Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) for non-invasive detection of liver fibrosis: examination standards and evaluation of interlobe differences in healthy subjects and chronic liver disease

Abstract Objective. Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) is a non-invasive method for the quantification of liver stiffness. We aimed to develop standards for the measuring procedure and studied the impact of different measuring sites. Materials and Methods. ARFI was tested in a tissue phantom and in 50 healthy volunteers. In addition, 116 patients with chronic liver disease underwent ARFI. The results were compared with histological staging (non-viral liver disease) and transient elastography (hepatitis C). ARFI diagnostic performance was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic curves. Results. ARFI results were not normally distributed in >20% of cases. Deep inspiration significantly increased ARFI values by 13% (p < 0.05). The mean shear-wave velocity in healthy individuals was 1.28 ± 0.19 m/s in the left liver lobe and 1.15 ± 0.17 m/s in the right liver lobe (p < 0.001). Similarly, in 79/116 patients with chronic liver disease a significant difference of shear-wave velocity between both liver lobes was detected. The histological staging correlated with ARFI results of the biopsy site (r = 0.661, p < 0.001) in non-viral liver disease (n = 47). The mean shear-wave velocity in cases with F1 and F2 fibrosis was increased in the left compared with the right liver lobe (2.1 ± 0.73 m/s vs. 1.75 ± 0.89 m/s, p = 0.041). Similar results were obtained in patients with hepatitis C (n = 69). Conclusion. Our study strengthens the necessity for definition of examination standards and demonstrates the usefulness of ARFI in non-viral liver disease. Interlobe variations of liver stiffness demand further investigation.
Investigating the Interaction between the Tetraspanin CD 82 and Gangliosides And Investigating the Binding Partners of CLEC 14 A and the Function of the CLEC 14 A Extracellular Domain

CD82 is a tetraspanin involved in tumour metastasis suppression. It is downregulated in several cancers including breast, liver and prostate cancer. Although interactions with gangliosides and cholesterol have been demonstrated, no ligand has yet been identified to directly target CD82. CD82 interaction with gangliosides has been explored by immunoprecipitation from cell lysates. However, direct interaction of purified full length CD82 protein with ganglioside has not yet been shown. This study demonstrates the interaction of full length CD82 protein with the ganglioside GM2 by ELISA, and did not require the presence of any other components of the cell membrane. This interaction was further explored by surface plasmon resonance and solid state NMR techniques.
Uterine epithelial estrogen receptor α is dispensable for proliferation but essential for complete biological and biochemical responses

Female fertility requires estrogen to specifically stimulate estrogen receptor α (ERα)-dependent growth of the uterine epithelium in adult mice, while immature females show proliferation in both stroma and epithelium. To address the relative roles of ERα in mediating estrogen action in uterine epithelium versus stroma, a uterine epithelial-specific ERα knockout (UtEpiαERKO) mouse line was generated by crossing Esr mice with Wnt7a-Cre mice. Expression of Wnt7a directed Cre activity generated selective deletion of ERα in uterine epithelium, and female UtEpiαERKO are infertile. Herein, we demonstrate that 17β-estradiol (E2)-induced uterine epithelial proliferation was independent of uterine epithelial ERα because DNA synthesis and up-regulation of mitogenic mediators were sustained in UtEpiαERKO uteri after E2 treatment. IGF-1 treatment resulted in ligand-independent ER activation in both wild-type (WT) and UtEpiαERKO and mimicked the E2 stimulatory effect on DNA synthesis in uterine epithelium. Uterine epithelial ERα was necessary to induce lactoferrin, an E2-regulated secretory protein selectively synthesized in the uterine epithelium. However, loss of uterine epithelial ERα did not alter the E2-dependent progesterone receptor (PR) down-regulation in epithelium. Strikingly, the uterine epithelium of UtEpiαERKO had robust evidence of apoptosis after 3 d of E2 treatment. Therefore, we surmise that estrogen induced uterine hyperplasia involves a dispensable role for uterine epithelial ERα in the proliferative response, but ERα is required subsequent to proliferation to prevent uterine epithelial apoptosis assuring the full uterine epithelial response, illustrating the differential cellular roles for ERα in uterine tissue and its contribution during pregnancy.
Antibodies to Acetylcholine Receptor in Parous Women with Myasthenia: Evidence for Immunization by Fetal Antigen

