Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thermally Induced Beam Distortions in Sesquioxide Laser Ceramics of m3 Crystal Class—Part II

In the first part of this paper, thermally induced polarization and phase distortions of a laser beam in cubic ceramics were calculated considering the specific features of photoelastic properties of 23 and m3 crystal classes. Here we use these quantities to calculate Strehl ratio and the integral of overlapping of the input and output beams both on passing one ceramic element as well as at the output of the scheme with the compensation of birefringence. The depolarization degree and the overlap integral are then compared with the distortions calculated earlier using the Rayleigh-Debye scattering theory method. The relative value of the distortion components inherent to 23 and m3 ceramics is assessed.
A single-photon emission computed tomographic study of anosognosia in Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE To examine the presence of specific regional cerebral blood flow correlates of anosognosia in patients with probable Alzheimer's disease. DESIGN Case series, group comparisons. SETTING Ambulatory care referral center. PATIENTS Twelve patients with probable Alzheimer's disease and anosognosia and 12 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease without anosognosia who were matched for age, duration of illness, and cognitive impairments. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Single-photon emission computed tomographic scan studies with technetium Tc 99m hexamethylpropylene-amine oxime and regional cerebral blood flow measurements. RESULTS Patients with Alzheimer's disease and anosognosia showed significant blood flow deficits in the frontal inferior and superior (dorsal) areas of the right hemisphere. On the other hand, no significant between-group differences were found in depression scores and neuropsychological tasks that assessed verbal and visual memory, verbal comprehension, naming, verbal fluency, auditory attention, abstract reasoning, and set-shifting abilities. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that anosognosia may not be related to deficits in specific cognitive domains, but it may result from dysfunction of the right frontal lobe.
Soluble flt‐1 and the angiopoietins in the development and regulation of placental vasculature *

One of the key roles of the placenta is to mediate exchange of oxygen, nutrients and waste products between the maternal and fetal circulations. While some nutrients are actively taken up, oxygen is passively transported (i.e. it moves down a simple concentration gradient). To ensure an adequate supply as gestation progresses, the vascular structures in the human placenta remodel to facilitate this transfer. Under conditions in which oxygen is limited, at high altitude for example, these adaptations become more pronounced. In placentae obtained from high altitude the mean diameter of vessels is increased and the number of perivascular cells (pericytes) is reduced. Pericytes play an important role in modulating endothelial cell function and in their absence the endothelial cells are sensitive to growth factor withdrawal. The vascular remodelling that occurs in normal pregnancy is in part mediated by soluble factors (some produced by pericytes) and the level of these may in turn be regulated by local oxygen tension. We have shown that the mRNAs encoding both angiopoietins are present in the placenta and both are regulated by local pO2. Ang‐2 mRNA transcription is increased under reduced oxygen and the stability of Ang‐1 mRNA is reduced under similar conditions. Thus the ratio of mRNAs encoding these antagonistic factors changes (in favour of Ang‐2), in the placenta in response to a reduction in pO2. The adaptations seen in the placenta and the mechanism by which they are achieved may be generally applicable.
Cost-effectiveness of eformoterol Turbohaler versus salmeterol Accuhaler in children with symptomatic asthma.

We conducted an economic evaluation in a UK setting based on a 12-week prospective randomized open-label parallel-group comparison of eformoterol Turbohaler 12 microg b. i.d. with salmeterol Accuhaler 50 microg b. i.d. in children aged 6-17 with symptomatic asthma receiving inhaled corticosteroids and short-acting beta2-agonists. The principal effectiveness measure was percentage of symptom-free days with no short-acting beta2-agonist use during the study period. Asthma-related medication, unscheduled physician contacts and hospitalizations were collected prospectively and cost to the UK NHS calculated using year 2,000 prices. The economic evaluation included 73 patients in the eformoterol group and 72 patients in the salmeterol group. The mean age of patients was 11.6 years (eformoterol) and 11.8 years (salmeterol). The mean percentage of symptom-free days with no short-acting beta2-agonist use was 39% in the eformoterol group and 30% in the salmeterol group. Mean per patient daily cost was 1.15 pounds in the eformoterol group and 1.39 pounds in the salmeterol group. Both cost and effectiveness differences favoured eformoterol (P < 0.05; one-sided). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the results to be robust to changes in effectiveness, price and resource utilisation parameters. Eformoterol delivered by Turbohaler was found to be significantly more effective and less expensive than salmeterol Accuhaler in this study.
New World species of the genus Calliscelio Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae, Scelioninae)

