Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Febrile seizures are a syndrome of secondarily generalized hippocampal epilepsy

Aim The objective of this study was to examine in detail the semiology of febrile seizures, particularly to look for features that might suggest focality. In prolonged febrile seizures there is acute evidence of hippocampal involvement. Retrospective data relates mesial temporal sclerosis to such early prolonged febrile seizures. Animal models of prolonged seizures causing hippocampal damage show limbic seizures at low dose of the precipitants.
Prevalence of Teacher Identified Behavior Problems: A Longitudinal Study

In a longitudinal study from kindergarten through grade 6, teachers annually rated the behavior of 1,586 children who were normally distributed on measures of IQ, socioeconomic status, and school achievement. In any single year, from 23% to 31% of the subjects were judged by their teachers as manifesting behavior problems. Long term cumulative prevalence rates were much higher. Among subjects receiving three or more annual ratings, 59% were considered as having a behavior problem by at least one teacher, and 7.4% were considered as having behavior problems by every teacher who rated them. Results indicate that behavior that at least one teacher is willing to classify as a problem is the norm rather than the exception for elementary school children, which raises serious questions about contemporary expectations regarding children's behavior in school.
Pelagic Tunicates: Why Gelatinous?

Neutrally buoyant zooplankton are virtually free from the gravitational forces acting on terrestrial organisms, which allows for their adoption of large, watery bodies (Harbison 1992). Although this morphological trait is present in several phyla and is nearly ubiquitous in marine systems, the reasons for its great success remain an evolutionary mystery. From a top-down perspective, a transparent, gelatinous body may offer effective concealment from predators (Johnsen 2000) and may deter predation because of its low nutritive value (Verity and Smetacek 1996). However, the light-deprived depths of the deep sea teem with gelatinous life, many gelatinous animals exhibit bioluminescence, and some are not transparent (see Harbison 1992), which casts serious doubts on the transparency hypothesis. Moreover, there are predators specialized in gelatinous plankton (see Harbison 1998 for a comprehensive account of salp predators). Last, from a bottom-up perspective, a gelatinous body may allow survival at the low food concentrations prevailing in the open ocean (see Harbison 1992 for this and other hypotheses related to gelatinous bodies). Salps, appendicularians, pyrosomas, and doliolids, collectively known as pelagic tunicates, are extremely watery animals that filter from very small colloids to large phytoplankton chains. They serve as prey for a host of marine animals, including fish, and under benign food conditions, they exhibit population growth rates that rank at the top among the metazoans (Bone 1998b). This allows them to
Antibody Prevalence of Low‐Pathogenicity Avian Influenza and Evaluation of Management Practices in Minnesota Backyard Poultry Flocks

Low‐pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) viruses have caused illness in poultry and humans with poultry contact. To determine whether there is evidence of exposure to avian influenza viruses (AIV) among backyard poultry in Minnesota and their human caretakers, 150 flocks of backyard birds were sampled for antibodies to AIV from August 2007 through December 2008. One hundred flocks were tested through routine slaughter surveillance by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health and an additional 50 flocks were contacted and sampled by study investigators. Blood was collected from 10 to 13 birds from each flock and a survey of biosecurity and management practices was administered to the flock owner. Blood samples were tested by agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) for influenza A antibodies. Tested flocks had a median flock size of 100 birds (range: 12–800 birds), and were most commonly owned for meat for personal use (81% of respondents), fun or hobby (58%) and eggs for personal use (56%). Although 7% of flock owners reported that their birds had shown respiratory signs in the previous 3 months, only 1 of 150 flocks tested positive for influenza by AGID. Antibodies to LPAI H6N1 were detected in the positive flock. The owner of the positive flock did not have antibodies to H6 or other common AIV. Based on the findings of this study, the risk of transmission of LPAI viruses from backyard poultry to owners in Minnesota appears to be low under current conditions and management practices.
'Abnormal' eating attitudes and behaviours among women students.

