Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
VKORC1-1639A allele influences warfarin maintenance dosage among Blacks receiving warfarin anticoagulation: a retrospective cohort study.

AIM The study objectives were to investigate the association between selected CYP2C9 and VKORC1 single nucleotide polymorphisms with serious bleeding or thrombotic risk, and to estimate mean daily maintenance dose of warfarin and international normalized ratio measurements among Blacks receiving warfarin anticoagulation. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study among 230 Black adults receiving warfarin for a minimum of three consecutive months with a confirmed date of first dosage. RESULTS A lower mean daily maintenance dosage of warfarin was required to maintain an international normalized ratio measurement within the therapeutic range among Blacks with the VKORC1-1639G>A variant alleles ([G/A vs G/G, p = 0.02], [A/A vs G/A, p = 0.008] and [A/A vs G/G, p = 0.001]). CONCLUSION Data indicated that VKORC1-1639A variant allele influenced warfarin daily maintenance dosage among our small, likely admixed Black patient population.
A Model-Theoretic Counterpart of Loop Formulas

In an important recent paper, Lin and Zhao introduced the concept of a loop formula, and showed that the answer sets for a logic program are exactly the models of Clark's completion of the program that satisfy the loop formulas. Just as supported sets are a model-theoretic account of completion, "externally supported" sets, defined in this paper, are a model-theoretic counterpart of loop formulas. This reformulation of loop formulas shows that they are related to assumption sets (Sacca and Zaniolo) and to unfounded sets (Van Gelder, Ross and Schlipf; Leone, Rullo and Scarcello), invented many years earlier. Other contributions of this paper includes a simplification of the definition of a loop, extending it to programs with classical negation and infinite programs, and a generalization of the definition of a loop formula.
MTM1 mutation associated with X-linked myotubular myopathy in Labrador Retrievers

Mutations in the MTM1 gene encoding myotubularin cause X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM), a well-defined subtype of human centronuclear myopathy. Seven male Labrador Retrievers, age 14–26 wk, were clinically evaluated for generalized weakness and muscle atrophy. Muscle biopsies showed variability in fiber size, centrally placed nuclei resembling fetal myotubes, and subsarcolemmal ringed and central dense areas highlighted with mitochondrial specific reactions. Ultrastructural studies confirmed the centrally located nuclei, abnormal perinuclear structure, and mitochondrial accumulations. Wild-type triads were infrequent, with most exhibiting an abnormal orientation of T tubules. MTM1 gene sequencing revealed a unique exon 7 variant in all seven affected males, causing a nonconservative missense change, p.N155K, which haplotype data suggest derives from a recent founder in the local population. Analysis of a worldwide panel of 237 unaffected Labrador Retrievers and 59 additional control dogs from 25 other breeds failed to identify this variant, supporting it as the pathogenic mutation. Myotubularin protein levels and localization were abnormal in muscles from affected dogs, and expression of GFP-MTM1 p.N155K in COS-1 cells showed that the mutant protein was sequestered in proteasomes, where it was presumably misfolded and prematurely degraded. These data demonstrate that XLMTM in Labrador Retrievers is a faithful genetic model of the human condition.
Measuring the Effectiveness of Crime Control Policies in Knoxville’s Public Housing

Crime in Knoxville’s public housing is an ongoing problem for the Knoxville Police Department and the Knoxville Community Development Corporation (KCDC). The purpose of this study is to determine whether public policies and programs that attempted to reduce crime in seven of Knoxville’s public-housing developments were effective. They include (a) a “One-Strike” eviction policy, (b) the demolition of one housing project with funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’sHOPEVI grant program, (c) a “team-based” approach to policing, and (d) a new residency-applicant-screening process. Descriptive statistics were generated by using Arcview mapping software to separate the yearly Part I serious crime incidents for 1996 to 2001 in two distinct geographical regions: (a) the area represented by the KCDC study sites where the policies were implemented and (b) the remainder of the City of Knoxville. Crimes of opportunity and property crimes were minimally affected by some of the policies at best, yet KCDC still has a more dangerous environment than the rest of Knoxville.
Is translated language more standardized than non-translated language?: Using profile-based correspondence analysis for measuring linguistic distances between language varieties.

