Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis B virus infection is associated with deletion of chromosome 8p in multiple myeloma

Serological analyses within epidemiological cohort and case‐control studies indicate to an association between HBV infection and risk of multiple myeloma (MM). To verify the relationship with an independent approach, we investigated the correlation between HBV positivity and chromosomal aberrations within 680 patients of the National Center for Tumor Diseases Heidelberg for which the serological HBV status (HBsAg and anti‐HBc) and FISH data for five gains (1q21, 9q34, 11q23, 15q22, 19q13), five losses (6q21, 8p21, 13q14, 17p13, 22q11), and three IgH translocations [t(4,14), t(11,14), t(14,16)] were available. Deletion of 8p21 and 13q14 were shown associated with HBV positivity within hepatocellular carcinoma in other investigations. In the present evaluation, the odds ratio for loss of 8p21 was significantly elevated (OR = 2.74, 95% CL = 1.36–5.50, P = 0.0048) and for loss of 13q14 non‐significantly increased (OR = 1.40, 95% CL = 0.74–2.65) in anti‐HBc positive patients. The results provide further support for a role of HBV infection in the pathogenesis of MM.
Real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR analysis of human bone marrow stromal cells during osteogenic differentiation in vitro

We developed and used real‐time RT‐PCR assays to investigate how the expression of typical osteoblast‐related genes by human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) is regulated by (i) the culture time in medium inducing osteogenic differentiation and (ii) the previous expansion in medium enhancing cell osteogenic commitment. BMSC from six healthy donors were expanded in medium without (CTR) or with fibroblast growth factor‐2 and dexamethasone (FGF/Dex; these factors are known to increase BMSC osteogenic commitment) and further cultivated for up to 20 days with ascorbic acid, β‐glycerophosphate and dexamethasone (these factors are typically used to induce BMSC osteogenic differentiation). Despite a high variability in the gene expression levels among different individuals, we identified the following statistically significant patterns. The mRNA levels of bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP‐2), bone sialo protein‐II (BSP), osteopontin (OP) and to a lower extent cbfa‐1 increased with culture time in osteogenic medium (OM), both in CTR‐ and FGF/Dex‐expanded BMSC, unlike levels of alkaline phosphatase, collagen type I, osteocalcin, and osteonectin. After 20 days culture in OM, BMP‐2, BSP, and OP were more expressed in FGF/Dex than in CTR‐expanded BMSC (mRNA levels were, respectively, 9.5‐, 14.9‐, and 5.8‐fold higher), unlike all the other investigated genes. Analysis of single‐colony‐derived strains of BMSC further revealed that after 20 days culture in OM, only a subset of FGF/Dex‐expanded clones expressed higher mRNA levels of BMP‐2, BSP, and OP than CTR‐expanded clones. In conclusion, we provide evidence that mRNA levels of BMP‐2, BSP, and OP, quantified using real‐time RT‐PCR, can be used as markers to monitor the extent of BMSC osteogenic differentiation in vitro; using those markers, we further demonstrated that only a few subpopulations of BMSC display enhanced osteogenic differentiation following FGF/Dex expansion. J. Cell. Biochem. 85: 737–746, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pattern of Decision Making of Irula Tribal Farm Women in Nilgiris District

The study was undertaken to find out the pattern of decision making of the Irula tribal farm women of Nilgiris district in farm and home. The study revealed that Irula tribal farm women took self decision in the case of irrigating fields (85.00) followed by using plant protection measures (83.33) in case of farm management and took self decision in cases like selection and preparation of food (100.00), decorating the house (70.00) They had least participation in decisions like construction of new house (63.33) followed by borrowing and giving loans (38.33).
Adapting intercultural research for performance: Enacting hospitality in interdisciplinary collaboration and public engagement

This article theorises the process of adapting my research on intercultural communication for public performance in collaboration with a theatre company. I frame the collaboration as taking place within a hospitable institutional space, and then consider what it means to enact hospitality interpersonally, given Derrida's understanding that the condition of its possibility is at the same time the condition of its impossibility. I suggest that the enactment of hospitality can be understood through the application of an intercultural theoretical framework based on Mikhail Bakhtin's concept of outsideness, and that this framework can be applied to both the collaboration with the theatre company and to the purposes of public engagement with research. I conclude with a consideration of the relationship between hospitality and hope, and a call to move towards a ‘condition of possibility’ for working as academics, for public engagement, and for living.
Contribution of water-limited ecoregions to their own supply of rainfall

