Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning challenges: Remote labs powered by the five senses

This paper discusses and highlights how remotes laboratories can create a more dynamic, organized and open sharing learning environment. A new remote laboratory for physiological data acquisition is used as an example of the potential use of such approach. The presented work explains the first steps on how to integrate students' sensory experiences in remote laboratories showing its added value in the teaching/learning process. This pilot experience is being developed for the purpose of describing the possible enhancements and as embryo for future educational remote laboratories.
Antiepileptic Drugs, Learning, and Behavior in Childhood Epilepsy

Summary: Cognitive and behavioral impairments are found more often among epileptic children than among their peers. The cause of these impairments is multifactorial. Identifying the relative contribution of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) to these problems has been the object of a large number of clinical investigations. This area of research has been characterized by an unusually high number of methodological challenges and pitfalls. Accordingly, results have often been inconsistent and contradictory, except for the more obvious observations that can be derived from clinical experience. Overall, the effects of AEDs on cognition and behavior in children have been overrated in the past. More recent research has benefited from the methodological lessons of previous studies and it suggests that the majority of children taking AEDs do not experience clinically relevant cognitive of behavioral adverse effects from these medications. In addition, some of the newer AEDs may indeed have a better cognitive profile. Nevertheless, clinical experience must be used to identify the subgroup of children who remain at risk for significant and clinically relevant cognitive and behavioral adverse effects of AEDs.
Pneumocystis jirovecii colonization is associated with enhanced Th1 inflammatory gene expression in lungs of humans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex disease, the pathogenesis of which remains incompletely understood. Colonization with Pneumocystis jirovecii may play a role in COPD pathogenesis; however, the mechanisms by which such colonization contributes to COPD are unknown. The objective of this study was to determine lung gene expression profiles associated with Pneumocystis colonization in patients with COPD to identify potential key pathways involved in disease pathogenesis. Using COPD lung tissue samples made available through the Lung Tissue Research Consortium (LTRC), Pneumocystis colonization status was determined by nested PCR. Microarray gene expression profiles were performed for each sample and the profiles of colonized and non‐colonized samples compared. Overall, 18 participants (8.5%) were Pneumocystis‐colonized. Pneumocystis colonization was associated with fold increase in expression of four closely related genes: INF‐γ and the three chemokine ligands CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11. These ligands are chemoattractants for the common cognate receptor CXCR3, which is predominantly expressed on activated Th1 T‐lymphocytes. Although these ligand–receptor pairs have previously been implicated in COPD pathogenesis, few initiators of ligand expression and subsequent lymphocyte trafficking have been identified: our findings implicate Pneumocystis as a potential trigger. The finding of upregulation of these inflammatory genes in the setting of Pneumocystis colonization sheds light on infectious‐immune relationships in COPD.
Hybrid Myxoinflammatory Fibroblastic Sarcoma/Hemosiderotic Fibrolipomatous Tumor: Report of a Case Providing Further Evidence for a Pathogenetic Link

Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma and hemosiderotic fibrolipomatous tumor are rare, slow-growing soft tissue tumors of the distal extremities with recurrent potential. Recent cytogenetic studies have shown a t(1;10)(p22;q24) or der(10)t(1;10) in combination with aberrations of chromosome 3 in a limited number of cases of both entities. Here we report a case of a 42-year-old female with a soft tissue tumor of the ankle showing hybrid morphologic features of myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma and hemosiderotic fibrolipomatous tumor, a der(10)t(1;10), and abnormalities of chromosome 3. This hybrid lesion provides further evidence for a close relationship between these 2 tumor types.
Gene silencing of MIR22 in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia involves histone modifications independent of promoter DNA methylation

Aberrant epigenetic regulation has recently been implicated in the downregulation of tumour suppressor microRNAs (miRNAs). Histone modification and DNA methylation can have different roles in gene silencing in cancer. To investigate whether histone modifications would contribute to the dysregulation of miRNAs in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), the effect of a histone deacetylase inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA), on miRNA expression profile was analysed by microarray assay in a precursor B‐cell ALL cell line NALM‐6. A total of 10 miRNAs were downregulated and 31 were upregulated significantly following TSA treatment. Among TSA‐upregulated miRNAs, MIR22 is an extronic miRNA and resides in the second exon of the non‐coding transcript MGC14376. Upregulation of MIR22 transcription was found in both NALM‐6 cells and primary human ALL malignant cells treated with TSA. Whereas a CpG island was identified within the promoter element of MIR22, no promoter DNA methylation was detected in these cells. In contrast, accumulation of the repressive histone marker H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27triM) was indentified around the transcriptional start point of the gene, which was reduced by TSA treatment. Thus, accumulation of H3K27triM independent of promoter DNA methylation may be a novel epigenetic mechanism for MIR22 silencing in ALL.
The Search of the “ Perfect ” Parameter to identify Quantum Phase Transtions

