Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trichoscopy of cicatricial alopecia.

BACKGROUND Trichoscopy is widely used in differential diagnosis of non-cicatricial alopecia. OBJECTIVE The aim of this prospective study was to identify possible characteristic trichoscopy patterns of diseases leading to primary cicatricial alopecia. METHODS Trichoscopy was performed in a total of 1,884 consecutive patients presenting with hair loss. In this group, 84 patients were diagnosed with cicatricial alopecia and 1,800 patients with non-cicatricial alopecia. Sixty healthy persons served as healthy controls. Trichoscopy was performed with the use of Fotofinder II videodermoscopy system. Following unique or characteristic features were identified: scattered dark-brown discoloration of the skin, large yellow dots and thick arborizing vessels in cutaneous (discoid) lupus erythematosus (n=20), tubular perifollicular scaling and elongated blood vessels in lichen planopilaris (n=28), minor perifollicular scaling in frontal fibrosing alopecia (n=19), tufted hairs with starburst pattern perifollicular hyperplasia in folliculitis decalvans (n=9) and large, "3D" yellow dots imposed over dystrophic hairs in dissecting cellulitis (n=8). RESULTS All patients with cicatricial alopecia trichoscopy showed white and milky-red areas lacking follicular openings. These features were not found in patients with non-cicatricial alopecia or healthy controls. CONCLUSION These results indicate that trichoscopy may be applied as a quick and non-invasive auxiliary method in differential diagnosis of diverse diseases leading to cicatricial alopecia, such as cutaneous lupus erythematosus, classic lichen planopilaris, frontal fibrosing alopecia, folliculitis decalvans, and dissecting cellulitis.
Long-Term Effects of Labour Market Entry Conditions: The Case of Korea

ABSTRACT This study investigates the effects of labour market conditions at the time of graduation, proxied by the local unemployment rate, on long-term family and labour market outcomes in Korea. The examination yields four main findings. Labour market entry conditions have strong and persistent effects among high school graduates. Male college graduates have a persistently lower probability of working at large firms if the demand for local labour shrinks at the time of graduation. Self-employment can be persistently hampered by adverse economic conditions at graduation. Family formation and childbearing are temporarily affected by labour market entry conditions, especially for less educated women. The first three findings highlight the notable segmentation of the Korean labour market into protected jobs in large firms – mostly part of business groups (chaebols) – and unprotected jobs.
Effects of Mutations within the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 DNA Encapsidation Signal on Packaging Efficiency

ABSTRACT The cis-acting signals required for cleavage and encapsidation of the herpes simplex virus type 1 genome lie within the terminally redundant region or a sequence. Thea sequence is flanked by short direct repeats (DR1) containing the site of cleavage, and quasi-unique regions, Uc and Ub, occupy positions adjacent to the genomic L and S termini, respectively, such that a novel fragment, Uc-DR1-Ub, is generated upon ligation of the genomic ends. The Uc-DR1-Ub fragment can function as a minimal packaging signal, and motifs have been identified within Uc and Ub that are conserved near the ends of other herpesvirus genomes (pac2 and pac1, respectively). We have introduced deletion and substitution mutations within thepac regions of the Uc-DR1-Ub fragment and assessed their effects on DNA packaging in an amplicon-based transient transfection assay. Within pac2, mutations affecting the T tract had the greatest inhibitory effect, but deletion of sequences on either side of this element also reduced packaging, suggesting that its position relative to other sequences within the Uc-DR1-Ub fragment is likely to be important. No single region essential for DNA packaging was detected within pac1. However, mutants lacking the G tracts on either side of the pac1 T-rich motif exhibited a reduced efficiency of serial propagation, and alteration of the sequences between DR1 and the pac1 T element also resulted in defective generation of Ub-containing terminal fragments. The data are consistent with a model in which initiation and termination of packaging are specified by sequences within Uc and Ub, respectively.
Excitonic effects in the optical properties of CdSe nanowires

