Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thyrocalcitonin deficiency after treatment of thyroid disorders by surgery or radioiodine.

Since we adopted this method of access to the circulation for haemodialysis, the morale of each patient has changed considerably. Patients no longer live with their fears of an artificial Teflon shunt with its possible hazards and complications. They can rehabilitate themselves more easily and their lost working hours have decreased considerably. Similarly, life for members of the staff is no longer punctuated by frustrating crises of clotted shunts and infection. We have not observed any evidence of cardiac embarrassment in spite of the alteration in circulatory dynamics produced by the introduction of the arteriovenous fistula. We would like to suggest that this technique might be of value in circumstances other than haemodialysis where repeated access to the circulation is required-for example, repeated transfusions in aplastic anaemia. In this regard Williams et al. (1967) and Anderson et bl. (1967) have reported on the successful use of the conventional type of Quinton-Scribner Teflon shunt in a total of three patients with aplastic anaemia requiring regular transfusions. It is noted, however, that in two cases the problem of clotting occurred. From our experience we would suggest that a permanent surgically created arteriovenous fistula as described here would be a less troublesome method of obtaining access to the circulation when repeated transfusions are required.
A systematic review of school-based interventions to prevent bullying.

OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review of rigorously evaluated school-based interventions to decrease bullying. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Educational Resources Information Center, Cochrane Collaboration, the Physical Education Index, and Sociology: A SAGE Full-Text Collection were searched for the terms bullying and bully. STUDY SELECTION We found 2090 article citations and reviewed the references of relevant articles. Two reviewers critically evaluated 56 articles and found 26 studies that met the inclusion criteria. INTERVENTIONS The types of interventions could be categorized as curriculum (10 studies), multidisciplinary or "whole-school" interventions (10 studies), social skills groups (4 studies), mentoring (1 study), and social worker support (1 study). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Data were extracted regarding direct outcome measures of bullying (bullying, victimization, aggressive behavior, and school responses to violence) and outcomes indirectly related to bullying (school achievement, perceived school safety, self-esteem, and knowledge or attitudes toward bullying). RESULTS Only 4 of the 10 curriculum studies showed decreased bullying, but 3 of those 4 also showed no improvement in some populations. Of the 10 studies evaluating the whole-school approach, 7 revealed decreased bullying, with younger children having fewer positive effects. Three of the social skills training studies showed no clear bullying reduction. The mentoring study found decreased bullying for mentored children. The study of increased school social workers found decreased bullying, truancy, theft, and drug use. CONCLUSIONS Many school-based interventions directly reduce bullying, with better results for interventions that involve multiple disciplines. Curricular changes less often affect bullying behaviors. Outcomes indirectly related to bullying are not consistently improved by these interventions.
Neuropeptide Y in rat detrusor and its effect on nerve‐mediated and acetylcholine‐evoked contractions