The weakness in myasthenia gravis (MG) is mediated by autoantibodies against adult muscle acetylcholine receptors (AChR) at the neuromuscular junction; most of these antibodies also bind to fetal AChR, which is present in the thymus. In rare cases, babies of mothers with MG, or even of asymptomatic mothers, develop a severe developmental condition, arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, caused by antibodies that inhibit the ion channel function of the fetal AChR while not affecting the adult AChR. Here we show that these fetal AChR inhibitory antibodies are significantly more common in females sampled after pregnancy than in those who present before pregnancy, suggesting that they may be induced by the fetus. Moreover, we were able to clone high-affinity combinatorial Fab antibodies from thymic cells of two mothers with MG who had babies with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita. These Fabs were highly specific for fetal AChR and did not bind the main immunogenic region that is common to fetal and adult AChR. The Fabs show strong biases to VH3 heavy chains and to a single Vκ1 light chain in one mother. Nevertheless, they each show extensive intraclonal diversification from a highly mutated consensus sequence, consistent with antigen-driven selection in successive steps. Collectively, our results suggest that, in some cases of MG, initial immunization against fetal AChR is followed by diversification and expansion of B cells in the thymus; maternal autoimmunity will result if the immune response spreads to the main immunogenic region and other epitopes common to fetal and adult AChR.
The Relationship between Anxiety and Task Switching Ability By Amara Gul &

This study examined task switching ability as a function of anxiety. Participants with mild anxiety switched between emotion and age classification among faces. There were few important results: (i) Individuals with anxiety categorized facial emotion faster than facial age (ii)There was a larger switch cost for age than the emotion categorization (iii) Anxiety was a significant predictor of task switch costs. We discussed why anxious individuals showed a deficit in cognitive control of facial attributes.
CORRELATIONS BETWEEN AGE, WOOD QUALITY AND CHARCOAL QUALITY OF EUCALYPTUS CLONES

Brazil is world's greater producer of charcoal, and the Brazilian state Minas Gerais presents the greater production of said product. The wood proprieties influence the charcoal quality, making important to know them, it is known that these proprieties vary according to the age of the tree. With that being said, this research aimed to determine the correlations existing between age, the proprieties of the wood and charcoal proprieties. Three Eucalyptus sp. clones from Gerdau S/A were evaluated, at four ages, 3, 4, 5 and 7. From each tree, five discs were removed (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% corresponding to the commercial height of the trunk). We determined the core/sapwood relationship, basic density, chemical composition of the wood, the calorific value of the wood and of the charcoal, the gravimetric yields, apparent relative density and charcoal chemical analysis, in addition to the analysis of the condensable and non-condensable gases. Correlations between age, proprieties of the wood and charcoal were performed. It was observed a negative correlation between the age of the wood and charcoal ashes content, regardless the clones evaluated. A positive correlation between the basic density of the wood and the apparent density of the coal and a positive correlation between the lignin of wood content and the coal apparent density were observed, as well. The siringil/guaiacil relation, which determines the quantity of each type of lignin existent on the wood, presented a negative correlation with the gravimetric yields in charcoal. Therefore, it is concluded that the age of the tree influenced the proprieties of the wood, regardless the clone; the age of the genetic material did not influence the gravimetric yield in charcoal; the GG 680 clone presented greater potential to produce charcoal, considering only the proprieties of the wood.
Investigating market orientation and positioning in star-rated hotels in Ghana

Purpose Market orientation and positioning have been widely recognized as organizational metrics linked to hotel performance. The purpose of this study is to offer the link among market orientation, positioning and hotel performance in Ghana’s (luxury) hotel sector. It also reports on the joint influence of market orientation and positioning on hotel performance in the same sector. Design/methodology/approach Three hypotheses were investigated on the link between market orientation and hotel performance, positioning and hotel performance, and the joint effect of market orientation and positioning on hotel performance. A survey of star-rated (luxury) hotels in the capital city of Ghana was used. One hundred and five responses were used in the analysis. Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis and hierarchical regression were used to test the three hypotheses. Findings All hypotheses were accepted. Market orientation and positioning jointly affect hotel performance, and the study provides hotel managers with suggestions on how to enhance their performance via market orientation and positioning. Research limitations/implications Market orientation, positioning, and performance measures focused on management perspectives without including perceptions of customers. Originality/value This study is one of the few attempts to systematically investigate the intertwined concepts of market orientation, positioning and performance in a developing economy hospitality context.
Reverse microemulsion synthesis of layered gadolinium hydroxide 1 nanoparticles 2 3

14 A reverse microemulsion approach has been explored for the synthesis of layered gadolinium 15 hydroxide (LGdH) nanoparticles in this work. This method uses oleylamine as a multifunctional 16 agent, acting as surfactant, oil phase and base. 1-butanol is additionally used as a co-surfactant. A 17 systematic study of the key reaction parameters was undertaken, including the volume ratio of 18 surfactant (oleylamine) to water, the reaction time, synthesis temperature, and the amount of co19 surfactant (1-butanol) added. It proved possible to obtain pristine LGdH materials at temperatures of 20 120 °C or below with an oleylamine : water ratio of 1:4. Using larger amounts of surfactant or higher 21 temperatures caused the formation of Gd(OH)3, either as the sole product or as a major impurity 22 phase. The LGdH particles produced have sizes of ca. 200 nm, with this size being largely 23 independent of temperature or reaction time. Adjusting the amount of 1-butanol co-surfactant 24 added permits the size to be varied between 200 and 300 nm. 25
Use of Social Media in Teaching and its Impact on Student Learning Outcomes

