Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis C virus infection as a risk factor for non‐alcoholic liver cirrhosis in taiwan

To assess whether hepatitis C virus infection was a risk factor for the development of non‐alcoholic liver cirrhosis, antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti‐HCV; detected by a second generation HCV enzyme immunoassay), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg; detected by radioimmunoassay) were tested in 150 cirrhotics and 150 sex‐matched and age‐matched healthy controls. The prevalence of anti‐HCV and HBsAg in cirrhotics was higher than in controls (22.0%, 73.3% vs. 2%, 18.7%; P = 0.001). The prevalence of anti‐HCV in HBsAgnegative cirrhotics (45.0%) was higher than that in HBsAg‐positive patients (13.6%; P =0.001). Both the anti‐HCV and carriage of HBsAg were associated significantly with liver cirrhosis, showing odds ratio of 12.0 for HBsAg carriers and 13.8 for patients with anti‐HCV. Compared with those without HBsAg and anti‐HCV, there was a significantly positive linear trend for developing cirrhosis with the presence of HBsAg alone (odds ratio = 19.9), anti‐HCV alone (odds ratio = 49.0), and those positive for HBsAg and anti‐HCV (odds ratio = 81.8) (P = 0.00001). The population‐attributable risk for developing liver cirrhosis was estimated as 10.8% for anti‐HCV alone, 55.2% for HBsAg alone, and 9.4% for both anti‐HCV and HBsAg in southern Taiwan. In conclusion, this study shows that hepatitis B and C virus infection act independently and synergistically in the development of non‐alcoholic liver cirrhosis among Chinese in Taiwan.
Left Ventricular Pressure‐Volume Alterations and Regional Disorders of Contraction During Myocardial Ischemia Induced by Atrial Pacing

Left ventricular function, pressure-volume relationships, and wall motion were studied by sequential cineventriculography during acute myocardial ischemia, induced by atrial pacing, in 10 subjects. Observations made in this group were contrasted to data obtained during atrial pacing in a smaller normal group.An acute alteration in the pressure-volume relation occurred in five subjects during ischemia with an elevation of the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, associated with a declining end-diastolic volume.A deterioration in ventricular function, as manifested by a rightward shift of the ventricular function curve, was also observed in eight of the angina group. A more severe instance of myocardial failure was seen in one patient, who, during angina, demonstrated a marked increase of both left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and end-diastolic volume.Asynergy of left ventricular contraction occurred acutely during angina and was usually manifested by regional akinesis or hypokinesis. Diminished wall motion was often found in more than one region, reflecting multiple vessel involvement. We were generally able to correlate the dynamc alteration in wall motion with deteriorating ventricular function.
Are Homeowners Really More Unemployed?

A method of controlling Take-All disease of plants by applying a fungicide of the formula wherein Z1 and Z2 are C and are part of an aromatic ring which is benzothiophene; and A is selected from -C(X)-amine wherein the amine is an unsubstituted, monosubstituted or disubstituted amino radical, -C(O)-SR3, -NH-C(X)R4, and -C(=NR3)-XR7; B is -Wm-Q(R2)3 or selected from O-tolyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, and 9-phenanthryl, each optionally substituted with halogen or R4; Q is C, Si, Ge, or Sn; W is -C(R3)pH(2-p)-; or when Q is C, W is selected from -C(R3)pH(2-p), -N(R3)mH(1-m)-, -S(O)p-, and -O-; X is 0 or S; n is 0, 1, 2, or 3; m is 0 or 1; p is 0, 1, or 2; each R and R2 is independently defined herein; R3 is C1-C4 alkyl; R4 is C1-C4 alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, alkylamino, or dialkylamino; and R7 is C1-C4 alkyl, haloalkyl, or phenyl, optionally substituted with halo, nitro, or R4; or an agronomic salt thereof.
Effective coordination in medical emergency teams: The moderating role of task type

