Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunologic and clinical responses to parenteral immunotherapy in peanut anaphylaxis--a study using IgE and IgG4 immunoblot monitoring.

BACKGROUND Specific desensitisation to food allergens, which produce anaphylaxis after ingestion, has not been considered as a treatment for food allergy until recently. The purpose of this study was to assess if a parenteral immunotherapy program, using a partially characterised crude peanut extract, could induce a state of immunological tolerance in a patient who exhibited anaphylaxis, asthma and urticaria on exposure to peanut and other legumes. A further aim was to measure the serum antibody responses to the immunotherapy. METHODS AND RESULTS We report the successful desensitisation towards all of the legumes tested of a male patient on parenteral immunotherapy using a partially characterised peanut extract. The immunologic parameters measured during treatment included specific IgE and IgG4 for peanut, soybean, pea and lentil extracts. Immunoblots of specific IgE and IgG4 were made before and after therapy. The antibody response followed the same pattern seen in successful desensitisation of patients with bee venom anaphylaxis. The IgG4 levels increased strongly from a low pre-treatment level in proportion to the antigen dose received. The antigen-specific IgE levels gradually fell from a high pretreatment level, but remained significantly elevated. Immunoblotting for specific IgE and IgG4 demonstrated that acquisition of clinical tolerance after therapy was associated with declines in the number and intensity of bands in IgE blots and the development of more bands of increasing density in the IgG4 blots. CONCLUSIONS Parenteral immunotherapy may offer an alternative treatment to lifelong dietary restriction and epinephrine injections in patients who exhibit life-threatening IgE-mediated anaphylaxis to peanut. Cross desensitisation to other legumes appears to have occurred in this study. The quality and potency of the extract used is an important factor in achieving the desired acquisition of clinical tolerance. In our patient this tolerance correlated with his ability to maintain high levels of specific IgG4, which acted as a marker of protection against anaphylaxis. The use of IgG4 immunoblotting may provide an improved level of discrimination in the assessment of correlation of clinical efficacy with the immunologic response.
Using an AHP-ISM Based Method to Study the Vulnerability Factors of Urban Rail Transit System

As a sustainable means of public transportation, urban rail transit system undergoes rapid expansion in China. How to provide a safe and reliable service has been the subject of growing attention in this context. However, such work is challenging because rail transit systems are quite vulnerable and influenced by a set of interacting factors. Studying these vulnerability factors will contribute significantly to the operation of rail transit system. From this perspective, this paper made an exploration of the vulnerability factors based on an integrated method consisting of AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) and ISM (Interpretative Structural Modeling). Based on literature review, 21 vulnerability factors were identified. Subsequently, expert elicitation was employed to ascertain the importance of each factor and the interrelations among them. The results suggest that management and individual factors have the highest importance weights and the interrelations among vulnerability factors could be expressed as a five-layer structure, in which management factors were inclined to be at the lower level. The research provides valuable information for decision makers to take proactive strategies and reinforcement policies to guarantee safety operation of urban rail transit system and ensure urban public safety, which could promote the sustainable development of cities.
Mothers' attributions following their child's diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder

Although the impact of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) on the family is well recognized, the way mothers attempt to make sense of the diagnosis is largely unexplored. However, in other disabilities, attributions have been shown to predict a variety of outcomes including maternal wellbeing and engagement in treatment. Using Weiner's (1985) three-dimensional model, 16 mothers were interviewed to examine the nature and impact of their beliefs about their child's ASD using semi-structured interviews and measures of depression, parenting stress and expectations for their child's future. The findings suggested that mothers made a diverse and complex range of attributions that were consistent with Weiner's dimensions of locus of cause, stability and controllability. The nature of their attributions reflected particular difficulties associated with ASDs, such as uncertainties regarding cause and prognosis. Taking account of mothers' search for meaning will better enable professionals to support families following diagnosis.
Characteristics of child passenger deaths and injuries involving drinking drivers.

