Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Significance of Biopsy Research in Cryptorchism in Children*

There is a relative shortage of published papers on both the experimental and clinical problems of cryptorchism. In addition, different and often very contradictory experimental results do not help to form a clear view of this complicated problem which has been tackled by so many authors (Bishop, 1945; Campbell, 1951; Hand, 1955; Gross and Jewett, 1956; Nelson, 1951; Robinson and Engle, 1954; Zahor and Raboch, 1956). It is possible, however, to assume that the essential aid to diagnosis in the case of cryptorchism is biopsy examination of undescended or cryptorchid testis. Biopsy allows us to form a histological picture of the testis in children of different ages, which may help us to decide which is the best possible moment for surgical intervention and whether the problem can be solved only by operation. For the purposes of this report, I intend to concentrate only on the results of experiments in our Departments of Paediatric Surgery and Endocrinology and to draw conclusions from both the surgical and the histological point of view. Our data are based on several years' work with children with cryptorchid testes between the ages of 5 and 16 years. These children numbering 70 in all underwent operation in our clinic and at the same time the testes of 36 children of this group were examined histologically after biopsy. In the period of one to three years after operation the results were checked clinically. The 36 biopsy examinations referred to the following age-groups: 10 children from 5 to 9 years old; 14 children from 10 to 12 years; nine children from 12 to 14 years, and three children from 14 to 16 years (Table). The histological results of the 36 cases have been classified into three development stages: static, growing and pubertal, according to proposals made by Charny and Wolgin (1957) and supplemented by Pawlikowski (1960).
Prevalence and Distribution of Mastitis Pathogens and their Resistance Against Antimicrobial Agents in Dairy Cows in Jordan

The primary objective of this study was to determine the aetiology of bovine mastitis in ten herds of Holstein Friesian cow in Jordan, the prevalence of mastitis pathogens in dairy cows and their resistance to selected antimicrobial agents. Milk samples were collected from 220 lactating cows to determine the clinical and subclinical mastitis by white side test and confirmed by cultural tests. It was found that 138 quarters 15.7% had been diagnosed as clinical mastitis with definite gross pathological lesions and change in udder secretion, in addition to that 276 quarters 31.4% showed subclinical mastitis. The incidence of mastitis was found to be increased in older cows. Staphylococcus aurous was considered to be the most common cause of both clinical and subclinical mastitis and followed by coli forms, streptococcus spp. , corynebacterium spp. , proteus spp. and pseudomonas spp. Sensitivity tests was applied to different isolated strains using tertracycline, ampicillin, neomycin, erythromycin, penicillin G and sulphamethoxazol trimethoprim.
Frequency and the emergence of prefabs: Evidence from monitoring

Native English speakers were instructed to detect instances of /√p/ in spoken sentences by pressing a button as soon as they hear /√p/ regardless of whether it is inside another word. We observe that detection of the particle up is slower when the frequency of the verb+up collocation is low or extremely high than when it is medium. In addition, /√p/ is more difficult to detect in high-frequency words than medium-frequency or lowfrequency words. Thus word frequency has a monotonic effect on detectability of word parts while the effect of phrase frequency is U-shaped. These results support the hypotheses that lexical units compete with their parts during speech perception and that words and ultra-high-frequency phrases are stored in the lexicon.
Una investigación empírica sobre los factores que afectan a la selección de medidas en el Cuadro de Mando integral

El estudio de los efectos del criterio evaluador en el uso del cuadro de mando integral (CMI) con el proposito de evaluar el desempeno presenta varias preguntas sin respuesta aun (Lipe y Salterio, 2000, 2002). Este estudio evalua si la diferencia en la frecuencia de uso de medidas en cada perspectiva es afectada por el proposito de uso del CMI (Malina y Selto, 2001) o por alguna de las explicaciones alternativas como el nivel de experiencia profesional o por el conocimiento del CMI y su ambiente general en terminos de pericia con la disciplina contable (Dilla y Steinbart, 2005). Este estudio requirio a cuatro grupos de sujetos disenar un CMI y, aunque los resultados informados no pertenezcan a un experimento de laboratorio, ellos nos proporcionan una respuesta positiva y clara a la explicacion alternativa sugerida por Dilla y Steinbart (2005). Los resultados muestran que los expertos exhiben una comprension y uso diferente del CMI en casi todas las perspectivas, mientras que el efecto del proposito de uso solo se refleja en la perspectiva financiera.
Listening to a second language through the ears of a first

