Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cytomegalovirus infection of vascular cells induces expression of pro-inflammatory adhesion molecules by paracrine action of secreted interleukin-1beta.

BACKGROUND Infection with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been associated with vascular disease processes such as vascular allograft rejection, transplantation vasculopathy, restenosis after angioplasty, and native atherosclerosis. To elucidate underlying pathomechanisms, the effect of acute HCMV infection on the expression of pro-inflammatory adhesion molecules on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human vascular smooth muscle cells (hvSMC) was examined. METHODS AND RESULTS Cells were infected in vitro with clinical strains of HCMV and the resulting changes in adhesion molecule expression were quantified by histology and flow cytometric analysis. On HUVEC, surface expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin was induced de novo on HCMV infection and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression was increased by >200%. On hvSMC, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 surface expression induced de novo, although vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin were not changed. Expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, lymphocyte-function associated antigen 3 (LFA-3; CD58), and CD40 was not altered by HCMV infection in either cell type. In partially infected cultures, up-regulation of surface molecules also occurred on noninfected cells, suggesting a paracrine mechanism via a soluble factor. Expression of surface molecules could be enhanced in noninfected HUVEC and hvSMC by incubation with virus-free conditioned supernatant from HCMV-infected cells or by coincubation in transwells with infected cells. The responsible agent could be identified as IL- interleukin- (IL) 1beta by detection of de novo secretion of IL-1beta by HCMV-infected cells and by prevention of adhesion molecule up-regulation after addition of an IL-1-converting enzyme inhibitor or IL-1 receptor antagonist. Surface molecule up-regulation could be suppressed by UV inactivation of virus, but not by treatment of cell cultures with inhibitors of viral replication (ganciclovir). CONCLUSION We propose that HCMV infection induces IL-1beta release and subsequent up-regulation of pro-inflammatory adhesion molecules on noninfected neighboring cells through a paracrine mechanism. This may lead to local potentiation of the inflammatory effects of HCMV infection, not amenable to current therapeutic antiviral strategies.
The Adjunctive Effect of Nebulized Furosemide in COPD Exacerbation: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of nebulized furosemide as an adjunct to the conventional treatment of patients with COPD exacerbation in an emergency department. METHODS: In this randomized double-blinded clinical trial, patients with COPD exacerbation were randomized to receive 40 mg nebulized furosemide or placebo as an adjunct to the conventional treatments. We recorded changes in dyspnea severity (measured with a visual analog scale), FEV1, arterial blood gas measurements, blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing frequency at baseline and 1 hour after treatment. RESULTS: We randomized 100 patients, whose mean age was 73.1 ± 8.7 y. The measured variables all improved significantly in both groups. FEV1, dyspnea, pH, mean blood pressure, and heart rate improved significantly more in the furosemide group. CONCLUSIONS: Nebulized furosemide benefits patients with COPD exacerbation.
Understandings of biological kinship ties in social workers’ accounts: A cross-cultural study of out-of-home placements in Norway and France

Although kinship has been the object of growing anthropological interest since the mid-1980s, few studies have concentrated on the cultural understandings of biological kinship ties in the context of out-of-home placements. Drawing on qualitative data from interviews with professionals in Norway and France, this article compares the meanings attributed to biological ties where children are in out-of-home placements. Applying theoretical perspectives from the new kinship studies, the analysis reveals that while a reference to biological ties underlies both the Norwegian and the French accounts, these biological ties are expressed differently. Moreover, these different understandings of biological ties impact on social work practice, for example in respect of parent–child contact. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings for social work practice with children and families.
In response to late tracheotomy is associated with higher morbidity and mortality in mechanically ventilated patients

