Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In-vivo corrosion and local release of metallic ions from vascular stents into surrounding tissue.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate retrieved bare metal vascular stents and surrounding tissue. BACKGROUND Limited information is available regarding the condition of stent surfaces and their interaction with vascular tissue following implantation. Corrosion of stents presents two main risks: release of metallic ions into tissue and deterioration of the mechanical properties of stents which may contribute to fracture. Release of heavy metal ions could alter the local tissue environment leading to up-regulation of inflammatory mediators and promote in-stent restenosis. METHODS Nineteen cases were collected from autopsy, heart explants for transplant, and vascular surgery (23 vessels containing 33 bare metal stents). A method was developed for optimal tissue dissolution and separation of the stent/tissue components without inducing stent corrosion. When available, chemical analysis was performed to assess metallic content in both the control and dissolved tissue solutions. Electron microscopy and digital optical microscopy imaging were used to evaluate stents. RESULTS Twelve of the 33 stents showed varying degrees of corrosion. Metallic levels in the tissue surrounding the corroded stents were significantly higher (0.5-3.0 mcg/cm² stent) than in control solutions (0-0.30 mcg/cm² stent) and in tissue surrounding stents that did not undergo corrosion (0- 0.20 mcg/cm² stent). CONCLUSIONS Corrosion of some retrieved stents is described which leads to transfer of heavy metal ions into surrounding tissue. The contribution of this metallic ion release to the mechanisms of in-stent restenosis as well as its effect on the mechanical properties of stents is unknown and requires further investigation.
Nonoccupational physical activity by degree of urbanization and U.S. geographic region.

PURPOSE To estimate levels of nonoccupational leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) by degree of urbanization and geographic region of the United States. METHODS Participants were respondents to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in 2001 (N = 137,359). Moderate- and vigorous-intensity LTPA was categorized as meeting recommended levels, insufficient, or inactive. The U.S. Department of Agriculture rural-urban continuum codes were used to describe degrees of urbanization (metro, large urban, small urban, and rural). Geographic regions were defined by the U.S. Bureau of the Census (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West). Prevalence estimates were calculated using sample weights to account for the design of the BRFSS. Multivariate logistic regression analyses examined regional differences in the odds of physical inactivity (physically inactive vs insufficient or meets) by degree of urbanization after adjustment for sex, age, race, BMI, education, and occupational physical activity. RESULTS Large urban areas (49.0%) and the western United States (49.0%) had the highest prevalence of recommended levels of LTPA. Rural areas (24.1%) and the southern United States (17.4%) had the highest prevalence of inactivity. Adults living in the four urbanization categories of the midwestern (metro (OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.31, 1.65), large urban (OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.51, 2.23), small urban (OR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.65, 2.40), and rural (OR = 2.59, 95% CI = 1.35, 4.97)); and southern (metro (OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.53, 1.88), large urban (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.72, 2.41), small urban (OR = 2.32, 95% CI = 2.02, 2.67), and rural (OR = 5.49, 95% CI = 2.82, 10.68)) U.S. regions were more likely to be inactive than adults living in similar areas of the western United States. Adults in northeast metro and large urban areas (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.45, 1.81; and OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.08, 1.74, respectively) were more likely to be inactive than those residing in western metro and large urban areas. CONCLUSION The prevalence of physical inactivity varies by degree of urbanization and geographic region of the United States.
Effect of dietary supplementation of gallic acid on nitrogen balance, nitrogen excretion pattern and urinary nitrogenous constituents in beef cattle

ABSTRACT The objective of the trial was to study the effects of dietary supplementation of gallic acid (GA) on nitrogen (N) balance, N excretion pattern and urinary N constituents in beef cattle. In a 4 × 4 Latin square design, four male 30-month-old Simmental cattle (443 ± 22 kg live weight) received four levels of GA (purity ≥ 98.5%), i.e. 0, 5.3, 10.5, 21.1 g/kg DM, added to a basal ration. Each experimental period lasted 17 d, consisting of 12 d adaptation and 5 d sampling. The results showed that supplementation of GA at 5.3, 10.5 or 21.1 g/kg DM did not affect the N balance but regulated the N excretion pattern by increasing the ratio of faecal N/urinary N and decreasing the ratio of urinary urea N/total urinary N in beef cattle fed at maintenance level.
MRI findings and demographics of elastofibroma dorsi: assessment of diffusion-weighted imaging and contrast enhancement patterns