Coordination in health care action teams is an important factor in clinical performance and patient safety. Implementing a high-fidelity in situ simulation study, we investigated the performance-relevant effects of task distribution, provide information without request (PIWR) and closed-loop communication (CLC) in 68 medical emergency teams (METs) composed of fully qualified clinicians. We differentiated between two task types: algorithm-driven and knowledge-driven tasks. We assigned two different emergency tasks to each task type. We proposed not only a direct relationship between the three coordination behaviours and clinical performance, but also a moderating role for the type of task. Only CLC was related to performance and also moderated by task type. There was no relationship between the coordination behaviours task distribution and PIWR and performance. We discuss the differential effects of the three coordination behaviours on performance and emphasize the importance of the task in team research. In particular, we highlight theoretical and practical implications.
Ferritin H is a novel marker of early erythroid precursors and macrophages

Macrophages play a critical role in iron homeostasis by recycling iron from red cells and storing it in ferritin, an iron storage protein. The recycled iron is delivered to erythroid precursors for erythropoiesis. In this study, we aimed to determine whether ferritin is highly expressed in macrophages and erythroid precursors, and whether it can be used as a marker for these two cell types.
Physiological concentrations of short-chain fatty acids immediately suppress colonic epithelial permeability

Colonic fermentation products, SCFA, have various effects on colonic functions. Here, we found that physiological concentrations of SCFA immediately promote epithelial barrier function in the large intestine. Solutions of mixed and individual SCFA were applied to the caecal walls mounted on Ussing-type chambers. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) increased rapidly and reached a peak 35 % higher than that in the control specimen within 10 min post application of the SCFA mixture (80 acetate, 40 propionate, 20 butyrate (mmol/l)). The Lucifer yellow permeability, a paracellular transport marker, was dose-dependently reduced by the mixed SCFA, acetate and propionate solutions. Inhibition of monocarboxylate transporter-1 did not influence the increase in TER with acetate; however, lowering the pH (from 7·5 to 5·5) clearly enhanced the effect of acetate. Non-metabolizable, bromo and chloro derivatives of SCFA also increased TER. These results suggest that passive diffusion of SCFA is dominant and the metabolism of SCFA is not required for the promotive effect of SCFA on barrier function. We also observed that individual SCFA dose-dependently increased TER in T84 and Caco-2 cells, which indicates that SCFA directly stimulate epithelial cells. Depletion of membrane cholesterol and inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and Gq protein attenuated the acetate-mediated promotive effect. Finally, we found that the mucosal application of the SCFA mixture dose-dependently suppressed [3H] mannitol transport from the caecal lumen to the mesenteric blood in the anaesthetized rats. We conclude that physiological concentrations of SCFA immediately enhance barrier function of the colonic epithelium through cholesterol-rich microdomain in the plasma membrane.
Maximizing adaptivity in hierarchical topological models

We present an approach to hierarchically encode the topology of functions over triangulated surfaces. Its Morse-Smale complex, a well known structure in computational topology, describes the topology of a function. Following concepts of Morse theory, a Morse-Smale complex (and therefore a function's topology) can be simplified by successively canceling pairs of critical points. We demonstrate how cancellations can be effectively encoded to produce a highly adaptive topology-based multi-resolution representation of a given function. Contrary to the approach, we avoid encoding the complete complex in a traditional mesh hierarchy. Instead, the information is split into a new structure we call a cancellation forest and a traditional dependency graph. The combination of this new structure with a traditional mesh hierarchy proofs to be significantly more flexible than the one previously reported. In particular, we can create hierarchies that are guaranteed to be of logarithmic height.
VCSEL-Based Optical Frequency Combs: Toward Efficient Single-Device Comb Generation

