Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunosuppressive therapy of lupus nephritis

Aggressive immunosuppressive therapy should be considered for patients with proliferative lupus nephritis as the risk for progression to end stage renal disease is high. Intermittent intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy improves renal survival; longer duration of therapy is associated with fewer relapse of nephritis and decreased risk of diminished renal function. While azathioprine therapy does not differ statistically from steroids alone in prolonging renal survival, this therapy may be considered in patients with few risk factors for progression to renal insufficiency. Methylprednisolone as a single therapy does not prolong renal survival compared with regimens including cyclophosphamide. Plasmapheresis remains under study but has not shown additional benefit in treatment of severe lupus nephritis. The potential roles for cyclosporin A and mycophenylate mofetil in the therapy of proliferative lupus nephritis remain to be defined. Supportive care including rigorous control of hypertension, consideration of angiotensin receptor inhibition or blockade to reduce proteinuria and prolong renal function, control of hyperlipidemia, prevention of osteoporosis, and prevention of pregnancy remain important clinical goals. Current research efforts focus on genetic and socioeconomic factors involved in racial differences in expression of lupus nephritis, hormonal manipulation to preserve gonadal function during cyclophosphamide therapy, and the potential impact on lupus activity of estrogen-containing oral contraceptives or postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy.
Effects of Molecular Memory and Bursting on Fluctuations in Gene Expression

Many cellular components are present in such low numbers per cell that random births and deaths of individual molecules can cause substantial “noise” in concentrations. But biochemical events do not necessarily occur in single steps of individual molecules. Some processes are greatly randomized when synthesis or degradation occurs in large bursts of many molecules during a short time interval. Conversely, each birth or death of a macromolecule could involve several small steps, creating a memory between individual events. We present a generalized theory for stochastic gene expression, formulating the variance in protein abundance in terms of the randomness of the individual gene expression events. We show that common types of molecular mechanisms can produce gestation and senescence periods that reduce noise without requiring higher abundances, shorter lifetimes, or any concentration-dependent control loops. We also show that most single-cell experimental methods cannot distinguish between qualitatively different stochastic principles, although this in turn makes such methods better suited for identifying which components introduce fluctuations. Characterizing the random events that give rise to noise in concentrations instead requires dynamic measurements with single-molecule resolution.
Human papillomavirus and normal nasal mucosa: Detection of human papillomavirus dna in normal nasal mucosa biopsies by polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization

To determine a possible etiological role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in sinonasal papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas, it is necessary to investigate normal nasal mucosa of healthy persons for the presence of HPV. The material in the present study consists of 21 biopsies taken from the inferior concha of 21 otherwise healthy persons who underwent surgery for nose fractures or nasoseptal deviations. In addition, five inferior conchae were obtained from persons who had died of non‐neoplastic diseases. HPV was not detected in any of these specimens, either by polymerase chain reaction or by in situ hybridization. Histologic evaluation showed that squamous metaplasia was a common finding in the biopsies. The presence of HPV in sinonasal papillomas and carcinomas may indicate that HPV is an etiological factor in these lesions.
Apoptosis and Autophagy in Photoreceptors Exposed to Oxidative Stress

