and reproductive strategies. In echinoids, four patterns of larval development are generally recognized: planktotrophy, pelagic lecithotrophy, bottom dwelling, and brood protecting. Each broad type of free and protected development is found in all the oceans, but comparisons of the principal reproductive modes between different geographic regions have shown that they are not equally distributed. Frequency of pelagic development (planktotrophic and lecithotrophic) decreases from equator to Antarctic, where brood protecting becomes dominant. Numerous theories have been proposed to explain the richness of nonpelagic development in most marine invertebrates within the Southern Ocean. These theories can be grouped into three categories: (1) larval survival, where selection acts on larval; (2) energy allocation; and (3) dispersal. All of them consider the adaptative significance of brood protecting as the key to the success of this strategy in the Antarctic. However, the adaptative significance of brooding and the evolutionary success of this strategy in the Antarctic must be considered as two separate questions. To consider the problem at an evolutionary level, we have examined the consequences of different reproductive strategies on the genetic structure of species and on the long‐term evolution of the clade. We examine this problem in the case of echinoids, a clade particularly well suited to addressing this question. In echinoids, the reduction of larval‐stage duration is associated with a decrease in gene flow and consequently in the geographical scale of genetic differentiation. This allows us to reconsider the high‐speciation‐rate model, which leads to an increase in the number of low‐dispersal species (isolation by distance). This model, previously tested by means of fossils is not satisfactory in living echinoids. Thus, the model is rebuilt with the addition of differential extinction rate between planktotrophic and brooding species in relation with the climatic history of the Antarctic.
1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate Oxidase 2 Reduction Effects on Physical and Physiological Responses of Eksotika Papaya

The Malaysian Eksotika papaya (Carica papaya L.) has poor keeping quality due to its fast ripening attribute, which leads to post-harvest losses. This study is aimed at extending the shelf life of this perishable Eksotika fruit using antisense technology. A total of 6,000 Eksotika somatic embryogenic calli was transformed with the antisense 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase 2 gene (ACO2) construct, and 46 PCR-positive putative transformants were obtained. Gene expression analysis using real-time PCR on the 46 regenerated putative transgenic lines revealed that 42 showed down-regulation of the ACO2 gene with two- to five-fold differences among the lines. Out of 22 independently selected transformed lines grown under net house conditions, 16 harbored a single copy of the transgene. Physical stature of the transgenic plants was not significantly different from that of the non-transformed seed-derived papaya plants. Physiological evaluations of the transgenic fruits showed a 15-day delay in ripening compared with 4 days of the non-transformed seed-derived papaya fruits. The total soluble solid (TSS) of the transgenic fruits was comparable to that of the non-transformed seed-derived fruits with similar 11-15°Brix, implying the transgenes did not affect the TSS content. The transgenic fruits remained firm for additional 4 to 8 days at room temperature (25 ± 2°C) after achieving the full maturity index (index 6), whereas the non-transformed seed-derived fruits lost their firmness after 2 days. The outcomes of this study revealed that reduction of ethylene was successful in the Eksotika papaya by manipulating the ACO2 gene using the antisense technique.
[Epicardial mapping of reentrant activation during ventricular fibrillation. An experimental study].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES High-resolution epicardial mapping was used in an experimental model to analyze reentrant activation during ventricular fibrillation. METHODS In 30 isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts, recordings were made of ventricular fibrillation activity using an epicardial multiple electrode. In the activation maps with reentrant activation patterns, determinations were made of the number of consecutive rotations, the maximum length of the central core, the area encompassed by the core and two electrodes surrounding it, and the cycle defined by reentrant activation. RESULTS Most of the activation maps analyzed showed complex patterns with two or more wave fronts that either collided or remained separated by functional block lines (514 maps, 86%). In 112 maps (19%) activation patterns compatible with epicardial breakthrough of the depolarization process were observed. Reentrant activity was recorded in 42 maps (7%) - the maximum number of consecutive rotations being 3 (mean = 1.3 +/- 0.5). The maximum length of the central core ranged from 3 to 7 mm (mean = 5 +/- 1 mm), while the area encompassed by the central core plus two electrodes surrounding it ranged from 35 to 55 mm2 (mean = 45 +/- 6 mm2). The reentrant cycle length (mean = 47 +/- 8 ms) showed a linear relation to the maximum length of the central core reentry (cycle = 4.52 x length + 24.6; r = 0.7; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS a) Epicardial mapping allowed the identification of reentrant activation patterns during ventricular fibrillation in the experimental model used; b) the reentrant activity detected is infrequent and unstable, and c) a linear relation exists between the duration of the cycles defined by reentrant activity and the maximum length of central core reentry.
Control of Human Herpes Virus Type 8–Associated Diseases by NK Cells