CONTEXT Motor vehicle-related injury is the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 1 to 24 years in the United States. Approximately 24% of child traffic deaths involve alcohol. OBJECTIVE To examine characteristics of crashes involving child passenger deaths and injuries associated with drinking drivers to identify opportunities for prevention. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Descriptive epidemiological analysis of 1985-1996 datafrom the Fatality Analysis Reporting System on deaths among US child passengers (aged 0-14 years) and 1988-1996 data from the General Estimates System on nonfatal injuries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Child passenger death or injury by driver characteristics (eg, driver age, blood alcohol concentration, and driving history). RESULTS In 1985-1996, there were 5555 child passenger deaths involving a drinking driver. Of these deaths, 3556 (64.0%) occurred while the child was riding with a drinking driver; 67.0% of these drinking drivers were old enough to be the parent or caregiver of the child. Of all drivers transporting a child who died, drinking drivers were more likely than nondrinking drivers to have had a previous license suspension (17.1% vs 7.1%) or conviction for driving while intoxicated (7.9% vs 1.2%). Child restraint use decreased as both the child's age and the blood alcohol concentration of the child's driver increased. In 1988-1996, an estimated 149,000 child passengers were nonfatally injured in crashes involving a drinking driver. Of these, 58,000 (38.9%) were riding with a drinking driver when injured in the crash. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that the majority of drinking driver-related child passenger deaths in the United States involve a child riding unrestrained in the same vehicle with a drinking driver. Typically, the drinking driver transporting the child is old enough to be the child's parent or caregiver.
Widely Spread Butyrylcholinesterase Can Hydrolyze Acetylcholine in the Normal and Alzheimer Brain

BACKGROUND Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), also known as the "pseudo" or "non-neuronal" cholinesterase, is traditionally thought to have a restricted CNS distribution and to play little, if any, role in cholinergic transmission. OBJECTIVE To reanalyze the role of BChE in the human brain with more sensitive methodology. METHODS Three brains were examined with acetylcholinesterase and BChE histochemistry. The sections were examined with bright- and dark-field microscopy. RESULTS The histochemical parameters used in the present experiments showed that BChE activity was present in all hippocampal and temporal neocortical areas known to receive cholinergic input. At all of these locations, the BChE enzyme could hydrolyze the acetylcholine surrogate acetylthiocholine. A substantial portion of the hippocampal and neocortical BChE appeared to be located within neuroglia and their processes. CONCLUSIONS Butyrylcholinesterase may have a greater role in cholinergic transmission than previously surmised, making BChE inhibition an important therapeutic goal in Alzheimer's disease. The results also suggest that the role of neuroglia in cholinergic transmission may be analogous to their well known role in glutamatergic transmission.
The Human KROX-26/ZNF22 Gene is Expressed at Sites of Tooth Formation and Maps to the Locus for Permanent Tooth Agenesis (He-Zhao Deficiency)

Tooth development is mediated by sequential and reciprocal interactions between dental epithelium and mesenchyme under the molecular control of secreted growth factors and responsive transcription factors. We have previously identified the transcription factor Krox-26 as a potential regulator of tooth formation in mice. The purpose of this study was to investigate a potentially similar role for the human KROX-26 orthologue. We cloned the KROX-26 gene and found its single mRNA transcript (2.4 kb) to be expressed in multiple adult tissues. During fetal development, KROX-26 is expressed in the epithelial component of the developing tooth organ during early bud and cap stages as well as in osteoblasts of craniofacial bone and the developing tongue. The KROX-26 gene was mapped to chromosome 10q11.21, a locus that has been associated with permanent tooth agenesis (He-Zhao deficiency). These results indicate a potential function for KROX-26 in the molecular regulation of tooth formation in humans.
Predictive value of C-reactive protein in neonatal septicaemia.

The following non-specific indices of infection were studied in septicaemic and non-septicaemic babies: haemoglobin, total white blood cell count, differential white count, ESR, platelet count, C-reactive protein (CRP), serum immunoglobulins, plasma C3 and haptoglobin. Forty-three low-birthweight (LBW) infants with clinical features suggesting septicaemia were investigated; blood cultures were positive in 19 and negative in 24. The mortality was 53% in the culture-positive and 13% in the culture negative group. Comparisons between the two groups of babies showed that the CRP titre (measured by Latex agglutination) was the only reliable non-specific indicator of infection. The titre was elevated more often in culture positive (16/19) than culture negative (7/17) babies (P less than 0.001). The CRP titre (Mean +/- 2 S.D.) was 15.75 +/- 12 in blood culture positive and 6.13 +/- 11.72 in culture negative neonates respectively (P less than 0.0004). Positive CRP titres were found in 5 of 20 healthy controls (4 +/- 8.4). Sequential CRP titres showed a gradual decline with clinical improvement in both groups of patients. The IgM was unhelpful as it was raised (greater than or equal to 40 mg%) in 37 of the patients.
Kruppel-like Factor 4 (Klf4) Prevents Embryonic Stem (ES) Cell Differentiation by Regulating Nanog Gene Expression*

Transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 4 (Klf4) is essential for somatic cell reprogramming. In addition, Klf4 seems to play a redundant role along with other Klf family proteins in embryonic stem (ES) cell self-renewal. However, how Klf4 regulates ES cell self-renewal and somatic cell reprogramming is still poorly understood. Here we report that Klf4 is required for both ES cell self-renewal and maintenance of pluripotency and that the expression of Klf4 prevents ES cell differentiation in response to withdrawal of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) or bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4). In addition, Klf4 directly binds to the promoter region of Nanog and regulates its expression. Expression of Nanog prevents ES cell differentiation even when Klf4 gene expression is knocked down. On the other hand, knockdown of Nanog expression induces differentiation of ES cells that overexpress Klf4. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Klf4 functions upstream of Nanog in ES cell self-renewal and in preventing ES cell differentiation.
Comparative genomic hybridization of 49 primary retinoblastoma tumors identifies chromosomal regions associated with histopathology, progression, and patient outcome

Forty‐nine primary retinoblastoma (Rb) tumors were analyzed by the use of comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), and clinical/histological correlations were performed. Adverse histological factors were present in 13 patients. Chromosomal imbalance was a frequent phenomenon, seen in 96% of the tumors. Gain of 6p represented the most frequent event (69% of the tumors), whereas +1q was observed in 57%, confirming that these abnormalities are key secondary events in retinoblastoma tumor progression. Loss of 13q and 16 was significantly associated with tumors displaying adverse histo‐prognostic factors, whereas −16q was significantly associated with tumors without adverse features. In three patients who developed an extra‐ocular relapse, the tumors showed −13q and 2/3 had −5q, suggesting that these abnormalities may be associated with metastasis. Children ≥ 36 months of age at enucleation tended to have more CGH abnormalities per tumor than children < 12 months (median numbers 11 vs. 3). In addition, +1q, +13q, −16, and −16q were more frequent in children with an older age at enucleation. Identical CGH changes were found in both tumors from one patient with bilateral tumors, suggesting a common origin. It is possible that tumors displaying loss of 13q and 5q indicate those patients who may suffer an adverse outcome and who would require alternative or more intensive therapy. CGH analysis on larger cohorts and in prospective clinical trials will be invaluable in determining whether a genetic classification of retinoblastoma represents a reliable measure of prognosis. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Exports and Economic Growth in a Simultaneous Equations Model

In economic journals since the 1 960s there has been a steady stream of econometric cross-national tests of exports and economic growth. Most of these studies have contemporaneously tested the export growth-economic growth relationship in a single equation, typically finding a positive association between the two. ' A few scholars have attempted to capture the relationship in a simultaneous equations model.2 There have also been efforts to measure better the direction of causation between export growth and economic growth by various single equation techniques.3 In total, there are well over 40 studies of these kinds. Econometric cross-national tests of relationships between international trade and economic growth have not been confined to economists. There also exists a rather cohesive body of literature found primarily among sociologists, with contributions from political scientists and international relations scholars as well.4 These studies, at least 20 in number, date from the 1970s and focus on trade structural characteristics-the volume, composition, and concentration of trade (concentration of leading exports and leading trade partners). These characteristics are combined with other presumed determinants of economic growth into a single equation multiple regression model in which the independent variables are typically lagged 10 to 15 years behind the dependent variable. The sociologists provide a much more pessimistic conclusion regarding the role of trade in LDC development than do the economists. Both sets of econometric studies have contributed to a better understanding of the impact of international trade on growth. Yet there has been virtually no interaction between the two groups ofscholars, and, hence, no learning from each other's research. This is not only because the sister professions tend not to interact (the scholars tend to publish in separate journals), but also because each group draws from a very different
Management Control Packages in Public Sector Organizations

This thesis examines configurations of management control (MC) packages in public sector organizations, and how they relate to employee motivation and behavior. Using multiple case studies and a survey study, this thesis contributes to the extant literature in three ways. First, it enhances the understanding of interactions between MC elements, for instance by developing the notion of ‘conflicting relations’ and by providing empirical evidence on such relations. Second, this thesis indicates that the recent times of austerity reinforce the use of output-related types of MC, as advocated by New Public Management (NPM) movements. Evidence from this thesis, however, shows that such MC elements have a limited applicability in the public sector, in which the measurement of output is often difficult. Third, this thesis contributes to the MC literature by demonstrating how theories from other fields, such as sociology and psychology, can be used to inform our knowledge of the relation between MC and employee motivation.
Transcriptional Profiling of Bacillus anthracis during Infection of Host Macrophages

