Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pneumonia in young adults with asthma: impact on subsequent asthma exacerbations

Background: Recent studies of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) have recognized acute cardiac complications—such as myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, or congestive heart failure (CHF)—as frequent complications during the acute process. As well, a prolonged vulnerability to exacerbations of underlying comorbidities—such as CHF and COPD—has been observed following CAP. We hypothesized that young adults with underlying asthma could also be adversely impacted over a prolonged time period following CAP.Methods: Using a retrospective matched-cohort design and data from a US private healthcare claims repository (>15 M persons annually), we selected all adults 18–49 years of age with evidence of asthma as their only comorbidity for inclusion in the source population. Then, from the source population, we matched one comparison patient to each CAP patient based on index date, age, sex, and selected markers for health status (eg, history of asthma-related healthcare encounters), and evaluated subsequent outpatient and inpatient encounters for asthma exacerbations.Results: Asthma exacerbations were identified twice as often in the 12 months subsequent to acute CAP. Cumulative incidence proportions for asthma exacerbations requiring hospitalization or emergency department care after 12 months of follow-up were 19.9% for those previously hospitalized with CAP versus 9.0% for matched comparison patients (difference, 10.9%; p<0.001), and were 12.4% for non-hospitalized CAP patients versus 7.7% for matched counterparts (difference, 4.7%; p<0.001). Conclusion: Our analysis provides further evidence that acute CAP has a prolonged impact on respiratory health.
Resonant motions in the presence of degeneracies for quasi-periodically perturbed systems

Abstract We consider one-dimensional systems in the presence of a quasi-periodic perturbation, in the analytical setting, and study the problem of existence of quasi-periodic solutions which are resonant with the frequency vector of the perturbation. We assume that the unperturbed system is locally integrable and anisochronous, and that the frequency vector of the perturbation satisfies the Bryuno condition. Existence of resonant solutions is related to the zeros of a suitable function, called the Melnikov function—by analogy with the periodic case. We show that, if the Melnikov function has a zero of odd order and under some further condition on the sign of the perturbation parameter, then there exists at least one resonant solution which continues an unperturbed solution. If the Melnikov function is identically zero then one can push perturbation theory up to the order where a counterpart of Melnikov function appears and does not vanish identically: if such a function has a zero of odd order and a suitable positiveness condition is met, again the same persistence result is obtained. If the system is Hamiltonian, then the procedure can be indefinitely iterated and no positiveness condition must be required: as a byproduct, the result follows that at least one resonant quasi-periodic solution always exists with no assumption on the perturbation. Such a solution can be interpreted as a (parabolic) lower-dimensional torus.
An Unsupervised Approach to User Simulation: Toward Self-Improving Dialog Systems

This paper proposes an unsupervised approach to user simulation in order to automatically furnish updates and assessments of a deployed spoken dialog system. The proposed method adopts a dynamic Bayesian network to infer the unobservable true user action from which the parameters of other components are naturally derived. To verify the quality of the simulation, the proposed method was applied to the Let's Go domain (Raux et al., 2005) and a set of measures was used to analyze the simulated data at several levels. The results showed a very close correspondence between the real and simulated data, implying that it is possible to create a realistic user simulator that does not necessitate human intervention.
Resonance Bifurcations of Robust Heteroclinic Networks

Robust heteroclinic cycles are known to change stability in resonance bifurcations, which occur when a certain ratio of eigenvalues of the system passes through one and which typically result in the creation or destruction of a long-period periodic orbit. Resonance bifurcations for heteroclinic networks are more complicated because different subcycles in the network can undergo resonance at different parameter values. In this article we study two heteroclinic networks in $R^4$ and consider the dynamics that occurs as various subcycles in each network change stability. The two cases are distinguished by whether or not one of the equilibria in the network has real or complex contracting eigenvalues. We construct two-dimensional Poincare return maps and use these to investigate the dynamics of trajectories near the network; a complicating feature of the analysis is that at least one equilibrium solution in each network has a two-dimensional unstable manifold. In the case with real eigenvalues, we show that t.
Preliminary Clinical Experience with Androgen Administration for Pre- and Postmenopausal Women with Hypoactive Sexual Desire

The present study examined effects of testosterone on hypoactive sexual desire in pre- and postmenopausal women (treated) compared with an age-matched reference group (reference). Treated participants received 100 mg of testosterone cypionate in oil injected intramuscularly (i.m.) monthly for 3 months. We measured salivary testosterone and scores on the Sexual Desire Inventory pretreatment and posttreatment. Treated and reference participants' baseline testosterone was equivalent, however, treated participants exhibited higher testosterone levels than did reference participants posttreatment. As expected, treated participants exhibited lower baseline sexual desire than did reference participants and showed a significant increase in sexual desire posttreatment. This research suggests that testosterone may effectively alleviate hypoactive sexual desire, even in women with normal testosterone levels.
Effect of Scan Rate and pH on Determination Amoxilline Using Screen Printed Carbon Electrode Modified With Functionalized Graphene Oxide

