Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum von Willebrand Factor, Matrix Metalloproteinase-9, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels Predict the Onset of Cerebral Vasospasm after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE Endothelial damage and intimal proliferation occur in vasospastic cerebral arteries after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). In the peripheral vasculature, endothelial damage increases intimal matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels, causing neointimal proliferation. We hypothesized that serum von Willebrand factor (vWF) (a marker of endothelial cell death), MMP-9, and VEGF levels could serve as prognostic markers in predicting the occurrence of cerebral vasospasm. METHODS Venous serum vWF, MMP-9, and VEGF levels were prospectively measured daily, for 12 days or until the onset of vasospasm, for 45 consecutive patients admitted with SAH (n = 38) or admitted for elective aneurysm clipping (control subjects, n = 7). The development of transcranial Doppler flow velocities of more than 180 cm/s and/or new focal neurological deficits with angiographically confirmed vasospasm was considered the onset of vasospasm. To establish whether these markers were specific for vasospasm versus ischemia, blood samples were obtained from a concurrent group of 42 patients within 24 hours after stroke onset unrelated to SAH. RESULTS Fifty-seven percent of patients (22 of 38 patients) developed vasospasm, 4 to 11 days after SAH (median, 7 d). Mean peak serum vWF, MMP-9, and VEGF levels were increased in the SAH prevasospasm cohort, compared with the SAH nonvasospasm cohort (vWF, 5526 ± 929 versus 4934 ± 599 ng/ml, P = 0.01; MMP-9, 705 ± 338 versus 438 ± 154 ng/ml, P = 0.006; VEGF, 0.12 ± 0.06 versus 0.06 ± 0.06 ng/ml, P = 0.023). Mean peak vWF, MMP-9, and VEGF levels for the focal ischemia cohort (vWF, 4645 ± 875 ng/ml, P = 0.01; MMP-9, 250 ± 308 ng/ml, P = 0.001; VEGF, 0.03 ± 0.04 ng/ml, P = 0.001) were markedly lower in comparison with the SAH prevasospasm cohort and were unchanged in comparison with the control cohort. vWF levels of more than 5500 ng/ml, VEGF levels of more than 0.12 ng/ml, and MMP levels of more than 700 ng/ml each independently increased the odds of subsequent vasospasm (18-, 20-, and 25-fold, respectively). CONCLUSION The development of cerebral vasospasm after SAH was preceded by increases in serum vWF, MMP-9, and VEGF levels. Increased serum vWF, MMP-9, and VEGF levels could accurately predict the onset of cerebral vasospasm after SAH. These factors were not elevated by SAH alone or in a separate cohort of patients with ischemic stroke, suggesting that these factors might play a role in the pathogenesis of human cerebral vasospasm.
Macronodular tuberculoma of the liver: CT and MR findings.

Tuberculous involvement of the liver is usually a diffuse process, associated with miliary tuberculosis. However, localized tuberculosis of the liver producing a macronodular tuberculoma or an abscess is rare [1 , 2]. Several reports have described the CT findings in such localized hepatic tuberculosis [3, 4]; however, the findings of MR imaging have not been widely published. We describe the CT and MR findings in a case of macronodular tuberculoma of the liver.
Compact thermal models for thermally aware design of VLSI circuits

During the last two decades, self-heating has become a significant bottleneck to the continued scaling of microelectronics. This is a particular problem in emerging finFET designs because of the use of thick buried oxide layers which impede heat flow to the heat sink. A possible solution is to use architectural and circuit-level techniques to make the temperature field as uniform as possible on the chip. These techniques require a prediction of temperature at the level of 100s-1000s of transistors, and must relate the predicted temperature to the activity level of the devices. In this paper, compact thermal models of circuit components are developed for use in cell-level electrical models of VLSI circuits, and ultimately for thermally-aware component placement and optimization. Fourier theory is used to model NAND and NOR gates and inverters employing finFETs at the 28 nm node. Electron-phonon scattering sources are computed using the drift-diffusion solver TAURUS. Compact models are then developed from the thermal simulation and used in cell-level representations of typical circuits to make thermal predictions on the scale of 100's of transistors. The technique is readily scaled up recursively to larger and larger scales and represents a viable methodology for multiscale simulation of microelectronics
In Situ Analysis of Sulfur Species in Sulfur Globules Produced from Thiosulfate by Thermoanaerobacter sulfurigignens and Thermoanaerobacterium thermosulfurigenes

