Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maternal serum interleukin-6 levels predict impending funisitis in preterm premature rupture of membranes after completion of antibiotics

Objective: To determine if maternal serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels remain predictive of funisitis after completion of antibiotic administration in preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). Methods: A secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study. Daily blood samples obtained from PPROM subjects were analyzed for IL-6 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Subjects (N = 39) delivered >7days post admission and were divided into those with and without funisitis. Data were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U test. Results: Maternal serum IL-6 levels obtained 24–48 hours and 48–72 hours before delivery are elevated in PPROM subjects with funisitis compared to those without funisitis (6.3 vs. 2.7 pg/ml, P < 0.03; 6.1 vs. 1.7 pg/ml, P < 0.02). Receiver operator characteristic curve revealed an IL-6 level of 1.98 pg/ml had sensitivity of 86.7%, specificity of 46.7%, positive predictive value of 61.9% and negative predictive value of 77.8%. Conclusion: This data suggests that maternal serum IL-6 levels continue to be predictive of PPROM subjects destined to develop funisitis after completion of antibiotics.
Behaviorally Modulated Filter Model for the Thalamic Reticular Nucleus

Incoming sensory information is first processed in the thalamocortical network. Previous studies showed that the responses generated in the nuclei of this network are behaviorally modulated, suggesting that the processing of the somatosensory information could be state dependent. Most theories, proposed to describe this response modulation have postulated that the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) plays a role in this response modulation. We suggest that the TRN acts as a bandpass filter whose bandwidth increases or decreases depending on the state of the animal. To test this idea, we used multineuron recordings and demonstrate, for the first time, that the responses of single neurons in the reticular nucleus are modulated by the behavior of the animal. This result, taken together with the anatomy of the thalamocortical network and previous studies on anesthetized rats, suggests that the modulation of the responses in the thalamus and cortex could be at least partially due to the TRN through a mechanism that is similar to that of a behavioral modulated filter
The dynamics of stem and crown groups

Modeling patterns of diversification in the fossil record explains many of its major features. The fossil record of the origins of major groups such as animals and birds has generated considerable controversy, especially when it conflicts with timings based on molecular clock estimates. Here, we model the diversity of “stem” (basal) and “crown” (modern) members of groups using a “birth-death model,” the results of which qualitatively match many large-scale patterns seen in the fossil record. Typically, the stem group diversifies rapidly until the crown group emerges, at which point its diversity collapses, followed shortly by its extinction. Mass extinctions can disturb this pattern and create long stem groups such as the dinosaurs. Crown groups are unlikely to emerge either cryptically or just before mass extinctions, in contradiction to popular hypotheses such as the “phylogenetic fuse”. The patterns revealed provide an essential context for framing ecological and evolutionary explanations for how major groups originate, and strengthen our confidence in the reliability of the fossil record.
Inactivation of menin, a Smad3-interacting protein, blocks transforming growth factor type β signaling

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by endocrine tumors of parathyroids, pancreatic islets, and anterior pituitary. The MEN1 gene encodes a nuclear protein called menin. In MEN1 carriers inactivating mutations give rise to a truncated product consistent with menin acting as a tumor suppressor gene. However, the role of menin in tumorigenesis and its physiological functions are not known. Here, we show that menin inactivation by antisense RNA antagonizes transforming growth factor type β-mediated cell growth inhibition. Menin interacts with Smad3, and antisense menin suppresses transforming growth factor type β-induced and Smad3-induced transcriptional activity by inhibiting Smad3/4-DNA binding at specific transcriptional regulatory sites. These results implicate a mechanism of tumorigenesis by menin inactivation.
Abnormal microbiota composition in the ileocolonic mucosa of Crohn's disease patients as revealed by polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

Background Bacteria might play a role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD), and patients harbor a different type and density of gut microbiota compared with normal healthy subjects. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the microbiota adhered to the mucosa of CD patients with that of healthy subjects. Methods Polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE) of 16S rRNA gene fragments was used to identify the dominant bacterial species present in fresh biopsy samples obtained from the mucosa of 15 healthy and 19 CD subjects. Two patients suffering from ulcerative colitis and 1 suffering from ischemic colitis also were included. Results Individuals were clustered in 2 groups according to their molecular fingerprint, which differentiated the majority of CD specimens (88.2%) from the majority of healthy/ulcerative colitis/ischemic colitis specimens (82.3%). In addition, the patient‐to‐patient variability in microbiota was greater within the CD cluster than in the healthy/ulcerative colitis cluster (P = 0.000). One hundred forty‐one sequences were obtained from the PCR‐DGGE bands that were grouped into 58 different phylotypes, 8 of which were novel. BLAST analysis revealed that 74.5% of the sequences were similar to those of bacteria that have never been cultivated. In CD samples, prevalence values for Clostridium spp Ruminococcus torques and Escherichia coli were significantly higher, whereas Faecalibacterium was more frequently found in healthy specimens. Opportunistic pathogenic &ggr;‐proteobacteria were found occasionally, only in CD mucosal microbiota. Conclusions Microbiota attached to the ileocolonic mucosa of CD patients is distinguishable from that of healthy subjects. We postulate that individuals who are predisposed to CD are less able to regulate the microbial makeup of their intestines, which leads to an unstable microbial population.
Supplementation of Pooled Human Milk with Casein Hydrolysate: Energy and Nitrogen Balance and Weight Gain Composition in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

