Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cell clonality in hypereosinophilic syndrome: what pathogenetic role?

OBJECTIVE Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a heterogeneous disorder, including either a myeloproliferative or a lymphoproliferative variant (l-HES). In l-HES, T-lymphocytes could be involved in the pathogenesis through several cytokines, including IL5. METHODS We assayed both TCR Beta- and delta-rearrangements by fluorescent PCR, characterizing 14 patients affected by HES. Lyn activation (a src-kinase involved in the IL5 pathway) was also tested in 6 cases. RESULTS FIP1L1-PDGFRa was detected in 4 cases (28.6%); a clonal TCR was found in 10 cases (71.4%), including cases FIP1L1-PDGFRalpha-positive; four cases did not show any molecular marker. In this series, levels of IL5, IL4, IL2 and gammaIFN were measured, without any significant difference among different subgroups. All pathological samples tested did not show Lyn activation. Immunophenotype was also characterized: only one case showed an atypical CD3-/CD4+ population in the bone marrow. CONCLUSION This study would suggest that a real distinction between m- and l-HES is not wholly convincing and that clonal T-cell expansion could not be the "primum movens" but an epiphenomenon in HES.
l-Arginine Reverses Radiation-Induced Immune Dysfunction: The Need for Optimum Treatment Window

Abstract Shukla, J., Chatterjee, S. , Thakur, V. S. , Premachandran, S. , Checker, R. and Poduval, T. B. l-Arginine Reverses Radiation-Induced Immune Dysfunction: The Need for Optimum Treatment Window. Radiat. Res. 171, 180–187 (2009). The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective efficacy of l-arginine in mitigating the injury induced by 2 Gy of total-body γ radiation (TBI). Mice exposed to radiation (TBI group) had significantly decreased spleen weight, splenocyte numbers and bone marrow cellularity. Administration of l-arginine 2 h after TBI (TBI + l-arginine group) was effective in reducing the radiation-induced depletion of spleen and bone marrow cellularity but was not effective when administered before TBI (l-arginine + TBI group). The radiation-induced decrease in Con A-induced spleen cell proliferation, specific antibody response of spleen B cells to sheep red blood cells, and spleen RNA content was reversed in mice in the TBI + l-arginine group. The radiation-induced increase in serum TNF-α levels, serum nitrate/nitrite (NOx) levels, spleen DNA fragmentation, spleen nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, spleen inducible NOS (iNOS) activity, and hepatic iNOS activity was reversed in mice in the TBI + l-arginine group. l-Arginine administered before TBI could not reverse these changes. Mice in the TBI + l-arginine group had significantly increased spleen arginase activity compared to mice from either the TBI or l-arginine + TBI group. The results suggest the importance of the time of administration of l-arginine and the l-arginine pathway in mitigating the radiation-induced host immune dysfunction.
Measuring Person Perception Accuracy: Another Look at Self-Other Agreement

