Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between the pulse wave and the flow velocity wave and their propagation velocities in the arterial system: Implications for the assessment of regional physical properties of the arterial beds

The rate of propagation of pressure wave in a thick-walled viscoelastic tube depends on its wall stiffness following the Moens-Korteweg equation. It is hypothesized that pulse and flow waves are closely related and share the same physical principles of transmission.Twenty human subjects were studied to explore the relationship between the pulse and flow velocity waves in the arterial system. The pulse waves were recorded using the external pulse recorder from the right carotid and femoral arteries. The velocity signals were recorded from the same locations using pulsed wave Doppler technique. The onsets of the pulse and velocity waves correlated very closely in both the carotid and femoral arteries (r=0.96, p<0.001 and r=0.97, p<0.001 respectively). The carotid to femoral rates of transmission of the pulse and velocity waves, calculated by the foot to foot method, were very closely related (r=0.98, p<0.001, SEE=50 cm/sec). It is suggested that velocity waves follow the same physical principles of transmission as the pulse or pressure waves and a study of the velocity waves will enable one to assess the elastic properties of the arterial wall as suggested by the Moens-Korteweg equation. In addition, velocity signals can be obtained noninvasively from deeper vessels, potentially allowing assessment of regional elastic properties of different arterial beds. This may allow serial noninvasive monitoring for disease in different arterial segments.
Japanese encephalitis: update on vaccines and vaccine recommendations

Purpose of review Japanese encephalitis is the most common vaccine-preventable viral encephalitis in Asia. In view of the production cessation of the inactivated mouse brain-derived Japanese encephalitis vaccine, it is timely to provide an update on new Japanese encephalitis vaccines and revised vaccine recommendations. Recent findings A new inactivated, adjuvanted, Vero cell-culture-based Japanese encephalitis vaccine, IC51, was licensed in Europe and the United States in 2009. Administered in a two-dose regimen at 0 and 28 days, it was shown to be well tolerated and produce high seroconversion rates. In addition, Chimerivax Japanese encephalitis, a novel live-attenuated one-dose chimeric vaccine comprising the structural genes of SA 14-14-2 virus and nonstructural genes of yellow fever 17D virus, is in the process of getting licensed in Australia and in south east Asia. Summary Previous recommendations for Japanese encephalitis vaccination of travelers were predicated on minimizing exposure to a mouse-brain-derived vaccine with a poorly understood and worrisome safety profile, whereas the risk of acquiring Japanese encephalitis itself during travel was assessed to be relatively low. With the availability of a new cell-culture-derived vaccine IC51 with an excellent safety profile, it is appropriate to reconsider benefit–risk considerations for the vaccination of travelers. These considerations are reflected in the March 2010 revised recommendations by the United States Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
A Missed Tuberculosis Diagnosis Resulting in Hospital Transmission

Objective. To find the source of tuberculin skin test conversions among 38 hospital employees on 1 floor during routine testing January–February 2010. Methods. Record review of patients at a private hospital during September-December 2009 and interviews with hospital employees. Names of patients from the state tuberculosis (TB) registry were cross-referenced with hospital records for admissions. Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotype results in the county and adjacent counties were examined, and contacts were evaluated for TB infection and disease. Results. One of the 38 employees, a nurse, was diagnosed with pulmonary TB with a matching M. tuberculosis genotype and drug resistance pattern (isoniazid monoresistant) to those of a county jail inmate also recently diagnosed with pulmonary TB. The nurse had no known contact with that inmate; however, another inmate in his 20's from the same jail had been hospitalized under that nurse's care in October 2009. That young man died, and a postmortem examination result subsequently confirmed TB, which had not been suspected. Exposure to this man with undiagnosed TB could explain the transmission: 87 (27%) of the 318 hospital-based contacts without previous positive tuberculin skin test results were infected, and 9 contacts had active TB. Conclusions. This investigation demonstrated M. tuberculosis transmission in a hospital due to a missed diagnosis and nonadherence to national TB infection control guidelines. Routine TB screening of employees allowed early detection of this missed TB diagnosis, facilitating prompt evaluation of contacts. Healthcare providers should suspect TB in symptomatic persons and adhere to TB control policies.
Division of Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry , Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology How Does Flexibility in Body Composition Relate to Seasonal Changes in Metabolic Performance in a Small Passerine Wintering at Northern Latitude ?