Using a first-principle approach beyond density functional theory we calculate the electronic and optical properties of small diameter CdSe nanowires. Our results demonstrate how some approximations commonly used in bulk systems fail at this nanoscale level and how indispensable it is to include crystal local fields and excitonic effects to predict the unique optical properties of nanowires. From our results, we then construct a simple model to describe the optical gap as a function of the diameter of the wire, that turns out to be in excellent agreement with experiments for intermediate and large diameters.
EFFECTS OF OCHRATOXIN A ON CYTOTOXICITY AND CELL DIFFERENTIATION IN CULTURED RAT EMBRYONIC CELLS

In the present study, the effects of ochratoxin A (OTA) on cytotoxicity, cell differentiation, and other cell functions in the embryonic midbrain cells, which are dopaminergic, were compared to those in the limb bud cells, which are nondopaminergic, to assess the selectivity of OTA central action. Twelve-day rat embryo midbrain and limb bud cells were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium nutrient and Ham's F12 (1:1) mixture containing 10% Nuserum for 96 h in the presence of various concentrations of OTA. OTA significantly reduced the levels of protein, DNA and glutathione, and [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA in both embryonic midbrain and limb bud cells in a similar concentration-dependent manner. The IC50 values for cytotoxicity measured by neutral red uptake were 1.10 µ M in the midbrain cells and 1.05 µ M in the limb bud cells. The IC50 values of cell differentiation were 1.10 µ M in the midbrain cells and 1.0 µM in the limb bud cells. The addition of exogenous glutathione (32.5 µ M) did not change the OTA-induced fall in protein and DNA levels, or the IC50 values of cytotoxicity and differentiation in the midbrain and limb bud cells. Data show that OTA does not appear to exert a selective toxic dopaminergic cell action and that OTA-induced cytotoxicity and inhibition of cell differentiation were not prevented by exogenous glutathione.
The Role of Innate Immunity in Alcoholic Liver Disease

The innate immune system represents the first-line response to invading microbes, tissue damage, or aberrant cell growth. Many of the proteins and cells involved in innate immunity are produced by, and reside in, the liver. This abundance in immune cells and proteins reflects the liver’s adaptation to various immune challenges but also makes the organ particularly vulnerable to alcohol’s effects. Heavy alcohol consumption may produce leakage of microbes and microbial products from the gastrointestinal tract, which quickly reach the liver via the portal vein. Exposure to these immune challenges and to alcohol and its breakdown products dysregulates the liver’s normally fine-tuned immune signaling pathways, leading to activation of various cellular sensors of pathogen- or damage-associated molecular patterns. The ensuing expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., tumor necrosis factor α [TNFα], interleukin [IL]-8, and IL-1β) results in cellular dysfunction that contributes to alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Investigations into the roles of the various components of liver innate immunity in ALD have begun to uncover the molecular basis of this disease. Further progress in this area may help inform the development of interventions targeting the innate system to augment current treatments of ALD. These treatments could include antibodies against pro-inflammatory cytokines, use of anti-inflammatory cytokines, or suppression of alcohol-induced epigenetic regulators of innate immunity.
Focal Points and Firm Risk