A prevalence study of attitudes and behaviours associated with anorexia nervosa and bulimia was carried out among female undergraduate students at the University of Cape Town. Findings were similar to those found in surveys overseas. More than one-tenth of respondents (11.8%) scored in the 'anorexic range' on the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT); more than one-fifth (21.9%) are at present binge-eating, and 6.3% using self-induced vomiting as a means of weight control. Use of laxatives, diet pills, fasting, strict diets and exercise was common. The findings are discussed within the context of sociocultural pressures on women to conform to a slim ideal shape and size. Sensitive management of the problem is needed.
Frequent loss of BRCA1 mRNA and protein expression in sporadic ovarian cancers

Germline mutations in the BRCA1 gene cause inherited susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancers. However, somatic mutations of BRCA1 are rare in sporadic breast and ovarian tumours. To establish whether BRCA1 is altered during the development of sporadic ovarian cancer by mechanisms other than somatic mutation, we have analysed 57 sporadic epithelial ovarian tumours for BRCA1 protein and RNA expression. Reduced or absent protein expression was observed in 90% of tumours. Decreased protein expression was significantly associated with a reduction in the levels of RNA expression. Somatic mutations of BRCA1 and LOH at the BRCA1 locus were detected in 3.5% and 44% of informative tumours, respectively; there was no significant correlation between the levels of protein and RNA expression and the DNA mutation and/or LOH status. Together, these data suggest that expression of BRCA1 is down‐regulated at the level of transcription during the development of sporadic ovarian cancers. Int. J. Cancer 87:317–321, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Disposition of sodium salicylate, flunixin and meloxicam after intravenous administration in broiler chickens.

Three nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) [sodium salicylate, flunixin (FLU) and meloxicam (MEL)] were administered intravenously to broiler chickens. Plasma concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography methods and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. After intravenous administration of sodium salicylate (50 mg/kg), FLU (1.1 mg/kg) and MEL (0.5 mg/kg), these drugs were eliminated from plasma with a mean half-life of 04.04, 05.45 and 03.20 h, respectively. Apparent volumes of distribution (0.39, 0.08 and 0.12 L/kg, respectively) indicated that tissue distribution was limited for the three drugs. Total body clearance was 70 mL/h.kg for sodium salicylate and 10 and 25 mL/kg.h for FLU and MEL, respectively. Based on the pharmacokinetic parameters these NSAIDs may offer possibilities for treatment of various conditions in chickens.
Analytical simulation and experimental comparison of the losses in resonant DC/DC converter with Si and SiC switches

High efficiency is among the most important targets in power electronic converters. A possible approach to obtain this goal is the usage of better switches. This paper is focused at the study and comparison of SiC and Si power MOSFETS in soft switching resonant DC/DC converter. The latter converter being a part of light battery charger used in ultra-light electric vehicles is realized and investigated. The losses in the power switches are compared mathematically, with simulations and experimental verification. Two types of transistors are considered. First traditional state of the art Si-technology using a FREDFET (fast recovery diode MOSFET) and it is compared with what the SiC technology offers, using a fast Schottky antiparallel diode. As an example a 1500 W series resonance converter with input voltage of 400 V and output voltage of 100 V is used. The latter voltage permitting the use of Schottky diodes at the secondary side. The losses in both converters are compared via calorimetic measurements to avoid accuracy problems as in loss measurements with an oscilloscope for example.
Depression, the immune system, and health and illness. Findings in search of meaning.

