Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Can Serum-Specific IgE/Total IgE Ratio Predict Clinical Response to Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy in Children Monosensitized to House Dust Mite?

Background. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) is one of the important regimens for the treatment of allergic diseases. Predictive tests for the clinical response to SIT are limited. In this study we aimed to evaluate whether specific IgE/total IgE levels can predict clinical improvement in monosensitized patients to house dust mite treated with immunotherapy. Patients and Methods. We analyzed 32 patients who had undergone 2 years of SIT. Serum t-IgE and s-IgE levels, and serum s-IgE/t-IgE ratios were calculated and tested for correlation with clinical response to SIT. Asthma symptom score (ASS), rhinitis symptom score (RSS), pulmonary functions and visual analogue scales (VAS) were evaluated at the beginning and after 2 years. Results. There were 17 boys and 15 girls with the mean age of 10.78 ± 3.03 years. The mean serum house dust mite s-IgE level was 128.62 ± 142.61 kU/L, t-IgE 608.90 ± 529.98 IU/mL, and s-IgE/t-IgE ratio 33.83 ± 53.18. Before immunotherapy, ASS was 6.23 ± 1.63, RSS; 8.20 ± 1.88, VAS; 7.38 ± 2.01, FEV1 (%); 89.14 ± 8.48, PEF (%); 88.93 ± 13.57, and after 2 years, these values were determined as 1.90 ± 1.10, 3.05 ± 1.39, 1.35 ± 1.24, 97.6 ± 11.26, and 97.0 ± 11.55, respectively. s-IgE/t-IgE ratio was correlated with change in RSS (r = -0.392, P = 0.08) and VAS (r = -0.367, P = 0.05). Conclusion. Although SIT is very effective treatment, all patients do not benefit from treatment. We assumed that s-IgE/t-IgE ratio would be useful to predict the clinical response to SIT.
On-Line Assessment of Left Atrial Area and Function by Echocardiographic Automatic Boundary Detection

BACKGROUND Direct assessment of left atrial (LA) function has not been previously performed by noninvasive techniques; rather, LA function has been evaluated only indirectly via the analysis of transmitral flow velocity by Doppler. The recent development of real-time two-dimensional echocardiographic automatic boundary detection suggests that LA dimensions can be measured instantaneously to provide on-line assessment of its systolic and diastolic functions. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed echocardiographic assessment of LA dimensions and function with automatic boundary detection in 45 patients by using the apical four-chamber view. Thirty-seven patients had structural or functional cardiac abnormalities, 35 patients were in sinus rhythm, and 10 patients had atrial fibrillation. Moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (MR) was noted in 16 patients. We also studied 10 control subjects to assess normal values of LA cavity area and indexes of function. From the instantaneously derived LA area, we derived indexes of systolic atrial expansion and diastolic atrial emptying. There were excellent correlations between the on-line-derived LA areas and those measured off line from videotaped images of conventional echocardiography (r = .91 for end-diastolic and .93 for end-systolic areas; SEE, 4.0 and 3.8 cm2, respectively). Patients in atrial fibrillation had depressed diastolic emptying index (0.17 +/- 0.05) compared with those in sinus rhythm (0.28 +/- 0.12; P < .02). Furthermore, patients with chronic MR exhibited larger LA cavity areas and depressed systolic and diastolic LA function as compared with those without MR. In addition, the Doppler-determined mitral E/A ratio was related to the ratio of early diastolic-to-late diastolic change in LA cavity area (r = .79; SEE 0.6; n = 35). CONCLUSIONS Instantaneous LA cavity area measurement by echocardiographic automatic boundary detection is accurate and feasible in patients with diverse cardiac disorders. Patients with atrial fibrillation had a depressed diastolic emptying index and those with significant mitral regurgitation had depressed systolic expansion index as well. LA functional indexes in both systole and diastole can be derived providing an approach for quantitative evaluations of left atrial-left ventricular interactions based on geometric assessment noninvasively.
Endotoxin Increases Sleep and Brain Allopregnanolone Concentrations in Newborn Lambs