Studies on human and animal models of retinal dystrophy have suggested that apoptosis may be the common pathway of photoreceptor cell death. Autophagy, the major cellular degradation process in animal cells, is important in normal development and tissue remodeling, as well as under pathological conditions. Previously we provided evidence that genes, whose products are involved in apoptosis and autophagy, may be co-expressed in photoreceptors undergoing degeneration. Here, we investigated autophagy in oxidative stress-mediated cell death in photoreceptors, analyzing the light-damage mouse model and 661W photoreceptor cells challenged with H2O2. In the in vivo model, we demonstrated a time-dependent increase in the number of TUNEL-positive cells, concomitant with the formation of autophagosomes. In vitro, oxidative stress increased mRNA levels of apoptotic and autophagic marker genes. H2O2 treatment resulted in the accumulation of TUNEL-positive cells, the majority of which contain autophagosomes. To determine whether autophagy and apoptosis might precede each other or co-occur, we performed inhibitor studies. The autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA), silencing RNA (siRNA) against two genes whose products are required for autophagy (autophagy-related (ATG) gene 5 and beclin 1), as well as the pan-caspase-3 inhibitor, zVAD-fmk, were both found to partially block cell death. Blocking autophagy also significantly decreased caspase-3 activity, whereas blocking apoptosis increased the formation of autophagosomes. The survival effects of 3-MA and zVAD-fmk were not additive; rather treatment with both inhibitors lead to increased cell death by necrosis. In summary, the study first suggests that autophagy participates in photoreceptor cell death possibly by initiating apoptosis. Second, it confirms that cells that normally die by apoptosis will execute cell death by necrosis if the normal pathway is blocked. And third, these results argue that the up-stream regulators of autophagy need to be identified as potential therapeutic targets in photoreceptor degeneration.
Novel mutation 928G>C of MEN1 gene in a familial multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 case (MEN1) with co‐existence of insulinoma and glucagonoma1名同时合并胰岛素瘤与胰高血糖素瘤的家族性多发性内分泌腺瘤1型（MEN1）患者的MEN1基因出现了新的928G>C突变

(CT) scan revealed a tumor mass (1.2 × 0.7 cm) in the tail of the pancreas. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed a nodule in the lower left of pituitary and MIBI scan of parathyroid gland found abnormal uptake of MIBI in the right thyroid lobe, suggestive of parathyroid adenoma. A diagnosis of familial MEN1 presenting with insulinoma, hyperparathyroidism and prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma was made based on her clinical data and family history. The patient underwent laparoscopic resection of pancreatic tail with preservation of the spleen. A tumor (4 × 3 cm) was found in the pancreatic tail. The tumor was close to the splenic hilum and located between the two splenic arteries. Post
Quantitation of Human Pancreatic Beta-cell Function by Immunoassay of C-Peptide in Urine

Human proinsulin connecting peptide (C-peptide) was measured by immunoassay in urine from 25 normal subjects, 18 patients with diabetes mellitus, and 34 patients with various degrees of renal insufficiency. Assay validation studies showed that pancreatic C-peptide was quantitatively recovered when added to urine. Fractionation of urine by gel filtration indicated that most endogenous C-peptide eluted in fractions that corresponded to the C-peptide standard. In 34 nondiabetic subjects with normal kidney function or various renal diseases, C-peptide clearance was independent of creatinine clearance over a range of 6 to 190 ml. /min. Urine C-peptide clearance (5.1 ± 0.6 ml./min.) is greater than that of insulin (1.1 ± 0.2 ml./min.), and the total quantity of C-peptide excreted in the urine per day represents 5 per cent of pancreatic secretion, as against only 0.1 per cent of secreted insulin. Healthy subjects excreted 36 ± 4 μg. C-peptide per 24 hours, while this value in juvenile-onset diabetics was only 1.1 ± 0.5 μg. Adult-onset diabetics excreted 24 ± 7 μg. /24 hr. , the range overlapping the excretory rates of both normal subjects and juvenileonset diabetics. Two insulin-requiring adult-onset diabetics showed significant beta-cell reserve during the course of acute infections. These results suggest that urine C-peptide provides a useful means of assessing beta-cell secretory capacity over a period of time and is especially advantageous when frequent blood sampling is not feasible.
Delay-Constrained Data Aggregation in VANETs

