Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protection of sheep against Chlamydia psittaci infection with a subcellular vaccine containing the major outer membrane protein

An outer membrane (OM) preparation from elementary bodies (EBs) of Chlamydia psittaci (ovine abortion strain) was used to vaccinate pregnant ewes in a single subcutaneous dose and was found to achieve protection after subcutaneous challenge with infectious organisms. Inactivated purified EBs used as a single-dose vaccine also gave protection. The ratio of live to dead lambs was significantly higher in the vaccinated groups (16:1 and 15:1, respectively) than in the placebo group (8:9). Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting showed that a 40-kilodalton protein was the main protein constituent of the OM preparation, and this was positively identified as the major outer membrane protein by protein microsequencing. Electron microscopy revealed that fine particulate structures on the outermost surface of the EB were also present in the OM preparation. The findings suggest that the major outer membrane protein is an important immunoprotective determinant in ovine abortion vaccines.
Sleep and synaptic down‐selection

The synaptic homeostasis hypothesis (SHY) proposes that sleep is an essential process needed by the brain to maintain the total amount of synaptic strength under control. SHY predicts that by the end of a waking day the synaptic connections of many neural circuits undergo a net increase in synaptic strength due to ongoing learning, which is mainly mediated by synaptic potentiation. Stronger synapses require more energy and supplies and are prone to saturation, creating the need for synaptic renormalization. Such renormalization should mainly occur during sleep, when the brain is disconnected from the environment and neural circuits can be broadly reactivated off‐line to undergo a systematic but specific synaptic down‐selection. In short, according to SHY sleep is the price to pay for waking plasticity, to avoid runaway potentiation, decreased signal‐to‐noise ratio, and impaired learning due to saturation. In this review, we briefly discuss the rationale of the hypothesis and recent supportive ultrastructural evidence obtained in our laboratory. We then examine recent studies by other groups showing the causal role of cortical slow waves and hippocampal sharp waves/ripples in sleep‐dependent down‐selection of neural activity and synaptic strength. Finally, we discuss some of the molecular mechanisms that could mediate synaptic weakening during sleep.
Suppression of Endothelial Cell Apoptosis by High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) and HDL-associated Lysosphingolipids*

Apoptotic cell death following injury of vascular endothelium is assumed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this report, we demonstrate that high density lipoproteins (HDL), a major anti-atherogenic lipoprotein fraction, protect endothelial cells against growth factor deprivation-induced apoptosis. HDL blocked the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis by inhibiting dissipation of mitochondrial potential (Δψm), generation of reactive oxygen species, and release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm. As a consequence, HDL prevented activation of caspases 9 and 3 and apoptotic alterations of the plasma membrane such as increase of permeability and translocation of phosphatidylserine. Treatment of endothelial cells with HDL induced activation of the protein kinase Akt, an ubiquitous transducer of anti-apoptotic signals, and led to phosphorylation of BAD, a major Akt substrate. Suppression of Akt activity both by wortmannin and LY-294002 or by a dominant negative Akt mutant abolished the anti-apoptotic effect of HDL. Two bioactive lysosphingolipids present in HDL particles, sphingosylphosphorylcholine and lysosulfatide, fully mimicked the survival effect of HDL by blocking the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis and potently activating Akt. In conclusion, the present study identifies HDL as a carrier of endogenous endothelial survival factors and suggests that inhibition of endothelial apoptosis by HDL-associated lysosphingolipids may represent an important and novel aspect of the anti-atherogenic activity of HDL.
Performance analysis of up-link and down-link mixed RF/FSO links with multiple relays

This paper targets the bit error rate (BER) performance analysis of mixed radio-frequency free-space optical (RF/FSO) communication systems with a single source, single destination and multiple relays operating in the decode-and-forward (DF) mode. Several relaying scenarios are analyzed and compared for both the up-link (RF hop followed by an FSO hop) and the down-link (FSO hop followed by an RF hop). The RF links are subject to Nakagami fading and corrupted by additive Gaussian noise while the FSO links are subject to gamma-gamma scintillation where the photons generated by the background noise and dark currents follow the Poisson distribution.
The Video Head Impulse Test