Abstract The genus Calliscelio Ashmead is presumed to be a diverse group of parasitoids of the eggs of crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). A least one species has been found to be an important factor in depressing cricket pest populations. The New World species of Calliscelio are revised. Forty-two species are recognized, 3 are redescribed: Calliscelio bisulcatus (Kieffer), Calliscelio laticinctus Ashmead, Calliscelio rubriclavus (Ashmead), comb. n. ; and 38 are described as new: Calliscelio absconditum Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio absum Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio alcoa Chen & Masner, sp. n. , Calliscelio amadoi Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio armila Chen & Masner, sp. n. , Calliscelio bidens Chen & Masner, sp. n. , Calliscelio brachys Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio brevinotaulus Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio brevitas Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio carinigena Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio crater Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio crena Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio eboris Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio extenuatus Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio flavicauda Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio foveolatus Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio gatineau Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio glaber Chen & Masner, sp. n. , Calliscelio granulatus Chen & Masner, sp. n. , Calliscelio latifrons Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio levis Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio longius Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio magnificus Chen & Masner, sp. n. , Calliscelio migma Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio minutia Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio paraglaber Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio pararemigio Chen & Masner, sp. n. , Calliscelio prolixus Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio punctatifrons Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio remigio Chen & Masner, sp. n. , Calliscelio ruga Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio rugicoxa Chen & Masner, sp. n. , Calliscelio sfina Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio storea Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio suni Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio telum Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio torqueo Chen & Johnson, sp. n. , Calliscelio virga Chen & Johnson, sp. n. Four species are treated as junior synonyms of Calliscelio rubriclavus (Ashmead): Anteris nigriceps Ashmead, syn. n. , Caloteleia marlattii Ashmead, syn. n. , Caloteleia grenadensis Ashmead, syn. n. , and Macroteleia ruskini Girault, syn. n.
Immunopharmacology and in fl ammation Anti-in fl ammatory effect of dual nociceptin and opioid receptor agonist , BU 08070 , in experimental colitis in mice

Endogenous opioid and nociceptin systems are widely distributed in the gastrointestinal tract where they seem to play a crucial role in maintaining the intestinal homeostasis. The aim of our study was to assess whether activation of nociceptin (NOP) and m-opioid (MOP) receptors by a mixed NOP/MOP receptor agonist, BU08070, induces anti-inflammatory response in experimental colitis. The anti-inflammatory effect of BU08070 (1 mg/kg i.p.) was characterized in the mouse model of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis, based on the assessment of the macroscopic and microscopic total damage scores and determination of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and TNF-α level in the colon. The effect of BU08070 on cell viability and NF-κB was characterized in THP-1 Blue cell line. The antinociceptive activity of BU08070 was examined in mustard oil-induced mouse model of abdominal pain. A potent anti-inflammatory effect of BU08070 (1 mg/kg i.p.) was observed as indicated by decrease in macroscopic damage score (1.8870.39 vs. 5.1970.43 units in TNBS alone treated mice), MPO activity (2.2970.37 vs. 9.6472.55 units) and TNF-α level in the colon (35.8572.45 vs. 49.7973.81 pg/ml). The anti-inflammatory effect of BU08070 was reversed by selective NOP and MOP receptor antagonists. BU08070 produced concentration-dependent inhibition of TNF-α and LPS-induced NF-κB activation. BU08070 exerted antinociceptive action in mice with experimental colitis. In conclusion, BU08070 significantly reduced the severity of colitis in TNBS-treated mice compared with controls. These results suggest that BU08070 is a potential therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel diseases therapy. & 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Prevalence of hypertension in schoolchildren based on repeated measurements and association with overweight

