Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Atherosclerosis, some serum inflammatory markers in psoriasis.

AIM Psoriasis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease which is associated with increased inflammatory markers and atherosclerosis. We wanted to investigate whether there is a relationship between some inflammatory markers and subclinical atherosclerosis markers. METHODS We studied 60 psoriasis patients and 50 healthy controls. Demographic, biochemical parameters, C3, C4, d-dimer, CRP, fibrinogen and YKL-40 (human cartilage glycoprotein-39) levels were measured. After measuring carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and aortic elasticity parameters such as aortic strain, (beta) stiffness index and compliance, statistical comparisons were done. RESULTS Patients with psoriasis had significantly higher diastolic blood pressure, CRP, fibrinogen, C3, uric acid levels, β-stiffness index, and cIMT values than the control group. cIMT was correlated with CRP, YKL-40 and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score (r=0.219, P=0.038; r=0.225, P=0.033 and r=0.275, P=0.034). Aortic strain (%), aortic compliance and aortic stiffness index were correlated with C3 (r=-0.349, r=-0.526 and r=0.235) and fibrinogen (r=-0.354, r=-0.275 and r=0.289), all P values <0.05, but not with PASI score. The presence of psoriasis was related to aortic strain (β±SE: -2.055±0.861, P=0.019) and β-stiffness index (β±SE: 2.934±1.143, P=0.012). CONCLUSION Serum C3, CRP, fibrinogen and YKL-40 levels are elevated as well as increased cIMT and impaired aortic elasticity in psoriasis. CRP, YKL-40 and PASI score are correlated with cIMT. Increased serum C3 and fibrinogen levels correlate negatively with aortic strain and aortic compliance, and correlate positively with the β-stiffness index.
Do Professional Reviews Affect Online User Choices Through User Reviews? An Empirical Study

Abstract With the broad reach of the Internet, online users frequently resort to various word-of-mouth (WOM) sources, such as online user reviews and professional reviews, during online decision making. Although prior studies generally agree on the importance of online WOM, we have little knowledge of the interplay between online user reviews and professional reviews. This paper empirically investigates a mediation model in which online user reviews mediate the impact of professional reviews on online user decisions. Using software download data, we show that a higher professional rating not only directly promotes software download but also results in more active user-generated WOM interactions, which indirectly lead to more downloads. The indirect impact of professional reviews can be as large as 20 percent of the corresponding total impact. These findings deepen our understanding of online WOM effect, and provide managerial suggestions about WOM marketing and the prediction of online user choices.
Unintentional dural puncture. A survey of recognition and management

A survey of the recognition and management of 21 unintentional dural punctures that occurred in a series of 3500 obstetric epidurals is presented. In seven cases, dural puncture was not recognised at the time of occurrence and two patients may have subsequently received mixed epidural and subarachnoid analgesia. In two patients with dural puncture in whom air had been used to locate the epidural space, cerebrospinal fluid did not drip from the hub of the needle. A test dose did not reveal incorrect catheter placement in seven patients. The provision of an epidural infusion of Hartmann's solution for 24 hours, together with bed rest, appeared to delay the onset of dural puncture headache rather than prevent it entirely. Blood patching was required only in five of the 21 patients but was entirely successful. The implications of these observations in relationship to obstetric epidural practice are discussed.
Deregulation of a possible tumour suppressor gene, ZC3H12D, by translocation of IGK@ in transformed follicular lymphoma with t(2;6)(p12;q25)