In 1988, we introduced impulsive testing of semicircular canal (SCC) function measured with scleral search coils and showed that it could accurately and reliably detect impaired function even of a single lateral canal. Later we showed that it was also possible to test individual vertical canal function in peripheral and also in central vestibular disorders and proposed a physiological mechanism for why this might be so. For the next 20 years, between 1988 and 2008, impulsive testing of individual SCC function could only be accurately done by a few aficionados with the time and money to support scleral search-coil systems—an expensive, complicated and cumbersome, semi-invasive technique that never made the transition from the research lab to the dizzy clinic. Then, in 2009 and 2013, we introduced a video method of testing function of each of the six canals individually. Since 2009, the method has been taken up by most dizzy clinics around the world, with now close to 100 refereed articles in PubMed. In many dizzy clinics around the world, video Head Impulse Testing has supplanted caloric testing as the initial and in some cases the final test of choice in patients with suspected vestibular disorders. Here, we consider seven current, interesting, and controversial aspects of video Head Impulse Testing: (1) introduction to the test; (2) the progress from the head impulse protocol (HIMPs) to the new variant—suppression head impulse protocol (SHIMPs); (3) the physiological basis for head impulse testing; (4) practical aspects and potential pitfalls of video head impulse testing; (5) problems of vestibulo-ocular reflex gain calculations; (6) head impulse testing in central vestibular disorders; and (7) to stay right up-to-date—new clinical disease patterns emerging from video head impulse testing. With thanks and appreciation we dedicate this article to our friend, colleague, and mentor, Dr Bernard Cohen of Mount Sinai Medical School, New York, who since his first article 55 years ago on compensatory eye movements induced by vertical SCC stimulation has become one of the giants of the vestibular world.
Local Processing BIAS Impairs Lineup Performance

Evidence suggests that lineup performance by witnesses can be influenced by inducing a prior local or global processing bias. In this study, 90 witnesses attempted to identify a perpetrator from a lineup. Prior to the lineup, 30 participants completed a global processing task followed by a local processing task; 30 did the same tasks in reverse order; and 30 acted as controls. Analysis indicated that the last task completed influenced subsequent lineup performance.
WRE‐OLSR, a new scheme for enhancing the lifetime within ad hoc and wireless sensor networks

Within ad hoc and wireless sensor networks, communications are accomplished in dynamic environments with a random movement of mobile devices. Thus, routing protocols over these networks are an important concern to offer efficient network scalability, manage topology information, and prolong the network lifetime. Optimized link state routing (OLSR) is one of those routing protocols implemented in ad hoc and wireless sensor networks. Because of its proactive technique, routes between two nodes are established in a very short time, but it can spend a lot of resources for selecting the multipoint relays (MPRs: nodes responsible for routing data) and exchanging topology control information. Thus, nodes playing for a long time a role of MPR within networks implementing such protocol can rapidly exhaust their batteries, which create route failures and affect the network lifetime. Our main approach relies on analyzing this concern by introducing a new criterion that implements a combination between the residual energy of a node and its reachability in order to determine the optimal number of MPRs and sustain the network lifetime. Simulations performed illustrate obviously that our approach is more significant compared with the basic heuristic used by original OLSR to compute the MPR set of a node.
The effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection on clinical parameters in steady-state bronchiectasis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection on clinical parameters in Chinese patients with noncystic fibrosis and steady-state bronchiectasis. DESIGN Prospective, cross-sectional clinicomicrobiological study with informed consent. SETTING Consecutive outpatient recruitment from a specialist bronchiectasis respiratory clinic. PATIENTS Outpatients (n = 100; 62 women; 55.1+/-16.7 years old; FEV1/FVC 1.4+/-0.7/2.1+/-0.9 L), who had stable respiratory symptoms for more than 3 weeks. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Respiratory pathogens isolated from the sputum were: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (33), Haemophilus influenzae (10), Moraxella catarrhalis (2), other Gram-negative bacilli (5), Streptococcus pneumoniae (6), Staphylococcus aureus (5), mycobacteria (3), and yeast (1). Clinical parameters in patients with positive isolation of P aeruginosa were compared with those without the organism in the sputum culture (non-P aeruginosa). In the P aeruginosa group, the FEV1/FVC ratio and sputum volume were lower (p < 0.005) and higher (p < 0.0001), respectively, than those of the non-P aeruginosa group. The FEV1/FVC ratio (< 60%) and sputum volume (grading > 5) were independently associated with a positive sputum isolation of P aeruginosa with odds ratios of 3.1 (confidence interval [CI] 1.2 to 8.4; p < 0.01) and 4.7 (CI 1.6 to 13.3; p < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS P aeruginosa is the predominant respiratory pathogen isolated in the sputum of Chinese patients with steady-state bronchiectasis, and its isolation is associated with high sputum output (> or = 75th quartile) and moderately severe airflow obstruction (FEV1/FVC < 60%).
Biomechanische Untersuchung der Steifigkeiten von veterinärer und humaner LCP-Osteosynthese im Rahmen einer Implantatneuentwicklung – der Dynamischen Kopfverriegelungsschraube