We sincerely appreciate our colleague’s interest in our paper titled “Late Tracheotomy Is Associated With Higher Morbidity and Mortality in Mechanically Ventilated Patients” and the related commentary. We also kindly thank the editors of The Laryngoscope for the opportunity to respond. Although we certainly agree with several of the points made in the letter and have endorsed them in our own articles, we must correct the perception that we are recommending a fixed time for tracheotomy for all patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. On the contrary, as we stated in our conclusions, we are advocating for development of evidence-based guidelines around tracheotomy decision making that incorporate patient factors, provider factors, and institutional factors that currently influence treatment decision making, and to that end we are advocating for multi-institutional efforts to prospectively document these factors and study them to enable the question of timing to be properly answered. As we also described, we agree that meta-analyses of some randomized controlled trials have shown that timing did not alter outcomes, but have pointed out that the protocols used in these studies may not represent all current practices, as evidenced by the variation in practices between the institutions in our multi-institutional study. We also pointed out that some other well-designed studies have suggested timing can have an impact. We also agree that there is variability and debate about the definition of “early” versus “late” tracheotomy, as noted in our discussion, and appreciate that Dr. Bakshi too feels a consensus should be reached. This further supports our recommendation for multi-institutional and multidisciplinary efforts to continue to study this subject systematically. We appreciate Dr. Bakshi’s description of his own standardized practice of performing elective tracheotomy within 2 or 3 days when prolonged ventilation is anticipated or for severely head-injured patients, as well as his reference to the multi-institutional retrospective study of critically ill patients by Pelosi and Severgnini, which suggests that patients with neurological illnesses had higher rates of tracheotomy. This study supports our assertion that practices vary between institutions, and that there may be merit in systematically studying factors that influence treatment decision making regarding tracheotomy. We again sincerely appreciate the opportunity to discuss decision making around tracheotomy and remain optimistic that continued study can further improve patient outcomes.
Social Structure and Opinion Formation

We present a dynamical theory of opinion formation that takes explicitly into account the structure of the social network in which individuals are embedded. The theory predicts the evolution of a set of opinions through the social network and establishes the existence of a martingale property, i.e. the expected weighted fraction of the population that holds a given opinion is constant in time. Most importantly, this weighted fraction is not either zero or one, but corresponds to a non- trivial distribution of opinions in the long time limit. This coexistence of opinions within a social network is in agreement with the often observed locality effect, in which an opinion or a fad is localized to given groups without infecting the whole society. We verified these predictions as well as others concerning the fragility of opinions and the importance of highly connected individuals by computer experiments on scale-free networks.
COLLEGE CHEATING - A SIX YEAR FOLLOW-UP

According to various researchers, between 25% up to and in excess of 90% of all college students engage in some form of cheating. Traditionally, cheating includes inappropriate collaborations on a homework assignment, a cheat sheet hidden up a student’s sleeve or more recently on the back of a water bottle label, as well as those wondering eyes during an exam. While these types of events still occur, recent technology advances have provided even more avenues for unacceptable academic behavior. Devices such as iPods, PDAs, cellular phones, and even some calculators can “instant message” within the classroom. They also store volumes of text and can connect to the internet. In addition, textbook authors and publishers now routinely provide end of chapter answers and exam question pools for instructors which have been illicitly obtained by students. In some cases, a naive educator will make it even easier for students to cheat by posting these items on an open website for the entire world to see. Given the extraordinary efforts that students will go to cheat and remain undetected, educators can become very frustrated. This paper describes the actions one Engineering Professor has been taking in his classes to minimize the amount of cheating. The results of a 2011 engineering student survey by the author on cheating are reviewed and compared with the same survey completed 6 years earlier. Students were asked if they knew someone who cheated, if they themselves cheated, and the reasons why. Previous works by other educators along with preventative measures as well as few actual cases are also described.
Task Allocation in Torus Mesh Networks Using Differential Evolution

In the paper, the problem of efficient task allocation in torus mesh network is considered. The authors tested the implemented metaheuristic algorithm which is based on Differential Evaluation method. The focus is taken on tuning the algorithm, i.e., choosing the best parameters of mutation scheme. The research was made using the new designed and implemented experimentation system. Ten mutation schemes were taken into consideration. These schemes and a random algorithm as the reference were compared. The results of experiments showed that using one of mutation schemes called DE/rand/1 can ensure the greatest profit.
nterruption management and office norms : Technology adoption essons from a product commercialization study

