Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dickinson in the Ukraine: Slavic Traditions and New Perspectives

Emily Dickinson's poetry is known and read worldwide but to date there have been no studies of her reception and influence outside America. This collection of essays brings together international research on her reception abroad including translations, circulation and the responses of private and professional readers to her poetry in different countries. The contributors address key translations of individual poems and lyric sequences; Dickinson's influence on other writers, poets and culture more broadly; biographical constructions of Dickinson as a poet; the political cultural and linguistic contexts of translations; and adaptations into other media. It will appeal to all those interested in the international reception of Dickinson and nineteenth-century American literature more widely.
Sniff Tests in Economics: Aggregate Distribution of Their Probability Values and Implications for Publication Bias

The increasing demand for rigor in empirical economics has led to the growing use of auxiliary tests (balance, specification, over-identification, placebo, etc.) supporting the credibility of a paper’s main results. We dub these “sniff tests” because standards for passing are subjective and rejection is bad news for the author. Sniff tests offer a new window into publication bias since authors prefer them to be insignificant, the reverse of standard statistical tests. Collecting a sample of nearly 30,000 sniff tests across 60 economics journals, we provide the first estimate of their aggregate probability-value (p-value) distribution. For the subsample of balance tests in randomized controlled trials (for which the distribution of p-values is known to be uniform absent publication bias, allowing reduced-form methods to be employed) estimates suggest that 45% of failed tests remain in the “file drawer” rather than being published. For the remaining sample with an unknown distribution of p-values, structural estimates suggest an even larger file-drawer problem, as high as 91%. Fewer significant sniff tests show up in top-tier journals, smaller tables, and more recent articles. We find no evidence of author manipulation other than a tendency to overly attribute significant sniff tests to bad luck.
Increased infiltration of CD1d and natural killer T cells in periodontal disease tissues.

BACKGROUND Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a unique T lymphocyte subset that has been implicated in the regulation of immune responses associated with a broad range of diseases including autoimmunity, infectious diseases, and cancer. In contrast to conventional T cells, NKT cells are reactive to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-like molecule CD1d. Considering the periodontitis having both aspects of infection and autoimmunity in nature, CD1d and reactive NKT cells are of particular importance. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to examine whether the expression of CD1 isoforms and Valpha24(+) invariant NKT cells is associated with different disease entities, namely gingivitis and periodontitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on cryostat sections of gingival tissues from 19 patients with periodontitis and eight patients with gingivitis using antibodies to CD1a, b, c, d, Valpha24(+) invariant NKT cells, CD83, CD3 and CD19. RESULTS Although all four subsets of CD1 molecules were expressed in periodontal lesions, CD1d was most abundant. CD1d expression was more frequent in periodontitis than gingivitis and increased together with increase of invariant NKT cell infiltration. Double immunohistochemical staining showed co-expression of CD1d and CD19 on identical cells and proximate infiltration of CD1d(+) and invariant NKT cells. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that CD1d-expressing B cells could activate NKT cells by CD1d-restricted manner and this NKT cell activation may play roles in pathogenesis of periodontal diseases.
Social protection in East Africa: harnessing the future

"The European Union Social Protection Systems (EU-SPS) project has recently published a report on the future of social protection in six countries in East Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia (OECD 2017). The report examines key demographic, economic, social and environmental trends that are likely to affect the demand for social protection between now and 2065, a timeframe aligned to the African Unions Agenda 2063? its vision for the future of the continent in which social protection has a key role to play". (.)
[Relationship between mycoplasma and chlamydia infection and lesions in the cervical tissue in high-risk HPV-positive patients].

OBJECTIVE Discussion of the relationship between Mycoplasma and chlamydia infection and lesions in the cervical tissue in high-risk HPV-positive infertile patients with cervical. METHODS HPV-negative patients with cervical as the control, retrospective analysis the relationship of Mycoplasma hominis and chlamydia infection, cervical histological graded, and inflammation graded. RESULTS The rate of HPV infection in mycoplasma-positive and those with negative mycoplasma has significant difference (P < 0.01), The rate of HPV infection in chlamydia-positive and those with negative chlamydia has no significant difference (P > 0.05). CIN and the incidence of cervical erosion and CIN grade were higher in HPV-positive than HPV-negative group (P < 0.01). The cervical erosion of HPV-positive was no difference in the degree (P > 0.05). Compared with the simple HPV-positive group, CIN and the incidence of severe cervical erosion in mixed infection of Mycoplasma was no difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Mycoplasma infection increases the rate of high risk HPV infection, high-risk HPV infection increased cervical pathological damage, Mycoplasma infection might be the factor of persistent infection with high risk HPV, the degree of cervical pathological is the factor of cervical infertility which can not be ignored.
Large Decrease in Child Stunting despite Limited Improvement in Children’s Food Intake: Evidence from Rural Bangladesh

