Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Systemic osteopenia and mineralization defect in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE Low bone mass, vertebral osteopenia, and fractures have been recognized in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, there are few data about bone histology and histomorphometric changes in these patients. To shed light on bone alterations of these patients, we carried out a study including static and dynamic variables of bone of patients with AS, using iliac crest bone biopsy. METHODS 16 white men with AS, mean age 34 +/- 3 years (15 to 55), mean duration of disease 11 +/- 2 years (6 months to 27) underwent bone biopsy for mineralized bone histology and evaluation of histomorphometric variables. RESULTS 14 patients presented osteopenia, 10 mineralization defects, and 3 osteomalacia. Trabecular bone mass, trabecular wall thickness, trabecular plate, and wall thickness were significantly lower than the control values. Comparing bone formation variables we found that the relative osteoid volume and the thickness of osteoid were significantly greater than control values (p < 0.05); comparing bone resorption variables we found that the bone osteoclast interface and the eroded surface were similar to that obtained in male controls. Analyzing dynamic variables, we observed that mineral apposition rate and doubly labeled osteoid were significantly less than the control group (p < 0.05), and mineralization lag time was statistically greater than the control group (p < 0.01). There was positive correlation between the duration of disease with relative (r = 0.513, p < 0.05) and absolute osteoid volume (r = 0.590, p < 0.05). There was negative correlation between disease duration and eroded surface (r = -0.616, p < 0.01) and bone osteoclast interface (r = -0.481, p < 0.05). There was positive correlation between duration of disease and singly labeled trabeculae (r = 0.680, p < 0.01), duration of disease and singly labeled osteoid seam, and duration of disease and mineralization lag time (r = 0.439, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Low bone mass in male patients with AS may also be related to mineralization defect. As bone resorption variables were normal in our patients, it is possible that the reduced bone mass seen in AS is due to a depression in bone formation rather than an increase in bone resorption.
Importance of diurnal variations on clinical value and interpretation of serum urate measurements.

AIM: To show the extent of diurnal variations in serum urate concentration and the possible consequences on the clinical interpretation. METHODS: Nineteen controls and 40 patients took part in this study. Preliminary investigations on selected subjects provided blood samples at regular intervals between the hours of 0800 and 2300 hours. From these observations the timing of venepuncture for the remaining subjects was chosen at 0800-0900 hours, with a second sample taken between 1700 and 1800 hours. Analytical quality was monitored using quality control procedures and all samples were analysed in a single batch to minimise errors. RESULTS: All subjects, except some hypertensive elderly women, showed a diurnal rhythm. The mean serum urate value between 0800-0900 hours was higher than that observed between 1700-1800 hours. A decrease of up to 30% was observed in a group of diabetic patients. Nine subjects in the study had hyperuricaemia in the morning, but only six in the afternoon, indicating the requirement of a reference interval that takes account of diurnal variations. CONCLUSION: When studying the temporal relation for the medical importance, or when attempting to interpret the serum urate concentration, it is important to consider the diurnal rhythms of this analyte.
Belief-Ordering Identification of Ambiguity Attitudes with Application to Partnership Dissolving Experiments

To identify ambiguity attitudes in general environments, we propose a noncontroversial and easy-to-apply method that first orders beliefs by their "favorableness," and then make inferences based on choices. In our first-price two-person partnership dissolving auction experiments, the partners with large shares bid less aggressively in an ambiguity environment than in a uniform distribution environment; the opposite holds for small-share partners. We identify consistent ambiguity aversion in this case. In another treatment of subjects bidding against random numbers, the large-share partners bid higher interacting with ambiguous bids than with uniformly-distributed ones -- a result of ambiguity seeking. Instability of ambiguity attitudes exemplifies the importance message conveyed by the ambiguity literature that it is unscientific to apply the theory of subjective expected utility without taking into account the changing contexts.
IDH2 mutations are frequent in Chinese patients with acute myeloid leukemia and associated with NPM1 mutations and FAB‐M2 subtype

Introduction: Gene mutations play an important role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) pathogenesis. Several genes have been identified in AML, such as FLT3, KIT, NPM1, and JAK2. This study investigated the frequency of novel mutations in IDH1 (amino acid R132) and IDH2 (R140 and R172) and analyzed their impact on disease biology and interaction with other mutations in Chinese patients with de novo AML.
Identification of Pneumocystis carinii DNA by polymerase chain reaction in necropsy lung samples from children dying of respiratory tract illnesses.