Small avian species wintering at northern latitudes typically show increases in basal metabolic rate (BMR) and maximal thermogenic capacity (Msum). Those are widely assumed to reflect changes in body composition, with enlargement of digestive and excretory organs resulting in elevated winter BMR and larger body muscles driving the increase in Msum. Using free-living black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) as our model species, we investigated seasonal changes in body composition and tested for relationships between mass variations of body organs and variability of both BMR and Msum. Our results confirmed the expected winter increase in mass of body muscles and cardiopulmonary organs (heart lungs) and showed that 64% of the observed Msum variations throughout the year were explained by changes in these organs. In contrast, we found little support for an effect of the digestive organs (gizzard intestines) on BMR seasonal changes. Instead, this variable was mainly influenced by variations in mass of body muscles and excretory organs (liver kidney), explaining up to 35% of its variability.
Antibiotic Burden Associated with Treatment of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria

Affiliation: 1. Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia. Address correspondence to Ryan A. Maddox, PhD, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop A-30, Atlanta, GA 30333 (rmaddox@cdc.gov). The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;35(7):909-910 This article is in the public domain, and no copyright is claimed. 0899-823X/ 2014/3507-0026$15.00. DOI: 10.1086/676880
Fetal telemedicine: interactive transfer of real-time ultrasound and video via ISDN for remote consultation

Current referral practice for ultrasonically detected fetal abnormalities contributes to parental anxiety, patient inconvenience, diagnostic inaccuracy, and service inefficiency. To determine whether telemedicine would reduce these disadvantages, we established an ISDN 30 link between a district general hospital on an island and a subspecialty referral center approximately 120 km away on mainland Britain. Live ultrasound images of the fetus were transmitted in real time from a commercial scanner in the hospital using a total data transfer rate of 2 Mbit/s. After decompression at the receiving end, there was almost no perceptible loss of picture quality or frame rate. This report describes the technical aspects of the link and discusses the implications for referral practice in fetal medicine.
The Who, What, When, Where, and How of Partner Violence Prevention Research

ABSTRACT Fundamental questions remain unanswered about partner violence prevention programs. These include issues of the appropriate scope, format, audience, setting, and mechanics of partner violence prevention. Should partner violence prevention be included in general curricula that address several problem behaviors or be taught in specialized programs? Should partner violence prevention be universally directed towards all youth, all adults, targeted to high-risk subgroups, or some combination? Should partner violence prevention instruction focus more on protective or risk factors? How do factors such as attendance, program integrity, and facilitator skill affect outcome? Existing information on these issues is considered, including data from related fields. Studies comparing different types of programs, including cost-benefit studies, are urgently needed in order to make informed program and policy decisions.
Persistent postconcussion syndrome: The structure of subjective complaints after mild traumatic brain injury

Objective: To examine the structure of persistent postconcussive symptoms in a sample of patients with mild traumatic brain injury. Design: Multivariate discriminant analysis in a series of 50 consecutive clinical referrals evaluated for postconcussive symptoms, neuropsychological functioning, and personality and emotional functioning at least 3 months after injury; follow‐up information regarding level of disability was obtained for 37 patients at least 1 year after injury. Setting: Neuropsychology clinic affiliated with a comprehensive brain trauma rehabilitation center. Patients: 50 consecutively referred patients with a diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injury referred by physicians, rehabilitation nurses, or attorneys because of persistent deficits or subjective complaints consistent with a postconcussion syndrome. Main Outcome Measure: Postconcussive symptoms endorsed on the Post Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Symptom Checklist. Results: Four factors consisting of multiple symptoms were identified: cognitive factor, affective factor, somatic factor, and sensory factor. Using these four factors, K‐means cluster analysis of subjects was applied to classify patients. Patient clusters consisted of those with minimal symptoms, those with primarily cognitive‐affective symptoms, those with prominent somatic symptoms, and those with severe global symptoms (P = .000). Patient symptom clusters were largely unrelated to neurological or neuropsychological functioning. The presence of chronic disability and resumption of productive functioning differed significantly among groups (P = .003). Conclusions: Subjective complaints provide clinically meaningful information and are strongly related to the nature and extent of disability after mild traumatic brain injury. Characterization of a single postconcussive syndrome may be misleading, and it may be more meaningful to define a number of postconcussive syndromes with differing symptom profiles and recovery.
Interference versus Exploitative Competition in the Regulation of Size-Structured Populations

Competition is a major regulatory factor in population and community dynamics. Its effects can be either direct in interference competition or indirect in exploitative competition. The impact of exploitative competition on population dynamics has been extensively studied from empirical and theoretical points of view, but the consequences of interference competition remain poorly understood. Here we study the effect of different levels of intraspecific interference competition on the dynamics of a size-structured population. We study a physiologically structured population model accounting for direct individual interactions, allowing for a gradient from exploitative competition to interference competition. We parameterize our model with data on experimental populations of the collembolan Folsomia candida. Our model predicts contrasting dynamics, depending on the level of interference competition. With low interference, our model predicts juvenile-driven generation cycles, but interference competition tends to dampen these cycles. With intermediate interference, giant individuals emerge and start dominating the population. Finally, strong interference competition causes a novel kind of adult-driven generation cycles referred to as interference-induced cycles. Our results shed new light on the interpretation of the size-structured dynamics of natural and experimental populations.
Mating System Plasticity Promotes Persistence and Adaptation of Colonizing Populations of Hermaphroditic Angiosperms