Infection has been identified as a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Synthesis of allopregnanolone, a neuroactive steroid with potent sedative properties, is increased in response to stress. In this study, we investigated the effect of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) on brain and plasma allopregnanolone concentrations and behavior in newborn lambs. LPS was given intravenously (0.7 μg/kg) at 12 and 15 d of age (n = 7), and resulted in a biphasic febrile response (p < 0.001), hypoglycemia, lactic acidemia (p < 0.05), a reduction in the incidence of wakefulness, and increased nonrapid eye movement sleep and drowsiness (p < 0.05) compared with saline-treated lambs (n = 5). Plasma allopregnanolone and cortisol were significantly (p < 0.05) increased after LPS treatment. These responses to LPS lasted 6–8 h, and were similar at 12 and 15 d of age. Each lamb was then given LPS at 20 d of age and killed 3 h posttreatment to obtain samples of the brain. Allopregnanolone concentrations were increased (p < 0.05) in all brain areas except the cerebellum and diencephalon. We suggest that LPS-induced increase of allopregnanolone in the brain may contribute to somnolence in the newborn, and may be responsible for the reduced arousal thought to contribute to the risk of SIDS in human infants.
Calculations of inflaton decays and reheating: with applications to no-scale inflation models

We discuss inflaton decays and reheating in no-scale Starobinsky-like models of inflation, calculating the effective equation-of-state parameter, w, during the epoch of inflaton decay, the reheating temperature, Treh, and the number of inflationary e-folds, N*, comparing analytical approximations with numerical calculations. We then illustrate these results with applications to models based on no-scale supergravity and motivated by generic string compactifications, including scenarios where the inflaton is identified as an untwisted-sector matter field with direct Yukawa couplings to MSSM fields, and where the inflaton decays via gravitational-strength interactions. Finally, we use our results to discuss the constraints on these models imposed by present measurements of the scalar spectral index ns and the tensor-to-scalar perturbation ratio r, converting them into constraints on N*, the inflaton decay rate and other parameters of specific no-scale inflationary models.
Gangdese magmatism in southern Tibet and India–Asia convergence since 120 Ma

Abstract A compilation of 290 zircon U–Pb ages of intrusive rocks indicates that the Gangdese Batholith in southern Tibet was emplaced from c. 210 Ma to c. 10 Ma. Two intense magmatic pulses within the batholith occur at: (1) 90 ± 5 Ma, which is restricted to 89–94° E in the eastern segment of the southern Lhasa subterrane; and (2) 50 ± 3 Ma, which is widespread across the entire southern Lhasa subterrane. The latter pulse was followed by a phase of widespread but volumetrically small, dominantly felsic adakitic intrusive rocks at 16 ± 2 Ma. The Linzizong volcanism in the Linzhou Basin was active from 60.2 to 52.3 Ma, rather than 69–44 Ma as previously estimated. During 120–75 Ma, Gangdese Batholith magmatism migrated from south to north, arguing against rollback of the downgoing, north-dipping Neo-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere for the generation of the 90 ± 5 Ma magmatic pulse. Petrological, geochemical and metamorphic data indicate that this pulse was likely to have been generated through subduction of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic ridge lithosphere. Subsequent Gangdese Batholith magmatism propagated both south and north during 70–45 Ma, and finally concentrated at the southern margin of the Lhasa Terrane at 45–30 Ma. The enhanced mafic magmatism since c. 70 Ma, magmatic flare-up with compositional diversity at c. 51 Ma and increased magmatic temperature at 52–50 Ma are interpreted as the consequences of slab rollback from c. 70 Ma and slab breakoff of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere that began at c. 53 Ma. The India–Asia convergence was driven by Neo-Tethyan subduction with a normal rate of convergence at 120–95 Ma, ridge subduction at 95–85 Ma, then subduction of a young and buoyant oceanic lithosphere after ridge subduction with rate deceleration at 84–67 Ma, Deccan plume activity and slab rollback with rate acceleration at 67–51 Ma, slab breakoff for sudden drop of the convergence rate at c. 51 Ma, and finally the descent of the high-density Indian continental lithosphere beneath Asia since c. 50 Ma.
Understanding moderating effects of involvement on information disclosure and online group-buying intention