ABSTRACT The Firmicutes Thermoanaerobacter sulfurigignens and Thermoanaerobacterium thermosulfurigenes convert thiosulfate, forming sulfur globules inside and outside cells. X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis revealed that the sulfur consisted mainly of sulfur chains with organic end groups similar to sulfur formed in purple sulfur bacteria, suggesting the possibility that the process of sulfur globule formation by bacteria is an ancient feature.
Defective Proximal Tubule Lysosomal Acidification by Bence Jones Proteins

Proximal tubule handling of two human Bence Jones proteins (neutral and acidic BJP) was evaluated using protein A-gold labelling. After 30 min of acute light-chain infusion into 6 rats (alone or in combination with dinitrophenyl-aminopropyl-methylamine [DAMP]), kidney biopsies were processed for immunoelectron microscopy. Antibodies directed at monoclonal lambda light chains, mannose-6-phosphate cation-independent receptor (MPR) and DAMP were used.Labelling density (number of pA-gold particles/µm2), expressed as median (25–75 percentiles), differed (p < 0.05) between the two BJP, being 94.5 (32.9–212.5) vs. 19.4 (3.7–45.6) pA-gold/µm2 in endocytic vacuoles, and 297.3 (207.1–382.1) vs. 83.2 (16.6–197.0) pA-gold/µm2 in non-vacuolar electrondense endosome-lysosome structures. Labelling density for MPR was 47.7 (22.2–84.6) vs. 4.0 (2.7–6.3) pA-gold/µm2. The area of MPR-labelled structures was also different, i.e.: 0.2 (0.1–0.4) vs. 0.9 (0.5–1.8) µm2. The endosome-lysosome pH distribution range differed significantly: 6.8 (6.4–7.0) vs. 6.3 (5.8–7.0). There was a significant accumulation of neutral BJP in endocytic structures, an acidification deficit of pre-lysosomes/lysosomes and MPR retention, suggestive of defective receptor recycling with this BJP. Interference with the physiological process of lysosomal acidification may be an important mechanism of higher nephrotoxicity in some BJP.
A Simple Approach to Screening for Microalbuminuria in a Type 1 (Insulin-Dependent) Diabetic Population

The reproducibility of albumin concentration in first-morning samples of urine was assessed in 334 insulin-dependent diabetic patients aged 18–60 years. The albumin excretion rate was determined immunoturbidimetrically in three sterile, Albustix-negative, first-morning urine samples submitted over a week. An abnormally high mean value, ≥2 · 5 mg albumin per mmol creatinine (Ua/Uc), was found in 33 patients (9 · 9%). These patients were older (mean 42 vs 34 years, P < 0 · 01), had longer disease duration (18 vs 14 years, P < 0 · 01) and higher HbA1c values (6 · 8 vs 6 · 3%, P < 0 · 05) than those without microalbuminuria. Although triplicate samples were collected within 7 days, Ua/Uc showed considerable intraindividual variation, with a mean coefficient of variation of 49%. Despite this it was found that Ua/Uc values greater than 1 mg/mmol on the first specimen had a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 82% for detecting those with a three-sample mean value greater than 2 · 5 mg/mmol. Thus virtually all those with microalbuminuria (32/33) had a single first-morning result greater than 1 mg/mmol, and in those with a lower ratio microalbuminuria was excluded with more than 99% certainty.
Iconicity in Language Processing and Acquisition: What Signed Languages Reveal

That linguistic form should be arbitrarily linked to meaning is generally taken as a fundamental feature of language. However, this paper explores the role of iconicity, or non-arbitrary form-meaning mappings for both language processing and language acquisition. Evidence from signed language research is presented showing that sign language users exploit iconicity in language processing. Further, iconicity may be at work in language acquisition serving to bridge the gap between conceptual representations and linguistic form. Signed languages are taken as a starting point since they tend to encode a higher degree of iconic form-meaning mappings than is found for spoken languages, but the findings are more broadly applicable. Specifically, the emerging evidence argues against the dominant view that connections between linguistic form and meaning need be primarily arbitrary. Instead both arbitrariness and iconicity have a role to play in language.
Scalable and Iterative Image Super-resolution using DCT Interpolation and Sparse Representation

