Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk factors of birth asphyxia.

BACKGROUND Birth asphyxia is a serious clinical problem worldwide. There are many reasons a baby may not be able to take in enough oxygen before, during, or just after birth. Damage to brain tissues is a serious complication of low oxygen that can cause seizures and other neurological problems. This study was designed to asses the risk factors of birth asphyxia in neonates. METHODS This descriptive, prospective study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad, from April 2005 to April 2006. 125 newborn (75 males and 50 females) admitted to the neonatal care unit, who were delivered with delayed cry or low apgar score (< 7) were included. Detailed maternal history was taken, regarding their age, gestational age, and complications, if any. RESULTS Out of 125 neonatal encephalopathy cases, 28% were diagnosed as suffering with moderate or severe encephalopathy, whereas 36% had mild encephalopathy. Risk of neonatal encephalopathy increased with increasing or decreasing maternal age. Antepartum risk factors included non-attendance for antenatal care (64%). Multiple births increased risk in 4.8%. Intrapartum risk factors included non-cephalic presentation (20%), prolonged rupture of membranes (24%) and various other complications. Particulate meconium was associated with encephalopathy in 9.6%. 60% mothers were anemic. Vaginal bleeding was strongly associated with birth asphyxia in 34.44% of neonates. 56% of mothers delivered at home, while 28% delivered at a private hospital or maternity home. Only 12% delivered at a tertiary care hospital. CONCLUSION Lack of antenatal care, poor nutritional status, antepartum hemorrhage and maternal toxaemia were associated with higher incidence of asphyxia. Improvements in the public health of women with associated gains in female growth and nutrition must remain a longer-term goal. Early identification of high-risk cases with improved antenatal and perinatal care can decrease such high mortality. Safe motherhood policy is recommended.
Morphological abnormalities in the brains of estrogen receptor β knockout mice

Estrogen receptor β (ERβ) is expressed at high levels in both neurons and glial cells of the central nervous system. The development of ERβ knockout (BERKO) mice has provided a model to study the function of this nuclear receptor in the brain. We have found that the brains of BERKO mice show several morphological abnormalities. There is a regional neuronal hypocellularity in the brain, with a severe neuronal deficit in the somatosensory cortex, especially layers II, III, IV, and V, and a remarkable proliferation of astroglial cells in the limbic system but not in the cortex. These abnormalities are evident as early as 2 mo of age in BERKO mice. As BERKO mice age, the neuronal deficit becomes more pronounced, and, by 2 yr of age, there is degeneration of neuronal cell bodies throughout the brain. This is particularly evident in the substantia nigra. We conclude that ERβ is necessary for neuronal survival and speculate that this gene could have an important influence on the development of degenerative diseases of the central nervous system, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, as well as those resulting from trauma and stroke in the brain.
Bias in Predictive Inferences During Reading

Six experiments examined a bias in the probability and the time course of predictive inferences as a function of individual differences in emotional proneness and the adaptive importance of stimuli. Participants high or low in trait anxiety read context sentences predictive of potentially threatening events or nonthreat events. The contexts were followed by a target word to be named, which represented the predicted event or an unlikely event. Context constraints, the context presentation rate, and the interval between the context and the target word were manipulated. Evidence for inferences involved facilitation (shorter latencies) in naming the inferential target words following the predicting context, relative to when these words followed a control context. Predictive inferences were activated when there was congruence between anxiety and the threat content of stimuli, regardless of context constraints. The time course of predictive inferences was constant across context presentation rate; they occurred with considerable delay (1,050 ms) after the context but not earlier (i.e., 50 or 550 ms). We discuss the relevance and the integration of these findings with current models and research on inference processing.
Evaluation of Ki-67 Immunostaining in the Differential Diagnosis of Low Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion and Normal Cervix

Objective: Ki-67 immunostaining is used as an adjunct in the differential diagnosis of squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) of the cervix. The aim of this study was to determine an index for positive Ki-67 staining and the Ki 67-positive cell clusters for distinguishing normal cervix and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (low-grade SILs). Materials and Methods: Thirty-four cervical specimens, in which 17 were previously diagnosed as normal and 17 low-grade SILs were included in the study. Ki-67 immunohistochemical staining was performed using avidin biotin complex. Results: After reevaluating the cases by means of histo-pathological and Ki-67 immunostaining features, 21 of 34 cases were diagnosed as normal cervix and 13 were diagnosed as low-grade SILs. Ki-67 index was higher in low-grade SILs (p<0.05). Although Ki-67 positive cell clusters was not observed in normal cervix, 77% of 13 low-grade SILs had positive cell clusters (p<0.05). Discussion: Ki-67 immunostaining may be considered as an easy and reproducible technique in differential diagnosis of normal cervix and low-grade SIL.
Distributed Random Walks

