Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test after Traumatic Brain Injury

The performance of 100 patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) was examined to determine the underlying latent structure as well as profile subtypes. Exploratory factor analysis with oblique rotation identified three factors: response accuracy, learning, and failure to maintain set. Marker variables from each factor were then included in a two-stage cluster analysis, which identified two reliable subtypes. Level of performance differences between these subtypes were meaningfully related to both demographic background and length of coma. It is concluded that interpretation of the WCST results of patients with TBI should consider the multifactorial nature of the instrument in combination with injury severity characteristics and demographic variables.
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells control B cell-derived IL-10 production

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) exert contradictory roles: they represent major players in the pathogenesis of type I interferon-mediated autoimmunity but contribute to tolerance in the transplant setting. In this study we describe pDC as cellular enhancers of B cell-derived IL-10 production, a mechanism recently described as relevant in maintaining peripheral tolerance. Our data demonstrate that in human peripheral blood pDC augment IL-10 production in B cells in response to TLR7 and -9 ligands. They further show that pDC themselves produce IL-10 in response to TLR stimulation, most prominently after triggering of TLR7. Additionally, the data indicate that the positive regulatory effect of pDC on IL-10 production is not due to type I interferon production or other soluble factors. We conclude that pDC/B cell contact is essential for B cell-mediated immune suppression.
A bit-allocation model using on-line rate-distortion optimization in MPEG-4 rate control

In typical video coding, the rate control allocates a target number of bits to each frame and selects the quantization parameters to meet the frame targets. To produce a consistent picture quality between consecutive frames, we propose a new technique for assigning such targets using the Lagrange multiplier method. The proposed bit-allocation algorithm is applied to improve MPEG-4 Q2 rate-control scheme. Simulation results show that the improved Q2 scheme not only achieves 0.42-0.54 dB PSNR gain but maintains a very consistent quality.
ComplexSim: a flexible simulation platform for complex systems

This paper describes ComplexSim, a C-based simulation platform intended to support the study of P2P systems and complex networks. Its architecture is based on two layers: 1) the parallel simulation kernel, which manages the execution of simulations on SMP systems, by providing a clean API enabling the definition and scheduling of tasks and events; 2) the complex network data and runtime, which allows a complex network to be defined as a graph of entities endowed with user-defined attributes and runtime behaviour. This paper describes the design of ComplexSim as well as the API it provides. Moreover, some experimental results are reported, showing that, even in the case of huge complex networks with hundred million nodes, ComplexSim exhibits better performances, in terms of memory consumption and processing times, with respect to similar solutions.
Substance use and abuse by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: preliminary results from four national epidemiologic studies.

OBJECTIVE The authors analyzed four recent large national surveys to assess the degree of use and abuse of a wide range of psychoactive substances across subgroups of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) and in comparison with whites. METHOD The surveys analyzed were the 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, the 1992 National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey, and the 1995 National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health In-School and In-Home surveys. The AAPI sample sizes varied from 900 to more than 4,500 across the four surveys. RESULTS Among major racial groups, use of major substances is lowest for AAPIs. Among disaggregated AAPI groups, Japanese Americans have the highest substance use rates. Mixed-heritage AAPIs are at high risk for substance use, even after controlling for cultural protective factors and socioeconomic measures. Differential rates correspond to the ranking of several acculturation and socioeconomic indices. CONCLUSION The results, while preliminary, point to the importance of rethinking ethnic and racial classifications for estimating substance use and abuse, for studying substance abuse problems in mixed-heritage adolescents, and for studying socioenvironmental and potentially genetic protective factors.
Trastuzumab plus anastrozole versus anastrozole alone for the treatment of postmenopausal women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive, hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer: results from the randomized phase III TAnDEM study.