1 Immunohistochemical and isolated organ bath techniques were used to detect the presence of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the rat urinary bladder and to determine its effect on tone, spontaneous activity and contractile responses of the detrusor muscle to electrical field stimulation, acetylcholine and α,β‐methylene ATP (α,β‐MeATP). 2 A very rich presence of NPY‐immunoreactive nerve fibres was found mainly within the bundles of detrusor muscle cells. Chronic treatment with 6‐hydroxydopamine did not affect the density of NPY‐positive nerve fibres. 3 NPY (> 1 nm) enhanced the force and frequency of spontaneous contractions and generated a rise in the resting tone of the detrusor. These effects of NPY on the tone and the spontaneous activity remained unaffected by atropine (3 μm), indomethacin (10 μm) and aspirin (100 μm) but were abolished by Ca2+‐withdrawal from the bathing medium. 4 The enhancing effects of NPY on the spontaneous contractions and the resting tone were not prevented by the induction of purinoceptor desensitization. 5 NPY (1–250 nm) potentiated electrical field stimulation (EFS, 1–64 Hz, 0.1 ms pulses duration, 10s train duration)‐evoked, tetrodotoxin (0.5 μm)‐sensitive contractions. The atropine (3 μm)‐resistant component of EFS‐evoked contractions was also potentiated by NPY. By contrast, the nifedipine (1 μm)‐resistant but atropine‐sensitive component of EFS‐evoked contraction was inhibited by NPY. 6 NPY (250 nm) did not affect acetylcholine‐evoked contractions, but potentiated α,β‐MeATP‐evoked contractions. 7 It is concluded that NPY‐innervation of rat urinary bladder is largely confined to the detrusor muscle and is abundant and mainly non‐adrenergic. It is further concluded that the enhancing effect of NPY on detrusor spontaneous activity and tone is caused by Ca2+ influx through nifedipine‐sensitive Ca2+ channels and is not mediated through acetylcholine or cyclo‐oxygenase‐sensitive eicosanoids or ATP. 8 The results are consistent with the hypothesis that intrinsic NPY in the rat detrusor innervation contributes to the motor transmission in two ways: by promoting non‐cholinergic motor transmission and by inhibiting prejunctionally the cholinergic transmission.
The N-Terminal Cysteine-Rich Domain of Tobacco Class I Chitinase Is Essential for Chitin Binding but Not for Catalytic or Antifungal Activity

The vacuolar chitinases of class I possess an N-terminal cysteine-rich domain homologous to hevein and chitin-binding lectins such as wheat germ agglutinin and Urtica dioica lectin. To investigate the significance of this domain for the biochemical and functional characteristics of chitinase, chimeric genes encoding the basic chitinase A of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) with and without this domain were constructed and constitutively expressed in transgenic Nicotiana sylvestris. The chitinases were subsequently isolated and purified to homogeneity from the transgenic plants. Chromatography on colloidal chitin revealed that only the form with the N-terminal domain, and not the one without it, had chitin-binding properties, demonstrating directly that the domain is a chitin-binding domain (CBD). Under standard assay conditions with radioactive colloidal chitin, both forms of chitinase had approximately the same catalytic activity. However, kinetic analysis demonstrated that the enzyme without CBD had a considerably lower apparent affinity for its substrate. The pH and temperature optima of the two chitinases were similar, but the form with the CBD had an approximately 3-fold higher activation energy and retained a higher activity at low pH values. Both chitinases were capable of inhibiting growth of Trichoderma viride, although the form with the CBD was about three times more effective than the one without it. Thus, the CBD is not necessary for catalytic or antifungal activity of chitinase.
Recombination in Tula Hantavirus Evolution: Analysis of Genetic Lineages from Slovakia

ABSTRACT To examine the evolution of Tula hantavirus (TUL), carried by the European common vole (Microtus arvalis and M. rossiaemeridionalis), we have analyzed genetic variants from Slovakia, the country where the virus is endemic. Phylogenetic analysis (PHYLIP) based on either partial (nucleotides [nt] 441 to 898) or complete N-protein-encoding sequences divided Slovakian TUL variants into two main lineages: (i) strains from eastern Slovakia, which clustered with Russian strains, and (ii) strains from western Slovakia situated closer to those from the Czech Republic. We found genetic diversity of 19% between the two groups and 4% within the western Slovakian TUL strains. Phylogenetic analysis of the 3′ noncoding region (3′-NCR), however, placed the eastern Slovakian strains closer to those from western Slovakia and the Czech Republic, with a greater distance to the Russian strains, suggesting a recombinant nature of the S segment in the eastern Slovakian TUL lineage. A bootscan search of the S-segment sequences of TUL strains revealed at least two recombination points in the S sequences of eastern Slovakian TUL strains (nt 400 to 415 and around 1200) which agreed well with the pattern of amino acid substitutions in the N protein and deletions/insertions in the 3′-NCR of the S segment. These data suggest that homologous recombination events occurred in the evolution of hantaviruses.
Computational models of affordance in robotics: a taxonomy and systematic classification

