Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acquisition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in children with cystic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE This study was pursued as an extension of a randomized clinical investigation of neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis (CF). The project included assessment of respiratory secretion cultures for pathogens associated with CF. The objective was to determine whether patients diagnosed through neonatal screening and treated in early infancy were more likely to become colonized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared with those identified by standard diagnostic methods. METHODOLOGY The design involved prospective cultures of respiratory secretions obtained generally by oropharyngeal swabs at least every 6 months and more often if clinically indicated. Patients were managed with a standardized evaluation and treatment protocol at the two Wisconsin certified CF centers; however, there were community and environmental variations associated with the follow-up period as described below. RESULTS Overall, there were no differences in acquisition of respiratory pathogens between the screened and the control (standard diagnosis) groups. Evaluation of the data between and within the two centers, however, revealed significant differences with earlier acquisition of P aeruginosa in the center with the following distinguishing characteristics: urban location; following patients with the standard US approach in which newly diagnosed, young children were interspersed with older CF patients; and where there were more opportunities for social interactions with other CF patients. The differences were confined to the screened group followed in the urban center in which the median pseudomonas-free survival period was 52 weeks contrasted with 289 weeks in the other center. In addition, assessment of data for the entire CF populations followed at the two centers revealed that the urban center showed a significantly higher prevalence of P aeruginosa colonization in patients between the ages of 3 and 9 years. CONCLUSIONS These results present questions and generate hypotheses on risk factors for acquisition of P aeruginosa in CF and suggest that clinic exposures and/or social interactions may predispose such patients to pseudomonas infections.
Studies on Socialization Characteristics Using Two Temperament Tests in German Dogue, Doberman and Riesenschnautzer Puppies

The object of study was the influence of the nervous system type (temperament) of dogs from the German Dogue , Doberman, and Riesenschnautzer breeds on the extent of their socialization (adaptation to the environment). Two tests were used to examine the animals' behavior: the mirror test and the Queinnec test . It was established that puppies of the German Dogue breed possessed the highest socializing capabilities, followed by the Riesenschnautzer and Doberman breeds . This means that the representatives of the German Dogue breed would require the least amount of training time in order to form specific behavior. The Riesenschnautzer exhibited average ability to socialize , and will adapt to the environment more easily than the Doberman breed and with more hardship than the German Dogue. The puppies that would be hardest to train were the ones from the Doberman breed, as they are most prone to aggression and ill temper. Key words : Puppies , socialization , temperament type , behavior , test
Circulating C19MC MicroRNAs in Preeclampsia, Gestational Hypertension, and Fetal Growth Restriction

The objective of the study was to identify the profile of circulating C19MC microRNAs (miR-516-5p, miR-517∗, miR-518b, miR-520a∗, miR-520h, miR-525, and miR-526a) in patients with established preeclampsia (n = 63), fetal growth restriction (n = 27), and gestational hypertension (n = 23). We examined the correlation between plasmatic concentrations and expression levels of microRNAs and the severity of the disease with respect to clinical signs, requirements for the delivery, and Doppler ultrasound parameters. Using absolute and relative quantification approaches, increased extracellular C19MC microRNA levels (miR-516-5p, P = 0.037, P = 0.009; miR-517∗, P = 0.033, P = 0.043; miR-520a∗, P = 0.001, P = 0.009; miR-525, P = 0.026, P = 0.01; miR-526a, P = 0.03, P = 0.035) were detected in patients with preeclampsia. The association analysis pointed to no relationship between C19MC microRNA plasmatic concentrations and expression profile and identified risk factors for a poorer perinatal outcome. However, the dependence between the levels of plasmatic C19MC microRNAs and the pulsatility index in the middle cerebral artery and the values of cerebroplacental ratio was demonstrated. The study brought the interesting finding that the upregulation of miR-516-5p, miR-517∗, miR-520a∗, miR-525, and miR-526a is a characteristic phenomenon of established preeclampsia.
Antipneumococcal seroprevalence and pneumococcal carriage during a meningococcal epidemic in Burkina Faso, 2006.

