Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pathologic Analysis of Ex Vivo Plasma Energy Tumor Destruction in Patients With Ovarian or Peritoneal Cancer

Introduction: Cytoreduction of all visible disease has been associated with improved survival in patients with advanced-stage ovarian or peritoneal cancer. This is best achieved by minimizing injury to normal tissues. We report on the tumor destruction potential, in an ex vivo model, of a novel energy source that uses an electrically neutral beam of pure plasma to vaporize tissue. Methods: Tumors were harvested from patients undergoing primary surgical cytoreduction for ovarian or peritoneal cancer. Specimens were divided into 1-cm3 sections and treated with pure plasma energy for 2 or 4 seconds using standardized power settings. Bright-field microscopy was used to measure the depth of tissue vaporization and lateral thermal damage (LTD). Results: The mean (SD) tissue vaporization depth was 2.7 (1.3) mm (n = 96). Lateral thermal damage was minimal at all tissue interaction settings (0.13 [0.031] mm). Lateral thermal damage was approximately 5% of the depth of tissue vaporization. Tissue interaction time was a more powerful predictor of vaporization than power. When tissue interaction time increased from 2 to 4 seconds, depth of vaporization and LTD increased by 1.7 and 0.03 mm, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). When power was increased from low to high settings, depth of vaporization increased by 0.6 mm (P = 0.02), and LTD did not change. Conclusions: Plasma energy can effectively vaporize ovarian and peritoneal cancer cells. Greater power and tissue interaction time results in more tumor vaporization while maintaining minimal LTD. This is an attractive characteristic of plasma energy that may be useful for eradicating tumor from visceral surfaces.
Credit Booms, Debt Overhang and Secular Stagnation

Why do advanced economies fall into prolonged periods of economic stagnation, particularly in the aftermath of credit booms? We present a model of persistent aggregate demand shortage based on strong liquidity preferences of households, in which we incorporate financial imperfections to study the interactions between debt, liquidity and asset prices. We show that financially more deregulated economies are more likely to experience persistent stagnation. In the short run, credit booms can mask this structural aggregate demand deficiency. However, the resulting debt overhang permanently depresses spending in the long run since deleveraging becomes self-defeating because of debt deflation. These findings are in line with the macroeconomic developments in Japan during its lost decades and other advanced economies before and during the Great Recession.
8-OxoA Inhibits the Incision of an AP Site by the DNA Glycosylases Fpg, Nth and the AP Endonuclease HAP1

Abstract Lomax, M. E. , Salje, H. , Cunniffe, S. and O'Neill, P. 8-OxoA Inhibits the Incision of an AP Site by the DNA Glycosylases Fpg, Nth and the AP Endonuclease HAP1. Radiat. Res. 163, 79–84 (2005). Ionizing radiation induces clustered DNA damage sites, whereby two or more individual DNA lesions are formed within one or two helical turns of DNA by a single radiation track. A subset of DNA clustered damage sites exist in which the lesions are located in tandem on the same DNA strand. Recent studies have established that two closely opposed lesions impair the repair machinery of the cell, but few studies have investigated the processing of tandem lesions. In this study, synthetic double-stranded oligonucleotides were synthesized to contain 8-oxoA and an AP site in tandem, separated by up to four bases in either a 5′ or 3′ orientation. The influence 8-oxoA has on the incision of the AP site by the E. coli glycosylases Fpg and Nth protein and the human AP endonuclease HAP1 was assessed. 8-OxoA has little or no effect on the efficiency of incision of the AP site by Nth protein; however, the efficiency of incision of the AP site by Fpg protein is reduced in the presence of 8-oxoA even up to a four-base separation in both the 5′ and 3′ orientations. 8-OxoA influences the efficiency of HAP1 incision of the AP site only when it is 3′ to the AP site and separated by up to two bases. This study demonstrates that the initial stages of base excision repair can be impaired by the presence of a second base lesion in proximity to an AP site on the same DNA strand. This impairment could have biological consequences, such as mutation induction, if the AP site is present at replication.
Insulin exerts neuroprotection by counteracting the decrease in cell‐surface GABAA receptors following oxygen–glucose deprivation in cultured cortical neurons

