Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Emergence of Cytomegalovirus Mononucleosis Syndrome Among Young Adults in Hong Kong Linked to Falling Seroprevalence: Results of a 14-Year Seroepidemiological Study

Abstract Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) mononucleosis is a manifestation of primary CMV infection. This study aims to establish the link between long-term population CMV seroepidemiological trends and incidence of CMV mononucleosis requiring hospitalization. Furthermore, by analyzing serial laboratory data of patients hospitalized with CMV mononucleosis, we aim to provide insights into the natural history of this syndrome. Methods We conducted a 14-year observational study in a tertiary hospital in Hong Kong. Cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin G data of 2349 adults were analyzed for trends in CMV susceptibility during the study period. The clinical features, risk factors, antiviral treatment data, and laboratory findings of 25 adult patients presenting with CMV mononucleosis during this period were retrieved. Results Susceptibility to CMV infection among the adult population aged 18–45 in Hong Kong increased from 14.5% in 2004 to 32.2% in 2012–2017 (P < .001), and this led to doubling of observed CMV mononucleosis incidence among inpatients in our center during the study period. All patients with CMV mononucleosis were hospitalized for investigation of fever of unknown origin. Household contact with young children was the most common risk factor followed by recent overseas travel. Derangement of liver function tests was universally observed and was more severe than in previously published western CMV mononucleosis patient cohorts. Most patients showed clinical improvement within the third week of illness. Conclusions We conclude that increasing CMV susceptibility among young adults in Hong Kong has resulted in a rising observed incidence of CMV mononucleosis, which is typically a self-limited illness characterized by anicteric hepatitis.
Research on direct laser patterning of thin films for flat-panel display

On a microcircuit pattern, which is necessary for fabricating electrical devices such as plasma display and liquid crystal display, the wet process which utilizes lithography technology is commonly employed. The wet process, however, is not desirable because it needs a large number of process steps. Furthermore, chemical used in the process is hazardous to the environment. Therefore, a “dry process” that does not utilize the lithography is strongly desired. In this paper, to realize the dry process, a laser processing approach using a Nd:YAG laser is adopted as an alternative technology. We fabricate thin films made of SnO2 (a next generation material for transparent thin film electrodes for Flat-Panel Display (FPD)) under various conditions and examine the effectiveness of the laser processing approach via experiments with the thin films. We found that the film characteristics such as electrical resisivity, crystalline structure quality, and so on, change and that the effectiveness of the laser processing varies, depending on the conditions. In this work, we show that these results can be explained in terms of a wavelength shift in the absorption edge of the thin films for Nd:YAG laser from the viewpoint of interaction of light and electrons.On a microcircuit pattern, which is necessary for fabricating electrical devices such as plasma display and liquid crystal display, the wet process which utilizes lithography technology is commonly employed. The wet process, however, is not desirable because it needs a large number of process steps. Furthermore, chemical used in the process is hazardous to the environment. Therefore, a “dry process” that does not utilize the lithography is strongly desired. In this paper, to realize the dry process, a laser processing approach using a Nd:YAG laser is adopted as an alternative technology. We fabricate thin films made of SnO2 (a next generation material for transparent thin film electrodes for Flat-Panel Display (FPD)) under various conditions and examine the effectiveness of the laser processing approach via experiments with the thin films. We found that the film characteristics such as electrical resisivity, crystalline structure quality, and so on, change and that the effectiveness of the laser processin.
Ethnic group differences in cardiovascular risk assessment scores: national cross-sectional study