The processes by which listeners recognize spoken language are highly language-specific. Listeners’ expectations of how meaning is expressed in words and sentences are formed by the lexicon and grammar of the native language; but the phonology plays an even more immediate role. Thus the native phoneme repertoire constrains listeners’ ability to discriminate phonetic contrasts; and a further area in which such constraints arise is the segmentation of continuous speech into its component words. A large body of research is summarised here, motivating three conclusions: (1) In segmenting speech, speakers of different languages apply different heuristic procedures, efficiently exploiting the specific phonological structure of their various languages. (2) These procedures have become part of the listeners’ processing system, to an extent that they are also applied when listening to nonnative languages, even though this may lead to inefficiency. (3) It may be impossible to acquire the use of multiple procedures of this kind; but it is possible to inhibit the misapplication of native procedures to other languages for which they are inefficient.
A role of G-proteins and calcium in light-regulated primary leaf formation in Sorghum bicolor

Primary leaf development in Sorghum bicolor is a phytochrome-mediated response. Primary leaves are not produced in Sorghum seedlings even after 10 d of germination if grown in darkness. However, 5 min irradiation with white light or red light given to 5 d etiolated seedlings resulted in the formation of etiolated leaves. This effect of red light was reversed by far-red light. When calcium (3-5 mM) was added exogenously, complete leaf formation was obtained in darkness; however, the kinetics of the response was slower than that seen with light irradiation. This effect was also obtained with potassium ions but magnesium ions had no effect. Light- and calcium-mediated leaf development could be arrested at the stage of leaf emergence or leaf expansion by the addition of inhibitors of G-proteins or by calcium channel blockers suggesting a role of G-proteins and calcium in phytochrome signal transduction during primary leaf development.
Methods for the transcervical collection of fetal cells during the first trimester of pregnancy

Before termination of pregnancy, four techniques for retrieving fetal cells transcervically were investigated: uterine lavage, endocervical lavage, cytobrush and mucus aspiration. The yield of fetal cells in these samples was studied and found to be somewhat better after uterine lavage. A preliminary assessment of the safety of mucus aspiration was carried out before transcervical chorionic villus sampling (CVS) in continuing pregnancies. No difference in outcome to a control group having only CVS was found.
Closure via functional dependence simplification

In this paper, a method for computing the closure of a set of attributes according to a specification of functional dependencies of the relational model is described. The main feature of this method is that it computes the closure using solely the inference system of the SL FD logic. For the first time, logic is used in the design of automated deduction methods to solve the closure problem. The strong link between the SL FD logic and the closure algorithm is presented and an SL FD simplification paradigm emerges as the key element of our method. In addition, the soundness and completeness of the closure algorithm are shown. Our method has linear complexity, as the classical closure algorithms, and it has all the advantages provided by the use of logic. We have empirically compared our algorithm with the Diederich and Milton classical algorithm. This experiment reveals the best behaviour of our method which shows a significant improvement in the average speed.
Reinforcement Learning Performance and Risk for Psychosis in Youth

Abstract Early identification efforts for psychosis have thus far yielded many more individuals “at risk” than actually develop psychotic illness. Here, we test whether measures of reinforcement learning (RL), known to be impaired in chronic schizophrenia, are related to the severity of clinical risk symptoms. Because of the reliance of RL on dopamine-rich frontostriatal systems and evidence of dopamine system dysfunction in the psychosis prodrome, RL measures are of specific interest in this clinical population. The current study examines relationships between psychosis risk symptoms and RL task performance in a sample of adolescents and young adults (n = 70) receiving mental health services. We observed significant correlations between multiple measures of RL performance and measures of both positive and negative symptoms. These results suggest that RL measures may provide a psychosis risk signal in treatment-seeking youth. Further research is necessary to understand the potential predictive role of RL measures for conversion to psychosis.
Joint impairment is strongly correlated with disability measured by self-report questionnaires. Functional status assessment of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis in a population based series.

OBJECTIVE To determine how well self-report functional ability reflects the impairment due to the arthritic process in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and how much it is affected by other factors of health status. METHODS We examined the relationships between self-report measures such as the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales (AIMS) and measures of impairment such as the Keitel function test (KFT), which is intended to reflect the degree of functional limitation of the joints, grip strength and radiological destruction as well as anxiety and depression in a population-based series of RA. RESULTS First, the HAQ and AIMS had a high correlation coefficient (r = 0.89, p < 0.0001). Second, the above measures of impairment were more significant predictors of self-report functional measures than, for example, mental health perceptions. The AIMS scales also correlated well with the corresponding physical function of the KFT. CONCLUSION Patients' self-report functional ability in RA reflects their physical impairment due to the arthritic joint disease and is less influenced by other factors such as emotional adjustment.
Hydrodynamics and oxygen mass transfer characteristics of petroleum based micro-emulsions in a packed bed split-cylinder airlift reactor

