Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hyperoxia in Very Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Supplemental oxygen plays a critical role in the management of infants born at the lower limit of viability, but not without the risk of complications resulting from high levels or prolonged exposure. Longitudinal studies of very premature infants, born at less than 28 weeks' gestation, establish a clear relationship between pulse oximetry saturation readings above 92%, or hyperoxia, and development of severe retinopathy of prematurity, chronic lung disease, and brain injury. Hyperoxia is neither natural nor random. It is an unintended consequence of intervention. A comprehensive review of the literature reveals a strong association between exposure to hyperoxia and subsequent expression of comorbidities. Owing to this knowledge, eradication of hyperoxia, and consequent reduction of sequelae, is a significant public health concern that deserves attention by the neonatal community. Although prospective, collaborative meta-analyses will soon provide needed additional data to inform practice, existing compelling evidence supports urgent practice change to reduce exposure to hyperoxia in very preterm infants.
One of the Two Dicer-like Proteins in the Filamentous Fungi Magnaporthe oryzae Genome Is Responsible for Hairpin RNA-triggered RNA Silencing and Related Small Interfering RNA Accumulation*

Dicer is a ribonuclease III-like enzyme playing a key role in the RNA silencing pathway. Genome sequencing projects have demonstrated that eukaryotic genomes vary in the numbers of Dicer-like (DCL) proteins from one (human) to four (Arabidopsis). Two DCL genes, MDL-1 and -2 (Magnaporthe Dicer-like-1 and -2) have been identified in the genome of the filamentous fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. Here we show that the knockout of MDL-2 drastically impaired gene silencing of enhanced green fluorescence protein by hairpin RNA and reduced related small interfering RNA (siRNA) accumulation to nondetectable levels. In contrast, mutating the other DCL, MDL-1, exhibited a gene silencing frequency similar to wild type and accumulated siRNA normally. The silencing-deficient phenotype and loss of siRNA accumulation in the mdl-2 mutant was restored by genetic complementation with the wild-type MDL-2 allele. These results indicate that only MDL-2 is responsible for siRNA production, and no functional redundancy exists between MDL-1 and MDL-2 in the RNA silencing pathway in M. oryzae. Our findings contrast with a recent report in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa, where two DCL proteins are redundantly involved in the RNA silencing pathway, but are similar to the results obtained in a more distantly related organism, Drosophila melanogaster, where an individual DCL protein has a distinct role in the siRNA/micro-RNA pathways.
A novel STK11 germline mutation in two siblings with Peutz–Jeghers syndrome complicated by primary gastric cancer

Patients with Peutz–Jeghers syndrome (PJS) are known to be at risk of gastric cancer (GC), and the STK11 gene is a susceptibility gene for PJS. However, as no cases of PJS with GC in which a STK11 germline mutation has been identified have ever been reported and other susceptibility genes have also been suggested to be involved in PJS, the relation between STK11 germline mutations and GC in PJS is still unknown. In this study, we used sequencing analysis to investigate the STK11, CDH1, and TP53 loci for a germline mutation in two siblings with PJS with primary GC. A novel type of the STK11 germline mutation, c.890delG, encoding a truncated protein (p.Arg297fsX38) was identified, but no germline mutations of the CDH1 and TP53 genes were detected. No inactivation of the wild‐type allele by somatic mutation or chromosomal deletion or hypermethylation at the 5′‐CpG site of STK11 was detected in the GC. This is the first report of a STK11 germline mutation in a PJS patient with GC and should contribute to establishing correlations between the STK11 germline mutations and GC in PJS patients.
Designing an FPGA-Accelerated Homomorphic Encryption Co-Processor