Abstract: The “natural killer” (NK) cells preferentially kill targets lacking surface major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC‐I) molecule expression. NK cells recognize these targets through membrane receptors, which can trigger activating or inhibitory signals for killing. Several tumors or virus‐infected cells downregulate MHC‐I expression as a mechanism to evade recognition and killing by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). They, however, become targets for NK cells cytotoxic activity. NK cell activity is reduced during disease progression in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and in individuals with AIDS‐associated tumors linked with infection by the oncogenic human herpes virus type‐8 (HHV8), including Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and primary effusion lymphomas (PEL). We have demonstrated that AIDS‐related KS (AIDS‐KS) is characterized by an increased expression of inhibitory receptors by T lymphocytes, and that HIV‐non‐infected patients with KS (classic KS, C‐KS) have a substantial number of NK cells bearing these same receptors. NK cells from patients with C‐KS are normally equipped with cytolytic molecules including granzyme A and perforin. However, the cytotoxic activity of NK cells is reduced in patients with C‐KS, AIDS‐KS, or PEL patients, who are all infected by the HHV8, and this correlates with disease severity. Moreover, we have found that HHV8‐infected cell lines established from PELs have a reduced surface expression of MHC‐I molecules and are sensitive to the lysis mediated by NK cells. Since PEL cells express the same HHV8 latency program as KS cells, these data point to MHC‐I downregulation by HHV8 as a primary immune evasion mechanism against CTL responses, further reinforced by upregulation of inhibitory receptors on T and NK cells in the setting of HIV and/or HHV8 infection. Thus, studies on killing receptor regulation and signaling in T and NK cells may shed light on the pathogenesis of HHV8‐associated tumors both in HIV‐infected or ‐noninfected patients.
The Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury on Prison Health Services and Offender Management

A large percentage of incarcerated offenders report a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) with concomitant neuropsychiatric and social sequelae. However, research looking at the relationship between TBI and delivery of correctional health services and offender management is limited. In this study, the relationships between TBI and use of correctional medical/psychological services, chemical dependency (CD) treatment completion rates, in-prison rule infractions, and recidivism were investigated. Findings indicated that TBI history has a statistically significant association with increased usage of correctional medical/psychological services, including crisis interventions services, and with higher recidivism rates. Results also showed a trend toward offenders with TBI incurring higher rates of in-prison rule infractions and lower rates of CD treatment completion. Implications and future directions for correctional systems are discussed.
Functional folate receptor beta-expressing macrophages in osteoarthritis synovium and their M1/M2 expression profiles

Objective: The distribution of folate receptor (FR)-β+ macrophages and their M1/M2 expression profiles were examined in osteoarthritis (OA) synovial tissues, and compared to those in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial tissues and CD163+ macrophages in both OA and RA synovial tissues. Method: The phenotypes and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)–folate uptake of FR-β+ synovial macrophages were analysed by flow cytometry. The distribution of FR-β+ macrophages in OA and RA synovial tissues was examined by immunofluorescent microscopy. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin (IL)-10, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β expression in FR-β+ macrophages was detected by double-immunostaining in both OA and RA synovial tissues. Results: FR-β+ macrophages were predominantly present in the synovial lining layer in OA patients. The proportion of CD163–FR-β+ cells in synovial mononuclear cells (MNCs) was increased in OA compared to RA synovial tissues. FR-βhigh macrophages from OA synovial tissues represented the majority of folic acid-binding cells. Although FR-β+ or CD163+ macrophages in the synovial tissues of OA and RA patients expressed a mixed pattern of M1 and M2 macrophage markers, there were more M2 markers expressing synovial macrophages in OA than in RA patients. Conclusions: The distribution and M1/M2 expression profiles of FR-β+ synovial macrophages were different between OA and RA synovial tissues. Thus, the findings underscore that the M1/M2 paradigm using surface markers FR-β and CD163 is an oversimplification of macrophage subsets. Functional FR-β present on OA synovial macrophages provides a potential tool for the diagnosis and treatment of OA.
The Impact of Information System Success Factors, Human Resource Staff Satisfaction, and E-Human Resource Use on Organizational Benefit

have limited resources for investment making it imperative that resources utilized provide some benefit for the organization. Electronic human resource management (E- HRM) systems have been shown to have notable benefits for the organization including cost saving capabilities. However, when implemented in practice E-HRM systems consistently fail to produce desired results. Given these issues, the current investigation sought to determine factors relating to organizational outcomes through the use of E-HRM. Specifically, the DeLone and McLean Model of Information Systems Success were modified for the analysis of E-HRM systems. The results indicate that service and information quality impact staff satisfaction with E-HRM, leading to the intent to use the system and benefits for the organization
Domain action classification using a maximum entropy model in a schedule management domain