The effects of aeration velocity and liquid properties on the pertinent hydrodynamic and mass transfer parameters in a split-cylinder airlift reactor (with and without packing) were examined. Four different oil-in-water micro-emulsion systems containing kerosene, heavy naphtha, light naphtha and diesel as the oil at the concentration of 7% (v/v) were used in the experiments and the results were compared with pure water. The experimental results showed that the gas (air) hold-up and the volumetric gas-liquid oxygen transfer coefficient values for the micro-emulsion systems were usually greater than those of pure water. The packing installation increased the overall gas-liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient by increasing the flow turbulence and Reynolds number, compared to the unpacked column. The packing increased the gas hold-up and decreased the bubble size and liquid circulation velocity. Furthermore, two empirical correlations were developed to predict the overall gas hold-up and volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient. A good agreement was observed between the experimental and correlated data.
Hardware in the Loop Simulation of a FPGA-based Speed and Position Observer for non-Salient Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors

The paper investigates a FPGA implementation of a simple observer aiming to improve the speed estimation behavior and to make a step towards a SOPC PMSM drive sensor-less control. The proposed approach is based on the fast processing provided by the FPGA implementation, allowing to accurately reproduce the continuous time sliding mode and to realize high performance FIR filters. Such filters allow an accurate reconstruction of the position signal by means of phase compensation, and lead to an accurate speed estimation based on the zero-crossing detection of the commutation signals. Moreover, a fast current controller is considered. The paper focuses the whole design flow and confirms the feasibility of the approach by means of hardware in the loop simulation.
Annexin A2 Is a Novel RNA-binding Protein

Annexin A2 (ANXA2) is a Ca2+-binding protein that is up-regulated in virally transformed cell lines and in human tumors. Here, we show that ANXA2 binds directly to both ribonucleotide homopolymers and human c-myc RNA. ANXA2 was shown to bind specifically to poly(G) with high affinity (Kd = 60 nm) and not to poly(A), poly(C), or poly(U). The binding of ANXA2 to poly(G) required Ca2+ (A50% = 10 μm). The presence of RNA in the immunoprecipitates of ANXA2 isolated from HeLa cells established that ANXA2 formed a ribonucleoprotein complex in vivo. Sucrose gradient analysis showed that ANXA2 associates with ribonucleoprotein complexes and not with polyribosomes. Reverse transcriptase-PCR identified c-myc mRNA as a component of the ribonucleoprotein complex formed by ANXA2 in vivo, and binding studies confirmed a direct interaction between ANXA2 and c-myc mRNA. Transfection of LNCaP cells with the ANXA2 gene resulted in the up-regulation of c-Myc protein. These findings identify ANXA2 as a Ca2+-dependent RNA-binding protein that interacts with the mRNA of the nuclear oncogene, c-myc.
Proinflammatory mediators stimulate neutrophil-directed angiogenesis.

BACKGROUND Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; vascular permeability factor) is one of the most potent proangiogenic cytokines, and it plays a central role in mediating the process of angiogenesis or new blood vessel formation. Neutrophils (PMNs) recently have been shown to produce VEGF. HYPOTHESIS The acute inflammatory response is a potent stimulus for PMN-directed angiogenesis. METHODS Neutrophils were isolated from healthy volunteers and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and anti-human Fas monoclonal antibody. Culture supernatants were assayed for VEGF using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Culture supernatants from LPS- and TNF-alpha-stimulated PMNs were then added to human umbilical vein endothelial cells and human microvessel endothelial cells and assessed for endothelial cell proliferation using 5-bromodeoxyuridine labeling. Tubule formation was also assessed on MATRIGEL basement membrane matrix. Neutrophils were lysed to measure total VEGF release, and VEGF expression was detected using Western blot analysis. RESULTS Lipopolysaccharide and TNF-alpha stimulation resulted in significantly increased release of PMN VEGF (532+/-49 and 484+/-80 pg/mL, respectively; for all, presented as mean +/- SEM) compared with control experiments (32+/-4 pg/mL). Interleukin 6 and Fas had no effect. Culture supernatants from LPS- and TNF-alpha-stimulated PMNs also resulted in significant increases (P<.005) in macrovascular and microvascular endothelial cell proliferation and tubule formation. Adding anti-human VEGF-neutralizing polyclonal antibody to stimulated PMN supernatant inhibited these effects. Total VEGF release following cell lysis and Western blot analysis suggests that the VEGF is released from an intracellular store. CONCLUSION Activated human PMNs are directly angiogenic by releasing VEGF, and this has important implications for inflammation, capillary leak syndrome, wound healing, and tumor growth.
Cadmium inhibits the vitellogenesis of freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense

Cadmium (Cd) may pose risks to freshwater organisms, including crabs that live at the interface of sediments and water column all year round. One of the major changes that occur during oocyte maturation of crabs is the production of vitellin. In the present study, the authors investigated the effects of Cd on oocyte size, vitellin level, and vitellogenin (Vtg) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in the ovary of the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense. The authors studied the impacts of Cd on carbohydrate as well as on the protein metabolism, metallothionein, glutathione (GSH) synthesis, energy‐related parameters, and mRNA expression of genes involved in energy metabolism. After Cd treatment, vitellin concentration, Vtg mRNA expression, and oocyte diameter decreased. Less carbohydrate and enhanced protein catabolism were found in the ovary. Adenosine triphosphate to adenosine diphosphate (ATP:ADP) ratios, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) to oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) ratios, mitochondrial membrane potential, and energy production‐related mRNA expressions increased in the ovary after 10 d Cd treatment and decreased after 20 d. Metallothionein and GSH synthesis were up‐regulated after 10 d on Cd exposure. Moreover, Cd caused a time‐dependent up‐regulation of malondialdehyde. The authors' findings show significant effects of Cd on vitellogenesis, which suggests that Cd slows down vitellogenesis in S. henanense because of excessive energy consumption and an activated defense system. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:1609–1616. © 2015 SETAC
Enhanced Recognition of HIV-1 Cryptic Epitopes Restricted by HLA Class I Alleles Associated With a Favorable Clinical Outcome

Background:Cryptic epitopes (CEs) are peptides derived from the translation of 1 or more of the 5 alternative reading frames (ARFs; 2 sense and 3 antisense) of genes. Here, we compared response rates to HIV-1–specific CE predicted to be restricted by HLA-I alleles associated with protection against disease progression to those without any such association. Methods:Peptides (9mer to 11mer) were designed based on HLA-I–binding algorithms for B*27, B*57, or B*5801 (protective alleles) and HLA-B*5301 or B*5501 (nonprotective allele) in all 5 ARFs of the 9 HIV-1 encoded proteins. Peptides with >50% probability of being an epitope (n = 231) were tested for T-cell responses in an IFN-&ggr; enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) assay. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from HIV-1 seronegative donors (n = 42) and HIV-1 seropositive patients with chronic clade B infections (n = 129) were used. Results:Overall, 16%, 2%, and 2% of chronic HIV infected patients had CE responses by IFN-&ggr; ELISpot in the protective, nonprotective, and seronegative groups, respectively (P = 0.009, Fischer exact test). Twenty novel CE-specific responses were mapped (median magnitude of 95 spot forming cells/106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells), and most were both antisense derived (90%) and represented ARFs of accessory proteins (55%). CE-specific CD8 T cells were multifunctional and proliferated when assessed by intracellular cytokine staining. Conclusions:CE responses were preferentially restricted by the protective HLA-I alleles in HIV-1 infection, suggesting that they may contribute to viral control in this group of patients.
CRF receptor type 1 and 2 expression and anatomical distribution in the rat colon

Corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF) receptor agonists administered peripherally increase colonic propulsive motility and fecal output in experimental animals. In addition, endogenous CRF‐related peptides are found in the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tissues, suggesting a local expression of CRF receptors. In the present study, we report the expression of both CRF receptor type 1 (CRF1) and 2 (CRF2) in the rat colon at the mRNA and protein levels. For the purpose of receptor protein mapping, a specific antiserum against the C‐terminus of CRF2 (2064a‐CRF2) was generated and characterized. This antiserum in conjunction with a selective anti‐CRF1 antiserum (4467a‐CRF1) was used in immunofluorescent staining to demonstrate the anatomical distribution of receptor protein expression. Using RT‐PCR for the CRF1 and CRF2 genes, both receptor gene transcripts were found in RNA isolated from crude colonic samples. CRF1 was found in the goblet and stem cells of the colonic crypts and in scattered cells of the surface epithelium and the lamina propria of the proximal colonic mucosa. In addition, double staining against neuron‐specific antigens revealed CRF1 expression in the myenteric and submucosal nervous plexus. CRF2 expression was localized mainly in the luminal surface of the crypts and in blood vessels of the submucosal layer. These results demonstrate expression of both CRF receptor types in the rat colon and support a role for their involvement in regulating peripheral effects of CRF ligands.
[Relation between body mass index and bone mineral density in a sample population of Mexican women].

The purpose of this trial is to demonstrate that a women with high body mass index (BMI > or = 28) has greater bone mineral density (BMD) from that with lower BMI. We studied 922 healthy women who met the inclusion criteria. They were classified into four groups according to their BMI (> or = 28 and < 28) and age (> or = 35 and < 35 years). Bone mineral measurement was performed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in the hip and at the lumbar region. BMD in overweight women older than 35 years was significantly higher in comparison with that of women with lower BMI, both in the hip and the lumbar spine. In overweight women younger than 35 years, we found greater BMD in the hip reaching statistical significance, but not at the lumbar spine. We conclude that obesity is associated with greater BMD (4% at the lumbar spine; 11% at the hip) probably due to both greater physical stress and higher estrogen levels.