The analysis of self-other data for the study of person perception accuracy is illustrated and discussed. Length of acquaintance, length of cohabitation, and trait empathy were investigated for their moderating effects on person perception accuracy, defined as the level of self-other agreement. Self-other agreement was computed four ways. A trait-by-trait analysis was performed twice, first using the moderator variable to form subgroups from which self-other correlations within each trait were computed and then using the moderator as a continuous variable in a series of moderated multiple regressions. Next, a profile analysis was performed that isolated two accuracy components, implicit profile accuracy and ideographic accuracy, which were conceptually similar to Cronbach's stereotype accuracy and differential accuracy components. The analyses, taken together, provided a componential and informative (if not comprehensive) analysis regarding accuracy as it is manifest in self-peer agreement data. Sex and cohabitation length moderated accuracy whereas acquaintance length and trait empathy did not.
Collaborative care for comorbid depression and coronary heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Objectives To systematically review the efficacy of collaborative care (CC) for depression in adults with coronary heart disease (CHD) and depression. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources Electronic databases (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL) were searched until April 2014. Inclusion criteria Population, depression comorbid with CHD; intervention, randomised controlled trial (RCT) of CC; comparison, either usual care, wait-list control group or no further treatment; and outcome, (primary) major adverse cardiac events (MACE), (secondary) standardised measure of depression, anxiety, quality of life (QOL) and cost-effectiveness. Data extraction and analysis RevMan V.5. 3 was used to synthesise the data as risk ratios (RRs), ORs and standardised mean differences (SMD) with 95% CIs in random effect models. Results Six RCTs met the inclusion criteria and comprised 655 participants randomised to CC and 629 participants randomised to the control group (total 1284). Collaborative depression care led to a significant reduction in MACE in the short term (three trials, RR 0.54; 95% CI 0.31 to 0.95, p=0.03) that was not sustained in the longer term. Small reductions in depressive symptoms were evident in the short term (6 trials, pooled SMD −0.31; 95% CI −0.43 to −0.19, p<0.00001) and depression remission was more likely to be achieved with CC (5 trials, OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.28 to 2.44, p=0.0005). Likewise, a significant effect was observed for anxiety symptoms (SMD −0.36) and mental QOL (SMD 0.24). The timing of the intervention was a source of between-group heterogeneity for depression symptoms (between groups p=0.04, I2=76.5%). Conclusions Collaborative depression care did not lead to a sustained reduction in the primary MACE end point. Small effects were observed for depression, depression remission, anxiety and mental QOL. Trials registration number PROSPERO CRD42014013653.
The Intersection of Race, Culture, Language, and Disability

To date, few researchers have sought to examine the effect of issues of race, culture, language, and disability, let alone to look specifically at the intersection of these issues, as it relates to special education identification, special education service delivery, and students of color’s access to an equitable education. Thus, this article will attempt to help urban education researchers and educators understand (a) why the intersection of race, culture, language, and disability is an urban education issue; (b) how issues of race, culture, language, and disability affect students’ and their families’ quest for an equitable education; (c) how to advocate for and provide culturally responsive services to racially, culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse students and their families; and (d) the implications of the intersection of race, culture, and disability for urban education practice, research, and policy.
DIGITAL DIVIDES AND CAPITAL CONVERSION: The optimal use of information and communication technology for youth reading achievement

Analysis of a nationally representative survey of 15-year-old Canadian youth indicates how capital can be converted from one form to another by examining the use of information and communication technology (ICT) and reading achievements. Overall there is a negligible linear relationship but a pronounced curvilinear one between these variables, suggesting an optimal level of ICT use. This optimal point varies by gender (males are able to use ICT more before negative effects set in), and by parental education (with girls from highly educated homes gaining more from the use of ICT). Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
An AA-Sized Vibration-Based Microgenerator for Wireless Sensors

This paper deals with the vibration-to-electrical transducer that has an M-size form factor and generates a DC voltage that can power off-the-shelf integrated circuits. Vibration-powered wireless sensors obtain power from machine vibrations, human movement, or other forms of motion. The feasibility of incorporating micro power transducers (MPTs) with a voltage multiplier and rectifier to make a micro power generator (MPG) is demonstrated, that has the same size and shape as an AA battery. The AA-sized module includes a voltage multiplier and a large capacitor to produce the DC output
Role of Social Media on Information Accessibility

Social media is the gathering place of a large pool of consumers. It is the repository of consumer information and acts as a means of spreading information to build market presence. Most literature states that organizational usage of social media enhances customer relations, but social media also acts as a medium for information acquisition. Not many previous studies have investigated the role of social media on information accessibility. Therefore this study examined the impact of social media on information accessibility. A total of 171 organization responded to the survey and the result of the survey showed that social media usage has a positive impact on information accessibility. Also it was found that factors such as interactivity, trust and institutional pressure positively influence social media usage in organizations. This study provided a clearer understanding on the real importance of social media and its benefits towards information acquisition. The results would motivate and guide organizations in social media usage for information acquisition which is important for understanding the customers, competitors and the industry and to develop strategies for enhancing business performance.
Online Monte Carlo Counterfactual Regret Minimization for Search in Imperfect Information Games