Background Elastofibroma dorsi is a rare pseudotumoral lesion. Thus, there is no report of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings that investigates multiple patients particularly with respect to diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings and contrast enhancement patterns. Purpose To describe the imaging findings of elastofibroma on MRI, particularly DWI findings and contrast enhancement patterns, and to further investigate patient demographics. Material and Methods Forty-four patients with elastofibroma that underwent MRI were enrolled in this retrospective study. All images were evaluated by two radiologists to visually assess the signal intensity for each sequence. Enhanced elastofibromas were classified into four categories to assess the enhancement pattern. Differences in gender and laterality were also assessed statistically. Results An equal number of men and women were included (n = 22 each). There was no significant difference in laterality (P = 0.783). All lesions (73 lesions) had low signal intensity on both T1-weighted (T1W) and T2-weighted (T2W) images: heterogeneous in 56, homogeneous in 17. None of the 41 lesions with DWI had true abnormal diffusion restriction. The average ADC value was 1.36 × 10–3 ± 0.29 mm2/s. All 31 lesions that had contrast-enhanced MRI were classified according to enhancement pattern: homogeneous (three lesions, 9.7%); heterogeneous (15 lesions, 48.4%); streak-like (three lesions, 9.7%); and rim-like (ten lesions, 32.2%). Conclusion There were no statistically significant differences in gender or laterality. Elastofibroma showed homogeneous to heterogeneous low signal intensity on T1W and T2W images. No lesion showed abnormal diffusion restriction, and all lesions demonstrated enhancement on MRI.
Purification and characterization of bacteriocin produced by Bacillus subtilis R75 isolated from fermented chunks of mung bean (Phaseolus radiatus).

Summary Food-grade bacteria capable of producing bacteriocin with desirable preservation attributes have been isolated from traditional Indian fermented food dal vari, which has not been investigated so far. Among different isolates, Bacillus subtilis R75, isolated on MRS agar, exhibited antagonism against a wide range of foodborne pathogens that cause serious spoilage. Extracellularly produced bacteriocin was purified by single step gel exclusion column chromatography. The purity rate and molecular mass of 12 kDa of this compound were determined using SDS-PAGE. Activity units (AU) of bacteriocin were increased in each step of purification, reaching up to 5·10 6 AU/mL. The increase in the activity units directly affected the antimicrobial activity of purified bacteriocin, resulting in an increase up to 200, 333 and 175 % of the inhibition zones against indicator bacteria. Continuous decrease in the number of viable cells of microorganisms within 10 h after adding purified bacteriocin proved its bactericidal action. It withstood very high temperature, up to 121 °C, for 10 min, wider pH range, from 4.0 to 11.0, complete inactivation in the presence of proteolytic enzymes and storage stability up to 2.5 months.
(In)direct Framing Effects: The Effects of News Media Framing on Public Support for Turkish Membership in the European Union

News framing can exert a strong influence on public opinion. Following a media content analysis, this article investigates the effects of news framing on support for membership of Turkey in the European Union. A first experimental study (n = 304) showed a significant difference in the level of support for Turkish membership between respondents who were exposed to a positively valenced news frame and respondents who had received a negative frame. The results of a second survey-embedded experimental study (n = 1,632) corroborated the first study, and tested the hypothesis that frames affect the importance of certain considerations and that the valence of the news frames also directly affects opinion. Negative news frames yielded stronger effects than positive news frames, and high political sophisticates were more affected by positive framing. The study demonstrates that (change in) public approval of Turkish EU membership is contingent on the elites’ and the media’s coverage of the issue in interaction with individual characteristics.
[A medium term therapeutic effects of anatomic locking plate for femoral intertrochanteric with lateral femoral wall fractures].