Polymerase chain reaction for Pneumocystis carinii DNA was performed on necropsy lung samples from children by means of P carinii -specific primers.P carinii DNA was identified in 22 of 22 (100%) samples with histologically proven P carinii pneumonia and 13 of 75 (17%) with non-P carinii pneumonia respiratory illness (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 83%). The low specificity precludes the use of polymerase chain reaction as an alternative to histopathologic diagnosis.
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DRY NEEDLING AND STRETCHING VS. STRETCHING ALONE ON HAMSTRING FLEXIBILITY IN PATIENTS WITH KNEE PAIN: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL.

BACKGROUND Recently, dry needling has emerged as a popular treatment for muscular pain and impairments. While there are numerous studies detailing the benefits of dry needling for pain, few studies exist examining the effects on soft tissue mobility. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine if the addition of hamstring dry needling to a standard stretching program results in greater improvements in hamstring flexibility compared to sham dry needling and stretching in subjects with atraumatic knee pain. Additionally, squat range of motion, knee pain, and the Lower Extremity Functional Scale were compared between the two groups. STUDY DESIGN Double blinded randomized controlled trial. METHODS Thirty-nine subjects were randomized to receive either dry needling (n = 20) or sham (n = 19) dry needling in addition to hamstring stretching, to all detected hamstring trigger points on two visits. All dependent variables were measured at baseline, immediately post intervention, and 1, 3, and 7 days after the initial treatment. Each subject also performed hamstring stretching three times daily for one week. RESULTS Significant improvements in hamstring range of motion and all other dependent variables were observed across time regardless of treatment group. However, the lack of significant time by group interactions indicated the improvements were not different between dry needling and sham dry needling groups. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current randomized controlled trial suggest that two sessions of dry needling did not improve hamstring range of motion or other knee pain-related impairments more than sham dry needling in a young active population with atraumatic knee pain. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapy, Level 2.
Maternal LAMP/p55gagHIV-1 DNA Immunization Induces In Utero Priming and a Long-Lasting Immune Response in Vaccinated Neonates

Infants born to HIV-infected mothers are at high risk of becoming infected during gestation or the breastfeeding period. A search is thus warranted for vaccine formulations that will prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission. The LAMP/gag DNA chimeric vaccine encodes the HIV-1 p55gag fused to the lysosome-associated membrane protein-1 (LAMP-1) and has been shown to enhance anti-Gag antibody (Ab) and cellular immune responses in adult and neonatal mice; such a vaccine represents a new concept in antigen presentation. In this study, we evaluated the effect of LAMP/gag DNA immunization on neonates either before conception or during pregnancy. LAMP/gag immunization of BALB/c mice before conception by the intradermal route led to the transfer of anti-Gag IgG1 Ab through the placenta and via breastfeeding. Furthermore, there were an increased percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cells in the spleens of neonates. When offspring were immunized with LAMP/gag DNA, the anti-Gag Ab response and the Gag-specific IFN-γ-secreting cells were decreased. Inhibition of anti-Gag Ab production and cellular responses were not observed six months after immunization, indicating that maternal immunization did not interfere with the long-lasting memory response in offspring. Injection of purified IgG in conjunction with LAMP/gag DNA immunization decreased humoral and cytotoxic T-cell responses. LAMP/gag DNA immunization by intradermal injection prior to conception promoted the transfer of Ab, leading to a diminished response to Gag without interfering with the development of anti-Gag T- and B-cell memory. Finally, we assessed responses after one intravenous injection of LAMP/gag DNA during the last five days of pregnancy. The intravenous injection led to in utero immunization. In conclusion, DNA vaccine enconding LAMP-1 with Gag and other HIV-1 antigens should be considered in the development of a protective vaccine for the maternal/fetal and newborn periods.
On Leveraged Learning in Lexical Acquisition and Its Relationship to Acceleration

Children at about age 18 months experience acceleration in word learning. This vocabulary explosion is a robust phenomenon, although the exact shape and timing vary from child to child. One class of explanations, which we term collectively as leveraged learning, posits that knowledge of some words helps with the learning of others. In this framework, the child initially knows no words and so learning is slow. As more words are acquired, new words become easier and thus it is the acquisition of early words that fuels the explosion in learning. In this paper we examine the role of leveraged learning in the vocabulary spurt by proposing a simple model of leveraged learning. Our results show that leverage can change both the shape and timing of the acceleration, but that it cannot create acceleration if it did not exist in the corresponding model without leveraging. This model is then applied to the Zipfian distribution of word frequencies, which confirm that leveraging does not create acceleration, but that the relationship between frequency and the difficulty of learning a word may be complex.
Genotype–phenotype relationships in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with FUS/TLS mutations in Japan

