Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
their relationship . herpetiformis : further studies of Coeliac disease and dermatitis

An association between coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), first suggested by the work of Marks et al. (1966), is now established. However, there is disagreement over the incidence of a mucosal lesion suggestive of coeliac disease in DH-the reports varying from 25% (Ruppin et al., 1975) to virtually 100% (Fry et al., 1974). It has been suggested (Fry et al., 1974) that inadequate criteria for the diagnoses are responsible for this wide variation. Certainly, the diagnosis of coeliac disease may not always be straightforward. Some patients may not have the characteristic flat mucosa on a single biopsy, as the lesion may be patchy (Scott and Losowsky, 1975). In some patients the mucosal abnormality may not be severe and be detected only by more sensitive techniques than routine assessment of villous architecture (Robinson et al., 1971; Fry et al., 1972; Stevens et al., 1975). One such technique is interepithelial lymphocyte counting (Ferguson and Murray, 1971; Fry et a! ., 1972), and, although an increased count may not be specific for coeliac disease, it has been used as an index of mucosal abnormality inDH (Fry et al., 1972; Fry et al., 1974). In the diagnosis of DH it has been claimed that the usual criteria of clinical and histological features of the rash and response to dapsone may not be completely reliable and that the best criterion is the demonstration of deposits of IgA at thepapillary tips in clinically uninvolved skin (Fry and Seah, 1974). While this is not necessarily true, in order to exclude any patients who might possibly be regarded as
Classification of End-of-Chapter Questions in Senior School Chemistry Textbooks used in Nigeria

Textbooks are a prominent part of science teaching and learning. For science teachers and students, textbooks are the major source of information for planning and classroom practice. In addition to the content of textbooks are end-of-chapter questions that should consolidate students learning and enhance their thinking processes. Therefore, this study adopted the framework of the revised Bloom’s Taxonomy to classify and analyze end-of-chapter questions from three senior school chemistry textbooks used in [Country]. The results from this study indicated that majority (76%) of the questions were at the lower order of ( understand, remember, and apply ), while 46% and 32% measure c onceptual and procedural knowledge respectively. The results further revealed that the number of questions in the categories of evaluate and create differs significantly at, F (5, 1744) = 5.61, ρ < . 01, from the other categories of the cognitive process skills. The following conclusions were drawn: understand and analyze categories recorded the highest number questions in the cognitive objectives; and there was no metacognitive questions. Implications for textbook authors and teachers were discussed.
Dynamic system performance of SISO, MISO and MIMO Alamouti schemes

In this paper, the performance of a SISO system, a 2 × 1 MISO Alamouti transmission system and a 2 × N MIMO Alamouti transmission with maximum ratio combining (MRC) receiver system is studied in terms of mean flow throughput per user. A dynamic study (dynamic number of active users) is derived considering the downlink Rayleigh channel in a multi-cellular system. Two assumptions are considered: admission control based on a maximum number of users or no admission control. The studied cell is divided into concentric rings. Analytical expressions of the mean flow throughput of a user in each ring are proposed. A comparison between the performance of the different systems is presented and discussed.
In vivo replication kinetics and transcription patterns of the nucleopolyhedrovirus (NeabNPV) of the balsam fir sawfly, Neodiprion abietis.

