Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Latent and potential coeliac disease

Under the umbrella of coeliac disease (CD), or gluten‐sensitive enteropathy, the concepts of silent, latent and potential CD have recently been introduced. While silent CD is marked by severe damage to the jejunal mucosa in the absence of clinical symptoms, both latent and potential CD are characterized by a jejunal mucosa that would be reported as normal by most clinical pathologists in an individual on a gluten‐containing diet. As opposed to potential coeliac patients, latent subjects sometime in their life have had a flat jejunal biopsy which recovered on a gluten‐free diet. Latent coeliac patients are often symptomatic; neither high titres of gliadin antibodies nor mucosal changes (including raised intraepithelial lymphocyte counts) are obligate features of latent CD, although the presence of elevated endomysial antibodies is probably the best predictor of progression towards villous atrophy. The term potential CD has been proposed for those subjects who do not have, and have never had, a jejunal biopsy consistent with overt CD, and yet have immunological abnormalities similar to those found in coeliac patients. Good markers of potential CD include the presence of serum endomysial antibodies, a high count of intraepithelial lymphocytes and subtle pathological alterations such as increased density of intraepithelial lymphocytes expressing γδ T cell receptor, signs of activated mucosal cell‐mediated immunity, coeliac‐like intestinal antibody pattern, and positive rectal gluten challenge.
Low Sex-Hormone-Binding Globulin Concentration as Independent Risk Factor for Development of NIDDM: 12-Yr Follow-Up of Population Study of Women in Gothenburg, Sweden

Serum sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) concentrations were evaluated as risk factors for the development of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), myocardial infarction, stroke, and premature death in a prospective study of 1462 randomly selected women, aged 38–60 yr, over 12 yr of observation. In multivariate analysis, taking only age into consideration as a confounding factor, low initial concentration of SHBG was significantly correlated to the incidence of NIDDM and stroke, and high initial concentration of CBG was correlated to the incidence of NIDDM. There were also significant correlations between SHBG and CBG concentrations on one hand and possible risk factors for the end points studied, such as serum triglycerides, serum cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, body mass, body mass index, waist/hip ratio, smoking habits, and systolic blood pressure, on the other. When these possible confounders, in addition to age, were taken into consideration in multivariate analyses, only the inverse significant correlation between SHBG and NIDDM remained. The increased incidence of diabetes was confined to the lowest quintile of SHBG values, where it was 5-fold higher than in the remaining group. This incidence was further increased to 8- and 11-fold in the lowest 10 and 5% of the values, respectively. We conclude that SHBG is a uniquely strong independent risk factor for the development of NIDDM in women.
Benefits of Operating a Four Terminal HVDC Network with a Normally Open Point

It is likely that any HVDC grids will evolve over time and will likely be multi-vendor and use several different technologies. This paper studies a four terminal network where the interconnecting link is operated as a normally open point. This allows the network to be reconfigured in the event of DC side fault, without the need for DC circuit breakers. The network uses the popular Modular Multi-level converter at one terminal and a fault tolerant converter at the other terminal. A simple cost benefit shows the economic advantage of the interconnecting link. The operation of this network is then verified through simulation for a normal operating scenario and a DC fault scenario. Keywords—HVDC, energy conversion, fault blocking converters, modular multilevel converter, multi-terminal DC
American Society of Transplantation Recommendations for Screening, Monitoring and Reporting of Infectious Complications in Immunosuppression Trials in Recipients of Organ Transplantation

In recent years, major progress has been made in the development, investigation and clinical application of novel immunosuppressive drug therapies to prevent acute rejection. Critical to the ultimate clinical application of new drug therapies is the ongoing performance of large multi‐center clinical trials. However, there has been a paucity of infectious disease monitoring built into these protocols. Given that infectious complications are a major source of morbidity and mortality in transplant recipients, the assessment of the magnitude of risk of infection associated with a given immunosuppressive strategy may be as important as the assessment of rejection. For the above reasons, screening, monitoring and reporting recommendations for common transplant‐associated infections were developed for use in clinical trials evaluating immunosuppressive strategies. These recommendations have two major goals: (i) to provide clinically relevant definitions for tracking infectious complications occurring in participants in immunosuppressive trials and (ii) where appropriate, to recommend specific laboratory monitoring and surveillance methods.
Adaptive Multicast Streaming of Virtual Reality Content to Mobile Users