Social networking sites are transforming the landscape of education and offering new opportunities. Although increasing number of research has investigated the adoption of social media (SM) in teaching, little research has examined the impact of SM use by faculty on learning outcomes. This study examined the impact of SM use on learning outcomes at a Historically Black College and University and found that: 1) perceived usefulness of SM has positive effect on the use of SM in teaching; (2) perceived risk of using SM does not discourage use of SM, and (3) SM use has positive effect on learning outcomes.
Mapping potential foodsheds in New York State: A spatial model for evaluating the capacity to localize food production

Abstract Growing interest in local food has sparked debate about the merits of attempting to reduce the distance food travels. One point of contention is the capacity of local agriculture to meet the food needs of local people. In hopes of informing this debate, this research presents a method for mapping potential foodsheds, land areas that could theoretically feed urban centers. The model was applied to New York State (NYS). Geographic information systems were used to estimate the spatial distribution of food production capacity relative to the food needs of NYS population centers. Optimization tools were then applied to allocate production potential to meet food needs in the minimum distance possible. Overall, the model showed that NYS could provide 34% of its total food needs within an average distance of just 49 km. However, the model did not allocate production potential evenly. Most NYS population centers could have the majority of their food needs sourced in-state, except for the greater New York City (NYC) area. Thus, the study presents a mixed review of the potential for local food systems to reduce the distance food travels. While small- to medium-sized cities of NYS could theoretically meet their food needs within distances two orders of magnitude smaller than the current American food system, NYC must draw on more distant food-producing resources. Nonetheless, the foodshed model provides a successful template for considering the geography of food production and food consumption simultaneously. Such a tool could be valuable for examining how cities might change their food procurement to curb greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to depletion of petroleum and other energy resources necessary for long-distance transport of food.
Comparing the Genetic Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Campylobacter jejuni Recovered from Cattle and Humans

Campylobacter jejuni, a leading cause of gastroenteritis in humans, is a foodborne pathogen that can reside in chickens, pigs, and cattle. Because resistance to fluoroquinolones and macrolides, which are commonly used to treat human infections, has emerged in C. jejuni, it is imperative to continously monitor resistance patterns and examine the genetic variation in strains from human infections and animal reservoirs. Our previous study of C. jejuni from human campylobacteriosis cases showed a significantly higher rate of tetracycline resistance compared to national trends, and identified multilocus sequence type (ST)-982 and a history of cattle contact to be associated with tetracycline resistance. To further investigate these associations, we conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the frequency of antimicrobial resistance and examine the genetic diversity of C. jejuni recovered from 214 cattle at three Michigan herds. Overall, the prevalence of C. jejuni was 69.2% (range: 58.6–83.8%) for the three farms, and 83.7% (n = 113) of isolates were resistant to one or more antimicrobials. Resistance to only tetracycline predominated among the cattle isolates (n = 89; 65.9%) with most resistant strains belonging to ST-459 (96.5%) or ST-982 (86.4%). Among the 22 STs identified, STs 459 and 982 were more prevalent in one feedlot, which reported the use of chlortetracycline in feed upon arrival of a new herd. PCR-based fingerprinting demonstrated that the ST-982 isolates from cattle and humans had identical banding patterns, suggesting the possibility of interspecies transmission. Resistance to macrolides (1.5%) and ciprofloxacin (16.3%) was also observed; 14 of the 22 ciprofloxacin resistant isolates represented ST-1244. Together, these findings demonstrate a high prevalence of antimicrobial resistant C. jejuni in cattle and identify associations with specific genotypes. Continuous monitoring and identification of risk factors for resistance emergence are imperative to develop novel methods aimed at decreasing pathogen persistence in food animal reservoirs and the frequency of resistant infections in humans.
Child Neuropsychology: A Journal on Normal and Abnormal Development in Childhood and Adolescence