DNA replication and transcription of NeabNPV, the nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) of the balsam fir sawfly, Neodiprion abietis (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae), in host larvae were investigated. NPV DNA replication kinetics and gene-expression patterns have been resolved only in lepidopteran cell-culture systems and in limited in vivo experiments with lepidopteran larvae. Furthermore, there are significant differences in pathologies caused by lepidopteran NPVs, which replicate in many tissues, and hymenopteran NPVs, known to replicate in midgut epithelium only. Despite the differences in host specificity and pathology, NeabNPV DNA replication kinetics were similar to those reported for lepidopteran NPVs. Maximal NeabNPV DNA synthesis was observed between 4 and 24 h post-inoculation (p.i.) but, in contrast to lepidopteran NPVs, synthesis continued at a lower rate up to 72 h p.i. Selected NeabNPV genes exhibited a cascade pattern of transcription similar to that of lepidopteran NPVs. RT-PCR products of the NeabNPV lef-1, lef-2 and dnapol transcripts were observed as early as 2 h p.i. , whilst lef-8 and lef-9, encoding putative viral RNA polymerase subunits, were detected at 1 and 6 h p.i. , respectively. Two structural late transcripts (gp41 and p74) were observed from 6 h p.i. The very late factor 1 (vlf-1) transcript, a transactivator of very late genes, was observed from 12 h p.i. , but the very late transcript polh, encoding the major occlusion protein, polyhedrin, was observed from 24 h p.i. This study provides the first insight into DNA replication and gene expression of a non-lepidopteran baculovirus.
Optimizing bioconversion pathways through systems analysis and metabolic engineering

We demonstrate a general approach for metabolic engineering of biocatalytic systems comprising the uses of a chemostat for strain improvement and radioisotopic tracers for the quantification of pathway fluxes. Flux determination allows the identification of target pathways for modification as validated by subsequent overexpression of the corresponding gene. We demonstrate this method in the indene bioconversion network of Rhodococcus modified for the overproduction of 1,2-indandiol, a key precursor for the AIDS drug Crixivan.
THE IMPACT OF TYPE Ia SUPERNOVA EXPLOSIONS ON HELIUM COMPANIONS IN THE CHANDRASEKHAR-MASS EXPLOSION SCENARIO

In the version of the single-degenerate scenario of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) studied here, a carbon–oxygen white dwarf explodes close to the Chandrasekhar limit after accreting material from a non-degenerate helium (He) companion star. In the present study, we employ the Stellar GADGET code to perform three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of the interaction of the SN Ia ejecta with the He companion star taking into account its orbital motion and spin. It is found that only 2%–5% of the initial companion mass is stripped off from the outer layers of He companion stars due to the supernova (SN) impact. The dependence of the unbound mass (or the kick velocity) on the orbital separation can be fitted to a good approximation by a power law for a given companion model. After the SN impact, the outer layers of a He donor star are significantly enriched with heavy elements from the low-expansion-velocity tail of SN Ia ejecta. The total mass of accumulated SN-ejecta material on the companion surface reaches about ≳ 10−3 M☉ for different companion models. This enrichment with heavy elements provides a potential way to observationally identify the surviving companion star in SN remnants. Finally, by artificially adjusting the explosion energy of the W7 explosion model, we find that the total accumulation of SN ejecta on the companion surface is also dependent on the explosion energy with a power-law relation to a good approximation.
Non-invasive continuous finger blood pressure measurement during orthostatic stress compared to intra-arterial pressure.

STUDY OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate whether invasive blood pressure responses to orthostatic stress can be replaced by non-invasive continuous finger blood pressure responses. DESIGN - Intrabrachial and Finapres blood pressures were simultaneously measured during passive head up tilt and during active standing from the supine or sitting position in healthy volunteers. SUBJECTS Subjects (n = 11) were healthy males aged 22-40 years, mean age 30 years. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Beat to beat values of systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures were calculated for both methods of measurement and the differences compared during a 30 s control period before, and during the first 120 s after, the change of posture. In the control period the difference between finger pressure and intra-arterial pressure was +2 (SD11) mm Hg for systolic, -4(8) mm Hg for mean, and -3(7) mm Hg for diastolic pressure. Compared to these control differences, the average finger minus intra-arterial pressure differences for mean and diastolic pressures during the three orthostatic manoeuvres were always within the range -6 to +6 mm Hg. The average systolic deviations were larger, ranging from -10 to +11 mm Hg. Despite these differences the characteristic changes in intra-arterial pressure during the initial phase (first 30 s after change of posture), as well as during the early steady state phase (1-2 min after the change of posture) were well reflected by finger pressure measurements in all subjects. CONCLUSIONS For the assessment of the continuous blood pressure responses to orthostatic stress similar information can be obtained with non-invasive Finapres blood pressure recordings as with invasive recordings.
Induced differentiation and maturation of newborn liver cells into functional hepatic tissue in macroporous alginate scaffolds