Streaming virtual reality (VR) content is becoming increasingly popular. Advances in VR technologies now allow providing users with an immersive experience by live streaming popular events, such as the Super Bowl, in the form of 360-degree videos. Such services are highly interactive and impose substantial load on the network, especially cellular networks with inconsistent link capacities. In this paper, we perform rigorous analysis of 1300 VR head traces and propose a multicast DASH-based tiled streaming solution, including a new tile weighting approach and a rate adaptation algorithm, to be utilized in mobile networks that support multicast such as LTE. Our proposed solution weighs video tiles based on user's viewports, divides users into subgroups based on their channel conditions and tile weights, and determines the bitrate for each tile in each subgroup. Tiles in the viewports of users are assigned the highest bitrate, while other tiles are assigned bitrates proportional to the probability of users changing their viewports to include those tiles. We compare the proposed solution against the closest ones in the literature using simulated LTE networks and show that it substantially outperforms them. For example, it assigns up to 46% higher video bitrates to video tiles in the users' viewports than current approaches which substantially improves the video quality experienced by the users, without increasing the total load imposed on the network.
2. Physiological Illnesses and Their Potential for Influencing Testimony

False complaints are easily made and carry serious consequences for the accused. Many of those who make false claims sincerely believe the truth of what they report. Some are opportunistic and are consciously lying for personal gain. A special type of false allegation, the false memory syndrome, arises typically within therapy. People report the 'recovery' of memories of previously unknown childhood sexual abuse. The influence of practitioners' beliefs and practices in the eliciting of false 'memories' and of false complaints cannot be overlooked. The problems of diagnosis, issues of confidentiality and the role of the expert witness as court educator are discussed.
E-readers and the effects on students’ reading motivation, attitude and comprehension during guided reading

Abstract This quasi-experimental mixed methods study examined the use of e-readers during guided reading instruction and its impact on 5th grade students’ reading motivation, attitude toward reading, and reading comprehension. For 10 weeks, 19 students received guided reading instruction by means of the traditional paper/text format, while 16 students received guided reading instruction by means of e-readers using the same stories but in digital text format. The Motivation to Read Profile was used to measure student motivation, the Elementary Reading Attitude Survey was administered to measure student attitude and the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests, Fourth Edition, were administered to measure student comprehension. A MANOVA showed no significant difference between the students who used e-reader digital text format and those that used paper/text format in regard to reading motivation, attitude toward reading or reading comprehension. However, the qualitative data gave several insights into why e-readers did not make a difference.
Bovine Kobuvirus in Europe

To the Editor: Picornaviruses (family Picornaviridae) are small, nonenveloped viruses with single-stranded, positive-sense genomic RNA. Picornaviruses are currently divided into 8 genera: Enterovirus, Aphthovirus, Cardiovirus, Hepatovirus, Parechovirus, Erbovirus, Teschovirus, and Kobuvirus (1). To date, the genus Kobuvirus consists of 2 officially recognized species, Aichi virus and Bovine kobuvirus, and 1 porcine kobuvirus as a candidate species (2–4). Aichi virus (strain A846/88) was first isolated in 1991 from feces of a person with acute gastroenteritis (2). Bovine kobuvirus (strain U-1) was detected in 2003 in bovine serum and fecal samples from clinically healthy cattle (3); in 2008, it was isolated from cattle with diarrhea (5). Aichi virus and bovine kobuvirus were first isolated in Japan. Porcine kobuvirus (strain S-1-HUN) was recently identified from domestic pigs in Hungary (4). Aichi viruses have been also detected in other countries in Asia (6), Europe (7,8), South America (7), and northern Africa (9). Bovine kobuvirus, however, has not been detected outside Asia (Japan and Thailand) (3,5).
Pattern of rheumatic diseases in two outpatient clinics in Iran: similarities with some different features.

BACKGROUND Rheumatic diseases are among the most prevalent diseases recognized in the world. Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the main causes of disability around the world and expend a large amount of health care and social resources and have a substantial impact on the quality of life of those affected. To identify preventable risk factors and to gain insights into the burden of the diseases, it is important to know the prevalence and demographics of them. Herein we are to describe the pattern of different rheumatic disorders and characteristics of the patients attending in rheumatology clinics in Yazd, Iran, with addressing some different points of views in this regards. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this retrospective study, medical records of all patients referred to two main referral rheumatology clinics in Yazd from March 2009 to February 2010 were reviewed. A questionnaire including sex, age, chief complaint, diagnoses, and co-morbid diseases was used for gathering the data. RESULTS All medical records were reviewed, of whom 5187 patients had specific diagnoses. The mean age of the patients was 38.57 year ± 19.4 SD. 70.81% were females and 29.19% were males. The most common diagnoses were: degenerative joint disease (58.33%), autoimmune disorders (17.88%), and soft tissue rheumatism (12.47%). The most frequent complaints were knee pain (32%). 55.6% of the patients were overweight (BMI >29) and 923 (17.8 %) of the patients had diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION Our findings were similar to other studies from Iran and the other countries in most features. The prevalence of autoimmune disorders was rather higher than the other studies; this is perhaps due to our belief that some of periarthritis conditions were part of systemic autoimmune diseases by careful history taking and using pertinent laboratory investigations.
Republished: Drug-induced valvular heart disease