Objective Most studies assess the prevalence of hypertension in pediatric populations based on blood pressure (BP) readings taken on a single visit. We determined the prevalence of hypertension measured on up to three visits in a Swiss pediatric population and examined the association between hypertension and overweight and selected other factors. Methods Anthropometric data and BP were measured in all children of the sixth school grade of the Vaud canton (Switzerland) in 2005–2006. ‘Elevated BP’ was defined according to sex-specific, age-specific and height-specific US reference data. BP was measured on up to two additional visits in children with elevated BP. ‘Hypertension’ was defined as ‘elevated BP’ on all three visits. Results Out of 6873 children, 5207 (76%) participated [2621 boys, 2586 girls; mean (SD) age, 12.3 (0.5) years]. The prevalence of elevated BP was 11.4, 3.8 and 2.2% on first, second and thirds visits, respectively; hence 2.2% had hypertension. Among hypertensive children, 81% had isolated systolic hypertension. Hypertension was associated with excess body weight, elevated heart rate and parents' history of hypertension. Of the children, 16.1% of boys and 12.4% of girls were overweight or obese (CDC criteria, body mass index ≥ 85th percentile). Thirty-seven percent of cases of hypertension could be attributed to overweight or obesity. Conclusions The proportion of children with elevated BP based on one visit was five times higher than based on three measurements taken at few-week intervals. Our data re-emphasize the need for prevention and control of overweight in children to curb the global hypertension burden.
Transcriptomic Response of Lactococcus lactis in Mixed Culture with Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT The mechanisms of interaction between Lactococcus lactis and the food pathogen Staphylococcus aureus are of crucial importance, as one major role of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in fermented foods is to inhibit undesirable and pathogenic flora. It was never questioned if the presence of a pathogen can actively modify the gene expression patterns of LAB in a shared environment. In this study, transcriptome and biochemical analyses were combined to assess the dynamic response of L. lactis in a mixed culture with S. aureus. The presence of S. aureus hardly affected the growth of L. lactis but dramatically modified its gene expression profile. The main effect was related to earlier carbon limitation and a concomitantly lower growth rate in the mixed culture due to the consumption of glucose by both species. More specific responses involved diverse cellular functions. Genes associated with amino acid metabolism, ion transport, oxygen response, menaquinone metabolism, and cell surface and phage expression were differentially expressed in the mixed culture. This study led to new insights into possible mechanisms of interaction between L. lactis and S. aureus. Moreover, new and unexpected effects of L. lactis on the virulence of S. aureus were discovered, as described elsewhere (S. Even, C. Charlier, S. Nouaille, N. L. Ben Zakour, M. Cretenet, F. J. Cousin, M. Gautier, M. Cocaign-Bousquet, P. Loubière, and Y. Le Loir, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75:4459-4472, 2009).
Sickle Cell Hemoglobin in the Ferryl State Promotes βCys-93 Oxidation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Epithelial Lung Cells (E10)*

Background: HbS oxidation is recognized as an important element in the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease. Results: The ferric/ferryl redox cycle of HbS is compromised. Conclusion: The inability of ferryl HbS to revert back results in oxidative damage and mitochondrial dysfunction in lung epithelial cells. Significance: These oxidative pathways may contribute to the vasculopathy in sickle cell disease and can be targeted with antioxidants. Polymerization of intraerythrocytic deoxyhemoglobin S (HbS) is the primary molecular event that leads to hemolytic anemia in sickle cell disease (SCD). We reasoned that HbS may contribute to the complex pathophysiology of SCD in part due to its pseudoperoxidase activity. We compared oxidation reactions and the turnover of oxidation intermediates of purified human HbS and HbA. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) drives a catalytic cycle that includes the following three distinct steps: 1) initial oxidation of ferrous (oxy) to ferryl Hb; 2) autoreduction of the ferryl intermediate to ferric (metHb); and 3) reaction of metHb with an additional H2O2 molecule to regenerate the ferryl intermediate. Ferrous and ferric forms of both proteins underwent initial oxidation to the ferryl heme in the presence of H2O2 at equal rates. However, the rate of autoreduction of ferryl to the ferric form was slower in the HbS solutions. Using quantitative mass spectrometry and the spin trap, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide, we found more irreversibly oxidized βCys-93in HbS than in HbA. Incubation of the ferric or ferryl HbS with cultured lung epithelial cells (E10) induced a drop in mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate and impairment of cellular bioenergetics that was related to the redox state of the iron. Ferryl HbS induced a substantial drop in the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and increases in cytosolic heme oxygenase (HO-1) expression and mitochondrial colocalization in E10 cells. Thus, highly oxidizing ferryl Hb and heme, the product of oxidation, may be central to the evolution of vasculopathy in SCD and may suggest therapeutic modalities that interrupt heme-mediated inflammation.
Survey on Empirical RPE Tests