ABSTRACT The interaction between Bacillus anthracis and the mammalian phagocyte is one of the central stages in the progression of inhalational anthrax, and it is commonly believed that the host cell plays a key role in facilitating germination and dissemination of inhaled B. anthracis spores. Given this, a detailed definition of the survival strategies used by B. anthracis within the phagocyte is critical for our understanding of anthrax. In this study, we report the first genome-wide analysis of B. anthracis gene expression during infection of host phagocytes. We developed a technique for specific isolation of bacterial RNA from within infected murine macrophages, and we used custom B. anthracis microarrays to characterize the expression patterns occurring within intracellular bacteria throughout infection of the host phagocyte. We found that B. anthracis adapts very quickly to the intracellular environment, and our analyses identified metabolic pathways that appear to be important to the bacterium during intracellular growth, as well as individual genes that show significant induction in vivo. We used quantitative reverse transcription-PCR to verify that the expression trends that we observed by microarray analysis were valid, and we chose one gene (GBAA1941, encoding a putative transcriptional regulator) for further characterization. A deletion strain missing this gene showed no phenotype in vitro but was significantly attenuated in a mouse model of inhalational anthrax, suggesting that the microarray data described here provide not only the first comprehensive view of how B. anthracis survives within the host cell but also a number of promising leads for further research in anthrax.
The representation of morphologically complex words in the developing lexicon*

ABSTRACT The study reported here examined the manner in which children represent morphologically complex words in the lexicon. Children in grades 1 to 5 completed a fragment completion task to assess the priming effects of morphologically related words. Both inflected and derived words (e.g. needs and needy, respectively) were more effective primes than control words (e.g. needle) that share similar orthography and phonology with the target word (e.g. need). These effects were consistent across the developmental period studied. Further, equivalent priming effects from the inflected and derived forms suggest that these word types are represented similarly in the developing lexicon.
Distribution of Crenosoma Vulpis and Eucoleus Aerophilus in the Lung of Free-Ranging Red Foxes (Vulpes Vulpes)

Crenosoma vulpis and Eucoleus aerophilus are nematode parasites that can cause verminous pneumonia in wild carnivores. There is a paucity of information regarding the distribution of parasites in the lungs and the relationship between histopathological and parasitological diagnoses in naturally infected foxes. The objectives of this study were: first, to study the lobar and airway distribution of C. vulpis and E. aerophilus in wild red foxes and second, to investigate the relationship between fecal and histopathological diagnoses. Samples from 6 sites of the lung and fecal contents were obtained from 51 wild foxes in Prince Edward Island. By fecal examination, 78.4% of wild foxes tested positive for C. vulpis and 68.6% for E. aerophilus. In contrast, 66.6% and 49% of foxes had histopathological evidence of C. vulpis and E. aerophilus in the lungs, respectively. Anatomically, C. vulpis was observed in the small bronchi and bronchioles of all pulmonary lobes whereas E. aerophilus was restricted to the large bronchi and the caudal lobes. Affected airways exhibited severe epithelial glandular hyperplasia and bronchiolar mucous metaplasia. It was concluded that C. vulpis is widely distributed in airways of all pulmonary lobes, whereas E. aerophilus is mainly restricted to the bronchi of caudal lobes. Also, this study showed that histological examination of lung underestimates the infection with E. aerophilus.
Infantile Eczema at One Month of Age Is Associated with Cord Blood Eosinophilia and Subsequent Development of Atopic Dermatitis and Wheezing Illness until Two Years of Age

Background: Physiological and pathological skin eruptions are commonly encountered in neonates in our clinical practice. However, the types of skin eruptions that are associated with the subsequent development of atopic dermatitis and the mechanisms of these associations remain uncertain. Methods: A total of 105 newborn babies with normal delivery were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. The cord blood eosinophil count was measured and the neonates were examined at 1 month of age and followed until 8 years of age. Results: At 1 month of age, infantile eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, intertrigo and diaper dermatitis were diagnosed in a total of 29, 7, 14 and 24 neonates, respectively. No association was found among the prevalences of these eruptions. Neonates with infantile eczema had a significantly higher number and ratio of eosinophils in the cord blood (eosinophil count: 670.8 ± 67.8 vs. 349.0 ± 30.3/µl, p < 0.0001; eosinophil ratio: 5.12 ± 0.53 vs. 2.61 ± 0.22%, p < 0.0001, for the presence and the absence of infantile eczema, respectively). In contrast, no such tendency was found for any other skin eruptions. In neonates with infantile eczema at 1 month of age, the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis had been made significantly earlier and the prevalence of wheezing illness was significantly higher than in those without infantile eczema until 2 years of age. Conclusion: Infantile eczema, but not other skin eruptions, precedes the development of atopic dermatitis and wheezing illness during early infancy, presumably because of the activation of eosinophils before birth.