Online search in games has been a core interest of artificial intelligence. Search in imperfect information games (e.g., Poker, Bridge, Skat) is particularly challenging due to the complexities introduced by hidden information. In this paper, we present Online Outcome Sampling, an online search variant of Monte Carlo Counterfactual Regret Minimization, which preserves its convergence to Nash equilibrium. We show that OOS can overcome the problem of non-locality encountered by previous search algorithms and perform well against its worst-case opponents. We show that exploitability of the strategies played by OOS decreases as the amount of search time increases, and that preexisting Information Set Monte Carlo tree search (ISMCTS) can get more exploitable over time. In head-to-head play, OOS outperforms ISMCTS in games where non-locality plays a significant role, given a sufficient computation time per move.
The disabled student experience: does the SERVQUAL scale measure up?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically test a new disabled service user‐specific service quality model ARCHSECRET against a modified SERVQUAL model in the context of disabled students within higher education.Design/methodology/approach – The application of SERVQUAL in the voluntary sector had raised serious issues on its portability into this sector in general and its ability to measure the experience of the disabled service user in particular. In consequence, a disabled service user‐specific service quality model – ARCHSECRET – was developed which led to this research being designed to compare ARCHSECRET and a modified SERVQUAL model in terms of their ability to predict and explain the variation in the service quality experience of disabled students in higher education.Findings – ARCHSECRET was superior to the modified SERVQUAL in terms of its overall predictive power; ARCHSECRET key drivers were different and better in predictive power than those of the modified SERVQUAL; and ARCHSECRET w.
Perfectionism and Burnout Within Intercollegiate Sport: A Person-Oriented Approach

This study investigates the functional nature of perfectionism in sport through a person-oriented comparison of healthy and unhealthy perfectionist athletes’ levels of burnout. A sample of 117 intercollegiate varsity student-athletes (M age = 21.28 years, SD = 2.05) completed measures that assessed multidimensional sport-based perfectionism and athlete burnout indices (i.e., reduced accomplishment, sport devaluation, and emotional/physical exhaustion). Cluster analysis revealed that the sample could be represented by four theoretically meaningful clusters: Parent-Oriented Unhealthy Perfectionists, Doubt-Oriented Unhealthy Perfectionists, Healthy Perfectionists, and Non-Perfectionists. Intercluster comparisons revealed that healthy perfectionists reported (a) lower levels on all athlete burnout indices in comparison with both doubt-oriented unhealthy perfectionists and nonperfectionists and (b) lower levels of emotional/physical exhaustion in comparison with parent-oriented unhealthy perfectionists (all ps.
The E ff ect of Education on the Timing of Marriage and First Birth in Pakistan ∗ Lata Gangadharan and

A rapid rise in womens education levels, an increase in the age at marriage and an increase in the age at which they have their Þrst child are key features of demographic transition in any country. Education is considered to be an essential component in this process because increases in educational attainment are likely to signiÞcantly affect both age at marriage and the duration between marriage and Þrst birth in particular increasing both the age at marriage and the time to Þrst child. This paper uses individual level unit record data from Pakistan to examine the effect of education on the age at marriage and on the duration between marriage and Þrst birth. We jointly estimate educational attainment, age at marriage and duration between marriage and Þrst birth allowing for household level unobserved heterogeneity. Our estimation results show that ignoring correlation between the heterogeneity terms in the three main variables of interest results in inconsistent estimates. We Þnd that educated women marry signiÞcantly later but education does not have any impact on the duration between marriage and Þrst birth. JEL ClassiÞcation: J13, O10, C41, C24.
Demographic and personality predictors of congruence in multi‐source ratings