OBJECTIVE To retrospectively study medium term follow-up outcomes of the femoral intertrochanteric with lateral femoral wall fractures using anatomic locking plate fixation. METHODS From June 2010 to January 2013, 18 cases of the unstable femoral intertrochanteric with lateral femoral wall fractures were treated with the anatomic locking plate, included 8 males and 10 females with an average age of 75.5 years ranging from 19 to 83 years old. There were 8 cases of traffic accident injuries, 6 cases of falls injuries, and 4 cases of falling from high place. The time from injury to operation was ranged from 1 to 14 days with an average of 4.5 days. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss and the length of hospitalization were recorded and analyzed. The fracture union was assessed by follow-up radiographs and hip functional recovery by PPMS and Harris hip scoring. RESULTS All patients were followed up from 36 to 68 months with a mean of(44.8±8.8) months. The mean operative time was (61.02±38.28) min;the mean blood loss was (226.00±162.52) ml;the mean length of hospitalization was (10.8±9.2) days. During the follow-up period, no infection, deep veintllrombosis, screwed cut-out and implant failure occurred in all patients. Coxa vara with shortening deformity was noted in 2 cases. Bone union was found in all the cases. The bone healing time was ranged from 4 to 10 months with an average of 6.2 months. The mean PPMS score at the final follow-up was 7.22±2.36. The Harris score was 79.46±11.02, 5 cases were classified as excellent, 9 as good and 2 as fair. CONCLUSIONS Proximal femoral anatomic locking plate can be used in treating intertrochanteric fractures with compromised lateral wall, which has a satisfied medium term follow-up outcomes, especially for complex fractures patterns in which intramedullary nailing may be difficult, and should not emphasis on premature loading.
Anosognosia and Alzheimer's Disease: The Role of Depressive Symptoms in Mediating Impaired Insight

The relation between anosognosia and dementia severity in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been unclear. We constructed a measure that quantified the difference between the perceptions of deficits of patients with AD (n = 23) and ratings from a knowledgeable informant as a measure of anosognosia. There was no correlation between dementia severity and anosognosia. However, dementia severity was positively correlated with the degree of anosognosia after controlling for depressive symptomatology (p = .03). Post-hoc analyses, also controlling for depressive symptoms, indicated that higher levels of anosognosia were associated with lower performance on specific cognitive tasks. These results suggest depressive symptoms may confound the relationship between anosognosia and dementia severity.
Evolution Of Motor, Ia And Cutaneous Nerve‐Fibre Conduction Velocities In Premature And Fullterm Newborns

The conduction velocities of motor, IA and non‐nociceptive cutaneous sensory fibres have been studied in the ulnar and median nerves of 145 healthy fullterm neonates and in 77 preterm neonates (postconceptional age‐range 28 to 42 weeks). The posterior tibial‐nerve motor and IA fibres were studied: the sural nerve cutaneous‐fibre conduction velocities were measured in fullterm neonates only. At each age the IA fibre conduction velocities were the highest. There was no difference between the conduction velocity increase per week of postconceptional age in motor and cutaneous fibres. Except for the cutaneous‐nerve fibres, conduction velocities were higher in the upper than in the lower limbs.
Counterexamples to global Torelli for certain simply connected surfaces

The question of whether or not one can distinguish birationally distinct surfaces by examining their period matrices is known as the Torelli problem. Let X ^ M b e a proper holomorphic map such that each fibre is a nonsingular compact complex surface. As in [3], one can define the period mapping. Let U0 be a sufficiently small neighborhood of t0 G M and suppose that for all t\ t" in U0,t' ¥= t'\ S\ = iT {f) is not birationally equivalerçt to St». One aspect of the Torelli problem is: whether or not the period mapping, restricted to C/0, has a positive dimensional fibre at the point corresponding to the surface S+ .
Analysis of Immumoreactivity of Heterologously Expressed Non-structural Protein 4B (NS4B) from Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Genotype 1a.