Bangladesh recorded one of the fastest reductions in child stunting between 1997 and 2007. Using longitudinal data, I do a descriptive decomposition analysis of this rapid decrease, focusing on nutrient intake relative to other important child health inputs. I find that during the maximum growth faltering age of 6–23 months, there is an increase in the quantity and quality of food intake of the median child but minimal or no increase for those in the lower percentiles and that food intake does not improve height over time. However, for older children (24–59 months), quality of food intake improved over time even in the lowest percentiles, similar to their mothers, and is associated with improvement in their height over time.
Mechanisms of antioxidant and pro-oxidant effects of alpha-lipoic acid in the diabetic and nondiabetic kidney.

BACKGROUND alpha-Lipoic acid is a potent antioxidant that improves renal function in diabetes by lowering glycemia, however, the mechanisms by which alpha-lipoic acid exerts its antioxidant effects are not completely understood. METHODS Metabolic parameters, renal function, and morphology, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity and subunit expression were analyzed in nondiabetic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats fed normal rat chow (control) with or without alpha-lipoic acid (30 mg/kg body weight) for 12 weeks. RESULTS Blood glucose was increased with diabetes (nondiabetic + control 89 +/- 3 mg/dL and diabetic + control 336 +/- 28 mg/dL) and was similar with alpha-lipoic acid treatment (diabetic +alpha-lipoic acid 351 +/- 14 mg/dL). In contrast, alpha-lipoic acid attenuated albuminuria (nondiabetic + control 8.9 +/- 1.3 mg/day; diabetic + control 28.1 +/- 4.6 mg/day; and diabetic +alpha-lipoic acid 17.8 +/- 1.2 mg/day) associated with diabetes. Similarly, alpha-lipoic acid attenuated glomerulosclerosis (nondiabetic + control 0.22 +/- 0.01; diabetic + control 0.55 +/- 0.04; diabetic +alpha-lipoic acid 0.36 +/- 0.03), tubulointerstitial fibrosis (nondiabetic + control 0.42 +/- 0.18; diabetic + control 1.52 +/- 0.05; diabetic +alpha-lipoic acid 1.10 +/- 0.05), superoxide anion (O(.-) (2)) generation (nondiabetic +control 15.8 +/- 1.7; diabetic +control 87.1 +/- 3.5; diabetic +alpha-lipoic acid 25.5 +/- 3.3 RLU/mg protein), and urine 8-isoprostane (8-iso) excretion (nondiabetic + control 7.4 +/- 1.4; diabetic + control 26.0 +/- 4.5; diabetic +alpha-lipoic acid 19.6 +/- 5.6 ng/day) associated with diabetes. alpha-Lipoic acid also reduced kidney expression of NADPH oxidase subunits p22phox and p47phox. Surprisingly, alpha-lipoic acid appears to cause pro-oxidant effects in nondiabetic animals, resulting in increased albuminuria (nondiabetic +alpha-lipoic acid 14.2 +/- 1.2 mg/day), increase in plasma creatinine levels (nondiabetic + control 59 +/- 6; diabetic + control 68 +/- 6; nondiabetic +alpha-lipoic acid 86 +/- 9; diabetic +alpha-lipoic acid 69 +/- 7 mumol/L), exacerbated glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis, increased O(.-) (2) generation, up-regulated p22phox and p47phox expression and increased 8-iso excretion. CONCLUSION We conclude that alpha-lipoic acid improves albuminuria and pathology in diabetes by reducing oxidative stress, while in healthy animals, alpha-lipoic acid may act as a pro-oxidant, contributing to renal dysfunction.
The effect of errors in segmented attenuation maps on PET quantification.

