Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intractable Diarrhea With Tufting Enteropathy: A Favorable Outcome Is Possible

Background and Objective:Tufting enteropathy (TE) is a congenital abnormality of intestinal mucosa development characterized by severe intestinal failure requiring parenteral nutrition (PN) and, in some cases, small bowel transplantation. A few patients have had a more favorable outcome. The objective of this study was to evaluate possible correlations between histological lesion severity in duodenal biopsies and clinical outcomes in children with TE. Patients and Methods:We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients diagnosed with TE between 1993 and 2003 at our institution based on intractable neonatal-onset diarrhea with prolonged dependence on PN and duodenal biopsy findings of villous atrophy, epithelial dysplasia with enterocyte dedifferentiation and disorganization (tufting) of the surface epithelium, and crypt abnormalities. The histological lesions were assessed semiquantitatively and compared with the clinical outcomes including dependence on PN. Results:Seven children, all from consanguineous parents, were studied for a median of 6.5 years. Three were permanently weaned off PN and experienced normal growth without nutritional assistance. Initial biopsies in all 3 children showed severe diffuse histological lesions. At weaning off PN, 2 of these 3 patients had persistent, although less diffuse, histological lesions. Conclusions:Progressive weaning off PN is possible in some children with TE. In our experience, this favorable outcome was not predicted by histological lesion severity, although the lesions improved in some patients. New biomarkers for identifying the histological lesions and predicting the outcome would be useful.
On the Resolution of the Azimuthal Ambiguity in Vector Magnetograms of Solar Active Regions

We introduce a "structure minimization" technique to resolve the azimuthal ambiguity of 180°, intrinsic in solar vector magnetic field measurements. We resolve the 180° ambiguity by minimizing the inhomogeneities of the magnetic field strength perpendicular to the magnetic field vector. This relates to a minimization of the sheath currents that envelope the solar magnetic flux tubes, thus allowing for more space-filling and less complex magnetic fields. Structure minimization proceeds in two steps: First, it derives a local solution analytically, by means of a structure minimization function. Second, it reaches a global solution numerically, assuming smoothness of the magnetic field vector. Structure minimization (i) is disentangled from any use of potential or linear force-free extrapolations and (ii) eliminates pixel-to-pixel dependencies, thus reducing exponentially the required computations. We apply structure minimization to four active regions, located at various distances from disk center. The minimum structure solution for each case is compared with the "minimum energy" solution obtained by the slower simulated annealing algorithm. We find correlation coefficients ranging from significant to excellent. Moreover, structure minimization provides an ambiguity-free vertical gradient of the magnetic field strength that reveals the variation of the magnetic field with height. The simplicity and speed of the method allow a near real-time processing of solar vector magnetograms. This task was not possible in the past and may be of interest to both existing and future solar missions and ground-based magnetographs.
Metabolic syndrome criteria as predictors of insulin resistance, inflammation and mortality in chronic hemodialysis patients.

UNLABELLED Abstract Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and metabolic syndrome are characterized by overlapping disorders, including glucose intolerance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and, in some cases, obesity. However, there are no specific criteria for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome in CKD. Metabolic syndrome can also be associated with increased risk of mortality. Some traditional risk factors may protect dialysis patients from mortality, known as "reverse epidemiology. " Metabolic syndrome might undergo reverse epidemiology. The objectives were to detect differences in frequency and metabolic characteristics associated with three sets of diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome, to evaluate the accuracy of insulin resistance (IR) and inflammation to identify patients with metabolic syndrome, and to investigate the effects of metabolic syndrome by three sets of diagnostic criteria on mortality in chronic hemodialysis patients. METHODS An observational study was conducted. Diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome proposed by National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III), International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and Harmonizing the Metabolic Syndrome (HMetS) statement were applied to 98 hemodialysis patients. RESULTS The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 51%, 66.3%, and 75.3% according to NCEP ATP III, IDF, and HMetS criteria, respectively. Diagnosis of metabolic syndrome by HMetS was simultaneously capable of revealing both inflammation and IR, whereas NCEP ATP III and IDF criteria were only able to identify IR. Mortality risk increased in the presence of metabolic syndrome regardless of the criteria used. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in hemodialysis varies according to the diagnostic criteria used. IR and inflammation predict metabolic syndrome only when diagnosed by HMetS criteria. HMetS was the diagnostic criteria that can predict the highest risk of mortality.
Chronic antioxidant treatment improves sympathetic functions and β-adrenergic pathway in the spontaneously hypertensive rats