Recent investigations on multi‐source feedback have focused on rating congruence. The extent to which self ratings are in agreement with the ratings of others has been linked to various individual outcomes such as derailment, likelihood of promotion and overall managerial effectiveness. This study takes this line of investigation one step further and investigates possible determinants of rating congruence. Using a series of regression analyses, various demographic and personality variables are shown to predict the extent to which self ratings converge with the ratings of supervisors, peers, and subordinates. Moreover, some of these predictors were found to be specific to congruence within specific rating dyads (e.g. self‐supervisor). The implications of these findings are discussed.
PDGFRβ expression and function in fibroblasts derived from pluripotent cells is linked to DNA demethylation

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFRβ) is required for the development of mesenchymal cell types, and plays a diverse role in the function of fibroblasts in tissue homeostasis and regeneration. In this study, we characterized the expression of PDGFRβ in fibroblasts derived from human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and showed that this expression is important for cellular functions such as migration, extracellular matrix production and assembly in 3D self-assembled tissues. To determine potential regulatory regions predictive of expression of PDGFRβ following differentiation from ESCs and iPSCs, we analyzed the DNA methylation status of a region of the PDGFRB promoter that contains multiple CpG sites, before and after differentiation. We demonstrated that this promoter region is extensively demethylated following differentiation, and represents a developmentally regulated, differentially methylated region linked to PDGFRβ expression. Understanding the epigenetic regulation of genes such as PDGFRB, and identifying sites of active DNA demethylation, is essential for future applications of iPSC-derived fibroblasts for regenerative medicine.
The Role of Chaperone-subunit Usher Domain Interactions in the Mechanism of Bacterial Pilus Biogenesis Revealed by ESI-MS*

The PapC usher is a β-barrel outer membrane protein essential for assembly and secretion of P pili that are required for adhesion of pathogenic E. coli, which cause the development of pyelonephritis. Multiple protein subunits form the P pilus, the highly specific assembly of which is coordinated by the usher. Despite a wealth of structural knowledge, how the usher catalyzes subunit polymerization and orchestrates a correct and functional order of subunit assembly remain unclear. Here, the ability of the soluble N-terminal (UsherN), C-terminal (UsherC2), and Plug (UsherP) domains of the usher to bind different chaperone-subunit (PapDPapX) complexes is investigated using noncovalent electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The results reveal that each usher domain is able to bind all six PapDPapX complexes, consistent with an active role of all three usher domains in pilus biogenesis. Using collision induced dissociation, combined with competition binding experiments and dissection of the adhesin subunit, PapG, into separate pilin and adhesin domains, the results reveal why PapG has a uniquely high affinity for the usher, which is consistent with this subunit always being displayed at the pilus tip. In addition, we show how the different soluble usher domains cooperate to coordinate and control efficient pilus assembly at the usher platform. As well as providing new information about the protein-protein interactions that determine pilus biogenesis, the results highlight the power of noncovalent MS to interrogate biological mechanisms, especially in complex mixtures of species.
Incidence and morphology of accessory heads of flexor pollicis longus and flexor digitorum profundus (Gantzer's muscles)

In 1813 Gantzer described 2 accessory muscles in the human forearm which bear his name (Wood, 1868; Macalister, 1875; Testut, 1884; Le Double, 1897). The more frequent of the 2 accessory muscles or ‘accessorius ad pollicem’ was found to arise from the coronoid process of the ulna, coursing distally to attach into the flexor pollicis longus muscle (flexor pollicis longus accessory head, FPLah). The less frequently observed or ‘accessorius ad flexorem profundum digitorum’ was again found to arise from the coronoid process and course to join into the flexor digitorum profundus (flexor digitorum profundus accessory head, FDPah). Since their initial description, they have been examined in further detail by a number of authors (Wood, 1868; Macalister, 1875; Le Double, 1897; Dykes & Anson, 1944; Mangini, 1960; Malhotra et al. 1982; Dellon & McKinnon, 1987; Kida, 1988). These studies, most of them focusing on the FPLah, all show different results of prevalence, origin, insertion, relations and nerve supply. We undertook this study with the aim of providing a more accurate account of the detailed morphology of both accessory muscles because of the above‐mentioned inconsistent anatomical descriptions and the lack of information as to important aspects such as vascular supply, morphology (shape and length) and the coexistence of both accessory heads.
p16INK4A, CDC6, and MCM5: predictive biomarkers in cervical preinvasive neoplasia and cervical cancer

