Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Treatment Dropout from a Spouse Abuse Abatement Program

This study evaluated predictors of dropout among men who began and attended at least 1 session of a cognitive-behavioral, skills training oriented spouse abuse abatement counseling program. Based on prior research, a number of demographic, criminal justice, partner violence pattern, and personality characteristics were studied. Dropout prediction was assessed at 2 phases of program participation, during assessment (early drop) and during intervention (late drop). Overall, few of the variables studied predicted dropout. Early dropout was predicted by high rates of police contact for violent crimes, failure to self-report an alcohol problem, and paranoid personality characteristics. Late dropout was predicted by both high and moderate levels of police contact for violent crimes, and borderline personality characteristics. An Age X Violent Crime interaction suggested that young violent offenders are more likely to complete treatment. The overall model accounted for only 7.15% of the variance. Clinical and research implications are discussed.
Partial quantification of pigments extracted from the zooxanthellate octocoral Sinularia flexibilis at varying irradiances

Chlorophyll-a (chl-a) and carotenoid pigments of the zooxanthellate octocoral Sinularia flexibilis were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography following exposure to three light intensities for over 30 days. From the coral fragments located at different light intensities, a total carotenoid of >41 μg g−1 dry weight, including peridinin, xanthophylls (likely diadinoxanthin + diatoxanthin), and chl-a as the most abundant pigments, with minor contents of astaxantin and β-carotene were detected. The whole content of chl-a weighed 5 μg g−1 dry weight in all coral colonies. Chl-a and carotenoids contributed 11.2% and 88.2%, respectively, to all pigments detected, and together accounted for 99.4% of the total pigments present. The highest contents of carotenoids and chl-a was observed in the coral grafts placed in an irradiance of 100 μmol quanta m−2 s−1; they showed lower ratios of total carotenoids: chl-a compared to those exposed to 400 μmol quanta m−2 s−1 after >30 days of incubation. The ratios of peridinin and xanthophylls with respect to chl-a from the colonies at 400 μmol quanta m−2 s−1 were approximately double those observed at irradiances of 100 and 200 μmol quanta m−2 s−1. Partial quantification of pigments in this study showed that the carotenoids of S. flexibilis showed a decrease at irradiances above 100 μmol quanta m−2 s−1, with the exception of an increase in β-carotene at 200 μmol quanta m−2 s−1.
Differences Between Radiologically Confirmed Pneumonia With and Without Pleural Fluid in Hospitalized Children Younger Than 5 Years in Southern Israel

We compared demographic and clinical characteristics of pneumonia with and without pleural fluid (PF and Pn, respectively) in hospitalized children younger than 5 years in southern Israel, between 2002 and 2011. Overall, 108 PF and 5811 Pn episodes were recorded. Children with PF were older. Prematurity (6.6% vs 14.0%) and asthma (9.9% vs 23.5%) were less common in PF. Mean temperature and saturation were higher in PF while hemoglobin and sodium levels were lower in PF compared with Pn. Nasal washes were obtained in 30.6% and 39.9% of PF and Pn episodes, respectively, with respiratory syncytial virus identified more commonly in Pn (24.2% vs 42.3%). Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified in 5.2% and 0.9% of blood cultures in PF and Pn, respectively. In conclusion, PF differed from Pn in demographic and clinical characteristics, possibly due to differences in etiology. Although both diseases are considered bacterial, a high proportion of viral etiology was found in both, especially in Pn.
Quantitative Analysis of the Trends Exhibited by the Three Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences: Biophysics, Bioinformatics, and Systems Biology

