Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An International Perspective on Pharmacy Student Selection Policies and Processes

Objective. To reflect on selection policies and procedures for programs at pharmacy schools that are members of an international alliance of universities (Universitas 21). Methods. A questionnaire on selection policies and procedures was distributed to admissions directors at participating schools. Results. Completed questionnaires were received from 7 schools in 6 countries. Although marked differences were noted in the programs in different countries, there were commonalities in the selection processes. There was an emphasis on previous academic performance, especially in science subjects. With one exception, all schools had some form of interview, with several having moved to multiple mini-interviews in recent years. Conclusion. The majority of pharmacy schools in this survey relied on traditional selection processes. While there was increasing use of multiple mini-interviews, the authors suggest that additional new approaches may be required in light of the changing nature of the profession.
Evaluate Scintillation Response Over a Continuous Energy Region

A recently developed fast analysis technique utilizing a time of flight (TOF) telescope is demonstrated to obtain relevant quantitative data on material scintillation response to energetic He particles. With the superior energy resolution and fast response of the TOF telescope, the energy of individual particles before impinging on a scintillator crystal can be determined with a high count rate, allowing quantitative study of material performance over a continuous energy range in a relatively short time. Scintillation performance in terms of light output, nonlinearity and energy resolution in bismuth germanate (BGO) and europium-doped calcium fluoride (CaF:Eu) crystals is demonstrated, and the corresponding energy resolution is compared with gamma-ray tests on the same crystals.
Examining Predictive Validity of Oral Reading Fluency Slope in Upper Elementary Grades Using Quantile Regression

Within multitiered instructional delivery models, progress monitoring is a key mechanism for determining whether a child demonstrates an adequate response to instruction. One measure commonly used to monitor the reading progress of students is oral reading fluency (ORF). This study examined the extent to which ORF slope predicts reading comprehension outcomes for fifth-grade struggling readers (n = 102) participating in an intensive reading intervention. Quantile regression models showed that ORF slope significantly predicted performance on a sentence-level fluency and comprehension assessment, regardless of the students’ reading skills, controlling for initial ORF performance. However, ORF slope was differentially predictive of a passage-level comprehension assessment based on students’ reading skills when controlling for initial ORF status. Results showed that ORF explained unique variance for struggling readers whose posttest performance was at the upper quantiles at the end of the reading intervention, but slope was not a significant predictor of passage-level comprehension for students whose reading problems were the most difficult to remediate.
Mucin-Hypersecreting Bile Duct Tumor Characterized by a Striking Homology with an Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Tumor (IPMT) of the Pancreas

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS The mucin-hypersecreting bile duct tumor, which closely resembles an intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMT) of the pancreas, is rare, and its clinical features are not well known. We report our experience of nine patients with this type of tumor, and analyze the data in order to elucidate its clinicopathologic characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 1995 and 1998, nine consecutive patients (four men, five women; mean age 54) who were diagnosed as having a mucin-hypersecreting bile duct tumor were enrolled in this study. RESULTS Recent or previous attacks of biliary pain and acute cholangitis were reported by most of the patients. Characteristics included a widely open ampulla of Vater with extrusion of mucin, and a diffuse dilated intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct with amorphous filling defects on cholangiogram. On cholangioscopic examination, a papillary mass or minute mucosal lesion was found in the dilated bile duct containing thick viscid mucin. Nine patients were referred for an operation, and curative resection was performed in eight of them. Using histologic examination, well differentiated adenocarcinoma in the background of benign hyperplasia and adenoma was documented in all patients except one, who showed pure adenoma. CONCLUSION The mucin-hypersecreting bile duct tumor can be characterized by a striking homology with IPMT of the pancreas in clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features.
The Relationship between Teacher-student Relationship and Academic Achievement: The Mediating Role of Self-efficacy