PURPOSE TAnDEM is the first randomized phase III study to combine a hormonal agent and trastuzumab without chemotherapy as treatment for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)/hormone receptor-copositive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Postmenopausal women with HER2/hormone receptor-copositive MBC were randomly assigned to anastrozole (1 mg/d orally) with or without trastuzumab (4 mg/kg intravenous infusion on day 1, then 2 mg/kg every week) until progression. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) in the intent-to-treat population. Results Overall, 103 patients received trastuzumab plus anastrozole; 104 received anastrozole alone. Patients in the trastuzumab plus anastrozole arm experienced significant improvements in PFS compared with patients receiving anastrozole alone (hazard ratio = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.84; median PFS, 4.8 v 2.4 months; log-rank P = .0016). In patients with centrally confirmed hormone receptor positivity (n = 150), median PFS was 5.6 and 3.8 months in the trastuzumab plus anastrozole and anastrozole alone arms, respectively (log-rank P = .006). Overall survival in the overall and centrally confirmed hormone receptor-positive populations showed no statistically significant treatment difference; however, 70% of patients in the anastrozole alone arm crossed over to receive trastuzumab after progression on anastrozole alone. Incidence of grade 3 and 4 adverse events was 23% and 5%, respectively, in the trastuzumab plus anastrozole arm, and 15% and 1%, respectively, in the anastrozole alone arm; one patient in the combination arm experienced New York Heart Association class II congestive heart failure. CONCLUSION Trastuzumab plus anastrozole improves outcomes for patients with HER2/hormone receptor-copositive MBC compared with anastrozole alone, although adverse events and serious adverse events were more frequent with the combination.
P2X2 and P2X3 receptor expression in human bladder urothelium and changes in interstitial cystitis

To investigate whether the expression of P2X3 receptors (implicated in the pathophysiology of pain) is altered in human bladder urothelium from patients with interstitial cystitis (IC, a major symptom of which is pain), and as P2X2 receptors can be co‐expressed with P2X3 receptors, to assess their expression also.
Recent developments in indoor optical wireless [Optical wireless communications]

An overview of the developments in optical wireless systems viewed from the traditional communications viewpoint of transmitter, channel and receiver is presented. The trends in modulation formats that match information to the optical wireless channel are considered. This is followed by the discussion of recent transmitter and receiver innovations, particularly the utilisation of diversity transceivers. As a preliminary to the following treatment, the nature and modelling of the optical wireless channel are introduced, with particular emphasis on its unique features in terms of transmitted power constraints and non-negativity. From the examination of modulation formats, on-off-keying remains the format of choice for basic binary transmission, whereas pulse-position modulation and its derivatives are preferred for more sophisticated requirements. The recent introduction of techniques from radio systems employing subcarriers is seen to be the most promising development in modulation techniques at present. In receiver technology, quasi-diffuse systems employing multispot diffusion and angular diversity are significant developments. They offer lower path loss and less multipath dispersion, at a lower transmission power compared to 'conventional' wide-angle diffuse systems, while providing a high level of user mobility compared to line-of-sight transmission. These developments are helping optical wireless systems to fulfil their promise by adopting a philosophy inspired by the radio domain to accommodate operation within a hostile channel.
A TRAJETÓRIA DA PECUÁRIA BOVINA BRASILEIRA

A pecuaria bovina exerceu importante papel no desenvolvimento economico do Brasil desde a sua colonizacao,sendo relevante ate hoje. Nos ultimos anos, as tradicionais regioes de pecuaria vem cedendo espaco a exploracao de culturas que proporcionam maior rentabilidade por area e a criacao de gado bovino tem se deslocado para as zonas de expansao da fronteira agricola, notadamente nos estados amazonicos. O Brasil e um grande produtor e exportador de carne bovina, permanecendo na primeira posicao no ranking mundial na producao para fins comerciais, pelo fato da India, que possui o maior efetivo bovino nao utilizar totalmente o seu rebanho para fins economicos. Esse texto tem o objetivo de analisar, sucintamente, a evolucao e a espacializacao da bovinocultura no Brasil, com enfase no Centro-Oeste do pais.
Mycophenolate mofetil vs azathioprine in a large population of elderly renal transplant patients.