Optical frequency combs generators (OFCGs) have demonstrated to be extremely useful tools in a wide variety of applications. The current research trends look toward compact devices that are able to offer high phase correlation between optical lines, and in this sense, mode-locked laser diodes (MLLDs), with repetition frequencies in the few gigahertz (GHz) range, and especially microresonators, with repetition frequencies of hundreds of GHz, are the most promising devices fulfilling these requirements. Nevertheless, focusing in the few GHz frequency rate, MLLDs cannot provide continuous tunability and require special devices that are still far from offering reliability and repeatability for commercial use. In this letter, we demonstrate for the first time the generation of a flat OFCG based on a single commercial vertical cavity surface emitting laser under gain-switching regime with 20 optical lines (spaced by 4.2 GHz) in a 3-dB bandwidth, offering wide tunability range and very high phase correlation between optical modes. This OFCG does not need any external modulator and it is the most energy-efficient OFCG reported to date.
Emergence of perianal fistulizing disease in the SAMP1/YitFc mouse, a spontaneous model of chronic ileitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS SAMP1/Yit mice spontaneously develop chronic terminal ileitis, reminiscent of the human disease described by Crohn et al. in 1932. Several new phenotypic features have appeared in our colony after more than 20 generations of brother-sister mating. In this report, we describe the distinguishing features of the SAMP1/YitFc substrain at the University of Virginia, compared with the Japanese SAMP1/Yit parental strain. METHODS A colony of SAMP1/Yit mice was established at the University of Virginia in 1996, from 2 breeding pairs obtained from Japan. A systematic characterization of their phenotypic and immunologic characteristics was performed at 4, 10, 40, and more than 60 weeks of age. RESULTS The following differences were observed: (1) SAMP1/YitFc mice displayed established ileitis as early as 10 weeks of age, (2) the incidence of skin lesions inversely correlated with the occurrence of intestinal inflammation, (3) mice develop chronic ileitis with prominent muscular hypertrophy and focal collagen deposition in inflamed segments, (4) mesenteric lymph node lymphocytes acquired an activated phenotype coincident with disease progression, (5) high interferon-gamma production was detected by 4 weeks of age and preceded the onset of ileitis, and (6) a subgroup of mice (approximately 5%) developed perianal disease with ulceration and fistulae. CONCLUSIONS The SAMP1/YitFc substrain exhibits unique characteristics when compared with the original Japanese strain. Of particular interest is the emergence of perianal fistulizing disease, to our knowledge the first report of such occurrence in an animal model of inflammatory bowel disease.
Africentrism: Psychometric Analyses of a Self-Report Measure

This article describes the development of a self-report measure of Africentrism, defined here as the degree to which a person adheres to the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles) in African and African American culture. Beginning with a pool of 25 Likert-type items, the authors tested two alternate forms of their Africentrism measure in a series offour studies. The reliability (internal consistency) of the measure wasfoundto be well above a minimum criterionforthe purpose of group comparisons. Indicators of construct validity and known-groups validity were also favorable. The authors recommend a 15-item version of the measure for future testing and conclude with hypotheses regarding the importance of Africentrism in assessing African-centered interventions.
Prolactin Synthesis by Human Chorion‐Decidual Tissue: A Possible Source of Prolactin in the Amniotic Fluid

Explants of human chorion-decidual tissue obtained at delivery from normal, full-term pregnancies synthesize and secrete prolactin. This hormone is indistinguishable from pituitary prolactin by chromatographic, electrophoretic, immunologic, and receptor assay techniques. These results suggest that chorion-decidua may be the source of the large quantities of prolactin in amniotic fluid.
Negative Stereotyping of Older Nurses Despite Contact and Mere Exposure: The Case of Nursing Recruiters in Western Australia