Data aggregation has been recognized as an effective technique for reducing communication costs while obtaining useful aggregated information. In this paper, we study the crucial problem of delay-constrained data aggregation in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs), which has not been well studied in the literature. With the analysis based on real traces, we observe that there is heterogeneity with node contact patterns, which indicates that some nodes contact other nodes more frequently. Motivated by this observation, we propose an approach called aTree. The centralized aTree first constructs a data aggregation tree based on the shortest path tree and then assigns a waiting time budget to each node on the tree based on dynamic programming. We further develop a distributed aTree, in which a shortest path tree is built in a distributed fashion, and nodes determine their waiting time budgets collaboratively. We have performed extensive simulations on real taxi traces, and results show that our aTree schemes incur much lower transmission overhead while achieving the same performance compared with other schemes.
Bundle-Forming Pili and EspA Are Involved in Biofilm Formation by Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT Microcolony formation is one of the initial steps in biofilm development, and in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) it is mediated by several adhesins, including the bundle-forming pilus (BFP) and the EspA filament. Here we report that EPEC forms biofilms on plastic under static conditions and a flowthrough continuous culture system. The abilities of several EPEC isogenic mutants to form biofilms were assessed. Adhesins such as BFP and EspA, important in microcolony formation on epithelial cells, are also involved in bacterial aggregation during biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces. Mutants that do not express BFP or EspA form more-diffuse biofilms than does the wild type. We also determined, using gfp transcriptional fusions, that, consistent with the role of these adhesins in biofilms, the genes encoding BFP and EspA are expressed during biofilm formation. Finally, expression of espA is controlled by a quorum-sensing (QS) regulatory mechanism, and the EPEC qseA QS mutant also forms altered biofilms, suggesting that this signaling mechanism plays an important role in EPEC biofilm development. Taken together, these studies allowed us to propose a model of EPEC biofilm formation.
Platelet counts as a biomarker in ANCA-associated vasculitis

Objectives: To determine whether platelet (PLT) counts might serve as a biomarker to distinguish between active anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) and remission and also between active disease and systemic infection. Method: PLTs were analysed before treatment in patients with AAV in the active state and in remission. PLTs were also analysed in AAV patients with acute infections. The results were correlated with clinical manifestations, the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score version 3 [BVAS(v.3)], and other laboratory findings [i.e. C-reactive protein (CRP), leucocytes, differential count, procalcitonin (PCT)]. Diagnostic accuracy was calculated with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: PLT counts were significantly increased in 98 patients with AAV during the active disease state [median: 405 PLTs/nL; interquartile range (IQR) 288–504] compared to patients in remission (246 PLT/nL; IQR 214–289) (p < 0.001). We found a correlation of PLT counts in active disease with the BVAS(v.3) (r = 0.582, p < 0.001). In AAV patients with systemic infections (n = 37), PLT counts exhibited significantly lower values (226 PLT/nL; IQR 163–273) compared to patients with active disease (p < 0.001). In the ROC curve analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) of PLTs was significantly larger when distinguishing active disease from systemic infection (AUC 0.868) compared to leucocytes (AUC 0.590), CRP (AUC 0.522), or procalcitonin (AUC 0.515) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: PLT counts were found to correlate with disease activity in AAV and thus may be used to represent immunological activity. In addition, PLT counts serve as a marker that can distinguish acute infection from active disease.
EFFECTS OF AN HERBICIDE AND AN INSECTICIDE ON POND COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND PROCESSES