Applying the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), this study investigated the moderating effects of involvement with an online group-buying (OGB) website in relation to the effects of information disclosure on customers’ OGB intentions. This study collected data consisting of a total of 142 responses from individuals with previous experience with purchasing products from OGB websites, and applied the PLS (partial least squares) method to analyze it. The results indicate that the information disclosure of an OGB website positively influences customers’ OGB intention, but this influence is diminished by increasing the level involvement with the OGB websites. On the basis of the results, this study will offer concrete suggestions to enhance consumers’ OGB intentions.
The unfolding of general Petri nets

The unfolding of (1-)safe Petri nets to occurrence nets is well understood. There is a universal characterization of the unfolding of a safe net which is part and parcel of a coreflection from the category of occurrence nets to the category of safe nets. The unfolding of general Petri nets, nets with multiplicities on arcs whose markings are multisets of places, does not possess a directly analogous universal characterization, essentially because there is an implicit symmetry in the multiplicities of general nets, and that symmetry is not expressed in their traditional occurrence net unfoldings. In the present paper, we show how to recover a universal characterization by representing the symmetry in the behaviour of the occurrence net unfoldings of general Petri nets. We show that this is part of a coreflection between enriched categories of general Petri nets with symmetry and occurrence nets with symmetry.
Delay-Based Macromodels for Long Interconnects via Time-Frequency Decompositions

We introduce a new macromodeling scheme for electrically long interconnects characterized by tabulated frequency responses. The transfer function of the interconnect is modeled as a superposition of multiple single-delay atoms, which are identified via a selective inversion of a Gabor transform of the raw frequency data. Each atom is then approximated by a delayed rational function, leading to a highly-efficient SPICE-ready macromodel
The impact of mental state disorder and personality on social functioning in patients engaged in community mental health care

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the degree to which mental state disorder and personality disorder impact on social functioning in patients engaged in secondary mental health care in New Zealand. Method: Patients were interviewed using peer-reviewed instruments able to provide an indication of severity to assess their social functioning, personality status and diagnosis. Univariate correlations and linear regression was used to identify the association between social functioning, mental state disorder and personality. Results: Using simple correlations all diagnostic categories associated with declines in social functioning. In the regression analysis depression and personality dysfunction accounted for 48% of the variance in social functioning. Conclusions: For patients engaged in secondary care, depression and personality dysfunction are significantly associated with poorer social functioning.
Zoltán Balogh Memorial Topology Conference Contributed Problems

We consider below only T1-spaces. The notion of a D-space was introduced by E. van Douwen in [5]. A neighbourhood assignment on a topological space X is a mapping φ of X into the topology T of X such that x ∈ φ(x), for each x ∈ X. A space X is a D-space if, for every neighbourhood assignment φ on X, there exists a closed discrete subset A of X such that the family φ(A) covers X. A principal property of D-spaces is that the extent of any D-space coincides with the Lindelöf number. In particular, every countably compact D-space is compact, and every D-space with the countable extent is Lindelöf.
Develop Methodologies/Protocols to Assess Cracking Potential of Asphalt Mixtures Using Accelerated Pavement Testing

Methodologies were identified which involved the use of the accelerated pavement aging system (APAS) to induce age-hardening of the pavement in the accelerated pavement testing (APT) facility and achieve stiffness profiles consistent with those observed in field-aged pavements, followed by loading with and without wander using the heavy vehicle simulator (HVS). These approaches would allow the evaluation of several hypotheses associated with the development and accumulation of damage and its effect on top-down cracking, as well as hypotheses associated with the energy-based cracking criteria developed in earlier Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) research efforts. Properties determined from falling weight deflectometer (FWD) tests on the pavement sections and Superpave indirect tension tests (IDT) performed on asphalt concrete cores obtained from the pavements at different aging levels have been used to predict stresses, strains, and energies due to applied wheel loads. Excellent correspondence has been observed between predicted and measured strains. Strains measured using gages epoxied to the surface of the pavement are excellent tools for evaluation of pavement load response, but are not good indicators of the development of damage. Top-down cracking was achieved only when the pavement was aged beyond normal levels to reduce fracture resistance and minimize healing potential. However, in contrast with field observations, where top-down cracks are longitudinal, the cracks developed by the heavy vehicle simulator (HVS) were transverse. Theoretical analyses indicated that transverse cracks were explained by the much slower speed of the HVS load that resulted in much greater damage in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction. Several recommendations were made to conduct further investigations and modify the existing APT system to better simulate the mechanisms that lead to top-down cracking in the field.
Sec16 in conventional and unconventional exocytosis: Working at the interface of membrane traffic and secretory autophagy?