Vor dem Hintergrund einer Tierstudie zur Knochenheilung der LCP-Osteosynthese, wurde in der vorliegenden Arbeit der Steifigkeitsunterschied zwischen humanem und veterinarem LCP-System biomechanisch evaluiert. Ferner erfolgte in diesem Rahmen die Testung eines neuen Implantates, der Dynamischen Kopfverriegelungsschraube (DLS). Die Versuche wurden mit einem vereinfachten Frakturmodell bestehend aus POM C Zylindern und LCP an einer Prufmaschine durchgefuhrt. Neben der Steifigkeit wurde mit einem optischen Messsystem die interfragmentare Bewegung analysiert. Der Steifigkeitsunterschied zwischen humanem und veterinarem LCP-System konnte genau quantifiziert werden, so dass sich die Ergebnisse der Tierstudie in Relation zu der Steifigkeitsdifferenz interpretieren lassen. Die Implantierung der neuen DLS fuhrte zu einer Abnahme der axialen Steifigkeit und zu einer Erhohung der Mikrofrakturbewegung auf ein Niveau, das in der Literatur als optimal fur die Knochenheilung beschrieben wird.
VeSCA: Vehicular stable cluster-based data aggregation

In-network data aggregation is a promising technique to reduce data transmission that contributes the effective usage of bandwidth and co-existence of different applications in vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANET). Early aggregation schemes in VANET are grouped into two categories; structure free and structure based data aggregation. In structure-free data aggregation, vehicles apply pre-defined delay value before forwarding a data packet to the next hop. On the contrary, structure-based data aggregation uses a hierarchical structure, based on either road information or vehicles, to perform data aggregation. To provide efficient and scalable VANET communication, data aggregation is essential for reducing per vehicle bandwidth requirements. In this paper, we propose a multi-hop structure based data aggregation method namely VeSCA where mobile nodes are grouped based on relative mobility with minimum-overhead cluster construction and cluster members apply data aggregation before forwarding data packet to the parent node. Using various key metrics including data aggregation ratio, delay and aggregated data delivery ratio, we demonstrate superior performance VeSCA compared both previous cluster based data aggregation and alternative aggregation mechanism via extensive simulations in ns-3 with the vehicle mobility input from the Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO). VeSCA achieves over 70% aggregated data packet delivery ratio with aggregation ratio 40%.
Corredor Ecológico Campos Elíseos, expresiones y usos mesa 2 la calle como lugar de inclusión social y de expresión

El presente documento permite incorporar a la discusion del espacio publico de la calle, como lugar de inclusion social y de expresion, un escenario particular para ello es: el Corredor Ecologico Campos Eliseos; un lugar en donde su configuracion espacial, permite la integracion entre la dimension humana y el espacio construido. Lo anterior se logra por medio de expresiones culturales, deportivas y usos particulares, actividades publicas que conllevan a la construccion de un espacio vivible, seguro, sustentable y saludable.
Primary postpartum hemorrhage: outcome of pelvic arterial embolization in 251 patients at a single institution.