This paper explores factors that influence technology adoption in an office environment, with an emphasis on technology aimed at managing focused and collaborative work by reducing unwelcome interruptions for its users. Based on surveys, focus groups, and usability studies, our findings suggest that workplace social norms play a pivotal role in the adoption and use of interruption management technologies. Our findings display a marked lag of social norms behind the importance placed on uninterrupted time by individuals; even when individuals see the efficacy of the technology, they often misjudge their peers’ attitudes, underestimating their colleagues’ similar needs. In spite of high levels of perceived usefulness reported by our participants, need and ease of use alone were insufficient to predict uptake; when technology has implications for the office behavioral environment, it must be supported by social norms encouraging adoption. Our results further suggest that feedback, which actively engages a product’s user, could be crucial to encouraging prolonged use and enhancing the user experience. Although the findings are drawn from a pre-commercialization study of an interruption management technology, they are broadly relevant to technology adoption cases, with special salience for those within the office context. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Do people ruminate because they haven't digested their goals? The relations of rumination and reflection to goal internalization and ambivalence

In three studies it was investigated whether rumination was related to less internalized self-regulation and goals and whether reflection was related to more internalized self-regulation and goals. In all studies stu- dents completed questionnaires measuring rumination, reflection, and internalization of self-regulation and goals. In Study 1, rumination was related to less internalized self- regulation, whereas reflection was related to more inter- nalized self-regulation. In Study 2, rumination was related to less internalized self-regulation and goals as well as to more avoidance- and extrinsic content of goals. Reflection was related to more internalized self-regulation and goals as well as to less avoidance content of goals. In Study 3, goal-specific rumination was related to less internalized goals and goal-specific reflection was related to more internalized goals. Collectively, the studies suggest that internalization of self-regulation and goals is critical for distinguishing between unconstructive and constructive self-focused repetitive thoughts.
Racial Difference in Mortality Among U.S. Veterans with HCV/HIV Coinfection

OBJECTIVES:This study was performed to examine the impact of viral coinfections and race on clinical and virological outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.METHODS:Three groups of patients (265 HCV/HIV coinfected, 251 HCV monoinfected, 227 HIV monoinfected) were identified between 2000 and 2002 from the computerized patient record system at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center and analyzed for clinical and virological parameters.RESULTS:HCV/HIV coinfection was associated with higher frequency of liver function abnormalities (37%vs 21%vs 20%; p 0.0003) and greater mortality (17%vs 6%vs 9% over 3 yr period, p= 0.0003, p= 0.027) compared to HCV or HIV monoinfection, respectively. However, HCV/HIV coinfection was not associated with worsened HIV-related parameters (CD4 count, HIV titer, and use of antiretroviral therapy) or increased HCV titers compared to HIV or HCV monoinfection in our population, respectively. Interestingly, mortality among HCV/HIV coinfected patients was significantly greater in white than in black patients (31%vs 15%, p= 0.011). This racial disparity in mortality was not apparent in the monoinfected groups and not explained by HBV coinfection or history of alcohol use disorder.CONCLUSIONS:We conclude that HCV/HIV coinfection is associated with worsened liver disease and higher mortality than HCV- or HIV-monoinfection without directly influencing CD4 count and HCV or HIV titers. Furthermore, we demonstrated a racial disparity in survival of HCV/HIV-coinfected patients that needs further investigation.
Validation of Reference Genes for the Relative Quantification of Gene Expression in Human Epicardial Adipose Tissue