ABSTRACT. : Growth and nitrogen and energy balances were studied with a combined technique of nutrient balance and indirect calorimetry measurement in two groups of eight very low birth weight infants fed pooled pasteurized human milk (HM) or cow's milk casein hydrolysate supplemented HM (HM-Pr). There was no difference in the amount of energy absorbed (91 ± 17 kcal/kg/day with HM-Pr versus 95 ± 8 with HM-P) or in the growth rate. The infants fed HM-Pr had a higher nitrogen intake (602 ± 80 versus 395 ± 64 mg/kg/day; p < 0.001), urinary nitrogen excretion (160 ± 64 versus 78 ± 16 mg/kg/day; p < 0.005) and nitrogen retention (326 ± 32 versus 252 ± 48 mg/kg/day; p < 0.01). They also had increased plasma concentrations of essential amino acids, urea nitrogen, and total protein without metabolic imbalance. Energy expenditure was higher (58 versus 49 kcal/kg/day; p < 0.005) and energy storage lower (33 versus 47 kcal/kg/day; p < 0.05) with HM-Pr. In percent of weight gain, protein and fat accretion represented 12 and 14% in HM-Pr group versus 10 and 27% in HM group. Very low birth weight infants fed casein hydrolysate supplemented pooled HM achieved a growth rate and a weight gain composition similar to the fetus.
Should Vietnamese Banks Need More Equity? Evidence on Risk-Return Trade-Off in Dynamic Models of Banking

This study employs generalized method of moments (GMM) for dynamic panel data models to deal with the nature of banking behaviour, aiming at investigating the impact of bank equity on the risk and return of Vietnamese commercial banks during the period of 2006–2017. The study finds that increasing bank equity is not always the best strategy to be accompanied by absolute benefits, increasing returns and reducing risks for banks but is a trade-off instead. More precisely, banks with larger capital buffers tend to take less risk but are less profitable. In addition, the study also finds a non-linear relationship revealing that bank risk mitigates the effect of bank equity on profitability. Most estimations show strong robustness checked by some alternative techniques. Based on the findings, the study provides some important policy implications to improve the performance of the banking system in Vietnam as well as in other emerging countries.
Common features in structures and sequences of sandwich-like proteins

The goal of this work is to define the structural and sequence features common to sandwich-like proteins (SPs), a group of very different proteins now comprising 69 superfamilies in 38 protein folds. Analysis of the arrangements of strands within main sandwich sheets revealed a rigorously defined constraint on the supersecondary substructure that holds true for 94% of known SP structures. The invariant substructure consists of two interlocked pairs of neighboring β-strands. It is even more typical for centers of SP than the well-known “Greek key” strands arrangement for their edges. As homology among these proteins is not usually detectable even with the most powerful sequence-comparing algorithms, we employed a structure-based approach to sequence alignment. Within the interlocked strands we found 12 positions with fixed structural roles in SP. A residue at any of these positions possesses similar structural properties with residues in the same position of other SPs. The 12 positions lie at the center of the interface between the β-sheets and form the common geometrical core of SPs. Of the 12 positions, 8 are occupied by only four hydrophobic residues in 80% of all SPs.
Attenuation of water flow inside seagrass canopies of differing structure

An understanding of how habitat structure influences physical environmental processes that are important to organisms utilizing the habitat is a necessary basis for predicting biological responses to habitat variation. Seagrass meadows represent an important coastal nursery habitat that modifies the local flow environment. We used basic fluid-dynamic balances to construct a simple model of the effects of seagrass habitat structure on mean flow within and above the canopy, and tested quantitative predictions of the model against published flume observations and our own field measurements. In the field, flow reduction was detected in 10 of 13 cases inside the canopies of 5 seagrass beds varying in vegetation density (11 to 52 m(2) m(-3)) and upstream flow (5 to 14 cm s(-1)). The field data demonstrated greater flow reductions inside the canopy with increasing vegetation density. Flume data further confirmed a quantitative prediction of our model that the vertically integrated flow velocity inside the canopy would vary inversely with the square root of vegetation density. The model also predicted that the width of the 'seagrass-edge zone', in which flow decelerates, is a declining function of vegetation density, indicating that 'edge effects' (and by inference variation among patches of differing sizes) change predictably with seagrass bed structure. Empirical observations and simplified theory relating mean flow reduction to seagrass vegetation density can now be used to generate predictions of dependent biological responses such as variation in gamete fertilization, larval and spore settlement, and growth rates of organisms responsive to fluxes.
Evidence for a defective platelet L‐tryptophan transport in depressed patients

