Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk of diarrhea during the first year of life associated with initial and subsequent colonization by specific enteropathogens.

The incidence of colonization by enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic, enteroinvasive, and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (detected by DNA hybridization with specific radiolabeled probes), Salmonella sp. , Shigella sp. , Campylobacter jejuni, and rotavirus was related to the presence of diarrhea in a cohort of 75 rural infants followed longitudinally during the first year of life. The study was carried out between August 1985 and February 1987 in the village of Lugar Sobre la Tierra Blanca, in the state of Morelos, 180 km southwest of Mexico City. Intestinal colonization by specific enteropathogens was followed with fecal cultures taken every fortnight and every time a child had diarrhea. Pathogens isolated from cultures taken in the 48 hours prior to the initiation of the diarrheal episode were considered to be associated with the disease. Diarrhea was detected in 82% of the children with initial isolation of enterohemorrhagic E. coli and in 64% of the children with enteropathogenic E. coli or Shigella sp. The risk of diarrhea associated with the initial isolation of other pathogens was lower, at 41% for rotavirus and approximately 25% for enterotoxigenic E. coli, Salmonella sp. , and C. jejuni. Initial colonization by the enteropathogens studied, whether or not they were associated with diarrhea, prevented disease, but not colonization by the same organism, when the children were reinfected during the first year of life. Enteropathogenic E. coli adherence factor, human or porcine heat-stable enterotoxins, fimbrial colonization factor antigens, and Shiga-like toxins I and II were important pathogenic characteristics related to the presence of diarrhea and to protection against subsequent infection by the same organisms.
High von Willebrand Factor Levels Increase the Risk of Stroke: The Rotterdam Study

Background and Purpose— Many studies have investigated the role of plasma von Willebrand factor level in coronary heart disease, but few have investigated its role in stroke. The aim of this study was to determine if von Willebrand factor levels are associated with the risk of stroke. Methods— The study was part of the Rotterdam Study, a large population-based cohort study among subjects aged ≥55 years. We included 6 250 participants who were free from stroke at baseline (1997 to 2001) and for whom blood samples were available. Follow-up for incident stroke was complete up to January 1, 2005. Data were analyzed with Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age and sex and additionally with models adjusted for other potential confounders including ABO blood group. A subgroup analysis was performed in participants without atrial fibrillation. Effect modification by sex was tested on a multiplicative and on an additive scale. Results— During an average follow-up time of 5.0 years, 290 first-ever strokes occurred, of which 197 were classified as ischemic. The risk of stroke increased with increasing von Willebrand factor levels (age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratios per SD increase in von Willebrand factor level: 1.12 [95% CI, 1.01 to 1.25] for stroke, 1.13 [95% CI, 0.99 to 1.29] for ischemic stroke). Adjustments for additional confounders slightly attenuated the association. The association was also present in subjects without atrial fibrillation and did not differ between sexes. Conclusion— High von Willebrand factor levels are associated with stroke risk in the general population.
An open-label trial of risperidone in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of risperidone as a treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder. METHODS This was an 8-week, open-label, prospective study of risperidone monotherapy (1.25 +/- 1.5 mg/d) for 30 bipolar youths (manic, mixed, or hypomanic; 6-17 years of age). RESULTS Twenty-two of the 30 youths (73%) completed the study. Using predefined criteria for improvement (a Clinical Global Impressions Improvement in Mania score of < or =2 at endpoint), the response rate for manic symptoms was 70%. The significant reduction in symptoms of mania resulted in a mean Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score 13.5 at endpoint, indicating mild residual symptoms. Weight increased significantly from baseline (2.1 +/- 2.0 kg; p < 0.001) and there was a four-fold increase in prolactin levels from baseline (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Open-label risperidone treatment was associated with a significant shortterm improvement of symptoms of pediatric bipolar disorder. Future placebo-controlled, double-blind studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.
A Flexible Millimeter-Wave Channel Sounder With Absolute Timing