Persistence and adaptation in novel environments are limited by small population size, strong selection, and maladaptive gene flow. Mating system plasticity is common in angiosperms and may provide both demographic and genetic benefits that promote niche evolution, including reproductive assurance and isolation from maladaptive gene flow. Yet increased self-fertilization may also cause inbreeding depression, accumulation of deleterious mutations, and reduced adaptive potential. Here we use individual-based simulations to examine the consequences of mating system plasticity for persistence and adaptation in a novel environment that imposes selection on a quantitative trait. We examine the joint evolution of local adaptation, inbreeding depression, and genetic load. We find that a plastic shift to a mixed mating system generally promotes niche evolution by decreasing the risk of extinction, providing isolation from maladaptive gene flow, and temporarily increasing genetic variance in the trait under selection, whereas obligate self-fertilization reduces adaptive potential. These effects are most pronounced under conditions of mate limitation, strong selection, or maladaptive gene flow. Our results highlight the diverse demographic and genetic consequences of self-fertilization and support the potential role for plastic shifts in mating system to promote niche evolution in flowering plants.
The role of FcγRIIa as an inflammatory mediator in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus

Despite their essential role in host protection, immunoglobulins are also involved in autoimmune processes where antibodies recognize the host's own tissue, triggering inflammatory responses that result in extensive tissue damage. A complex interaction of genetic predisposition, together with environment factors, is thought to trigger immune dysfunction. Although recent studies have dissected the essential role of Fc receptors in autoimmune antibody mediated processes, the uniquely human FcγRIIa has not been studied in detail. This Fc receptor is of particular interest, as it is the most abundantly expressed Fc receptor in humans and is implicated in immune complex disease. Investigation of its role has been hampered to date due to lack of suitable animal models. This review examines the evidence for the direct role of this receptor in diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Ontogeny of Oxygen Storage Capacity and Diving Ability in the Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis): Costs and Benefits of Large Lungs

Small body size, large lungs, and dense pelage contribute to the unique challenges faced by diving sea otters (Enhydra lutris) when compared to other marine mammals. Here we determine the consequences of large lungs on the development of diving ability in southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) by examining the ontogeny of blood, muscle, and lung oxygen stores and calculating aerobic dive limits (cADL) for immature and mature age classes. Total oxygen storage capacity matures rapidly in sea otters, reaching adult levels by 2 mo postpartum. But this result is driven by exceptional lung capacity at birth, followed by a decrease in mass-specific lung volume with age. Blood and muscle oxygen stores remain well below adult values before weaning, with large pups exhibiting 74% and 54% of adult values, respectively. Slow muscle development limits the capacity of immature sea otters to dive against high positive buoyancy due to comparatively large lungs. Immature sea otters diving with total lung capacity (TLC) experience up to twice the mass-specific positive buoyancy as adults diving with TLC but can reduce these forces to comparable adult levels by using a smaller diving lung volume (DLV). The cADL of a juvenile with DLV is 3.62 min, while the cADL of an adult with TLC is 4.82 min. We find that the magnitude of positive buoyancy experienced by sea otters changes markedly with age and strongly influences the ontogeny of diving ability in this species.
Three-Dimensional Camouflage: Exploiting Photons to Conceal Form

Many animals have a gradation of body color, termed “countershading,” where the areas that are typically exposed to more light are darker. One hypothesis is that this patterning enhances visual camouflage by making the retinal image of the animal match that of the background, a fundamentally two-dimensional theory. More controversially, countershading may also obliterate cues to three-dimensional (3D) shape delivered by shading. Despite relying on distinct cognitive mechanisms, these two potential functions hitherto have been amalgamated in the literature. It has previously not been possible to validate either hypothesis empirically, because there has been no general theory of optimal countershading that allows quantitative predictions to be made about the many environmental parameters involved. Here we unpack the logical distinction between using countershading for background matching and using it to obliterate 3D shape. We use computational modeling to determine the optimal coloration for the camouflage of 3D shape. Our model of 3D concealment is derived from the physics of light and informed by perceptual psychology: we simulate a 3D world that incorporates naturalistic lighting environments. The model allows us to predict countershading coloration for terrestrial environments, for any body shape and a wide range of ecologically relevant parameters. The approach can be generalized to any light distribution, including those underwater.
HEMATOLOGIC AND GENETIC STUDY OF THE TRANSMISSION OF THALASSEMIA: (COOLEY'S ANEMIA; MEDITERRANEAN ANEMIA)