BACKGROUND To better understand the high incidence of pneumococcal meningitis in the African meningitis belt, we conducted a pneumococcal seroprevalence study during a meningococcal meningitis epidemic in Western Burkina Faso, March 2006. METHODS In 3 villages experiencing epidemics, we included 624 healthy persons (1-39 years) by cluster sampling. We determined pneumococcal serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody concentrations against 12 serotypes contained in 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, and evaluated determinants for IgG ≥ 0.35 μg/mL by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS The percentage of subjects with serotype-specific IgG concentrations ≥0.35 μg/mL increased with age and was similar for the different serotypes: it was 20%-43% among 1-4-year-olds and 56%-90% among 20-39-year-olds. Prevalence of IgG ≥ 0.35 μg/mL against serotype 1 was up to 71% after age 10 years. During multivariate analyses, determinants of IgG concentrations ≥0.35 μg/mL varied by serotype; for 5 and 6 serotypes, respectively, female sex (around 2-fold increased odds) and cigarette smoking (about 5-fold reduced odds) predicted elevated titers. CONCLUSIONS Despite a substantially higher historical pneumococcal meningitis incidence in Burkina Faso, the general population has an antibody seroprevalence against 12 pneumococcal serotypes similar to that reported from the United Kingdom. The role of putatively protective antibody seroprevalence in preventing pneumococcal meningitis in the meningitis belt requires more thorough evaluation.
Cardioprotection Through S-Nitros(yl)ation of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor

Background— Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a structurally unique inflammatory cytokine that controls cellular signaling in human physiology and disease through extra- and intracellular processes. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor has been shown to mediate both disease-exacerbating and beneficial effects, but the underlying mechanism(s) controlling these diverse functions are poorly understood. Methods and Results— Here, we have identified an S-nitros(yl)ation modification of MIF that regulates the protective functional phenotype of MIF in myocardial reperfusion injury. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor contains 3 cysteine (Cys) residues; using recombinant wtMIF and site-specific MIF mutants, we have identified that Cys-81 is modified by S-nitros(yl)ation whereas the CXXC-derived Cys residues of MIF remained unaffected. The selective S-nitrosothiol formation at Cys-81 led to a doubling of the oxidoreductase activity of MIF. Importantly, S-nitrosothiol-MIF formation was measured both in vitro and in vivo and led to a decrease in cardiomyocyte apoptosis in the reperfused heart. This decrease was paralleled by a S-nitrosothiol-MIF– but not Cys81 serine (Ser)–MIF mutant–dependent reduction of infarct size in an in vivo model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Conclusions— S-nitros(yl)ation of MIF is a pivotal novel regulatory mechanism, providing enhanced activity resulting in increased cytoprotection in myocardial reperfusion injury.
Stock price informativeness and analyst coverage

We examine whether more analyst coverage translates into more informative stock prices and apply this to both developed and emerging markets. We measure price informativeness using the association between current stock returns and future earnings. We argue that more informative stock prices contain more information about future earnings. Results indicate that analysts' activities do not contribute to the impounding of future earnings information into current stock prices, in accordance with the view that analysts are outsiders who do not have full access to firm-level information. We also find that analysts specialize according to industry and that “industry expertise” is limited to developed countries. Overall, our evidence is consistent with the explanation that analysts focus on gathering and mapping industry- and market-level information (macroeconomic information) into stock prices. Copyright © 2013 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Resume Cet article verifie si davantage de couverture par les analystes debouche sur des cours d'action plus riches en informations. Il applique cette verification a la fois aux marches developpes et aux marches emergents. Le caractere informatif des cours est mesure a partir de l'association entre les rendements d'action et benefices futurs de l'entreprise. L'etude soutient que les cours d'action plus informatifs contiennent plus d'informations sur les benefices futurs de l'entreprise. D'apres les resultats, les activites des analystes ne contribuent pas a emmagasiner les informations sur les gains futurs dans les cours actuels des actions, vu que les analystes sont des outsiders qui n'ont pas un acces total aux informations de l'entreprise. Par ailleurs, les analystes se specialisent en fonction des industries et cette «expertise en industrie» se limite aux pays developpes. En somme, les resultats corroborent l'explication suivant laquelle les analystes se focalisent sur la collecte et l'organisation des informations issues du marche et de l'industrie (informations macroeconomiques).
Association of immunoglobulin-like transcript 6 deficiency with Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE The immunoglobulin-like transcript (ILT) family is located in chromosomal region 19q13 and consists of a group of activating and inhibitory receptors. The ILT receptors are expressed on antigen-presenting cells (macrophages, dendritic cells, B lymphocytes), as well as on T cells and natural killer cells. ILT2 and ILT4 play a role in tolerance induction, and ILT3 has been shown to induce Treg cells. A homozygous deletion of ILT6 has been shown to be associated with multiple sclerosis. Since ILT6 may be a modulator of the immune system, we undertook this study to examine the association of ILT6 deficiency with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). METHODS We genotyped 149 patients with SS and 749 healthy controls, using polymerase chain reaction to test for the presence or absence of ILT6. RESULTS Homozygous ILT6 deficiency was detected in 8% of SS patients and in only 3% of controls. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that ILT6 deficiency may be a genetic risk factor for SS.
Effect of Sulforaphane in Men with Biochemical Recurrence after Radical Prostatectomy