Introduction: We investigated possible genotype–phenotype correlations in Japanese patients with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) carrying fused in sarcoma/translated in liposarcoma (FUS/TLS) gene mutations. Methods: A consecutive series of 111 Japanese FALS pedigrees were screened for copper/zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and FUS/TLS gene mutations. Clinical data, including onset age, onset site, disease duration, and extramotor symptoms, were collected. Results: Nine different FUS/TLS mutations were found in 12 pedigrees. Most of the patients with FUS/TLS‐linked FALS demonstrated early onset in the brainstem/upper cervical region, and relatively short disease duration. A few mutations exhibited phenotypes that were distinct from typical cases. Frontotemporal dementia was present in 1 patient. Conclusions: This study revealed a characteristic phenotype in FUS/TLS‐linked FALS patients in Japan. FUS/TLS screening is recommended in patients with FALS with this phenotype. Muscle Nerve 54: 398–404, 2016
ExPregel: a new computational model for large‐scale graph processing

These days, large‐scale graph processing becomes more and more important. Pregel, inspired by Bulk Synchronous Parallel, is one of the highly used systems to process large‐scale graph problems. In Pregel, each vertex executes a function and waits for a superstep to communicate its data to other vertices. Superstep is a very time‐consuming operation, used by Pregel, to synchronize distributed computations in a cluster of computers. However, it may become a bottleneck when the number of communications increases in a graph with million vertices. Superstep works like a barrier in Pregel that increases the side effect of skew problem in distributed computing environment. ExPregel is a Pregel‐like model that is designed to reduce the number of communication messages between two vertices resided on two different computational nodes. We have proven that ExPregel reduces the number of exchanged messages as well as the number of supersteps for all graph topologies. Enhancing parallelism in our new computational model is another important feature that manifolds the speed of graph analysis programs. More interestingly, ExPregel uses the same model of programming as Pregel. Our experiments on large‐scale real‐world graphs show that ExPregel can reduce network traffic as well as number of supersteps from 45% to 96%. Runtime speed up in the proposed model varies from 1.2× to 30×. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Introduction of Keyboarding to Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders With Handwriting Difficulties: A Help or a Hindrance?

This study explored the utility of using keyboarding as an alternative to handwriting for students with ASD who experience handwriting difficulties. Participants included 22 students with ASD (M age=10.83+/-1.4 years) who had been using portable word processors in mainstream classrooms for at least 6 months to circumvent handwriting difficulties. Teacher, parent and student questionnaires rated perceptions of students' motivation, ability, preferences and frequency of use of keyboarding as compared to handwriting, helpfulness of portable word processors and factors contributing to or limiting their use. Keyboarding and handwriting speeds were measured in letters per minute. Two short compositions using handwriting and keyboarding were compared in length and quality. Handwriting legibility was also rated. The teacher, parent and student questionnaires indicated that students' motivation was generally rated as much higher for keyboarding than for handwriting. Teachers and parents predominantly perceived portable word processors as helpful. The group mean scores for keyboarding speed, and length and quality of keyboarded compositions were greater than comparable group mean scores for handwriting. These differences, however, did not reach statistical significance. Keyboarding, nevertheless, was effective in overcoming difficulties experienced by many students in respect of legibility.
Transnational learning structures in multinational firms: Organizational context and national embeddedness

The role of national institutional context is often overlooked in analyses of learning behaviour in multinational organizations. Drawing on arguments from institutional theory and learning theory we consider the organizational contingencies, and the institutional context in which these are embedded, in explaining the use of structures to support learning across national borders. It is hypothesized that country of origin effects on subsidiary learning structures are mediated by two organizational contingencies, namely transnational human resource management governance structures and subsidiary global research and development expertise. To test this, structural equation modelling is used on a dataset of 292 foreign (including Japanese, US, French, German, Nordic) and home-owned subsidiaries operating in the UK. The results confirmed the hypothesized institutional effects. The evidence suggests that understanding the interaction between institutional and firm-level context is important in providing a fuller explanation of the types of learning structures subsidiaries are likely to engage with.
Low mass–specific brain Na+/K+–ATPase activity in elasmobranch compared to teleost fishes: implications for the large brain size of elasmobranchs

Elasmobranch fishes have long been noted for having unusually large brains for ectotherms, and therefore may be exceptions to the rule that vertebrates in general devote less than 8% of their resting metabolic rate to the central nervous system. The brain mass of sharks, skates and rays is often several times larger than that of teleost fishes of the same size. Still, the underlying reasons for this have remained unclear. Ion pumping by the Na+/K+–ATPase is the single most energy consuming process in the brain. In this study, Na+/K+–ATPase activity was measured in the brain of four species of elasmobranchs and 11 species of teleosts. While the average brain mass of the elasmobranchs examined was approximately three times that of the teleosts, the mean specific Na+/K+–ATPase activity was only about one–third of that of the teleosts. Thus, the total brain Na+/K+–ATPase activity was similar in elasmobranchs and teleosts. This suggests that the large brain size of elasmobranchs is at least partly related to a low mass–specific rate of brain energy use.
Primary school boys' narratives about masculinity

