Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Approach to Patients with Severe Asthma: a Consensus Statement from the Respiratory Care Experts’ Input Forum (RC-EIF), Iran

Challenges in the assessment, diagnosis and management of severe, difficult-to-control asthma are increasingly regarded as clinical needs yet unmet. The assessments required to determine asthma severity, comorbidities and confounding factors, disease phenotypes and optimal treatment are among the controversial issues in the field. The respiratory care experts’ input forum (RC-EIF), comprised of an Iranian panel of experts, reviewed the definition, appraised the available guidelines and provided a consensus for evaluation and treatment of severe asthma in adults. A systematic literature review followed by discussions during and after the forum, yielded the present consensus. The expert panel used the appraisal of guidelines for research and evaluation-II (AGREE-II) protocol to define an initial locally-adapted strategy for the management of severe asthma. Severe asthma is considered a heterogeneous condition with various phenotypes. Issues such as assessment of difficult-to-control asthma, phenotyping, the use of blood and sputum eosinophil count, exhaled nitric oxide to guide therapy, the position of anti-IgE antibody, methotrexate, macrolide antibiotics, antifungal agents and bronchial thermoplasty as well as the use of established, recently-developed and evolving treatment approaches were discussed and unanimously agreed upon in the panel. A systematic approach is required to ensure proper diagnosis, evaluate compliance, and to identify comorbidities and triggering factors in severe asthma. Phenotyping helps select optimized treatment. The treatment approach laid down by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) needs to be followed, while the benefit of using biological therapies should be weighed against the cost and safety concerns.
Characterization of Foxp2 and Foxp1 mRNA and protein in the developing and mature brain

Foxp2 and Foxp1 are recently identified members of the Fox family of winged‐helix/forkhead transcription factor genes. A recent study has found that mutations in human FOXP2 produce a severe language disorder. Since Foxp2 appears to be important in language, we wanted to explore the expression of this gene and a homologous gene, Foxp1, in the developing brain. In the present study, we investigated the time course and localization of Foxp2 and Foxp1 mRNA and protein expression in the developing and adult mouse using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Foxp2 and Foxp1 are expressed as early as E12.5 and persist into adulthood. Foxp2 and Foxp1 were most highly expressed in the developing and mature basal ganglia. Expression of Foxp2 was also observed in the cerebral cortex (layer 6), cerebellum (Purkinje neurons), and thalamus. Foxp1 expression was observed in the cerebral cortex (layers 3–5), hippocampus (CA1), and thalamus. Very little ventricular zone expression was observed for Foxp2 and Foxp1 and the expression of both of these genes occurred following neuronal migration, suggesting a role for these genes in postmigratory neuronal differentiation. Furthermore, we demonstrated the expression of FOXP2 in human fetal brain by RT‐PCR, in the perisylvian area of the left and right cerebral hemispheres, as well as in the frontal and occipital cortices. Overall, the widespread expression of Foxp2 in the developing brain makes it difficult to draw specific conclusions about which areas of Foxp2 expression are critical to human language function. J. Comp. Neurol. 460:266–279, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Epithelial (E‐) and placentae (P‐) cadherin cell adhesion molecule expression in breast carcinoma

Two members of the cadherin family of intercellular adhesion molecules are found in normal breast tissue: E‐ (epithelial) cadherin is present in both luminal and myoepithelial cells, whereas P‐ (placental) cadherin is confined to myoepithelium. There is experimental evidence that loss of E‐cadherin is associated with increased invasiveness of malignant cells in vitro, which stimulated us to examine the presence and distribution of E‐ and P‐cadherin in breast carcinomas by means of immunohistochemical staining.
Visiting Hour Policies in Intensive Care Units, Southern Iran