Ageist attitudes have been identified across different industries. The nursing profession has a high proportion of older workers. As this facilitates regular contact with, as well as exposure to, older nurses, it may be expected to show less ageism. This study investigated 163 Western Australian nursing recruiters' attitudes toward older nurses. Results showed clear evidence of both negative and positive stereotyping of older nurses. Nursing recruiters indicated that they would be more than likely to hire older nurses and that age was less relevant in making hiring decisions. These findings suggest that enhancing the employability of older workers does not necessarily change ageist attitudes. This is relevant to policy formulation, attitude change interventions, and the well-being of older workers.
Dynamic redistribution of raft domains as an organizing platform for signaling during cell chemotaxis

Spatially restricted activation of signaling molecules governs critical aspects of cell migration; the mechanism by which this is achieved nonetheless remains unknown. Using time-lapse confocal microscopy, we analyzed dynamic redistribution of lipid rafts in chemoattractant-stimulated leukocytes expressing glycosyl phosphatidylinositol–anchored green fluorescent protein (GFP-GPI). Chemoattractants induced persistent GFP-GPI redistribution to the leading edge raft (L raft) and uropod rafts of Jurkat, HL60, and dimethyl sulfoxide–differentiated HL60 cells in a pertussis toxin–sensitive, actin-dependent manner. A transmembrane, nonraft GFP protein was distributed homogeneously in moving cells. A GFP-CCR5 chimera, which partitions in L rafts, accumulated at the leading edge, and CCR5 redistribution coincided with recruitment and activation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase γ in L rafts in polarized, moving cells. Membrane cholesterol depletion impeded raft redistribution and asymmetric recruitment of PI3K to the cell side facing the chemoattractant source. This is the first direct evidence that lipid rafts order spatial signaling in moving mammalian cells, by concentrating the gradient sensing machinery at the leading edge.
Atomic substitution reveals the structural basis for substrate adenine recognition and removal by adenine DNA glycosylase

Adenine DNA glycosylase catalyzes the glycolytic removal of adenine from the promutagenic A·oxoG base pair in DNA. The general features of DNA recognition by an adenine DNA glycosylase, Bacillus stearothermophilus MutY, have previously been revealed via the X-ray structure of a catalytically inactive mutant protein bound to an A:oxoG-containing DNA duplex. Although the structure revealed the substrate adenine to be, as expected, extruded from the DNA helix and inserted into an extrahelical active site pocket on the enzyme, the substrate adenine engaged in no direct contacts with active site residues. This feature was paradoxical, because other glycosylases have been observed to engage their substrates primarily through direct contacts. The lack of direct contacts in the case of MutY suggested that either MutY uses a distinctive logic for substrate recognition or that the X-ray structure had captured a noncatalytically competent state in lesion recognition. To gain further insight into this issue, we crystallized wild-type MutY bound to DNA containing a catalytically inactive analog of 2′-deoxyadenosine in which a single 2′-H atom was replaced by fluorine. The structure of this fluorinated lesion-recognition complex (FLRC) reveals the substrate adenine buried more deeply into the active site pocket than in the prior structure and now engaged in multiple direct hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. This structure appears to capture the catalytically competent state of adenine DNA glycosylases, and it suggests a catalytic mechanism for this class of enzymes, one in which general acid-catalyzed protonation of the nucleobase promotes glycosidic bond cleavage.
Uveitis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis: A cohort study

Objective: Assess the incidence of intraocular inflammation (uveitis) and ocular complications in children with various types of JIA in a single cohort of patients. Patients: Included are 172 children (35 boys and 137 girls) diagnosed with JIA. All underwent thorough initial ophthalmologic examination and were followed for a minimum of 3 years. Results: Of 172 children with JIA, 152 (88.4%) presented with arthritis. Uveitis was detected in 14 of the152 children (9.2%) during the first ophthalmic examination. In 17 additional patients of this group (11.2%), uveitis developed during the follow up period of up to 15 years. Twenty children out of the total of 172 (11.6%) presented initially with uveitis. In children developing uveitis before or along with arthritic manifestations, the ocular disease was chronic with a high rate of secondary complications (band keratopathy, glaucoma, posterior synechiae and cataract). In all affected eyes the initial ocular inflammation was typically confined to the anterior segment. On longer follow up however, most children developed binocular disease and posterior segment involvement. Dense cataract and amblyopia were the major cause of severe visual disabilities. Conclusion: Pauciarticular JIA is associated with intraocular inflammation (uveitis) early during the arthritic disease course. The ocular disease course is unpredictable. Therefore education of parents regarding its signs and symptoms is of utmost importance. To preserve functional vision, secondary ocular complications and amblyopia should be avoided.
Inverse Scaling Trends for Charge-Trapping-Induced Degradation of FinFETs Performance