In this paper we report on our advances designing and implementing an FPGA-based computation accelerator as part of a Homomorphic Encryption Processing Unit (HEPU) co-processor. This hardware accelerator technology improves the practicality of computing on encrypted data by reducing the computational bottlenecks of lattice encryption primitives that support homomorphic encryption schemes. We focus on accelerating the Chinese Remainder Transform (CRT) and inverse Chinese Remainder Transform (iCRT) for power-of-2 cyclotomic rings, but also accelerate other basic ring arithmetic such as Ring Addition, Ring Subtraction and Ring Multiplication. We instantiate this capability in a Xilinx Virtex-7 FPGA that can attach to a host computer through either a PCI-Express port or Ethernet. We focus our experimental performance analysis on the NTRU-based LTV Homomorphic Encryption scheme. This is a leveled homomorphic encryption scheme, but our accelerator is compatible with other lattice-based schemes and recent improved bootstrapping designs to support arbitrary depth computation. We experimentally compare performance with a reference software implementations of the CRT and iCRT bottlenecks and when used in a practical application of encrypted string comparison.
Dental caries in Namibia--the first national survey.

Abstract This paper reports findings on dental caries in the first national survey in Namibia, the second largest country on the Southern African subcontinent. In 1991. a total of 208l individuals, representing 0.15% of the Namibian population, 764 12-yr-olds, 736 15-yr-olds and 581 35–44-yr-olds were examined to determine their oral health. Caries was diagnosed using WHO criteria by a single calibrated dentist. At 12 yr between 37% and 81% of the subjects examined were caries-free, at 15 yr between 25% and 66%, and in the age class 35–44 yr 6–44% were caries-free. Mean DMFT at 12 yr was 0.40–1.74 and at 15 yr 0.92–3.05; mean DFT at 35–44 yr was 1.36–3.93. Females had significantly more caries than males and there were significant differences between urban, peri-urban and rural areas. The caries prevalence and experience is nevertheless low and within the WHO target for the year 2000 at 12 yr of age.
Field Response of Mediterranean Fruit Flies to Ceralure B1 Relative to Most Active Isomer and Commercial Formulation of Trimedlure

ABSTRACT In a field test to examine attractancy of Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), relative to release rates, equal moles of racemic ceralure B1 and trimedlure isomer C were compared on cotton wicks. Data were collected at 2, 4, and 7 d. The substrates were analyzed for longevity and overall persistence in the field. Ceralure B1 was equally attractive as trimedlure C for the first 2 d and significantly more so at 4 and 7 d based on trap counts of captured male Mediterranean fruit flies. Residue analysis of weathered wicks showed that the trimedlure C lasted for just 2 d in our field evaluations, whereas ceralure B1 had measurable material present after 7 d. Thus, based on the amounts of chemicals released, ceralure B1 was more active even in the first 2 d. Ceralure B1 also was formulated in a plastic matrix (ceralure coin) at three different dosages and tested for attractancy in the field against a 2-g trimedlure plug. A 150-mg ceralure B1 coin was equally attractive as a commercial 2-g trimedlure plug, whereas a 300-mg coin was significantly more attractive during a 6 – 8-wk deployment. Although our results clearly show that ceralure B1 is a superior attractant to trimedlure, costs of synthesis need to be considered as part of an overall program management strategy.
Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Central Nervous System: A 15-year Literature Survey of 220 Cases (August 1996–July 2011)

We reviewed the world literature on solitary fibrous tumors of the central nervous system from August 1996 to July 2011, focusing on both clinicopathological features and diagnostic findings. The anatomical distribution of the 220 cases reported so far reveals that most are intracranial and just over one-fifth are intraspinal. In decreasing frequency, intracranial tumors involve the supratentorial and infratentorial compartments, the pontocerebellar angle, the sellar and parasellar regions, and the cranial nerves. Intraspinal tumors are mainly located in the thoracic and cervical segments. Although most solitary fibrous tumors of the central nervous system are dural based, a small subset presents as subpial, intraparenchymal, intraventricular, or as tumors involving the nerve rootlets with no dural connection. Preoperative imaging and intraoperative findings suggest meningioma, schwannoma or neurofibroma, hemangiopericytoma, or pituitary tumors. Immunohistochemistry is critical to establish a definitive histopathological diagnosis. Vimentin, CD34, BCL2, and CD99 are the most consistently positive markers. The usual histologic type generally behaves in a benign manner if complete removal is achieved. Recurrence is anticipated when resection is subtotal or when the tumor exhibits atypical histology. The proliferative index as assessed by MIB1 labeling is of prognostic significance. Occasionally, tumors featuring conventional morphology may recur, perhaps because of minimal residual disease left behind during surgical extirpation. Rare extracranial metastases and tumor-related deaths are on record. Surgery is the treatment of choice. Stereotactic and external beam radiation therapy may be indicated for postsurgical tumor remnants and for unresectable recurrences. Long-term active surveillance of the patients is mandatory.
Immunoglobulin Fractions Isolated from Patients with Antiphospholipid Antibodies Prevent the Inactivation of Factor Va by Activated Protein C on Human Endothelial Cells

