Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between External Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Boll-Feeding Symptoms and Internal Boll Damage with Respect to Cotton Lint Gin-Out and Fiber Quality

ABSTRACT Cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. , bolls from 17 field locations in northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, having 20% or greater internal boll damage, were studied to determine the relationship between external feeding symptoms and internal damage caused by stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) feeding. In 2006 and 2007, two cohorts of 100 bolls each were sampled at all field locations. The first cohort was removed as bolls reached approximately quarter size in diameter (2.4 cm). External and internal symptoms of stink bug feeding were assessed and tabulated. Concurrent to when the first cohort was collected, a second cohort of quarter-size-diameter bolls was identified, tagged, examined in situ for external feeding symptoms (sunken lesions), and harvested at the black seed coat stage. Harvested bolls were assessed for internal damage and locks were categorized (undamaged, minor damage, or major damage), dried, and ginned. Lint samples from each damage category were submitted for high volume instrument and advanced fiber information system quality analyses. Significant, moderately strong Pearson correlation coefficients existed between number of external stink bug feeding lesions and internal damage. Pearson correlation of total external lesions with total internal damage was stronger than any correlation among the other single components compared. Predictability plots indicated a rapid increase in relationship strength when relating external stink bug lesions to internal damage as the number of external lesions increased. Approximately 90% predictability of internal damage was achieved with four (2006) or six (2007) external lesions per boll. Gin-turnout and fiber quality decreased with increasing intensity of internal stink bug damage.
A preliminary empirical test of Silverthorn and Frick's delayed-onset pathway in girls using an urban, African-American, US-based sample.

BACKGROUND Silverthorn and Frick argued that there is no pathway to criminal activity among girls that is analogous to the early-onset/life-course-persistent-type one among boys. Instead, they argued for a female-specific theory in which even girls with the same high-risk backgrounds and criminal outcomes as early-onset/life-course-persistent boys show delayed-onset offending. AIMS To test the Silverthorn Frick model of gender-specific pathways to offending in an independent cohort. METHODS A cohort of 987 urban, African-American males and females participated in the Philadelphia portion of the National Collaborative Perinatal Project which collected biological, psychological and sociological variables. By age 18, 220 of these individuals had incurred a least one police contact, of which 64 did so under the age of 13. A criminal history follow-up was conducted in 1998 when cohort members had all reached their mid-thirties. RESULTS Females and males were equally likely to experience early-onset offending (police contact by age 13), but female late-onset offenders resembled male early-onset offenders on nine of 10 risk factors. Male early-onset offenders had worse criminal outcomes compared with female and male late-onset offenders, but did not differ from female early-onset offenders. Female late-onset offenders showed many similarities on key risk factors to male late-onset offenders. CONCLUSIONS Silverthorn and Frick may have over-estimated the outcome similarity of late-onset offending females to early-onset males and under-estimated occurrence of early-onset-life-course persistent offending in females. In so far as cohort studies such as these inform social policy, it is likely to be important that they are interpreted with sensitivity to minority needs.
Molecular Screening for 22 Q 11 . 2 Deletion Syndrome in Patients With Congenital Heart Disease

Few studies have investigated the prevalence of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) among patients with isolated heart defects or nonconotruncal heart defects. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by length polymorphism restriction fragment analysis (RFLP) is useful for low-cost molecular diagnosis and screening. This cross-sectional study included 392 patients with congenital heart disease, described clinical features, and performed PCR–RFLP for analysis of polymorphism in three loci with a high heterozygosity rate located in the typically deleted region of 1.5 megabases. Heterozygosity excluded 22q11.2DS. Patients with homozygosity for the three markers underwent multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for the final diagnosis, estimating the prevalence of 22q11.2DS. The use of PCR–RFLP excluded 22q11.2DS in 81.6 % (n = 320) of 392 patients. Of the remaining 72 patients, 65 underwent MLPA, showing 22q11.2DS in five cases (prevalence, 1.27 %). Four of these five patients underwent FISH, confirming the MLPA results. All five patients with the deletion had heart diseases commonly found with 22q11.2DS (interrupted aortic arch, persistent truncus arteriosus, tetralogy of Fallot, and ventricular septal defect plus atrial septal defect). Two patients had congenital extracardiac anomaly (one with arched palate and micrognathia and one with hypertelorism). Three patients reported recurrent respiratory infections, and one patient reported hypocalcemia. All were underweight or short in stature for their age. This study contributed to showing the prevalence of 22q11.2DS in patients with any congenital heart disease, with or without other features of the syndrome. Patients with 22q11.2DS may not have all the major features of the syndrome, and those that are found may be due to the heart defect.
Trajetória e sobrecarga emocional da família de crianças autistas: relatos maternos.