With this article, we seek to support the law of growing standardization by showing that texts translated into Belgian Dutch make more use of standard language than non-translated Belgian Dutch texts. Additionally, we want to examine whether the use of standard vs. non-standard language can be attributed to the variables text type and source language. In order to achieve that goal, we gathered a diverse set of linguistic variables and used a 10-million-word corpus that is parallel, comparable and bidirectional (the Dutch Parallel Corpus; Macken et al. 2011). The frequency counts for each of the variables are used to determine the differences in standard language use by means of profile-based correspondence analysis (Plevoets 2008). The results of our analysis show that (i) in general, there is indeed a standardizing trend among translations and (ii) text types with a lot of editorial control (fiction, non-fiction and journalistic texts) contain more standard language than the less edited text types (administrative texts and external communication) which adds support for the idea that the differences between translated and non-translated texts are text type dependent.
Biomarkers in Pediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an infectious disease caused by bacteria, viruses, or a combination of these infectious agents. The severity of the clinical manifestations of CAP varies significantly. Consequently, both the differentiation of viral from bacterial CAP cases and the accurate assessment and prediction of disease severity are critical for effectively managing individuals with CAP. To solve questionable cases, several biomarkers indicating the etiology and severity of CAP have been studied. Unfortunately, only a few studies have examined the roles of these biomarkers in pediatric practice. The main aim of this paper is to detail current knowledge regarding the use of biomarkers to diagnose and treat CAP in children, analyzing the most recently published relevant studies. Despite several attempts, the etiologic diagnosis of pediatric CAP and the estimation of the potential outcome remain unsolved problems in most cases. Among traditional biomarkers, procalcitonin (PCT) appears to be the most effective for both selecting bacterial cases and evaluating the severity. However, a precise cut-off separating bacterial from viral and mild from severe cases has not been defined. The three-host protein assay based on C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), plasma interferon-γ protein-10 (IP-10), and micro-array-based whole genome expression arrays might offer more advantages in comparison with former biomarkers. However, further studies are needed before the routine use of those presently in development can be recommended.
Emotions and emotion regulation in undergraduate studying: examining students’ reports from a self-regulated learning perspective

This study examined undergraduate students’ reports of emotions and emotion regulation during studying from a self-regulated learning (SRL) perspective. Participants were 111 university students enrolled in a first-year course designed to teach skills in SRL. Students reflected on their emotional experiences during goal-directed studying episodes at three times over the semester. Measures included self-evaluations of goal attainment, emotion intensity ratings and open-ended descriptions of emotion regulation strategies. Findings generally revealed that positive emotions were positive predictors and negative emotions were negative predictors of self-evaluations of goal attainment, although positive emotions were associated with larger changes in self-evaluations. Boredom was analysed separately and was found to be a positive predictor at the between-person level but not a predictor at the within-person level. Finally, students reported (a) enacting a variety of strategies to regulate their emotions and (b) using a different strategy more often than the same strategy from one study session to the next.
Prior cardiovascular disease increases long-term mortality in COPD patients with pneumonia

There is controversy regarding the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in clinical outcomes in elderly patients with pneumonia. Comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease have been reported to play an important role in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD. However, limited data are available regarding the impact of cardiovascular disease in elderly COPD patients who require hospitalisation for pneumonia. We examined a cohort of subjects with pneumonia and pre-existing COPD. Prior cardiovascular disease was defined as history of myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, unstable angina or stroke. Outcomes examined included 30-day, 90-day, 6-month and 1-year mortality. We included 17 140 elderly COPD patients who were hospitalised for pneumonia. Prior cardiovascular disease was present in 10 240 (59.7%) patients. Prior cardiovascular disease was independently associated with 90-day mortality (21.3% versus 19.4%; hazard ratio (HR) 1.29, 95% CI 1.02–1.17), 6-month mortality (29.0% versus 26.1%; HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.07–1.50) and 12-month mortality (39.2% versus 34.5%; HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.15–1.54) when compared to no prior cardiovascular disease. The temporal differential effect between groups increases from 1.0% at 30 days to 4.7% at 1 year. Prior cardiovascular disease is associated with increased long-term mortality in elderly COPD patients with pneumonia. Differences in mortality rates increased over time. Prior cardiovascular disease is associated with increased long-term mortality in elderly COPD patients with pneumonia http://ow.ly/qaAJY
Development and validation of a questionnaire to evaluate patient satisfaction with diabetes disease management.