A loss of balance between excitatory and inhibitory signaling leads to excitoxicity, and contributes to ischemic cell death. Reduced synaptic inhibition as a result of dysfunction of the ionotropic GABAA receptor has been suggested as one of the major causes for this imbalance, although the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated whether oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD), an ischemia‐like challenge, alters cell‐surface expression of GABAA receptors in cultured hippocampal neurons, and thereby leads to excitotoxic cell death. Using cell culture ELISA as a cell surface receptor assay, we found that OGD produced a marked decrease in cell surface GABAA receptors, without altering the total amount of receptors. Furthermore, the reduction could be prevented by inhibition of receptor endocytosis with hypertonic sucrose treatment. Notably, insulin significantly limited OGD‐induced changes in cell‐surface GABAA receptors. In parallel, insulin protected cultured neurons against both glutamate toxicity and OGD, as assayed by mitochondrial reduction of Alamar Blue. Importantly, insulin‐mediated neuroprotection was eliminated when bicuculline, a GABAA receptor antagonist, was co‐applied with insulin during OGD. Together, our results strongly suggest that ischemia‐like insults decrease cell surface GABAA receptors in neurons via accelerated internalization, and that insulin provides neuroprotection by counteracting this reduction.
Travel app users’ continued use intentions: it’s a matter of value and trust

ABSTRACT This study examines the factors that influence the continued use intention of mobile apps designed for travel-related purposes. Interviews with 22 individuals provided data for developing a conceptual model of travel app continued use intention. The model draws on the expectation confirmation model framework, as well as interviews, to illustrate the relationship between functional value, hedonic value, satisfaction, and trust, and to discuss the link between moderators of familiarity, travel purposes, travel app types, and technology proficiency as predictors on continued use. The study’s results establish an in-depth understanding of continued use for travel apps.
Quantification of the effect of different levels of IOP in the astroglia of the rat retina ipsilateral and contralateral to experimental glaucoma.

PURPOSE To analyze the effects of different levels of intraocular pressure (IOP) in the macroglia in ocular hypertension (OHT) and contralateral eyes at 3 weeks after laser photocoagulation and compare these with effects in age-matched control rats. METHODS Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into an age-matched control (naive) group and an OHT group. Retinas were processed as whole mounts and immunostained with GFAP for analysis of the retinal macroglia. RESULTS The area of the retina occupied by astrocytes (AROA) was quantified. GFAP immunostaining showed common features in ipsilateral and contralateral eyes. First, although the astrocyte network maintained a star-shaped morphology, these cells had fewer secondary processes and thinner cell bodies and primary processes than did naive cells. Second, Müller cells appeared as punctate GFAP+ structures among astrocytes. Third, there was a significant reduction of the AROA in ipsilateral and contralateral eyes compared with naive eyes. Ipsilateral eyes had significantly less AROA than did contralateral eyes. The decrease was greater for OHT eyes with higher IOP levels. CONCLUSIONS OHT induces changes in the macroglia of contralateral eyes; thus, these fellow eyes should not be used as control. In eyes with OHT, there is a close relationship between IOP values and decreased AROA.
CARD15/NOD2 Mutations in Crohn's Disease

Abstract: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are complex genetic disorders characterized by a complex interplay between genetic and environmental risk factors. At least ten genes or anonymous loci have been proposed to play a role in IBD. Among them, the best studied is CARD15/NOD2, a gene coding for a protein involved in bacterial recognition by cells involved in innate immunity. Despite a large amount of work, a consensus model explaining the effect of Card 15/NoD2 mutations did not emerge, and the disease mechanisms are still subject to debate.
Ventilation-perfusion inequality and carbon dioxide sensitivity in hypoxaemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and effects of 6 months of long-term oxygen treatment (LTOT).