During the past several decades many investigators have devoted their efforts to determining whether psychosocial factors, such as stress or depression, are associated with the onset, course, or outcome of physical illness. Considerable evidence suggests that both stressful life events and depressive disorders are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. 1 A large body of research in the last few years has considered the possibility that immunologic alterations may be associated with depressive disorders and depressive symptoms accompanying stressful life events. The related immunologic alterations have been viewed as a link between depression and stress and increased risk for immune-related disease states, such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, there has been a lack of substantial evidence supporting the association between depression or stress and increased morbidity or mortality due to disorders involving the immune system. In a series of articles recently published in
The Dynamic Newsvendor Model with Correlated Demand

The classic newsvendor model was developed under the assumption that period-to-period demand is independent over time. In real-life applications, the notion of independent demand is often challenged. In this article, we examine the newsvendor model in the presence of correlated demands. Specifically under a stationary AR(1) demand, we study the performance of the traditional newsvendor implementation versus a dynamic forecast-based implementation. We demonstrate theoretically that implementing a minimum mean square error (MSE) forecast model will always have improved performance relative to the traditional implementation in terms of cost savings. In light of the widespread usage of all-purpose models like the moving-average method and exponential smoothing method, we compare the performance of these popular alternative forecasting methods against both the MSE-optimal implementation and the traditional newsvendor implementation. If only alternative forecasting methods are being considered, we find that under certain conditions it is best to ignore the correlation and opt out of forecasting and to simply implement the traditional newsvendor model.
[Report of the first human case of H5N1 avian influenza pneumonia in Hunan, China].

OBJECTIVE To summarize and analyze the clinical characteristics and diagnostic and therapeutic measures for the first human case of H5N1 avian influenza pneumonia in mainland of China. METHODS The clinical data of the first case of H5N1 avian influenza virus infection in China were analyzed and summarized. RESULTS The case is a 9-year old boy, who developed acute symptoms of a light common respiratory infection, including fever and dry cough without obvious catarrh. On the 7th day after onset, his temperature reached 40 degrees C, tachypnea occurred, distinct rales could be heard and large areas of consolidation were seen in the lungs on chest X-ray. The patient's peripheral blood leukocyte count was 2.81 x 10(9)/L and neutrophils dominated. After comprehensive therapeutic approaches, including antiviral therapy (amantadine) and use of low-dosage glucocorticoid, the patient's temperature returned to normal on the 3rd hospitalization day, chest X-ray showed absorbed inflammatory change on the 5th day after admission, and leukocyte count became normal on the 6th day. No complication occurred during the whole course. The case was diagnosed by the 4 fold raised antibody to the H5N1 influenza virus in recovery stage serum because the H5N1 nucleic acid test in early stage was negative. The case was cured and discharged after 3 weeks comprehensive treatment. CONCLUSIONS It is very important for clinicians to pay enough attention to epidemiological history, especially history of exposure to avian influenza virus contaminated material, which will be very helpful for early detection, early diagnosis of the disease, and also very important for effective treatment and better prognosis.
Laboratory diagnosis of malaria: conventional and rapid diagnostic methods.

CONTEXT The global control of malaria is more challenging than that of many other infectious diseases: malaria is vector borne, it is caused by 5 species of Plasmodium with different geographic distributions, infection is widespread in many regions, drug resistance is common, and the disease overlaps clinically with other infectious diseases. Therefore, malaria control programs, in addition to diagnosis and testing, must also target limiting spread of the disease through vector control. Although malaria control efforts have been successful in some regions, malaria remains one of the most important causes of death in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in women and children. OBJECTIVE To review the current literature regarding diagnostic methods available to detect clinical malaria, with an emphasis on comparing the strengths and limitations of each method. DATA SOURCES Current World Health Organization malaria control report and other information, recent meta-analyses of diagnostic tests, primary literature concerning the performance characteristics of different tests, and primary literature concerning how diagnostic tests are used in daily practice. CONCLUSIONS The most commonly used method for identifying cases of malaria remains microscopic examination of peripheral blood, but there is growing use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests in many regions. One of the most important findings in the recent literature is that despite the widespread use of diagnostic tests, treatment is too often based on clinical findings rather than on results of diagnostic tests.
Heart rate recovery, exercise capacity, and mortality risk in male veterans