This paper presents a novel ultrawideband wireless spread spectrum millimeter-wave (mmWave) channel sounder that supports both a wideband sliding correlator mode and a real-time spread spectrum mode, also known as wideband correlation or direct correlation. Both channel sounder modes are capable of absolute propagation delay (time of flight) measurements with up to 1 GHz of radio frequency null-to-null bandwidth, and can measure multipath with a 2-ns time resolution. The sliding correlator configuration facilitates long-distance measurements with angular spread and delay spread for up to 185 dB of maximum measurable path loss. The real-time spread spectrum mode is shown to support short-range, small-scale temporal, and Doppler measurements (minimum snapshot sampling interval of $32.753~\mu \text{s}$ ) with a substantial dynamic fading range of 40 dB for human blockage and dynamic urban scenarios. The channel sounder uses field programmable gate arrays, analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, and low-phase-noise rubidium standard references for frequency/time synchronization and absolute time delay measurements. Using propagation theory, several methods are presented here to calibrate and verify the accuracy of the channel sounder, and an improved diffraction model for human blockage, based on the METIS model but now including directional antenna gains, is developed from measurements using the channel sounder. The mmWave channel sounder described here may be used for accurate spatial and temporal ray-tracing calibration, to identify individual multipath components, to measure antenna patterns, for constructing spatial profiles of mmWave channels, and for developing statistical channel impulse response models in time and space.
Antral follicle size in the downregulated cycle and its relation to in vitro fertilization outcome

AIM: In this study, we have attempted to relate the antral follicle size on day 3 of downregulation to the in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome and hence test its predictive value for IVF outcome. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Teaching hospital, prospective double-blinded cohort study. The sonographer was blinded toward the patient profile whereas the follicular size on day 3 was concealed from the clinicians. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-eight patients undergoing the long protocol programme for IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection at the Institution are included in this study. The antral follicle size on day 3 of the downregulated cycle was measured for all patients and, based on the size, they were divided into three groups: Group I (-3 mm), Group II (3-6 mm), and Group III (6-9 mm), Various outcome measures taken into account were amount and number of days of gonadotropin required, basal estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level, zooming of follicles, and quality of oocytes. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were analyzed using the Graphpad software with a microsoft excel spread sheet. A P-value < 0.05 (Fisher exact test) was taken to be significant. Multinomial regression tests were used as appropriate. RESULTS: A significant number of follicles were in the 3-6 mm group whereas the population below 35 years constituted the majority. There was no significant difference in basal estradiol and FSH levels among the three groups. Accelerated growth of follicles (zooming) was significantly associated with bigger antral follicles (P < 0.001) whereas poor quality oocytes were significantly higher in Group 1. CONCLUSION: The significant number of poor quality of oocytes produced by such follicles whereas zooming of follicles among the bigger antral follicle group suggest their accelerated development potential and hence the dose of gonadotropin should be adjusted accordingly, indicating evidence of intrinsic abnormality of folliculogenesis in very small follicles.
Broadband multifunction AESA front-ends: New requirements and emerging technologies

Multifunction RF systems which can operate with different RF functions like radar, communication and electronic warfare offer a variety of benefits beyond the well-known AESA (Active Electronically Steerable Antenna) features. To reach a sufficient technology maturity to start product development a series of challenges most stemming from the large required operation bandwidth have to be resolved. Dual-polarised low-loss apertures with array grids designed for a grating lobe and scan blindness free ±60° conical Field of View (FoV) at the highest operational frequency have to be considered. The active components of the AESA and especially the T/R-M are required to be power efficient over the whole multifunction bandwidth and they shall be miniaturised to fit the array grid. RF functions like high speed datalink require linear high power amplification with low harmonics generation and interference suppression in receive is essential in order to maintain performance. Enablers for such broadband AESA are the GaN technology for T/R-M front-end components and SiGe BiCMOS technology for core chip and digital control of the T/R-M. The paper shows the state-of-the-art technology in Europe for multifunction RF Systems.
Constructing Uncertainty Sets for Robust Linear Optimization