This study investigated 42,643 eighth grade students from 762 secondary schools in 104 districts and counties in the Z province of mainland China and also test the mediating role of self-efficacy in teacher-student relationship prediction of academic achievement. The results show that there are certain gender differences and regional differences in teacher-student relationship, but they have no practical significance; teacher-student relationship and self-efficacy can significantly predict mathematics academic achievement and both have a positive effect; self-efficacy plays an intermediary role between teacher-student relationship and mathematics achievement, and the ratio of the mediating effect to the total effect is 68%.
Are we meeting the psychological needs of heterosexual men with HIV disease? A retrospective case controlled study of referrals to a psychological medicine unit in London, UK

This study set out to ascertain what proportion of HIV-positive heterosexual men cared for at a central London teaching hospital HIV medical unit, were referred to the Psychological Medicine Unit, and to compare those HIV-positive male heterosexual patients with age and sex matched HIV-positive gay male controls. Hospital and Psychological Medicine Unit databases were interrogated to identify relevant patients seen during the period between February 1992 and December 2002. Furthermore, 50 heterosexual patients, who had been referred to the Psychological Medicine Unit, were matched for age and date of referral, with one gay male HIV-positive control patient. Demographic and illness data was gathered for the subjects and controls. Data was collected on 50 subjects in each group. The main findings of the study were: (1) that heterosexual men with HIV are almost three times less likely to be referred for specialist mental health care than HIV-positive gay men; (2) that heterosexual men with HIV disease, who were referred to the Psychological Medicine Unit, were less likely to be from a white ethnic background compared to gay men; (3) were less likely to be given a diagnosis of a depressive illness; but (4) were more likely to have a substance misuse diagnosis. Gay male patients who are HIV-positive are more likely to experience difficulties with sexual dysfunction, and receive a formal psychiatric diagnosis. The implications of the findings are discussed.
Effect of long abstinence periods on human sperm quality.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of long abstinence periods on semen characteristics. DESIGN Semen analysis was performed on six men after various sexual abstinence periods (from 2 to 18 days). The variations in semen parameters were analyzed statistically as a function of the duration of abstinence. SETTING The Reproductive Biology Laboratory at the University of Montpellier Medical School. RESULTS Lengthy sexual abstinence was found to affect all semen characteristics. Semen volume and concentration and total sperm count showed significant increases, whereas motility and normal morphology decreased significantly with duration of abstinence. Significant changes in the percentage of normal sperm forms were observed after more than seven days' abstinence. CONCLUSION The study indicates that the influence of long sexual abstinence on semen quality varies with the variable considered. With regard to fertility, a long abstinence period might induce senescence of spermatozoa.
Epitope specificity plays a critical role in regulating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity against influenza A virus

Significance In addition to neutralizing antigens, antibodies are also capable of stimulating cellular responses through Fc–Fc receptor interactions. The type of response stimulated by these interactions is influenced by both the Fc receptor type expressed on the effector cell and the isotype of antibody to which it is bound. However, how antibody specificity influences Fc receptor functions, and how antibodies of different specificities interact to modulate these functions, remain unknown. Using influenza A virus as a model, we demonstrate that antibody specificity profoundly influences the induction of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity by effector cells. In addition, we show that interactions among antibodies that bind to discrete epitopes on the same antigen can influence the induction of Fc-dependent effector functions. The generation of strain-specific neutralizing antibodies against influenza A virus is known to confer potent protection against homologous infections. The majority of these antibodies bind to the hemagglutinin (HA) head domain and function by blocking the receptor binding site, preventing infection of host cells. Recently, elicitation of broadly neutralizing antibodies which target the conserved HA stalk domain has become a promising “universal” influenza virus vaccine strategy. The ability of these antibodies to elicit Fc-dependent effector functions has emerged as an important mechanism through which protection is achieved in vivo. However, the way in which Fc-dependent effector functions are regulated by polyclonal influenza virus-binding antibody mixtures in vivo has never been defined. Here, we demonstrate that interactions among viral glycoprotein-binding antibodies of varying specificities regulate the magnitude of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity induction. We show that the mechanism responsible for this phenotype relies upon competition for binding to HA on the surface of infected cells and virus particles. Nonneutralizing antibodies were poor inducers and did not inhibit antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Interestingly, anti-neuraminidase antibodies weakly induced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and enhanced induction in the presence of HA stalk-binding antibodies in an additive manner. Our data demonstrate that antibody specificity plays an important role in the regulation of ADCC, and that cross-talk among antibodies of varying specificities determines the magnitude of Fc receptor-mediated effector functions.
Biomarkers and Microscopic Colitis: An Unmet Need in Clinical Practice