In a scenario where acquisition systems have limited resources or available images do not have good quality, super-resolution (SR) techniques are an excellent alternative for improving the image quality. The traditional SR methods proposed in the literature are effective in HR image reconstruction to a magnification factor up to 2. In recent years, example-based SR methods have shown excellent results in the HR image reconstruction to magnification factor 3 or more. In this paper, we propose a scalable and iterative algorithm for single-image SR using a two-step strategy with DCT interpolation and the sparsebased learning method. The method proposed implements some improvements in the dictionary training and the reconstruction process. A new dictionary is built by using an unsharp mask technique for feature extraction. The idea is to reduce the learning time by using two different small dictionaries. The results were compared with others interpolation-based and SR methods and demonstrated the effectiveness of the algorithm proposed in terms of PSNR, SSIM and Visual Quality.
Human papillomavirus and non‐small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer‐related deaths in the world, causing more than one million deaths worldwide each year. Human papillomavirus (HPV) are small non‐enveloped DNA viruses that infect squamous epithelial cells. Relevant studies have reported lung cancer‐related HPV infection rates that fluctuate between 10% and 80%, depending on the various research methods and geographical factors. Various scholars gathered statistics from global research reports and found that 22.4% of the patients with lung cancer presented with an HPV infection, which suggested that HPV infection may relate to the tumorigenesis of non‐small cell lung cancer. This article will review the history and discovery of HPV, the correlation between HPV and lung cancer development, and carcinogenesis caused by HPV regulatory genes, such as p53, p21, p16INK4a, and genes related to hypermethylation and genome instability in lung cancer patients with HPV infection. In addition, because studies have highlighted the difference in clinical prognosis for HPV‐positive and HPV‐negative patients, articles demonstrating the correlation between HPV infection and prognosis for lung cancer patients will be reviewed.
Exchanges across Land‐Water‐Scape Boundaries in Urban Systems

Conservation in urban areas typically focuses on biodiversity and large green spaces. However, opportunities exist throughout urban areas to enhance ecological functions. An important function of urban landscapes is retaining nitrogen thereby reducing nitrate pollution to streams and coastal waters. Control of nonpoint nitrate pollution in urban areas was originally based on the documented importance of riparian zones in agricultural and forested ecosystems. The watershed and boundary frameworks have been used to guide stream research and a riparian conservation strategy to reduce nitrate pollution in urban streams. But is stream restoration and riparian‐zone conservation enough? Data from the Baltimore Ecosystem Study and other urban stream research indicate that urban riparian zones do not necessarily prevent nitrate from entering, nor remove nitrate from, streams. Based on this insight, policy makers in Baltimore extended the conservation strategy throughout larger watersheds, attempting to restore functions that no longer took place in riparian boundaries. Two urban revitalization projects are presented as examples aimed at reducing nitrate pollution to stormwater, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay. An adaptive cycle of ecological urban design synthesizes the insights from the watershed and boundary frameworks, from new data, and from the conservation concerns of agencies and local communities. This urban example of conservation based on ameliorating nitrate water pollution extends the initial watershed‐boundary approach along three dimensions: 1) from riparian to urban land‐water‐scapes; 2) from discrete engineering solutions to ecological design approaches; and 3) from structural solutions to inclusion of individual, household, and institutional behavior
Review and update of intraocular therapy in noninfectious uveitis

Purpose of review To review new clinically relevant data regarding the intraocular treatment of noninfectious uveitis. Recent findings Triamcinolone acetonide, the most commonly used intravitreal corticosteroid for treatment of uveitis and uveitic macular oedema has a limited duration of action and is associated with a high risk of corticosteroid-induced intraocular pressure (IOP) rise and cataract. Recent advances have led to the development of sustained-release corticosteroid devices using different corticosteroids such as dexamethasone and fluocinolone acetonide. Treatment options for patients who have previously exhibited corticosteroid hypertensive response have also expanded through the use of new noncorticosteroid intravitreal therapeutics such as methotrexate and antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents. Summary Ozurdex dexamethasone implant appears to have a better safety profile, and a slightly long-lasting effect than triamcinolone acetonide. The Retisert implant allows the release of corticosteroids at a constant rate for 2.5 years, but it requires surgical placement and its use is associated with a very high risk of cataract and requirement for IOP-lowering surgery. For patients who are steroid responders, methotrexate may offer a better alternative to corticosteroid treatment than anti-VEGF agents, but controlled trials are required to confirm this.
Enteroclysis and spiral CT examination in diagnosis and evaluation of small bowel Crohn's disease.