PURPOSE Accurate attenuation correction is important for PET quantification. Often, a segmented attenuation map is used, especially in MRI-based attenuation correction. As deriving the attenuation map from MRI images is difficult, different errors can be present in the segmented attenuation map. The goal of this paper is to determine the effect of these errors on quantification. METHODS The authors simulated the digital XCAT phantom using the GATE Monte Carlo simulation framework and a model of the Philips Gemini TF. A whole body scan was simulated, spanning an axial field of view of 70 cm. A total of fifteen lesions were placed in the lung, liver, spine, colon, prostate, and femur. The acquired data were reconstructed with a reference attenuation map and with different attenuation maps that were modified to reflect common segmentation errors. The quantitative difference between reconstructed images was evaluated. RESULTS Segmentation into five tissue classes, namely cortical bone, spongeous bone, soft tissue, lung, and air yielded errors below 5%. Large errors were caused by ignoring lung tissue (up to 45%) or cortical bone (up to 17%). The interpatient variability of lung attenuation coefficients can lead to errors of 10% and more. Up to 20% tissue misclassification from bone to soft tissue yielded errors below 5%. The same applies for up to 10% misclassification from lung to air. CONCLUSIONS When using a segmented attenuation map, at least five different tissue types should be considered: cortical bone, spongeous bone, soft tissue, lung, and air. Furthermore, the interpatient variability of lung attenuation coefficients should be taken into account. Limited misclassification from bone to soft tissue and from lung to air is acceptable, as these do not lead to relevant errors.
Expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor‐α in the Pregnant Uterus of Diabetic Mice: Effect of Maternal Immunopotentiation

PROBLEM: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α mRNA and protein are expressed in the pregnant uterus of streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice at various stages of pregnancy. We intend to characterize their pattern and to evaluate whether the potentiation of the maternal immune system alters the pattern of the expression of the cytokine. METHOD OF STUDY: Diabetes was induced in ICR mice by streptozotocin injection. To modulate maternal immune responses, ICR mice were injected intrauterine with rat splenocytes 3 weeks before mating. The expression of TNF‐α mRNA and protein was evaluated by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry techniques. RESULTS. The population of diabetic mice used in this study demonstrated a reduction in pregnancy rate and an increased number of litters with severely malformed fetuses. It has been observed that these disturbances are associated with a clear increase in TNF‐α mRNA and protein expression in the uterus of these mice. Maternal immunopotentiation, while improving reproductive performance of these diabetic mice, was found to be accompanied by a reduced expression of TNF‐α, both at the mRNA and protein level. CONCLUSIONS. The results of the present study suggest a possible involvement of TNF‐α in mechanisms underlying diabetes‐associated dismorphogenesis. Normalization of TNF‐α expression by maternal immunopotentiation might represent a mechanism mediating its protective effect against diabetes‐induced embryotoxic insult.
The Effects of Cross-Linked Hemoglobin on Regional Vascular Conductance in Dogs

Hemoglobin (Hgb) solutions cause systemic vasoconstriction, which might limit their use as intraoperative blood substitutes.This constriction is thought to be caused by interaction between Hgb and nitric oxide (NO). To determine whether alpha-alpha cross-linked hemoglobin (XL-Hgb) interferes with NO-mediated vasodilation caused by acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (NTP), we infused these compounds into the femoral, superior mesenteric, and circumflex coronary arteries of anesthetized dogs (n = 6) before and after partial exchange transfusion with XL-Hgb. Additional animals (n = 6) were studied after treatment with 5% albumin. XL-Hgb administration increased mean arterial pressure (MAP) from 81 +/- 5 to 112 +/- 8 (P < 0.05). Albumin reduced MAP from 84 +/- 4 mm Hg to 76 +/- 4 mm Hg (P < 0.05). Vascular conductance after XL-Hgb decreased in the femoral artery, was not changed in the mesenteric bed, and increased modestly in the coronary artery (from 0.19 +/- 0.03 to 0.26 +/- 0.02 mL [center dot] mm Hg-1 [center dot] min-1, P < 0.05). After albumin, conductance was unchanged in the femoral artery and increased in the mesenteric artery. Conductance also increased in the coronary bed (from 0.25 +/- 0.02 to 0.49 +/- 0.03 mL [center dot] mm Hg-1 [center dot] min-1, P < 0.05). The vasodilator response to ACh in the femoral or mesenteric beds was either unaffected or augmented by either XL-Hgb or albumin. In the coronary bed, XL-Hgb blunted the dilator responses to ACh and NTP, while albumin augmented the coronary dilator responses to ACh. In five additional dogs, the NO synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl L-arginine caused MAP to increase from 85 +/- 4 to 90 +/- 8 mm Hg and blunted the coronary dilator responses to ACh by approximately 25%. Subsequent XL-Hgb administration caused a further increase in MAP to 112 +/- 19 mm Hg (P < 0.05) and also further blunted ACh-mediated vasodilator responses in the coronary circulation. XL-Hgb has complex effects on the circulatory system, including a reduction in the vasodilator responses to ACh and NTP in canine coronary arteries in vivo. The potential impact of these events on patients with significant coexisting disease is unclear. (Anesth Analg 1997;85:265-73)
No association between pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis and the –455G/A β-fibrinogen gene polymorphism