Objectives. There are marked inequalities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and outcomes between ethnic groups. CVD risk scores are increasingly used in preventive medicine and should aim to accurately reflect differences between ethnic groups. Ethnicity, as an independent risk factor for CVD, can be accounted for in CVD risk scores primarily using two methods, either directly incorporating it as a risk factor in the algorithm or through a post hoc adjustment of risk. We aim to compare these two methods in terms of their prediction of CVD across ethnic groups using representative national data from England. Design. A cross-sectional study using data from the Health Survey for England. We measured ethnic group differences in risk estimation between the QRISK2, which includes ethnicity and Joint British Societies 2 (JBS2) algorithm, which uses post hoc risk adjustment factor for South Asian men. Results. The QRISK2 score produces lower median estimates of CVD risk than JBS2 overall (6.6% [lower quartile–upper quartile (LQ-UQ) = 4.0–18.6] compared with 9.3% [LQ-UQ = 2.3–16.9]). Differences in median risk scores are significantly greater in South Asian men (7.5% [LQ-UQ = 3.6–12.5]) compared with White men (3.0% [LQ-UQ = 0.7–5.9]). Using QRISK2, 19.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 16.2–22.0] fewer South Asian men are designated at high risk compared with 8.8% (95% CI = 5.9–7.8) fewer in White men. Across all ethnic groups, women had a lower median QRISK2 score (0.72 [LQ-UQ = − 0.6 to 2.13]), although relatively more (2.0% [95% CI = 1.4–2.6]) were at high risk than with JBS2. Conclusions. Ethnicity is an important CVD risk factor. Current scoring tools used in the UK produce significantly different estimates of CVD risk within ethnic groups, particularly in South Asian men. Work to accurately estimate CVD risk in ethnic minority groups is important if CVD prevention programmes are to address health inequalities.
An effective segmentation method for iris recognition system

Iris recognition has become a popular research in recent years due to its reliability and nearly perfect recognition rates. Iris recognition system has three main stages: image preprocessing, feature extraction and template matching. In the preprocessing stage, iris segmentation is critical to the success of subsequent feature extraction and template matching stages. If the iris region is not correctly segmented, the eyelids, eyelashes, reflection and pupil noises would present in the normalized iris region. The presence of noises will directly deteriorate the iris recognition accuracy. The proposed approach gives a solution for compensating all four types of noises to achieve higher accuracy rate. It consists of four parts: (a) pupil is localized using thresholding and circular Hough transform methods, (b) two search regions including the outer iris boundaries are defined to locate the outer iris, (c) two search regions are selected based on pupil position to detect the upper and lower eyelids, (d) thresholding is implemented to remove eyelashes, reflection and pupil noises. The method evaluates on iris images taken from the CASIA iris image database version 1.0. Experimental results show that the proposed approach has achieved high accuracy of 98.62%.
Mechanical Properties of Lightweight Concrete Using Recycled Cement-Sand Brick as Coarse Aggregates Replacement

This paper presents the result of replacing natural course aggregate with recycled cement-sand brick (CSB) towards the mechanical properties of concrete. Natural aggregates were used in this study as a control sample to compare with recycled coarse aggregates. This study was also carried to determine the optimum proportion of coarse aggregates replacement to produce lightweight concrete. Besides, this study was conducted to observe the crack and its behaviour development during the mechanical testing. Through this study, four types of concrete mixed were prepared, which were the control sample, 25%, 50% and 75% replacement of CSB. The test conducted to determine the effectiveness of recycled CSB as coarse aggregates replacement in this study were slump test, density measurement, compression test, and flexural test and. The strength of concrete was tested at 7 days and 28 days of curing. From the results obtained, the optimum proportion which produced the highest strength is 25% replacement of recycled CSB. The compressive and flexural strength has decreased by 10%-12% and 4%-34% respectively compared to the control sample. The presence of recycled coarse aggregates in sample has decreased the density of concrete by 0.8%-3% compared to the control sample.
Differentially Expressed Genes Distributed Over Chromosomes and Implicated in Certain Biological Processes for Site Insertion Genetically Modified Rice Kemingdao