: Admission to intensive care unit is potentially a stressful experience for both the patients and their families. Visiting policies can affect the patients’ conditions and consequently their families. The present study aims to investigate the current status of the visiting hours and policies in intensive care units, Fars, southern Iran.This descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in summer 2009 and was prepared and filled for each unit. The data were collected through face-to-face and telephone talks with the head nurses of the units.In the present survey, 71 intensive care units were studied, consisting of general (20%), specialist (17%), neonatal/pediatric (18%) and cardiac (38%) units in private centers, university teaching and governmental non-teaching hospitals. As the data showed, restrictions were on the numbers of visitors, age and hours of visitation in all units. The study were reviewed and approved by the ethics committee of Shiraz university of Medical Sciences, Iran. Considering the benefit of the open visiting policies, revision of the existing ones is adopted.
Reduced Placental Telomere Length during Pregnancies Complicated by Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Objectives Recent studies have shown that telomere length was significantly reduced in placentas collected at delivery from pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction secondary to placental insufficiency. Placental telomere length measurement during ongoing pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction has never been reported. This was the main objective of our study. Methods In our center, late chorionic villus samplings were performed between 18 and 37 weeks of amenorrhea in 24 subjects with severe intrauterine growth restriction (cases) and in 28 subjects with other indications for prenatal diagnosis (controls). Placental insufficiency was assessed by histo-pathological examination. Relative measurement of telomere length was carried out prospectively by quantitative Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization using fluorescent Peptide Nucleic Acid probes on interphase nuclei obtained from long-term cultured villi and with an automated epifluorescent microscope. A quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction technique was performed to confirm the quantitative Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization results. The number of copies of gene loci encoding the RNA template (hTERC) and the catalytic subunit (hTERT) of the enzyme complex telomerase were also estimated in these placentas by Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization. Results Mean fluorescence intensity of telomere probes estimated by quantitative Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization was significantly less for cases compared to controls (p<0.001). This result indicated that mean telomere length was significantly reduced in placentas during pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction. Reduced telomere length was confirmed by the quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction technique. No copy number variation of the hTERC and hTERT loci was noticed for cases, or for controls. Conclusion This study clearly demonstrates a reduction of placental telomere length in ongoing pregnancies (from 18 to 37 weeks of amenorrhea) complicated by severe intrauterine growth restriction secondary to placental insufficiency.
Fuzzy tracking control design for nonlinear dynamic systems via T-S fuzzy model

This study introduces a fuzzy control design method for nonlinear systems with a guaranteed H/sub /spl infin// model reference tracking performance. First, the Takagi and Sugeno (TS) fuzzy model is employed to represent a nonlinear system. Next, based on the fuzzy model, a fuzzy observer-based fuzzy controller is developed to reduce the tracking error as small as possible for all bounded reference inputs. The advantage of proposed tracking control design is that only a simple fuzzy controller is used in our approach without feedback linearization technique and complicated adaptive scheme. By the proposed method, the fuzzy tracking control design problem is parameterized in terms of a linear matrix inequality problem (LMIP). The LMIP can be solved very efficiently using the convex optimization techniques. Simulation example is given to illustrate the design procedures and tracking performance of the proposed method.
Thymoma production of T cell growth factor (Interleukin 2).

Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate stimulates a subline of mouse EL-4 thymoma cells to produce, in vitro, in very high titer, T cell growth factor (Interleukin 2, IL 2). The EL-4-derived IL 2 has the same m.w. (30,000) and isoelectric point heterogeneity (pI 3.8-4.4) as the IL 2 produced by Con A-stimulated spleen cells. In addition, the thymoma-derived IL 2 exhibits the same spectrum of biologic activities as has been reported for spleen cell-derived IL 2.
Development of severe skeletal defects in induced SHP-2-deficient adult mice: a model of skeletal malformation in humans with SHP-2 mutations

SUMMARY SHP-2 (encoded by PTPN11) is a ubiquitously expressed protein tyrosine phosphatase required for signal transduction by multiple different cell surface receptors. Humans with germline SHP-2 mutations develop Noonan syndrome or LEOPARD syndrome, which are characterized by cardiovascular, neurological and skeletal abnormalities. To study how SHP-2 regulates tissue homeostasis in normal adults, we used a conditional SHP-2 mouse mutant in which loss of expression of SHP-2 was induced in multiple tissues in response to drug administration. Induced deletion of SHP-2 resulted in impaired hematopoiesis, weight loss and lethality. Most strikingly, induced SHP-2-deficient mice developed severe skeletal abnormalities, including kyphoses and scolioses of the spine. Skeletal malformations were associated with alterations in cartilage and a marked increase in trabecular bone mass. Osteoclasts were essentially absent from the bones of SHP-2-deficient mice, thus accounting for the osteopetrotic phenotype. Studies in vitro revealed that osteoclastogenesis that was stimulated by macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) was defective in SHP-2-deficient mice. At least in part, this was explained by a requirement for SHP-2 in M-CSF-induced activation of the pro-survival protein kinase AKT in hematopoietic precursor cells. These findings illustrate an essential role for SHP-2 in skeletal growth and remodeling in adults, and reveal some of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved. The model is predicted to be of further use in understanding how SHP-2 regulates skeletal morphogenesis, which could lead to the development of novel therapies for the treatment of skeletal malformations in human patients with SHP-2 mutations.
Detection of Vowel Offset Point From Speech Signal