Significant changes are made in a family’s life cycle when one of the family members acquires the special condition of a chronic illness. One important factor to be taken into consideration is how the family faces a child’s sickening, especially how mothers face their child’s special condition. This study aimed to examine the emotional overload (stress and depression) on the mothers of children with autism, to verify how this overload relates to the quality of life evaluation and to get to know the main difficulties that result from the child’s care demands and coping modes. Research participants were 20 mothers of children with autism, who attended two care institutions. During meetings with each participant, a semi-structured interview was held and the following standardized evaluation instruments were applied: Lipp’s Stress Symptoms Inventory for Adults (LSSI), Problem Coping Modes Scale (EMEP), Beck Depression Inventory and the Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-Bref), complemented by a questionnaire to identify the participants’ sociodemographic and cultural profile. Interviews were accomplished at the institution and/or at the participant’s house. The application of the instruments started by reading and signing the Consent Terms. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and submitted to thematic content analysis. Nonparametric correlation was used to statistically verify the existing relations between the study variables. The results indicated an average age of 40 years for the interviewees and 11 for the children, families had low income and had two or three children. While 25% of the mothers had finished higher education, another 25% had not finished basic education. Only two participants spent part of the day outside their homes due to paid work and mentioned help from an employee to take care of the autistic child. Evaluation results indicated that 65% of the mothers displayed stress. With respect to depressive symptoms, one participant presented dysphoria and two mothers demonstrated
Persistent vegetative state with encephalitis in a pregnant woman with successful fetal outcome

Case report A 28 year old woman, gravida 3, para 2, consulted her physician at 22 weeks of gestation for a flulike syndrome. Pharyngitis was suspected and antibiotics were given. Vomiting, vertigo, left sided paraesthesia and dysarthria developed over the next few days. The patient was referred to our centre in December 2001. At the first examination, she was conscious, with confusion and fever. She had an internuclear ophthalmoplegia with monocular nystagmus; her gait was ataxic, without dysmetria. She presented left hemiparesis, dysphagia and false passage. During the next week, the neurological status worsened: the patient was able to open her eyes but unable to respond to simple commands; she became unconscious with finally a persistent vegetative status. The patient was admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery, which is located immediately beside the obstetric unit at our institution. Her neurological status remained unchanged for 10 weeks. The brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed numerous hypersignals in the cerebral trunk, corpus callosum and basal hemispheric brain (Fig. 1). Routine biochemical tests were normal. The analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid showed a non-specific reaction (normal glucose, 1.5 g/L protein, 11–30 leucocytes/mm 3 ). The immunologic tests found high concentrations of IgM against Epstein–Barr virus and cytomegalovirus and an antiprothrombin-like circulating anticoagulant. The direct viral and bacteriological cultures were negative. The diagnosis was therefore encephalitis of unknown origin. The patient was separated and not married to the father of the fetus. Her parents were the legal decision makers in this case. They received complete information on medical findings and data of the literature, and we told them that in our opinion, the pregnancy should be continued. However, the parents wrote to political and medical authorities to request for the pregnancy to be terminated. We asked a judge to appoint an independent arbiter. We also asked for an opinion from the National Academy of Medicine and National Committee of Ethics. All these authorities agreed
Dynamic computed tomographic evaluation of the pituitary gland in healthy dogs.