Virtually all species live within complex food webs, and many of these organisms are exposed to contaminants. However, we know little about how community processes, such as competition and predation, influence susceptibility to contaminants or how different types of contaminants shape communities. The objective of our study was to determine how realistic concentrations of the herbicide atrazine and the insecticide endosulfan influence the structure of a pond community when the presence of common community members was manipulated. We employed a factorial design in mesocosms to evaluate the effects of pesticide treatments (25 mg/L of atrazine, 10 mg/L of endosulfan, solvent control; two pulses separated by two weeks) and the presence or absence of wood frog tadpoles (Rana sylvatica), adult snails (Planorbella trivolvis), and caged dragonfly larvae (Anax junius) on a freshwater community. Tadpoles, snails, and chironomid larvae, Polypedilum sp. (Dipterans), all competed for periphyton. As a result, tadpoles reduced the survival, mass, and reproduction of snails; snails reduced the growth, development, inactivity, and dragonfly avoidance of tadpoles; snails and tadpoles reduced the abundance of chironomid larvae; and chironomid larvae reduced snail mass. The adverse effect of snails on tadpole growth and behavior was greater in the presence of the caged tadpole predator, A. junius. Neither pesticide affected dragonfly survival, but endosulfan directly reduced zooplankton (Daphnia), and atrazine indirectly reduced chironomid abundance. Atrazine also directly decreased periphyton, and endosulfan decimated chironomid larvae, resulting in indirect increases and decreases in competition for both snails and tadpoles, respectively. Consequently, relative to endosulfan, atrazine tended to decrease snail mass and reproduction and reduce tadpole mass, development, inactivity, refuge use, and dragonfly avoidance. However, the indirect effects of pesticides depended upon the presence of heterospecifics. The indirect benefit of endosulfan on snail mass was greater in the presence of caged dragonfly larvae, and endosulfan's indirect benefit on tadpole mass was greater in the absence of snails. The effect of pesticides on tadpole activity depended on both caged dragonflies and snails. Thus, environmentally realistic concentrations of pesticides directly and indirectly shaped species responses and community composition, but the initial composition of the community influenced these pesticide effects. These results emphasize the importance of quantifying the effects of contaminants within complex natural communities.
Glaucoma may be a non-memory manifestation of Alzheimer's disease in older people

ABSTRACT Background: The purpose of this paper was to examine whether glaucoma could be a non-memory manifestation of Alzheimer's disease in older people. Methods: We conducted a population-based, retrospective, case-control study to analyze the database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. There were 1,351 subjects ≥65 years old with newly diagnosed Alzheimer's disease as the cases, and 5,329 subjects without any type of dementias as the controls during 2000–2011. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the risk of Alzheimer's disease associated with glaucoma was estimated by the multivariable unconditional logistic regression model. Results: After controlling for confounders, the multivariable logistic regression model demonstrated that the adjusted OR of Alzheimer's disease was 1.50 in subjects with glaucoma (95% CI 1.19, 1.89), compared to subjects without glaucoma. Conclusions: Older people with glaucoma are associated with 1.5-fold increased odds of Alzheimer's disease in Taiwan. Glaucoma may be a non-memory manifestation of Alzheimer's disease in older people. Further research is needed to confirm this issue.
Callous and Unemotional Traits and Social Cognitive Processes in a Sample of Community-Based Aggressive Youth

Psychopathic traits are associated with violent, aggressive behaviors and recidivism in adulthood. To increase positive treatment outcomes, it is arguably beneficial to identify and treat psychopathy as early as possible. Furthermore, because research shows that the effectiveness of behavior modification is likely to be affected by the social information–processing patterns of aggressive children, it is important to understand the relationship between conduct-disordered traits and social cognitions. The results of this study showed that callous/unemotional traits in a community-based sample of behavior-disordered youth (57 male, 19 female; 10-19 years of age; 63% African American) significantly predicted values in obtaining a tangible reward and getting into trouble or being punished. However, callous/unemotional traits, impulsivity/conduct problems, and narcissism failed to predict positive expectations regarding receiving a tangible reward, reducing aversive treatment, and demonstration of dominance. Implications for these results are presented.
Drive between Brain and Subject: An Immanent Critique of Lacanian Neuropsychoanalysis