New interdisciplinary biological sciences like bioinformatics, biophysics, and systems biology have become increasingly relevant in modern science. Many papers have suggested the importance of adding these subjects, particularly bioinformatics, to an undergraduate curriculum; however, most of their assertions have relied on qualitative arguments. In this paper, we will show our metadata analysis of a scientific literature database (PubMed) that quantitatively describes the importance of the subjects of bioinformatics, systems biology, and biophysics as compared with a well-established interdisciplinary subject, biochemistry. Specifically, we found that the development of each subject assessed by its publication volume was well described by a set of simple nonlinear equations, allowing us to characterize them quantitatively. Bioinformatics, which had the highest ratio of publications produced, was predicted to grow between 77% and 93% by 2025 according to the model. Due to the large number of publications produced in bioinformatics, which nearly matches the number published in biochemistry, it can be inferred that bioinformatics is almost equal in significance to biochemistry. Based on our analysis, we suggest that bioinformatics be added to the standard biology undergraduate curriculum. Adding this course to an undergraduate curriculum will better prepare students for future research in biology.
An unblinded randomised controlled trial of preoperative oral supplements in colorectal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND Perioperative oral supplementation has been shown to reduce post-operative complications. However, the use of preoperative standard oral supplements in a cohort of colorectal cancer patients has not been evaluated. The present study examined whether preoperative supplements are beneficial in this group. METHODS In a randomised controlled trial, patients were assigned to receive 400 mL of oral supplement and dietary advice or dietary advice alone. Primary outcome was the number of post-operative complications. One hundred and twenty-five patients were recruited (59 randomised to the intervention group and 66 to the control group) and nine were excluded. RESULTS In the intervention group, 24 (44%) patients had a complication compared to 26 (42%) in the control group (P = 0.780). In the intervention and control groups, there were eight (15%) and 16 (25%) surgical site infections, respectively (P = 0.140) and seven (13%) and 11 (17%) chest infections, respectively (P = 0.470). Subgroup analysis for hypothesis generation included 83 (71%) weight-losing patients, where there was a significant reduction in surgical site infections using the Buzby definition (P = 0.034), although this was not the case for the Centre for Disease Control definition (P = 0.052). CONCLUSIONS There was no evidence that preoperative supplements were beneficial in reducing the number of complications, although there may be some benefit for surgical site infections in selected weight-losing preoperative patients.
A new human primary epithelial cell culture model to study conjunctival inflammation.

PURPOSE To develop a complete and optimized method to expand in culture human conjunctival epithelial cells from cadaveric donor samples. METHODS Epithelial cells were obtained from cadaveric conjunctival tissue (n = 47). Preplating and differential trypsinization were optimized to eliminate stromal contamination. Epithelial cells were grown with five different media: control, epithelial growth factor (EGF)-enriched, H2O2-supplemented, fibroblast-conditioned, and human serum media. Adhesion, proliferation, colony forming efficiency (CFE), and percentage of CK19(+) and Ki67(+) cells were determined with the five different media. Cells were characterized by immunofluorescence and/or Western blotting techniques for the expression of CK4, CK7, CK19, MUC5AC, vimentin, FSP-1, Ki67, E-cadherin, and zonula occludens (ZO)-1 markers. In addition, cells were treated with TNF-α and levels of secreted IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Pure epithelial cell cultures were obtained. Human serum medium showed the best properties in proliferation and CFE, while maintaining epithelial phenotype. Cells with this medium were passaged up to five times, although they maintained all epithelial characteristics only through passage 3. Cultured cells expressed epithelial markers, but not stromal ones. The number of MUC5AC(+) cells increased throughout the passages, whereas Ki67(+) cell numbers decreased. Cells in culture maintained adherens and tight junctions, and responded to TNF-α treatment by releasing more IL-6, showing that they can be used for inflammation assays. CONCLUSIONS We have developed a complete protocol to expand conjunctival epithelial cells from cadaveric tissue. This culture system responded to an inflammatory stimulus, so it could be used to develop a more complex in vitro model of inflammation.
Racial Disparities in Cholecystectomy Rates During Hospitalizations for Acute Gallstone Pancreatitis: A National Survey