J. J. Gibson’s concept of affordance, one of the central pillars of ecological psychology, is a truly remarkable idea that provides a concise theory of animal perception predicated on environmental interaction. It is thus not surprising that this idea has also found its way into robotics research as one of the underlying theories for action perception. The success of the theory in this regard has meant that existing research is both abundant and diffuse by virtue of the pursuit of multiple different paths and techniques with the common goal of enabling robots to learn, perceive, and act upon affordances. Up until now, there has existed no systematic investigation of existing work in this field. Motivated by this circumstance, in this article, we begin by defining a taxonomy for computational models of affordances rooted in a comprehensive analysis of the most prominent theoretical ideas of import in the field. Subsequently, after performing a systematic literature review, we provide a classification of existing research within our proposed taxonomy. Finally, by both quantitatively and qualitatively assessing the data resulting from the classification process, we highlight gaps in the research terrain and outline open questions for the investigation of affordances in robotics that we believe will help inform future work, prioritize research goals, and potentially advance the field toward greater robot autonomy.
Effect of pravastatin on cardiovascular events and mortality in 1516 women with coronary heart disease: results from the Long-Term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischemic Disease (LIPID) study.

BACKGROUND The Long-Term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischaemic Disease (LIPID) study showed that cholesterol-lowering therapy prevented further events in patients with coronary heart disease and average cholesterol levels. The aim of this subgroup analysis was to assess the effects of pravastatin in women. METHODS A total of 1516 women (756 assigned to take pravastatin) in a cohort of 9014 patients with previous myocardial infarction or unstable angina and a baseline plasma cholesterol level of 4.0 to 7.0 mmol/L (155-271 mg/dL) were assigned to receive pravastatin (40 mg/d) or placebo. Major cardiovascular disease events in 6 years were measured. RESULTS Women were at a lesser risk than men for death from any cause (10.3% vs 14.8%, P <.01), death from coronary heart disease (6.6% vs 8.6%, P =.04), and coronary revascularization (13.6% vs 16.2%, P =.05) and at a similar risk of myocardial infarction (9.2% vs 10.5%, P =.26), stroke (3.6% vs 4.7%, P =.11), and hospitalization for unstable angina (25.1% vs 24.5%, P = 0.90). Pravastatin significantly reduced the risk of all prespecified cardiovascular events in all LIPID patients. Relative treatment effects in women did not differ significantly from those in men (P >.05) for any events except hospitalization for unstable angina. There were too few events to demonstrate separately significant effects in women; the estimated relative risk reduction with pravastatin was 11% (95% CI -18%-33%) for coronary heart disease death or nonfatal myocardial infarction, 18% (95% CI -25%-46%) for coronary heart disease death, 16% (95% CI -19%-41%) for myocardial infarction, and 17% (95% CI -2%-33%) for coronary heart disease death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. CONCLUSIONS The study had the largest secondary-prevention female cohort studied thus far, but was not adequately powered to show separate effects in women. Nevertheless, the results were consistent with the main results of this and other trials in showing reduced risks with cholesterol-lowering treatment.
ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION AND FIRM PERFORMANCE: THE ROLE OF PERSONALITY TRAITS IN MALAY FAMILY FIRMS IN MALAYSIA

The research examines entrepreneurial orientation (EO) in Malay family firms by taking personality traits as the antecedent. This construct is used to explain the influence of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and its consequence towards firm performance. The impact of personality traits towards firm performance observed in Malay family firms is unique to the paper. In Malay firms, the relationship between personality traits with firm performance was not mediates by entrepreneurial orientation (EO). However, the construct is significant as predictor towards firm performance.Our studies provided the empirical test in understanding indigenous entrepreneurship in Malay family firms in Malaysia towards developing a more holistic entrepreneurship theory.
Factors behind HIV testing practices among Canadian Aboriginal peoples living off-reserve