Drug-induced valvular heart disease (DIVHD) was first described in the 1960s. Initially, associations with ergot derivatives used for migraine prevention, or with anorectic drugs, were described. Drugs used for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and endocrine diseases, like hyperprolactinemia, may also induce VHD. More recently, the use of 3,4-methylendioxymetamphetamine (MDMA, ‘Ecstasy’) and benfluorexhave been found to be associated with DIVHD. Although some of these drugs were withdrawn from the market, several cases of patients requiring valve surgery even years after the cessation of therapy have been reported. DIVHD is not infrequent, may be severe, and has been described in association with several drugs. Even after drug cessation, long-term implications of this type of VHD may persist. The present review underlines the need for a careful evaluation of the associated clinical and echocardiographic risk factors to allow early recognition so as not to delay appropriate management.
Political Risk, Reputation, and the Resource Curse

There is a growing literature on how natural resources affect both economic performance and political regimes. In this article the authors add to this literature by focusing on how natural resource wealth affects the incentives of governments to uphold contracts with foreign investors across all sectors. They argue that although all states suffer reputation costs from reneging on contracts, governments in natural-resource-dependent economies are less sensitive to these costs, leading to a greater probability of expropriation and contract disputes. Specifically, leaders weigh the benefits of reneging on contracts with investors against the reputation costs of openly violating agreements with firms. The authors’ theoretical model predicts a positive association between resource wealth and expropriation. Using a data set from the political risk insurance industry, the authors show that resource dependent economies have much higher levels of political risk.
Double Trouble: Commingled Effects of Fast Food and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and the Intervening Role of Physical Activity on Childhood Obesity

Children are exposed to a great deal of food and beverage promotion. This is particularly concerning given that the prevalence of childhood obesity, a critical public health challenge, may be partially due to the increased consumption of fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages. However, there are lingering questions about the complex relationships between fast food and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, physical activity levels, and childhood obesity. To address these complex relationships, this research examines the interaction of fast food and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, along with the frequency of physical activity, in leading to the likelihood of a child being overweight or obese. A primary concern is the compensatory role of physical activity in offsetting the direct and indirect effects of fast food and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption on childhood obesity. For a sample of more than 4000 children between five and eleven years of age, results show that physical activity can partially counter the direct relationship between (1) fast food consumption and obesity and (2) sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and obesity. However, this intervening role of physical activity indicates that activity level is unable to compensate for the combined effect of high fast food and high sugarsweetened drink consumption on obesity likelihood. Conclusions for the public health † A previous version of this manuscript was presented at the 2016 Atlantic Marketing Association Conference, and the abstract was published in the 2016 Atlantic Marketing Association Conference Proceedings.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY OF THE GENUS KUMANOA (BATRACHOSPERMALES, RHODOPHYTA) 1

Species belonging to the newly established genus Kumanoa were sampled from locations worldwide. DNA sequence data from the rbcL gene, cox1 barcode region, and universal plastid amplicon (UPA) were collected. The new sequence data for the rbcL were combined with the extensive batrachospermalean rbcL data available in GenBank. Single gene rbcL results showed the genus Kumanoa to be a well‐supported clade, and there was high statistical support for many of the terminal nodes. However, with this gene alone, there was very little support for any of the internal nodes. Analysis of the concatenated data set (rbcL, cox1, and UPA) provided higher statistical support across the tree. The taxa K. vittata and K. amazonensis formed a basal grade, and both were on relatively long branches. Three new species are proposed, K. holtonii, K. gudjewga, and K. novaecaledonensis; K. procarpa var. americana is raised to species level. In addition, the synonymy of K. capensis and K. breviarticulata is proposed, with K. capensis having precedence. Five new combinations are made, bringing the total number of accepted species in Kumanoa to 31. The phylogenetic analyses did not reveal any interpretable biogeographic patterns within the genus (e.g., K. spermatiophora from the tropical oceanic island Maui, Hawaii, was sister to K. faroensis from temperate midcontinental Ohio in North America). Previously hypothesized relationships among groups of species were not substantiated in the phylogenetic analyses, and no intrageneric classification is recommended based on current knowledge.
Assessment of simple movements and progression of Huntington’s disease

Instrumental measurement of simple motion sequences reflects impairment in patients with Huntington’s disease (HD). The objectives were to study the progress of symptoms of HD and tapping results in 42 patients with HD, without symptomatic drug treatment over 3 years. Assessment moments were at baseline, and at years 1, 2 and 3. Unified Huntington’s Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) total score and UHDRS arm score significantly increased. Motor test outcomes considerably worsened. Instrumental test results significantly correlated with both UHDRS scores at each assessment. Assessment of simple movement sequences is an additional simple method to follow impairment in patients with HD in addition to clinical rating.
EXTENDED ENDOSCOPIC ENDONASAL TRANSSPHENOIDAL APPROACH FOR THE REMOVALOF SUPRASELLAR TUMORS: PART 2