Vowel regions play important role in various speech tasks, such as speech segmentation, speaker-verification, prosody modification and emotion conversion. The instants at which the onset and offset of vowel take place in the speech signal are known as vowel onset point and vowel offset point, respectively. Vowel regions start with the vowel onset point and end with the vowel offset point. In this letter, we have proposed two methods for determining the vowel offset points from the speech signal. The first method explores the combination of evidences from excitation source, spectral peaks and modulation spectrum for determining the vowel offset point. In the second method, spectral energy within glottal closure region is used for determining the vowel offset point. The proposed vowel offset point detection methods are evaluated on TIMIT database under clean and noisy environments.
Innate Immune Responses and Permissiveness to Ranavirus Infection of Peritoneal Leukocytes in the Frog Xenopus laevis

ABSTRACT Ranaviruses such as frog virus 3 ([FV3] family Iridoviridae) are increasingly prevalent pathogens that infect reptiles, amphibians, and fish worldwide. Whereas studies in the frog Xenopus laevis have revealed the critical involvement of CD8 T-cell and antibody responses in host resistance to FV3, little is known about the role played by innate immunity to infection with this virus. We have investigated the occurrence, composition, activation status, and permissiveness to infection of peritoneal leukocytes (PLs) in Xenopus adults during FV3 infection by microscopy, flow cytometry, and reverse transcription-PCR. The total number of PLs and the relative fraction of activated mononucleated macrophage-like cells significantly increase as early as 1 day postinfection (dpi), followed by NK cells at 3 dpi, before the peak of the T-cell response at 6 dpi. FV3 infection also induces a rapid upregulation of proinflammatory genes including arginase 1, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Although PLs are susceptible to FV3 infection, as evidenced by apoptotic cells, active FV3 transcription, and the detection of viral particles by electron microscopy, the infection is weaker (fewer infectious particles), more transitory, and involves a smaller fraction (less than 1%) of PLs than the kidney, the main site of infection. However, viral DNA remains detectable in PLs for at least 3 weeks postinfection, past the point of viral clearance observed in the kidneys. This suggests that although PLs are actively involved in anti-FV3 immune responses, some of these cells can be permissive and harbor quiescent, asymptomatic FV3.
Neonatal Seizures: Treatment and Treatment Variability in 31 United States Pediatric Hospitals

Neonatal seizures are one of the most common neurological disorders in infants. However, the optimal treatment strategy for neonatal seizures remains controversial and there is little data regarding current treatment of neonatal seizures. In this study we describe the current treatment of neonatal seizures and variation in practice among 31 pediatric hospitals in the United States. We retrospectively identified 6099 infants hospitalized in the first month of life in one of 31 pediatric hospitals participating in the Pediatric Health Information System, with a discharge diagnosis of seizure. As expected, most treated infants received phenobarbital. However, there was significant interhospital variability for all treatments studied including any antiepileptic drug treatment, phenytoin treatment, antiepileptic drug treatment through discharge, number of antiepileptic drugs used, and treatment with pyridoxine (P < .001). These findings highlight the need for rigorous controlled outcome studies to determine optimal therapy for neonatal seizures and devise treatment standards.
Thrombospondin-2 Polymorphism Is Associated With a Reduced Risk of Premature Myocardial Infarction

Objective—Recently, polymorphisms in thrombospondin (THBS) genes coding for THBS-1 (N700S), THBS-2 (T>G substitution in 3′-untranslated region), and THBS-4 (A387P) genes were proposed to modulate the risk of premature coronary artery disease (CAD) or myocardial infarction (MI). It was our objective to verify this hypothesis in an independent cohort. Methods and Results—We performed a case-control study among patients (n=503) referred to our institution for symptomatic CAD that occurred before the age of 50 years and a group of age- and sex-matched population-based controls free of CAD (n=1071). The THBS-1 variant allele was not associated with an altered risk of premature CAD or MI. Homozygosity for the THBS-2 variant allele and the THBS-4 variant (387P) allele was significantly associated with a reduced risk of premature MI compared with wild-type individuals (OR=0.44, 0.24 to 0.84 and OR=0.43, 0.22 to 0.85, respectively). The latter observation is in contrast with a previous report, although confidence intervals overlap. Conclusions—We conclude that a relationship between the THBS-1 N700S polymorphism and premature CAD is unlikely. For the THBS-4 A387P polymorphism, additional studies are required to elucidate its role in premature CAD. Finally, we conclude that the THBS-2 polymorphism is associated with a reduced risk of premature MI.
Hal-Hal yang Mendasari Penerapan Kurikulum 2013