Graphene oxide GO was functionalized with 4-amino, 3-substituted 1H, 1, 2, 4 Triazole 5(4H) thion (ASTT) to obtain GOT. GOT characterized by FT-IR, XRD.via modification of the working electrode of the SPCE with the prepared nanomaterial ( GOT) the effect of scan rate and pH on the determination of Amoxilline (AMOX) was studied using cyclic voltammetry. AMOX show various responses at pH ranging from 2 to 7 and also was observed sharp increase in the oxidation peaks in the pH 3. The formal potential (midpoint) for AMOX was highly pH-dependent. From the effect of scan rate, surface coverage concentration of electroactive species the values of the electron transfer coefficient and the electron transfer constant rate ket was obtained as 5. 39Ã—10-10 molcm-2, 0.5, and 2. 45Ã—10-3 cm.s-1respectively.
Caries in Portuguese children with Down syndrome

OBJECTIVES: Oral health in Down syndrome children has some peculiar aspects that must be considered in the follow-up of these patients. This study focuses on characterizing the environmental and host factors associated with dental caries in Portuguese children with and without Down syndrome. METHODS: A sibling-matched, population-based, cross-sectional survey was performed. RESULTS: Down syndrome children presented a significantly greater percentage of children without caries, 78% vs. 58% of non-Down syndrome siblings. This difference in the DMFT index (number of decayed, missing and filled teeth) essentially reflects data obtained from treated teeth, for which 91% of children with Down syndrome had never had a tooth treated vs. 67% of siblings. This result was statistically significant, whereas results for decayed and lost teeth did not differ between Down syndrome children and their unaffected siblings. Additionally, in Down syndrome children, a delayed eruption of the second molar occurs. Down syndrome children and their siblings have similar oral hygiene habits, but a higher percentage of Down syndrome children visit a dentist before the age of three years, in comparison to their siblings. Bruxism was also more common in Down syndrome children compared to their siblings. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that Portuguese children with Down syndrome have lower caries rates than children without Down syndrome. This reduced prevalence may be associated with the parents' greater concern about oral health care in Down syndrome children, resulting in their taking them sooner to visit a dentist, as well as to a higher bruxism prevalence and delayed tooth eruption.
Optimal dynamic empirical therapy in a health care facility: an artificial intelligence approach

We propose a solution to the problem of finding an empirical therapy policy in a health care facility that minimizes the cumulative infected patient-days over a given time horizon. We assume that the parameters of the model are known and that when the policy is implemented, all patients receive the same treatment at a given time. We model the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance at the population level with the stochastic version of a compartmental model. The model features two drugs and the possibility of double resistance. Our solution method is a variant of the Monte-Carlo tree search algorithm. In our example, this method allows to reduce the cumulative infected patient-days over two years by 22% compared to the best standard therapy.
Characterization of the bioluminescent organelles in Gonyaulax polyedra (dinoflagellates) after fast-freeze fixation and antiluciferase immunogold staining

To characterize the microsources of bioluminescent activity in the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax polyedra, an immunogold labeling method using a polyclonal antiluciferase was combined with fast-freeze fixation and freeze substitution. The quality of the preservation and the specificity of the labeling were greatly improved compared to earlier results with chemical fixation. Two organelles were specifically labeled: cytoplasmic dense bodies with a finely vermiculate texture, and mature trichocysts, labeled in the space between the shaft and the membrane. The available evidence indicates that the dense bodies are the light-emitting microsources observed in vivo. The dense bodies appear to originate in the Golgi area as cytoplasmic densifications and, while migrating peripherally, come into contact with the vacuolar membrane. Mature organelles protrude and hang like drops in the vacuolar space, linked by narrow necks to the cytoplasm. These structural relationships, not previously apparent with glutaraldehyde fixation, suggest how bioluminescent flashes can be elicited by a proton influx from a triggering action potential propagated along the vacuolar membrane. Similar dense bodies were labeled in the active particulate biochemical fraction (the scintillons), where they were completely membrane bound, as expected if their necks were broken and resealed during extraction. The significance of the trichocyst reactivity remains enigmatic. Both organelles were labeled with affinity-purified antibody, which makes it unlikely that the trichocyst labeling is due to a second antibody of different specificity. But trichocysts are not bioluminescent; the cross-reacting material could be luciferase present in this compartment for some other reason, or a different protein carrying similar antigenic epitopes.
Effects of stem size on stem respiration and its flux components in yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) trees