Hyperfibrinogenaemia has been reported to be associated with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, whether or not the ‘fibrinogen-raising’ –455G/A polymorphism of the β-fibrinogen gene is associated with DVT is uncertain and there are no data on whether this polymorphism is associated with pulmonary embolism (PE). We have studied relationships between the –455G/A β-fibrinogen gene polymorphism and the occurrence of PE and/or DVT (n = 339) (PE only, n = 76; DVT only, n = 216; PE and DVT, n = 47). There was no difference between the –455A allelic frequencies for the control (n = 190) and patient groups — PE, 0.187 and 0.171, respectively [P = 0.6087, χ2 test; odds ratio (OR), 1.12; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.72–1.74]; DVT, 0.187 and 0.171, respectively (P = 0.5408, χ2 test; OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.78–1.59). This also applied when only Caucasian individuals were considered — PE allelic frequencies, 0.192 and 0.193, respectively (P = 0.9764, χ2 test; OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.62–1.60); DVT allelic frequencies, 0.192 and 0.186, respectively (P = 0.8404, χ2 test; OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.71–1.51). While the results should be interpreted with caution as the frequency of the –455A allele is rare, the –455A allele of the β-fibrinogen gene does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of PE or DVT.
Fas Ligand Expression in Glioblastoma Cell Lines and Primary Astrocytic Brain Tumors

Fas/APO‐1 (CD95) is a cell surface receptor that mediates apoptosis when it reacts with Fas ligand (FasL) or Fas antibody. We previously reported that Fas expression is predominantly induced in perinecrotic glioma cells, suggesting that Fas induction is associated with apoptosis and necrosis formation, a histological hallmark of glioblastomas. In this study, we assessed the expression of FasL in 10 glioblastoma cell lines and in 14 astrocytic brain tumors (three low‐grade astrocytomas and 11 glioblastomas). Reverse transcriptase (RT)‐PCR revealed that all glioblastoma cell lines and primary astrocytic brain tumors express FasL. Immunohistochemically, FasL was predominantly expressed on the plasma membrane of glioma cells. These results suggest that FasL expression is common in human astrocytic brain tumors and may cause apoptosis of glioma cells if Fas expression is induced.
Has Resistance Taken Root in U.S. Corn Fields? Demand for Insect Control