OBJECTIVE To determine the contrast enhancement pattern of the pituitary gland in healthy dogs via dynamic computed tomography (CT). ANIMALS 17 dogs. PROCEDURE With each dog in sternal recumbency, transverse CT scans were made perpendicular to the skull base from the rostral clinoid processes to the dorsum sellae. At the position of the image that contained the largest cross section of the pituitary gland, a series of 9 to 11 scans was made during and after IV injection of contrast medium (dynamic CT scans). The contrast enhancement pattern of the pituitary gland and surrounding arteries was assessed visually and by use of time-density curves. RESULTS After strong enhancement of the maxillary arteries, the intracavernous parts of the internal carotid arteries, and the communicating arteries of the arterial cerebral circle, there was a strong enhancement of the central part of the pituitary gland followed by enhancement of its peripheral part. On the last images of the dynamic series of the pituitary gland, the central part was hypodense, compared with the peripheral part. Time-density curves confirmed an early, strong enhancement of the central part and a delayed, less strong enhancement of the peripheral part of the gland. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The difference in enhancement between the central and peripheral parts of the pituitary gland was attributable to a difference in vascularization of the neurohypophysis and adenohypophysis, respectively. Distortion or disappearance of the strong central enhancement (pituitary flush) may be used for the detection and localization of pituitary abnormalities in the adenohypophysis.
Impact of a tailored oral vitamin D supplementation regimen on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in early breast cancer patients: a randomized phase III study.

BACKGROUND A minority of early breast cancer (EBC) patients treated with adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy have sufficient baseline vitamin D (vitD) level. This randomized phase III study assessed the safety and efficacy of a tailored, high-dose, oral vitD supplementation in restoring a normal 25-hydroxy vitD (25OHD) level in this population. PATIENTS AND METHODS Participants received a 6-month conventional (C) vitD and calcium supplementation or a 6-month high-dose oral vitD regimen tailored on the deficiency (T) and a conventional calcium supplementation. The primary end point was the 6-month percentage of 25OHD serum level normalization. RESULTS A total of 215 patients including 197 patients with vitD deficiency were recruited, and 195 patients were randomized (T, 100; C, 95). Compliance to the daily oral supplementation was 68.4% and 67% in the C and T arms, respectively. Discontinuous high-dose vitD compliance appeared higher in the T arm (77%). At 6 months, more patients presented with a normalized vitD level in the T arm (30% versus 12.6%; P = 0.003). Supplementation was well tolerated, and no significant difference in the treatment-related toxicity between the two arms was reported. Fifty-two patients without vitD normalization from the C arm switched to the T arm after 6 months. At 12 months, 44% of these patients achieved vitD normalization. CONCLUSION A tailored high-dose oral vitD supplementation safely allows a higher percentage of the serum 25OHD level normalization compared with a conventional regimen in chemotherapy-treated EBC patients. As compliance to a daily oral supplementation remains poor in this setting, an adaptation of the treatment schedule is warranted. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER NCT01480869.
How Capability Differences, Transaction Costs, and Learning Curves Interact to Shape Vertical Scope

This paper provides an integrative analysis of the drivers of vertical scope, using analytical and computational methods. I propose a model with two vertical segments (upstream and downstream), firm populations with heterogeneous capabilities, and an intermediate market subject to transaction costs in which firms can choose whether to be integrated or vertically specialized. By varying the level of transaction costs and changing the structure of the correlation between upstream and downstream capabilities in the industry, learning curves, and the way in which profitability leads to capability improvement in the upstream and downstream segments, I generate numerical results to explain how vertical integration evolves over time. The results suggest that (a) with no capability differences, even if transaction costs are nil, firms remain integrated; (b) transaction costs catalyze the underlying capability differences to drive scope; (c) dynamic factors, such as learning curves, returns to investment in capabilities, or limits to expansion, exacerbate small, random capability differences and as such promote specialization. These dynamic factors can by themselves lead to substantial specialization when they differ between the upstream and downstream segments. The model also provides a rationale for mixed governance (i.e., concurrent use of both the market and integration), as well as for the initial period of vertical integration, followed by specialization.
The prognostic value of mean platelet volume in decompensated heart failure