One of the most common causes of chronic diarrhea is ascribed to microscopic colitis (MC). MC is classified in subtypes: collagenous colitis (CC) and lymphocytic colitis (LC). Patients with MC report watery, non-bloody diarrhea of chronic course, abdominal pain, weight loss, and fatigue that may impair patient’s health-related quality of life. A greater awareness, and concomitantly an increasing number of diagnoses over the last years, has demonstrated that the incidence and prevalence of MC are on the rise. To date, colonoscopy with histological analysis on multiple biopsies collected along the colon represents the unique accepted procedure used to assess the diagnosis of active MC and to evaluate the response to medical therapy. Therefore, the emerging need for less-invasive procedures that are also rapid, convenient, standardized, and reproducible, has encouraged scientists to turn their attention to the identification of inflammatory markers and other molecules in blood or feces and within the colonic tissue that can confirm a MC diagnosis. This review gives an update on the biomarkers that are potentially available for the identification of inflammatory activity, related to CC and LC.
Successful treatment of acquired haemophilia in a patient with bullous pemphigoid with single‐dosing regimen of rituximab

in the development of inhibitors [9], evaluating the coexistence of infection or vaccination match during the administration of FVIII in 60 patients and 48 controls. There was infection or vaccines that were administered during the active treatment of FVIII in 12 patients and 11 controls. Although no significant association was found between vaccination or infection and the development of inhibitors, hence no conclusions can be drawn because it is a single study in which selection bias cannot be ruled out. Due to humoral response that occurs against FVIII is T lymphocyte dependent, other possible explanation of inhibitor development after administration of allergen vaccines is the modification in T cell response induced by this therapy. The cellular immune response against an extracellular peptide antigen, such as FVIII occurs through several interactions between APC, the CD4+ T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes. CD4 T lymphocytes can be divided into two subgroups, which differ in function and cytokine secretion. The first group, Th1 lymphocytes, secrete cytokines proinflammatory and promote the synthesis of IgG subclasses capable of fixing complement. The other group of T lymphocytes is called Th2, which secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines and promote the synthesis of immunoglobulin which are not capable of fix complement. Th2 cells are able to perform effector functions by secreting IL-4, which is a growth factor for B lymphocytes and is necessary for the production of IgE and other complement-fixing antibodies; on the other hand, Th2 cells suppress the immune response by secreting cytokines anti-inflammatory producing an inhibition of both the APCs as Th1 effector lymphocytes [9]. Vaccines are used in medicine as immune response modifiers, including in this definition allergenic vaccines [10]. Allergy shots or allergen immunotherapy, comprising administering to a subject of gradually increasing amounts of an allergen, usually subcutaneously, with the aim of improving the symptoms caused by further exposure to the causative allergen. Although the mechanisms by which immunotherapy is able to modify the immune response is probably very heterogeneous, recent studies suggest that the main effect induced by immunotherapy in the response of the T cells to the allergen is the change in Th2 responses to Th1 responses. It should be speculated that parenteral administration of a peptide antigen, as exogenous FVIII, coinciding with increased Th1 immune response favoured by immunotherapy with allergenic vaccines, could lead to an immunological ‘danger signal’, culminating in the alloantibody development. Both explanations support the hypothesis that allergenic vaccines administration coinciding with the infusion of FVIII should be avoided, as it could be perceived by the immune system as ‘danger signals’, and its coincidence with increased Th1 immune response favoured by allergic immunotherapy could facilitate to the development of inhibitors.
Oral folic acid enhances endothelial function in patients with hypercholesterolemia receiving statins