Release of genetically modified (GM) plants has sparked off intensive debates worldwide partly because of concerns about potential adverse unintended effects of GM plants to the agro system and the safety of foods. In this study, with the aim of revealing the molecular basis for unintended effects of a single site insertion GM Kemingdao (KMD) rice transformed with a synthetic cry1Ab gene, and bridging unintended effects of KMD rice through clues of differentially expressed genes, comparative transcriptome analyses were performed for GM KMD rice and its parent rice of Xiushui11 (XS11). The results showed that 680 differentially expressed transcripts were identified from 30-day old seedlings of GM KMD rice. The absolute majority of these changed expression transcripts dispersed and located over all rice chromosomes, and existed physical distance on chromosome from the insertion site, while only two transcripts were found to be differentially expressed within the 21 genes located within 100 kb up and down-stream of the insertion site. Pathway and biology function analyses further revealed that differentially expressed transcripts of KMD rice were involved in certain biological processes, and mainly implicated in two types of pathways. One type was pathways implicated in plant stress/defense responses, which were considerably in coordination with the reported unintended effects of KMD rice, which were more susceptible to rice diseases compared to its parent rice XS11; the other type was pathways associated with amino acids metabolism. With this clue, new unintended effects for changes in amino acids synthesis of KMD rice leaves were successfully revealed. Such that an actual case was firstly provided for identification of unintended effects in GM plants by comparative transciptome analysis.
Maternal Absence of the Parathyroid Hormone 2 Receptor Affects Postnatal Pup Development

During the lactation period, mothers have a variety of adaptive changes in brain physiology and behaviour that allow them to properly raise their pups. The exact circuitries and mechanisms responsible for these changes are not fully understood. Recent evidence suggests that the neuropeptide tuberoinfundibular peptide of 39 residues (TIP39) and its receptor, the parathyroid hormone 2 receptor (PTH2‐R), contribute to these mechanisms. To further investigate this idea, we evaluated the growth rate of pups from dams with a genetically inactivated PTH2‐R (PTH2‐R‐KO), as well as maternal behavioural and neuroendocrine parameters. We observed that PTH2‐R‐KO‐reared pups had a slowed growth rate. This was associated with a reduced volume of milk yielded by PTH2‐R‐KO dams after 30‐min suckling compared to wild‐type (WT) dams when pups were returned after 5 h of separation. Our data suggest a reduced sensitivity of PTH2‐R‐KO dams to pup stimulation. We also observed a significant reduction in suckling‐induced c‐Fos expression in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus and signs of lower prolactin levels in the PTH2‐R‐KO dams. Our data suggest that the reduced growth rate of PTH2‐R‐KO‐reared pups was likely the result of alterations in the milk‐production pathway rather than modifications in behaviour. Although PTH2‐R‐KO dams showed increased anxiety in the elevated zero‐maze test, no differences from WT dams in maternal behaviour were observed. Taken together, our findings suggest the involvement of the TIP39/PTH2‐R system in the pathways involved in the successful development of the pups.
Laparoscopic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy as adjuvant modality following radical surgery for advanced rectal cancer a new look to an old problem.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer has been well accepted over the last decade. Published data so far has been focused in the direction of giving the right chemotherapy dose, schedule, and combinations, in order to increase the efficacy and decrease the toxicity. METHODOLOGY Eighty-seven patients with histological proved stage III rectal carcinoma were subjected to a combined adjuvant modality using laparoscopic heperthermic endoperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and systemic chemotherapy twenty days following the initial surgery. RESULTS Seventy patients who completed a one year follow-up had a disease free survival. Among forty patients who completed the two year follow-up, two patients developed local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Cytoreduction followed by HIPEC improves survival in patients with rectal carcinoma and lymphnode positive and neurovascular involvement.
The impact of internalizing symptoms on autistic traits in adolescents with restrictive anorexia nervosa