The scaling of correlation lengths is commonly used to define different phases (short range, long range, and critical) in quantum systems without disorder. For frustrated dissipative quantum systems, there seems to be a lack of consensus on the definition with the community. In this paper, we successfully redefined the definition of a quantum glassy phase in different dimensions. We also successfully found a “perfect” parameter to identify such phases. By identifying such parameter, experimental quantum information research can be advanced by utilizing expected phase transitions in a quantum system.
Neurocognitive Vulnerability: Suicidal and Homicidal Behaviours in Patients with Schizophrenia

Objective: Schizophrenia is associated with an increase in the risk of both homicide and suicide. The objectives of this study were to systematically review all published articles that examined the relation between neurocognitive deficits and suicidal or homicidal behaviours in schizophrenia, and to identify vulnerabilities in suicidal and homicidal behaviour that may share a common pathway in schizophrenia. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed using MEDLINE to include all studies published up to August 31, 2012. Results: Among the 1760 studies, 7 neuropsychological and 12 brain imaging studies met the selection criteria and were included in the final analysis. The neuropsychological and functional neuroimaging studies were inconclusive. The structural imaging studies reported various alterations in patients with schizophrenia and a history of homicidal behaviour, including: reduced inferior frontal and temporal cortices, increased mediodorsal white matter, and increased amygdala volumes. Patients with a history of suicidal acts showed volumetric reductions in left orbitofrontal and superior temporal cortices, while right amygdala volume was increased, though, these findings have rarely been replicated. Finally, no study has directly compared neurocognitive markers of suicidal and homicidal risk. Conclusion: These results suggest that brain alterations, in addition to those associated with schizophrenia, may predispose some patients to a higher risk of homicide or suicide in particular circumstances. Moreover, some of these alterations may be shared between homicidal and suicidal patients. However, owing to several limitations, including the small number of available studies, no firm conclusions can be drawn and further investigations are necessary.
Acute epiglottitis: analysis of factors associated with airway intervention

We reviewed acute epiglottitis (AE) and identified factors associated with airway intervention. This report was a retrospective review of patients with AE and compared with factors associated with airway intervention. We reviewed 96 patients who were diagnosed with AE in our hospitals in Japan. Ninety-two (96 per cent) patients were adults, and no seasonal variation in the incidence of AE was encountered. Eight (8 per cent) patients had tracheostomy and endotracheal intubation had not been done. We found that symptoms of stridor and muffled voice, a rapid clinical course, and diabetes mellitus were the factors associated with airway intervention. Extremely severe swelling of the epiglottis such that only less than half of the posterior vocal fold (scope classification (SC): III) could be seen, and extension of the swelling to the arytenoids (SC: B) were the two factors that were strongly associated with airway intervention.
Dose-Related Heart-Rate, Perceptual, and Decisional Changes in Man following Marihuana Smoking

Information processing was tested in 12 male subjects after smoking marihuana containing 0, 10, or 20 mg. of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in three consecutive experimental sessions according to a Latin square protocol. Successful dose control was indicated both by the dose-related linear increase observed in heart rate and by preliminary assays of THC metabolites excreted in the urine. During tachistoscopic presentation of varying numbers of circles, statistically significant decrements in information processing occurred as a function of THC dosage. However, adding irrelevant information (triangles) to the display of circles eliminated effects of marihuana on accuracy of counting. Complex reaction times for oddity discrimination increased significantly only after the high dose. Nonetheless, both the social and high doses inappropriately inhibited the general tendency to respond to changing stimuli during oddity discrimination. Marihuana had no effect on field-dependence as measured by the Rod-and-frame test.
A 17 years old girl with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) and severe leukopenia.