Background Folic acid therapy has been shown to improve endothelial function in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia via a possible antioxidant mechanism. Data on the possible role of folic acid in hypercholesterolaemic patients receiving statins are lacking. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that folic acid supplementation improves endothelial function in patients with hypercholesterolemia and treatment with statins. Methods Thirty-four hypercholesterolaemic patients receiving statins participated in the study; all subjects underwent measurement of endothelium-dependent, flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery and subsequently randomized to receive 5 mg of the folic acid (n = 17) or placebo (n = 17) for 4 weeks. Flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery was repeated at the end of the 4-week period. Results Folic acid and placebo groups were comparable regarding age, sex, smoking, hypertension, coronary artery disease, obesity, family history and blood lipids. Folic acid administration resulted in an improvement of flow-mediated dilatation (4.7 ± 3.2% to 7.1 ± 3.1%, P = 0.02), whereas there was no improvement after placebo administration (5.7 ± 3.8% to 5.6 ± 2.2%, ns). No significant change in nitrate-induced, endothelium- independent dilatation was observed after folic acid or placebo (ns). Conclusions Oral administration of folic acid (5 mg) for 4 weeks improves endothelial function in patients with hypercholesterolemia treated with statins, with possible beneficial effects on the prognosis of these patients.
Early loss of astrocytes after experimental traumatic brain injury

Neuronal‐glial interactions are important for normal brain function and contribute to the maintenance of the brain's extracellular environment. Damage to glial cells following traumatic brain injury (TBI) could therefore be an important contributing factor to brain dysfunction and neuronal injury. We examined the early fate of astrocytes and neurons after TBI in rats. A total of 27 rats were euthanized at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, or 24 h after moderate lateral fluid percussion TBI or after sham TBI. Ipsilateral and contralateral hippocampi were examined in coronal sections from −2.12 to −4.80 mm relative to bregma. Adjacent sections were processed with markers for either astrocytes or degenerating neurons. Astrocytes were visualized using glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) or glutamine synthetase immunohistochemistry. Neuronal degeneration was visualized using Fluoro‐Jade (FJ) histofluorescence. At 30 min, there was a significant loss of GFAP immunoreactivity in ipsilateral hippocampal CA3 with some loss of normal astrocyte morphology in the remaining cells. The number of normal staining astrocytes decreased progressively over time with extensive astrocyte loss at 24 h. At 4 h, lightly stained FJ‐positive neurons were scattered in the ipsilateral CA3. The intensity and number of FJ‐positive neurons progressively increased over time with moderate numbers of degenerating neurons in the ipsilateral hippocampal CA3 evident at 24 h. We conclude that astrocyte loss occurs in the hippocampus early after TBI. The data suggest that loss of supporting glial cell may contribute to subsequent neuronal degeneration. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Phytoestrogens and Colon Cancer

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) represents the most frequent malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract in the Western world in both genders. There is a wide variation of incidence rate for both colonic and rectal cancer among the populations of different countries: up to a 30-40fold difference is seen between North America (Canada, Los Angeles, San Francisco), NewZealand (non–Maori), Northern Italy (Trieste), Northern France (Hautand Bas-Rhin) in which the rate of CRC is around 50/100,000 inhabitants, and India (Madras, Bangalore, Tri‐ vadrum, Barshi, Paranda, Bhum, Karunagappally), Algeria (Setif), and Mali (Bamako) in which the rate is around 3/100,000 [1]. It is estimated that approximately 6% of the United States population will eventually develop a CRC, and that 6 million of American citizens who are living will die of CRC [2].
Epidermal Cell Death in Rice Is Regulated by Ethylene, Gibberellin, and Abscisic Acid

