Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MRI of renal oxygenation and function after normothermic ischemia–reperfusion injury

The in vivo assessment of renal damage after ischemia–reperfusion injury, such as in sepsis, hypovolemic shock or after transplantation, is a major challenge. This injury often results in temporary or permanent nonfunction. In order to improve the clinical outcome of the kidneys, novel therapies are currently being developed that limit renal ischemia–reperfusion injury. However, to fully address their therapeutic potential, noninvasive imaging methods are required which allow the in vivo visualization of different renal compartments and the evaluation of kidney function. In this study, MRI was applied to study kidney oxygenation and function in a murine model of renal ischemia–reperfusion injury at 7 T. During ischemia, there was a strongly decreased oxygenation, as measured using blood oxygen level‐dependent MRI, compared with the contralateral control, which persisted after reperfusion. Moreover, it was possible to visualize differences in oxygenation between the different functional regions of the injured kidney. Dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI revealed a significantly reduced renal function, comprising perfusion and filtration, at 24 h after reperfusion. In conclusion, MRI is suitable for the noninvasive evaluation of renal oxygenation and function. Blood oxygen level‐dependent or dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI may allow the early detection of renal pathology in patients with ischemia–reperfusion injury, such as in sepsis, hypovolemic shock or after transplantation, and consequently may lead to an earlier intervention or change of therapy to minimize kidney damage. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Risk Factors Associated with Occurrence of Clinical Deterioration After Cessation of Beclomethasone in Asthmatic Children and Adolescents

Despite of recent advances in the treatment of asthma using inhaled corticosteroids, the outcome for children after its discontinuation is not well known. This study aims to analyze the rate of clinical deterioration and related risk factors after beclomethasone withdrawal in asthmatic children and adolescents. One hundred two subjects with moderate or severe persistent asthma, who had started treatment with beclomethasone at the age of 2–11 years, were followed for 1 year after drug cessation. Depending on the occurrence of clinical deterioration, they were allocated to two groups, and then comparisons were made with respect to clinical criteria and skin prick test results. Statistical analysis was undertaken by using descriptive statistics and Cox's regression model. Treatment with beclomethasone had to be restarted in 28 patients (27.5%) because of relapse. There was a significant association with the risk of clinical deterioration with mother's history of asthma [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.01–4.76, p = 0.04] and father's history of asthma and/or allergic rhinitis (HR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.06–5.26, p = 0.03). A period shorter than 6 months without symptoms before prophylaxis cessation (HR = 2.26, 95% CI = 0.98–5.26, p = 0.05) and atopy (RH = 2.75, 95% CI = 0.94–7.69, p = 0.06) were also associated with risk of relapse but with marginal statistical significance. Results suggest that clinical benefits were maintained for at least 1 year in the majority of the children after the cessation of prophylaxis. Special attention must be given to those with atopy and a parental history of asthma and rhinitis because of the risk of clinical deterioration.
Distribution and Diffusion of Water in Model Epoxy Molding Compound: Molecular Dynamics Simulation Approach

The distribution and diffusion of water with various water content in a fully crosslinked epoxy molding compound was simulated using a parallel full-atomistic molecular dynamics simulation method. We found that the free volume is 5.1%, 4.4%, and 4.0% of the total system volume at 0 wt%, 4 wt%, and 7 wt% of water content, respectively, accommodating the absorbed water molecules, where the molecules are distributed throughout the system. The hydrophilic groups of the epoxy molding compound (such as tertiary amine groups and hydroxyl groups) are uniformly distributed through the system: the average distance between the amine groups is ~9.5 ¿ and that between the hydroxyl groups is 3.8-7.2 ¿. The water molecules are distributed in proximity to these hydrophilic groups. By counting the number of these water molecules nearby the functional groups, we found that on average, each amine group has 2.47 and 3.86 water molecules, and each hydroxyl group has 0.61 and 0.85 water molecules at 4 wt% and 7 wt% water content, respectively. The water diffusion proceeds via the hopping mechanism and is enhanced with increasing water content: 0.1690 × 10-6 cm 2/s for 4 wt% water content and 0.2065 × 10-6 cm2/s for 7 wt% water content.
In search of China’s income-health gradient: a biomarker-based analysis