UNLABELLED The aim of our study was to find out how blood gas disturbances in stable, eucapnic, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with an arterial oxygen tension (PaO(2)) value of 7.7 (6.1-8.4) kPa are affected by ventilation-perfusion (V(A)/Q) relationships and carbon dioxide (CO(2)) sensitivity and how these parameters are influenced by 6 months of long-term oxygen treatment (LTOT). V(A)/Q ratios were measured using the multiple inert gas elimination technique (MIGET). Mouth occlusion pressure 0.1 s after onset of inspiration (Pi0.1) and minute ventilation (V(E)) were measured to assess respiratory drive response (DeltaPi0.1/DeltaPCO(2)) and hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR) to CO(2) rebreathing. At the start of LTOT, a normal median respiratory drive response level of 1.2 (0.2-2.3) cm H2O/kPa and a low median HCVR as compared with healthy individuals (P<0.001) were found. However, 7.9 (0-29.8)% of the VE, was directed towards hypoperfused lung areas. The dispersion of ventilation (log SDV; 0.47-1.76), and the dispersion of perfusion (log SDQ; 0.66-1.07) were wider than normal. The PaO(2) level correlated inversely with mean V(A)/Q ratio for ventilation (V mean) and shunt. The PaCO(2) level correlated inversely with HCVR and vital capacity. After 6 months of LTOT, no significant changes in daytime blood gas levels, CO(2)-sensitivity or VA/Q ratios were found. VE tended to be reduced by 1.0 l min-1. CONCLUSIONS An elevated V mean and probably shunting are important contributing factors for the reduced PaO(2) and hypercapnic ventilatory response is a major determinant of PaCO(2) in eucapnic stable hypoxaemic COPD. Six months of LTOT does not affect blood gases, CO(2) sensitivity or ventilation-perfusion relationships.
Loss of the Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group A Gene (XPA) Enhances Apoptosis of Cultured Cerebellar Neurons Induced by UV but Not by Low‐K+ Medium

Abstract: To study the involvement of the xeroderma pigmentosum group A gene (XPA) in neuronal apoptosis, we cultured cerebellar neurons from mice lacking XPA gene (XPA−/−) and induced apoptosis by exposure to UV irradiation or medium containing a low concentration of potassium (low‐K+ medium). When cerebellar neurons from postnatal days 15–16 wild‐type mice were treated with UV irradiation, apoptotic neuronal death was observed after 24–48 h. About 60% of neurons survived 48 h after UV irradiation at a dose of 5 J/m2. On the other hand, neurons from XPA−/− mice showed a significantly increased vulnerability to UV irradiation, and >90% of neurons died 48 h after UV irradiation at a dose of 5 J/m2. In contrast, low‐K+ medium induced apoptosis of neurons from mice of each genotype with the same kinetics. These results suggest that the XPA gene is involved in neuronal DNA repair and that it thereby influences apoptosis induced by DNA damage in cultured cerebellar neurons.
Reliability assessment of some high side MOSFET drivers for buck converter