&NA; Corn farmers reported unexpectedly severe damage on fields planted with genetically‐engineered rootworm‐resistant (Bt‐CRW) corn seeds during the 2009 growing season. Entomologists later determined that rootworms on these fields had developed resistance to the insecticidal proteins produced by Bt‐CRW corn. This article explores what corn farmers' seed and soil insecticide choices imply about rootworm resistance in the United States. First, a soil insecticide demand function is derived using a damage‐abatement model. Next, this demand function is estimated using field‐level data from 2005 and 2010. We find that rootworms (Diabrotica spp.) cost farmers approximately $1.3 billion in 2005 and $2 billion in 2010. When used, Bt‐CRW seeds were very effective, reducing average yield losses by approximately five bushels per acre and providing over twice as much control (on average) as soil insecticides. We found no evidence that soil insecticide use was higher on fields where resistance was most likely to develop. However, we did find that demand for soil insecticides was elastic. These results suggest that rootworm resistance was not widespread in 2010, but that it could substantively increase soil insecticide use if it evolved and spread.
Correlation between vacuum phenomenon on CT and fluid on MRI in degenerative disks.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to correlate the presence of intradiscal vacuum phenomenon on CT to that of intradiscal fluid on MRI. SUBJECTS AND METHODS In a prospective study, 20 patients with lumbar vacuum phenomenon on CT underwent two MRI examinations. One was performed after mobilization, and the other was performed after 6 hours of bed rest. T2-weighted turbo-spin echo (TSE), STIR, T1-weighted TSE, and four consecutive T2-weighted TSE sequences were performed on a 1.5-T scanner. Ninety-five discal segments were assessed for the presence of intradiscal fluid or hyperintense signal on the T2-weighted MRI examinations and were correlated with the presence of vacuum phenomenon on CT, degenerative endplate abnormalities on CT, and edema on MRI. RESULTS Sixty-nine of 95 discal segments (72.6%) showed vacuum phenomenon on CT. Sixteen of those 69 discal segments (23.1%) showed intradiscal fluid (n = 12) or hyperintense signal (n = 4) on MRI examinations performed after mobilization. Forty-one of 69 discal segments (59.4%) with vacuum phenomenon showed intradiscal fluid (n = 29) or hyperintense signal (n = 12) on MRI examinations performed after bed rest. Seventeen segments showed only fluid after bed rest. Nine segments showed more fluid after bed rest than after mobilization. Three segments showed an unchanged amount of fluid. There was a significant correlation between the presence of intradiscal fluid and the amount of bone marrow edema on MRI and the presence of degenerative endplate abnormalities on CT, respectively. CONCLUSION The replacement of intradiscal vacuum phenomenon by intradiscal fluid is a time- and position-dependent dynamic process and is related to Modic type 1 degenerative disk disease and degenerative endplate changes.
Human platelet antigen genotype is associated with progression of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C

Although progression of fibrosis in the chronic hepatitis C depends on environmental, viral, and host factors, genetic polymorphisms have been associated recently with this progression, including the expression of integrins, adhesion proteins. Some integrins expressed on the platelet membrane show polymorphic antigenic determinants called human platelet antigens (HPA), where the major ones are HPA‐1, ‐3, ‐5. The association between HCV infection and HPA‐5b has been demonstrated. Similarly, the HPA profile could determine if HPA is related to progression of fibrosis. The goal of this study was to evaluate the association between the frequencies of HPA‐1, ‐3, and ‐5 and degree of fibrosis in HCV‐infected patients. Genomic DNA from 143 HCV‐infected patients was used as the source for HPA genotyping by PCR‐SSP or PCR‐RFLP. Progression of fibrosis was evaluated using the METAVIR scoring system, and the patients were grouped according to degree of fibrosis into G1 (n = 81, with F1, portal fibrosis without septa or F2, few septa) and G2 (n = 62, with F3, numerous septa, or F4, cirrhosis). Statistical analysis was performed using the proportional odds model. The genotypic frequency of HPA‐1a/1b was significantly higher in the patients in G2. To evaluate the influence of the time of infection to the development of fibrosis and its effect on the genetic factor HPA‐1, 96 patients from 143 studied were evaluated considering the time of HCV infection, and these results suggest that the HPA‐1a/1b genotype promotes the development of fibrosis in HCV infection with time. J. Med. Virol. 84:56–60, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A novel IKK inhibitor suppresses heart failure and chronic remodeling after myocardial ischemia via MMP alteration.

OBJECTIVE Amplification of inflammatory response in the non-infarct area plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ventricular remodeling after myocardial ischemia. Activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) is involved in this amplification through a positive feedback loop of pro- inflammatory cytokines. We investigated the efficacy of IKK blockade with IMD-0560, a novel inhibitor of IKK, in a rat myocardial ischemia model. METHODS/RESULTS Left coronary artery occlusion (28 days) was carried out in Sprague-Dawley rats. Daily intraperitoneal injections of IMD-0560 (5 mg/kg) were done after the operation. Treatment with IMD-0560 significantly improved cardiac function as indicated by the preservation of fractional shortening and lower serum brain natriuretic peptide level. Histological analysis showed that IMD-0560 treatment suppressed thinning in the infarcted area compared with vehicle-treated hearts. Moreover, in situ zymography showed matrix metalloprotease-9 activity was inhibited in the infarct area. CONCLUSION We revealed that the IKK blockade is potent for the suppression of chronic ventricular remodeling after myocardial ischemia.