The present work explores cell cultivation in macroporous alginate scaffolds as a means to reproduce hepatocyte terminal differentiation in vitro. Newborn rat liver cell isolates, consisting of proliferating hepatocytes and progenitors, were seeded at high cell density of 125 × 106/cm3 within the scaffold and then cultivated for 6 wk in chemically defined medium. Within 3 days, the alginate‐seeded cells expressed genes for mature liver enzymes, such as trypthophan oxygenase, secreted a high level of albumin, and performed phase I drug metabolism. The cells formed compacted spheroids, establishing homotypic and heterotypic cell‐ to‐cell interactions. By 6 wk, the spheroids developed into organoids, with an external mature hepatocyte layer covered by a laminin layer encasing inner vimen‐ tin‐positive cells within a laminin‐rich matrix also containing collagen. The hepatocytes presented a distinct apical surface between adjacent cells and a basolateral surface with microvilli facing extracellular matrix de‐posits. By contrast, viable adherent cells within collagen scaffolds presenting the identical porous structure did not express adult liver enzymes or secrete albumin after 6 wk. This study thus illustrates the benefits of cell cultivation in macroporous alginate scaffolds as an effective promoter for the maturation of newborn liver cells into functional hepatic tissue, capable of maintaining prolonged hepatocellular functions. —Dvir‐Ginzberg, M. , Elkayam, T. , Cohen, S. Induced differentiation and maturation of newborn liver cells into functional hepatic tissue in macroporous alginate scaffolds. FASEB J. 22, 1440–1449 (2008)
Motion processing: the most sensitive detectors differ in temporally localized and extended noise

Contrast thresholds for discriminating orientation and direction of a drifting, oriented grating are usually similar to contrast detection thresholds, which suggest that the most sensitive detectors are labeled for both orientation and direction (Watson and Robson, 1981). This was found to be true in noiseless condition, but Arena et al. (2013) recently found that this was not true in localized noise (i.e., noise having the same spatiotemporal window as the target) as thresholds for discriminating direction were higher than for discriminating orientation. They suggested that this could be explained by the fact that there are more neurons selective to orientation than direction. Another possible interpretation is that, unlike contrast thresholds in absence of noise, the most sensitive detectors in localized noise were labeled for orientation, but not for direction. This hypothesis is supported by recent findings showing different processes operating in localized and extended noise (i.e., full-screen, continuously displayed noise, Allard and Cavanagh, 2011). In the current study, we evaluated contrast thresholds for orientation and direction discrimination tasks in noiseless conditions, and in noise that was either spatially localized or extended, and temporally localized or extended. We found similar orientation and direction thresholds in absence of noise and in temporally extended noise, but greater direction thresholds in temporally localized noise. This suggests that in noiseless and temporally extended noise the most sensitive detectors were labeled for both orientation and direction (e.g., direction-selective complex cells), whereas in temporally localized noise the most sensitive detectors were labeled for orientation but not direction (e.g., simple cells). We conclude that to avoid violating the noise-invariant processing assumption, external noise paradigms investigating motion processing should use noise that is temporally extended, not localized.
Pandemic Potential of a Strain of Influenza A (H1N1): Early Findings