Increases in serum levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) occur commonly in prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy and are designated “biochemical recurrence. ” Because the phytochemical sulforaphane has been studied extensively as an anticancer agent, we performed a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled multicenter trial with sulforaphane in 78 patients (mean age, 69 ± 6 years) with increasing PSA levels after radical prostatectomy. Treatment comprised daily oral administration of 60 mg of a stabilized free sulforaphane for 6 months (M0–M6) followed by 2 months without treatment (M6–M8). The study was designed to detect a 0.012 log (ng/mL)/month decrease in the log PSA slope in the sulforaphane group from M0 to M6. The primary endpoint was not reached. For secondary endpoints, median log PSA slopes were consistently lower in sulforaphane-treated men. Mean changes in PSA levels between M6 and M0 were significantly lower in the sulforaphane group (+0.099 ± 0.341 ng/mL) than in placebo (+0.620 ± 1.417 ng/mL; P = 0.0433). PSA doubling time was 86% longer in the sulforaphane than in the placebo group (28.9 and 15.5 months, respectively). PSA increases >20% at M6 were significantly greater in the placebo group (71.8%) than in the sulforaphane group (44.4%); P = 0.0163. Compliance and tolerance were very good. Sulforaphane effects were prominent after 3 months of intervention (M3–M6). After treatment, PSA slopes from M6 to M8 remained the same in the 2 arms. Daily administration of free sulforaphane shows promise in managing biochemical recurrences in prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. Cancer Prev Res; 8(8); 712–9. ©2015 AACR.
A novel domain in histone deacetylase 1 and 2 mediates repression of cartilage‐specific genes in human chondrocytes

The role of histone deacetylase 1 and 2 (HDAC1 and HDAC2) in regulating cartilage‐specific gene expression was explored in primary human chondrocytes. HDAC1 and HDAC2 protein levels were elevated in chondrocytes from osteoarthritic patients, consistent with a down‐regulation of some cartilage marker genes. When expressed in these cells, HDAC1 and HDAC2 repressed aggrecan and collagen 2(α1) expression but differed in their repression of collagen 9(α1), collagen 11(α1), dermatopontin, and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). To identify the basis of these differences between HDAC1 and HDAC2, their carboxy‐terminal domains (CTDs) were deleted, which led to proteins that retained enzymatic activity but were unable to repress cartilage gene expression. Further, exchange of the CTDs between HDAC1 and HDAC2 led to proteins that were enzymatically active but displayed altered target gene specificity, indicating that these CTDs can function independently of HDAC enzymatic activity, to target the HDACs to specific genes. The Snail transcription factor was identified as a mediator of HDAC1 and HDAC2 repression of the collagen 2(α1) gene, via its interaction with the HDAC1 and 2 CTDs. The data indicate that the CTD serves a novel function within HDAC1 and HDAC2, to mediate repression of cartilage‐specific gene expression in human chondrocytes. —Hong, S. , Derfoul, A. , Pereira‐Mouries, L. , Hall, D. J. A novel domain in histone deacetylase 1 and 2 mediates repression of cartilage‐specific genes in human chondrocytes. FASEB J. 23, 3539–3552 (2009). www.fasebj. org
Adaptive Dispatching Rule for Semiconductor Wafer Fabrication Facility