The kinetic characteristics of platelet L-tryptophan uptake were investigated in 23 untreated depressed patients and 18 healthy volunteers. A significant increase of 50% in the apparent Michaelis constant (Km) was observed in depressed patients compared with controls, without significant change in the maximal velocity (Vmax). After 1 month of successful antidepressant treatment the mean Km value decreased significantly and reached the control value. This result raises the possibility that the decrease in platelet tryptophan uptake affinity is a state-dependent marker for depression. It is likely that the transport alteration results in a decrease in platelet tryptophan accumulation. The effect of this peripheral membrane defect on brain serotonin function is discussed.
Erwartungsfokussierte Psychotherapeutische Interventionen (EFPI)

Erkenntnisse der Placebo-Forschung legen nahe, dass Erwartungen in Bezug auf die Wirksamkeit einer Behandlung ein entscheidender Prädiktor für den tatsächlichen Behandlungserfolg sind. Dieser Einfluss von Erwartungen wurde sowohl für die Behandlung von körperlichen Erkrankungen als auch von psychischen Störungen nachgewiesen. Bei psychischen Störungen spielen neben den Erwartungen an den Behandlungserfolg noch weitere Erwartungen eine wichtige Rolle. Dazu gehören störungsspezifische Erwartungen (z.B. Erwartungen bezüglich des Eintretens eines katastrophalen Ereignisses bei Patienten mit Angststörungen) ebenso wie Erwartungen über sich selbst und andere (z.B. «Andere werden mich ablehnen, wenn sie meine wahre Persönlichkeit kennenlernen»). Das Modell der Erwartungsverletzung (engl. expectation violation = ViolEx) stellt dar, wie Erwartungen bei psychischen Störungen entstehen, wie sie sich verändern und warum sie trotz gegensätzlicher Erfahrungen oft persistieren. Darauf aufbauend stellen wir einen Behandlungsansatz mit Fallbeispielen vor, der psychotherapeutische Interventionen durch das Fokussieren auf Patientenerwartungen optimieren kann (Erwartungsfokussierte psychotherapeutische Interventionen; EFPI). Zwar beinhalten einige etablierte psychotherapeutische Interventionen bereits (zum Teil implizit) erwartungsmodifizierende Elemente, doch EFPI stellen einen fokussierteren Ansatz dar, mit dessen Hilfe die Gründe für wenig erfolgreich verlaufende Therapien identifiziert werden und Ansatzpunkte für weitere Interventionen gefunden können.
Increased consumption of hospital resources due to complications: an assessment of costs in a level I trauma center.

BACKGROUND Hospital complications can pose a threat to patients, contribute to higher mortality and morbidity, and increase both the average length of hospital stay (LOS) and the use of other resources. The purpose of this study is to express the relationship between complications and the use of hospital resources in financial parameters. METHODS All trauma patients admitted to the surgical ward in the period 2000 to 2008 were analyzed (n = 4,377). All activities registered during admission were obtained. The integral in-hospital cost prices of each activity were divided into various product groups. Median and interquartile ranges were presented for the number of activities in the product groups, stratified by age and Injury Severity Score. The relationship between both institutional- and trauma-related complications and the number of activities in the different product groups was tested with linear regression analysis with adjustment for confounding. RESULTS Significant associations between trauma-related complications and LOS, therapeutic paramedical products, diagnostic radiologic products, other diagnostic products, diagnostic laboratory products, therapeutic surgical procedures, other therapeutic products, and total costs (β = 5,420; 95% confidence interval, 4,912-5,929) were found. Significant associations between institutional-related complications and LOS, therapeutic paramedical products, diagnostic radiologic products, therapeutic surgical procedures, and other therapeutic products were found. Total costs (β = 170; 95% confidence interval, -760 to 1,099) showed a nonsignificant association with institutional-related complications. CONCLUSION Complications increase hospital costs, and even a small reduction in the number of complications will result in a substantial hospital cost savings and a reduction in the emotional and physical burdens of patients.
Vegetated Fauna Overpass Disguises Road Presence and Facilitates Permeability for Forest Microbats in Brisbane, Australia