The occurrence of wet and dry growing seasons in water-limited regions remains poorly understood, partly due to the complex role that these regions play in the genesis of their own rainfall. This limits the predictability of global carbon and water budgets, and hinders the regional management of natural resources. Using novel satellite observations and atmospheric trajectory modelling, we unravel the origin and immediate drivers of growing-season precipitation, and the extent to which ecoregions themselves contribute to their own supply of rainfall. Results show that persistent anomalies in growing-season precipitation—and subsequent biomass anomalies—are caused by a complex interplay of land and ocean evaporation, air circulation and local atmospheric stability changes. For regions such as the Kalahari and Australia, the volumes of moisture recycling decline in dry years, providing a positive feedback that intensifies dry conditions. However, recycling ratios increase up to 40%, pointing to the crucial role of these regions in generating their own supply of rainfall; transpiration in periods of water stress allows vegetation to partly offset the decrease in regional precipitation. Findings highlight the need to adequately represent vegetation–atmosphere feedbacks in models to predict biomass changes and to simulate the fate of water-limited regions in our warming climate.
Horseshoe kidney: A new theory on lts embrogenesis based on the study of a 16‐mm human embryo

We studied a human embryo of 16 mm crown‐rump (CR) length in excellent condition with a horseshoe kidney malformation. An exhaustive study of this specimen and a review of published material on the human embryo brings us to propose a new theory on the embryogenesis of this malformation. The most commonly accepted theory consists of a mechanical interpretation based on the relation between the metanephroi and the umbilical arteries during the development of the latter. Nevertheless, in those cases where renal parenchyma constitutes the isthmic region, we believe that these arise from nephrogenic cells that have migrated across the primitive streak in the final phase of gastrulation and thus arise from the posterior nephrogenic area of the epiblast.
Developmental profile of ErbB receptors in murine central nervous system: Implications for functional interactions

The ErbB family, ErbB1 (also known as the epidermal growth factor receptor EGFR), ErbB2, ErbB3, and ErbB4 comprise a group of receptor tyrosine kinases that interact with ligands from the epidermal growth factor (EGF) superfamily, subsequently dimerize, catalytically activate each other by cross‐phosphorylation, and then stimulate various signaling pathways. To gain a better understanding of in vivo functions of ErbB receptors in the central nervous system, the current study examined their mRNA expression throughout development in the mouse brain via in situ hybridization. EGFR, ErbB2, and ErbB4 exhibited distinct but sometimes overlapping distributions in multiple cell types within germinal zones, cortex, striatum, and hippocampus in prenatal and postnatal development. In addition, a subpopulation of cells positive for ErbB4 mRNA in postnatal cortex and striatum coexpressed mRNA for either EGFR or GAD67, a marker for γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons, suggesting that both ErbB4 and EGFR are coexpressed in GABAergic interneurons. In contrast, ErbB3 mRNA was not detected within the brain during development and only appeared in white matter tracts in adulthood. Together, these findings suggest that ErbB receptors might mediate multiple functions in central nervous system development, some of which may be initiated by EGFR/ErbB4 heterodimers in vivo. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Suppression extends to major histocompatibility antigens linked to tolerizing minor histocompatibility antigens, but not the other way round