BACKGROUND Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has been shown to decrease acute rejection episodes after kidney transplantation, and has been associated with better graft and patient survival vs azathioprine (AZA). Previous studies reported a higher risk of death due to infection in elderly recipients treated with MMF-based immunosuppression. METHODS We analysed 5069 elderly ( > 65 years of age) primary renal allograft recipients treated with either MMF or AZA reported to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients between 1988 and 2000, and compared rates of acute rejection, late acute rejection, graft survival, death-censored graft survival, patient survival and death with a functioning graft. RESULTS In Cox proportional hazard models, MMF was associated with lower rates of late acute rejection with 12 (RR = 0.72, P = 0.11) and 24 months (RR = 0.50, P = 0.028) of continuous therapy. In univariate analysis (Kaplan-Meier), MMF was associated with improved patient (P = 0.0003) and graft (P<0.0001) survival vs AZA, and trends toward improved patient and graft survival in multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate the efficacy of MMF-based immunosuppression in elderly transplant recipients and do not suggest an increased risk of death compared to treatment with AZA.
Abnormal sympathetic overactivity evoked by insulin in the skeletal muscle of patients with essential hypertension.

The reason why hyperinsulinemia is associated with essential hypertension is not known. To test the hypothesis of a pathophysiologic link mediated by the sympathetic nervous system, we measured the changes in forearm norepinephrine release, by using the forearm perfusion technique in conjunction with the infusion of tritiated NE, in patients with essential hypertension and in normal subjects receiving insulin intravenously (1 mU/kg per min) while maintaining euglycemia. Hyperinsulinemia (50-60 microU/ml in the deep forearm vein) evoked a significant increase in forearm NE release in both groups of subjects. However, the response of hypertensives was threefold greater compared to that of normotensives (2.28 +/- 45 ng.liter-1.min-1 in hypertensives and 0.80 +/- 0.27 ng.liter-1 in normals; P less than 0.01). Forearm glucose uptake rose to 5.1 +/- . 7 mg.liter-1.min-1 in response to insulin in hypertensives and to 7.9 +/- 1.3 mg.liter-1.min-1 in normotensives (P less than 0.05). To clarify whether insulin action was due to a direct effect on muscle NE metabolism, in another set of experiments insulin was infused locally into the brachial artery to expose only the forearm tissues to the same insulin levels as in the systemic studies. During local hyperinsulinemia, forearm NE release remained virtually unchanged both in hypertensive and in normal subjects. Furthermore, forearm glucose disposal was activated to a similar extent in both groups (5.0 +/- 0.6 and 5.2 +/- 1.1 mg.liter-1.min-1 in hypertensives and in normals, respectively). These data demonstrate that: (a) insulin evokes an abnormal muscle sympathetic overactivity in essential hypertension which is mediated by mechanisms involving the central nervous system; and (b) insulin resistance associated with hypertension is demonstrable in the skeletal muscle tissue only with systemic insulin administration which produces muscle sympathetic overactivity. The data fit the hypothesis that the sympathetic system mediates the pathophysiologic link between hyperinsulinemia and essential hypertension.
Folate Pathway Gene Polymorphisms, Maternal Folic Acid Use, and Risk of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Background: Several studies suggest that maternal folic acid supplementation before or during pregnancy protects against childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We investigated associations between ALL risk and folate pathway gene polymorphisms, and their modification by maternal folic acid supplements, in a population-based case–control study (2003–2007). Methods: All Australian pediatric oncology centers provided cases; controls were recruited by national random digit dialing. Data from 392 cases and 535 controls were included. Seven folate pathway gene polymorphisms (MTHFR 677C>T, MTHFR 1298A>C, MTRR 66A>G, MTR 2756 A>G, MTR 5049 C>A, CBS 844 Ins68, and CBS 2199 T>C) were genotyped in children and their parents. Information on prepregnancy maternal folic acid supplement use was collected. ORs were estimated with unconditional logistic regression adjusted for frequency-matched variables and potential confounders. Case–parent trios were also analyzed. Results: There was some evidence of a reduced risk of ALL among children who had, or whose father had, the MTRR 66GG genotype: ORs 0.60 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39–0.91] and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.40–1.03), respectively. The ORs for paternal MTHFR 677CT and TT genotypes were 1.41 (95% CI, 1.02–1.93) and 1.81 (95% CI, 1.06–3.07). ORs varied little by maternal folic acid supplementation. Conclusions: Some folate pathway gene polymorphisms in the child or a parent may influence ALL risk. While biologically plausible, underlying mechanisms for these associations need further elucidation. Impact: Folate pathway polymorphisms may be related to risk of childhood ALL, but larger studies are needed for conclusive results. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(1); 48–56. ©2014 AACR.
Precision and accuracy of ground reaction force normalization in a heterogeneous population of dogs.