Background: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is an enigmatic, benign and self-limited syndrome characterized by regional lymphadenopathy with tenderness, usually accompanied by mild fever and night sweats. Patient: A 17 years old girl admitted in infectious diseases ward with chief complaint of fever and cervical lymphadenopathy since one week ago. Her problems started with fever and pharyngitis. Three days later, she developed one cervical lymphadenopathy. Blood sample revealed a WBC count of 1700 cells/mm 3 , platelets count of 137000/mm 3 . IgG-anti EBV antibody (VCA) level was 98.7 (upper limit of normal 20) and IgM-anti EBV antibody level was 52.7 (upper limit of normal 40). In hospital course her leukopenia became worse and reached 700cells/mm 3 . After two weeks WBC count recovered, and reached 5100 cells/mm 3 . Lymph node biopsy was achieved and showed necrotizing lymphadenitis with histiocytic reaction consistent with Kikuchi disease. Conclusion: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease must be considered in differential diagnosis of patients with acute severe neutropenia.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoproteins gp120 and gp160 induce interleukin-6 production in CD4+ T-cell clones

Polyclonal B-cell activation is a characteristic feature of AIDS and of the AIDS-related complex. Since the immunoregulatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a major role in inducing B-cell differentiation, we examined the effects of native human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoproteins gp120 and gp160 on IL-6 induction. In this study, we have demonstrated that both gp120 and gp160 have the ability to induce IL-6 mRNA and biologically active IL-6 protein secretion in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro. The envelope protein preparations had no detectable endotoxin as tested by the Limulus amebocyte lysate assay, and hence we can rule out the effect of contaminating endotoxin, which is a potent inducer of IL-6 in monocyte/macrophage cell cultures. In addition, we have shown that the envelope glycoproteins act directly on CD4(+)-cloned T cells to induce IL-6 production in the absence of monocytes. These findings indicate that monocytes and T cells both contribute to the secretion of IL-6, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of B-cell activation in human immunodeficiency virus infection.
Parsing the general and specific components of depression and anxiety with bifactor modeling

Recent hierarchical models suggest that both general and specific components are needed to fully represent the variation observed among mood and anxiety disorders. However, little is known about the relative size, severity, and psychological meaning of these components. We studied these features through bifactor modeling of the symptoms from the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms [IDAS; Watson et al., 2007 ] in 362 community adults, 353 psychiatric patients, and 673 undergraduates. Results revealed that although all IDAS symptom types loaded prominently both on a general factor as well as specific factors, some symptom groups—such as dysphoria, generalized anxiety, and irritability—were influenced more strongly by the general factor, whereas others—e.g., appetite gain, appetite loss, and low well‐being—contained a larger specific component. Second, certain symptom groups—e.g., Suicidality, Panic, Appetite Loss, and Ill Temper—reflected higher severity than other symptom groups. Finally, general factor scores correlated strongly with markers of general distress and negative emotionality. These findings support a hierarchical structure among mood and anxiety symptoms and have important implications for how such disorders are described, assessed, and studied. Depression and Anxiety 0:1–13, 2007. Published 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of rehabilitation services on anxiety, depression, care-giving burden and perceived social support of stroke caregivers.

BACKGROUND Few data are available on the specific care giving-related problems of stroke patient's caregivers and factors that influence the burden of these caregivers. AIM To study the influences of the active rehabilitation process on anxiety, depression, care burden and perceived social support level of stroke patients caregivers. DESIGN A prospective clinical trial. SETTING Patients and caregivers entering a rehabilitation program at a university hospital in Turkey. POPULATIONS Ninety patients with a first episode of stroke and 90 caregivers responsible for their care were recruited for our study. METHODS Patients and caregivers were assessed before and after the active rehabilitation process. The functional disability level of the patients was assessed by Functional Independence Measure (FIM). The Beck Anxiety Scale (BAS) and the Beck Depression Scale (BDS) were used for anxiety and depression assessment, the Zarit Care Burden Scale (ZCBS) for care burden assessment and the Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MDSPSS) for perceived social support assessment. RESULTS A statistically significant rise is observed in the special person sub-assessment of MDSPSS in both female and male caregivers. Also, a significant decrease in care burden, anxiety and depression levels of caregivers was noted after the rehabilitation program (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Caregivers accept the rehabilitation period as important social support in addition to the support provided by family and friends. Also, our positive results were associated with an improvement in the patients' functional level and an increase in the acquisition of knowledge and skill required of caregivers in order to provide care during rehabilitation. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT The rehabilitation team should be aware of the fact that the perceived care burden may be greater due to the lack of knowledge concerning available resources and due to the inability to cope with stress effectively.
Advocatus, Et Non Latro? Testing the Supplier-Induced-Demand Hypothesis for Italian Courts of Justice

We explore the relationship between litigation rates and the number of lawyers, in a typical supplier-induced demand (SID) frame. Drawing on an original panel dataset for the 169 Italian courts of justice between 2000 and 2007, we first document that the number of lawyers is positively correlated with different measures of litigation rate. Then, using an instrumental variables strategy we find that a 10 percent increase of lawyers over population is associated with an increase between 1.6 to 6 percent in civil litigation rates. Thus, our empirical analysis supports the SID hypothesis for the Italian lawyers: following an increase in their relative number, lawyers may exploit their informational advantage to induce clients to access to courts even when litigation is unnecessary or ineffective.
Fast-Factorization Acceleration of MoM Compressive Domain-Decomposition