OBJECTIVE To develop a reliable and valid questionnaire to measure patient satisfaction with diabetes disease management programs. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Questions related to structure, process, and outcomes were categorized into 14 domains defining the essential elements of diabetes disease management. Health professionals confirmed the content validity. Face validity was established by a patient focus group. The questionnaire was mailed to 711 patients with diabetes who participated in a disease management program. To reduce the number of questionnaire items, a principal components analysis was performed using a varimax rotation. The Scree test was used to select significant components. To further assess reliability and validity; Cronbach's alpha and product-moment correlations were calculated for components having > or =3 items with loadings >0.50. RESULTS The validated 73-item mailed satisfaction survey had a 34.1% response rate. Principal components analysis yielded 13 components with eigenvalues > 1.0. The Scree test proposed a 6-component solution (39 items), which explained 59% of the total variation. Internal consistency reliabilities computed for the first 6 components (alpha = 0.79-0.95) were acceptable. CONCLUSIONS The final questionnaire, the Diabetes Management Evaluation Tool (DMET), was designed to assess patient satisfaction with diabetes disease management programs. Although more extensive testing of the questionnaire is appropriate, preliminary reliability and validity of the DMET has been demonstrated.
Integrated Schooling, Life Course Outcomes, and Social Cohesion in Multiethnic Democratic Societies

Schools have a seminal role in preparing a society’s children for their adult responsibilities as workers, parents, friends, neighbors, and citizens. The United States, countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Brazil, India, South Africa, and other multiethnic democratic nation-states have increasingly diverse demographic profiles that present challenges and opportunities for social cohesion. The focus of this chapter is the relationship between integrated schooling and social cohesion in nations such as these. The chapter’s central thesis is that schools that are racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse lead to educational outcomes that undergird the attitudinal antecedents to and structural conditions for social cohesion in multiethnic, democratic societies. Using the United States as a case study, the chapter synthesizes educational, social, and behavioral science research on the effects of school racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic status (SES) composition on various adult life course outcomes that are crucial to this condition. It is necessary to explore this topic using the United States as a case study because the English language literature on integrated schooling, life course outcomes, and social cohesion in other multiethnic democracies is rather limited. Before reviewing the relevant literature on this relationship, it is necessary to problematize the concepts of democracy and social cohesion, both of which have multiple contested meanings. We do not employ the constructs of democracy and social cohesion uncritically. Although a full explication of the nuanced and complicated nature of the debates surrounding social cohesion and democracy is not possible in this chapter, it is important to acknowledge that simplistic conceptualizations of either
Staged reconstruction for hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Contemporary results.

OBJECTIVE The authors review their experience with staged reconstructive surgery for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and assess current outcome for this condition. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Once considered a uniformly fatal condition, the outlook for newborns with HLHS has been altered dramatically with staged reconstructive procedures. Refinements in operative technique and perioperative management have been largely responsible for this improved outlook. METHODS The authors reviewed their experience with 158 consecutive patients undergoing stage 1 reconstruction with a Norwood procedure from January 1990 to August 1995. All patients had classic HLHS, defined as a right ventricular dependent circulation in association with atresia or severe hypoplasia of the aortic valve. RESULTS There were 120 hospital survivors. Among the 127 patients considered at standard risk, survival was significantly higher than that for the 31 patients with important risk factors. Adverse survival was associated most strongly with significant associated noncardiac congenital conditions and severe preoperative obstruction to pulmonary venous return. Second-stage reconstruction with the hemi-Fontan procedure was performed in 106 patients, with 103 hospital survivors and one late death. Three of the late survivors were not considered candidates for the Fontan procedure. To date, the Fontan procedure has been completed in 62 patients, with 53 survivors. Deaths after the Fontan procedure occurred early in our experience and were mostly secondary to left pulmonary artery stenosis or hypoplasia. Significant or potentially significant morbid conditions were noted in 25 of the 120 hospital survivors. Neurologic conditions were found in 6% and cardiovascular conditions in 10%, including dysrhythmia, left pulmonary artery thrombosis, and chronic pleural effusions. Among the patients considered at standard risk with typical anatomy, actuarial survival was 69 +/- 8% at 5 years. Survival was 71 +/- 17% at 5 years for standard risk patients with variant anatomy and 58 +/- 9% for the entire cohort of 158 patients. The largest decrease in survival occurred in the first month of life and late deaths primarily affected those patients in the high-risk group. CONCLUSIONS Staged reconstruction has significantly improved the intermediate-term outlook for patients with HLHS. Factors addressing improvements in early (< 1 month) first-stage survival would be expected to add significantly to an overall improved late outcome. Currently employed refinements in operative technique are associated with eliminating or reducing pulmonary artery distortion and dysrhythmia.
Regions of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1nef Required for Function In Vivo