Cooley's anemia, 1 or thalassemia, 2 is a rare but well known disease. This fatal disorder is characterized by a chronic, progressive, hypochromic and microcytic type of anemia, peripheral erythroblastosis, increased number of target and oval red blood cells, decreased fragility of erythrocytes, splenomegaly, deposition of pigment in the viscera and changes in the bones. The condition was early noted to have a familial incidence and to be virtually restricted to the Mediterranean peoples. In 1937, Angelini (quoted from Wintrobe and associates 3 ) observed that in some instances the erythrocytes of apparently healthy parents and of siblings of patients suffering from this anemia showed decreased fragility. Caminopetros 4 independently confirmed this observation, finding that 22 of 30 parents tested showed reduced fragility. He also reported slight changes in the bones in some parents. A few years later, Wintrobe, Matthews, Pollack and Dobyns 3 described the occurrence in several Italian families
In vitro cell response and in vivo primary osteointegration of highly porous Ta-Nb alloys as implant materials.

By combining the biocompatibility of Ta and excellent performance of Nb, the β-type Ta-xNb (x = 5, 10, and 15 wt %) alloys with three-dimensional network structure was successfully fabricated. This work was designed to carry out the systematic study of in vitro/vivo biocompatibility of highly porous Ta-Nb alloys. In the present study, the in vitro biological response was characterized by cell attachment, cytotoxicity test, and gene expression. Cells were well distributed on porous alloy surface and both bulk/porous Ta-15Nb alloys showd a 0-1 RGR level. Moreover, the upregulated gene expression may reveal an increase in bone regeneration. An assessment of primary osteogenic response in vivo was achieved by histological evaluation and pull-out test. In vivo results demonstrated that the porous Ta-15Nb alloy showed a higher pull-out force than bulk Ta-15Nb alloy and exhibited a more extensive contact between implants and bones after 12 weeks. Based on the present experiments, porous Ta-Nb alloy scaffolds had a good biocompatibility and were promising for biomedical applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 573-581, 2019.
Condom Use Beliefs Among South African Inmates Who Smoke Marijuana

The purpose of this analysis was to conduct an exploratory study designed to identify bivariate correlates of condom use beliefs, and Marijuana use among a sample of South African Inmates. Participants were inmates from 4 prisons in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces. In total, 357 inmates participated in the parent study of which 350 are included in this analysis. The questionnaire was developed in English then translated into Zulu. It was administered both in English (Mpumalanga) and Zulu (Kwazulu-Natal). Significance tests were conducted using univariate logistic regressions to examine the independent associations of condom use beliefs, lifetime occurrence of sexually transmitted infections, and self-reported marijuana use before incarceration. Inmates who reported using marijuana were more likely to suggest that condoms were embarrassing to use (odds ratio=1.08, 95% confidence interval=0.55-2.11) and report a lifetime occurrence of a sexually transmitted infection (odds ratio=1.45, 95% confidence interval=0.94-2.23). Findings suggest that it is also important to explore beliefs for not using condoms consistently and with regular partners among inmate populations.
Hidden in Plain Sight: How Ventral Line Markings in Chameleons May Enhance Camouflage

Chameleons, lizards often synonymous with camouflage for their color-changing abilities, possess a variety of permanent coloration patterns whose evolutionary significance remains largely unknown. In this study, we explore the potential for white ventral line markings in species across the genus Chamaeleonidae to function as a camouflage pattern against diurnal predators. Diurnal behavioral field studies of the white-lined chameleon Furcifer viridis showed that individuals typically exposed ventral line markings during the characteristic ring-flip antipredator behavior in response to a predatory threat. These ventral line markings are largely inconspicuous in other postures. Comparative morphological analyses of 86 species found that there was a significant positive correlation between ventral line markings with arboreal habitat type, even when accounting for phylogeny. These results suggest that ventral line markings (and the ring-flip behavior) could act as a disruptive or mimetic coloration marking for arboreal chameleons against visual diurnal predators. Further work testing differential predation rates is necessary in order to verify the proposed function of these line markings.
A herbal‐drug interaction study of keishi‐bukuryo‐gan, a traditional herbal preparation used for menopausal symptoms, in healthy female volunteers

Objectives Many patients use herbal medicines to relieve menopausal symptoms. Keishi‐bukuryo‐gan contains five herbal components, and has been used for treating hypermenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea and menopausal symptoms in Asian countries. In this study, we investigated the potential herb–drug interactions of keishi‐bukuryo‐gan in healthy female subjects.