Programmed cell death (PCD) of epidermal cells that cover adventitious root primordia in deepwater rice (Oryza sativa) is induced by submergence. Early suicide of epidermal cells may prevent injury to the growing root that emerges under flooding conditions. Induction of PCD is dependent on ethylene signaling and is further promoted by gibberellin (GA). Ethylene and GA act in a synergistic manner, indicating converging signaling pathways. Treatment of plants with GA alone did not promote PCD. Treatment with the GA biosynthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol resulted in increased PCD in response to ethylene and GA presumably due to an increased sensitivity of epidermal cells to GA. Abscisic acid (ABA) was shown to efficiently delay ethylene-induced as well as GA-promoted cell death. The results point to ethylene signaling as a target of ABA inhibition of PCD. Accumulation of ethylene and GA and a decreased ABA level in the rice internode thus favor induction of epidermal cell death and ensure that PCD is initiated as an early response that precedes adventitious root growth.
Fast and simplified mapping of mean axon diameter using temporal diffusion spectroscopy

Mapping axon diameter is of interest for the potential diagnosis and monitoring of various neuronal pathologies. Advanced diffusion‐weighted MRI methods have been developed to measure mean axon diameters non‐invasively, but suffer major drawbacks that prevent their direct translation into clinical practice, such as complex non‐linear data fitting and, more importantly, long scanning times that are usually not tolerable for most human subjects. In the current study, temporal diffusion spectroscopy using oscillating diffusion gradients was used to measure mean axon diameters with high sensitivity to small axons in the central nervous system. Axon diameters have been found to be correlated with a novel metric, DDR⊥ (the rate of dispersion of the perpendicular diffusion coefficient with gradient frequency), which is a model‐free quantity that does not require complex data analyses and can be obtained from two diffusion coefficient measurements in clinically relevant times with conventional MRI machines. A comprehensive investigation including computer simulations and animal experiments ex vivo showed that measurements of DDR⊥ agree closely with histological data. In humans in vivo, DDR⊥ was also found to correlate well with reported mean axon diameters in human corpus callosum, and the total scan time was only about 8 min. In conclusion, DDR⊥ may have potential to serve as a fast, simple and model‐free approach to map the mean axon diameter of white matter in clinics for assessing axon diameter changes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Comparison of [35S]Sodium Sulfate and [75Se]Selenomethionine as Platelet Labels for the Assay of Thrombopoietin 1

Summary Platelet production rates were measured in thrombopoietin (TSF) assay mice by use of both [35S]sodium sulfate and [75Se]selenomethionine (75SeM) as platelet labels. Although significantly higher values were found using Na2 35SO4 than 75SeM, the incorporation patterns for both isotopes showed similarities in dose-response experiments. The authors thank Marilyn Cottrell for expert technical assistance and Pat Taylor for stenographic aid.
Ras Signaling Is Required for Serum-Induced Hyphal Differentiation in Candida albicans

ABSTRACT Serum induces Candida albicans to make a rapid morphological change from the yeast cell form to hyphae. Contrary to the previous reports, we found that serum albumin does not play a critical role in this morphological change. Instead, a filtrate (molecular mass, <1 kDa) devoid of serum albumin induces hyphae. To study genes controlling this response, we have isolated theRAS1 gene from C. albicans by complementation. The Candida Ras1 protein, like Ras1 and Ras2 ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae, has a long C-terminal extension. Although RAS1 appears to be the onlyRAS gene present in the C. albicans genome, strains homozygous for a deletion of RAS1(ras1-2/ras1-3) are viable. The Candidaras1-2/ras1-3 mutant fails to form germ tubes and hyphae in response to serum or to a serum filtrate but does form pseudohyphae. Moreover, strains expressing the dominant activeRAS1V13 allele manifest enhanced hyphal growth, whereas those expressing a dominant negativeRAS1A16 allele show reduced hyphal growth. These data show that low-molecular-weight molecules in serum induce hyphal differentiation in C. albicans through a Ras-mediated signal transduction pathway.