This paper provides a literature review of empirical studies on relative performance evaluation (RPE). The focus of this survey is to describe the most prominent explanations for the RPE puzzle, i.e. I investigate how researchers explain the missing evidence in favor of RPE despite its theoretical advantages. Namely, I summarize the existing empirical research to describe how the optimality of implementing RPE depends on many aspects, such as strategic considerations, CEO-specific characteristics or managerial power.
Availability of Higher Education and Educational Outcomes: Quantifying the Impacts of College Openings and Cohort Size

Research has established the benefits of higher education and the importance of affordability, however less is known about how the availability of higher education affects educational attainment. By constructing a comprehensive dataset on college openings in the U.S. from 1969 to 1991, I show that exogenous variation in two-year and four-year college availability, caused by changed birth cohort sizes and local college openings, substantially affects educational attainment. New four-year colleges increase the likelihood of obtaining a Bachelor’s degree, while new two-year colleges only affect Associate’s degree attainment. Additionally, results show that students from larger cohorts are crowded out of four-year colleges. This crowd-out results in lower lifetime educational attainment by pushing students to two-year colleges. JEL: I21, I23
Folic acid supplementation in end-stage renal disease patients reduces total mortality rate.

BACKGROUND Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are at high risk of cardiovascular disease and elevated serum homocysteine levels. Although folic acid supplementation has been documented to reduce serum homocysteine levels in ESRD patients, most trials of folic acid therapy for reducing cardiovascular diseases in ESRD patients have failed, mainly because of limited patient numbers. METHODS We used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to conduct a matched-pair retrospective cohort study to clarify whether folic acid supplementation benefits ESRD patient survival. Patients were divided into a folic acid supplementation group and a control group. All-cause and cardiovascular-related mortality rates between groups were compared. RESULTS In total, 55,636 stable incident hemodialysis patients were identified from the database. Using a propensity score-matched method and intention-to-treat analysis, the survival rate of 17,000 patients with folic acid supplementation was compared with a 1:1 matched control group. The baseline demographic data and comorbid disease incidence between the 2 groups were comparable. During the study period, the mortality rate in the matched pair cohort was 35.5% (n = 6,030) over a mean follow-up period of 3.0 years, corresponding to a mortality rate of 12.8/100 patient-years. The all-cause mortality rates were 12.3 and 13.4/100 patient-years in the folic acid group and control group, respectively (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS In adult hemodialysis patients, folic acid supplementation improves cardiovascular and all-cause mortality rates.
Paricalcitol versus calcitriol in the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND Management of secondary hyperparathyroidism has included the use of active vitamin D or vitamin D analogs for the suppression of parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. Although, these agents are effective, therapy is frequently limited by hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and/or elevations in the calcium-phosphorus (Ca x P) product. In clinical studies, paricalcitol was shown to be effective at reducing PTH concentrations without causing significant hypercalcemia or hyperphosphatemia as compared to placebo. A comparative study was undertaken in order to determine whether paricalcitol provides a therapeutic advantage to calcitriol. METHODS A double-blind, randomized, multicenter study comparing the safety and effectiveness of intravenous paricalcitol and calcitriol in suppressing PTH concentrations in hemodialysis patients was performed. A total of 263 randomized patients were enrolled at domestic and international sites. Following the baseline period, patients with serum Ca x P < 75, and a PTH level > or =300 pg/mL were randomly assigned to receive either paricalcitol or calcitriol in a dose-escalating fashion for up to 32 weeks. Dose adjustments were based on laboratory results for PTH, calcium, and Ca x P. The primary end point was the greater than 50% reduction in baseline PTH. Secondary end points were the occurrence of hypercalcemia and elevated Ca x P product. RESULTS Paricalcitol-treated patients achieved a > or =50% reduction from baseline PTH significantly faster than did the calcitriol-treated patients (P = 0.025) and achieved a mean reduction of PTH into a desired therapeutic range (100 to 300 pg/mL) at approximately week 18, whereas the calcitriol-treated patients, as a group, were unable to achieve this range. Moreover, paricalcitol-treated patients had significantly fewer sustained episodes of hypercalcemia and/or increased Ca x P product than calcitriol patients (P = 0.008). CONCLUSION Paricalcitol treatment reduced PTH concentrations more rapidly with fewer sustained episodes of hypercalcemia and increased Ca x P product than calcitriol therapy.
Expression of antigen reactive with a monoclonal antibody to HTLV‐1 P19 in salivary glands in Sjögren's syndrome