Sec16 is classically perceived to be a scaffolding protein localized to the transitional endoplasmic reticulum (tER) or the ER exit sites (ERES), and has a conserved function in facilitating coat protein II (COPII) complex‐mediated ER exit. Recent findings have, however, pointed toward a role for Sec16 in unconventional exocytosis of certain membrane proteins, such as the Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in mammalian cells, and possibly also α‐integrin in certain contexts of Drosophila development. In this regard, Sec16 interacts with components of a recently deciphered pathway of stress‐induced unconventional exocytosis, which is dependent on the tether protein Golgi reassembly stacking proteins (GRASPs) and the autophagy pathway. Intriguingly, Sec16 also appears to be post‐translationally modified by autophagy‐related signaling processes. Sec16 is known to be phosphorylated by the atypical extracellular signal regulated kinase 7 (Erk7) upon serum and amino acid starvation, both represent conditions that trigger autophagy. Recent work has also shown that Sec16 is phosphorylated, and thus regulated by the prominent autophagy‐initiating Unc‐51‐like autophagy activating kinase 1 (Ulk1), as well as another autophagy modulator Leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 (Lrrk2). The picture emerging from Sec16's network of physical and functional interactors allows the speculation that Sec16 is situated (and may in yet undefined ways function) at the interface between COPII‐mediated exocytosis of conventional vesicular traffic and the GRASP/autophagy‐dependent mode of unconventional exocytosis.
Mechanisms Influencing the Timing and Success of Reproductive Migration in a Capital Breeding Semelparous Fish Species, the Sockeye Salmon

Two populations of homing sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka; Adams and Chilko) were intercepted in the marine approaches around the northern and southern ends of Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Canada) en route to a natal river. More than 500 salmon were nonlethally biopsied for blood plasma, gill filament tips, and gross somatic energy (GSE) and were released with either acoustic or radio transmitters. At the time of capture, GSE, body length, and circulating testosterone ([T]) differed between populations, differences that reflected known life‐history variations. Within‐population analyses showed that in Adams sockeye salmon, plasma glucose ([glu]), lactate ([lactate]), and ion concentrations were higher in the northern approach than in the southern approach, suggesting that the former was more stressful. GSE, [T], and gill Na+,K+‐ATPase activities also differed between the two locales, and each varied significantly with Julian date, suggesting seasonality. Despite these relative geographic differences, the timing of river entry and the ability to reach spawning areas were strongly correlated with energetic, reproductive, and osmoregulatory state. Salmon that delayed river entry and reached spawning areas had relatively high GSE and low [T] and gill ATPase. In contrast, salmon that entered the river directly but that ultimately failed to reach spawning areas had lower GSE and higher [T] and gill ATPase, and they also swam at significantly faster rates (failed fish ∼20.0 km d−1 vs. successful fish ∼15.5 km d−1). Physiologically, salmon that did not enter the river at all but that presumably died in the marine environment exhibited high stress (plasma [glu] and [lactate]) and ionoregulatory measures (plasma [Na+], [Cl−], osmolality).
A Simple Stochastic Model with Environmental Transmission Explains Multi-Year Periodicity in Outbreaks of Avian Flu