BACKGROUND:Practice guidelines advocate performing cholecystectomy for acute gallstone pancreatitis during the same hospitalization stay. Our objectives were to determine nationwide rates of adherence to these guidelines in the United States and whether this varied with race and ethnicity.METHODS:We queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) to identify admissions for acute gallstone pancreatitis between 1998 and 2003. We calculated overall and race-specific proportions of patients who underwent cholecystectomy or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) prior to discharge. We used multivariate analysis to determine racial effects while adjusting for age, comorbidity, health insurance payer, and hospital factors.RESULTS:The overall rate of cholecystectomy was 51% and that of either cholecystectomy or ERCP was 62%. Cholecystectomy rates were lower among African Americans (AAs) and Asians compared to Whites (44% and 43%, respectively, vs 50%, P < 0.001). After multivariate adjustment, the odds of cholecystectomy was lower in AAs (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.63–0.73) and Asians/Pacific Islanders (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65–0.87) relative to Whites, while rates were modestly higher among Hispanics (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.03–1.22). AAs were less likely to receive ERCP than Whites (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.65–0.78). In contrast, Asians/Pacific Islanders (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.16–1.69) and Hispanics (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09–1.29) were more likely to receive ERCP than Whites.CONCLUSIONS:Despite practice guidelines, about only half of admissions for gallstone pancreatitis receive cholecystectomy during the same hospitalization, and cholecystectomy rates vary substantially by race. These findings raise concerns regarding suboptimal healthcare delivery.
Clinical results of the transurethreal resection and evaluation of superficial bladder carcinomas by means of fluorescence diagnosis after intravesical instillation of 5-aminolevulinic acid.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The high recurrence rate of superficial bladder carcinomas requires new approaches in diagnosis and therapy. Particularly, an improvement in detection, resulting in better resection of flat lesions, which are poorly or not detectable under white light, is necessary. The effectiveness of fluorescence diagnosis for detection and transurethral resection of bladder carcinomas was investigated in a prospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS From 120 patients, 347 biopsies were taken or tumors resected with the aid of fluorescence from 5-aminolevulinic acid. Urothelial carcinomas and dysplasias were detected in 124 cases. RESULTS Of the lesions, 119 were fluorescence positive (N = 74 pTaG1/2; N = 9 pT1G1/2; N = 11 pT1G3; N = 7 carcinoma in situ; N = 6 p > T1; N = 12 dysplasia II), and 5 were falsely negative (N = 3 pTaG1/2; N = 1 pT1G1/2; N = 1 dysplasia II). The sensitivity of the fluorescence diagnosis (96.0%) was significantly higher than the 67.5% sensitivity of white-light cystoscopy (P < 0.0001). Taking the data for primary or recurrent tumor resection and secondary resection separately, the sensitivity was 100% and 80%, respectively, and was significantly higher than that of white-light cystoscopy, which was 80.8% and 20 %, respectively (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0008). The lower sensitivity of fluorescence diagnosis in secondary transurethral resection is attributed to the higher rate of false-negative findings in areas of former resection. CONCLUSIONS The high rate of false-positive findings limits the correct interpretation of fluorescence findings. In spite of this, fluorescence diagnosis is superior to white-light cystoscopy in every case. By means of better detection of urothelial neoplasias and dysplasias, as well as more thorough and extensive resection under fluorescence control, it should be possible to reduce the recurrence rate of superficial bladder carcinomas.
Inherited medullary microcarcinoma of the thyroid: a study of 11 cases.

The authors report 11 patients with genetically determined medullary microcarcinomas. Nine patients were either children or adolescents and two patients were young adults. The youngest patient was 7 years old and the oldest was 34 years of age (mean age, 15.4 yrs). The preoperative diagnosis was based on family history and elevated serum calcitonin levels. In addition, six patients had RET protooncogene mutations in exons 10, 11, and 16. Two patients who had the RET protooncogene mutations did not have serum calcitonin measurements. Nine patients had bilateral medullary microcarcinomas (<1.0 cm), whereas the two patients with unilateral tumors demonstrated multifocal disease. The principle microscopic differences between these genetically determined medullary microcarcinomas and larger sporadic (>1 cm) medullary carcinomas were the low incidence of stromal desmoplasia and amyloid deposition, the high incidence of C-cell hyperplasia, and the low incidence of lymph node metastases. Only one patient, a 34-year-old man, presented with lymph node metastases. All patients remain disease free 11 to 70 months after diagnosis. This small series of thyroid microcarcinomas illustrates the impact molecular diagnostics is having on the management and prognosis of genetically determined medullary carcinoma.
[Management of post-traumatic facial paralysis. A decision based on a series of 85 cases].