Performing random walks in networks is a fundamental primitive that has found applications in many areas of computer science, including distributed computing. In this article, we focus on the problem of sampling random walks efficiently in a distributed network and its applications. Given bandwidth constraints, the goal is to minimize the number of rounds required to obtain random walk samples. All previous algorithms that compute a random walk sample of length ℓ as a subroutine always do so naively, that is, in O(ℓ) rounds. The main contribution of this article is a fast distributed algorithm for performing random walks. We present a sublinear time distributed algorithm for performing random walks whose time complexity is sublinear in the length of the walk. Our algorithm performs a random walk of length ℓ in Õ(√ℓD) rounds (Õ hides polylog n factors where n is the number of nodes in the network) with high probability on an undirected network, where D is the diameter of the network. For small diameter graphs, this is a significant improvement over the naive O(ℓ) bound. Furthermore, our algorithm is optimal within a poly-logarithmic factor as there exists a matching lower bound [Nanongkai et al. 2011]. We further extend our algorithms to efficiently perform k independent random walks in Õ(√kℓD + k) rounds. We also show that our algorithm can be applied to speedup the more general Metropolis-Hastings sampling. Our random-walk algorithms can be used to speed up distributed algorithms in applications that use random walks as a subroutine. We present two main applications. First, we give a fast distributed algorithm for computing a random spanning tree (RST) in an arbitrary (undirected unweighted) network which runs in Õ(√mD) rounds with high probability (m is the number of edges). Our second application is a fast decentralized algorithm for estimating mixing time and related parameters of the underlying network. Our algorithm is fully decentralized and can serve as a building block in the design of topologically-aware networks.
A Review of Microsatellite Markers and Their Applications in Rice Breeding Programs to Improve Blast Disease Resistance

Over the last few decades, the use of molecular markers has played an increasing role in rice breeding and genetics. Of the different types of molecular markers, microsatellites have been utilized most extensively, because they can be readily amplified by PCR and the large amount of allelic variation at each locus. Microsatellites are also known as simple sequence repeats (SSR), and they are typically composed of 1–6 nucleotide repeats. These markers are abundant, distributed throughout the genome and are highly polymorphic compared with other genetic markers, as well as being species-specific and co-dominant. For these reasons, they have become increasingly important genetic markers in rice breeding programs. The evolution of new biotypes of pests and diseases as well as the pressures of climate change pose serious challenges to rice breeders, who would like to increase rice production by introducing resistance to multiple biotic and abiotic stresses. Recent advances in rice genomics have now made it possible to identify and map a number of genes through linkage to existing DNA markers. Among the more noteworthy examples of genes that have been tightly linked to molecular markers in rice are those that confer resistance or tolerance to blast. Therefore, in combination with conventional breeding approaches, marker-assisted selection (MAS) can be used to monitor the presence or lack of these genes in breeding populations. For example, marker-assisted backcross breeding has been used to integrate important genes with significant biological effects into a number of commonly grown rice varieties. The use of cost-effective, finely mapped microsatellite markers and MAS strategies should provide opportunities for breeders to develop high-yield, blast resistance rice cultivars. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge concerning the linkage of microsatellite markers to rice blast resistance genes, as well as to explore the use of MAS in rice breeding programs aimed at improving blast resistance in this species. We also discuss the various advantages, disadvantages and uses of microsatellite markers relative to other molecular marker types.
Extraneous information and graph comprehension: Implications for effective design choices

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine if university students could accurately extract information from graphs presented in 2D or 3D formats with different colour hue variations or solid black and white.Design/methodology/approach – Participants are presented with 2D and 3D bar and pie charts in a PowerPoint presentation and are asked to extract specific information from the displays. A three (question difficulty) × two (graph type) × two (dimension) × two (colour) repeated measures ANOVA is conducted for both accuracy and reaction time.Findings – Overall, 2D graphs led to better comprehension, particularly when complex information was presented. Accuracy was similar for colour and black and white graphs.Practical implications – These results suggest that 2D graphs are preferable to 3D graphs, particularly when the task requires that the reader extract complex information.Originality/value – For the past several decades, diagrams have been valuable additions to textual explanations in textbooks.
Variation on a theme of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: implications of new cases with a young age at onset.