Background Relative quantification is a commonly used method for assessing gene expression, however its accuracy and reliability is dependent upon the choice of an optimal endogenous control gene, and such choice cannot be made a priori. There is limited information available on suitable reference genes to be used for studies involving human epicardial adipose tissue. The objective of the current study was to evaluate and identify optimal reference genes for use in the relative quantification of gene expression in human epicardial fat depots of lean, overweight and obese subjects. Methodology/Principal Findings Some of the commonly used reference genes including 18S, ACTB, RPL27, HPRT, CYCA, GAPDH, RPLPO, POLR2A and B2M were quantified using real-time PCR analysis. The expression stability of these genes was evaluated using Genorm, Normfinder and Bestkeeper algorithms. In addition, the effect of sample size on the validation process was studied by randomly categorizing subjects in two cohorts of n = 2 and n = 33. Conclusions/Significance CYCA, GAPDH and RPL27 were identified as the most stable genes common to all three algorithms and both sample sizes. Their use as reference gene pairs might contribute to the enhanced robustness of relative quantification in the studies involving the human epicardial adipose tissue.
EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP OF RISK, TREATMENT READINESS, AND THERAPEUTIC CHANGE TO RECIDIVISM IN A SAMPLE OF TREATED SEX OFFENDERS

ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS. v LIST OF TABLES. viii LIST OF FIGURES. ix LIST OF APPENDICES. x Chapter 1. EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TREATMENT READINESS, THERAPEUTIC CHANGE, AND RECIDIVISM AMONG SEX OFFENDERS. 1 1. LITERATURE REVIEW. 2 1.1 The Evolution of Risk Assessment. 2 1.2 Recidivism among Sex Offenders. 3 1.3 Risk Assessment with Sex Offenders. 4 1.3.1 Risk factors for sexual recidivism. 4 1.3. 2 Domains of sex offender risk and need. 6 1.3.3 A review of selected sex offender risk assessment tools. 8 1.3.3.1 SONAR and STABLE 2000/2007. 9 1 . 3.3. 2 Violence Risk Scale – Sexual Offender version. 11 1.3.3.3 Treatment Readiness, Responsivity, and Gain Scale: Screening Version. 12 1.3. 4 Risk assessment with the aging sex offender. 13 1.3. 5 An updated review of sex offender risk assessment: Findings and conclusions. 16 1.4 Treatment with Sex Offenders. 18 1.4. 1 Results from meta-analysis. 18 1.4. 2 Results from selected single treatment outcome studies: Considerations with respect to the principles of effective correctional intervention. 23 1.5 Treatment Change among Sex Offenders. 32 1.5. 1 Examinations of within treatment change from sex offender programs on psychological variables targeted for treatment. 34 1.6 Treatment Attrition among Sex Offenders. 42 1.7 Purpose of the Present Study. 47 1.8 Hypotheses. 47 1.8. 1 Section 1: Validity of the risk assessment measures. 47 1.8. 1.1 Convergent validity. 48 1.8. 1.2 Predictive validity. 48 1.8. 2 Section 2: Validity of the change measures. 48 1.8. 2.1 Convergent validity. 48 1.8. 2.2 Predictive validity. 49 1.8. 3 Section 3: Treatment attrition. 49 Chapter 2. METHOD. 50 2.1 Participants. 50 2.2 Sex Offender Classification. 51 2.3 The Clearwater Sex Offender Treatment Program. 54 2.4 Materials. 55 2.4. 1 Static-99. 55
Role of oxidative stress in high glucose-induced decreased expression of G i (cid:1) proteins and adenylyl cyclase signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells

Role of oxidative stress in high glucose-induced decreased expression of G i (cid:1) proteins and adenylyl cyclase signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells. Am J Physiol Physiol 2008. have recently shown that aorta from streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and A10 vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) exposed to high glucose exhibited decreased levels of inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (G i ) (cid:1) proteins. In the present studies, we investigated the implication of oxidative stress in the hyperglycemia/diabetes-induced decreased expression of the G i (cid:1) protein and adenylyl cyclase signaling in VSMCs by using antioxidants. The levels of G i (cid:1) proteins were signiﬁcantly decreased in A10 VSMCs exposed to high glucose and in aortic VSMCs from STZ-diabetic rats compared with control cells and were restored to control levels by antioxidants. In addition, 111 Mn-tetralis(benzoic acid porphyrin) and uric acid, scavengers of peroxynitrite, and N G -nitro- L -arginine methyl ester, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase but not catalase, also restored the high glucose-induced decreased expression of G i (cid:1) proteins to the control levels in A10 VSMCs. Furthermore, the enhanced production of superoxide anion (O 2 (cid:2) ) and increased activity of NADPH oxidase in these cells were also restored to control levels by diphenyleneiodonium, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase. In addition, the diminished inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity by inhibitory hormones and forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity by low concentrations of GTP (cid:3) S as well as the enhanced stimulation of adenylyl cyclase by stimulatory agonists in hyperglycemic cells were restored to control levels by antioxidant treatments. These results suggest that high glucose-induced decreased levels of G i (cid:1) proteins and associated signaling in A10 VSMCs may be attributed to the enhanced oxidative stress due to augmented levels of peroxynitrite and not to H 2 O 2 . as SE. at
Personalities of Predelinquent Boys, The