ABSTRACT In vivo studies in monkeys and humans have indicated that immunodeficiency viruses with Nef deleted are nonpathogenic in immunocompetent hosts, and this has motivated a search for live attenuated vaccine candidates. However, the mechanisms of action of Nef remain elusive. To define the regions of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Nef which mediate in vivo pathogenicity, a series of mutated isogenic viruses were inoculated into human thymic implants in SCID-hu mice. Mutation of several regions, including the myristoylation site at the second glycine and a region encompassing amino acids 41 through 49 of Nef, profoundly affected pathogenicity. Surprisingly, mutations of prolines in either of the two distant PXXP SH3 binding domains did not affect pathogenicity, indicating that these regions are not required for Nef activity in developing T-lineage cells. These data suggest that some functions of Nef described in vitro may not be relevant for in vivo pathogenicity.
Nitrogen Fertilizers: Meeting Contemporary Challenges

Abstract At 81.7 million tonnes (Mt), commercial fertilizer nitrogen (N) accounts for approximately half of all N reaching global croplands today and supplies basic food needs for at least 40% of the population. The challenge is to continue to help meet that need while minimizing the risk of negative environmental impacts through improved N-use efficiency. Fertilizer-N efficiency on corn in the US has increased more than 30% over the last 20 years, but additional progress can be made for corn and other crops. Current N efficiency and productivity are generally lower in most of Asia than in North America, but they are improving. The fertilizer industry recognizes its crucial role in meeting basic human needs, now and in the future. It stands ready to meet the challenge of adopting new practices and technologies that will allow it to do so with greater efficiency and in a way that not only sustains life, but also sustains the quality of life.
Naive and Memory T Cells Induce Different Types of Graft-versus-Host Disease1

The goal of this study was to compare the ability of donor naive and alloantigen-primed effector memory T cells to induce graft-vs-host disease after bone marrow transplantation in MHC-mismatched irradiated host mice. Purified CD4+ naive (CD62LhighCD44low) T cells and CD4+ effector memory (CD62LlowCD44high) T cells obtained from unprimed donors and donors primed to host alloantigens, respectively, were injected into host mice, and the rapidity, severity, and pattern of tissue injury of graft-vs-host disease was assessed. Unexpectedly, the naive T cells induced a more acute and severe colitis than the primed memory cells. Whereas the naive T cells expressing CD62L and CCR7 lymph node homing receptors vigorously expanded in mesenteric lymph nodes and colon by day 6 after transplantation, the primed memory T cells without these receptors had 20- to 100-fold lower accumulation at this early time point. These differences were reflected in the significantly more rapid decline in survival and weight loss induced by naive T cells. The primed memory T cells had a greater capacity to induce chronic colitis and liver injury and secrete IL-2 and IFN-γ in response to alloantigenic stimulation compared with memory T cells from unprimed donors. Nevertheless, the expected increase in potency as compared with naive T cells was not observed due to differences in the pattern and kinetics of tissue injury.
Effects of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin AG 556 on acute necrotising pancreatitis in rats.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin AG 556 on the course of acute necrotising pancreatitis in rats. DESIGN Laboratory study. SETTING Medical school, Turkey. ANIMALS 72 Sprague Dawley rats, 12 in the sham operated (control) group and 20 in each of the three others. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Cardiorespiratory measurements, mortality, effect on the activities of various enzymes in serum and tissue of pancreas and lung, and the histological picture. RESULTS The four study groups were sham + Ringer's lactate, acute necrotising pancreatitis with Ringer's lactate, tryphostin AG 556, and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). There were 12 animals in the first group and 20 in each of the other groups. The induction of pancreatitis increased mortality from 0/12 in the control to 6/20 (30%), 7/20 (35%), 8/20 (40%) in the three experimental groups, respectively. Heart rate, packed cell volume (PCV), serum activities of amylase and alanine aspartate transferase, tissue activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the pancreas and lung, serum concentrations of urea and calcium, volume of ascites, degree of pancreatic damage, blood pressure, and urine production did no differ between the pancreatitis groups. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with the tyrphostin kinase inhibitor did not improve the course of acute pancreatitis or reduce the extent of acinar cell injury and is therefore unlikely to be of benefit in patients with pancreatitis.
Values and Feelings in Young Brazilians’ Purposes

Purposes are projections about the future based on past and present actions, including the integration and regulation of values and feelings. In this study, we aimed to analyze these processes in the purposes of young Brazilians. A total of 200 young people between 15 and 19 years of age who were public school students from the five geographical regions of Brazil participated in the survey. We applied a written, individual, and open-ended questionnaire that was constructed by the Stanford Center on Adolescence and adapted for this study. We identified seven different ways by which the future was designed, observing different dynamics of thought and great complexity in the integration of values and feelings. For the vast majority of respondents, family and work constituted central values and appeared in an integrated manner in the feelings they expressed: happiness, welfare, and satisfaction. These results cultivate a greater understanding of psychic organization in purposes, opening up new possibilities for studies in moral psychology.