OBJECTIVE To determine if currently used ground reaction force (GRF) normalization methods are accurate and precise enough to be used on a single-limb basis. STUDY DESIGN Prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS Clinically normal (n = 69) dogs and 40 dogs with unilateral ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments (CCL). METHODS Pelvic limb GRFs of orthopedically normal dogs and those with unilateral ruptured CCL were collected. Normalization methods included none, body weight (BW), withers height (WH), WH and relative velocity (WH*F) and principal component 1 (PC1). Normalization methods were evaluated both by individual GRFs and additively. Binary logistic regression was performed for all normalization methods; sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) calculated. Stepwise backward logistic regression was used; significant values were retained in the final model. P < . 05 was significant. RESULTS Normalization of contact time (CT) by BW uniformly increased sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy. SI was the most accurate at both the walk and trot (accuracy 80-96%). Normalization by BW, WH, and WH*F all achieved similar results. When normalized GRFs were added, the accuracy increased only at the walk. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE CT should be normalized to BW. SIs remain the gold standard, if SIs cannot be used, combining GRFs normalized to BW will result in high precision (80%) and high accuracy (89.5%) at the walk. At the trot, normalization by BW, WH and WH*F results in consistent results for the individual GRFs, though not all accuracies are >80%.
Simultaneous labeling of vagal innervation of the gut and afferent projections from the visceral forebrain with Dil injected into the dorsal vagal complex in the rat