‘Active suppression’, a mechanism of transplantation tolerance, can spread to newly introduced minor antigens once these antigens are linked to tolerizing antigens. We explored whether this suppression can extend to major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens and whether this phenomenon can be demonstrated once tolerance is induced to a MHC antigen. Mice were tolerized using donor bone marrow plus CD4 and CD8 monoclonal antibodies. The following strain combinations were used: AKR (H‐2k) into CBA (H‐2k), a multiple minor difference and B6 (H‐2b) into B6bm12 (H‐2b), a MHC class II difference. Tolerance was tested by a donorskingraft. CBA mice tolerant to AKR received a second skin carrying either AKR antigens plus additional multiple minor antigens [F1(AKRxBalb.K)] or carrying additional minors and a MHC class I antigen (B10.AKM‐H2M). B6bm12 (H‐2b) tolerant to B6 (H‐2b) were grafted with skin from a Balb.B donor (Balb minors linked to the tolerizing class II antigen) or from a B10.A(3R) strain (a MHC class I antigen linked to the tolerizing class II antigen). CBA mice tolerant to AKR accepted F1(AKRxBalb.K) skin, whereas F1(CBAxBalb.K) were rejected. Rejection of B10.AKM/H2M skin by tolerant mice was delayed as compared with nontolerant mice. Tolerant and nontolerant B6bm12 mice rejected Balb.B skin and B10.A(3R) skin within the same time. Thus, in this model, suppression was linked to minors. Alloreactivity against minors and majors could be suppressed. Suppression linked to a class II antigen could not be demonstrated.
Watch Your Mobile Payment: An Empirical Study of Privacy Disclosure

Using a smartphone as payment device has become a highly attractive feature that is increasingly influencing user acceptance. Electronic wallets, near field communication, and mobile shopping applications, are all incentives that push users to adopt m-payment. Hence, this makes the sensitive data that already exists on everyone's smartphone easily collated to their financial transaction details. In fact, misusing m-payment can be a real privacy threat. The existing privacy issues regarding m-payment are already numerous, and can be caused by different factors. We investigate, through an empirical survey-based study, the different factors and their potential correlations and regression values. We identify three factors that influence directly privacy disclosure: the user's privacy concerns, his risk perception, and the protection measure appropriateness. These factors are impacted by indirect ones, which are linked to the users' and the technology's characteristics, and the behaviour of institutions and companies. In order to analyse the impact of each factor, we define a new research model for privacy disclosure based on several hypotheses. The study is mainly based on a five-item scale survey, and on the modelling of structural equations. In addition to the impact estimations for each factor, our study results indicate that the privacy disclosure in m-payment is primarily caused by the "protection measure appropriateness", which, in its turn, impacted by "the m-payment convenience". We discuss in this paper the research model, the methodology, the findings and their significance.
Genetic influence on laterality in schizophrenia? A twin study of neurological soft signs.

OBJECTIVE This study explored the genetic basis of neurological soft signs in schizophrenia and addressed disturbed hemispheric lateralization. METHOD The authors investigated neurological soft signs in 30 monozygotic twin pairs, 13 pairs discordant for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 17 healthy comparison twin pairs. RESULTS The twins with schizophrenia showed higher total scores for neurological soft signs than did the comparison subjects. The total scores for neurological soft signs of the nonaffected discordant twins were significantly higher than those of the comparison twins. There was a significant difference between the nonaffected and affected discordant twins in total scores for neurological soft signs. In contrast to the comparison subjects, the nonaffected and affected twins of the discordant pairs showed a trend toward higher scores for neurological soft signs on the left body half. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the occurrence of neurological soft signs and, more specifically, their lateralization to the left body half are genetically transmitted.
Uncommon malignant tumours of the larynx A 35 year review

Abstract Sixty-five primary malignant laryngeal tumours, other than simple squamous cell carcinomas, treated at the Royal Marsden Hospital between 1949 and 1984 are presented. Of the 11 histological types pseudosarcomas (24 cases), verrucous carcinomas (9 cases) and lymphoreticular tumours (9 cases) predominated. Determinate three-year follow-up data were available in 50 cases. Sixteen patients (32 per cent) died of their neoplasms but survival was strongly related to histology. Only one death occurred among 24 determinate cases of pseudosarcoma and verrucous carcinoma. Radiotherapy was effective treatment for these two tumour types and for reticuloendothelial tumours. However, combined therapy yielded poor results with the other histological types.
Cold-related cardiac mortality in King County, Washington, USA 1980–2001