ABSTRACT Using data from the 1991–2009 China Health and Nutrition Survey, this study investigates China’s income-health gradient by analysing the effect of both current and long-term household income on 22 blood-based biomarkers, 4 used as individual variables and all 22 assessed as a composite. We employ estimation approaches that allow for analysis ‘beyond the mean’ and accounting for individual-specific unobserved heterogeneity. After applying a two-step residual inclusion estimator, we find limited evidence of an income-health gradient irrespective of whether the income measure is current or long term. Because risky behaviour may attenuate income’s positive effects on health, we also analyse the associations between income and such health-influencing factors as alcohol consumption, smoking, diet, physical activity, and dietary knowledge. Although we find that higher incomes go hand-in-hand with some of these factors (in particular, a higher number of cigarettes smoked per day), they also promote poorer diets. However, the fact that these effects are small, dependent on income measure, and susceptible to reporting biases makes it unlikely that they are attenuating income’s potentially positive effects on health. Our findings highlight the importance of considering more accurate measures of health in assessing income-health gradients in future research.
The sensitivity of Escherichia coli O157 to some antimicrobials by conventional and conductance assays

A range of sensitivities exhibited by Escherichia coli O157 to cefixime and potassium tellurite are demonstrated. The sensitivity was shown by growth on cefixime tellurite sorbitol MacConkey agar and by the effect on the metabolic activity in glucuronate trimethylamine‐oxide conductance broth. These antimicrobials are regularly used in the isolation of this pathogen from food and clinical specimens, and such sensitivity may lead to the reporting of false negative samples.
Export Structure Upgrading and Economic Growth in the Western Balkan Countries

ABSTRACT In this paper, we seek to analyze the impact that the ability to produce more sophisticated goods has on the economic performance of the Western Balkan region and to determine the factors fostering this process. To do so, we elaborate an export sophistication index, à la Hausmann. The outcomes obtained show that export sophistication has a positive and significant effect on growth in these economies. Additionally, we found that this process is driven more by the sophistication in medium-skill and technology-intensive manufactures goods rather than through sophistication in high-skill goods. Our findings also confirm that a greater participation in international production networks and a better institutional environment stimulates the upgrading of exports, and the subsequent economic growth of these economies.
Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activity of Extracts of Ferula heuffelii Griseb. ex Heuff. and Its Metabolites

The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of isolates (CHCl3 and MeOH extracts and selected metabolites) obtained from the underground parts of the Balkan endemic plant Ferula heuffelii Griseb. ex Heuff. were assessed. The CHCl3 and MeOH extracts exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity, being more pronounced against Gram‐positive than Gram‐negative bacteria, especially against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC=12.5 μg/ml for both extracts) and Micrococcus luteus (MIC=50 and 12.5 μg/ml, resp.). Among the tested metabolites, (6E)‐1‐(2,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐3,7,11‐trimethyl‐3‐vinyldodeca‐6,10‐dien‐1‐one (2) and (2S*,3R*)‐2‐[(3E)‐4,8‐dimethylnona‐3,7‐dien‐1‐yl]‐2,3‐dihydro‐7‐hydroxy‐2,3‐dimethylfuro[3,2‐c]coumarin (4) demonstrated the best antimicrobial activity. Compounds 2 and 4 both strongly inhibited the growth of M. luteus (MIC=11.2 and 5.2 μM, resp.) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC=22.5 and 10.5 μM, resp.) and compound 2 additionally also the growth of Bacillus subtilis (MIC=11.2 μM). The cytotoxic activity of the isolates was tested against three human cancer cell lines, viz., cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa), chronic myelogenous leukemia (K562), and breast cancer (MCF‐7) cells. The CHCl3 extract exhibited strong cytotoxic activity against all cell lines (IC50<11.0 μg/ml). All compounds strongly inhibited the growth of the K562 and HeLa cell lines. Compound 4 exhibited also a strong activity against the MCF‐7 cell line, comparable to that of cisplatin (IC50=22.32±1.32 vs. 18.67±0.75μM).
Knowledge and attitudes about smoking in medical students before and after a tobacco seminar