The issue of masculinity is complex, and many theories on how gender is constructed exist. The central premise of this study is that gender construction is the result of dynamic social interaction and, as such, a post-structuralist paradigm is ascribed to. The concept of multiple masculinities exists to explain the influences different contexts have on how masculine ideas are constructed. This is not a passive process and individuals are considered active creators of their own identity. However, research demonstrates that not all masculinities are equal. Hegemonic masculinity maintains its leading dominant position status through using strategies of power and dominance to maintain the pinnacle position of status in the hierarchy of masculinities. The purpose of this study is to listen to the narratives of preadolescent boys about masculinity. Post-structuralist and social constructivist ideas that meaning is fluid and open to change, is influenced by culture and the individual meanings that people make. This understanding provides the theoretical framework for this qualitative study. Through a narrative-inquiry design, meaning was made of the individual experiences of six boys within the context of a single-sex preparatory school. The narratives of these participants, purposively selected, were obtained using the data-collecting methods of interviews, a focus group and the construction of a collage. The analysed data was presented both in the form of the narratives of the participants and through a thematic analysis. The findings indicate that within this private, single-sex preparatory school context, multiple constructions of masculinity are formed, and they all appear to be constructed in relation to hegemonic notions of masculinity. It was found that fathers play an important role in the way in which boys construct their masculine identity. However, their peers and the school context also play a significant role. Further, the findings revealed that although hegemonic notions of masculinity in this context had a powerful impact on these participants’ construction of masculinity, there are indications some are challenging overt expressions of hegemonic masculinity and, as such, hold more complex, transitional constructs of masculine identity. Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za
Beta-blockers in Cardiovascular Medicine

Beta-blockers are among the proven medication in Cardiovascular Medicine, reducing both the morbidity as well as the mortality. Most beta-blockers are well-absorbed after oral intake. The third generation beta-blockers (carvedilol, nebivolol) are non-selective and have additional properties of vasodilatation. Currently, beta-blockers are employed in a number of cardiovascular conditions. The strongest evidence for their use (evidence level A) is in systolic heart failure, post- myocardial infarction (myocardial protection) and in prevention and treatment of ventricular arrhythmias in post MI patients. In acute myocardial infarction, current recommendation (based on COMMIT/CCS-2 trial) are to avoid early use of beta blockers in patients with hemodynamic instability or who are at risk of cardiogenic shock. Once stable, beta blockade is strongly recommended in patients of myocardial infarction. Beta-blockers are not currently favoured as the first line anti-hypertensive therapy, particularly in the elderly, unless there are specific indications. For patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, risk stratification should be performed, and beta-blockers prescribed to patients at high cardiac risk.
Crossover speeds up building-block assembly

We re-investigate a fundamental question: how effective is crossover in combining building blocks? Although this has been discussed controversially for decades, we are still lacking a rigorous and intuitive answer. We provide such answers for royal road functions and OneMax, where every bit is a building block. For the latter we prove that a simple GA with uniform crossover is twice as fast as the fastest EA using only standard bit mutation, up to small-order terms. The reason is that crossover effectively turns neutral mutations into improvements by combining the right building blocks at a later stage. Compared to mutation-based EAs, this makes multi-bit mutations more useful. Introducing crossover changes the optimal mutation rate on OneMax from 1/n to (1+5)/2 Å 1/n H 1.618/n. Similar results are proved for k-point crossover. Experiments and statistical tests confirm that our findings apply to a broad class of building-block functions.
Detection and Characterization of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Baltic Countries and Eastern Poland

Ticks were collected from the vegetation in the Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and eastern Poland and analyzed for the presence of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) by amplification of the partial E and NS3 genes. In Estonia we found statistically significant differences in the TBEV prevalence between I. persulcatus and I. ricinus ticks (4.23% and 0.42%, respectively). In Latvia, the difference in TBEV prevalence between the two species was not statistically significant (1.02% for I. persulcatus and 1.51% for I. ricinus, respectively). In Lithuania and Poland TBEV was detected in 0.24% and 0.11% of I. ricinus ticks, respectively. Genetic characterization of the partial E and NS3 sequences demonstrated that the TBEV strains belonged to the European subtype in all countries, as well as to the Siberian subtype in Estonia. We also found that in areas where ranges of two tick species overlap, the TBEV subtypes may be detected not only in their natural vector, but also in sympatric tick species.