BACKGROUND Detection of hepatitis C virus specific antibodies is the initial step in chronic HCV diagnosis. HCV NS4B is among the most immunogenic HCV antigens and has been widely used in commercial Enzyme Immunoassays (EIA). Additionally, NS4B, a key protein in the virus replication, can be an alternative target for antiviral therapy. OBJECTIVES Development of a new method for high-level expression and purification of NS4B coding region was the aim of the report. MATERIALS AND METHODS Viral RNA was purified from the serum of an HCV positive patient and NS4B coding region was amplified using nested RT-PCR. PCR products were cloned into pET102/D-TOPO expression vector and transformed into E. coli BL21. Induction was performed by adding 1 mM isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) to the culture medium. Immunoreactivity of the purified recombinant proteins was evaluated by immunoblotting and indirect enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS The recombinant NS4B protein was expressed and its immunoreactivity was confirmed by ELISA and western blotting. CONCLUSIONS The directional TOPO cloning provides an efficient and easy platform for heterologous expression of immunoreactive HCV NS4B.
OkaPU's Japanese-to-English Translator for NTCIR-10 PatentMT

This paper describes Okayama Prefectural University’s system for NTCIR-10 PatentMT JE task. It is a variant of the REV method proposed by Katz-Brown and Collins [KBC08] which obtained the best human evaluation score among Statistical Machine Translation systems at NTCIR-7 [FUYU08]. Their REV method preorders Japanese sentences without syntactic parsing. They split each Japanese sentence into segments at punctuations and the Japanese topic marker “wa”. Then, they reversed words in each segment and concatenated the reversed segments into one. For NTCIR-10, we tried to improve the REV method by keeping Japanese word order in noun phrases and coordinations.
The role of nanotechnology in control of human diseases: perspectives in ocular surface diseases

Abstract Nanotechnology is the creation and use of materials and devices on the same scale as molecules and intracellular structures, typically less than 100 nm in size. It is an emerging science and has made its way into pharmaceuticals to significantly improve the delivery and efficacy of drugs in a number of therapeutic areas, due to development of various nanoparticle-based products. In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that nanotechnology can help to overcome many of the ocular diseases and hence researchers are keenly interested in this science. Nanomedicines offer promise as viable alternatives to conventional drops, gels or ointments to improve drug delivery to the eye. Because of their small size, they are well tolerated, thus preventing washout, increase bioavailability and also help in specific drug delivery. This review describes the application of nanotechnology in the control of human diseases with special emphasis on various eye and ocular surfaces diseases.
β2‐Agonist administration reverses muscle wasting and improves muscle function in aged rats

The β2‐adrenoceptor agonist (β2‐agonist) fenoterol has potent anabolic effects on rat skeletal muscle. We conducted an extensive dose–response study to determine the most efficacious dose of fenoterol for increasing skeletal muscle mass in adult rats and used this dose in testing the hypothesis that fenoterol may have therapeutic potential for ameliorating age‐related muscle wasting and weakness. We used adult (16‐month‐old) rats that had completed their growth and development, and old (28‐month‐old) rats that exhibited characteristic muscle wasting and weakness, and treated them daily with either fenoterol (1.4 mg kg−1, i.p), or saline vehicle, for 4 weeks. Following treatment, functional characteristics of fast‐twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and predominantly slow‐twitch soleus muscles of the hindlimb were assessed in vitro. Untreated old rats exhibited a loss of skeletal muscle mass and a decrease in force‐producing capacity, in both fast and slow muscles, compared with adult rats (P < 0.05). However, there was no age‐associated decrease in skeletal muscle β‐adrenoceptor density, nor was the muscle response to chronic β‐agonist stimulation reduced with age. Thus, muscle mass and force‐producing capacity of EDL and soleus muscles from old rats treated with fenoterol was equivalent to, or greater than, untreated adult rats. The increase in mass and strength was attributed to a non‐selective increase in the cross‐sectional area of all muscle fibre types, in both the EDL and soleus. Fenoterol treatment caused a small increase in fatiguability due to a decrease in oxidative metabolism in both EDL and soleus muscles, with some cardiac hypertrophy. Further studies are needed to fully separate the desirable effects on skeletal muscle and the undesirable effects on the heart. Nevertheless, our results demonstrate that fenoterol is a powerful anabolic agent that can restore muscle mass and strength in old rats, and provide preliminary evidence of therapeutic potential for age‐related muscle wasting and weakness.
The pregnant uterus as a psycho-endocrine organ