Nowadays power electronic devices have a wide usage in the industries and different electrical equipment for power conditioning. As a point of view, reliability is one of important figure of merits that should be considered to have long life time and also have more probability to do exactly the proposed mission. In this paper some methods are presented to improve the reliability of power electronic components. Also some methods of system reliability improvement are reviewed. One group of converters is DC-DC step down converter which is used in different applications such as battery charger and voltage regulator. In this paper as an example, reliability of a DC-DC step down converter with Buck topology is evaluated and some kinds of switching networks including P and N channel MOSFET and proper driver topology are compared based on reliability specifics. It should be noted that the main reference used to reliability evaluation is MIL-HDBK-217 which is a military handbook to evaluation of power electronic components failure rate.
Routine ureteral stenting is not necessary after ureteroscopy and ureteropyeloscopy: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Retrospective studies have suggested that routine stenting can be avoided following ureteroscopy. We prospectively analyzed the need for routine ureteral stent placement in patients undergoing ureteroscopic procedures. PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifty-five consecutive patients (60 renal units) were randomized into either a stent or a no-stent group following ureteroscopy with either a 7.5F semirigid or a 7.5F flexible ureteroscope for treatment of calculi (holmium laser or pneumatic lithotripsy) or transitional-cell carcinoma (holmium laser). Intraoperative variables assessed included total stone burden, the need for ureteral dilation, and overall operative times. All patients were evaluated by questionnaire on postoperative days 0, 1, and 6 with regard to pain, frequency, urgency, dysuria, and hematuria. RESULTS Of the 60 renal units treated, 38 received ureteral stents (mean 5.2 days), and 22 were treated without a stent. All 10 patients requiring ureteral balloon dilation had stents placed and were removed from the analysis. There was no significant difference between the groups with regard to age, sex, or stone burden. Operative time was decreased in the no-stent group (43 minutes v 55 minutes; P = 0.013). Flank discomfort was significantly less common in the no-stent group on days 0, 1, and 6 (P = 0.004, P = 0.003, P < 0.001, respectively), as was the incidence of suprapubic pain on day 6 (P = 0.002). There was no difference in urinary frequency, urgency, or dysuria between the groups on postoperative day 1, but all these symptoms were significantly reduced in the no-stent group on day 6 (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.002, respectively). There was no significant difference in patient-reported postoperative hematuria in either group. One patient in each group developed a urinary tract infection. One patient in the no-stent group developed ureteral obstruction in the postoperative period that necessitated stenting, and one patient in the stent group experienced stent migration necessitating removal. CONCLUSIONS Routine ureteral stenting does not appear to be warranted in those patients who do not require ureteral dilation during ureteroscopic procedures. Ureteral stent placement following ureteroscopy may be avoided, thereby reducing operative time, surgical costs, and patient morbidity.
Synopsys' open educational design kit: Capabilities, deployment and future

An open Educational Design Kit (EDK) which supports a 90nm design flow is described which includes all the necessary design rules, models, technology files, verification and extraction command decks, scripts, symbol libraries, and PCells. It also includes a Digital Standard Cell Library (DSCL) which supports all contemporary low power design techniques; an I/O Standard Cell Library (IOSCL); a set of memories (SOM) with different word and data depths; and a phase-locked loop (PLL). These components of the EDK augment any type of design for educational and research purposes. Though the EDK does not contain any foundry information, it allows real 90nm technology with high accuracy to be implemented in the designs.
Muscle Coordination while Pulling up During Cycling

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the pull up action on the pedalling mechanics and muscle coordination during cycling. 9 elite cyclists pedalled at 320 watts with their preferred technique and while pulling up. The pull up action increased significantly the pedalling effectiveness during the upstroke and around the bottom dead centre. This was associated with a significant enhancement of the biceps femoris activity (48%), an earlier onset of activation of the tibialis anterior, i. e. , 211 ± 83° vs. 259 ± 22° (crank angle) and a delayed offset of activation of the gastrocnemius lateralis, i. e. , 244 ± 19° vs. 216 ± 39°. Consequently, co-activities between tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius lateralis muscles over 55 ± 65° (crank angle range), as well as between the biceps femoris and the tibialis anterior over 48 ± 57° were generated. These higher co-activities were necessary to stiffen the ankle joint and to power the pedal during the upstroke. Thus changes in muscle coordination improved the pedalling effectiveness during the upstroke phase but would probably lead to impairment of the oxygen consumption. Therefore, training the pull up action could be of interest to optimize this muscle coordination associated with better pedalling effectiveness by additionally relieving hip or knee extensors during the downstroke.
Public issues or issue publics? The distribution of genuine political attitudes

Abstract There is an inherent conflict between the political marketing model of humans and pioneering theories in electoral behavior research. While political marketing logic implies an issue-based and highly volatile voting behavior, voting theories conventionally assume that positional issues have little effect on how individuals vote, and so parties have little incentive to develop issue-based electoral strategies. However, few people would challenge the role that marketing now plays in the modern campaign process. How can we reconcile these theories? This paper revisits the role and impact of positional issues on voting behavior by testing whether specific issues affect different subgroups of voters as contended by the ‘issue-public’ theory. The results show that previous models underestimate issue voting. Once measurement accuracy is improved and the salience-based heterogeneity of issue effects is taken into consideration, positional issues have non-negligible effects on individual vote choice. Furthermore, salience-based heterogeneity is shown to explain better the variation in issue voting than heterogeneity based on political sophistication.
Eye infections after refractive keratotomy.