Background Although previous studies indicated a positive association between restrictive anorexia-nervosa (AN-R) and autistic traits, the potential interference of psychiatric internalizing comorbidity on this association is not yet fully investigated. Materials and methods The aim of this study was to explore autistic traits and internalizing psychopathology in adolescents (age range: 11.7–17.2 years) with AN-R. Twenty-five patients referred to two tertiary-care hospitals were compared to a large control group (N=170) with no differences in age and sex. AN-R patients and controls filled out instruments assessing autistic traits (autism spectrum quotient [AQ]), psychopathology (youth self-report [YSR] 11–18), and eating patterns (eating attitude test [EAT]). In order to disentangle the possible mediating role of internalizing symptoms on autistic traits, two separate control groups (called True and False healthy control, both composed of 25 eating-problem-free participants) were derived from the whole control group on the basis of the presence or absence of internalizing problems in the YSR. Results AN-R patients scored significantly higher on AQ compared to the whole control group and to controls without internalizing problems (True HC), but these differences disappeared when only controls with internalizing problems (False HC) were considered. Conclusion Autistic traits in AN-R individuals may have been overestimated and may partly be due to comorbid internalizing symptoms in investigated patients.
Effects of Visual Working Memory on Brain Information Processing of Irrelevant Auditory Stimuli

Selective attention has traditionally been viewed as a sensory processing modulator that promotes cognitive processing efficiency by favoring relevant stimuli while inhibiting irrelevant stimuli. However, the cross-modal processing of irrelevant information during working memory (WM) has been rarely investigated. In this study, the modulation of irrelevant auditory information by the brain during a visual WM task was investigated. The N100 auditory evoked potential (N100-AEP) following an auditory click was used to evaluate the selective attention to auditory stimulus during WM processing and at rest. N100-AEP amplitudes were found to be significantly affected in the left-prefrontal, mid-prefrontal, right-prefrontal, left-frontal, and mid-frontal regions while performing a high WM load task. In contrast, no significant differences were found between N100-AEP amplitudes in WM states and rest states under a low WM load task in all recorded brain regions. Furthermore, no differences were found between the time latencies of N100-AEP troughs in WM states and rest states while performing either the high or low WM load task. These findings suggested that the prefrontal cortex (PFC) may integrate information from different sensory channels to protect perceptual integrity during cognitive processing.
The Multi-State Latent Factor Intensity Model for Credit Rating Transitions

A new empirical reduced-form model for credit rating transitions is introduced. It is a parametric intensity-based duration model with multiple states and driven by exogenous covariates and latent dynamic factors. The model has a generalized semi-Markov structure designed to accommodate many of the stylized facts of credit rating migrations. Parameter estimation is based on Monte Carlo maximum likelihood methods for which the details are discussed in this paper. A simulation experiment is carried out to show the effectiveness of the estimation procedure. An empirical application is presented for transitions in a 7 grade rating system. The model includes a common dynamic component that can be interpreted as the credit cycle. Asymmetric effects of this cycle across rating grades and additional semi-Markov dynamics are found to be statistically significant. Finally, we investigate whether the common factor model suffices to capture systematic risk in rating transition data by introducing multiple factors in the model. This discussion paper has resulted in a publication in the Journal of Econometrics , 142(1), 399-424.
International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. LXXXIV: Leukotriene Receptor Nomenclature, Distribution, and Pathophysiological Functions

The seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors activated by leukotrienes are divided into two subclasses based on their ligand specificity for either leukotriene B4 or the cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4). These receptors have been designated BLT and CysLT receptors, respectively, and a subdivision into BLT1 and BLT2 receptors and CysLT1 and CysLT2 receptors has been established. However, recent findings have also indicated the existence of putative additional leukotriene receptor subtypes. Furthermore, other ligands interact with the leukotriene receptors. Finally, leukotrienes may also activate other receptor classes, such as purinergic receptors. The aim of this review is to provide an update on the pharmacology, expression patterns, and pathophysiological roles of the leukotriene receptors as well as the therapeutic developments in this area of research.
Developmental Neuropathology and Impact of Perinatal Brain Damage. II: White Matter Lesions of the Neocortex