Background: Studies have shown that cardiac deaths increase during the winter months and that death rates can be tightly predicted from temperature rather than other atmospheric phenomena such as barometric pressure, humidity, or pollution. Aim: The object of this study is to examine the possible relationship between temperature and cardiac death rates in King County, Washington, USA and suggest possible public health measures that can decrease the number of cardiac deaths associated with cold exposure. Subjects and methods: State death records show that 621 25 total out-of-hospital cardiac-related deaths among persons 55 years and older occurred in King County between 1980 and 2001. We use Poisson regression to examine the association between same-day daily average temperature and death rate after adjusting for seasonal effects. Results: We identified a significant negative association between daily average temperature and cardiac mortality among persons over 55 years of age. A 5°C increase in temperature was associated with a decrease in death rate by a factor of 0.971 (95% CI: 0.961, 0.982). Conclusion: Cold temperatures may be an important triggering factor in bringing on the onset of life-threatening cardiac events, even in regions with relatively mild winters. Public health efforts stressing cold exposure while out of doors may play a prominent role in encouraging a reduction in cold stress, especially among seniors and those already at higher risk of cardiac death.
The effect of obstructed pulmonary venous blood flow on the development of alternative pathways in the lung

ANASTOMOSES between pulmonary and bronchial arteries may be found, though in limited numbers, in the normal perinatal lung. Also present in small numbers are the so-called pulmobronchial arteries-branches from pulmonary arteries supplying bronchial walls and supporting connective tissue, and the bronchopulmonary arteries, arising from bronchial arteries but supplying the pulmonary tissue (Wagenvoort and Wagenvoort, 1966,1967; Robertson, 1967). In abnormal haemodynamic conditions, as in experimental ligation of a pulmonary artery (Roding, 1967) or in isolated transposition of the large arteries (Robertson, I968), the number of bronchopulmonary arteries is markedly increased, but the number of pulmobronchial arteries and anastomoses is unaffected or only slightly increased. The present study deals with the relative numbers of these vessels in cases of increased left atrial pressure, particularly in aortic atresia, with or without premature closure of the foramen ovale.
Selection of traditional catering establishments in Ghana: Diners’ perspectives

ABSTRACT This article empirically investigates the factors that determine diners’ decision-making in choosing to eat at traditional catering establishments in Ho, Ghana. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by a sample of 199 patrons selected from five traditional catering establishments. Following the use of descriptive and inferential statistics, hygienic and cleanliness factors were found to be critical in the selection process while the quantity of food and pricing were least important. A significant proportion of women compared to men preferred eating at home to buying food prepared out-of-home. Craft and trade workers were more likely to eat food prepared out-of-home than salaried workers.
Urine protein excretion and swimming events.

To determine total urinary protein, albumin (ALB), and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) excretion rates in relation to different speeds, 12 males were studied while swimming distances of 100, 600, and 2,000 m at maximal speed. Venous blood lactate concentrations rose to 16.1, 11.6, and 4.5 mmol.l-1 after the 100, 600, and 2,000 m events, while plasma volumes were reduced by 11.3, 7.7, and 5.5%, respectively. ALB urine excretion increased to 110-120 micrograms.min-1 after the 100 and 600 m swims and to 56 micrograms.min-1 after 2,000 m (resting values: 9 micrograms.min-1). In the meantime, the beta 2m excretion rate increased 21 and 10 times the resting values, respectively, for the two shorter swims, with no change for the longer one. Progressive plasma volume reduction was associated with the increase of the protein excretion rate. As evidenced by the creatinine clearance, the glomerular filtration rate did not change for the 100 m swim but dropped by 23 and 35% for the 600 and 2,000 m ones, respectively. On the other hand, the ALB clearance increases were elevated for the three swims, while the beta 2m clearance increases were inversely related to the swimming speeds. The data showed a relationship between the rate of protein excretion and the speed of the swim, and the reduction of plasma volume. The findings could indicate a renal glomerular alteration, with an additional dysfunction of the tubular reabsorption process when the exercise load is high during swimming events.
The discriminant power of bleeding history for the diagnosis of type 1 von Willebrand disease: an international, multicenter study