Domain-decomposition (DD) for Integral Equation can be achieved by aggregating standard basis functions into specialized basis functions on each sub-domain; this results in a strong compression of the MoM matrix, which allows an iteration-free (e.g., LU decomposition) solution also for electrically large problems. Fast matrix-vector product algorithms can be used in the matrix filling and compression process of the employed aggregate-functions approach: this hybrid approach has received considerable attention in recent literature. In order to quantitatively assess the performance, advantages and limitations of this class of methods, we start by proposing and demonstrating the use of the Adaptive Integral Method (AIM) fast factorization to accelerate the Synthetic Function eXpansion (SFX) DD approach. The method remains iteration free, with a significant boost in memory and time performances, with analytical predictions of complexity scalings confirmed by numerical results. Then, we address the complexity scaling of both stand-alone DD and its combined use with fast MoM; this is done analytically and discussed with respect to known literature accounts of various implementations of the DD paradigm, with nonobvious results that highlight needs and limitations, and yielding practical indications.
HIV infection and the pancreas: risk factors and potential management guidelines

Summary One thousand and eighty-one evaluable HIV-infected patients were assessed for pancreatic abnormalities in a prospective case–control study including the whole follow-up period of each patient (minimum 12 months). The 435 patients (40.2%), who experienced at least one episode of confirmed pancreatic laboratory abnormality had a longer duration of seropositivity, exposure to protease inhibitors, a more frequent immunodeficiency, AIDS, chronic liver and/or biliary disease and hypertriglyceridaemia, while no relation was found with antiretroviral administration, and the duration of type of nucleoside analogues, when compared with the 646 controls. High and prolonged laboratory alterations eventually associated with signs of organ involvement occurred in 166 cases (38.2%), and were related to the administration of didanosine, stavudine, lamivudine, pentamidine, cotrimoxazole or antitubercular/antimycobacterial therapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy, illicit substance or alcohol abuse, opportunistic infections, chronic liver and/or biliary disease, a protease inhibitor-based highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and hypertriglyceridaemia (usually associated with HAART administration). No difference was noticed between the 46 patients with clinical and/or imaging evidence of pancreatic involvement and the 120 asymptomatic subjects. Although recurrences of enzyme alterations involved 69.6% of patients, only in 30.1% of cases did a change of the underlying antiretroviral or antimicrobial therapy become necessary. An acute, uncomplicated pancreatitis occurred in nine of the 46 symptomatic subjects (19.6%). A two to four-week gabexate and/or octreotide administration (performed in 79 cases of 166, 47.6%), achieved a significant laboratory, clinical and imaging cure or improvement in 82.3% of cases, with a better success rate of combined (gabexate mesilate plus octreotide) vs. single (gabexate mesilate or ocreotide) therapy. Reduced disease recurrences and a better tolerability of antiretroviral regimens, were also noticed.
Comparison of First Trimester, Second Trimester and Integrated Downs Syndrome Screening Results in Unaffected Pregnancies

Abstract Our aim was to compare the results of first trimester combined test, second trimester triple test, and integrated test in the same pregnant population. We retrospectively studied 927 women, all giving birth to an unaffected baby except for two cases of Down's syndrome. The women underwent a nuchal translucency ultrasound measurement and a blood sampling for pregnancy-associated plasma protein A and free β-hCG subunit (free total chorionic gonadotropin subunit) assay in the first trimester of pregnancy. A second trimester biochemical screening (α-fetoprotein, unconjugated oestriol and total hCG) was performed later. The correlations between each pair of markers and between each marker level and maternal age were calculated. No marker showed significant correlation with any other or with maternal age, with the obvious exception of free β-hCG subunit and total hCG. The false-positive rate (cut-off level: 1 in 350 at term) was 1.5% for the first trimester test, 3.6% for the second trimester test and 0.54% for the integrated test. In 10/14 pregnancies, the increased risk in the first trimester was not confirmed neither in the second trimester nor by the integrated test. In 29/33 women with an increased risk in the second trimester, the first trimester and the integrated test results were discordant. The absence of correlation among different marker levels suggests that the information supplied by the first and second trimester tests is different. Integrating first and second trimester markers in a single test could pose the ethical problem of withholding first trimester results and thus denying the possible advantages of an earlier pregnancy termination.