Swine Flu Benchmark The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on 29 April 2009, a level-5 pandemic alert for a strain of H1N1 influenza originating in pigs in Mexico and transmitting from human to human in several countries. Fraser et al. (p. 1557, published online 11 May; see the cover) amassed a team of experts in Mexico and WHO to make an initial assessment of the outbreak with a view to guiding future policy. The outbreak appears to have originated in mid-February in the village of La Gloria, Veracruz, where over half the population suffered acute respiratory illness, affecting more than 61% of children under 15 years old in the community. The basic reproduction number (the number of people infected per patient) is in the range of 1.5—similar or less than that of the pandemics of 1918, 1957, and 1968. There remain significant uncertainties about the severity of this outbreak, which makes it difficult to compare the economic and societal costs of intervention with lives saved and the risks of generating antiviral resistance. An international collaborative effort has analyzed the initial dynamics of the swine flu outbreak. A novel influenza A (H1N1) virus has spread rapidly across the globe. Judging its pandemic potential is difficult with limited data, but nevertheless essential to inform appropriate health responses. By analyzing the outbreak in Mexico, early data on international spread, and viral genetic diversity, we make an early assessment of transmissibility and severity. Our estimates suggest that 23,000 (range 6000 to 32,000) individuals had been infected in Mexico by late April, giving an estimated case fatality ratio (CFR) of 0.4% (range: 0.3 to 1.8%) based on confirmed and suspected deaths reported to that time. In a community outbreak in the small community of La Gloria, Veracruz, no deaths were attributed to infection, giving an upper 95% bound on CFR of 0.6%. Thus, although substantial uncertainty remains, clinical severity appears less than that seen in the 1918 influenza pandemic but comparable with that seen in the 1957 pandemic. Clinical attack rates in children in La Gloria were twice that in adults (<15 years of age: 61%; ≥15 years: 29%). Three different epidemiological analyses gave basic reproduction number (R0) estimates in the range of 1.4 to 1.6, whereas a genetic analysis gave a central estimate of 1.2. This range of values is consistent with 14 to 73 generations of human-to-human transmission having occurred in Mexico to late April. Transmissibility is therefore substantially higher than that of seasonal flu, and comparable with lower estimates of R0 obtained from previous influenza pandemics.
A self-competitive method for the development of an educational robot for children

To accelerate the developmental process of robots interacting with humans in the real world, we propose the simultaneous introduction of two competing robots into the test field. One robot moves autonomously using a preprogrammed behavior set, while the other is remotely controlled by a human operator. The operator attempts to improve the robot by exploring new behavioral elements. Concurrently, the preprogrammed behavior set is tested by the first robot. The main concept is that by allowing the two robots compete against each other, we aim to accelerate the development process. By applying this methodology, we developed an educational robot for children. Herein we report the functioning of this methodology and how behavioral elements were explored and improved through field development.
The public health significance of VTEC O157

ABSTRACT Surveillance of human VTEC O157 has been reported in several countries, based on laboratory evidence. The incidence is generally less than 10 per 100 000 (the highest incidence is in children), with regional variations and a marked seasonality. Laboratory selection criteria and reporting have contributed to, but cannot entirely explain, variations within and between countries. Surveillance data and outbreaks in definable cohorts indicate that the spectrum of illness ranges from diarrhoea through acute bloody diarrhoea, with about 5% of cases developing haemolytic uraemic syndrome; less than 50% of patients report frank blood in their stools. Studies of sporadic cases have associated illness with beef products (particularly if undercooked and eaten outside the home), cooked sliced meat meals and contact with a household member with diarrhoea. Outbreaks have been attributed to contaminated foods (including beefburgers) and water, animal contact and person‐to‐person spread. Secondary transmission by the primary case in a household is of particular concern, and household transmission has been estimated at 4%, with patients excreting for around 10 days following onset. Recommendations for control have highlighted measures on farms, in slaughterhouses, retail and catering food premises, and in the home.
Evaluation of intracoronary stenting by intravascular optical coherence tomography