The vagal innervation of the different layers of the rat gastrointestinal wall was identified with the fluorescent carbocyanine dye Dil, injected into the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (dmnX). Multiple, bilateral injections were used to label all dmnX preganglionic motoneurons, and as a consequence, most of the vagal primary afferents that terminate in the adjacent nucleus of the solitary tract (nts) were also retrogradely and transganglionically labeled. With Fluorogold used to label the enteric nervous system completely and specifically, the Dil‐labeled vagal profiles could be visualized and quantified in their anatomical relation to the neurons of the myenteric and submucous ganglia. In the myenteric plexus, vagal fibers and terminals were found throughout the gastrointestinal tract as far caudal as the descending colon, but there was a general decreasing proximodistal gradient in the density of vagal innervation. All parts of the gastric myenteric plexus (fundus, corpus, antrum), as well as the proximal duodenum, were extremely densely innervated, with vagal fibers and terminals in virtually every ganglion and connective. Further caudally, both the percentage of innervated myenteric ganglia and the average density of label within the ganglia rapidly decreased, with the exception of the cecum and proximal colon, where up to 65% of the ganglia were innervated. In the gastric and duodenal submucosa very few and in the mucosa no vagal fibers and terminals were found. With both normal epifluorescence and laser scanning confocal microscopy, highly varicose or beaded terminal structures of various size and geometry could be identified. The Dil injections, which impregnated the dmnX as well as the adjacent nts, resulted in retrograde and anterograde labeling of all the previously reported forebrain connections with the dorsal vagal complex. We conclude that the myenteric plexus is the primary target of vagal innervation throughout the gastrointestinal tract, and that its innervation is more complete than previously assumed. In contrast, vagal afferent (and efferent) innervation of mucosa and submucosa seems conspicuously sparse or absent. Furthermore, the use of more focal injections of Dil offers the prospect to simultaneously identify specific subsets of vagal preganglionics and their central nervous inputs.
Depletion of taurine and glutamate from damaged photoreceptors in the retinas of dogs with primary glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether taurine and glutamate contents are reduced in damaged photoreceptors in dogs with primary glaucoma (PG) in a manner consistent with an ischemia-like release of both of these amino acids from damaged cells. SAMPLE POPULATION Retinas from 6 dogs with PG and 3 control dogs. PROCEDURE Serial, semithin sections of each canine retina were stained with toluidine blue to identify damaged photoreceptors or via immunogold techniques to quantify taurine and glutamate content in retinal cells. RESULTS Regions with a thin outer nuclear layer and pathologic nuclear changes in photoreceptors were evident in retinas of dogs with PG. The density of immunostaining for taurine in damaged photoreceptors was significantly reduced to (mean +/- SEM) 37.5 +/- 2.6% of the density in adjacent undamaged photoreceptors. Photoreceptors with decreased taurine immunostaining also had decreased glutamate immunostaining, consistent with ischemia-like release of both of these amino acids from damaged cells. Immunostaining for glutamate, but not taurine, was increased in presumptive radial glial cells (i.e., Miller cells) in damaged regions, consistent with an ischemia-induced redistribution of amino acids in dogs with PG. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Retinal damage in dogs with PG includes ischemia-like losses of taurine and glutamate from photoreceptors and accumulation of glutamate, but not taurine, in nearby Müller cells. These changes are consistent with glutamate release and depletion of intracellular taurine in damaged regions, perhaps contributing to progressive damage in these areas.
Cochlear implantation in children: Implications for the primary care provider

Purpose: To define hearing loss (HL), discuss the impact of HL on child development, and review the literature on cochlear implantation in children. The criteria for and the benefits and limitations of cochlear implantation in children, as well as the implications for the primary care provider with regard to children who have cochlear implants, are presented. Data sources: Review of published literature on the topic. Conclusions: A child’s future development depends greatly on speech and language skills. Any type of HL can impact and may even hinder speech and language acquisition. It is therefore crucial to enforce early identification of HL. For severe to profoundly hearing‐impaired children, cochlear implantation serves as an avenue for hearing and language development. Implications for practice: Nurse practitioners ought to be up to date with criteria for and the benefits and risks of cochlear implantation. Health‐related issues, such as vaccination, otitis media, and meningitis, must be assessed for and managed promptly.
Capacity Bound for Discrete Memoryless User-Relaying Channel

In this paper, we consider the discrete memoryless user relaying channel (DMURC) in which a user-relay switches its operational mode symbol-by-symbol. In particular, we obtain upper and lower bounds on the channel capacity for the general DMURC and then show that these the upper and lower bounds coincide for degraded DMURC. It is also shown that the capacity of the degraded DMURC can be achieved using two separate codebooks corresponding to the two UR states. While the UR is assumed to switch states symbol-by-symbol, the results in this paper is the same as when the UR switches states packet-by-packet.
Chemical Constituents of the Fermented Broth of the Ascomycete Theissenia cinerea 89091602

One new betaenone, theissenoic acid (1), together with three new acetogenins, theissenolactones A–C (2–4, resp.), were isolated from the fermented broth of Theissenia cinerea 89091602 isolated in Taiwan. The structures of 1–4 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Biological tests revealed that 3 and 4 exhibited moderate growth‐inhibitory activities against A549 lung cancer cell line with GI50 values of 14.9 and 47.9 μM, respectively.