A 3‐hour seminar on tobacco was introduced to second year (pre‐clinical) medical students in Hong Kong in 1994. The differences in knowledge and attitudes were measured by a self‐administered and anonymous questionnaire with 14 items before the seminar (n = 145), and again 2 weeks after the seminar (n = 151). The students also completed an evaluation form at the end of the seminar. Before the seminar, the students were most deficient in their knowledge on the exact magnitude of the risks from smoking and on the risks from smoking relative to the risks from air pollution and asbestos. After the seminar, their knowledge increased significantly (P < 0.005). As for attitudes, in the pre‐test 35% strongly agreed that tobacco advertising should be completely banned, and 50% did so in the post‐test (P = 0.02). The corresponding figures for banning of all forms of tobacco promotion were 26% and 43% (P < 0.005). In the pre‐test, one in four students strongly disagreed that doctor's advice to their patients to stop smoking is totally ineffective, with this proportion increasing to 70% in the post‐test (P < 0.005). The majority of the students stated that the seminar was useful. The preclinical medical curriculum should, at the very least, include a tobacco seminar. Our survey shows that it is effective in improving students' knowledge and attitudes on tobacco control.
Fractional Packing of T-Joins

Given a graph with nonnegative capacities on its edges, it is well known that the capacity of a minimum T-cut is equal to the value of a maximum fractional packing of T-joins. The Padberg--Rao algorithm finds a minimum capacity T-cut, but it does not produce a T-join packing. We present a polynomial combinatorial algorithm for finding an optimal T-join packing.
Three novel mutations of the IRF6 gene with one associated with an unusual feature in Van der Woude syndrome

Van der Woude syndrome (VWS) is a dominantly inherited disorder characterized by cleft lip with or without cleft palate and lip pits. It remains the most common syndromic form of oral clefts. Mutations in the interferon regulatory factor 6 (IRF6) gene have been identified in patients with VWS. We reported three unrelated families with lower lip anomalies. Two had lower lip pits, a cardinal sign of VWS, but the other had a heart‐shaped mass on lower lip without pits, oral clefts, or hypodontia. This isolated anomaly has not been previously observed in VWS. We performed mutation analysis by PCR‐sequencing the entire coding region of the IRF6 gene. Three potentially pathogenic mutations, c.145C>T (p.Q49X), c.171T>G (p.F57L), and 1306C>G (p.L436V) were successfully identified. All the missense mutations were not detected in 100 unaffected ethnic‐matched control chromosomes and have never been previously reported. The p.Q49X and p.F57L mutations were located in the highly conserved DNA binding domain while the p.L436V was located at the carboxy‐terminal region. This study reported an undescribed clinical feature of VWS and three novel mutations, expanding the phenotypic spectrum of VWS and mutational spectrum of IRF6. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms, smoking, and recent alcohol use in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND Perceived discrimination is associated with poor mental health and health-compromising behaviors in a range of vulnerable populations, but this link has not been assessed among pregnant women. We aimed to determine whether perceived discrimination was associated with these important targets of maternal health care among low-income pregnant women. METHODS Face-to-face interviews were conducted in English or Spanish with 4,454 multiethnic, low-income, inner-city women at their first prenatal visit at public health centers in Philadelphia, Penn, USA, from 1999 to 2004. Perceived chronic everyday discrimination (moderate and high levels) in addition to experiences of major discrimination, depressive symptomatology (CES-D >or= 23), smoking in pregnancy (current), and recent alcohol use (12 months before pregnancy) were assessed by patients' self-report. RESULTS Moderate everyday discrimination was reported by 873 (20%) women, high everyday discrimination by 238 (5%) women, and an experience of major discrimination by 789 (18%) women. Everyday discrimination was independently associated with depressive symptomatology (moderate = prevalence ratio [PR] of 1.58, 95% CI: 1.38-1.79; high = PR of 1.82, 95% CI: 1.49-2.21); smoking (moderate = PR of 1.19, 95% CI: 1.05-1.36; high = PR of 1.41, 95% CI: 1.15-1.74); and recent alcohol use (moderate = PR of 1.23, 95% CI: 1.12-1.36). However, major discrimination was not independently associated with these outcomes. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that perceived chronic everyday discrimination, but not major discrimination, was associated with depressive symptoms and health-compromising behaviors independent of potential confounders, including race and ethnicity, among pregnant low-income women.
Influence of Sales Promotion, Hedonic Shopping Motivation and Fashion Involvement Toward Impulse Buying through a Positive Emotion.