Abstract The objective of this study was to examine factors associated with HIV testing among Aboriginal peoples in Canada who live off-reserve. Data were drawn for individuals aged 15–44 from the Aboriginal Peoples Survey (2001), which represents a weighed sample of 520,493 Aboriginal men and women living off-reserve. Bivariable analysis and logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with individuals who had received an HIV test within the past year. In adjusted multivariable analysis, female gender, younger age, unemployment, contact with a family doctor or traditional healer within the past year, and “good” or “fair/poor” self-rated health increased the odds of HIV testing. Completion of high-school education, rural residency, and less frequent alcohol and cigarette consumption decreased the odds of HIV testing. A number of differences emerged when the sample was analyzed by gender, most notably females who self-reported “good” or “fair/poor” health status were more likely to have had an HIV test, yet males with comparable health status were less likely to have had an HIV test. Additionally, frequent alcohol consumption and less than high-school education was associated with an increased odds of HIV testing among males, but not females. Furthermore, while younger age was associated with an increased odds of having an HIV test in the overall model, this was particularly relevant for females aged 15–24. These outcomes provide evidence of the need for improved HIV testing strategies to reach greater numbers of Aboriginal peoples living off-reserve. They also echo the long-standing call for culturally appropriate HIV-related programming while drawing new attention to the importance of gender and age, two factors that are often generalized under the rubric of culturally relevant or appropriate program development.
Slip‐pulse rupture behavior on a 2 m granite fault

We describe observations of dynamic rupture events that spontaneously arise on meter‐scale laboratory earthquake experiments. While low‐frequency slip of the granite sample occurs in a relatively uniform and crack‐like manner, instruments capable of detecting high‐frequency motions show that some parts of the fault slip abruptly (velocity > 100 mm s−1, acceleration > 20 km s−2) while the majority of the fault slips more slowly. Abruptly slipping regions propagate along the fault at nearly the shear wave speed. We propose that the dramatic reduction in frictional strength implied by this pulse‐like rupture behavior has a common mechanism to the weakening reported in high‐velocity friction experiments performed on rotary machines. The slip pulses can also be identified as migrating sources of high‐frequency seismic waves. As observations from large earthquakes show similar propagating high‐frequency sources, the pulses described here may have relevance to the mechanics of larger earthquakes.
Effects of antibodies to glucosyltransferase on soluble and insolubilized enzymes.

OBJECTIVE Previous studies have shown that glucosyltransferase enzymes (Gtfs) of Streptococcus mutans adsorbed to saliva coated hydroxyapatite (sHA) have distinct properties from the same enzymes in solution. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects on enzyme activity of polyclonal antibodies raised to Gtfs in a soluble form and bound to sHA. MATERIALS AND METHODS Antiserum was raised in six New Zealand White rabbits using the purified glucosyltransferase enzymes (Gtfs) of S. mutans, GtfB, GtfC, or GtfD as soluble antigens or adsorbed to hydroxyapatite (HA, insolubilized). The antisera were examined for their ability to react to these Gtfs and Gtf from Streptococcus sanguis (GtfSs) in Western blot formats as well as inhibit enzyme activity in solution and insolubilized. RESULTS Antibodies raised against GtfB or GtfC detected all Gtf enzymes examined in Western blots; antibodies raised to GtfD reacted strongly to GtfD and GtfSs, poorly to GtfC, and was non-reactive with GtfB. Antibodies to GtfB or GtfC inhibited activity of GtfB and GtfC in solution by 90% or more. Enzyme activity adsorbed to sHA was inhibited from 70% to 80% by the same antisera. These same antibodies possessed no specific effect on the activities of either GtfD or GtfSs. Antibodies raised to the GtfD enzyme inhibited activity of GtfD (80% to 90% inhibition) and GtfSs activity (50% to 80%) in solution. In contrast the GtfD antibodies had no effect on the activity of either GtfB or GtfC enzymes in solution. Modest inhibitory effects were noted on GtfC and GtfSs enzymes bound to sHA, but no inhibition was observed for sHA-bound GtfB or GtfD. CONCLUSION These data show that some antibodies effective against enzymes in solution may have significantly lesser inhibitory effects against the same enzymes insolubilized. Further, presentation of Gtf antigen immobilized to HA has only a minor influence on the production of antibodies inhibitory to Gtf activity.
Effect of selective and non-selective muscarinic blockade on baclofen inhibition of gastric carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in Wistar rats.