In this paper, we investigate the impact of a single discrete charge trapped at the top oxide interface on the performance of scaled nMOS FinFET transistors. The charge-trapping-induced gate voltage shift is simulated as a function of the device scaling and for several regimes of conduction-from subthreshold to ON-state. Contrary to what is expected for planar MOSFETs, we show that the trap impact decreases with scaling down the FinFET size and the applied gate voltage. By comparing drift-diffusion with nonequilibrium Green functions simulations, we show that quantum effects in the charge distribution and transport can reduce or amplify the impact of discrete traps in simulation of reliability resilience of scaled FinFETs.
Incremental Stochastic Subgradient Algorithms for Convex Optimization

This paper studies the effect of stochastic errors on two constrained incremental subgradient algorithms. The incremental subgradient algorithms are viewed as decentralized network optimization algorithms as applied to minimize a sum of functions, when each component function is known only to a particular agent of a distributed network. First, the standard cyclic incremental subgradient algorithm is studied. In this, the agents form a ring structure and pass the iterate in a cycle. When there are stochastic errors in the subgradient evaluations, sufficient conditions on the moments of the stochastic errors are obtained that guarantee almost sure convergence when a diminishing step-size is used. In addition, almost sure bounds on the algorithm's performance with a constant step-size are also obtained. Next, the Markov randomized incremental subgradient method is studied. This is a noncyclic version of the incremental algorithm where the sequence of computing agents is modeled as a time nonhomogeneous Markov chain. Such a model is appropriate for mobile networks, as the network topology changes across time in these networks. Convergence results and error bounds for the Markov randomized method in the presence of stochastic errors for diminishing and constant step-sizes are obtained.
An improved approach to robust capon beamforming with enhanced performance

In this paper, the approach of robust Capon beam-forming (RCB) in the presence of steering vector mismatch is studied. A new method to enhance the robustness is presented. More specifically, it is proposed herein to remove the component of the desired signal from the array covariance matrix by estimating the corresponding steering vector and signal power, such that the influence caused by the presence of desired signal in the training data can be reduced, especially in the case of high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Furthermore, the uncertainties involved in the resulting interference-plus-noise covariance matrix estimate is taken into account by formulating a min-max optimization problem. Simulation results demonstrate that the performance of the RCB algorithm can be improved by the proposed approach.
The Affect and Arousal Scales: Psychometric Properties of the Dutch Version and Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analyses

Psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Affect and Arousal Scales (AFARS) were inspected in a combined clinical and population sample (N = 1,215). The validity of the tripartite structure and the relations between Negative Affect, Positive Affect, and Physiological Hyperarousal (PH) were investigated for boys and girls, younger (8-11 years) and older (12-14 years) children, and for children with high versus low levels of emotional/behavioral problems separately. Results demonstrated an adequate fit of the tripartite structure in each of the subgroups. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated parameter equivalence across sex, age, and psychopathology status. Furthermore, the assumption of invariant error variances of the indicator variables was tenable across sex, age, and psychopathology status. Invariant variances and covariances of the latent constructs (i.e., the tripartite factors) were supported across sex and psychopathology status but not across age. Finally, adequate item and scale properties and good convergent and moderate divergent validity of the Dutch AFARS subscales were demonstrated, except for the divergent validity of the PH subscale.