OBJECTIVE To review patient selection and factors affecting the decision for surgical or non-surgical management of patients with trauma-induced facial nerve palsy. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective review of 85 consecutive cases occurring over a 6-year period. METHODS Between 1984 and 1990, 85 cases of facial nerve palsy following trauma were treated. Patient assessment included clinical, audiological, radiological and EMG examinations. Depending on test results, patients were either given medical treatment or underwent total facial nerve decompression surgery. RESULTS Recovery was achieved in all 33 medically treated patients. Among the 52 surgically-treated patients (61.2%), 47 had immediate facial nerve palsy at admission (90.4%). Onset of facial palsy was delayed in 5 others, including 3 for whom the delay to onset was unknown. Surgical accesses used were the middle fossa and transmastoidal (60%), translabyrinthine (11%), and pure transmastoidal (29%) routes depending on hearing loss, location of fracture line and general patient condition. Lesions were predominantly found in the geniculate ganglion area. A nerve gap was found in only 13.5% of the cases. Two years post-operatively, 92.3% of the patients had grade I-III recovery. No grade V or VI cases were observed. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The rarity of severe nerve lesions encountered in surgically-treated patients raises the question of better candidate selection for surgery. At present, imaging techniques, particularly radiology, can help to choose the best indication. Immediate total facial palsy associated with a clear-cut fracture going through the Fallopian canal is perhaps the only case requiring surgery. When the delay of onset is unknown, an EMG indicating a total denervation process is the decisive argument.
Systematic Review and Meta–Analysis of the Diagnostic Accuracy of Fibrosis Marker Panels in Patients with HIV/Hepatitis C Coinfection

Abstract Background: Accurately staging hepatitis C virus (HCV)–related fibrosis is crucial for treatment decisions and prognostication. Our objective was to systematically review studies describing the accuracy of serum marker panels for predicting fibrosis in HIV/HCV–coinfected patients. Method: Studies comparing serum marker panels with biopsy in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients were identified. Random effects meta-analyses and areas under summary receiver operating characteristics curves (AUC) examined test accuracy for detecting significant fibrosis (F2–4) and cirrhosis. Heterogeneity was explored using meta-regression. Results: Five studies (n = 574) including four fibrosis measures (APRI [n = 4 studies], Forns’ [n = 2], FibroTest [n = 1], SHASTA [n = 1]) met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis were 51% and 16%, respectively. For the prediction of significant fibrosis, the summary AUC was 0.82 (95% CI 0.78–86) and diagnostic odds ratio was 7.8 (5.1–11.9). For cirrhosis, these figures were 0.83 (0.69–0.97) and 11.0 (4.6–26.2), respectively. Meta–regression including study factors (methodological quality and biopsy adequacy), patient characteristics (age, gender, CD4 count), and fibrosis measure failed to identify important predictors of accuracy. Conclusion: Available fibrosis marker panels have acceptable performance for identifying significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in HIV/HCV–coinfected patients but are not yet adequate to replace liver biopsy. Additional studies are necessary to identify the optimal measure.
Osteoclastogenesis is enhanced by activated B cells but suppressed by activated CD8+ T cells

Host immune response is known to contribute to the progression of periodontitis, and alveolar bone destruction in periodontitis is associated with enhanced osteoclast activity. Therefore, we evaluated the roles of activated lymphocyte subsets in osteoclastogenesis. Osteoclast precursors were co‐cultured with activated lymphocytes (B, CD4+ T, CD8+ T) in the presence of either macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (M‐CSF) alone or M‐CSF plus soluble receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand (sRANKL), and subsequent differentiation into active osteoclasts was evaluatedby a resorption assay. The activated B and CD4+ cells, but not CD8+ T cells, induced osteoclast differentiation in the presence of M‐CSF alone. In the presence of M‐CSF and sRANKL, B cells induced the formation of small but highly active osteoclasts and increased resorption, while CD8+ T cells profoundly suppressed osteoclastogenesis. Co‐culture using an insert wellor supernatant suggested that both B and CD8+ T cells acted on osteoclasts mostly via soluble proteins. Activated B cells expressed many osteoclastogenic factors including RANKL, TNF‐α, IL‐6, MIP‐1α, and MCP‐3. CD8+ T cells expressed a substantial amount of osteoprotegerin (OPG) along with RANKL. However, blocking antibody to OPG did not reverse the suppression by CD8+ T cells, suggesting that other factor(s) are involved. Taken together, activated B cells promoted osteoclastogenesis, while CD8+ T cells inhibited the osteoclast formation via direct interaction. The results imply the importance of lymphocyte subpopulations in the development of periodontitis.
Rab4 interacts with the human P‐glycoprotein and modulates its surface expression in multidrug resistant K562 cells