PURPOSE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of pelvic arterial embolization (PAE) for the treatment of primary postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and to determine the factors associated with clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective single-center study was institutional review board approved, and informed consent was waived. Outcomes were analyzed in 251 patients who underwent PAE for primary PPH between January 2000 and February 2011. Mode of delivery, causes of bleeding, detailed laboratory and treatment records, and clinical outcomes were recorded. Clinical success was defined as cessation of bleeding after initial session of PAE without the need for additional PAE or surgery. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the factors related to clinical outcomes. RESULTS The clinical success rate was 86.5% (217 of 251). Among the 34 failed cases, 12 underwent repeat PAE, 16 underwent additional surgery, and three recovered with conservative management. Overall bleeding control was achieved in 98.0% (246 of 251) of the patients. Overall mortality was 2% (five of 251) after the first (n = 3) or second (n = 1) session of PAE or additional surgery (n = 1). Among the 113 patients with long-term follow-up, 110 (97.3%) maintained a regular menstrual cycle and 11 had successful pregnancies. Univariate analysis showed that cesarean section delivery, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and massive transfusion of more than 10 red blood cell units were related to failed PAE. Multivariate analysis showed that DIC (odds ratio, 0.36; P = .04) and massive transfusion (odds ratio, 0.10; P < .001) were significantly related to clinical failure. CONCLUSION PAE is safe and effective for managing primary PPH. Patients with DIC and massive transfusion were likely to have poor results after PAE.
New frontiers in transfusion biology: identification and significance of mediators of morbidity and mortality in stored red blood cells

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are associated with inflammation and thrombosis, both arterial and venous, the mechanisms of which are not understood. Although a necessary life‐saving procedure in modern medicine, transfusions have rarely been subjected to modern assessments of efficacy and safety, including randomized trials. Storage of RBCs induces changes, including the release of free hemoglobin and the accumulation of biologically active soluble mediators and microparticles. These mediators likely play a direct role in the inflammatory and prothrombotic properties of RBC transfusions. Methods such as leukoreduction, washing of RBCs, and rejuvenation may improve the quality of RBC transfusions.
Encouraging the Innovative Use of Geometer’s Sketchpad through Lesson Study

The purpose of this study was to encourage the innovative use of Geometer’s Sketchpad (GSP) in the teaching and learning of mathematics among secondary school teachers in Malaysia through Lesson Study (LS). Three LS groups were set up in three secondary schools. Qualitative data were collected through written lesson plans, video-taped teaching and individual interviews with the participants. Findings of the study show positive changes in the participants’ knowledge and skills of using GSP to teach the topics of “Lines and Planes in Three Dimensions,” “Loci in Two Dimensions” and “Plans and Elevations. ” These are evidenced in their mathematics lesson plans, GSP sketches, worksheets and videotaped teaching observations. Analysis of their interview transcripts also reveals positive acceptance and encouraging feedback about LS that promotes peer support and collaboration. Thus, the participants have more confidence in using GSP innovatively to teach mathematics at the secondary school level after the LS collaboration.
Accelerated disappearance of ovarian follicles in mid-life: implications for forecasting menopause.