Summary We studied the effect of purified immunoglobulins (Ig) from 21 patients with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) on factor Va degradation by activated protein C (aPC) on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Sera from patients were tested on an ELISA aPL assay to determine the isotype with aPL activity. HUVEC were incubated with purified IgG or IgM fraction from controls or patients. Activated PC and factor Va were then added and factor Va degradation was measured after several reaction times. 13 of 14 IgM and 8 of 10 IgG from patients showed an inhibitory effect on factor Va degradation by aPC when compared with control Ig. We also observed the same inhibitory effect with patients’ Ig on studying the degradation of factor Va by aPC in a purified system containing aPC, protein S and phospholipids. These results suggest that aPL antibodies disturb the anticoagulant activity of aPC, which may contribute to the thrombotic tendency of these patients.
Evidence for long-range spatiotemporal interactions in infant and adult visual cortex

The development of spatiotemporal interactions giving rise to classical receptive field properties has been well studied in animal models, but little is known about the development of putative nonclassical mechanisms in any species. Here we used visual evoked potentials to study the developmental status of spatiotemporal interactions for stimuli that were biased to engage long-range spatiotemporal integration mechanisms. We compared responses to widely spaced stimuli presented either in temporal succession or at the same time. The former configuration elicits a percept of apparent motion in adults but the latter does not. Component flash responses were summed to make a linear prediction (no spatiotemporal interaction) for comparison with the measured evoked responses to sequential or simultaneous flash conditions. In adults, linear summation of the separate flash responses measured with 40% contrast stimuli predicted sequential flash responses twice as large as those measured, indicating that the response measured under apparent motion conditions is subadditive. Simultaneous-flash responses at the same spatial separation were also subadditive, but substantially less so. The subadditivity in both cases could be modeled as a simple multiplicative gain term across all electrodes and time points. In infants aged 3–8 months, responses to the stimuli used in adults were similar to their linear predictions at 40%, but the responses measured at 80% contrast resembled the subadditive responses of the adults for both sequential and simultaneous flash conditions. We interpret the developmental data as indicating that adult-like long-range spatiotemporal interactions can be demonstrated by 3–8 months, once stimulus contrast is high enough.
Beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity in liver and liver tumors.

Summary d(-)-β-Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.30) was assayed in rat liver under various dietary conditions and in a series of liver tumors of varying growth rates and degrees of differentiation. The liver enzyme activity, at about 16 units/gm tissue, was not affected appreciably by drastic dietary alterations. The enzyme was present in a series of slow-growing, well-differentiated hepatic carcinomas, though at levels of 0.1 to 0.3 that of liver, and was very low in several rapidly growing, poorly differentiated tumors, including the Novikoff hepatoma. Like the liver enzyme, the tumor enzyme was tightly bound to mitochondria. Both were released in a particulate form capable of transferring electrons from substrate to exogenous nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or its reduced form by sonic treatment or osmotic alteration, but could also be solubilized, though with considerable loss of activity, by treatment with 0.3% cholate. The soluble enzymes did not require lecithin and were not activated by this substance, in contrast with previous data on the soluble beef-heart dehydrogenase. It was eluted rapidly from Sephadex G-200 as a single band, indicating a molecular weight near 200,000. Both the soluble and particle-bound forms of the liver and tumor enzymes had similar kinetic properties, thermal stability, and pH optima, and it is assumed that they are identical.
CD58/CD2 Is the Primary Costimulatory Pathway in Human CD28−CD8+ T Cells