Background Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a major public health problem that is related to substantial morbidity, impaired quality of life and diminished survival. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an indicator of platelet activation. Aim To investigate whether there is a difference of MPV in patients with decompensated and stable heart failure (SHF), and test the prognostic value of MPV in decompensated heart failure (DHF). Methods 136 consecutive patients with DHF were enrolled. 71 with SHF were also enrolled for comparison. Patients were followed up for a mean of 18±12 months. The primary endpoint was death from any cause. Clinical characteristics of patients with DHF who died during follow-up were compared with the those of the survivors. Results MPV was significantly higher in DHF group than in the SHF group. 71 patients died during the follow-up period (18±12 months). Comparison with survivors revealed that mortality was associated with age, systolic blood pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, serum creatinine, urea and MPV. MPV was determined as an independent risk factor for mortality (OR 1.553, 95% CI 1.024 to 2.354, p=0.038). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that MPV level on admission was a predictor of mortality (area under the curve (AUC) for in-hospital mortality was 0.716 (95% CI 0.632 to 0.789, p=0.003) and AUC for 6-month mortality was 0.815 (95% CI 0.74 to 0.877, p<0.001), respectively). Conclusion MPV is increased in patients with DHF. Also, MPV on admission is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality and 6-month mortality.
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Is Safe and Effective in Patients 90 Years of Age and Older

Goals To review our experience of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients 90 years and older. Background ERCP is effective in the investigation and treatment of biliary disease; however, in the very elderly, a perception of high procedural risk and lack of efficacy may limit its use. Study Retrospective analysis of ERCPs performed on patients 90 years of age and older from one institution. Results Between 1987–2000, 23 ERCPs were performed on patients 90 years of age and more (16 women; age range, 90–96 years). The primary indications were obstructive jaundice (16 patients), pancreatitis (2), cholangitis (1), unexplained abdominal pain (1), and planned follow-up (3). The main endoscopic findings were common bile duct (CBD) stone (15 patients), pancreatic carcinoma (2), cholangiocarcinoma (2), and dilated duct (only 1). Sixteen sphincterotomies were performed, with successful common duct clearance in 10 patients. Seven biliary stents were inserted for benign disease and three, for malignancy. In two patients, CBD cannulation was unsuccessful. Three minor hemorrhages were controlled endoscopically. Three patients died of nonprocedural causes. Conclusions ERCP is safe and effective in the very elderly. The decision to undergo ERCP should be determined by clinical need.
REFLEX CONTROL OF ABDOMINAL MUSCLES DURING POSITIVE-PRESSURE BREATHING.

Continuous positive-pressure breathing initiates expiratory activity in the abdominal muscle and inhibits the diaphragm in anesthetized cats. This investigation defines neural mechanisms involved in this abdominal muscle response (AMR) to positive-pressure breathing. The AMR is not a segmental reflex since it is abolished by thoracic spinal transection. Bilateral rhizotomy (T8-L3) also eliminates AMR, but laparotomy and abdominal evisceration do not, suggesting that some neural inflow other than from abdominal muscle or viscera is necessary but insufficient for maintaining AMR. Abdominal vagotomy failed to interrupt AMR which was abolished by bilateral cervical vagotomy, indicating that the necessary receptors lie in the thorax. Compression or local anesthesia of the cervical vagi provided the experimental means for abolishing either the inhibition of the diaphragm or the AMR without necessarily interrupting the other. That one response may persist in the absence of the other indicates that vagal afferent pathways subserving AMR are distinct from those mediating diaphragm inhibition. Hence the active expiration of pressure breathing is not a simple corollary of the Hering-Breuer inflation reflex but is a separate reflex served by its own vagal pathway. abdominal muscle response; vagus control of active expiration; abdominal muscle motoneuron pool; vagal afferent pathway in pressure-breathing reflex; thoracic receptors; diaphragm response to pressure breathing; diaphragm; inspiration; expiratory reflexes; inspiratory reflexes; respiratory reflexes; segmental reflexes; spinal reflexes Submitted on February 21, 1963
Male circumcision decreases high‐risk human papillomavirus viral load in female partners: A randomized trial in Rakai, Uganda