This study aims to determine the direct indirect influence of sales promotion, hedonic shopping motivation, fashion involvement and positive emotion as an intervening variable on impulse buying. The population of this research is customer of House of Smith Semarang. The number of samples is 100 respondents with incidental sampling technique through likert scale questionnaire. Data analysis using descriptive percentage and path analysis. The results show that sales promotion, hedonic shopping motivation, fashion involvement service affect impulse buying and positive emotion influence impulse buying and mediate the influence of sales promotion, hedonic shopping motivation, fashion involvement.
Colonic Bacteria Express an Ulcerative Colitis pANCA-Related Protein Epitope

ABSTRACT Bacteria are a suspected pathogenic factor in inflammatory bowel disease, but the identity of the relevant microbial species remains unresolved. The pANCA autoantibody is associated with most cases of ulcerative colitis (UC) and hence reflects an immune response associated with the disease process. This study addresses the hypothesis that pANCA identifies an antigen(s) expressed by bacteria resident in the human colonic mucosa. Libraries of colonic bacteria were generated using aerobic and anaerobic microbiologic culture conditions, and bacterial pools and clonal isolates were evaluated for cross-reactive antigens by immunoblot analysis using the pANCA monoclonal antibody Fab 5-3. Two major species of proteins immunoreactive to pANCA monoclonal antibodies were detected in bacteria from the anaerobic libraries. Colony isolates of the expressing bacteria were identified as Bacteroides caccae andEscherichia coli. Isolation and partial sequencing of theB. caccae antigen identified a 100-kDa protein without database homologous sequences. The E. coli protein was biochemically and genetically identified as the outer membrane porin OmpC. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with human sera demonstrated elevated immunoglobulin G anti-OmpC in UC patients compared to healthy controls. These findings demonstrate that a pANCA monoclonal antibody detects a recurrent protein epitope expressed by colonic bacteria and implicates colonic bacterial proteins as a target of the disease-associated immune response.
The '15 Days' Debate: Evidence from 10-K Submissions

I analyze the effects of SEC rule that decreased the deadline for a 10-K submission by 15 days. The results prove to be in the SEC favor, on the most part, against the opposing firms. I find that investors value the early release of information, as proxied by absolute abnormal return around the 10-K release date. I find evidence that suggest that the higher absolute abnormal return for early 10-K release date is due to Grossman & Stiglitz (1980) model, less traders choose to be informed when the 10-K release date is early. Using regression discontinuity design, I do not find that firms with the shorter deadline -treated firmstend to make more mistakes relative to firms with a longer deadline, unless I focus on “newly” treated firms or constrained treated firms.
Ecological approach of executive functions using the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome for Children (BADS-C): Developmental and validity study