Eventhough there were pros and cons about a new curriculum, in the early academic year of 2013-2014 the Ministry of Education and Culture made an arrangement of new curriculum 2013. The curriculum would be done in classification (step by step) for basic education (elementary and secondary school) and also middle education. This study aims to get some information about the reason of the curriculum was designed. Moreover research used literature study to learn and understand the reason about government’s decision to implement the curriculum. The results showed that the curriculum is essentially an effort to simplify the curriculum using thematic-integrative model and emphasizing on natural, social, art, and culture phenomena. The emphasis is to enhance the ability of learners (students) to observe, ask, use their reason and communicate (present) their knowledge after receiving learning materials at school. Nonetheless, there are some things that should have serious attention from the government, which, if they are not anticipated, become obstacles to the successful implementation of the curriculum 2013. These things include training of the teachers and other education personnels to implement the curriculum 2013, the availability of handbook for teachers and students, as well as the governance readiness in education unit-level.
Mycoparasitism of Rhizoctonia solani by Endophytic Chaetomium spirale ND35 : Ultrastructure and Cytochemistry of the Interaction

The interaction between endophytic biocontrol agent Chaetomium spirale ND35 and the soil-borne plant pathogen Rhizoctonia solani was studied by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), as well as further investigated by gold cytochemistry to assess the potential role of cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs) during the mycoparasitic process. Macroscopic observations of fungal growth in dual cultures revealed that pathogen growth inhibition occurred soon after contact with the antagonist, followed by the overgrowth of C. spirale on the colony of R. solani. The coiling of C. spirale around R. solani and intracellular growth of the antagonist in its host occurred frequently. Moreover, in advanced stage of interaction between the antagonist and the pathogen, The growth and development of C. spirale were associated with highly morphological changes of the host fungal cell, characterized by retraction of plasma membrane and cytoplasm disorganization. Further, TEM investigations through localization by gold immunocytochemistry showed that contact between the two fungi was mediated by an amorphous β-1,3-glucan-enriched matrix originating from cell wall of the antagonist C. spirale and sticking to its host surface. At the same time, the hemispherical wall appositions which were intensely labeled by the antibodies of β-1, 3-glucan in cell wall of R. solani were induced to form at sites of potential antagonist entry. However, the antagonist was capable of penetrating this barrier, indicating that β-1,3-glucanases were produced during the mycoparasitic process. Localization of N-acetylglucosamine residues (chitin) with the gold-labelled wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) implicated that chitinases might be involved in the CWD of R. solani in this antagonistic process as well. This report is the first evidence about mechanisms of the interactions between C. spirale and R. solani in ultrastructural and cytochemical aspects.
Classification of cutaneous malignant melanoma

Human cutaneous malignant melanoma currently is classified into four principle types: nodular, superficial spreading, lentigo maligna, and acral lentiginous. The criteria for the histopathologic diagnosis of these types are not applied consistently. Nevertheless, the classification has become the foundation of many clinical, histopathologic, epidemiologic, and molecular studies. The results of those studies can have validity only if the classification itself is valid. For this reason, the authors reassessed histopathologic criteria advocated for the distinction of the different types of melanoma and searched for other repeatable constellations of findings that may serve to define distinct subsets of the neoplasm.
Casual sex and psychological health among young adults: is having "friends with benefits" emotionally damaging?

CONTEXT Speculation in public discourse suggests that sexual encounters outside a committed romantic relationship may be emotionally damaging for young people, and federal abstinence education policy has required teaching that sexual activity outside of a marital relationship is likely to have harmful psychological consequences. METHODS In 2003-2004, a diverse sample of 1,311 sexually active young adults (mean age, 20.5) participating in a longitudinal study in Minnesota completed a survey including measures of sexual behavior and psychological wellbeing. Chi-square tests were used to compare the prevalence of recent casual partnerships by selected demographic and personal categories. General linear modeling was then used to compare mean levels of each psychological wellbeing measure between those reporting recent casual partners and those reporting committed partners; partner type was measured both dichotomously and categorically. RESULTS One-fifth of participants reported that their most recent sex partner was a casual partner (i.e., casual acquaintance or close but nonexclusive partner). Casual partnerships were more common among men than among women (29% vs. 14%), and the proportions of male and female respondents reporting a recent casual partner differed by race or ethnicity. Scores of psychological well-being were generally consistent across sex partner categories, and no significant associations between partner type and well-being were found in adjusted analyses. CONCLUSIONS Young adults who engage in casual sexual encounters do not appear to be at greater risk for harmful psychological outcomes than sexually active young adults in more committed relationships.
Topic detection and tracking in English and Chinese

Topic Detection and Tracking (TDT) refers to automatic techniques for discovering, threading, and retrieving topically related material in streams of data. Newswire and broadcast news are the canonical sources. In 1999, TDT research was extended from English to Chinese, and carefully annotated multilingual corpora were created. Researchers devised clever approaches to the cross-language challenge, and formal performance evaluations yielded very promising results. This paper outlines the 1999 research tasks, corpora, evaluation procedures, technical approaches, and results. The multilingual, multimedia research and evaluations are continuing in 2000 and 2001 under the DARPA TIDES program.