In this paper, we propose a methodology for constructing uncertainty sets within the framework of robust optimization for linear optimization problems with uncertain parameters. Our approach relies on decision maker risk preferences. Specifically, we utilize the theory of coherent risk measures initiated by Artzner et al. (1999) [Artzner, P., F. Delbaen, J. Eber, D. Heath. 1999. Coherent measures of risk. Math. Finance9 203--228. ], and show that such risk measures, in conjunction with the support of the uncertain parameters, are equivalent to explicit uncertainty sets for robust optimization. We explore the structure of these sets in detail. In particular, we study a class of coherent risk measures, called distortion risk measures, which give rise to polyhedral uncertainty sets of a special structure that is tractable in the context of robust optimization. In the case of discrete distributions with rational probabilities, which is useful in practical settings when we are sampling from data, we show that the class of all distortion risk measures (and their corresponding polyhedral sets) are generated by a finite number of conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) measures. A subclass of the distortion risk measures corresponds to polyhedral uncertainty sets symmetric through the sample mean. We show that this subclass is also finitely generated and can be used to find inner approximations to arbitrary, polyhedral uncertainty sets.
A THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF PRIVATIZATION TRADE-OFFS ∗

In this paper we want to identify the trade-offs involved when a public firm producing for the government is privatized. By assuming a world where contracts are incomplete, a formal model is developed in which negotiation costs and problems of commitment are considered. Privatization increases the costs of a change in the regulatory contract: on the one hand, this means that it is more difficult for the government to control the behavior of the firm and reach the desired public goals; on the other, the managers of the firm perceive a harder budget constraint and their incentives to contain costs improve.
EXAMINING LAYOFF SURVIVORS' CHANGES IN COMMITMENT: THE EFFECTS OF PROCEDURAL AND INTERACTIONAL INJUSTICE.

Integrating insights from the multiple commitments perspective of employee attachment to the organization, social identity theory, and the group-value model of procedural justice, this study examines how perceptions of organizational injustice influence survivors' commitment to relevant organizational groups. In particular, this research examines how and why survivors' commitment to such groups may change in response to different types of injustice. Challenging current justice theory, it was found that interactional justice and procedural justice are unique constructs associated with different organizational sources and organizational outcomes. In addition, it was found that the workgroup becomes an increasingly important source of identification and commitment within the post-layoff organization.
Assembly of Human Neuronal Nicotinic Receptor α5 Subunits with α3, β2, and β4 Subunits*

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors formed from combinations of α3, β2, β4, and α5 subunits are found in chicken ciliary ganglion neurons and some human neuroblastoma cell lines. We studied the co-expression of various combinations of cloned human α3, β2, β4, and α5 subunits in Xenopus oocytes. Expression on the surface membrane was found only for combinations of α3β2, α3β4, α3β2α5, and α3β4α5 subunits but not for other combinations of one, two, or three of these subunits. α5 subunits assembled inside the oocyte with β2 but not with α3 subunits or other α5 subunits. α5 subunits coassembled very efficiently with α3β2 or α3β4 combinations. The presence of α5 subunits had very little effect on the binding affinities for epibatidine of receptors containing also α3 and β2 or α3 and β4 subunits. The presence of α5 subunits increased the rate of desensitization of both receptors containing also α3 and β2 or α3 and β4 subunits. In the case of receptors containing α3 and β4 subunits, the addition of α5 subunits had little effect on the responses to acetylcholine or nicotine. However, in the case of receptors containing α3 and β2 subunits, the addition of α5 subunits reduced the EC50 for acetylcholine from 28 to 0.5 μM and the EC50 for nicotine from 6.8 to 1.9 μM, while increasing the efficacy of nicotine from 50% on α3β2 receptors to 100% on α3β2α5 receptors. Both α3β2 and α3β2α5 receptors expressed in oocytes sedimented at the same 11 S value as native α3-containing receptors from the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. In the receptors from the neuroblastoma α3, β2, and α5 subunits were co-assembled, and 56% of the receptor subtypes containing α3 subunits also contained β2 subunits. The β2 subunit-containing receptors from SH-SY5Y cells exhibited the high affinity for epibatidine characteristic of receptors formed from α3 and β2 or α3, β2, and α5 subunits rather than the low affinity exhibited by receptors formed from α3 and β4 or α3, β4, and α5 subunits. Nicotine, like the structurally similar toxin epibatidine, also distinguishes by binding affinity two subtypes of receptors containing α3 subunits in SH-SY5Y cells. The affinities of α3β2 receptors expressed in oocytes were similar to the affinities of native α3 containing receptors from SH-SY5Y cells for acetylcholine, cytisine, and 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium.
Comparative analysis of soft neurological signs in positive and negative subtype of schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND The objective of the study was to investigate neurological deficit in schizophrenia and to compare soft neurological signs in positive and negative subtypes of schizophrenia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS 66 patients with schizophrenia were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale to classify the subtype of schizophrenia: positive subtype (36 patients) and negative subtype (30 patients), all of which were entering into remission. To examine the neurological soft signs we compared scores on the Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES) for positive and negative subtype. RESULTS The negative subtype of schizophrenia showed significantly higher neurological soft signs in comparison to the positive subtype, with reduced functioning in the sensory integration and motor coordination subscale as well as the other subscale. CONCLUSION The main finding in this study indicates that patients with schizophrenia have neurological impairment, and that the negative subtype has significantly higher neurological impairment than the positive subtype. The results further support the significance of the soft neurological signs as a possible marker of different subtypes of schizophrenia.
5-aminolevulinic acid induce apoptosis via NF-κB/JNK pathway in human oral cancer Ca9-22 cells.