Introduction. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) belongs to a group of human and animal diseases, distinguished from each other by differences in their clinical and neuropathological presentation or aetiology, but known collectively as the prion diseases. Prion diseases are unique amongst transmissible diseases in that the transmissible ‘agent’ does not appear to contain any nucleic acid and the only protein known to be associated with infectivity is host-coded. Prion disease is endemic in certain species, notably humans and sheep. It has also appeared in epidemic form in humans: for example, amongst tribal peoples of Papua New Guinea, where the disease is known as kuru, and in Western societies as a consequence of iatrogenic misadventure. Epidemic prion disease also occurs in animals: for example, in cattle [as the current epidemic of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) in Britain (Wells & Wilesmith, 1995)] and in farmed mink (Marsh, 1992).
Checkpoint blockade in solid tumors and B-cell malignancies, with special consideration of the role of CD200

In the ontogeny of a normal immune response, a series of checkpoints must be overcome to ensure that unwanted and/or harmful self-directed activation responses are avoided. Many of the molecules now known to be active in this overseeing of the evolving immune activation cascade, contributing inhibitory signals to dampen an overexuberant response, belong to the immunoglobulin supergene family. These include members of the CD28/CTLA-4:B7.1/B7.2 receptor/ligand family, PD-1 and PDL-1, CD200 and CD200R, and the more recently described V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation and its ligand (VSIG-3/IGSF11). Unfortunately, from the point of view of improving immunotargeting of cancer cells, triggering these checkpoint inhibitory signaling pathways, so necessary to maintain self-tolerance, simultaneously acts to prevent effective tumor immunity. The recent development of reagents, predominantly antibodies, to act as checkpoint blockade agents, has had a dramatic effect on human cancer treatment, with a marked reported success for anti-CTLA-4 and PD-1 in particular in clinical trials. This review provides a general overview of the data now available showing the promise of such treatments to our cancer armamentarium and elaborates in depth on the potential promise of what can be regarded as an underappreciated target molecule for checkpoint blockade in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and solid tumors, CD200.
Oligomerization-Dependent Regulation of Motility and Morphogenesis by the Collagen Xviii Nc1/Endostatin Domain

Collagen XVIII (c18) is a triple helical endothelial/epithelial basement membrane protein whose noncollagenous (NC)1 region trimerizes a COOH-terminal endostatin (ES) domain conserved in vertebrates, Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila. Here, the c18 NC1 domain functioned as a motility-inducing factor regulating the extracellular matrix (ECM)-dependent morphogenesis of endothelial and other cell types. This motogenic activity required ES domain oligomerization, was dependent on rac, cdc42, and mitogen-activated protein kinase, and exhibited functional distinction from the archetypal motogenic scatter factors hepatocyte growth factor and macrophage stimulatory protein. The motility-inducing and mitogen-activated protein kinase–stimulating activities of c18 NC1 were blocked by its physiologic cleavage product ES monomer, consistent with a proteolysis-dependent negative feedback mechanism. These data indicate that the collagen XVIII NC1 region encodes a motogen strictly requiring ES domain oligomerization and suggest a previously unsuspected mechanism for ECM regulation of motility and morphogenesis.
Foul Play in Sport as a Phenomenon Inconsistent with the Rules, yet Acceptable and Desirable: Ethical Conditions

Abstract The article has strictly a theoretical and non-empirical character. The author presents examples resulting from various observations. The aim of the paper is to present the causes, functions, and results of fouls, fouling, and foul play. Although fouls do not comply with the rules of games, the paper demonstrates that fouls are often used; they enjoy a quiet acceptance of the sporting world; they are tolerated and accepted; even more, they are often - more or less explicitly - desirable. The author employed the idiographic method (descriptive), that is, an approach typical for the general methodology applied in the nonempirical humanities and social sciences; the analytical method (referring to the British analytical philosophy);the nomothetic method (explanatory), the approach based on exegesis and hermeneutics of cultural texts utilized in order to create a closer understanding of the phenomenon of foul; the axiological method (evaluating of the use of foul);and the synthetic method, which was mainly used in the summary and the abstract. Author also applied a specific methodology typical for sociology, which refers to interpretationism based, in this case, on a genetic approach (referring to the sources and causes of phenomenon of foul), as well as on a realistic and empathetic approach
Factors associated with high prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-infected people visiting for assessment of eligibility for highly active antiretroviral therapy in Kathmandu, Nepal