Avian influenza virus reveals persistent and recurrent outbreaks in North American wild waterfowl, and exhibits major outbreaks at 2–8 years intervals in duck populations. The standard susceptible-infected- recovered (SIR) framework, which includes seasonal migration and reproduction, but lacks environmental transmission, is unable to reproduce the multi-periodic patterns of avian influenza epidemics. In this paper, we argue that a fully stochastic theory based on environmental transmission provides a simple, plausible explanation for the phenomenon of multi-year periodic outbreaks of avian flu. Our theory predicts complex fluctuations with a dominant period of 2 to 8 years which essentially depends on the intensity of environmental transmission. A wavelet analysis of the observed data supports this prediction. Furthermore, using master equations and van Kampen system-size expansion techniques, we provide an analytical expression for the spectrum of stochastic fluctuations, revealing how the outbreak period varies with the environmental transmission.
JTT-130, a Novel Intestine-Specific Inhibitor of Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein, Suppresses Food Intake and Gastric Emptying with the Elevation of Plasma Peptide YY and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 in a Dietary Fat-Dependent Manner

The microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) takes part in the mobilization and secretion of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins from enterocytes and hepatocytes. In this study, we investigated the effects of diethyl-2-({3-dimethylcarbamoyl-4-[(4′-trifluoromethylbiphenyl-2-carbonyl) amino] phenyl}acetyloxymethyl)-2-phenylmalonate (JTT-130), a novel intestine-specific MTP inhibitor, on food intake, gastric emptying, and gut peptides using Sprague-Dawley rats fed 3.1% fat, 13% fat, or 35% fat diets. JTT-130 treatment suppressed cumulative food intake and gastric emptying in rats fed a 35% fat diet, but not a 3.1% fat diet. In rats fed a 13% fat diet, JTT-130 treatment decreased cumulative food intake but not gastric emptying. In addition, treatment with orlistat, a lipase inhibitor, completely abolished the reduction of food intake and gastric emptying by JTT-130 in rats fed a 35% fat diet. On the other hand, JTT-130 treatment increased the plasma concentrations of gut peptides, peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) but not cholecystokinin, in the portal vein in rats fed a 35% fat diet. These elevations in PYY and GLP-1 were also abolished by treatment with orlistat. Furthermore, JTT-130 treatment in rats fed a 35% fat diet increased the contents of triglycerides and free fatty acids in the intestinal lumen, which might contribute to the elevation of PYY and GLP-1 levels. The present findings indicate that JTT-130 causes satiety responses, decreased food intake, and gastric emptying in a dietary fat-dependent manner, with enhanced production of gut peptides such as PYY and GLP-1 from the intestine.
“Living by the hoe” in the age of treatment: perceptions of household well-being after antiretroviral treatment among family members of persons with AIDS

Abstract This paper considers the effects of antiretroviral treatment on the households of person with AIDS in western Uganda. Interviews were carried out with 110 co-resident “treatment partners” of people receiving treatment. We discuss these family members' accounts of the impact of sickness, followed by treatment, on their household's livelihood, defined as the activities needed to obtain and process the resources required to sustain the households. The household's ability to muster labour for subsistence agriculture was of paramount concern when family members considered what treatment meant for the households. While they were very happy with the treatment, they said that households have not yet recovered from the shock of AIDS sicknesses.
Factors Associated with the Incidence and Severity of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Adult Critically Ill Patients

Background Acute Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is common in critically ill patients, with significant morbidity and mortality; however, its incidence and severity in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) from low-income countries are poorly studied. Additionally, impact of vasoactive drugs on its incidence and severity is still not understood. This study aimed to assess epidemiology and risk factors for acute new-onset AF in critically ill adult patients and the role of vasoactive drugs. Method Cohort performed in seven general ICUs (including cardiac surgery) in three cities in Paraná State (southern Brazil) for 45 days. Patients were followed until hospital discharge. Results Among 430 patients evaluated, the incidence of acute new-onset AF was 11.2%. Patients with AF had higher ICU and hospital mortality. Vasoactive drugs use (norepinephrine and dobutamine) was correlated with higher incidence of AF and higher mortality in patients with AF; vasopressin (though used in few patients) had no effect on development of AF. Conclusions In general ICU patients, incidence of new-onset AF was 11.2% with a high impact on morbidity and mortality, particularly associated with the presence of Acute Renal Failure. The use of vasoactive drugs (norepinephrine and dobutamine) could lead to a higher incidence of new-onset AF-associated morbidity and mortality.