To generate correct reactions, a dialogue system should identify domain actions indicated by users' utterances because speaker intentions can be captured by the domain actions. In this paper, we propose a domain action classification model to determine speech acts (general intentions) and concept sequences (semantic focuses) at the same time in a schedule management domain. To avoid biased learning problems, the proposed model uses low-level linguistic features and filters out uninformative features using statistic. Then, the proposed model determines domain actions using a maximum entropy model. In the experiment, the proposed model showed better performances than previous works in speech act classification. In addition, the proposed model showed high performances in concept sequence classification. Based on these experimental results, we believe that the proposed model will be more helpful to a dialogue system than previous speech act classification models because it can return speech acts and concept sequences at the same time on the same framework.
Couplet numerical — Experimental method for frequency and temperature dependences of biological materials dielectric properties investigation at microwave frequencies

The article focuses on the measurement and calculation of dielectric properties of biological tissue in the frequency band 4,5 GHz-6 GHz. Special attention is paid to the frequency and thermal dependence dielectric constant and loss factor. Observed frequency changes of biological tissue dielectric properties obey causality, i.e. Kramers-Kronig relationships which relate changes of dielectric constant with conductivity changes. Our results for frequency dependence of complex permittivity prove the fundamental Cole-Cole model but also the necessity to investigate the biological tissues like heterogeneous material with not only one relaxation phenomena. The computed data are compared with measured total frequency response of biological tissue.
Influence of Purine Intake on Uric Acid Excretion in Infants Fed Soy Infant Formulas

Objective: These studies tested the hypothesis that increasing intake of purines, delivered as RNA from soy protein-based infant formula, would increase urinary uric acid excretion in infants. Methods: Study One examined the influence of feeding on serum uric acid in a total of 178 infants from four separate trials with infants fed commercial and experimental soy-based and milk-based infant formulas or human milk. Studies Two and Three compared the effect of a standard purine soy formula (STD Purine; 180 mg purines/L from RNA) and a reduced purine soy formula (Reduced Purine; 65 mg purines/L; 26 mg/L from RNA and 39 mg/L from ribonucleotides) on urinary uric acid excretion in infants. In Study Two, 11 infants ranging in age from 16 to 128 days of age were fed both formulas in a random crossover design. Complete 72-hour urine collections were done at the end of each 11-day feeding period. Urinary uric acid excretion was expressed as mmol/day. In Study Three, 33 infants were enrolled before eight days of age and randomized to one of the formulas one week later. Spot urine samples were collected at 28 and/or 56 days of age and urinary uric acid concentration was expressed as mmol/mmol creatinine. Results: In Study One, each of the feedings resulted in mean serum uric acid levels within normal reference ranges. Soy formula led to higher serum uric acid levels than human milk, and human milk to levels indistinguishable from cow milk-based formulas. In Study Two, infants excreted significantly more uric acid in the urine when fed the STD Purine formula compared to the Reduced Purine formula (0.86±.04 vs. 0.57±.04 mmol/d) (p=0.006). In Study Three, infants fed the STD Purine formula had a significantly higher concentration of uric acid in their urine compared to those fed the Reduced Purine formula (2.1±0.2 vs. 1.4±0.1 mmol uric acid/mmol creatinine) (p=0.0001). Conclusion: These data indicate that healthy infants can digest RNA and subsequently absorb the liberated purine ribonucleotides as determined by urinary uric acid concentration.
The Cytotoxin YopT of Yersinia enterocoliticaInduces Modification and Cellular Redistribution of the Small GTP-binding Protein RhoA*

Pathogenic Yersinia enterocoliticaproduces two virulence plasmid-encoded cytotoxins, YopE and YopT, that are translocated into target cells where they disrupt the actin cytoskeleton. Here we show that infection of cells with wild typeY. enterocolitica and a yopE mutant, but not with a yopT mutant, induces an increase in the electrophoretic mobility of the small GTPase RhoA. As tested by isoelectric focusing, YopT-dependent modification resulted in an acidic shift of RhoA. Furthermore, RhoA modification induced by YopT was accompanied by redistribution of membrane-bound RhoA toward the cytosol. Finally, a yopE mutant of Y. enterocolitica expressing the cytotoxic activity of YopT specifically disrupted RhoA-controlled actin stress fibers. These findings provide evidence for inactivation of RhoA by the translocatedY. enterocolitica cytotoxin YopT and suggest a novel inhibitory modification of RhoA by a bacterial virulence factor.
Droop Control Based Power Sharing For A Microgrid With Manifold Distributed Generations