BACKGROUND 5-aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy (5-ALA-PDT) is being used to treat oral pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions with some encouraging clinical outcomes. However, the exact mechanisms behind the photodynamic treatment are still not fully elucidated. METHOD Flow cytometry, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay and Western blot analysis were used to investigate the effects of 5-ALA-PDT on human oral cancer Ca9-22 cells. RESULTS We found that 5-ALA-PDT induces apoptosis in Ca9-22 cells. Western blotting showed that 5-ALA-PDT activates both the caspase-8 and caspase-9 pathways, which differed from previous studies conducted in other cell types. Activation of JNK was evident as early as 30 min. The caspases activation was inhibited by JNK inhibitor SP600125. Treatment with NF-κB inhibitor Bay 11-7082 (Bay) completely abrogated ALA-PDT-induced JNK activation. In addition, Bay and SP600125 almost completely abolished ALA-PDT-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate significant involvement of caspase-8 and -9 and their upstream NF-κB-JNK pathways in ALA-PDT-induced apoptosis. Future studies on how NF-κB and JNK activity regulate ALA-PDT response should provide a better strategy for the treatment of oral cancer.
Advancing age and the risk of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among patients on long-term hospital-based hemodialysis

Background Elevated nasal carriage rates of Staphylococcus aureus and ensuing complications among the elderly and in those on long-term hemodialysis (HD) are well recognized. The aim of the present study was to determine the extent to which advancing age is associated with the risk of persistent S. aureus nasal carriage among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on long-term HD. Patients and Methods This prospective study involved 205 ESRD patients enrolled for maintenance HD from July 1997 to July 2000. Persistent nasal carriage was defined by two or more positive cultures for methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) or methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Five standardized swabs were taken from the anterior nares of all the patients on long-term HD. S. aureus nasal carriage rates were estimated and compared among ESRD patients of different age groups. Results Overall, a prevalence of 38.05% (78/205) for S. aureus nasal carriage was observed, including 27.3% (56/205) for MSSA and 10.7% (22/205) for MRSA. Patients aged 75 to 84 years had the highest (84.6%, 11/13) prevalence of S. aureus nasal carriage (RR, 7.000, 95% CI, 4.350–11.763, P<0.00001). Those aged 65 to 74 years had the next highest (49.0%, 25/51) nasal carriage rates (RR, 4.083, 95% CI, 2.302–7.658, P<0.0001) while patients aged 15 to 24 years (reference group) had the lowest (12.8%, 1/8) prevalence of nasal carriage. The 75 to 84 year age group also had the highest rates of MSSA (46.2%, 6/13), (RR- 3.833, 95% CI, 2.144–7.234, P<0.0001) and MRSA (38.5 %, 5/13) (RR, 6.333, 95%CI, 2.767–16.198, P<0.0001) nasal carriage compared to the reference group. Conclusions Significantly higher persistent MSSA and MRSA nasal carriage rates among ESRD patients >75 years of age are suggestive of an elevated risk of potentially serious S. aureus- related complications among the very elderly during long-term HD. These findings might be helpful in the identification of elderly HD patients as a high-risk group for S. aureus-linked vascular access-related septicemia (VRS) and to evolve appropriate preventive strategies.
Robust Structured Estimation with Single-Index Models