Anolik, J.H. , Blumberg, N. , Snider, J. & Francis, C.W. (2001) Posttransfusion purpura secondary to an alloantibody reactive with HPA-5a [Br(b)]. Transfusion, 41, 633–636. Bertrand, G. , Jallu, V. , Gouet, M. , Kjaer, K.M. , Lambin, P., Husebekk, A. & Kaplan, C. (2005) Quantification of human platelet antigen-1a antibodies with the monoclonal antibody immobilization of platelet antigens procedure. Transfusion, 45, 1319–1323. Bertrand, G. , Martageix, C. , Jallu, V. , Vitry, F. & Kaplan, C. (2006) Predictive value of sequential maternal anti-HPA-1a antibody concentrations for the severity of fetal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 4, 628–637. Davoren, A. , Curtis, B.R. , Aster, R.H. & McFarland, J.G. (2004) Human platelet antigen-specific alloantibodies implicated in 1162 cases of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. Transfusion, 44, 1220–1225. Kiefel, V. , Konig, C. , Kroll, H. & Santoso, S. (2001) Platelet alloantibodies in transfused patients. Transfusion, 41, 766–770. Mueller-Eckhardt, C. , Kiefel, V. , Grubert, A. , Kroll, H. , Weisheit, M. , Schmidt, S. , Mueller-Eckhardt, G. & Santoso, S. (1989) 348 cases of suspected neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. Lancet, 1, 363–366. Osterwalder, B. , Gratwohl, A. , Nissen, C. & Speck, B. (1986) Immunoadsorption for removal of anti-A and anti-B blood group antibodies in ABO-incompatible bone marrow transplantation. Blut, 53, 379–390. Santoso, S. , Kalb, R. , Walka, M. , Kiefel, V. , Mueller-Eckhardt, C. & Newman, P.J. (1993) The human platelet alloantigens Br(a) and Brb are associated with a single amino acid polymorphism on glycoprotein Ia (integrin subunit alpha 2). Journal of Clinical Investigation, 92, 2427–2432. Stussi, G. , Halter, J., Schanz, U. & Seebach, J.D. (2006) ABO-histo blood group incompatibility in hematopoietic stem cell and solid organ transplantation. Transfusion and Apheresis Science, 35, 59–69. Valeri, C.R. & Ragno, G. (2006) Cryopreservation of human blood products. Transfusion and Apheresis Science, 34, 271–287.
Construction of a multivalent meningococcal vaccine strain based on the class 1 outer membrane protein

Outer membrane complexes (OMCs) are promising vaccine candidates for protection against meningococcal disease. However, a major obstacle to this approach is the fact that the protective antibodies induced are generally type specific. In an attempt to overcome this problem, we have investigated the possibility of constructing a multivalent vaccine strain by insertion of an additional class 1 outer membrane protein-encoding gene. Starting with a derivative of strain H44/76 deficient in class 3 outer membrane protein, a second class 1 gene was inserted into the chromosome, through homologous recombination with a suicide plasmid carrying the class 1 gene from strain 2996 placed within a class 5 gene. In this way, a strain was obtained in which a class 3 protein was in effect replaced by a class 1 protein from another subtype, i.e. P1.5,2 in addition to the P1.7,16 protein of H44/76. Immunization of mice with such OMCs resulted in high bactericidal titers against both H44/76 and 2996, where normally only strain-specific antibodies are induced. Mutational removal of class 3 protein from the immunizing OMCs had no detectable effect on the bactericidal titer against H44/76, whereas removal of class 1 protein led to a strong reduction. These results demonstrate the dominant role of the subtype-specific sequences of class 1 protein in the induction of bactericidal antibodies and show that construction of a multivalent OMC-based vaccine should be feasible.
What works? Process evaluation of a school-based fruit and vegetable distribution program in Mississippi.

BACKGROUND During the 2004-2005 school year, the Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Child Nutrition, initiated a pilot program to distribute free fruit and vegetable snacks to students during the school day. This article describes the first-year implementation of the Mississippi Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program. METHODS The process evaluation addressed where, when, and how produce was distributed; what was distributed; challenges and successes; and recommended modifications. Five of the 25 program schools were selected to participate in the evaluation; selection was based on grade levels served and demographic characteristics. Data were collected from program staff (N = 11) and administrators (N = 6) via interviews and logs; student (N = 42) and parent (N = 19) focus groups; student questionnaires (N = 660); and school staff questionnaires (N = 207). RESULTS Distributing fresh fruit and vegetable snacks at school was well received by staff and students. Most schools distributed the fresh fruit and vegetable snacks at morning break in classrooms or a central courtyard. Twenty-two types of fresh fruit, 4 types of dried fruit, and 7 types of vegetables were served to students during the program year. Commonly distributed fruit included apples, oranges, pears, bananas, and tangerines. Carrots were the staple vegetable, followed by celery. Key challenges included getting students to try new foods and receiving the produce in a timely manner without spoiling. Main successes included seeing students try new fruit and vegetable snacks, having the program run smoothly, and teacher support. CONCLUSIONS The program fit well within the school structure and could be an effective component of a multifaceted approach to enhancing child nutrition.
On reducing busy waiting in autosar via task-release-delta-based runnable reordering