Carbon dioxide (CO2) released from respiring cells in the stems of trees (RS) can diffuse radially to the atmosphere (EA) or dissolve in xylem sap and move internally in the tree (FT). Previous studies have observed that EA decreases as stem or branch diameter increases, but the cause of this relationship has not been determined, nor has the relationship been confirmed between stem diameter and RS, which includes both EA and FT. In this study, for the first time the mass balance technique was used to estimate RS of stems of Liriodendron tulipifera L. trees of different diameters, ranging from 16 to 60 cm, growing on the same site. The magnitude of the component fluxes scaled with tree size. Among the five trees, the contribution of EA to RS decreased linearly with increasing stem diameter and sapwood area while the contribution of FT to RS increased linearly with stem diameter and sapwood area. For the smallest tree EA was 86% of RS but it was only 46% of RS in the largest tree. As tree size increased a greater proportion of respired CO2 dissolved in sap and remained within the tree. Due to increase in FT with tree size, we observed that trees of different sizes had the same RS even though they had different EA. This appears to explain why the EA of stems and branches decreases as their size increases.
Impaired Release of Antimicrobial Peptides into Nasal Fluid of Hyper-IgE and CVID Patients

Background Patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) often suffer from frequent respiratory tract infections. Despite standard treatment with IgG-substitution and antibiotics many patients do not improve significantly. Therefore, we hypothesized that additional immune deficits may be present among these patients. Objective To investigate if PID patients exhibit impaired production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in nasal fluid and a possible link between AMP-expression and Th17-cells. Methods Nasal fluid, nasopharyngeal swabs and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from patients and healthy controls. AMP levels were measured in nasal fluid by Western blotting. Nasal swabs were cultured for bacteria. PBMCs were stimulated with antigen and the supernatants were assessed for IL-17A release by ELISA. Results In healthy controls and most patients, AMP levels in nasal fluid were increased in response to pathogenic bacteria. However, this increase was absent in patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and Hyper-IgE syndrome (HIES), despite the presence of pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, stimulation of PBMCs revealed that both HIES and CVID patients exhibited an impaired production of IL-17A. Conclusion CVID and HIES patients appear to have a dysregulated AMP response to pathogenic bacteria in the upper respiratory tract, which could be linked to an aberrant Th17 cell response.
How Wide is the Firm Border?

We examine the within- and across-firm shipment decisions of tens of thousands of goods-producing and distributing establishments. This allows us to quantify the normally unobservable forces that determine firm boundaries; which transactions are mediated by ownership control, as opposed to contracts or markets. We find firm boundaries to be an economically significant barrier to trade: having an additional vertically integrated establishment in a given destination zip code has the same effect on shipment volumes as a 40 percent reduction in distance. We then calibrate a multisector trade model to quantify the economy-wide implications of transacting across vs. within firm boundaries.
Fructose-enriched diet affects hepatic lipid metabolism in young male and female rats in different ways

An increase in fructose consumption coincides with a rising incidence of metabolic disorders. Dietary fructose has been shown to affect hepatic lipid metabolism in a way that may lead to lipid deposition in the liver. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the effects of fructose overconsumption on hepatic lipid metabolism differ between sexes. To that end we examined the effects of a high-fructose diet on the expression of key enzymes and transcription factors involved in the regulation of fatty acid oxidation and de novo lipogenesis in the liver of 12-week-old male and female Wistar rats. Immediately after weaning, the rats were subjected to a standard diet and 10% fructose solution or drinking water for 9 weeks. The fructose-enriched diet induced hypertriglyceridemia and increased hepatic de novo lipogenesis in both sexes, without lipid deposition in the liver. At the same time, visceral adiposity was observed only in female rats, while in males the treatment stimulated hepatic fatty acid oxidation. The fructose-enriched diet induced sex-specific effects on hepatic lipid metabolism in young rats. These results imply that male and female rats employ different strategies to cope with dietary fructose-related energy overload and to avoid lipid accumulation in the liver. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III41009]
Nested Allele-Specific PCR Primers Distinguish Genetic Groups of Uncinula necator

ABSTRACT Isolates of the obligately biotrophic fungus Uncinula necator cluster in three distinct genetic groups (groups I, II, and III). We designed PCR primers specific for these groups in order to monitor field populations of U. necator. We used the nucleotide sequences of the gene that encodes eburicol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) and of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), ITS2, and 5.8S regions. We identified four point mutations (three in CYP51 and one in ITS1) that distinguished groups I and II from group III based on a sample of 132 single-spore isolates originating from Europe, Tunisia, Israel, India, and Australia. We developed a nested allele-specific PCR assay in which the CYP51 point mutations were used to detect and distinguish groups I and II from group III in crude mildewed samples from vineyards. In a preliminary study performed with samples from French vineyards in which isolates belonging to genetic groups I and III were present, we found that a shift from a population composed primarily of group I isolates to a population composed primarily of group III isolates occurred during the grapevine growing season.
Application of the Rorschach test in psychological diagnosis of personality disorders