BACKGROUND Ocular infections are serious and potentially vision-threatening complications of refractive keratotomy. We have performed an integrative review of published literature to address important issues concerning these complications. METHODS Articles in MEDLINE and published manuscripts and abstracts reporting previously unpublished cases of infections after refractive keratotomy were systematically identified and reviewed. Our review did not target patients treated with relaxing incisions for postkeratoplasty astigmatism. Pertinent data were abstracted and analyzed. RESULTS Forty-three cases (47 episodes: 42 keratitis and 5 endophthalmitis) of infection appeared in 26 published reports from 1975 to 1994. The frequency ranged from 0.25% to 0.70%. In 22 (47%) eyes, infection occurred before 2 weeks. Thirty-five (74%) infections were located in the inferior half of the cornea, and 22 (62%) were located in the inferotemporal quadrant. Thirty-one (66%) infections were bacterial (32% gram-positive, 23% gram-negative, 9% acid fast, 496 unknown), 5% fungal, 6% viral, 19% sterile, and 4% of unknown origin. Spectacle-corrected visual acuity after conservative treatment was 20/40 or better in 70% of eyes. Penetrating keratoplasty was performed in six cases. Potential associations included reoperations in 12 (26%) eyes, postoperative contact lens wear in 7 (15%), and intraoperative perforation in 7 (15%). CONCLUSIONS The published literature indicates that infections after refractive keratotomy may compromise visual function. Approximately half of the infections occur in the first 2 weeks. Reoperations, postoperative contact lens wear, and intraoperative perforations may be significant risk factors.
Contractility and Stiffness of Noninfarcted Myocardium After Coronary Ligation in Rats: Effects of Chronic Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibition

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that global left ventricular function is depressed after myocardial infarction. However, little is known about the effects of myocardial infarction on contractility and the passive-elastic properties of residual myocardium. Methods and ResultsWe evaluated isometric function and passive myocardial stiffness in isolated, noninfarcted left ventricular papillary muscle from rats 6 weeks after sham operation or myocardial infarction. Maximal developed tension and peak rate of tension rise (+dT/dt) were significantly decreased in untreated rats with large myocardial infarction compared with controls 3.3 + 1.1 versus 43 + 0.6 g/mm2 and 49.5 ± f17.5 versus 72.5 ± +10.5 g/mm2/sec, respectively). Time to peak tension was prolonged (120 ± 8 versus 102 ± 4 msec) and myocardial stiffness was increased in untreated myocardial infarction rats compared with controls (35.2 ± 4.9 versus 24.2 ± 3.7). Rats with smaller myocardial infarctions differed from controls only with respect to a prolongation of time to peak tension. Papillary muscle myocyte cross-sectional area was increased by 44% (p<0.05), and myocardial hydroxyproline content was increased by 160% (p<0.05) in rats with large myocardial infarctions compared with controls. To determine whether treatment that improves left ventricular function after myocardial infarction also improves myocardial function, rats were treated with captopril beginning 3 weeks after myocardial infarction and continuing for 3 weeks. Treatment with captopril attenuated the prolongation in time to peak tension in the myocardial infarction rats; however, developed tension, +dT/dt, and muscle stiffness remained abnormal. Compared with untreated myocardial infarction rats, captopril-treated myocardial infarction rats had a 9% decrease in myocyte cross-sectional area (p = 0.1) but a persistent increase in myocardial collagen content. In summary, large myocardial infarction in rats causes contractile dysfunction, increased stiffness, myocyte hypertrophy, and increased collagen content in the residual noninfarcted myocardium. Treatment with captopril alters the process of cardiac remodeling and hypertrophy and improves one parameter of contractility in noninfarcted myocardium; however, myocardial collagen content and myocardial stiffness remain abnormal. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition in the ratinfarct model of heart failure improves global cardiac performance via combined effects on myocardial function and the peripheral circulation. (Circulation 1991;83:1028–1037)