The increasing amount of innovative software technologies in the automotive domain comes with challenges regarding inevitable distributed multi-core and many-core methodologies. Approaches for general purpose solutions have been studied over decades but do not completely meet the specific constraints (e. g. timing, safety, reliability, affinity, etc.) for Autosar compliant applications. Autosar utilizes a spinlock mechanism in combination with the priority ceiling protocol in order to provide mutually exclusive access to shared resources. The essential disadvantages of spinlocks are unpredictable task response times on the one hand and wasted computation time caused by busy waiting periods on the other hand. In this paper, we propose a concept of task-release-delta-based runnable reordering for the purpose of sequentializing parallel accesses to shared resources, resulting in reduced task response times, improved timing predictability, and increased parallel efficiency respectively. To achieve this, runnables that represent smallest executable program parts in Autosar are reordered based on precedence constraints. Our experiments among industrial use cases show that task response times can be reduced by up to 18,2%.
Updated Nucleosynthesis Constraints on Unstable Relic Particles

We revisit the upper limits on the abundance of unstable massive relic particles provided by the success of Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis calculations. We use the cosmic microwave background data to constrain the baryon-to-photon ratio, and incorporate an extensively updated compilation of cross sections into a new calculation of the network of reactions induced by electromagnetic showers that create and destroy the light elements deuterium, 3 He, 4 He, 6 Li and 7 Li. We derive analytic approximations that complement and check the full numerical calculations. Considerations of the abundances of 4 He and 6 Li exclude exceptional regions of parameter space that would otherwise have been permitted by deuterium alone. We illustrate our results by applying them to massive gravitinos. If they weigh 100 GeV, their primordial abundance should have been below about 10 13 of the total entropy. This would imply an upper limit on the reheating temperature of a few times 10 7 GeV, which could be a potential diculty for some models of inflation. We discuss possible ways of evading this problem.
The interactive effects of chytrid fungus, pesticides, and exposure timing on gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) larvae

Aquatic organisms are often exposed to a wide variety of perturbations in nature, including pathogens and chemical contaminants. Despite the co‐occurrence of these 2 stressors, few studies have examined the effects of chemical contaminants on host–pathogen dynamics. The authors tested the individual and combined effects on gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) tadpoles of 2 commonly used pesticides (Roundup® and Sevin®) and the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). A fully factorial design was used, and tadpoles were exposed to Bd, Roundup, or Sevin alone, or a combination of Bd and either pesticide at 3 points during larval development (early, mid, late). It was predicted that pesticides would mediate the effect of Bd on tadpoles and reduce the likelihood of negative consequences of infection and that timing of exposure would influence these effects. Tadpoles exposed to Bd at the mid point experienced higher survival through metamorphosis than those exposed to Bd at the early or late points, while tadpoles exposed to Sevin at the early point experienced reduced survival compared with those exposed to Roundup or no‐pesticide control at the same exposure point. Roundup ameliorated the effects of Bd on survival compared with tadpoles exposed to Bd alone, while there was no interactive effect of Sevin on survival. In addition, Sevin reduced mass of new metamorphs compared with Roundup and reduced snout–vent length compared with all other treatments. The present study supports the hypothesis that pesticides can mitigate the effects of Bd on amphibian hosts and that such effects may depend on the timing of exposure. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:216–222. © 2013 SETAC
AN ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH TEST VALIDITY OF THE FIRST YEAR OF SMAN 1 PURBALINGGA BASED ON THE SCHOOL-BASED CURRICULUM AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF THEIR COGNITIVE LEVEL