INTRODUCTION During the last few decades introducing many of new radiologic methods, diagnostic conditions and facilities of Crohn's disease has became markedly improved. Appropriate using of these technics definitely modifies the management of patients with known or suspected Crohn's disease serving reliable information about extent, severity and possible complications of disease. Enteroclysis and Computed tomography are the two major and basic methods to disclose or confirme diagnosis of Crohn's disease, obtain appropriate inforination about disease either with mucosal, transmural or extraintestinal manifestation. METHODS AND PATIENTS We evaluated 281 patients who were referred in our institution under suspition of Crohn's disease. Enteroclysis and abdominal spiral CT in all cases were carried out usually within 1 week. The 172 patients underwent abdominal spiral CT as the primary examination to evaluate diagnostic value of spiral CT in this entity, while 109 patiens had enteroclysis followed by abdominal CT. In 11 cases we also perforined CT enteroclysis with administration of 0.5% methylcellulose solution thorough nasojejunal tube controlled by electric motor driven contrast pump. Results were compared with final clinical, pathological or surgical data were available. RESULTS From the 281 patients eventually 74 proved Crohn's disease; sensitivity and specificity of enteroclysis proved to be 96 and 98%, while spiral CT sensitivity and specificity was 94 and 95%, respectively. Enteroclysis was superior to the spiral CT in demonstration of early lesions and functional disorders, while spiral CT proved to be essential in evaluation of transmural and extraintestinal complications. CONCLUSIONS Regarding enteroclysis and spiral CT as complementary methods, they provide excellent results in diagnosis of Crohn's disease.
Periarticular bone alterations in chronic antigen-induced arthritis: free and liposome-encapsulated clodronate prevent loss of bone mass in the secondary spongiosa.

The long-term effects of acutely administered clodronate (free or liposome-encapsulated) on periarticular bone mass and bone turnover were investigated in chronic antigen-induced arthritis (AIA; day 28). Wistar rats were treated intraperitoneally at 3 h and on days 1, 2, and 7 of AIA, with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; sham), PBS-containing liposomes, free clodronate, or liposome-encapsulated clodronate (cumulative dose, 3.64 mg/animal). In the primary spongiosa (</=1 mm from the growth plate) sham-treated AIA was associated with a significant decrease (-31%) of trabecular bone volume only; this change was not prevented by any treatment. In the secondary spongiosa (>1.25 mm from the growth plate), sham-treated AIA was associated with: (a) a marked significant decrease in trabecular bone volume (-56%); (b) a significant increase of osteoid-covered surface (+135%); and (c) a numerical increase of resorption surface with osteoclasts (+96%). In the secondary spongiosa, free clodronate completely prevented the loss of periarticular bone mass and selectively normalized the parameters of bone formation (i.e., osteoid-covered surface and osteoid-covered surface with osteoblasts). Clodronate liposomes, in addition to these effects, also significantly suppressed bone resorption (i.e., resorption surface covered with osteoclasts). The effects of clodronate liposomes coincided with in vivo targeting of osteoclasts in primary and secondary spongiosa. Thus, low-dose, acutely administered clodronate, both in free and encapsulated forms, exerts an excellent preventive effect on bone loss in the secondary spongiosa of chronic AIA.
Hopkins Verbal Learning Test- Revised: Normative data for the Latin American Spanish speaking adult population.