OBJECTIVEThe widespread use of the endoscope in transsphenoidal pituitary surgery has recently contributed to the extension of the approach beyond the tuberculum sellae and planum sphenoidale for the management of lesions located in the suprasellar area, either with an endoscope-assisted or purely endoscopic technique. Based on our previous experience with more than 450 standard endoscopic transsphenoidal operations, we have retrospectively evaluated the effectiveness of the extended endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach in the management of lesions mainly located in the suprasellar area. METHODSBetween January 2004 and December 2005, 20 consecutive patients underwent extended endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery for a total of 21 procedures. The series consisted of seven pituitary adenomas, seven craniopharyngiomas, three suprasellar Rathke's cleft cysts, two tuberculum sellae meningiomas, and one pilocytic astrocytoma of the chiasm. RESULTSTumor removal, as assessed by postoperative magnetic resonance imaging, revealed complete removal of the lesion in four out of seven pituitary adenomas, five out of seven craniopharyngiomas, three out of three Rathke's cleft cysts, and two out of two tuberculum sellae meningiomas. One patient (5%) with craniopharyngioma had a postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak that required reoperation. The same patient experienced a sphenoid mycosis, which was treated with medical therapy. Some specific conditions associated with the anatomy of the surgical route, as well as to the morphology of the lesion, have resulted to condition the feasibility of the approach. CONCLUSIONSmall and medium sized suprasellar lesions located in the midline, with or without a limited parasellar extension and without involvement of vascular structures, seem amenable to be resected through such extended endoscopic transsphenoidal approach. Improvements in closure techniques and the use of new materials and surgical glues seem to significantly reduce the postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak rate and meningitis.
Increased Plasma Matrix Metalloproteinase‐9 Levels in Migraineurs

Background and Objective. — Cortical spreading depression and neurogenic inflammation have been hypothesized to be key steps in the development of migraine headache. Recent studies have highlighted matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) in cortical spreading depression, neurogenic inflammation, and cerebral ischemia. To seek their possible association, we investigated plasma MMP‐9 levels in migraineurs during headache‐free periods.
[POSTER] Content Completion in Lower Dimensional Feature Space through Feature Reduction and Compensation

A novel framework for image/video content completion comprising three stages is proposed. First, input images/videos are converted to a lower dimensional feature space, which is done to achieve effective restoration even in cases where a damaged region includes complex structures and changes in color. Second, a damaged region is restored in the converted feature space. Finally, an inverse conversion from the lower dimensional feature space to the original feature space is performed to generate the completed image in the original feature space. This three-step solution generates two advantages. First, it enhances the possibility of applying patches dissimilar to those in the original color space. Second, it enables the use of many existing restoration methods, each having various advantages, because the feature space for retrieving the similar patches is the only extension. Experiments verify the effectiveness of the proposed framework.
Influence on lifestyle measures and five-year coronary risk by a comprehensive lifestyle intervention programme in patients with coronary heart disease

Background Lifestyle measures of coronary heart disease (CHD) prevention have been overshadowed by the efficacy of drug treatments. This is particularly the case in the setting of secondary prevention where the benefits of lipid lowering, anti-platelet and anti-hypertensive drugs have been emphasised in numerous trials. Lifestyle measures address several CHD risk factors at once and are generally free of serious side effects. Objectives The objective of the present study was to determine whether a comprehensive programme of lifestyle modification could favourably influence dietary and exercise habits in addition to smoking cessation over two years. In addition, an attempt was made to evaluate if this programme could favourably influence the five-year CHD-risk in the male population included in the study. Design A total of 197 patients with proven coronary heart disease were included and randomised to a lifestyle intervention programme or to usual care. Follow-up was after a period of two years. Methods Intervention comprised a low fat diet, regular exercise, smoking cessation, psychosocial support and education, delivered by nurses on the rationale for pharmacological and lifestyle measures. Usual care comprised follow-up in the routine outpatient clinic. Both groups were given the same comprehensive medication according to recent guidelines. Results Patients in the lifestyle intervention group reduced the intake of saturated fat, sugar and cholesterol (P<0.001), increased their exercise level (P<0.01) and stopped smoking (P<0.05) when compared with the usual care group. A subanalysis of the influence of five-year CHD calculated risk in males resulted in a relative risk reduction of 22% (95% confidence intervals 9-35). Although significant, this result must be interpreted with caution due to poor statistical power and reproducibility of the method. Conclusions In the presence of modern drug treatments for secondary cardiovascular disease prevention it remains possible through a favourable diet, exercise and smoking cessation to show an additional reduction in the five-year risk for CHD in males.