Uncertainty in semiconductor fabrication facilities (fabs) requires scheduling methods to attain quick real-time responses. They should be well tuned to track the changes of a production environment to obtain better operational performance. This paper presents an adaptive dispatching rule (ADR) whose parameters are determined dynamically by real-time information relevant to scheduling. First, we introduce the workflow of ADR that considers both batch and non-batch processing machines to obtain improved fab-wide performance. It makes use of such information as due date of a job, workload of a machine, and occupation time of a job on a machine. Then, we use a backward propagation neural network (BPNN) and a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to find the relations between weighting parameters and real-time state information to adapt these parameters dynamically to the environment. Finally, a real fab simulation model is used to demonstrate the proposed method. The simulation results show that ADR with constant weighting parameters outperforms the conventional dispatching rule on average; ADR with changing parameters tracking real-time production information over time is more robust than ADR with constant ones; and further improvements can be obtained by optimizing the weights and threshold values of BPNN with a PSO algorithm.
Incremental Validity : a Recommendation

distinction is to be made between convergent and discriminant validity. It is necessary to demonstrate not only that a measure covaries with certain other connotatively similar variables, but that its covariance with other connotatively dissimilar variables is limited. Campbell (1960) has suggested several possible additions to recommended validity indicators, all of which focus on the problem of discriminant validity, i.e., the demonstration that a test construct is not completely or even largely redundant with other better established or more parsimonious constructs. He has suggested, for example, that correlations with intelligence, social desirability and self-ratings should be reported since these variables are likely to be
Adenosine-induced renal vasoconstriction in diabetes mellitus rats: role of prostaglandins.

We investigated the role of prostaglandins in the renal vascular response to exogenous and endogenous adenosine in control and streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. Exogenous adenosine (0.01-100 nmol) injected into the abdominal aorta decreased renal blood flow (RBF) in a dose-dependent manner to a much greater extent in STZ rats than in control rats (P < 0.001). Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis with indomethacin (Indo; 10 mg/kg iv) potentiated the adenosine-induced renal vasoconstriction in control rats but not in STZ rats. In control rats, Indo shifted the dose response curve of exogenous adenosine-induced RBF reductions to the left by a factor of 10 (ED(50): from 5.5 +/- 0.51 to 0.55 +/- 0.07 nmol adenosine, n = 6, P < 0.001) and in STZ rats only by a factor of two (ED(50): from 0.32 +/- 0.03 to 0.16 +/- 0.02 nmol adenosine, n = 6, P > 0.05). The renal response to endogenous adenosine was assessed by the magnitude of the postocclusive reduction of RBF (POR), an adenosine-mediated phenomenon. POR was greater in STZ rats (-65.3 +/- 5.2%, P < 0.001) compared with control rats (-36.2 +/- 3.5%). Indo markedly enhanced POR in control rats (-20.3 +/- 3.7%) but not in STZ rats (-4.5 +/- 2.7%). Renal cortical and medullary PGE(2) microdialysate concentrations and urinary PGE(2) excretions were clearly not lower in STZ (cortex: 169 +/- 61 pg/ml; medulla: 640 +/- 88 pg/ml, urine: 138 +/- 25 pg/min) compared with control rats (cortex: 99 +/- 12 pg/ml; medulla: 489 +/- 107 pg/ml; urine: 82 +/- 28 pg/min). Indo significantly decreased renal cortical, medullary, and urinary excretion of PGE(2) in STZ and control rats. These findings demonstrate that the adenosine-induced renal vasoconstriction is increased in the presence of Indo in control rats but not in STZ rats. The observations suggest that the diabetic renal vasculature may have a diminished vasodilatory capacity in response to prostaglandins to counteract adenosine-induced renal vasoconstriction.
TESLA: Translation Evaluation of Sentences with Linear-Programming-Based Analysis