Every subject needs an evaluation of to measure the student’s achievementof the goal that has been taught. To obtain the accurate information concerning the student’s achievement, the test should be valid, reliable, and usable. The most important validity from the test made by teacher is content validity. This study is aimed at judging whether the content of the English test item of the first and second semester of first year of SMAN 1 Purbalingga valid seen from: 1) the indicator of the School-based Curriculum, 2) the distribution of their cognitive level. The data are the English test items in the first and second semester mentioned. The data were collected by documenting; comparing the content materials in the syllabus of the School-based Curriculum and the content materials in the English test items and analyzed the content validity based on the indicator of the School-based curriculum. The study shows that: 1) the content validity in the first semester seen from indicator of the School-based curriculum for Listening skill is very good (100%), the Reading skill is Good (75%). While, in the second semester for listening skill is very good (93, 33%) and for Reading skill is very good (100%), 2) Based on the distribution of their Cognitive Level proposed by Bloom, the content validity of the First and Second Semester is not valid, because the proportion given is not proportional. In the First Semester the proportion for Knowledge 24%, Comprehension 22%, Application 32%, Analysis 20%, Synthesis 2%, and Evaluation is 0%. In the Second Semester, for Evaluation level (0%), Synthesis 2%, Application 14%, Comprehension 16%, Analysis 20%, and Knowledge (48%).
Is Management Quality Value Relevant?

Using a unique database of management quality ratings over a 17 year period, we find that while good management appears to be associated with lower subsequent market returns, this is entirely consistent with an informationally efficient market. Quality of management is value relevant in that better managed firms have lower cost of equity, more stable earnings, higher profitability that persists over time, and higher market valuations using the Ohlson (1995 and 2001) method. Potentially endogenous relationships are unlikely to be driving our results. While well managed firms are good firms, contrary to the belief of many market participants their stocks perform no better than those of poorly managed firms.
Disturbing Inequities: Exploring the Relationship Between Racial Disparities in Special Education Identification and Discipline

Author(s): Losen, Daniel J; Hodson, Cheri; Ee, Jongyeon; Martinez, Tia E | Abstract: Students with disabilities are entitled by law to receive special education, which includes individualized supports and services, including behavioral supports if needed, to help them succeed in school. So it is especially disturbing that nationally, in 2011-12, their out-of-school suspension rate for grades K-12 was more than twice as high as their nondisabled peers. They are also more likely than their non-disabled peers to be suspended repeatedly.2 Furthermore, in 2011-12, across K – 12, the rates were much higher for students with disabilities who were Black and male, with one out of every five having been suspended at least once. The data from different school levels (elementary, middle, and high) reveal even deeper disparities. For students with disabilities, the risk for suspension at the elementary school level is 4.1%. This rises to 19.3% at the secondary level.3 While students with disabilities are about twice as likely as their nondisabled peers to be suspended at each level, the 2 percentage point gap at the elementary level increases fivefold at the secondary level to a 10 percentage point gap. When we look at the intersection of race, disability, and gender at the secondary level, we find that 24% of Black secondary students, 31% of Black secondary school students with disabilities, and 36% of Black secondary school males with disabilities were suspended from school in 2009-2010. It is worth noting that these national averages mask even more extreme situations. For example, using U.S. Department of Education data for the 2009-2010 academic year, of the 1,136 U.S. school districts that have at least 50 Black males with disabilities, 211 had suspension rates for Black males with disabilities at the secondary level of over 50%. These are averages for large districts, which means there are individual schools in each of these high-suspending districts with even higher suspension rates.
Cold Storage of Culex pipiens in the Absence of Diapause

ABSTRACT A major expenditure in vector biology laboratories is the rearing of mosquitoes. Most mosquito colonies require substantial effort to maintain, including frequent bloodmeals for optimal performance. Successful cryopreservation of mosquitoes continues to be elusive. Although using diapause as a storage mechanism is an option for mosquito preservation, several obstacles include the lack of a well-characterized diapause or the inability of some species to enter diapause. Thus, other options for preservation are needed. To address this issue, we investigated the use of long-term low-temperature storage in the absence of diapause for adults of the northern house mosquito, Culex pipiens L. Our results indicate that although male longevity is not substantially increased by cold storage, female longevity is dramatically increased by storage at lower temperatures. When mated before storage, females remain reproductively viable after at least 10 wk of storage, although at reduced levels. These results indicate that cold storage without diapause induction is a viable option for colony maintenance in vector biology laboratories.
Do clinical guidelines introduced with practice based education improve care of asthmatic and diabetic patients? A randomised controlled trial in general practices in east London