The ‘better than average’ effect suggests that relative industry standing should serve as an important focal point for corporate managers. March and Shapira (Psychological Review, 99, 172–183, 1992) develop a framework to analyze the impact of focal points on firms’ risk profiles. This paper uses the March–Shapira model to investigate the relationship between firms’ relative industry standings and their risk profiles. We find that firms’ equity returns display strong March–Shapira effects. When we examine the different firm decisions that impact risk, we find the strong presence of March–Shapira effects in firms’ decisions about operating cash flows, diversifying acquisition activity, working capital, and capital structure.
Genetic variations in the HIF1A gene modulate response to adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery in patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) plays an important role in regulating cell survival and angiogenesis, which are critical for tumor growth and metastasis. Genetic variations of HIF1A have been shown to influence the susceptibility to many kinds of human tumors. Increased expression of HIF-1α has also been demonstrated to be involved in tumor progression. However, the prognostic value of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the HIF1A gene remains to be determined in most cancer types, including colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we sought to investigate the predictive role of HIF1A SNPs in prognosis of CRC patients and efficacy of chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS We genotyped two functional SNPs in HIF1A gene using the Sequenom iPLEX genotyping system and then assessed their associations with clinicopathological parameters and clinical outcomes of 697 CRC patients receiving radical surgery using Cox logistic regression model and Kaplan Meier curves. RESULTS Generally, no significant association was found between these 2 SNPs and clinical outcomes of CRC. In stratified analysis of subgroup without adjuvant chemotherapy, patients carrying CT/TT genotypes of rs2057482 exhibited a borderline significant association with better overall survival when compared with those carrying CC genotype [Hazard ratio (HR), 0.47; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.29-0.76; P < 0.01]. Moreover, significant protective effects on CRC outcomes conferred by adjuvant chemotherapy were exclusively observed in patients carrying CC genotype of rs2057482 and in those carrying AC/CC genotype of rs2301113. CONCLUSIONS Genetic variations in HIF1A gene may modulate the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery in CRC patients.
Theory of polarization spreading techniques. I

Presents an analysis of a series of techniques grouped under the denomination "polarization spreading", the intent of which is that of making the performance of a coherent optical receiver insensitive to the polarization transformations occurring along the optical fiber, without resorting to polarization compensation or control. The principle on which Polarization spreading operates is that of spreading the signal power over different states of polarization, so that heterodyning of at least half of the optical incident bit energy is always ensured. The main results obtained concern a condition that guarantees the maximum heterodyned signal energy, some classes of spreading waveforms satisfying the above condition, the derivation of the structure and the performance of optimum receivers in Gaussian noise. The results encompass most of the binary optical coherent modulation schemes proposed and experimented, such as ASK, FSK and DPSK. >
Synthetic amphipathic helical peptides promote lipid efflux from cells by an ABCA1-dependent and an ABCA1-independent pathway Published, JLR Papers in Press, January 16, 2003. DOI 10.1194/jlr.M200475-JLR200

In order to examine the necessary structural features for a protein to promote lipid efflux by the ABCA1 transporter, synthetic peptides were tested on ABCA1-transfected cells (ABCA1 cells) and on control cells. L-37pA, an l amino acid peptide that contains two class-A amphipathic helices linked by proline, showed a 4-fold increase in cholesterol and phospholipid efflux from ABCA1 cells compared to control cells. The same peptide synthesized with a mixture of l and d amino acids was less effective than L-37pA in solubilizing dimyristoyl phosphatidyl choline vesicles and in effluxing lipids. In contrast, the 37pA peptide synthesized with all d amino acids (D-37pA) was as effective as L-37pA. Unlike apoA-I, L-37pA and D-37pA were also capable, although at a reduced rate, of causing lipid efflux independent of ABCA1 from control cells, Tangier disease cells, and paraformaldehyde fixed ABCA1 cells. The ability of peptides to bind to cells correlated with their lipid affinity. In summary, the amphipathic helix was found to be a key structural motif for peptide-mediated lipid efflux from ABCA1, but there was no stereoselective requirement. In addition, unlike apoA-I, synthetic peptides can also efflux lipid by a passive, energy-independent pathway that does not involve ABCA1 but does depend upon their lipid affinity.
Do Supply Chain Auditors Compromise? Evidence From the Association of Supplier Aggressive Revenue Management and Major Customer Dependence