We present TESLA-M and TESLA, two novel automatic machine translation evaluation metrics with state-of-the-art performances. TESLA-M builds on the success of METEOR and MaxSim, but employs a more expressive linear programming framework. TESLA further exploits parallel texts to build a shallow semantic representation. We evaluate both on the WMT 2009 shared evaluation task and show that they outperform all participating systems in most tasks.
Alterations of Ionized and Total Magnesium Levels in Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Background/Aims: The aim of this prospective study was to determine ionized and total magnesium (Mg) levels in pregnant subjects with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: Eighty-five women, 26-28 weeks pregnant, were recruited for routine oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT); 45 had normal OGTT results and 40 were diagnosed with GDM. Electrolyte levels, including ionized and total Mg, were analyzed. Results: Gestational age and BMI were similar between the two groups (p = 0.800, p = 0.025). Multivitamin use was higher in the control group (p = 0.036). Fasting blood glucose was higher in the GDM group (p < 0.001). The median total Mg levels were 1.9 mg/dl (range 1.6-2.2) in the control group and 1.8 mg/dl (range 1.2-2.1) in the GDM group (p < 0.001). The median ionized Mg levels were 0.5 mmol/l (range 0.4-0.6) in the control group and 0.4 mmol/l (range 0.4-0.5) in the GDM group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study revealed a relationship between low total and ionized Mg levels and GDM, as in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The literature regarding type 2 DM and our findings suggest that Mg is the key ion in the pathophysiology of GDM. Low-dose Mg supplementation was not related to GDM; however, pharmacological doses in the various stages of pregnancy could be beneficial and should be investigated.
C8orf37 is mutated in Bardet-Biedl syndrome and constitutes a locus allelic to non-syndromic retinal dystrophies

ABSTRACT Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a pleiotropic and clinically and genetically heterogeneous ciliopathy. Primary features are early-onset retinal dystrophy that is typically rod-cone, obesity, polydactyly, renal abnormalities, hypogonadism, and learning difficulties, but most patients do not present with the full clinical picture. In a BBS patient from a consanguineous marriage we performed next-generation sequencing targeting all known BBS genes and other genes known or hypothesized to cause ciliopathies. While no mutation was present in any of the recognized genes for BBS, we were able to identify the homozygous non-conservative mutation c.529C>T (p.Arg177Trp) in C8orf37 that segregated with the phenotype, affects an evolutionarily highly conserved residue, and is bioinformatically predicted to be pathogenic. The same mutation has been described in unrelated patients with non-syndromic cone-rod dystrophy and other C8orf37 changes were found in individuals with retinitis pigmentosa. We conclude that C8orf37 should be added to BBS screening panels as a probable rare cause of the disease and that individuals with C8orf37-related retinal dystrophy should be screened for BBS features.
Centre-periphery-difference in low-level visionand its interactions with top-down andsensorimotor processes

There is a profound difference in low-level vision between the retinal centre and the periphery (cpd). That contrast sensitivity declines from centre to the periphery is well established in humans. However, recently TMS on FEF was found to remotely affect visual cortex such that the cpd was reduced. No direct connections between FEF and occipital visual areas are known, but connections between FEF, the pulvinar and the occipital visual areas exist. I examined the cpd pattern in contrast sensitivity after real lesions in FEF and pulvinar areas by estimating visual thresholds. The results showed that real lesions of FEF do not have the same effect as TMS and are consistent with TMS causing subthreshold activation mimicking covert visuospatial attention. The cpd pattern in contrast sensitivity was different between FEF and pulvinar patients. Differences were prominent for foveal processing, while peripheral processing revealed parallel deficits, although these did not reach significance. In the second part of this work I focused on manual visuo-motor processes that have been found to differ between centrally and peripherally presented subliminal primes. For the periphery, when invisible primes are compatible with targets in their motor associations, RT‟s to targets speed up. However, for foveal primes, priming costs (negative compatibility effects (NCE)) can occur with compatible primes and targets. I examined the impact of perceptual sensitivity decline for the absence of NCE in the periphery by equating primes‟ strength via contrast threshold measurements. The results showed that perceptual equation does not equate priming effects. The critical factor, to trigger visuo-motor processes in periphery was found to be the prolonged time of the mask-target interval (SOA). This indicates that the functionally distinct retinal areas can both trigger visuo-motor processes, which are independent from visibility equation.