Male circumcision (MC) reduces high‐risk human papillomavirus (HR‐HPV) infection in female partners. We evaluated the intensity of HR‐HPV viral DNA load in HIV‐negative, HR‐HPV‐positive female partners of circumcised and uncircumcised men. HIV‐negative men and their female partners were enrolled in randomized trials of MC in Rakai, Uganda. Vaginal swabs were tested for HR‐HPV genotypes by Roche HPV Linear Array which provides a semi‐quantitative measure of HPV DNA by the intensity of genotype‐specific bands (graded:1–4). We assessed the effects of MC on female HR‐HPV DNA load by comparing high intensity linear array bands (3–4) to low intensity bands (1–2) using an intention‐to‐treat analysis. Prevalence risk ratios (PRR) of high intensity bands in partners of intervention versus control arm men were estimated using log‐binomial regression with robust variance. The trial included 335 women with male partners in the intervention arm and 340 in the control arm. At enrollment, the frequency of HR‐HPV high intensity linear array bands was similar in both study arms. At 24 months follow‐up, the prevalence of high intensity bands among women with detectable HR‐HPV was significantly lower in partners of intervention arm (42.7%) than control arm men (55.1%, PRR = 0.78, 95%CI 0.65–0.94, p = 0.02), primarily among incident HR‐HPV infections (PRR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.50–0.87, p = 0.003), but not persistent infections (PRR = 1.02, 95% CI 0.83–1.24). Genotypes with high HR‐HPV band intensity were more likely to persist (adjHR = 1.27 95% CI 1.07–1.50), irrespective of male partner circumcision status. MC reduces HR‐HPV DNA load in newly infected female partners.
High intracellular calcium concentrations in transformed lymphoblasts from subjects with bipolar I disorder.

OBJECTIVE Higher basal concentrations of intracellular calcium Ca2+ in platelets and lymphocytes from subjects with bipolar affective disorder than in unipolar depressed and healthy subjects implicate abnormal intracellular Ca2+ signaling in bipolar disorder. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether these intracellular Ca2+ abnormalities are trait related. METHOD Basal Ca2+ concentration was measured by using ratiometric fluorescence assay with fura-2 for T lymphocytes and Epstein-Barr-virus-immortalized B lymphoblasts from physically healthy subjects with DSM-IV diagnoses of bipolar mood disorder (bipolar I, N = 28; bipolar II, N = 11) or major depressive disorder (N = 14), mixed psychiatric patients with non-mood disorders (N = 14), and health subjects (N = 20). Phytohemagglutinin-stimulated (10 micrograms/ml) intracellular Ca2+ levels were also determined in T lymphocytes. RESULTS The basal Ca2+ concentration was significantly higher in the B lymphoblasts from patients with bipolar I disorder, but not bipolar II disorder or major depression, than in healthy subjects or psychiatric patients with nonmood disorders. There was a significant interaction between gender and diagnosis in the effect on basal Ca2+ levels in T lymphocytes. Contrasts of diagnoses within gender revealed significantly higher basal Ca2+ concentrations in T lymphocytes in male bipolar I patients, but not mean with bipolar II disorder or major depression, than in healthy male comparison subjects. Phytohemagglutinin-stimulated Ca2+ concentrations did not differ among groups, but the percent differences from basal Ca2+ levels were lower in bipolar I and depressed patients than in healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS These findings support the occurrence of abnormal calcium homeostasis in bipolar disorder and suggest that trait-dependent factors account, at least partly, for the higher basal lymphocyte Ca2+ concentration in bipolar I subjects.