Menopause is triggered by the number of ovarian follicles falling below a threshold number and is irreversible because oogonial stem cells disappear after birth. Since it is the result of programmed disappearance of a limited store of follicles, menopause can be predicted using mathematical models based on total follicle counts at different ages. Our model shows follicle numbers decline bi-exponentially rather than as a simple exponential function of age, as had been assumed, with a first exponential rate parameter of -0.097 and a second of -0.237. The change occurred when numbers had fallen to the critical figure of 25,000 at age 37.5 years. The unexpectedly faster rate of ovarian ageing afterwards lowers the follicle population to 1000 at approximately 51 years, and was adopted as the menopausal threshold because it corresponds to the median age of menopause in the general population. Had the earlier rate persisted menopause would not be expected until 71 years. The impact of step reductions of follicle numbers on the prospective span of menstrual life was predicted by the model. A reduction by 50% before age 30 years resulted in the threshold being reached at 44 years and 0.6 year later for every subsequent year until age 37.5 years after which it is reached at 48 years. A reduction of 90% in childhood before age 14 years could result in menopause as early as 27 years, with increments of 0.6 year per year afterwards until after 37.5 years when it is expected at age 41 years. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Qualitative comparison of carbon dioxide-induced change in cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy versus jugular venous oxygen saturation in adults with acute brain disease.

OBJECTIVE To compare carbon dioxide-induced changes in cerebral oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin, measured by near-infrared spectroscopy, with those changes in jugular venous oxygen saturation in adult patients with acute brain disease. DESIGN A prospective study. SETTING The medical and surgical intensive care unit of a university hospital. PATIENTS Nine patients with head trauma (n = 4), cerebrovascular disease (n = 3), and meningitis (n = 2). A total of ten measurements were done, while PaCO2 was increased from hypocapnia toward normocapnia in the nine patients. INTERVENTIONS Arterial and jugular bulb catheterization, and intracranial pressure monitoring were performed as a part of the clinical intervention. An increase in PaCO2 was obtained by inhalation of CO2 and, if necessary, by reducing the ventilator rate. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS In each patient, the position of the jugular bulb catheter was ascertained by skull roentgenography. Near-infrared spectroscopic values for oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin were set at zero at the beginning of the study. An increase in PaCO2 from 29 +/- 1 (SEM) torr (3.9 +/- 0.2 kPa) to 39 +/- 2 torr (5.2 +/- 0.3 kPa) was accompanied by a significant increase in jugular venous oxygen saturation from 63 +/- 3% to 76 +/- 3%; a significant increase in oxyhemoglobin of 3.5 +/- 0.9 mumol/L (of the brain tissue); and a significant decrease in deoxyhemoglobin of 1.5 +/- 0.4 mumol/L. In nine of ten measurements, the slopes of changes in oxyhemoglobin against the slopes of change in jugular venous oxygen saturation were very similar. In one patient, oxyhemoglobin changed negligibly while jugular venous oxygen saturation increased by 20%. CONCLUSIONS Jugular venous oxygen saturation consistently demonstrates cerebrovascular responsiveness to CO2. The direction and magnitude of changes in cerebral oxyhemoglobin, measured by near-infrared spectroscopy, were similar to those changes in jugular venous oxygen saturation in most of our cases. Interpretation of a negligible change in oxyhemoglobin in one patient, despite an obvious increase in jugular venous oxygen saturation, requires further study comparing near-infrared spectroscopy with standard techniques.
Correlates of underutilization of colorectal cancer screening among U.S. adults, age 50 years and older.

BACKGROUND Although effective screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) exists, only 37% of incident CRC are diagnosed at a localized stage at which treatment is effective. We identified demographic and other characteristics of adults (> or = 50 years old) who reported no CRC screening. METHODS We calculated the prevalence of never having had a fecal occult blood test and/or a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy by age, sex, and other factors using the 1999 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. RESULTS CRC screening tests were underutilized across all segments of the population. Underutilization was highest in persons aged 50-64 years and those with lower education and a lack of health insurance and preventive services. CONCLUSIONS The data indicate that large proportions of average-risk adults across various sociodemographics and behavioral factors are not utilizing recommended CRC screening tests. There is a need to increase the awareness of the importance of utilizing effective CRC screening tests for the early detection of colorectal cancers.