Introduction. Ecological assessment of executive functions (EF) with tasks simulating everyday-life difficulties in children remains poorly developed. The Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome for Children (BADS-C) is one of the rare tools proposed in this perspective, for which developmental and convergent validity are, however, rather limited. The objectives of this study were to explore EF development using the BADS-C, while considering the effect of gender and parental education as well as controversial relationships between intelligence and EF. We also aimed to examine to what extent the BADS-C could reflect EF of children in everyday life, as reported by their parents on questionnaires. Method. A group of 120 healthy children aged from 7 to 12 years was recruited. Their executive performance was examined by means of the BADS-C, and their intellectual efficiency was tested with the Wechsler intelligence scales. Rating of EF in everyday life was simultaneously carried out by children’s parents, using two questionnaires: the Dysexecutive Questionnaire for Children (DEX-C) of the BADS-C and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). Results. Results showed a significant effect of age on BADS-C subtests, with inconsistencies from one subtest to another. Gender effect on EF performance was nonsignificant. Weak correlations were found between EF scores and parental education or intelligence quotient. Lastly, while the two questionnaires of everyday-life EF were strongly correlated with each other, their links with BADS-C subtests scores were weak. Conclusions. This study shows differentiated developmental curves on BADS-C, reflecting a variable implication of executive resources according to subtests. The limited relations between BADS-C performance and sociodemographic variables or IQ could be due to the fact that executive difficulties are moderate in healthy children at this age. Moreover, the capacity of the BADS-C to reflect EF as perceived by the child’s relatives in everyday life remains questionable.
Comparing the efficacy and safety profile of sitagliptin versus glimepiride in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled with metformin alone.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of sitagliptin and glimepiride in treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled with metformin alone. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In an 18 week, randomized parallel group interventional trial, 50 subjects who were only on metformin as antidiabetic agent, with inadequate glycemic control, were randomized to either sitagliptin 50/100mg or glimepiride 1/2 mg per day. Dose of drugs was adjusted after 4 weeks if glycemic control was not reached. RESULTS At 18 weeks both groups (sitagliptin and glimepiride) produced significant (P < 0.001) reduction in HbA1C (-0.636% and -1.172% respectively), with 12% patients in sitagliptin group and 36% patients in glimepiride group achieving target HbA1C. Reduction was also significant (P < 0.001) in both groups in FPG (-15.49 mg and -29.84 mg respectively) and 2HPPG (-34.28 mg and -44.83 mg respectively). Sitagliptin group showed net decrease in bodyweight by 0.102 kg whereas glimepiride group showed net increase in body weight by 0.493 kg. Incidence of hypoglycemia was 4% in sitagliptin group and 8% in glimepiride group. CONCLUSION In this study addition of sitagliptin and glimepiride to metformin monotherapy, produced significant improvement in glycemic control. Benefits were more with glimepiride in comparison to sitagliptin. Sitagliptin was well tolerated, with lower risk of hypoglycemia than glimepiride, and produced weight loss as compared to weight gain with glimepiride.
Cord Blood Leptin Reflects Fetal Fat Mass

Objective: To explore the relationship between leptin levels and fat mass at the time of birth to test the hypothesis that the level of leptin in the fetal circulation is primarily an index of fetal fat mass. Methods: Leptin concentration was measured in cord blood obtained from the offspring of 42 women. Trimmed, drained placental weight and neonatal morphometrics were obtained after delivery. Results: The ranges in maternal weight (46.7-93.2 kg), weight gain (3.2-22.6 kg), percent body fat (10-34%), placental weight (290-688 g), birth weight (2.63-4.32 kg), neonatal fat mass (179-782 g), and cord blood leptin (1.7-26.7 ng/mL) were wide. The only morphometric variable that explained a significant portion of the variation in cord blood leptin levels was neonatal fat mass (r2 = 0.41), and this relationship was not significantly improved by best subset regression of additional fetal and placental morphometric variables (r2 = 0.46). Conclusion: These data support the hypothesis and suggest that in the fetus, as in the child and the adult, fat mass is the major determinant of circulating leptin levels.
Brainstem auditory evoked response in newborns with hyperbilirubinemia.

OBJECTIVE To determine the initial Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) abnormalities in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia and the possible reversibility of abnormal BAER after therapy. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Tertiary care hospital. SUBJECTS 30 term neonates with hyperbilirubinemia (S. bilirubin < 15 mg/dl) as cases and 25 normal term neonates as controls. METHODS Duration of study was from August 1995 to August 1996. BAER were recorded before therapy at peak hyperbilirubinemia, after therapy, and the age of 2-4 months using electric response audiometer (Nihon Neuropack Four Machine). Denver Development Screening Test (Denver II) was performed at 1 year of age. RESULTS Seventeen out of thirty (56.7%) neonates with hyperbilirubinemia showed abnormalities on initial BAER. Commonest abnormality seen was raised threshold of wave V in 12 neonates (40%). Other abnormalities observed were absence of all waves at 90 dB (23.3%), prolongation of latencies of various waves (26.7%) and prolongation of various intervals (26.7%). Abnormalities in BAER correlated significantly with bilirubin level. After therapy abnormalities reverted back to normal in 10 cases but persisted in 7 out of 17 (41.17%) cases with initial abnormal BAER. Development screening at 1 yr was abnormal in 3 infants all of whom had persistent abnormalities in BAER. CONCLUSION Serial BAER is a useful, non invasive tool to detect neurodevelopment delay secondary to neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.