Preliminary evidence for reduced posterror reaction time slowing in hyperactive/inattentive preschool children Olga G. Berwid a , Jeffrey M. Halperin a c , Ray Johnson Jr. a & David J. Marks b a Department of Psychology, CUNY Queens College, Flushing, New York, USA b Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Child Study Center, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA c Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA Published online: 06 Feb 2013.
Effect of oral clonidine premedication on perioperative hemodynamic response and postoperative analgesic requirement for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND To investigate the clinical efficacy of oral clonidine premedication in anesthesia and analgesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). METHODS One hundred and ten patients, scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy, were recruited for the prospective, randomized, single-blind, comparative study. They were randomly allotted to either of the placebo or clonidine group. Patients of the placebo group (n = 65) were premedicated with oral antacid (alugel hydroxide 300 mg), while those in the clonidine group (n = 45) were premedicated with oral clonidine 150 micrograms prior to anesthesia. The premedication was given 60 to 90 min before the anticipated time of induction of anesthesia. Normocapnia was maintained throughout the perioperative period. Mass spectrometer was used to assess the inspired and expiratory concentrations of isoflurane, the anesthetic used for maintenance of anesthesia. Postoperative pain intensity, sedation scores, adverse events, time to the first dose of postoperative analgesic and cumulative analgesic requirement in 24 hours were recorded. Data were expressed as mean +/- SD. RESULTS Patients in the clonidine group displayed greater hemodynamic stability perioperatively and the isoflurane requirement was also reduced (30% less). The postoperative analgesic requirement was less (1.5 +/- 1.3 vs. 2.2 +/- 1.3 dose, P < 0.05) and the time for the first dose of analgesic was prolonged (411 +/- 565 vs. 264 +/- 441 min) in comparison with the placebo group but no statistic difference was found. CONCLUSIONS Oral clonidine premedication helped to provide perioperative hemodynamic stability, spared the use of isoflurane and reduced the requirement of postoperative analgesia so as to smoother the way to recovery in patients undergoing LC.
Invited Solicitation Actinium-225 for Targeted a Therapy : Coordination Chemistry and Current Chelation Approaches

The a-emitting radionuclide actinium-225 possesses nuclear properties that are highly promising for use in targeted a therapy (TAT), a therapeutic strategy that employs a particle emissions to destroy tumors. A key factor, however, that may hinder the clinical use of actinium-225 is the poor understanding of its coordination chemistry, which creates challenges for the development of suitable chelation strategies for this ion. In this article, we provide an overview of the known chemistry of actinium and a summary of the chelating agents that have been explored for use in actinium-225-based TAT. This overview provides a starting point for researchers in the field of TAT to gain an understanding of this valuable therapeutic radionuclide.
Monitoring, reputation, and "greenbeard" reciprocity in a real-life public good game among the Shuar of Ecuador

A collective action (CA), i.e., a group of individuals jointly producing a resource to be shared equally among themselves (as in a public good game), is a common interaction in organizational contexts. Ancestral humans who were genetically predisposed to cooperate in CAs would have risked being disadvantaged compared to freeriders, but could have overcome this disadvantage through “greenbeard” reciprocity, i.e., by assessing the extent to which their co-interactants were also predisposed towards cooperation, and then cooperating to the extent that they expected their average co-interactant to reciprocate. Assessment of others’ cooperativeness could have been based on the direct monitoring of others’ cooperativeness, and on reputational information about others’ cooperativeness. This theory predicts that (1) CA participants should monitor accurately, and (2) perceived higher-cooperators should have better reputations. These predictions were supported in a study of real-life CAs carried out by a group of Shuar hunter-horticulturalists: (1) members accurately distinguished “intentional” non-cooperators (who could have cooperated but chose not to) from “accidental” non-cooperators (who were unable to cooperate), and their perceptions of co-member cooperativeness accurately reflected more objective measures of this cooperativeness; and (2) perceived intentional cooperators had better reputations than perceived intentional non-cooperators. These results have direct applications in organizational contexts, e.g. for improving the cooperativeness of self-directed work teams. EES 2004 : Experiments in Economic Sciences New Approaches to Solving Real-world Problems
Congenital high airway obstruction sequence (CHAOS): A new case and a review of phenotypic features

Congenital high airway obstruction sequence (CHAOS) has traditionally been defined as airway obstruction with ultrasound evidence of distal airway dilatation, expanded lungs, ascites, and hydrops. It can result from aplasia or intrinsic obstruction to the formation of the upper airway (larynx and trachea) during development. CHAOS is commonly sporadic and there is no known causative gene. In this comprehensive review on CHAOS, we examined 117 reported cases of this sequence and describe a new case. Malformations in addition to high airway obstruction were present in 64/118 (54.2%) of patients. The most frequent anomalies affected the digits and musculoskeletal system, but there was no distinct phenotype or characteristic dysmorphic appearance associated with CHAOS. The ex utero intrapartum therapy (EXIT) procedure has greatly improved survival for these patients and 36/118 (30.5%) were alive at the time of reporting. Only 2 patients out of 12 who underwent laryngotracheoplasty were tracheostomy‐free at the time of their reporting. Six out of 13 were able to produce some speech. Our review provides valuable information on associated anomalies and survival in this complex sequence. The phenotypic variability seen in this review of patients makes it likely that the causes of CHAOS are genetically heterogeneous. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.