Aim: To analyse and compare expression patterns of three potential biomarkers—p16INK4A, CDC6, and MCM5—and evaluate their use as predictive biomarkers in squamous and glandular cervical preinvasive neoplasia. Methods: Immunocytochemical analysis of p16INK4A, MCM5, and CDC6 expression was performed on 20 normal, 38 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 (CIN1), 33 CIN2, 46 CIN3, 10 squamous cell carcinoma, 19 cervical glandular intraepithelial neoplasia (cGIN), and 10 adenocarcinoma samples. Staining intensity was assessed using a 0–3 scoring system. p16INK4A, MCM5, and CDC6 expression was also examined in ThinPrep slides exhibiting mild, moderate, and severe dyskaryosis. Human papillomavirus (HPV) was detected using a modified SYBR green assay. Fluorogenic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and solution phase PCR were used for specific HPV typing. Results: All three markers showed a linear correlation between expression and grade of dysplasia. p16INK4A and MCM5 protein expression was upregulated in all grades of squamous and glandular dysplasia. CDC6 protein was preferentially expressed in high grade lesions and in invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusion: p16INK4A expression was closely associated with high risk HPV infection—all grades of squamous and glandular cervical lesions were immunohistochemically positive. MCM5 staining intensity was independent of high risk HPV infection, highlighting its potential as a biomarker in both HPV dependent and independent cervical dysplasia. CDC6 may be a biomarker of high grade and invasive lesions of the cervix, with limited use in low grade dysplasia. p16INK4A was the most reliable marker of cervical dysplasia. Combinations of dysplastic biomarkers may be useful in difficult diagnostic cases.
Stimulant Drugs and Learning Problems

This review of stimulant drug research highlights the perennial problem of experimental procedures being prematurely applied despite a lack of proven treatment efficacy. This intriguing area of research is summarized as it relates to learning problems. Critical analysis indicates (a) no satisfactory support for the efficacy of stimulants in improving academic learning and performance or behavior problems, and (b) no data regarding the possibility of long-term negative side effects. Thus, widespread use of drugs for learning problems is seen as premature and, until possible side effects are clarified, perhaps dangerous. Amphetamines administered to persons with learning problems are seen as producing the common effects usually attributed to such stimulants. These include mild to moderate improvement in nonacademic performance, concomitant reductions in activity, and shortening of response latency on tasks characterized as repetitious, mechanical, regulated by an external agent, and requiring concentration and sustained performance. Evidence has not clarified the generalizability or state dependency of such effects. Complex behavior, such as reasoning, problem solving, and socioemotional functioning, do not seem affected.
The role of stress and social support in Sick Building Syndrome

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) involves seemingly healthy individuals experiencing long-lasting symptoms of physical distress in their work settings and is estimated to exist in 20 to 30% of all work settings in the USA. We examined differences in stress, social support and both physical and psychological symptoms reported by hospital personnel working in known SBS sites in Halifax, Nova Scotia (n = 297) with control employees working in relatively SBS-free settings (n = 228). We found that employees reporting that their health had been affected by the building in which they worked and those complaining of poor air quality were more likely to be found in SBS locations. In addition, those people with higher levels of organizational support and marginally higher levels of union support were also more likely to be found in SBS locations. Further analyses revealed that employees with higher role overload and greater family support, but lower levels of organizational support were more likely to report that their own health had been adversely affected by their place of work. Perceptions of poor air quality were predicted by higher levels of role conflict, role overload, and organizational stress and lower levels of organizational support. These results suggest that SBS may not be solely dependent on environmental factors.