The effects of urbanisation on flying vertebrates historically have been underestimated, with roads in particular impacting bat populations through vehicle collisions, habitat fragmentation and unwillingness to disperse across roads. Although vegetated fauna overpasses have not traditionally been considered as beneficial for microbats, these structures have recently been identified as a potential solution for assisting microbat communities. In Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, the Compton Road fauna overpass traverses a four–lane road, facilitating connectivity for mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians between two forest reserves. This study examined patterns of activity and species richness of microbat assemblages in relation to the Compton Road fauna overpass. Call recordings made over seven months identified nine species and two species groups (groups of species unable to be differentiated), all of which were recorded using the overpass. Bat activity on the overpass was higher than in the adjoining forest, with higher detectability. Species richness and activity at the roadside where the overpass was present was also higher than the unvegetated roadside. Activity patterns based on feeding behaviours suggest that forest species such as Nyctophilus and Myotis spp. were using the overpass, alongside more generalist species. The vegetation on the overpass is likely to be the key factor encouraging microbat activity. The Compton Road overpass appears to lessen the impact of road presence and may facilitate permeability of a major road, suggesting potential for enhancing habitat connectivity and facilitating crossings. This study is the first indication that vegetated fauna overpasses can facilitate activity and provide natural habitat continuity for diverse Australian microbat communities.
Near-floor short-range radio link measurements and modelling at 915/2400 MHz in indoor corridors for wireless sensor networks

The advancement in wireless communication and sensor technologies has made it necessary to understand and predict the radio frequency RF propagation losses at near-floor and short-range for low powered, randomly deployable wireless sensor communications/networks. Very few models exist for planning and deployment of randomly deployable wireless sensor networks WSNs. Most of them require extensive mathematical calculations and an in-depth knowledge of the environment. A simple linear regression LR based model for near-floor, short-range in indoor corridor environments in a high raised building for Wireless Sensor Communication is proposed using received signal strength RSS measurements at 915 and 2400 MHz utilising RF equipment and Matlab simulations. On the basis of the results of repeated measurements and modelling, the proposed LR model is observed to be suitable for prediction of short-range, near-floor path loss PL in line-of-sight LoS conditions at very low antenna heights in indoor corridors.
Caries patterns and their relationship to infant feeding and socio-economic status in 2-4-year-old Chinese children.

AIMS To describe the prevalence, severity and patterns of caries in 2-4-year-old children and to evaluate the association between caries experience of the children and their feeding patterns and socio-economic background in terms of mothers' education and family income. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. SETTING Suburban area of Hanchuan in Hubei province, China. PARTICIPANTS A sample of 426 children (250 boys and 176 girls). METHODS Dental-examinations were undertaken in kindergartens using World Health Organization diagnostic criteria for dental caries. Mothers completed a short questionnaire. OUTCOME MEASURES Prevalence of caries; rampant caries; caries in incisors; caries in incisors and/or canines and molars; mean number of decayed, missing and filled teeth/surfaces (dmft/s). RESULTS 36% of the children had caries, 7% had rampant caries. The more extensive pattern of caries involving primary molars as well as incisors and/or canines was seen in 12% of children. Children who had been wholly bottle-fed had five times the risk of having rampant caries compared to children who were breast-fed. CONCLUSIONS The results indicated that infant feeding practice might be a key risk factor for the development of caries at an early age in this country as elsewhere.
Early Life Conditions and Immune Defense in Nestling Swainson’s Hawks

The quality of perinatal conditions directly influences the physical and immunological development of nestlings, yet it is inherently variable across space and time. Long-term breeding data for a population of Swainson’s hawks (Buteo swainsoni) in northern California show a continuum of territory occupancy and productivity values of individual territories and nests. Here we explore effects of variation among territories on immune system development. We hypothesize that nestlings benefitting from favorable conditions will invest in stronger immune systems, a trait with long-term benefits. We used two immunological assays, a bactericidal assay and a hemolytic-complement activity assay, with leukocyte differentials (heterophil∶lymphocyte ratio) to evaluate the constitutive innate immune system. We examined whether early brood-rearing conditions (i.e., number of siblings, hatch date, endoparasite prevalence) were associated with immunological development. Linear mixed-effects models indicated a positive relationship between extended territory occupancy history—an index of habitat quality—and nestling immune function during years with poorer reproduction. There was no association during an exceptionally good reproductive year. Hence, at least under some circumstances, nestling environments or territory characteristics may affect immune function of nestlings. Our study contributes to the growing body of evidence highlighting the importance of facultative allocation to immune traits using long-term demographic data of a top avian predator.