Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Parent-reported predictors of adolescent panic attacks.

OBJECTIVE To identify parent-reported risk factors for adolescent panic attacks. METHOD Structured diagnostic interviews were obtained from 770 parents of participants in a school-based risk factor study for adolescent panic. Parent-reported risk factors assessed included characteristics of the child (negative affect, separation anxiety disorder [SAD], childhood chronic illness, and childhood loss) as well as characteristics of the parent (parental panic disorder or agoraphobia [PDA], parental major depression, and parental chronic illness). RESULTS Bivariate predictors of adolescent panic attacks included parent history of PDA, parent history of chronic illness, child negative affect, and child SAD. Using signal detection methods, three subgroups of participants at risk for panic attacks were identified. Fifty-eight percent of adolescents with panic attacks belonged to one of these high-risk groups. Adolescents with a positive parental history of PDA were at highest risk: 24% of this group experienced panic attacks. Among those without a positive parental history of PDA, those with high childhood negative affect or history of SAD were at increased risk for panic attacks (14% and 20%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The use of parent-reported data provides cross-validation for previously identified risk factors of adolescent panic attacks. Signal detection results suggest there are multiple paths (equifinality) to the development of adolescent panic attacks.
Evaluation of Body Fat Changes during Weight Loss by Using Improved Anthropometric Predictive Equations

Background/Aim: Skinfold-based equations are widely used to evaluate body fat (BF), but over-/underestimation is often reported. We evaluate the capacity of improved skinfold-based equations to estimate BF changes during weight reduction and compare them against well-established equations. Methods: Overweight adults (n = 44) participated in a 4-month weight reduction intervention. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and anthropometric measurements were taken at baseline and after intervention. The BF% was calculated using García, Peterson, and Durnin and Womersley (DW) equations. Results: Baseline and postintervention BF% measured by DXA correlated highest with BF% predicted according to García (r = 0.934 and r = 0.948, respectively), followed by Peterson (r = 0.941 and r = 0.932, respectively) and DW (r = 0.557 and r = 0.402, respectively); only a slight systematic error in overestimating the BF% was observed in estimates according to García (r = 0.147 and r = 0.104, respectively; p < 0.001), while increasing errors occurred using the Peterson (r = 0.624 and r = 0.712, respectively; p < 0.001) and DW (r = 0.767 and r = 0.769, respectively; p < 0.001) equations. Moderate correlations between BF changes (kg) measured by DXA and predicted by DW (r = 0.7211), Peterson (r = 0.697), and García (r = 0.645) were observed. Conclusion: Improved skinfold equations cannot accurately measure changes in BF after weight reduction.
Time Trends and Occupational Risk Factors for Pleural Mesothelioma in Sweden

Epidemiologic data on pleural mesothelioma are scarce on regional and occupational time trends, which would monitor the effects of changes in exposure to asbestos. We aim to characterize time trends, regional, socioeconomic, and occupational risk factors for pleural mesothelioma in Sweden in the years from 1961 to 1998. The Swedish Family-Cancer Database was used to identify patients with pleural mesothelioma. Age-standardized incidence rates and standardized incidence ratio (SIR) were calculated for the population in the Database. A total of 1298 male and 233 female pleural mesotheliomas were retrieved. Age-standardized incidence of the disease was highest, and the trend increased in residents of large industrial and shipbuilding cities. In the last follow-up period, the male rate exceeded the female rate about 10-fold. Among male socioeconomic groups, manual workers showed the highest and ever-increasing SIR. No female socioeconomic group was at risk. For men, plumbers and seamen had the highest risk of 4.56 and 2.83, respectively, but the risks appeared to be decreasing for plumbers, whereas no clear trend was noted for seamen, probably because of indirect expose in ships. Farmers showed an SIR of 0.28, indicating that the population at large was at four times higher risk than farmers. The SIRs of many academic/college-educated groups were two to six times higher than those of farmers, suggesting indirect exposure to asbestos in these groups.
Factors Influencing Outcome After Deceased Heart Beating Donor Kidney Transplantation in the United Kingdom: An Evidence Base for a New National Kidney Allocation Policy