Background: Both impaired heart rate recovery (HRR) and low fitness are associated with higher mortality risk. In addition, HRR is influenced by fitness status. The interaction between HRR, mortality, and fitness has not been clearly defined. Thus, we sought to evaluate the association between HRR and all-cause mortality and to assess the effects of fitness on this association. Methods: Treadmill exercise testing was performed in 5974 male veterans for clinical reasons at two Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (Washington, DC and Palo Alto, CA). HRR was calculated at 1 and 2 min of recovery. All-cause mortality was determined over a mean 6.2-year follow-up period. Results: Mortality risk was significantly and inversely associated with HRR, only at 2 min. A cut-off value of 14 beats/min at 2 min recovery was the strongest predictor of mortality for the cohort (hazard ratio = 2.4; CI 1.6–3.5). The mortality risk was overestimated when exercise capacity was not considered. When both low fitness and low HRR were present (≤6 metabolic equivalents and ≤14 beats/min), mortality risk was approximately seven-fold higher compared to the High-fit + High-HRR group (>6 metabolic equivalents and >14 beats/min). Conclusions: HRR at 2 min post exercise is strongly and inversely associated with all-cause mortality. Exercise capacity affects HRR-associated mortality substantially and should be considered when applying HRR to estimate mortality.
Coordinated Replication and Sequestration of oriC and dnaA Are Required for Maintaining Controlled Once-per-Cell-Cycle Initiation in Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli cells were constructed in which the dnaA gene was moved to a location opposite oriC on the circular chromosome. In these cells the dnaA gene was replicated with significant delay relative to the origin. Consequently, the period where the newly replicated and hemimethylated oriC was sequestered no longer coincided with the period where the dnaA gene promoter was sequestered. DnaA protein synthesis was therefore expected to continue during origin sequestration. Despite a normal length of the sequestration period in such cells, they had increased origin content and also displayed asynchrony of initiation. This indicated that reinitiation occasionally occurred at some origins within the same cell cycle. The extra initiations took place in spite of a reduction in total DnaA protein concentration to about half of the wild-type level. We propose that this more efficient utilization of DnaA protein results from an increased availability at the end of the origin sequestration period. Therefore, coordinated sequestration of oriC and dnaA is required for maintaining controlled once-per-cell-cycle initiation.
Modeling of silicon solar cells voltage increase on localized emitter area approach

A limited area p-n junction silicon solar cell is designed and the effect of limited area emitter on the output open circuit voltage (VOC) and efficiency is studied by a 3-D simulator Quokka. The recombination property of emitter, surface and bulk are all extracted from the test structures and this paper reports potential voltage that can be achieved on the limited area junction solar cells by the modelling. The result indicates that this approach will help improve VOC when the emitter area is reduced and the voltage will be more than 700mV. The result also shows that there is an optimum emitter width for the highest efficiency on the limited area junction solar cell.
Non-syndromic multiple supernumerary teeth: meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Non-syndromic multiple supernumerary teeth (NSMST) is a condition with a very low prevalence and which is opportunely described in the literature by case reports or group of cases. This represents a problem when it comes to describing and discussing the characteristics of this disorder. MATERIALS AND METHODS A search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Science Direct, and Scopus databases to locate and identify cases and series of cases about articles on multiple supernumerary teeth not associated with syndromes that have been reported so far. The following data were recorded: age, gender, total number of supernumerary teeth, number of teeth in both the maxilla and mandible, respectively, and number of teeth in each dental series (incisor, canine-premolar, and molar). Bilaterality in dental series and its localization in either maxilla or mandible were also determined. RESULTS A total of 46 cases including patients of both genders with a mean age of 19 years (SD = 6.826) and a ratio of 2.14:1 were identified. A total of 393 supernumeraries were reported; 43.26% (n = 170) were located in the maxilla and 56.74% (n = 223) in the mandible. No significant differences were found between genders with respect to the total number, involvement of the dental series, or distribution of supernumerary teeth in each of the arches. CONCLUSION Although NSMST is a condition that has a higher incidence in the male gender, no differences have been found as to their number and localization in both genders. Bilaterality seems to be a common characteristic of this disorder.
LONG‐TERM QUALITY OF LIFE AFTER KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION IN CHILDHOOD