Our study examines whether aggressive revenue management by a supplier is greater when the supplier and their major customer engage the same office-level auditor and when significant purchases are made by the major customer from the supplier. We posit that the auditor is more accommodating to clients who are jointly audited by the same office-level auditor because of the implicit threat of losing not just the supplier client but also the major customer client. The threat arises from the potential loss of synergies of a jointly planned audit engagement when significant purchases are made by the major customer. We find that income-increasing discretionary revenue is positively associated with the major customer’s percentage of purchases from the supplier when the same office-level auditor is engaged by the supplier and their major customer. We fail to find a statistically significant association when they engage a different office-level auditor or a different audit firm. Our findings provide evidence that office-level auditors tolerate greater aggressive revenue management when they have clients who are partners in the same supply chain and when greater audit synergies are at stake. In addition, our results are partly explained by supplier clients who have interlocking directors with major customers and significant influence.
Vaccination with Trypomastigote Surface Antigen 1-Encoding Plasmid DNA Confers Protection against Lethal Trypanosoma cruzi Infection

ABSTRACT DNA vaccination was evaluated with the experimental murine model ofTrypanosoma cruzi infection as a means to induce antiparasite protective immunity, and the trypomastigote surface antigen 1 (TSA-1), a target of anti-T. cruzi antibody and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-restricted CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses, was used as the model antigen. Following the intramuscular immunization ofH-2b and H-2d mice with a plasmid DNA encoding an N-terminally truncated TSA-1 lacking or containing the C-terminal nonapeptide tandem repeats, the antibody level, CTL response, and protection against challenge with T. cruzi were assessed. In H-2b mice, antiparasite antibodies were induced only by immunization with the DNA construct encoding TSA-1 containing the C-terminal repeats. However, both DNA constructs were efficient in eliciting long-lasting CTL responses against the protectiveH-2Kb-restricted TSA-1515–522epitope. In H-2d mice, inoculation with either of the two TSA-1-expressing vectors effectively generated antiparasite antibodies and primed CTLs that lysed T. cruzi-infected cells in an antigen-specific, MHC class I-restricted, and CD8+-T-cell-dependent manner. When TSA-1 DNA-vaccinated animals were challenged with T. cruzi, 14 of 22 (64%)H-2b and 16 of 18 (89%)H-2d mice survived the infection. The ability to induce significant murine anti-T. cruzi protective immunity by immunization with plasmid DNA expressing TSA-1 provides the basis for the application of this technology in the design of optimal DNA multicomponent anti-T. cruzi vaccines which may ultimately be used for the prevention or treatment of Chagas’ disease.
Dietary intake in Black British adults; an observational assessment of nutritional composition and the role of traditional foods in UK Caribbean and West African diets

Abstract Objective Acculturation to the UK diet may contribute to the increased burden of non-communicable diseases in Black British communities. The present study aimed to assess nutritional composition and the contribution that traditional foods make to dietary intake in a group of UK-residing Caribbean and West African adults and to explore differences according to ethnicity and duration of residence. Design Observational study. Dietary intake was assessed using multiple, standardised triple-pass 24 h recalls and analysed using a nutritional composition database. Associations between sociodemographic variables and duration of residence with dietary intake were assessed using ANCOVA. Setting London, UK, October 2011–December 2012. Subjects UK adults of Caribbean (n 50) or West African (n 83) ancestry, aged 18–75 years. Results The Caribbean participants were older and more likely to be born in the UK. After adjusting for age, sex and ethnicity, those who had been resident in the UK for the longest duration had significantly higher intakes of energy (P<0·001), fat (P=0·002) and Na (P=0·03). The West African participants sourced significantly more energy (P=0·04), fat (P=0·02), saturated fat (P=0·02) and Na (P=0·001) from traditional cultural foods compared with the Caribbean diet, which was more reliant on ‘Westernised’ foods such as sugar-sweetened beverages. Conclusions These results are novel in demonstrating dietary acculturation in UK adults of Caribbean and West African ancestry. We have provided detailed data regarding the role of traditional foods, presenting dietary information that may guide in individualising care for patients from these communities and improve the cultural sensitivity of public health strategies.
Speciation with gene flow in whiptail lizards from a Neotropical xeric biome