OBJECTIVE To generate normative data on the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test- Revised (HVLT-R) across 11 countries in Latin America, with country-specific adjustments for gender, age, and education, where appropriate. METHOD The sample consisted of 3,977 healthy adults who were recruited from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and, Puerto Rico. Each subject was administered the HVLT-R as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. A standardized five-step statistical procedure was used to generate the norms. RESULTS The final multiple linear regression models explained 17- 45% of the variance in HVLT-R scores. Although t-tests showed significant differences between men and women in Guatemala on the HVLT-R, it was a small effect size. As a result, gender-adjusted norms were not generated. CONCLUSIONS The results from this study will have a substantial impact on the practice of neuropsychology in Latin America, as this is the first normative multicenter study to develop norms for the HVLT-R in this region.
Amphetamine Injections into the Nucleus Accumbens Enhance the Reward of Stimulation of the Subiculum

The mesolimbic dopamine (DA) pathway, originating from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and projecting to the nucleus accumbens septi (NAS), has been the major focus of research on the neural basis of reward for the past 15 years. However, relatively little is known of what happens in rewarding circumstances beyond the dopamine synapse. Because most, if not all, DA terminal areas are abundantly supplied by glutamatergic afferents, it is probable that some sort of dopamine-glutamate interaction occurs. Mogenson and colleagues, in a landmark theoretical paper in 1980,1 described the NAS as a “limbic-motor-interface. ” They presented anatomical, neurophysiological, and behavioral data suggesting that DA interacts in the NAS with glutamatergic inputs originating from forebrain cortical regions including the hippocampus. Since the groundbreaking work of Mogenson and colleagues, much evidence has added to our knowledge of dopamine-glutamate interaction in NAS. For instance, Kalivas and Duffy2 found intraaccumbens infusion of the dopamine agonist amphetamine decreased extracellular levels of glutamate. Kiyatkin and Rebec3 presented electrophysiological data indicating that, while elevated DA transmission in NAS may suppress spontaneous activity of NAS neurons, it increases the neuronal response to glutamate relative to the baseline, i.e., enhances the signal-to-noise ratio. Robbins and Everitt4 have argued that this dopamine-glutamate interaction is at the heart of the accumbal involvement in reward and motivation. We have been developing a model system, using behavior as the dependent variable, to examine dopamine-glutamate interaction in the NAS. This model is based on the knowledge that the hippocampal complex, specifically the subiculum, sends a glutamatergic projection to the NAS5 where it terminates on neurons which also receive a dopaminergic input.6 Our experiment was designed to determine if the subiculum supports ICSS and if so, whether a DA agonist injected into the NAS would affect the reward. Our experimental preparation is shown in FIG. 1. Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with bipolar electrodes in the ventral subiculum of the hippocampus (AP 2.7, L 5.0, H 3.0) and bilateral cannulae in the medial core of the NAS (AP 10.2, L 1.5, H 3.5; atlas of Paxinos and Watson7). These rats were trained to self-stimulate in a test chamber where each depression of the lever elicited a stimulation (150 msec train; 0.5 msec
Design and analysis of a novel double-sided five-phase modular linear permanent magnet machine

In this paper, in order to replace a conventional electric linear actuator which is consist of rotary PM machine and ball screw, a novel double-sided five-phase modular linear permanent magnet synchronous machine (MLPMSM) is proposed and designed with the same volume. The basic structure of the machine is firstly described and the major dimensions of one module are then optimized to acquire the largest thrust force. Through these methods, the average force of the MLPMSM reaches 206N, which is 58.4% larger than the conventional linear actuator. After that, the 5th order harmonic in thrust ripple is analyzed and diminished by adjusting the distance between slot openings of the module. As the result the 5th order harmonic is diminished greatly by 57%.
Sunscreen protection in the ultraviolet A region: how to measure the effectiveness

Products containing ultraviolet (UV) radiation absorbing or scattering ingredients provide varying degrees of protection from sunlight (or other UV sources), thus minimizing the deleterious effects on the skin. The “sun protection factor” (SPF) of sunscreen products has become a well recognized indicator of protection against sunburn induced predominantly by ultraviolet B radiation (UVB: 290–320 nm). A similar system of denoting sunscreen protection from ultraviolet A (UVA: 320–400 nm) radiation has not been universally recognized. A variety of test methods have been proposed, both in vitro and in vivo, each with specific virtues and shortcomings. Regulatory agencies and industry have been reviewing the available methods over the past decade in an effort to develop consumer meaningful claims and appropriate substantiation methods. This article reviews these test methodologies, in vitro and in vivo, as well as the biological background that establishes the need for UVA protection, and the UVA content of solar radiation and its variability.