The effects of baclofen, a gamma-amino-n-butyric acid receptor B agonist, on gastric carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and how its effects are influenced by selective (M1) and non-selective (M1 and M2) pharmacological blockade of muscarinic receptors were investigated in inbred Wistar rats. Rats were given s.c. injections of 8 mg/kg body wt baclofen with and without 0.5 mg/kg body wt atropine (non-selective M1 and M2 muscarinic receptor antagonist) or 1.0 mg/kg body wt pirenzepine (selective M1 muscarinic receptor antagonist) every other day after a 25 week carcinogen treatment. At week 52 baclofen significantly decreased the incidence of gastric cancers. Concomitant treatment with atropine significantly attenuated the inhibition by baclofen of gastric carcinogenesis, but combined use with pirenzepine had no significant effect on the inhibition by baclofen of gastric carcinogenesis. Baclofen also significantly decreased the labeling index of the antral mucosa. Baclofen plus atropine attenuated the decrease in the labeling index of the antral mucosa due to baclofen, but baclofen plus pirenzepine had no significant effect on the labeling index. These results suggest that the inhibition of gastric carcinogenesis by baclofen is mediated through muscarinic receptors and M2 receptors, but not M1 receptors, are involved in this response.
Arenavirus-Mediated Liver Pathology: Acute Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infection of Rhesus Macaques Is Characterized by High-Level Interleukin-6 Expression and Hepatocyte Proliferation

ABSTRACT Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and Lassa virus can cause hemorrhagic fever and liver disease in primates. The WE strain of LCMV (LCMV-WE) causes a fatal Lassa fever-like disease in rhesus macaques and provides a model for arenavirus pathogenesis in humans. LCMV-WE delivered intravenously or intragastrically to rhesus macaques targets hepatocytes and induces high levels of liver enzymes, interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNFRI and -II) in plasma during acute infection. Proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β were not detected in plasma of infected animals, but increased plasma gamma interferon was noted in fatally infected animals. Immunohistochemistry of acute liver biopsies revealed that 25 to 40% of nuclei were positive for proliferation antigen Ki-67. The increases in IL-6, sIL-6R, sTNFR, and proliferation antigen that we observe are similar to the profile of incipient liver regeneration after surgical or toxic injury (N. Fausto, Am. J. Physiol. 277:G917-G921, 1999). Although IL-6 was not directly induced by virus infection in vitro, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from acutely infected monkeys produced higher levels of IL-6 upon lipopolysaccharide stimulation than did healthy controls. Our data confirm that acute infection is associated with weak inflammatory responses in tissues and initiates a program of liver regeneration in primates.
Self-closing aneurysm clip: a historical review

Abstract Objective: To analyse the self-closing aneurysm clip historical evolution. Materials and methods: The authors reviewed the self-closing aneurysm clip's 50-year history. Major neurosurgical books, journals, testimonials, authors' personal experience, and scientific databases were analysed. Results: Self-closing aneurysm clip malfunction was found to be related to different clip strengths (too strong or too weak) and clip's corrosion or fracture due to diverse stainless steel biocompatibility issues. It was found that 301, 401, 402, 58, and 17-7 PH alloys were not suitable for human implantation due to high risk of corrosion. In counterpart, 316MOSS, Elgiloy, Phynox, and titanium alloys were more biocompatible and less prone to corrosion. The last group showed no motion on the magnetic field. Titanium clip has shown to be artifact free on computerized tomography followed by high-grade cobalt–chromium clip all the other aneurysms clip present a significant artifact. The Federal Drugs and Administration/American Society of Testing and Materials (FDA/ASTM) was a major contributor on safety development of self-closing aneurysm clip. Conclusion: Our 36-year self-closing aneurysm clip experience is reported.