participants and procedure The clinical research was conducted in the years 20102013 in the Neurosis Treatment Center and in the Mental Health Outpatient Clinic. The study population comprised individuals with a medical diagnosis of neurotic personality organization as well as patients with more severely disorganized personality structure. The research participants had never undergone psychological evaluation for personality disorders (for instance, they had never taken the Rorschach test), and therefore it seemed rather difficult to verify the accuracy of the medical diagnoses which they had received, concerning the level of personality destabilization. Eighty Polish individuals participated in the research. The study population comprised 38 males (47.50%) and 42 females (52.50%). The mean age of women was 30.40 (SD = 7.67). The men’s mean age was 35.10 (SD = 8.73). The examined females were somewhat younger than the male subjects. Methods: Rorschach test, clinical interview. results The statistical procedures applied in the present study allowed us to conduct empirical examination of the indicators of the investigated variables constituting the major psychological criteria for describing psychological functioning of personality, and thus to identify the main characteristics of neurotic as well as borderline level of personality organization. Analysis of the data obtained as a result of this research allowed us to distinguish two significantly different clusters in the group of 80 examined individuals.
Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Activities of Ocimum forskolei and Teucrium yemense (Lamiaceae) Essential Oils

Background: Ocimum forskolei and Teucrium yemense (Lamiaceae) are used in traditional medicine in Yemen. Methods: The chemical composition, antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the essential oils isolated from the leaves of Ocimum forskolei Benth. (EOOF) and two different populations of Teucrium yemense Deflers. , one collected from Dhamar province (EOTY-d), and another collected from Taiz (EOTY-t) were investigated. The antimicrobial activities of the oils were evaluated against several microorganisms with the disc diffusion test or the broth microdilution test. The essential oils were screened for in-vitro cytotoxic activity against human tumor cells. EOOF and EOTY-d were screened for free-radical-inhibitory activity using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Results: Sixty-four compounds were identified in (EOOF) representing 100% of the oil content with endo-fenchol (31.1%), fenchone (12.2%), τ-cadinol (12.2%), and methyl (E)-cinnamate (5.1%) as the major compounds. In EOTY-d, 67 compounds were identified, which made up 91% of the total oil. The most abundant constituents were (E)-caryophyllene (11.2%), α-humulene (4.0.%), γ-selinene (5.5%), 7-epi-α-selinene (20.1%), and caryophyllene oxide (20.1%), while the major compounds in EOTY-t were α-pinene (6.6%), (E)-caryophyllene (19.1%) α-humulene (6.4%), δ-cadinene (6.5%), caryophyllene oxide (4.3%), α-cadinol (9.5%), and shyobunol (4.6%). The most sensitive microorganisms for EOOF were B. subtilis, S. aureus, and C. albicans with inhibition zones of 34, 16, and 24 mm and MIC values of, 4.3 mg/mL, 4.3 mg/mL, and 8.6 mg/mL, respectively. EOTY-t showed antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, B. cereus, A. niger, and B. cinerea with MIC values of 0.156, 0.156, 0.313 and 0.313 mg/mL, respectively. Neither essential oil showed remarkable radical inhibition (IC50 = 31.55 and 31.41 μL/mL). EOTY-d was active against HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines with IC50 = 43.7 μg/mL. Consistent with this, EOTY-t was active against both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast adenocarcinoma cells. Conclusions: The antimicrobial activity of Ocimum forskolei essential oil against B. subtilis and C. albicans is consistent with its traditional use in Yemeni traditional medicine to treat skin infections. Both O. forskolei and T. yemense show wide variations in their respective essential oil compositions; there remains a need to investigate both species botanically, genetically, and phytochemically more comprehensively.
Solitary cystic metastatic lymph node of occult human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal cancer mimicking second branchial cleft cyst

Abstract Rationale: Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal cancer is becoming more common, the primary cancer AQ4 usually occult and appearing only as cystic cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis. Distinguishing between a benign cystic lesion and cystic LN metastasis is challenging given their similar radiologic and histologic appearances. Patient concerns: A 54-year-old man presented with a bulging cystic mass measuring 6.4cm on the right side of neck. Diagnoses: Postexcision diagnosis was second branchial cleft cyst. After 2 years, the cystic mass recurred, and HPV-related tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma with cystic metastatic LNs was confirmed after wide tonsillectomy and neck dissection. The previous cystic lesion proved to be a cystic metastatic LN from the same malignancy with additional p16 immunostain. Interventions: The patient was treated with adjuvant concurrent chemoradiation therapy. Outcomes: The patient was followed up in the outpatient department with no evidence of recurrence after 1 year. Lessons: When an adult has a cystic mass in the upper neck, we must rigorously exclude it as a cystic metastatic LN of occult HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer. Additional p16 staining might be helpful.