The neuropathology and developmental impact of acute. subacute, and chronic white matter lesions has been studied in infants who survived (days, weeks, months, or years) this type of perinatal brain damage. The study emphasizes the survival of the developing gray matter overlying extensive white matter lesions (multicystic encephalopathy, porencephaly, and hydranencephaly ex-vacuo). Although partially isolated from afferent inputs (corticipetal fiber destruction) and unable to reach other cortical centers (corticofugal fiber destruction), this overlying gray matter is able to survive because neither its independent leptomeningeal blood supply nor its intrinsic anastomotic vasculature are affected by the underlying lesion. Moreover, the postinjury structural and functional development of this partially isolated gray matter is altered. Some of its axotomized pyramidal neurons are transformed into local-circuit interneurons, some of its interneurons are structurally and functionally enlarged (hypertrophy), and its intracortical neuropil (deprived of afferent synaptic terminals) increases by an expansion of intrinsic terminals (hypertrophy). An attempt has been made to correlate these postinjury alterations with the pathogenesis of the ensuing neurologic sequelae (7 infants develop epilepsy). The study proposes that neurological sequelae (e.g. epilepsy and cerebral palsy) following perinatal white matter lesions are a direct consequence of the postinjury gray matter transformations.
Synergistic Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Temporin A and Modified Temporin B In Vivo

Temporins are antimicrobial peptides secreted by the granular glands of the European red frog (Rana temporaria). They are 10–14 amino acid long polypeptides active prevalently against gram positive bacteria. This study shows that a synthetic temporin B analogue (TB-YK), acquires the capacity to act in synergism with temporin A and to exert antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity in vivo against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Administration of 3.4 mg/Kg of temporin A (TA)+1.6 mg/Kg TB-YK, given to individual mice concurrently with a lethal dose of bacteria (gram positive or negative), rescued 100% of the animals. More importantly, the same doses of temporins, administered one week after experimental infection with a sub lethal dose of bacteria, sterilized 100% of the animals within 3–6 days. Also, it is described an animal model based on the use of sub lethal doses of bacteria, which closely mimics bacterial infection in humans. The model offers the possibility to test in a preclinical setting the true potential of TA and TB-YK in combination as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents.
Qualitative assessment of epitaxial graphene FETs on SiC substrates via pulsed measurements and temperature variation

In this paper, we report a qualitative study on the performances of Graphene on SiC FETs from pulsed measurements as a function of temperature variation, reflecting on the process quality of the graphene FETs. Currents and transconductances in both pulsed and DC measurements as a function of temperature in the 25°C to 75°C range do not show any significant variation which indicates a trap-free interface and good graphene quality as well as thermal stability. In order to get a complete picture, scattering parameters from pulsed measurements are also given and the extracted gate capacitances and resistances, cut-off frequencies and fMAX are shown at different temperatures. As a whole, our study illustrates the stability, robustness and applicability of this graphene technology for future high performance electronics.
Frontotemporal dementia with novel tau pathology and a Glu342Val tau mutation

It is unclear how tau gene mutations cause frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP‐17), but those in exon 10 (E10) or the following intron may be pathogenic by altering E10 splicing, perturbing the normal 1:1 ratio of four versus three microtubule‐binding repeat tau (4R:3R tau ratio) and forming tau inclusions. We report on a 55‐year old woman with frontotemporal dementia and a family history of FTDP‐17 in whom we found a novel E12 (Glu342Val) tau gene mutation, prominent frontotemporal neuron loss, intracytoplasmic tau aggregates, paired helical tau filaments, increased 4R tau messenger RNA, increased 4R tau without E2 or E3 inserts, decreased 4R tau with these inserts, and a 4R:3R tau ratio greater than 1 in gray and white matter. Thus, this novel Glu342Val mutation may cause FTDP‐17 by unprecedented mechanisms that alter splicing of E2, E3, and E10 to preferentially increase 4R tau without amino terminal inserts and promote aggregation of tau filaments into cytopathic inclusions. Ann Neurol 2000;48:850–858