The pathogenesis of preterm birth (PTB) is largely unknown and the endocrine stress pathway is likely to participate in the mechanisms allowing onset of labor. However, the vast majority of the studies evaluating psychosocial distress denied an association with PTB. Uterine contractility rather than PTB seems associated with distress in pregnancy.
A review of voltage control techniques of networks with distributed generations using On-Load Tap Changer transformers

Voltage is an important parameter for the control of electrical power systems. The Distribution Network Operators (DNO) have the responsibility to regulate the voltage supplied to consumer within statutory limits. Traditionally, the On-Load Tap Changer (OLTC) transformer equipped with automatic voltage control (AVC) relays is the most popular and effective voltage control device.
Chromosome 1 trisomy compromises the virulence of Candida albicans

Although increases in chromosome copy number typically have devastating developmental consequences in mammals, fungal cells such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae seem to tolerate trisomies without obvious impairment of growth. Here, we demonstrate that two commonly used laboratory strains of the yeast Candida albicans, CAI‐4 and SGY‐243, can carry three copies of chromosome 1. Although the trisomic strains grow well in the laboratory, Ura+ derivatives of CAI‐4, carrying three copies of chromosome 1, are avirulent in the intravenously inoculated mouse model, unlike closely related strains carrying two copies of chromosome 1. Furthermore, changes in chromosome copy number occur during growth in an animal host and during growth in the presence of growth‐inhibiting drugs. These results suggest that chromosome copy number variation provides a mechanism for genetic variation in this asexual organism.
Lipid and lipoprotein tracking in 108 children over a four-year period.

This study was designed to assess "tracking" of plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, and high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (C-HDL, C-LDL), in 108 children followed over a four-year period in the Cincinnati Lipid Research Clinic's Princeton School study. The correlations between initial and subsequent measurements of plasma cholesterol were respectively 0.65, 0.66, and 0.68 for observations one, two, and three years apart, P < . 001; for plasma triglyceride they were 0.47, 0.37, and 0.39, P < . 001. Initial and subsequent C-HDL and C-LDL levels were also highly correlated, r = . 60, . 53 (for C-HDL), r = . 67 and . 61 (for C-LDL), for observations two and three years apart, P < . 001. Six of 13 children initially in the top decile for plasma cholesterol remained there over the four-year period. Only three of 11 children initially in the top decile for plasma triglyceride remained there over the four-year period. Plasma C-HDL levels initially in the top decile generally remained there, with 82% and 64% of children initially in the top decile remaining in the top two deciles on follow-up. Plasma C-LDL levels were more dispersed than C-HDL, with three of 11 children initially in the top decile remaining there after four years. A considerable proportion of the decrement in group mean levels of lipids and lipoproteins for children initially in the top deciles could be accounted for by regression toward the mean. Although initial and subsequent measures of lipids and lipoproteins in school children are closely correlated, and there is a moderate degree of tracking for children initially in the top deciles, only small numbers of children after four years of follow-up will retain persistent elevations of cholesterol, triglyceride, and C-LDL. Longitudinal assessment of children with elevated lipid and lipoprotein levels may permit early identification of risk factors which both increase risk to coronary heart disease in adulthood (cholesterol, triglyceride, C-LDL), or decrease it (C-HDL).
Reduction of Displaced Pelvic Ring Disruptions Using a Pelvic Reduction Frame

The need for reduction in displaced pelvic ring disruptions is well established, but actual techniques to perform this difficult task are evolving. Reduction is often difficult, especially if minimally invasive techniques are used. This pelvic reduction frame (Starr Frame LLC, Richardson, TX) provides stabilization of the intact hemipelvis to the operating table and facilitates multiplanar reduction of the injured hemipelvis with the use and manipulation of external fixator pins. With the pelvis reduced and locked on the frame, the surgeon is free to place, or teach, fixation in a controlled manner. This lessens the usual assistance, training, and hardware placement difficulties associated with the surgical treatment of these injuries. The basic surgical technique and 2 cases of acute fracture treatment are presented.