Summary. Objective: The aim of this study was the validation of the criteria defining a significant mucocutaneous‐bleeding history in type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD). Subjects and methods: To avoid selection bias, 42 obligatory carriers (OC) of type 1 VWD were identified from a panel of 42 families with type 1 VWD enrolled by 10 expert centers. OC were identified by the presence of an offspring and another first degree relative with type 1 VWD (affected subjects, AFF). A standardized questionnaire was administered to evaluate hemorrhagic symptoms at the time of first examination, using a bleeding score ranging from 0 (no symptom) to 3 (hospitalization, replacement therapy, blood transfusion). Sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic likelihood ratios, positive and negative predictive values for the diagnosis of type 1 VWD were calculated from the data collected in OC and in 215 controls. Results: Having at least three hemorrhagic symptoms or a bleeding score of 3 in males and 5 in females was very specific (98.6%) for the bleeding history of type 1 VWD, although less sensitive (69.1%). None of the misclassified OC had life‐threatening bleeding episodes after diagnosis. Conclusions: We suggest that the use of a standardized questionnaire and bleeding score may be useful for the identification of subjects requiring laboratory evaluation for VWD.
The use of hospital discharge data for public health surveillance of guillain‐barré syndrome

The sensitivity of passive reporting of Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS) to the Vermont Department of Health from 1980 to 1985 was compared to that of computerized hospital discharge abstract data. Written hospital discharge summaries were reviewed for clinical data to validate the computerized abstracts. In all, 51 definite and probable cases of GBS were identified from hospital data during a period when only 4 cases (8%) had been reported to the health department through passive physician reporting. Based on the hospital data, the incidence of this syndrome in Vermont was 1.6/100,000 population/year. The incidence rate for males was 1.5 times that for females. No geographical or seasonal clustering of cases was found. These epidemiological features are consistent with previously published data on the syndrome and suggest that the incidence has not changed significantly in the past 10 years. Incidence rates for GBS based on passively reported cases markedly underestimate the true incidence rate. Although limited by the lack of timeliness for public health surveillance, computerized hospital discharge data are readily available in many states and may be more sensitive in detecting cases, compared to passive surveillance. They may be a useful tool for establishing baseline rates and examining longterm trends for selected acute diseases like GBS for which there are well‐established diagnostic criteria and that usually result in hospitalization.
Irrigated Needle Ablation Creates Larger and More Transmural Ventricular Lesions Compared With Standard Unipolar Ablation in an Ovine Model

Background—Ventricular tachycardia recurrence can occur after ventricular tachycardia ablation because of incomplete and nontransmural ventricular lesion formation. We sought to compare the lesions made by a novel irrigated needle catheter to conventional radiofrequency lesions. Methods and Results—Thirteen female sheep (4.6±0.7 years, 54±8 kg) were studied. In 7 sheep, 60-s radiofrequency applications were performed using an irrigated needle catheter. In 6 sheep, conventional lesions were made using a 4-mm irrigated catheter. 1.5T in vivo and high-density magnetic resonance imaging (9.4T) were performed on explanted hearts from animals receiving needle radiofrequency. Conventional lesion volume was calculated as (1/6)×&pgr;×(A×B2+C×D2/2). Needle lesion volume was measured as &Sgr;(&pgr;×r2)/2 with a slice thickness of 1 mm. The dimensions of all lesions were also measured on gross pathology. Additional histological analysis of the needle lesions was performed. One hundred twenty endocardial left ventricular ablation lesions (conventional, n=60; needle, n=60) were created. At necropsy, more lesions were found using needle versus conventional radiofrequency (90% versus 75%; P<0.05). Comparing needle versus conventional radiofrequency: lesion volume was larger (1030±362 versus 488±384 mm3; P<0.001), lesion depth was increased (9.9±2.7 versus 5±2.4 mm; P<0.001), and more transmural lesions were created (62.5% versus 17%; P<0.01). Pericardial contrast injection was observed in 4 apical attempts using needle radiofrequency, however, with no adverse effects. Steam pops occurred in 3 attempts using conventional radiofrequency. Conclusions—Irrigated needle ablation is associated with more frequent, larger, deeper, and more often transmural lesions compared with conventional irrigated ablation. This technology might be of value to treat intramural or epicardial ventricular tachycardia substrates resistant to conventional ablation.