Two main hypotheses have been proposed to explain the diversification of the Caatinga biota. The riverine barrier hypothesis (RBH) claims that the São Francisco River (SFR) is a major biogeographic barrier to gene flow. The Pleistocene climatic fluctuation hypothesis (PCH) states that gene flow, geographic genetic structure and demographic signatures on endemic Caatinga taxa were influenced by Quaternary climate fluctuation cycles. Herein, we analyse genetic diversity and structure, phylogeographic history, and diversification of a widespread Caatinga lizard (Cnemidophorus ocellifer) based on large geographical sampling for multiple loci to test the predictions derived from the RBH and PCH. We inferred two well‐delimited lineages (Northeast and Southwest) that have diverged along the Cerrado–Caatinga border during the Mid‐Late Miocene (6–14 Ma) despite the presence of gene flow. We reject both major hypotheses proposed to explain diversification in the Caatinga. Surprisingly, our results revealed a striking complex diversification pattern where the Northeast lineage originated as a founder effect from a few individuals located along the edge of the Southwest lineage that eventually expanded throughout the Caatinga. The Southwest lineage is more diverse, older and associated with the Cerrado–Caatinga boundaries. Finally, we suggest that C. ocellifer from the Caatinga is composed of two distinct species. Our data support speciation in the presence of gene flow and highlight the role of environmental gradients in the diversification process.
Long-term changes of the nonresurfaced patella after total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND The most common complications of total knee arthroplasty involve the patellofemoral joint. However, the long-term fate of the nonresurfaced patella after total knee arthroplasty has seldom been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term changes of the nonresurfaced patella after total knee arthroplasty. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated the nonresurfaced patella in 227 knees (181 patients) at an average of 8.5 years after total knee arthroplasty. Functional results were correlated with radiographic changes, and risk factors leading to abnormal changes of the patella were analyzed. RESULTS Preoperatively, 186 (82%) of the patellae tracked centrally, thirty-nine (17%) displaced or tilted laterally, and two (1%) subluxated laterally. At the time of the latest follow-up, 133 (59%) of the patellae still tracked centrally with preservation of the cartilage thickness, fifteen (7%) showed early lateral tilt, sixty-eight (30%) had progressive loss of lateral cartilage thickness with lateral tilt and/or displacement, seven (3%) had progressed to lateral subluxation, and four (2%) tilted medially. An abnormal patellofemoral joint did not affect the knee and functional scores (p = 0.90 and 0.89, respectively). However, symptoms such as difficulty rising from a chair or reluctance to use the involved lower limb while climbing stairs were noted. Preoperative patellar maltracking was identified as the only risk factor leading to postoperative patellar abnormalities (relative risk, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 2.21 to 3.30; p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS At the time of follow-up, at an average of 8.5 years, patellar tracking and the patellofemoral joint remained normal after approximately 60% of the total knee arthroplasties performed without resurfacing of the patella. Progressive degenerative changes of the nonresurfaced patella (mainly on the lateral facet) and patellar maltracking were the most common abnormal radiographic changes. Patients with preoperative patellar maltracking were at risk for the development of these changes and clinical symptoms. Resurfacing of the patella during total knee arthroplasty may benefit such patients.
Inequalities, Preferences and Rankings in US Sports Coach Hiring Networks

Hiring a head coach of a college sports team is vital which will definitely have a great influence on the later development of the team. However, a lot of attention has been focused on each coach's individual features. A systematic and quantitative analysis of the whole coach hiring market is lacking. In a coach hiring network, the coaches are actually voting with their feet. It is interesting to analyze what factors are affecting the "footprint" left by those head coaches. In this paper, we collect more than 12,000 head coach hiring records in two different popular sports from the NCAA. Using network-based methods, we build the coach hiring network in the NCAA men's basketball and football. We find that: (1). the coach hiring network is of great inequality in coach production with a Gini coefficient close to 0.60. (2). coaches prefer to work within the same geographical region and the same division to their alma maters'. (3). the coach production rankings we calculated using network-based methods are generally correlated to the authoritative rankings, but also show disaccord in specific time period. The results provide us a novel view and better understanding of the coach hiring market in the NCAA and shed new light on the coach hiring system.