Despite Jacques Lacan's somewhat deserved reputation as an adamant antinaturalist, his teachings, when read carefully to the letter, should not be construed as categorically hostile to any and every possible interfacing of psychoanalysis and biology. In recent years, several authors, including myself, have begun exploring the implications of reinterpreting Lacan's corpus on the basis of questions concerning naturalism, materialism, realism, and the position of analysis with respect to the sciences of today. Herein, I focus primarily on the efforts of analyst Francois Ansermet and neuroscientist Pierre Magistretti to forge a specifically Lacanian variant of neuropsychoanalysis (as distinct from Anglo-American variants). Taking up Ansermet and Magistretti's interlinked theories of drive (Trieb) and autonomous subjectivity, I develop an immanent critique of their project. Doing so in a manner that is intended to acknowledge and preserve this neuropsychoanalytic duo's significant insights and contributions, I seek to bring into sharper relief the exact set of necessary, as well as sufficient, conditions for what Ansermet, Magistretti, and I all are commonly pursuing: an account of the genesis of denaturalized subjects out of embodied libidinal economies, itself situated within the framework of a nonreductive, quasi-naturalist materialism synthesizing resources drawn from psychoanalysis, neurobiology, and philosophy.
Radiosensitivity and Rate of Cell Division: "Law of Bergoni� and Tribondeau"

The rate of cell division decreases as tobacco leaves grow, and older leaves grow without any cell divisions. Disks were cut from leaves having differing degrees of cell division at various developmental stages. In the chlorenchy, induced susceptibility to photodestruction of chloroplasts was used to measure sensitivity to gamma radiation as a function of the rate of cell division. The same biological effect can thereby be studied both in dividing and in nondividing tissues of the same morphological and physiological cell types. The radiosensitivities were approximately the same, irrespective of the extent of cell divisions.
Some Aspects Concerning the Design of Multistage Earth Orbit Launchers Using Electromagnetic Acceleration

This paper reports on reflections undertaken to establish a possible multistage space-launch system based on the use of combined electromagnetic and rocket launch technology. It is assumed that the direct access to space is not possible using a single-stage system only, since for such a system, muzzle velocities of approximately 10 km/s are required. Multistage chemical rockets have been successfully used for Low Earth Orbit missions. They are now a mature technology; continued system efficiency improvements are expected to yield only marginal progress. Alternative technology paths, such as the Lorentz rail accelerator (LRA), hold the potential for considerable improvements in first-stage efficiencies compared to rocket systems. Such unconventional solution has serious consequences for the accelerator and payload carrier design. In the first part of this paper, some general aspects (size, forces, energy, and power) of an electromagnetic launcher, which could be able to achieve the required muzzle momentum for such a mission, are discussed. More specifically, the design of such a launcher with respect to the type of electromagnetic LRAs (known also as railguns) and to the armature technology is considered, and also, some of the interstage aspects of such a system are investigated. Special attention is paid to solutions increasing the launch efficiency of the electromagnetic launcher. The second part of this paper considers possible design properties of the rocket carrier (booster and kickoff stage). Propulsion system, structure under high acceleration, thermal protection system (TPS), carrier aerodynamics, and flight mechanic properties are analyzed. The performed analysis confirms that the rocket carrier can be realized with the present technology within the next decade. The conclusion is valid under the assumption that a start velocity from a ground-based electromagnetic LRA is limited to about 4.5 km/s if an adequate TPS is applied. At higher velocities, the extreme heat loads destroy the payload carrier.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTIVITY PARADOX: A RESOURCE-BASED VIEW AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT PERSPECTIVE FOR MEASURING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CONTRIBUTION ON PERFORMANCE

This paper seek clarity IT Productivity Paradox with measuring real Information Technology (IT) contribution on Performance. Two Measurement concept proposed are Direct and Indirect measurement. Concept of direct measurements was based on principle of Cobb-Douglas Production Function, which Performance was expected linear with IT resources. Indirect measurements concept was based on Resource-based View theory. IT Strategic Alignment rules were adopted in effort to align IT goals with business goals through IT-based Capability and IT Support for Core Competence. Originality and study findings were (i) to perform a comparison between a direct effect of IT Resources usage on Performance and indirect effect of IT Resources usage on Performance (ii) able to demonstrate the potential benefits loss of IT in company business process steps, (iii) proposed model was able to explain IT contribution that more transparent on Performance achievement, (iv) comparison results of research object showed that direct effect has a higher value than indirect effect.