A substantial proportion of CD8+ T cells in adults lack the expression of the CD28 molecule, and the aging of the immune system is associated with a steady expansion of this T cell subset. CD28−CD8+ T cells are characterized by potent effector functions but impaired responses to antigenic challenge. CD28 acts as the primary T cell costimulatory receptor, but there are numerous additional receptors that can costimulate the activation of T cells. In this study, we have examined such alternative costimulatory pathways regarding their functional role in CD28−CD8+ T cells. Our study showed that most costimulatory molecules have a low capacity to activate CD28-deficient T cells, whereas the engagement of the CD2 molecule by its ligand CD58 clearly costimulated proliferation, cytokine production, and effector function in this T cell subset. CD58 is broadly expressed on APCs including dendritic cells. Blocking CD58 mAb greatly reduced the response of human CD28−CD8+ T cells to allogeneic dendritic cells, as well as to viral Ags. Our results clearly identify the CD58/CD2 axis as the primary costimulatory pathway for CD8 T cells that lack CD28. Moreover, we show that engagement of CD2 amplifies TCR signals in CD28−CD8+ T cells, demonstrating that the CD2–CD58 interaction has a genuine costimulatory effect on this T cell subset. CD2 signals might promote the control of viral infection by CD28−CD8+ T cells, but they might also contribute to the continuous expansion of CD28−CD8+ T cells during chronic stimulation by persistent Ag.
Spindle Cell and Epithelioid Cell Nevi with Atypia and Metastasis (Malignant Spitz Nevus)

We report on the clinical and pathologic features of 32 lesions diagnosed as malignant spindle cell and epithelioid cell nevus (S&E nevus). Because of the clinical or initial histopathologic diagnosis of malignant melanoma, six patients had lymph node dissection. Three of these patients also had an enlarged lymph node. In all six cases, metastatic spindle or epithelioid cells were found in at least one of the resected lymph nodes. Of the 30 patients with follow-up information, including all six patients with lymph node metastases, all are alive and well. No recurrences or further metastases have been found. On histopathologic reevaluation, all the lesions had features of S&E nevi. Study of these cases suggests that although some lesions with features of S&E nevi may involve local lymph nodes, widespread metastases do not result.
Tree responses to drought.

With global climate change, drought may become more com-mon in the future (IPCC 2007). Several factors will promote more frequent droughts: earlier snowmelt, higher temperatures and higher variability in precipitation. For ecosystems where the water cycle is dominated by snowmelt, warmer tempera-tures bring earlier melt (Stewart et al. 2005) and longer, drier snow-free periods (Westerling et al. 2006). Higher tempera-tures will also increase vapor pressure deficit if evapotranspira-tion does not also increase. Greater variability in precipitation has two implications for plant water balance: longer periods without water, and less captured in the soil in the more intense storms.Many recent tree mortality events have been linked to drought (Allen et al. 2010), but how much do we really know about the drought responses of trees? Physiological responses of trees to low soil water potential vary, but have been fairly well characterized (McDowell et al. 2008)—they vary from concomitantly lower leaf water potential (anisohydric response) to maintenance of leaf water potential above a threshold (isohydric response) with various strategies in between. Many tree species shed leaves during a strong drought, reducing transpiration and photosynthesis, and adjust partitioning to roots and storage (McDowell et al. 2008). Drought also ‘weakens’ trees and makes them more susceptible to insect attacks and pathogens (McDowell et al. 2008). Growth can be reduced through impairment of cell division and cell expansion (Hsiao 197 3), which occurs at a lower water stress threshold than does photosynthetic inhibi-tion (Hsiao et al. 1976). In fact, a variety of physiological processes respond at different plant water potentials (Hsiao 1973, Ditmarova et al. 2010), so that the severity of the drought will influence the physiological response. Drought is also relative—species adapted to low precipitation climates can survive low soil water potentials that would kill or seriously wound trees in more mesic climates and trees in mesic cli-mates might suffer from ‘drought’ that would be normal to trees in xeric climates. Finally, we know that there are many mechanisms of drought tolerance, and that many of these involve coordination within the whole tree.Two papers in this issue try to untangle some of the complex and variable responses of trees to drought. Larcheveque et al. (2011 ) droughted two different hybrid poplar saplings (each with
Effect of enteral feeding with ensure on oral bioavailabilities of ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin

The relative oral bioavailabilities of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin when they were coadministered with water or an enteral feeding product (Ensure) were assessed in 13 healthy volunteers. The area under the concentration time curve from time zero to infinity and the maximum concentration of drug in serum for both drugs were reduced by Ensure in comparison with those by water (P < 0.01). However, Ensure reduced the percent relative bioavailability of ciprofloxacin (72% +/- 14%; range, 52 to 96%) significantly more than ofloxacin (90% +/- 8.3%; range, 74 to 105%) (P < 0.005). Coadministration of Ensure significantly diminished ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin absorption, but ciprofloxacin absorption was reduced significantly more than ofloxacin absorption.
Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers

Next, the authors discuss an additive model obtained by replacing the timevarying regression coef cients by constants. Chapter 12 presents regression models based on parametric distributions such as the Weibull or log-logistic distributions. Chapter 13 gives a brief summary of multivariate survival analysis, including measures of association and frailty models. This chapter is a good starting point for further study of multivariate survival analysis, for which the book by Hougaard (2000) is an excellent reference.
Linomide in the treatment of multiple sclerosis: MRI results from prematurely terminated phase-III trials

Due to an unexpected increase in serious cardiovascular event in MS patient treated with Linomide, a synthetic immunomodulator, two phase-III multinational relapsing remitting (RR) and secondary progressive (SP) MS trials had to be discontinued. MRI result of 413 patient who participated for at least 3 months were analysed. Patient received placebo, 2.5 or 5 mg Linomide. Scans were performed at pre-enrolment, month 3 and termination. The number and volume of enhancing lesions (ELV), and the number of active scans were evaluated At month 3, the decrease in the number of enhancing lesions in the placebo group was I I1%, compared with 15% in the 2.5 mg group (P=0.027) and 23% in the 5 mg group (P=0.057). Using the percentage of active scans as outcome parameter, the odds ratio for improvement between placebo and 2.5 mg group was 1.62 (P=0.14); between placebo and 5 mg Linomide group 3.58 (P=0.003). At termination, a rebound effect was noted in the 2.5 mg group (P=0.0 1). Analysis of the ELV showed no significant difference between placebo and treatment groups. Although Linomide has unacceptable side effect, it seems to have a modest effect on MS disease activity, as measured by MRI.
Unleashing the integration potential of ERP systems: The role of process-based performance measurement systems

Despite the large investments recently made in ERP systems, many companies are beginning to admit that the real impact of ERPs on management styles and practices is actually well below expectations, especially on the front of organizational integration. It is argued that ERP systems possess integrating capabilities only at a potential stage: their simple physical implementation is not enough to activate their inner potentialities. ERP systems can enact substantial organizational integration, only if they rely on a sound business process architecture. When the process dimension is absent from the implementation, the integration potential of ERP systems is frozen. It is argued that this situation can be unfrozen by making processes visible: the introduction of a process‐based performance measurement system can help to unleash the power of integration, by making the processes visible to people.
Cognitive Trajectories in High Premorbid Social Functioning Bipolar Patients

Results: Cluster analysis showed that some BD patients maintain a high functioning, while other patients suffer of a loss of global functioning. Multivariate analysis showed that a lower social functioning, independently from premorbid social functioning, can be associated with a loss of executive functions (p = .009). In this analysis the effects of bipolar type (I or II), age at onset, current social roles and duration of illness were absent or not significant (p > .05). Discussions: This is the first study to distinguish levels of global functioning in euthymic BD patients that had the same premorbid social functioning. These important differences in the course of the BD can be assessed through psychosocial and neuropsychological assessment tools for a more appropriate management of the variables able to modify the course of disorder, also in euthymic phase. This practice becomes crucial in the definition and implementation of specific psychosocial treatments in the short and long-term course of disease, providing a new and specific area of intervention for bipolar disorder: the cognition.