P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) is a plasma membrane glycoprotein that has been signaled as a primary cause of multidrug resistance (MDR) in tumors. We performed a yeast 2‐hybrid screen using the C‐terminal domain of P‐gp and identified 2 small GTPases involved in vesicular trafficking, Rab4 and Rab14, which complex with P‐gp. The overexpression of GFP‐Rab4, either transiently or stably, but not of Rab14, in K562ADR cells decreased the presence of P‐gp in the cell surface. As a result, expression of this GTPase reduced the MDR phenotype of K562ADR cells, by augmenting the intracellular accumulation of daunomycin (DNM). This effect was mimicked by the constitutively active Rab4Q72L mutant, but not by the dominant negative Rab4S27N mutant. Rab4 regulated excocytotic P‐gp trafficking to the plasma membrane from intracellular compartments, and this modulation required the interaction of both proteins and the GTPase activity. Noteworthy, K562ADR cells exhibited a significant reduction of Rab4 levels, but not of other Rab GTPases, as compared with the sensitive parental cell line, suggesting that the development of the MDR phenotype in these cells involves upregulation of P‐gp and a concomitant downregulation of proteins that regulate its surface expression. Attenuation of endogenous Rab4 levels in K562ADR by RNA interference enhanced the expression of P‐gp in the cell surface, and reduced the uptake of DNM. Accordingly, these findings substantiate the notion that modulation of the temporal and spatial distribution of P‐gp in cancer cells may be a valid therapeutic strategy to alleviate the MDR phenotype, and signal to Rab4 as a potential target.
The crystal structure of the designed trimeric coiled coil coil‐VaLd: Implications for engineering crystals and supramolecular assemblies

The three‐dimensional structure of the 29‐residue designed coiled coil having the amino acid sequence acetyl‐E VEALEKK VAALESK VQALEKK VEALEHG‐amide has been determined and refined to a crystallographic R‐factor of 21.4% for all data from 10‐Å to 2.1‐Å resolution. This molecule is called coil‐VaLd because it contains valine in the a heptad positions and leucine in the d heptad positions. In the trigonal crystal, three molecules, related by a crystallographic threefold axis, form a parallel three‐helix bundle. The bundles are stacked head‐to‐tail to form a continuous coiled coil along the c‐direction of the crystal. The contacts among the three helices within the coiled coil are mainly hydrophobic: four layers of valine residues alternate with four layers of leucine residues to form the core of the bundle. In contrast, mostly hydrophilic contacts mediate the interaction between trimers: here a total of two direct protein‐protein hydrogen bonds are found. Based on the structure, we propose a scheme for designing crystals of peptides containing continuous two‐, three‐, and four‐stranded coiled coils.
Mitigating defective CMOS to Non-CMOS vias in CMOS/Molecular memories

CMOS/Molecular (CMOL) memory is one of the emerging memory technologies that promises increased data storage, reduced power consumption and minimized fabrication complexity. The fabrication of these memories is based on the stacking of non-CMOS-based memory cell array on the top of CMOS-based peripheral circuits. Similarly to existing 3D technology, vertical vias are utilized to connect the two components. Because of their critical location and small in size, these CMOS to Non-CMOS Vias (CNVs) are prone to fabrication imperfection. A defective CNV may cause inaccessibility to the memory cell array, which in turn decreases the overall yield and/or reliability. This paper presents a modified CMOL architecture that mitigates faults due to defective CNVs. It is based on combining the Redundant Residue Number System (RRNS) error correction code (ECC) and interleaving. The number of banks interleaved in CMOL memories is determined by the ECC capability. Simulation results show that by setting an appropriate ECC capability with the associated number of banks, 95% to 100% mitigation of defective CNVs can be realized.