Background. Outcomes after deceased heart beating donor kidney transplantation are good, but survival rates vary according to a number of donor-, recipient-, and transplant-related factors. This comprehensive analysis of transplant outcomes was undertaken to inform development of a new Kidney Allocation Scheme. Methods. A complete case analysis of the outcome of kidney-only transplants in the United Kingdom, 1995 to 2001, was undertaken using Cox regression modeling. Seven thousand three hundred eighty-five (77%) of the 9585 transplants reported to the UK Transplant Registry were primary transplants in adults. Regrafts and pediatric patients (age <18 years) were analyzed separately. Transplant and patient survival over 5 years were investigated in addition to causes of prolonged cold ischemia time (CIT). Results. A variety of factors significantly adversely influenced kidney transplant and patient outcome, including older donor age, older recipient age, waiting time to transplant over 2 years, diabetes, and earlier year of transplant. Human leukocyte antigen mismatch and CIT were significant in analyses of transplant but not in patient outcome, and an increased graft failure rate was also identified in adolescent patients. CIT was prolonged by long-distance kidney exchanges between centers (2 hr) and reallocation of kidneys for alternative patients (7 hr). Conclusion. This study identified a number of factors that influence transplant outcome after deceased heart beating donor kidney transplant in the United Kingdom. The findings suggest that the influences of human leukocyte antigen mismatch and CIT are most relevant in considering a revised kidney allocation scheme.
Risk factors for 3rd and 4th degree perineal tear

Summary We reviewed 3,038 deliveries at our hospital, over a period of 2 years (2005 and 2006) to identify risk factors for 3rd and 4th degree perineal tear. We used the hospital database and labour ward registry book and reviewed patients' record notes. After excluding elective and emergency caesarean sections, 2,278 women had delivered vaginally, from which 36 patients had 3rd/4th degree perineal tears as defined by the RCOG Green top guidelines No 29 (2007). A total of 2,242 women who delivered vaginally without 3rd/4th degree perineal tears were used as controls in this study. The rate of 3rd/4th degree perineal tear was 1.18% for all deliveries and 1.58% for vaginal deliveries. Occiptoposterior position during delivery (OR: 69.8), primigravida (OR: 5.8), and high birth weight (OR: 1.19) are risk factors for anal sphincter tear. However, induction of labour (OR: 0.71), use of medio-lateral episiotomy (OR: 0.35), epidural analgesia (OR: 0.88) and instrumental delivery of occipitoanterior position (OR: 0.77) reduced the risk of severe perineal tear. Primipara and occipitoposterior position (OP) during delivery are the only statistically significant risks for the occurrence of severe perineal damage. High birth weight is a risk factor but it is not statistically significant. Instrumental delivery of OP position is a highly statistically significant risk factor. On the other hand, induction of labour (IOL), epidural analgesia and instrumental delivery for occipitoanterior position are protective factors against anal sphincter injury, although they did not reach statistical significance.
Mothers’ experiences of bottle-feeding: a systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies

Objective: Most babies receive at least some formula milk. Variations in formula-feeding practices can have both short- and long-term health consequences. The literature on parents’ experiences of bottle-feeding was systematically reviewed to understand how formula-feeding decisions are made. Methods: Relevant English-language papers, identified by searching 12 electronic databases, reference lists and related articles and by contacting first authors of included papers, were systematically searched for and appraised. The included studies were analysed and synthesised using a combination of narrative and thematic approaches. Consensus on the final inclusion, interpretation and synthesis of studies was reached across the research team. Results: Six qualitative studies and 17 quantitative studies (involving 13 263 participants) were included. Despite wide differences in study design, context, focus and quality, several consistent themes emerged. Mothers who bottle-fed their babies experienced negative emotions such as guilt, anger, worry, uncertainty and a sense of failure. Mothers reported receiving little information on bottle-feeding and did not feel empowered to make decisions. Mistakes in preparation of bottle-feeds were common. No studies examined how mothers made decisions about the frequency or quantity of bottle-feeds. Conclusions: Inadequate information and support for mothers who decide to bottle-feed may put the health of their babies at risk. While it is important to promote breastfeeding, it is also necessary to ensure that the needs of bottle-feeding mothers are met.
Effects of Treatment with Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate on the Ultrastructure of Escherichia coli

An electron microscopy study has been made of the effects of dissolution of the plasma membrane of Escherichia coli with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the organization of the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm. The alterations observed in time course experiments were related to absorbance changes and to release of macromolecules from the cells. As the cells became plasmolyzed, under the conditions used, the first visible effect of SDS was a collapse of the plasmolysis spaces. This was accompanied by a displacement of the nuclear material which then appeared in broad contact with the redeployed plasma membrane. This initial displacement of nuclear material to the cell border may indicate an association between the nucleoplasm and the plasma membrane. Upon further dissolution of the plasma membrane, the nuclear material receded from the cell margin and contracted into an axial filament. Meanwhile, the cytoplasm dissociated into an amorphous, Pronase-sensitive component and an electron-opaque, granular one sensitive to ribonuclease. The latter represented one continuous area of ribosomal structures surrounding the nucleoplasm, an organization which did not occur when the cells were inhibited with rifamycin before SDS treatment. During prolonged SDS interaction, approximately 65% of the cellular protein, 25% of the ribonucleic acid and 40% of the deoxyribonucleic acid were released from the cells concomitant with the disappearance of the amorphous cytoplasmic part, expansion of the ribosomal aggregate, and rearrangement of the nuclear material at the cell periphery. The observations support the contention that all ribosomal structures bear a direct relationship with the nucleoplasm.
Cloning and Heterologous Production of Hiracin JM79, a Sec-Dependent Bacteriocin Produced by Enterococcus hirae DCH5, in Lactic Acid Bacteria and Pichia pastoris