Abstract Objective:To determine whether locally developed guidelines on asthma and diabetes disseminated through practice based education improve quality of care in non-training, inner city general practices. Design:Randomised controlled trial with each practice receiving one set of guidelines but providing data on the management of both conditions. Subjects:24 inner city, non-training general practices. Setting:East London. Main outcome measures:Recording of key variables in patient records (asthma: peak flow rate, review of inhaler technique, review of asthma symptoms, prophylaxis, occupation, and smoking habit; diabetes: blood glucose concentration, glycaemic control, funduscopy, feet examination, weight, and smoking habit); size of practice disease registers; prescribing in asthma; and use of structured consultation “prompts. ” Results:In practices receiving diabetes guidelines, significant improvements in recording were seen for all seven diabetes variables. Both groups of practices showed improved recording of review of inhaler technique, smoking habit, and review of asthma symptoms. In practices receiving asthma guidelines, further improvement was seen only in recording of review of inhaler technique and quality of prescribing in asthma. Sizes of disease registers were unchanged. The use of structured prompts was associated with improved recording of four of seven variables on diabetes and all six variables on asthma. Conclusions:Local guidelines disseminated via practice based education improve the management of diabetes and possibly of asthma in inner city, non-training practices. The use of simple prompts may enhance this improvement.
Cocaine self-administration in rhesus monkeys: Effects on neurobiology and cognition and evaluation of cognitive enhancement for addiction treatment

Gould, Robert W. COCAINE SELF-ADMINISTRATION IN RHESUS MONKEYS: EFFECTS ON NEUROBIOLOGY AND COGNITION AND EVALUATION OF COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT FOR ADDICTION TREATMENT Dissertation under the direction of Michael A. Nader, Ph.D., Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology No effective drug treatments for cocaine dependence exist, although combined behavioral and pharmacological interventions, reviewed in Chapter I, may lead to better treatment outcomes. The goal of the current research is to characterize neurobiological and cognitive deficits associated with cocaine use in monkeys, and examine cognitive enhancement as a pharmacotherapeutic approach to compliment behavioral methods. Cocaine users show cognitive deficits in working memory (WM) and behavioral flexibility that persist into abstinence, although the extent and duration are not well established. In Chapter II, WM was assessed in rhesus monkeys with an ~6 year cocaine self-administration (SA) history using a delay match-to-sample (DMS) task. High-dose cocaine SA in afternoon sessions resulted in impairments on WM in subsequent morning sessions; across 30 days of abstinence, DMS performance improved. In Chapter III, cocaine-experienced monkeys performed signficantly worse and FDG-PET imaging showed lower neuronal activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, an area associated with error-detection, compared to cocaine-naive monkeys during set shifting, a measure of behavioral flexibility. In addition to effectively modeling cognitive deficits in monkeys, these data suggest pharmacological interventions may ameliorate deficits in neural function and cognition.
Cardiovascular control from cardiac and pulmonary vascular receptors

What is the topic of this review? The purpose of this review is to summarize present knowledge of the function of the afferent nerves arising from the heart and the coronary and pulmonary arteries. Although there is abundant evidence that atrial receptor stimulation influences heart rate and urine flow, with little or no effect elsewhere, and that ventricular receptors are strongly excited only by chemical stimuli, there is still the erroneous belief that they act as a homogeneous group causing cardiovascular depression. What advances does it highlight? Coronary receptors deserve to be recognized as a potentially important additional group of baroreceptors. Stimulation of pulmonary arterial baroreceptors at physiological pressures causes reflex vasoconstriction and could have a hitherto unacknowledged important role in cardiovascular control, for example in exercise.