Background: Tuberculosis is the leading cause of deaths among HIV patients. In this study, we estimated the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and identified the factors/co-morbidities associated with active PTB in HIV-infected people visiting the national public health laboratory to assess their eligibility to receive highly active antiretroviral therapy. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to measure the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis. Data on probable risk factors in patients with and without PTB were compared, calculating the odds ratio as a measure of association. Factors showing significant association in univariate analyses were included in a stepwise backward logistic regression model to adjust for confounding. Results: The prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis was 32.4 % (95% confidence interval (CI) 30.25–34.56). In the univariate analysis, patients with PTB were more likely to be older, married, and have a longer duration since the diagnosis of HIV, diarrhoea, parasitic infection, lower CD4 T-cell counts, and lower CD4/CD8 ratio. However, the backward stepwise logistic regression revealed that only the CD4 T-cell count < 200/μL (AOR 11.69, 95% CI 6.23–21.94), CD4 T-cell count 200–350/μL (AOR 2.52, 95% CI 1.30–4.89), diarrhoea (AOR 2.77, 95% CI 1.78–4.31), parasitic infection (AOR 3.34, 95% CI 2.02–5.50) and ‘sex with partner’ as probable modes of transmission (AOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.20–0.93) were independently associated with pulmonary tuberculosis. Conclusion: A high prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis was observed. Participants with tuberculosis were significantly more likely to have lower CD4 counts, diarrhoea, and parasitic infections. HIV treatment programmes should consider these factors for better outcomes.
On the equilibrium probabilities of deterministic flow lines with random arrivals

Flow lines serve as fundamental models for many manufacturing systems. However, while they have been studied for decades, for flow lines with randomness, exact performance measures are only available when there are three servers or less. In this paper, we study the steady state behavior of flow lines with deterministic service and a renewal arrival process. Using a recursion based on an exact channel decomposition of the system, we demonstrate that the delays in each server possess the Markovian property. Restricting our scope to discrete-time flow lines under a renewal arrival process, we can exploit this property to obtain a multidimensional discrete-time time-homogeneous Markov chain for the server delays. For this Markov chain, it is possible to obtain a finite collection of balance equations that can be solved numerically for the equilibrium probabilities. As an example, we demonstrate how to derive the equilibrium probabilities for single channel flow lines with geometric interarrival times. To our knowledge, these are the first exact results that can be applied to flow lines consisting of more than three servers.
Immigrants and Law Enforcement: A Comparison of Native-Born and Foreign-Born Americans' Opinions of the Police

As the immigrant population continues to grow, law enforcement agencies face increasing demands to provide services and reach out to groups that are subject to victimization and reluctant to become involved with authorities. The current paper provides a quantitative look at how immigrants perceive the police, how they evaluate their experiences with police, and their willingness to engage in voluntary contacts with the police, relative to native-born Americans. Data come from a telephone survey with a community sample of residents of Seattle commissioned by the city officials to identify possible friction points in police-public interactions. After controlling for ethnicity and other demographic factors, we found that immigrants rated the police more positively than native-born Americans on measures of police effectiveness, police misconduct, and satisfaction with both voluntary and involuntary contacts. However, we found that immigrants were far less likely than native-born Americans to contact the police for assistance. On measures from reporting crimes and other problem situations to participating in police anti-crime programs, immigrants were less likely to seek contact with the police.
Habermas: A Critical Introduction

This new edition of a well-regarded book provides a concise and exceptionally clear introduction to Habermas's work, from his early writings on the public sphere, through his work on law and the state, to his more recent discussion of science, religion and contemporary Europe. Outhwaite examines all of Habermas's major writings and steers a steady course through the many debates to which they have given rise. One major feature of this volume is that it provides a detailed critical analysis of Habermas's most important work, "The Theory of Communicative Action. " As well as looking at Habermas's appraisal of figures such as Foucault and Derrida, Outhwaite also examines the philosopher's resolute defense of the Enlightenment project and his work on law and democracy, with its implications for the important topic of European integration. Upon publication, Outhwaite's book quickly became established as an authoritative guide to Habermas. This updated edition will be invaluable for students and scholars across the social sciences and humanities, especially in sociology, politics, philosophy, and social theory.
Refugee integration: Emerging trends and remaining agendas

This paper uses the foundation of the conceptual framework proposed by Ager and Strang (2004a, 2008) to reflect on the focus and findings of papers in this special issue on refugee integration and other recent work. Arguing that 'mid-level theory' of the sort presented in the framework provides a strong basis for structuring academic debate and dialogue with practitioners and policymakers, we identify four key issues that although of some current interest warrant further attention. First, we consider recent evidence from Europe and elsewhere on how prevailing notions of nationhood and citizenship determine understandings of integration, and argue that this powerfully shapes the social space available to refugees with regard to 'belonging'. Second, we note the wide adoption of concepts of social capital in framing components of social connection in the context of integration, but suggest greater attention is paid to the manner in which bonds, bridges and links establish forms of reciprocity and trust in social relations. Third, we examine the notion that integration is a 'two way' process, and suggest how this might be expanded to embrace the multiplicity and fluidity of social meaning and identity. Fourth, we reflect on Hobfoll's (1998) work on 'resource acquisition spirals' as a basis for effectively conceptualizing the dynamic interplay between factors mapped by the framework in shaping trajectories of integration. © The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.