ABSTRACT Hiracin JM79 (HirJM79), a Sec-dependent bacteriocin produced by Enterococcus hirae DCH5, was cloned and produced in Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus sakei, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pichia pastoris. For heterologous production of HirJM79 in lactic acid bacteria (LAB), the HirJM79 structural gene (hirJM79), with or without the HirJM79 immunity gene (hiriJM79), was cloned into the plasmid pMG36c under the control of the constitutive promoter P32 and into the plasmid pNZ8048 under the control of the inducible PNisA promoter. For the production of HirJM79 in P. pastoris, the gene encoding the mature HirJM79 protein was cloned into the pPICZαA expression vector. The recombinant plasmids permitted the production of biologically active HirJM79 in the supernatants of L. lactis IL1403, L. lactis NZ9000, L. sakei Lb790, E. faecalis JH2-2, and P. pastoris X-33, the coproduction of HirJM79 and nisin A in L. lactis DPC5598, and the coproduction of HirJM79 and enterocin P in E. faecium L50/14-2. All recombinant LAB produced larger quantities of HirJM79 than E. hirae DCH5, although the antimicrobial activities of most transformants were lower than that predicted from their production of HirJM79. The synthesis, processing, and secretion of HirJM79 proceed efficiently in recombinant LAB strains and P. pastoris.
Superantigens from Staphylococcus aureus induce procoagulant activity and monocyte tissue factor expression in whole blood and mononuclear cells via IL‐1β

Summary. Background: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common bacteria in human sepsis, a condition in which the activation of blood coagulation plays a critical pathophysiological role. During severe sepsis and septic shock microthrombi and multiorgan dysfunction are observed as a result of bacterial interference with the host defense and coagulation systems. Objectives: In the present study, staphylococcal superantigens were tested for their ability to induce procoagulant activity and tissue factor (TF) expression in human whole blood and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Methods and results: Determination of clotting time showed that enterotoxin A, B and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 from S. aureus induce procoagulant activity in whole blood and in mononuclear cells. The procoagulant activity was dependent on the expression of TF in monocytes since antibodies to TF inhibited the effect of the toxins and TF was detected on the surface of monocytes by flow cytometry. In the supernatants from staphylococcal toxin‐stimulated mononuclear cells, interleukin (IL)‐1β was detected by ELISA. Furthermore, the increased procoagulant activity and TF expression in monocytes induced by the staphylococcal toxins were inhibited in the presence of IL‐1 receptor antagonist, a natural inhibitor of IL‐1β. Conclusions: The present study shows that superantigens from S. aureus activate the extrinsic coagulation pathway by inducing expression of TF in monocytes, and that the expression is mainly triggered by superantigen‐induced IL‐1β release.
Nav2/NaG Channel Is Involved in Control of Salt-Intake Behavior in the CNS

Nav2/NaG is a putative sodium channel, whose physiological role has long been an enigma. We generatedNav2 gene-deficient mice by inserting the lacZ gene. Analysis of the targeted mice allowed us to identify Nav2-producing cells by examining the lacZ expression. Besides in the lung, heart, dorsal root ganglia, and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system, Nav2 was expressed in neurons and ependymal cells in restricted areas of the CNS, particularly in the circumventricular organs, which are involved in body-fluid homeostasis. Under water-depleted conditions,c-fos expression was markedly elevated in neurons in the subfornical organ and organum vasculosum laminae terminalis compared with wild-type animals, suggesting a hyperactive state in theNav2-null mice. Moreover, the null mutants showed abnormal intakes of hypertonic saline under both water- and salt-depleted conditions. These findings suggest that the Nav2 channel plays an important role in the central sensing of body-fluid sodium level and regulation of salt intake behavior.
Early Experience of Full-Endoscopic Interlaminar Discectomy for Adolescent Lumbar Disc Herniation with Sciatic Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND Full-endoscopic interlaminar discectomy (FEID) has achieved satisfactory outcome in adolescent lumbar disc herniation (ALDH). Sciatic scoliosis is found to be a common presentation in ALDH. However, few reports are focused on the influences of sciatic scoliosis on ALDH and the prognosis of sciatic scoliosis after FEID. OBJECTIVE This study aims to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of FEID in the treatment of ALDH with sciatic scoliosis and to identify the effects of sciatic scoliosis on complication and recurrence. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective study. SETTING An inpatient surgery center. METHODS A series of cases of patients under age 20 with single-level ALDH that underwent FEID between January 2010 and December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to if they had scoliosis or not. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) for low back and leg pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for the functional assessment, and modified Macnab criteria for the patient satisfaction. Radiological parameters of the scoliosis group such as Cobb angle, CVSL-max, and CVSL-C7 were statistically analyzed. RESULTS No significant differences were found between both groups in terms of the mean operative time, the mean length of hospital stay, complications, and recurrences (P > 0.05). VAS and ODI scores were significantly improved in both groups (P < 0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in VAS, ODI, and modified MacNab criteria (P > 0.05). For the scoliosis group, significant improvements were observed in the postoperative sagittal and coronal alignment parameters (P < 0.05). LIMITATIONS This was a retrospective study with a relatively small sample size. Additionally, the length of follow-up was short. CONCLUSIONS The application of FEID in the treatment of ALDH could achieve satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes. Sciatic scoliosis was corrected spontaneously without increasing the risk of complication and recurrence. KEY WORDS Adolescent lumbar disc herniation, full-endoscopic interlaminar discectomy, sciatic scoliosis, recurrence.
The natural frequencies of the arterial system and their relation to the heart rate