Transplantation is the treatment of choice for children with end-stage renal disease. However, the long-term quality of life and socioprofessional outcome for those with successful transplants have not previously been reported. We studied these factors in patients transplanted when<18 years old who currently have ≥10 years of graft function. A total of 57 questionnaires were sent out; 57 (100%) responded [24 female and 33 male patients; average (±SD) age at tx = 10±5 years (0.9–17.7); average f/u = 15.6±3 years (10–26); current age = 26±5 years (12–38); 26 had < 1 transplant]. Of the 57 respondents, 9 are<18 (all are in school); 48 are ≥18 (7 in school, 37 employed, 4 unemployed); 12 are married, 1 engaged, and 2 divorced; and 9 have children. While in school, 43 (75%) had participated in sports, 37 (65%) in other extracurricular activities; 7 (12%) were A and 33 (58%) B students; 15 (26%) received awards or scholarships. For those working, the range of occupations is broad (average work week = 41±5 hr). Health-related absence from work has been nonexistent for 93%. Health is rated as good to excellent by 91% and fair by 9%. The future is regarded as hopeful or promising by 80%. Similarly, 89% are satisfied with life in general; 95% said health never or seldom interferes with family life; 95% feel health and drug side effects are of no or minor concern in sexual relationships. Only 3% feel health is a problem in maintaining a sexual relationship (41% are not sexually active). Only 4% stated that health often interferes with social life; 98% meet with friends on a regular basis; 76% are satisfied with personal relationships and 8% dissatisfied; 91% are satisfied with their ability to perform at work or school and 5% dissatisfied. Of note, 32% are dissatisfied with body appearance. Major concerns are short stature and brittle bones. Major suggestions include education/support groups to deal with teasing at school and peer problems. We conclude that transplanted children with long-term graft function have a favorable social and professional outcome. Overall, quality of life seems excellent.
MIB-1 labeling index in astrocytic tumors--a clinicopathologic study.

BACKGROUND Although neuroimage and surgical techniques have improved substantially, the prognosis of patients with astrocytic tumors remains unchanged. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the proliferative activity in astrocytic tumors in different grades of malignancy and correlate it to other clinical features. PATIENTS AND METHODS From archival paraffin-embedded surgical specimens of 40 patients of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School with World Health Organization grade II (n = 10), grade III (n = 5) and grade IV astrocytomas (n = 25), the MIB-1 labeling index (LI) was determined using at least a half of the blocks per case. The results were correlated to the biological behavior of the tumors. The aims of this study were to determine the level of MIB-1 LI values (cut-off) that reflect differences in biological behavior of these tumors, the impact on survival of clinical features such as age, tumor location or extension of surgical removal as well as the adjuvant therapy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS As expected, a wide range of MIB-1 LI values was disclosed (mean of 2.35% in grade II astrocytomas to 12.28% in glioblastomas). A close relationship was found between MIB-1 LI and survival of patients with astrocytomas according to the histological grade. All but 1 recurrent tumor presented higher MIB-1 LI in the second biopsy, and the mean MIB-1 LI of the patients who died in the immediate postoperative period (n = 7) was higher in comparison to the MIB-1 LI of the respective grade. Postoperative radiation therapy was an important factor that affected the survival of patients with high-grade astrocytomas (p = 0.006). MIB-1 LI cut-off of 3% divided the astrocytomas in 2 groups with significantly different survival (p < 0.001): median survival time of 12 months (low-grade) versus 45 months (high-grade). On the other hand, univariate analysis did not show any correlation between survival and extension of surgical resection (radical versus partial), tumor's location or patient's age at surgery.