To examine the possible involvement of retroviruses in Sjögren's syndrome (SS), labial salivary gland sections from 99 individuals were probed with three MoAbs to core (gag) proteins of human T cell leukaemia virus‐1 (HTLV‐1) and two MoAbs to HIV‐1. Sections from 31% of 39 patients with primary SS (pSS) contained an epithelial cytoplasmic protein reactive with a MoAb(197) to the p19 group specific antigen (gag) of HTLV‐1. The antigen was also detected in samples from 24% of 17 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and SS. 21% of 14 patients with sicca symptoms and 12.5% of 16 patients with other connective tissue diseases. It was not found in the salivary glands of 13 normal controls. A second MoAb to p19 gag, a MoAb to the p24 gag of HTLV‐1 and MoAbs to HIV‐1 p17and p24 gags gave negative reactions. Serum antibodies to HTLV‐1 were negative, confirming that the antigen was not part of HTLV‐1. The antigen showed properties consistent with an endogenous retrovirus in that it was absent in healthy tissues or resting cells but inducible by stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) or interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) It appeared to be distinct from the endogenous retroviral sequence HRES‐1. These data suggest the presence of an endogenous retrovirus in salivary gland epithelium which could contribute to the chronic inflammation of SS.
The Relationship Between Learning Style Preferences and Gender, Educational Major and Status in First Year Medical Students: A Survey Study From Iran

Background: Identifying and employing appropriate learning styles could play an important role in selecting teaching styles in order to improve education. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the relationship between learning styles preferences and gender, educational major and status in first year students at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study employing the visual-aural-read/write-kinesthetic (VARK) learning style’s questionnaire was done on 184 first year students of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing and health services management at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2012. The validity of the questionnaire was assessed through experts’ views and reliability was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients (α = 0.86). Data were analyzed using the SPSS ver.18 software and x2 test. Results: Out of 184 participants who responded to and returned the questionnaire, 122 (66.3%) were female; more than two-thirds (68.5%) of the enrolled students were at the professional doctorate level (medicine, pharmacy, dentistry) and 31.5% at the undergraduate level (nursing and health services management). Eighty-nine (48.4%) students preferred a single-modal learning style. In contrast, the remaining 95 students (51.6%) preferred multi-modal learning styles. A significant relationship between gender and single modal learning styles (P = 0.009) and between status and learning styles (P = 0.04) was observed. Conclusions: According to the results, male students preferred to use the kinesthetic learning style more than females, while, female students preferred the aural learning style. Knowledge about the learning styles of students at educational institutes is valuable and helps solve learning problems among students, and allows students to become better learners.