We assume the major function of the arterial system is transporting energy via its transverse vibration to facilitate the blood flowing all the way down to the microcirculation. A highly efficient system is related to maintaining a large pressure pulse along the artery for a given ventricular power. The arterial system is described as a composition of many infinitesimal Windkessels. The strong tethering in the longitudinal direction connects all the Windkessels together and makes them vibrate in coupled modes. It was assumed that at rest condition, the arterial system is in a steady distributed oscillatory state, which is the superposition of many harmonic modes of the transverse vibration in the arterial wall and the adherent blood. Every vibration mode has its own characteristic frequency, which depends on the geometry, the mass density, the elasticity, and the tethering of the arterial system. If the heart rate is near the fundamental natural frequency, the system is in a good resonance condition, we call this "frequency matching". In this condition, the pulsatile pressure wave is maximized. A pressure wave equation derived previously was used to predict this fundamental frequency. The theoretical result gave that heart rate is proportional to the average high-frequency phase velocity of the pressure wave and the inverse of the animal body length dimension. The area compliance related to the efficiency of the circulatory system is also mentioned.
Slanted Stixels: Representing San Francisco's Steepest Streets

In this work we present a novel compact scene representation based on Stixels that infers geometric and semantic information. Our approach overcomes the previous rather restrictive geometric assumptions for Stixels by introducing a novel depth model to account for non-flat roads and slanted objects. Both semantic and depth cues are used jointly to infer the scene representation in a sound global energy minimization formulation. Furthermore, a novel approximation scheme is introduced that uses an extremely efficient over-segmentation. In doing so, the computational complexity of the Stixel inference algorithm is reduced significantly, achieving real-time computation capabilities with only a slight drop in accuracy. We evaluate the proposed approach in terms of semantic and geometric accuracy as well as run-time on four publicly available benchmark datasets. Our approach maintains accuracy on flat road scene datasets while improving substantially on a novel non-flat road dataset.
Evaluation of the Control Banding Method—Comparison with Measurement‐based Comprehensive Risk Assessment

Evaluation of the Control Banding Method—Comparison with Measurement‐based Comprehensive Risk Assessment: Haruo Hashimoto, et al. Medicine and Occupational Health, ExxonMobil Yugen Kaisha—The control banding method, or “control banding”, is a simplified risk assessment system for chemical handling tasks. This system is supposed to provide assessment results of reasonable quality without expert involvement. The objective of this study was to evaluate the appropriateness of control banding judgment on the basis of workplace safety. A common approach for assessing workplace risk, which is called “comprehensive risk assessment” in this study, is to measure workers' exposure and compare it with relevant occupational exposure limits. Risk assessment was performed with control banding (COSHH Essentials, UK) at 12 workplaces of a petroleum company in Japan, where health risks had already been assessed separately through comprehensive risk assessment by experts and control technologies implemented accordingly. The obtained control banding judgments were then examined with regard to their adequacy by comparing them with existing control technologies. There was majority of cases (seven) where judgments by control banding were identified as “over‐controlled”; there was no judgments identified as “under‐controlled”. Control banding also requested the seeking of expert advice in the majority of cases (eight). Thus, it was demonstrated that control banding tends to provide safe‐sided judgment. A possible interpretation of this is that control banding is inherently designed to secure workplace safety by compensating for its insufficient exposure information with safe‐sided judgment criteria and by requiring experts' intervention in high‐risk cases. Control banding could be widely and effectively utilized in Japan, especially by employers in small enterprises, provided that the above characteristics are pre‐acknowledged and health experts are made available. To this aim, it is essential to develop new local health experts and establish institutional mechanisms for facilitating employers' access to expert advice. It should however be noted that the number of workplaces evaluated in this study was small.