In this paper, we investigate general single-index models (SIMs) in high dimensions. Based on U -statistics, we propose two types of robust estimators for the recovery of model parameters, which can be viewed as generalizations of several existing algorithms for one-bit compressed sensing (1-bit CS). With minimal assumption on noise, the statistical guarantees are established for the generalized estimators under suitable conditions, which allow general structures of underlying parameter. Moreover, the proposed estimator is novelly instantiated for SIMs with monotone transfer function, and the obtained estimator can better leverage the monotonicity. Experimental results are provided to support our theoretical analyses.
Immunohistochemical Examination on the Distribution of Cells Expressed Lymphatic Endothelial Marker Podoplanin and LYVE-1 in the Mouse Tongue Tissue

The clinical study for lingual disease requires the detailed investigation of the lingual lymphatic network and lymphatic marker-positive cells. Recently, it has been reported that several tissue cells and leukocytes express lymphatic markers, LYVE-1 and podoplanin. This study was aimed to clarify the lingual distribution of cells expressing LYVE-1 and podoplanin. In the mouse tongue, podoplanin is expressed in nerve sheaths, lingual gland myoepithelial cells, and lymphatic vessels. LYVE-1 is expressed in the macrophage marker Mac-1-positive cells as well as lymphatic vessels, while factor-VIII was detected in only blood endothelial cells. α-SMA was detected in vascular smooth muscle and myoepithelial cells. Therefore, identification of lymphatic vessels in lingual glands, the combination of LYVE-1 and factor-VIII, or LYVE-1 and Mac-1 is useful because myoepithelial cells express podoplanin and α-SMA. The immunostaining of factor-VIII on lymphatic vessels was masked by the immunostaining to LYVE-1 or podoplanin because lymphatic vessels express factor-VIII to a far lesser extent than blood vessels. Therefore, except for the salivary glands, the combination of podoplanin and α-SMA, or factor-VIII is useful to identify lymphatic vessels and blood vessels with smooth muscle, or blood capillaries.
A dose-up of ursodeoxycholic acid decreases transaminases in hepatitis C patients.

AIM To examine whether a dose-up to 900 mg of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) decreases transaminases in hepatitis C patients. METHODS From January to December 2007, patients with chronic hepatitis C or compensated liver cirrhosis with hepatitis C virus (HCV) (43-80 years old) showing positive serum HCV-RNA who had already taken 600 mg/d of UDCA were recruited into this study. Blood parameters were examined at 4, 8 and 24 wk after increasing the dose of oral UDCA from 600 to 900 mg/d. RESULTS Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels were significantly decreased following the administration of 900 mg/d as compared to 600 mg/d. The decrease in ALT from immediately before the dose-up of UDCA to 8 wk after the dose-up was 14.3 IU/L, while that for AST was 10.5 IU/L and for GGT was 9.8 IU/L. Platelet count tended to increase after the dose-up of UDCA, although it did not show a statistically significant level (P = 0.05). Minor adverse events were observed in 3 cases, although no drop-outs from the study occurred. CONCLUSION Oral administration of 900 mg/d of UDCA was more effective than 600 mg/d for reducing ALT, AST, and GGT levels in patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease.