Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improved Tracheoesophageal Prosthesis Sizing in Office-Based Tracheoesophageal Puncture

Objectives: Tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) for postlaryngectomy speech is increasingly being performed as an office-based procedure. We review our experience with office-based TEP and compare outcomes with those of operating room—based TEP. Our hypothesis was that office-based TEP results in improved prosthesis sizing, reducing the number of visits dedicated to prosthesis resizing. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients who underwent secondary TEP at our institution from 2001 to 2008. The primary dependent measure was the change in the length of the voice prosthesis. We also evaluated the number of visits made to the speech-language pathologist for resizing before a stable prosthesis length was achieved, and the number of days between voice prosthesis placement and the date a stable prosthesis length was observed. Results: Thirty-one patients were included in this study. There was a significant difference in prosthesis length change between patients who had office-based TEP and patients who had operating room—based TEP (p < 0.001). In addition, the office-based cohort required fewer visits to the speech-language pathologist for TEP adjustments before a stable TEP length was achieved (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Voice prosthesis sizing was better in patients who had office-based TEP than in patients who had operating room—based TEP. This outcome is likely due to the lesser degree of swelling of the tracheoesophageal party wall in the office-based procedure.
Relaxometry, animal biodistribution, and magnetic resonance imaging studies of some new gadolinium (III) macrocyclic phosphinate and phosphonate monoester complexes

The Gd3+ complexes of three new phosphorus containing tetraaza macrocycles (1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetrakis (methylene ethylphosphonic acid), H4DOTEP; 1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐l,4,7,10‐tetrakis (methylene phosphonic acid monoethylester), H4DOTPME; and the corresponding n‐butyl ester, H4DOTPMB) were prepared and examined for possible use as MRI contrast agents. Although thermodynamically and kinetically less stable than Gd(DOTA)− in saline and HSA solution, the stability of these new macrocyclic complexes appears to be sufficiently high for in vivo applications. NMRD relaxivity profiles of the three complexes indicate that the number of inner sphere water molecules for these chelates is ≤1 and that the more hydrophobic chelate, Gd(DOT‐PMB), binds to human serum albumin (HSA). Biodistribution studies of the radioactive 153Sm or 159Gd chelates in rats, gamma imaging of the 153Sm chelates in rats, and proton MRI studies of the nonradioactive Gd3+ chelates in rabbits all indicate that the DOTPMB complexes accumulate preferentially in the liver, spleen, and small intestines while the more hydrophilic DOTEP and DOTPME complexes appear to display renal clearances similar to other low molecular weight contrast agents.
Prenatal exposure to inflammatory conditions increases Cx43 and Panx1 unopposed channel opening and activation of astrocytes in the offspring effect on neuronal survival

Several epidemiological studies indicate that children born from mothers exposed to infections during gestation, have an increased risk to develop neurological disorders, including schizophrenia, autism and cerebral palsy. Given that it is unknown if astrocytes and their crosstalk with neurons participate in the above mentioned brain pathologies, the aim of this work was to address if astroglial paracrine signaling mediated by Cx43 and Panx1 unopposed channels could be affected in the offspring of LPS‐exposed dams during pregnancy. Ethidium uptake experiments showed that prenatal LPS‐exposure increases the activity of astroglial Cx43 and Panx1 unopposed channels in the offspring. Induction of unopposed channel opening by prenatal LPS exposure depended on intracellular Ca2+ levels, cytokine production and activation of p38 MAP kinase/iNOS pathway. Biochemical assays and Fura‐2AM/DAF‐FM time‐lapse fluorescence images revealed that astrocytes from the offspring of LPS‐exposed dams displayed increased spontaneous Ca2+ dynamics and NO production, whereas iNOS levels and release of IL‐1β/TNF‐α were also increased. Interestingly, we found that prenatal LPS exposure enhanced the release of ATP through astroglial Cx43 and Panx1 unopposed channels in the offspring, resulting in an increased neuronal death mediated by the activation of neuronal P2X7 receptors and Panx1 channels. Altogether, this evidence suggests that astroglial Cx43 and Panx1 unopposed channel opening induced by prenatal LPS exposure depended on the inflammatory activation profile and the activation pattern of astrocytes. The understanding of the mechanism underlying astrocyte‐neuron crosstalk could contribute to the development of new strategies to ameliorate the brain abnormalities induced in the offspring by prenatal inflammation. GLIA 2015;63:2058–2072
Comparability of a short food frequency questionnaire to assess diet quality: the DISCOVER study

Abstract This study aims to assess comparability of a short food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) used in the Determinants of Suicide: Conventional and Emergent Risk Study (DISCOVER Study) with a validated comprehensive FFQ (CFFQ). A total of 127 individuals completed SFFQ and CFFQ. Healthy eating was measured using Healthy Eating Score (HES). Estimated food intake and healthy eating assessed by SFFQ was compared with the CFFQ. For most food groups and HES, the highest Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients between the two FFQs were r > . 60. For macro-nutrients, the correlations exceeded 0.4. Cross-classification of quantile analysis showed that participants were classified between 46% and 81% into the exact same quantiles, while 10% or less were misclassified into opposite quantiles. The Bland–Altman plots showed an acceptable level of agreement between the two dietary measurement methods. The SFFQ can be used for Canadian with psychiatric disorders to rank them based on their dietary intake.
Food Legumes and Rising Temperatures: Effects, Adaptive Functional Mechanisms Specific to Reproductive Growth Stage and Strategies to Improve Heat Tolerance

Ambient temperatures are predicted to rise in the future owing to several reasons associated with global climate changes. These temperature increases can result in heat stress- a severe threat to crop production in most countries. Legumes are well-known for their impact on agricultural sustainability as well as their nutritional and health benefits. Heat stress imposes challenges for legume crops and has deleterious effects on the morphology, physiology, and reproductive growth of plants. High-temperature stress at the time of the reproductive stage is becoming a severe limitation for production of grain legumes as their cultivation expands to warmer environments and temperature variability increases due to climate change. The reproductive period is vital in the life cycle of all plants and is susceptible to high-temperature stress as various metabolic processes are adversely impacted during this phase, which reduces crop yield. Food legumes exposed to high-temperature stress during reproduction show flower abortion, pollen and ovule infertility, impaired fertilization, and reduced seed filling, leading to smaller seeds and poor yields. Through various breeding techniques, heat tolerance in major legumes can be enhanced to improve performance in the field. Omics approaches unravel different mechanisms underlying thermotolerance, which is imperative to understand the processes of molecular responses toward high-temperature stress.
Importance of low-oligomeric-weight species for prion propagation in the yeast prion system Sup35/Hsp104

The [PSI+] determinant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, consisting of the cytosolic translation termination factor Sup35, is a prion-type genetic element that induces an inheritable conformational change and converts the Sup35 protein into amyloid fibers. The molecular chaperone Hsp104 is required to maintain self-replication of [PSI+]. We observe in vitro that addition of catalytic amounts of Hsp104 to the prion-determining region of the NM domain of Sup35, Sup355–26, results in the dissociation of oligomeric Sup35 into monomeric species. Several intermediates of Sup355–26 could be detected during this process. Strong interactions are found between Hsp104 and hexameric/tetrameric Sup355–26, whereas the intermediate and monomeric “release” forms show a decreased affinity with respect to Hsp104, as monitored by saturation transfer difference and diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopic experiments. Interactions are mediated mostly by the side chains of Gln, Asn, and Tyr residues in Sup355–26. No interaction can be detected between Hsp104 and higher oligomeric states (≥8) of Sup355–26. Taking into account the fact that Hsp104 is required for maintenance of [PSI+], we suggest that low-oligomeric-weight species of Sup35 are important for prion propagation in yeast.
Ovarian modulators of type 1 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11betaHSD) activity and intra-follicular cortisol:cortisone ratios correlate with the clinical outcome of IVF.

BACKGROUND Follicular fluid (FF) contains compounds that can modulate NADP(+)-dependent oxidation of cortisol by type 1 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11betaHSD). The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between levels of the ovarian modulators of type 1 11betaHSD, intra-follicular cortisol:cortisone ratios and the clinical outcome of IVF cycles. METHODS A single random sample of FF was aspirated from each of 132 patients undergoing gonadotrophin-stimulated IVF. Components of FF, resolved using C18 column chromatography, were evaluated for effects on NADP(+)-dependent cortisol oxidation in rat kidney homogenates. Intra- follicular steroid concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassays. Clinical pregnancies were confirmed by ultrasonography at 6 weeks post-embryo transfer. RESULTS Levels of the hydrophilic ovarian 11betaHSD stimuli were significantly lower (P<0.0001) and levels of the hydrophobic ovarian 11betaHSD inhibitors were significantly higher (P<0.002) in conception versus non-conception cycles. Intra-follicular cortisol:cortisone ratios increased with the degree of inhibition of 11betaHSD by the hydrophobic FF fractions. FF obtained from conception cycles had significantly higher cortisol:cortisone ratios than samples from non-conception cycles (12.9+/-0.3 versus 8.5+/-0.2, respectively; P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Conception by IVF is associated with elevated intra-follicular cortisol:cortisone ratios, which reflect low levels of ovarian stimuli and/or high levels of ovarian inhibitors of type 1 11betaHSD.
Human Complement Factor I Does Not Require Cofactors for Cleavage of Synthetic Substrates 1

Complement factor I (fI) plays a major role in the regulation of the complement system. It circulates in an active form and has very restricted specificity, cleaving only C3b or C4b in the presence of a cofactor such as factor H (fH), complement receptor type 1, membrane cofactor protein, or C4-binding protein. Using peptide-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin derivatives, we investigated the substrate specificity of fI. There is no previous report of synthetic substrate cleavage by fI, but five substrates were found in this study. A survey of 15 substrates and a range of inhibitors showed that fI has specificity similar to that of thrombin, but with much lower catalytic activity than that of thrombin. fI amidolytic activity has a pH optimum of 8.25, typical of serine proteases and is insensitive to ionic strength. This is in contrast to its proteolytic activity within the fI-C3b-fH reaction, in which the pH optimum for C3b cleavage is <5.5 and the reaction rate is highly dependent on ionic strength. The rate of cleavage of tripeptide 7-amino-4-methylcoumarins by fI is unaffected by the presence of fH or C3(NH3). The amidolytic activity is inhibited by the synthetic thrombin inhibitor Z-d-Phe-Pro-methoxypropylboroglycinepinanediol ester, consistent with previous reports, and by benzenesulfonyl fluorides such as Pefabloc SC. Suramin inhibits fI directly at concentration of 1 mM. Within a range of metal ions tested, only Cr2+ and Fe3+ were found to inhibit both the proteolytic and amidolytic activity of fI.
The missing link in contemporary health disparities research: a profile of the mental and self-rated health of multiracial young adults

ABSTRACT This study compared the mental and self-rated health of monoracial and multiracial young adults using data from Wave 3 of the National Longitudinal Adolescent to Adult study. Our analytic sample consisted of 10,535 men and women ages 18–25 that self-identified as monoracial (Asian, Black, Native American, and White) or multiracial (White-Nonwhite and Nonwhite-Nonwhite). We find that when comparing aggregated racial groups, multiracials have poorer mental health than monoracials. However, differences emerge when multiracials are disaggregated into their two primary pairings of White-Nonwhite and Nonwhite-Nonwhite and compared to monoracials collectively and individually. We find that White-Nonwhites have poorer mental and self-rated health relative to monoracials generally and Whites specifically. In contrast, Nonwhite-Nonwhites have greater self-esteem and self-rated health than Whites as well as the aggregated monoracial group. Our findings highlight the complexities of examining multiracial health without researchers using consistent multiracial categories and reference groups. The results are discussed using three new perspectives that are introduced to explain health disparities between monoracial and multiracial persons.
Desmoglein 1 and 3 enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay in Iranian patients with pemphigus vulgaris: correlation with phenotype, severity, and disease activity

Background Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a chronic autoimmune blistering disorder of the skin and mucosa characterized by the presence of autoantibodies against desmoglein3 (Dsg3). Some patients also have antibodies against desmoglein1 (Dsg1). The aims of this study were to evaluate the diagnostic value of Dsg enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in Iranian PV patients, to assess its correlation with the clinical phenotype and severity of disease and to investigate the changes of these antibodies after treatment.
Contribution to multiagent planning for active information gathering. (Contribution à la planification multiagent pour la perception active)

In this thesis, we address the problem of performing event exploration. We define event exploration as the process of exploring a topologically known environment to gather information about dynamic events in this environment. Multiagent systems are commonly used for information gathering applications, but bring important challenges such as coordination and communication. This thesis proposes a new fully decentralized model of multiagent planning for information gathering. In this model, called MAPING (Multi-Agent Planning for INformation Gathering), the agents use an extended belief state that contains not only their own beliefs but also approximations of other agents’ beliefs. With this extended belief state they are able to quantify the relevance of a piece of information for themselves but also for others. They can then decide to explore a specific area or to communicate a specific piece of information according to the action that brings the most information to the system in its totality. The major drawback of this model is its complexity: the size of the belief states space increases exponentially with the number of agents and the size of the environment. To overcome this issue, we also suggest a solving algorithm that uses the well-known adopted assumption of variable independence. Finally we consider the fact that event exploration is usually an open-ended problem. Therefore the agents need to check again their beliefs even after they reached a good belief state. We suggest a smoothing function that enables the agents to forget gradually old observations that can be obsolete. We evaluated our model on different scenarios inspired by real-type applications. These experiments show the ability of MAPING to tackle the event exploration problem with limited communications.
Prevalence and Correlates of Vitamin and Supplement Usage Among Men With a Family History of Prostate Cancer

Hypotheses. Men who have a brother with prostate cancer have a 2-fold increased risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Strategies employed by these men to reduce prostate cancer risk are not well understood. Preliminary studies have shown that men with a family history of prostate cancer have a high rate of vitamin and supplement usage aimed at the prevention of prostate cancer. Study design. The authors analyzed data from a cross-sectional study of men with familial and hereditary prostate cancer and their unaffected brothers. A total of 542 unaffected men who had at least one brother who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer regarding their use of vitamins and supplements, as well as the motivation for use, were interviewed. Methods. The associations between subject characteristics and vitamin and supplement use were evaluated using an unconditional logistic regression modeling approach. Results. Overall, 59.2% and 36.5% of men reported ever using and currently using, respectively, one or more vitamins or supplements (including multivitamins). One third of men took a vitamin or supplement that has been targeted for prostate health or cancer prevention, including green tea, magnesium, male hormones, saw palmetto, selenium, soy, vitamins A, C, E, and zinc. Increasing age at time of survey was associated with vitamin/supplement use (odds ratio [OR] = 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-1.05). After adjusting for age at time of survey, being younger than an affected brother was associated with vitamin and supplement use (OR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.01-2.25). A total of 25% of men reported obtaining information from books or articles as the most common source of information. Conclusions. The findings indicate that men at an increased risk for prostate cancer report a high rate of vitamin and supplement use, including supplements targeted for prostate cancer prevention. Men with a family history of prostate cancer represent a target population for future chemopreventative agents.
A DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY OF SPANISH FEMALE SEX WORKERS: HIV PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS

In order to examine the prevalence of HIV infection and associated risk factors amongst Spanish female prostitutes a multicentre (n=22) cross-sectional study was conducted between November 1989 and January 1991. Data collected included socioeconomic characteristics, sexual behaviour and health status together with blood samples. A total of 1633 prostitutes were recruited into the study. Of these, 1433 (87.8%) consented to blood samples being taken and 180 (12.6%) were HIV positive. HIV seroprevalence was 54.7% for intravenous drug users (IVDUs) versus 3.7% for non-IVDUs. Previous imprisonment, hepatitis B and a partner who was an IVDU were significant predictors of HIV infection according to multivariate logistic regression models.
The politics of population policy-making in the Philippines

Diese Studie untersucht die Interdependenz zwischen Akteuren und Institutionen, die an den Beratungen und Debatten uber den Gesetzesentwurf zur Bevolkerungspolitik und/oder zur Politik reproduktiver Gesundheit, welche in den Akten des dreizehnten und vierzehnten philippinischen Kongresses zu finden sind, beteiligt sind. Diese Gesetzesvorlage stellt einen Schlusselaspekt in der Bevolkerungspolitik des Landes dar und ist auf den Philippinen sehr umstritten sowie ein in der Offentlichkeit vielfach diskutiertes Thema. Uberdies bildet es den Schauplatz fur den Konkurrenzkampf unter den Akteuren, die das Recht auf Abtreibung befurworten und jenen die dies ablehnen. Das Ziel der Studie im weiteren Sinne ist es deshalb, Licht auf das Mysterium um die Bevolkerungspolitik zu werfen. Dabei wird durch die Analyse der dafur wichtigsten Politikarena, der nationalen Gesetzgebung, eine Erklarung fur die stetige Dominanz der Abtreibungsgegner geboten. Die Studie ist in Pierre Bourdieus Theorie der Praxis im Allgemeinen und in seiner Kritik zum politischen Feld im Speziellen sowie in den Theoremen Frank Baumgartners und seiner Kollegen zu Anwaltschaft und Politikwandel verankert. Interviews mit den zentralen Akteuren auf nationaler und lokaler Politikebene wie auch eine Inhaltsanalyse von relevanten Regierungsdokumenten, Anwaltschaftsunterlagen der Akteure, Fachbeitrage und Medienberichte wurden durchgefuhrt, um Daten uber den nationalen und internationalen Kontext der Debatte um Bevolkerungspolitik und reproduktive Gesundheit zu sammeln. Die verschiedenen Standpunkte der Akteure zum Gesetzesvorschlag sowie die Argumente, Taktiken und Ressourcen, die die Abtreibungsgegner und –befurworter fur ihre jeweilige Anwaltschaftsarbeit nutzen, wurden daruber hinaus in die Untersuchung miteinbezogen. Angeleitet von den Theoremen und Konzepten Bourdieus und Baumgartners erlautert die Studie ihre Ergebnisse entlang der Starken und Schwachen der Abtreibungsgegner sowie –befurworter gegenuber ihren Anwaltschaftsargumenten, Taktiken und Ressourcen; daruber hinaus wird sowohl die Rolle von nationalen und internationalen Institutionen in der Bevolkerungspolitik als auch die katholischen Kirche als Akteurin in der genannten Anwaltschaft mit ihren Starken und Schwachen eingeordnet. Abschliesend wird eine Prognose fur die Bevolkerungspolitik auf den Philippinen unter Berucksichtigung der momentanen politischen Lage des Landes prasentiert.
A Preliminary Cross-National Test of Competing Theories of Nonprofits

This article empirically tests existing theories that have been used to explain the presence of nonprofits. A framework was developed from existing literature to test the explanatory power of competing theories about the presence of nonprofits. The cross-national framework of this study is intended to explore the explanatory power of existing models for settings other than the national culture in which most of them were created. The analysis revealed a number of detailed findings about socioeconomic and institutional determinants of nonprofit service provision. In general, theories that emphasize demand-side or “need” explanations for nonprofits were less well supported than supply-side and institutional theories. The article concludes with recommendations for future cross-national studies of nonprofit activities.
Well‐being and the anticipation of future positive experiences: The role of income, social networks, and planning ability

The present study aims to answer two questions: (1) are expectations of future positive experiences related to well‐being in the general population? ; and (2) what factors (social, psychological, economic) enable people to have expectations of future positive experiences. A community sample (N = 84) was assessed on a measure of anticipation of future positive and negative experiences, factors that might enable positive anticipation (measures of income, social networks, planning ability, and affective capacity) and measures of subjective well‐being (positive and negative affect and life satisfaction). Subjective well‐being was related to having more anticipated positive experiences, which was in turn related to having a large social network, having a high number of steps in plans to achieve goals, and, more marginally, to having a high household income.