Dr. Starke R. Hathaway was Professor and Director of the Division of Clinical Psychology in the University of Minnesota Medical School when this article was prepared. He has had a broad experience in his profession since 1932. At present he is Acting Professor of Psychology and Thomas Walton Stanford Research Fellow in Stanford University. Dr. Hathaway has been associated with Dr. Monachesi in the preparation and publication of "Analyzing and Predicting Juvenile Delinquency with the MMPI. "
DNA Fragmentation Induced in Human Fibroblasts by 56Fe Ions: Experimental Data and Monte Carlo Simulations

Abstract Campa, A. , Alloni, D. , Antonelli, F. , Ballarini, F. , Belli, M. , Dini, V. , Esposito, G. , Facoetti, A. , Friedland, W. , Furusawa, Y. , Liotta, M. , Ottolenghi, A. , Paretzke, H. G. , Simone, G. , Sorrentino, E. and Tabocchini, M. A. DNA Fragmentation Induced in Human Fibroblasts by 56Fe Ions: Experimental Data and Monte Carlo Simulations. Radiat. Res. 171, 438–445 (2009). We studied the DNA fragmentation induced in human fibroblasts by iron-ion beams of two different energies: 115 MeV/nucleon and 414 MeV/nucleon. Experimental data were obtained in the fragment size range 1–5700 kbp; Monte Carlo simulations were performed with the PARTRAC code; data analysis was also performed through the Generalized Broken Stick (GBS) model. The comparison between experimental and simulated data for the number of fragments produced in two different size ranges, 1–23 kbp and 23–5700 kbp, gives a satisfactory agreement for both radiation qualities. The Monte Carlo simulations also allow the counting of fragments outside the experimental range: The number of fragments smaller than 1 kbp is large for both beams, although with a strong difference between the two cases. As a consequence, we can compute different RBEs depending on the size range considered for the fragment counting. The PARTRAC evaluation takes into account fragments of all sizes, while the evaluation from the experimental data considers only the fragments in the range of 1–5700 kbp. When the PARTRAC evaluation is restricted to this range, the agreement between experimental and computed RBE values is again good. When fragments smaller than 1 kbp are also considered, the RBE increases considerably, since γ rays produce a small number of such fragments. The analysis performed with the GBS model proved to be quite sensitive to showing, with a phenomenological single parameter, variations in double-strand break (DSB) correlation.
Autoantibodies to the mitotic spindle apparatus in Mycoplasma pneumoniae disease

Antibodies to the mitotic spindle apparatus (MS) have been detected in only a very few patient sera studied for antinuclear antibodies by routine screening (G. A. McCarty, D. W. Velencia, and M. J. Fritzler, J. Rheumatol. 11:213-218, 1984). We found anti-MS antibodies to be quite common in sera from patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, especially in those who developed cold agglutinins (71%). Absorption experiments indicated that the formation of anti-MS antibodies is not triggered by epitopes on the M. pneumoniae surface. These antibodies were distinct from cold agglutinins, antibrain antibodies, and smooth-muscle antibodies. All patients previously reported to harbor anti-MS had clinical features compatible with a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, or an evolving connective-tissue disorder. Such systemic disorders might develop in a small proportion of patients who have had M. pneumoniae illness.