This paper highlights on the active power sharing of manifold distributed generators (DGs) in a microgrid. The microgrid can be functioned in two modes 1) a grid-connected mode and 2) An autonomous mode. In the course of islanded operation, one DG unit should share its output power with other DG units in exact accordance with the load. Unit output power control (UPC) is introduced to control the active power of DGs. The sustainability of the proposed power control mode is simulated under MATLAB/SIMULINK.
Metabolism of rats running up and down an incline.

The purpose of these experiments was to determine oxygen consumption (VO2) in rats as a function of treadmill speed (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 m . min-1) as they ran on the level and up and down a 16 degree (17.8%) incline. The slopes of the regression lines relating VO2 (ml O2 . kg-1 . min-1) to running speed (m . min-1) were linear for all three inclines. The regression slope for uphill runners (y = 1.25x + 47.7) was greater than the regression slopes for level (y = 0.88x + 41.2) (P less than 0.025) or downhill (y = 0.68x + 39.7) (P less than 0.005) runners, and the regression slope for level runners was greater than that for downhill runners (P less than 0.10). All VO2 measurements were submaximal. In conclusion, incline has a significant effect on the metabolism of rats running on a motor-driven treadmill.
PATExpert: Semantic Processing of Patent Documentation

PATExpert is a recently started “Specific Targeted Research Project” funded by the EC in FP 6, IST priority. PATExpert’s goal is to change the paradigm currently followed for patent processing from textual to semantic. We are about to develop a semantic multimedia content representation based on Semantic Web technologies for selected technology areas and to investigate some central topics from the semantic representation angle: patent retrieval and classification, content extraction, generation of multilingual user comprehensible patent information, visualization of and navigation in patent content spaces, and patent valuing and technology area assessment.
Block Waterfilling with Power Borrowing for Multicarrier Communications

The multicarrier system has received great attention as a solution to transmitting high-rate data over wireless channels with severe inter-symbol interference, where the optimal power allocation scheme is known as the well-known waterfilling. In this paper, the so called block waterfilling (BW) is proposed, which is a hybrid of waterfilling and constant waterfilling. Within BW, there are three channel blocks, being divided from each other by two thresholds: waterfilling block, equal power block and non-power allocation block. For BW, we propose to use the power borrowing, which plays an important role in minimizing the duality gap, releasing us from fine-tuning of the two thresholds. From numerical examples, we have found that BW shows superior performance to the constant water- filling in terms of throughput enhancement with small amount of additional computational complexity. The main idea behind BW is to parameterize computational burden of the classical waterfilling, which makes us trade the complexity with the solution quality.
The Role of Self-Efficacy, Adaptive Coping, and Smoking Urges in Long-term Cessation Outcomes

Objective:Smoking cessation self-efficacy and adaptive coping are posited as 2 important treatment targets in smoking cessation interventions, especially in the context of handling strong urges to smoke. Yet, less is known about whether intervention-related changes in these constructs predict long-term smoking outcomes. The current study aimed to examine changes in smoking urges, smoking cessation self-efficacy, and adaptive coping after a health-focused and cognitive-behavioral telephone-delivered smoking cessation treatment, and the association to smoking reduction during long-term, 12-month follow-up. Methods:Participants (n=61) were daily smokers enrolled in a 12-week pilot trial that tested the efficacy of 2 different health-focused interventions with an adjunct of traditional telephone-delivered cessation counseling. Smoking urges, smoking cessation self-efficacy, and adaptive coping were assessed as baseline and immediately posttreatment. An average of 7-day cigarettes use per day were assessed at posttreatment, and 6 and 12 months postbaseline follow-up timepoints. Results:Smoking urges were significantly lower posttreatment, and smoking cessation self-efficacy and adaptive coping were significantly higher posttreatment, relative to baseline. After adjusting for baseline values, posttreatment smoking urges were significantly positively associated with cigarette use at posttreatment and 6-month follow-up. Posttreatment smoking cessation self-efficacy, but not adaptive coping, was significantly negatively predictive of cigarette use at posttreatment and 6- and 12-month follow-up timepoints. Posttreatment smoking cessation self-efficacy emerged as significant indirect predictor of the association between posttreatment smoking urges and posttreatment cigarette use. Conclusions:Interventions that target smoking cessation self-efficacy may facilitate long-term reductions in smoking among daily smokers undergoing a quit attempt.