Background: Conventional contrast cineangiography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) provide a limited definition of vessel microstructure and are unable to evaluate dissection, tissue prolapse, and stent apposition on a size scale less than 100 μm. Objective: To evaluate the use of intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) to assess the coronary arteries in patients undergoing coronary stenting. Methods: OCT was employed in patients having percutaneous coronary interventions. Images were obtained before initial balloon dilatation and following stent deployment, and were evaluated for vessel dissection, tissue prolapse, stent apposition, and stent asymmetry. IVUS images were obtained before OCT, using an automatic pull back device. Results: 42 stents were imaged in 39 patients without complications. Dissection, prolapse, and incomplete stent apposition were observed more often with OCT than with IVUS. Vessel dissection was identified in eight stents by OCT and two by IVUS. Tissue prolapse was identified in 29 stents by OCT and 12 by IVUS; the extent of the prolapse (mean (SD)) was 242 (156) μm by OCT and 400 (100) μm by IVUS. Incomplete stent apposition was observed in seven stents by OCT and three by IVUS. Irregular strut separation was identified in 18 stents by both OCT and IVUS. Conclusions: Intracoronary OCT for monitoring stent deployment is feasible and provides superior contrast and resolution of arterial pathology than IVUS.
Microvessel Density Is Associated with VEGF and α-SMA Expression in Different Regions of Human Gastrointestinal Carcinomas

Tumor angiogenesis is known to be regulated by growth factors secreted by host and tumor cells. Despite the importance of tumor vasculature and angiogenic heterogeneity in solid tumors, few studies have compared the vasculature in different regions of human cancer. Blood vessels from different regions of carcinomas might have morphofunctional implications in tumor angiogenesis. In the present study, therefore, we have examined the relationship between microvascular density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression in the center of the tumor (CT), periphery (P) and metastasis (M) regions from gastrointestinal carcinomas (GITC), as well as the association of MVD with clinicopathological factors. Surgically resected specimens corresponding to the CT, P and M from 27 patients were examined for FVIII, VEGF and α-SMA by immunohistochemistry. The MVD was not significantly different in the CT, P and M regions from GITC. The MVD in the VEGF positive group was significantly higher than in the VEGF negative group (CT, p = 0.034; P, p = 0.030; M, p = 0.032). The MVD as a function of α-SMA expression was also significantly higher in the CT and P region compared to the M region (p = 0.0008). In conclusion, the MVD association with VEGF and α-SMA expression, might indicate an increase of the number of neoformed and preexisting blood vessels uniformly or partially covered by pericytes in different regions of GITC, suggesting that not only MVD and VEGF are important parameters to the tumor vasculature, but also blood vessels maturation is a crucial factor for gastrointestinal tumor angiogenesis regulation and possible target of vascular therapy.
Risky-play at school. Facilitating risk perception and competence in young children

Recent research indicates that risk competence and perception can be improved through the learning environment. The project 'Riscki' examined how risk perception and risk competence in young children between three and eight years of age can be observed and measured within the classroom and school context. An intensive package of risky-play activities was administered over a three-month period to two classes (four- and six-year-olds) and two age-matched classes served as controls. Before and after the intervention period, quantitative and qualitative aspects of risk competence were evaluated in all children by: (1) a change detection paradigm; (2) teacher ratings; and (3) independent observer's qualitative ratings. The results showed that risk perception and competence in young children can be improved through an intensive offer of risky-play activities at school. Moreover, the risk detection test and observational questionnaires are promising instruments to measure risk competence.
Activation of NMDA receptors increases proliferation and differentiation of hippocampal neural progenitor cells

The prolonged effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation on the proliferation and differentiation of hippocampal neural progenitor cells (NPCs) were studied. Under conditions of mitogen-mediated proliferation, a single NMDA pulse (5 μM) increased the fraction of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive (BrdU+) cells after a delay of 72 hours. Similarly, a single systemic injection of NMDA (100 mg/kg) increased the number of BrdU+ cells in the dentate gyrus (DG) after 28 days, but not after 3 days. NMDA receptor activation induced an immediate influx of Ca2+ into the NPCs and the NPCs expressed and released vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in an NMDA receptor-dependent manner within 72 hours. With repetitive stimulation at the same dose, NMDA stimulated the acquisition of a neuronal phenotype accompanied by an increase in the expression of proneural basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) factors. Together these findings suggest that neurogenesis in the developing brain is likely to be both directly and indirectly regulated by complex interactions between Ca2+ influx and excitation-releasable cytokines, even at mild levels of excitation. In addition, our results are the first to show that stimulation of NPCs may lead to either proliferation or neuronal differentiation, depending on the level of NMDA receptor activation.