Background Correlations have been found between oxidative stress and hypertension. Objective To determine whether antioxidants can normalize sympathetic dysfunction at pre- or postsynaptic levels in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Methods and Results Untreated SHRs and Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats were compared with rats treated with melatonin (30 mg/kg per day) or N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (4 g/kg per day) given in drinking water for 4 weeks. At the presynaptic level, SHRs had greater plasma noradrenaline concentrations (P < 0.01) and an enhanced release of [3H]noradrenaline from isolated atria (P < 0.001). At the postsynaptic level, they exhibited an increased proportion of β2-adrenoceptors in the heart (P < 0.001) and a decrease in the chronotropic and mean arterial pressure (MAP) responses to isoproterenol (P < 0.001). Melatonin and NAC decreased MAP (P < 0.001) and heart rate (P < 0.05), and restored the plasma noradrenaline concentrations (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively), the chronotropic response to isoproterenol (P < 0.05) and the proportions of β1/β2-adrenoceptors in the heart (P < 0.05) in SHRs to the levels found in WKY rats. The same treatments decreased the release of [3H]noradrenaline from isolated atria (P < 0.05), and melatonin slightly improved the relaxation in the aorta in SHRs only (P < 0.05). Plasma concentrations of adrenaline, the isoproterenol-induced relaxation in mesenteric arteries, the total density and affinity of β-adrenoceptors in the heart, and the adenylate cyclase reactivity of cardiac membranes to isoproterenol, forskolin, sodium fluoride and guanylylimidophosphate were not altered by the treatments. Conclusion These results suggest that NAC and melatonin decreased the MAP and heart rate and improved the chronotropic response to isoproterenol in SHRs, in association with an inhibition of sympathetic activity and the restoration of cardiac β-adrenoceptor function.
Consumers' willingness to offset their CO2 emissions from traveling: A discrete choice analysis of framing and provider contributions

This paper identifies potential drivers and individuals' willingness to pay (WTP) for offsetting their emissions from traveling. We focus on the effects of framing the polluting activity with different modes of transportation (i.e. bus and plane) and travel occasions (i.e. holiday and professional training) as well as the effects of contributions from the travel provider. The analyses are based on discrete choice experiments with a representative sample of about 1000 consumers from Germany. Applying mixed logit and latent class logit models, the findings suggest substantial framing effects resulting from the variation in the mode of transportation as well as a significantly higher WTP when offsets are matched by the travel provider 1:1. The findings further indicate that re-/afforestation projects in the participants' region are the preferred mode for compensation. Respondents who are more willing to offset emissions from traveling seem to be younger and female, have a higher income, exhibit stronger environmental and social preferences, and believe that offsetting is effective in protecting the climate.
Positive and negative gaze perception in autism spectrum conditions

Abstract Eyes are key social features providing a wealth of information about the attention, interest, emotion, and intention of others. Humans are typically very adept at detecting gaze direction, but there is a large decrement in gaze discrimination ability when eye images change from positive to negative polarity. This is thought to show an expert system for gaze perception that applies a contrast-specific heuristic to determine where someone else is looking. Autism spectrum conditions (ASC) are characterized by social deficits including difficulties in face-processing and in the social use of gaze. People with ASC are thought to have less expertise for gaze processing compared to typical controls, though little research has tested this. We investigated gaze direction perception in typical males and females, and males with ASC using facial stimuli with positive or negative polarity of the eyes. Results showed that the ASC group was worse at judging gaze direction with positive stimuli, and showed less of a decrement in performance when eye stimuli changed from positive to negative polarity. The differences in gaze perception for the ASC group were most evident when information from the eyes was more difficult and ambiguous. Typical females performed better at gaze direction detection with positive polarity than typical males, who in turn performed better than males with ASC. This latter finding is consistent with the extreme male brain theory of autism, and with the idea that people with ASC have less gaze expertise.
The interaction of cationic antimicrobial peptides with vesicles containing synthetic glycolipids as models of the outer membrane of gram‐negative bacteria

Two simple lipid A analogues methyl 2,3‐di‐O‐tetradecanoyl‐α‐D‐glucopyranoside (GL1) and methyl 2,3‐di‐O‐tetradecanoyl‐α‐D‐glucopyranoside 4‐O‐phosphate (GL2) were synthesized and used for preparing mixed phosphocholine vesicles as models of the outer membrane of gram‐negative bacteria. The interaction of these model membranes with magainin 2, a representative of the α‐helical membrane active peptides, and apidaecin Ib and drosocin, two insect Pro‐rich peptides which do not act at the level of the cellular membrane, were studied by CD and dye‐releasing experiments. The CD spectra of apidaecin Ib and drosocin in the presence of GL1‐ or GL2‐containing vesicles were consistent with largely unordered structures, whereas, according to the CD spectra, magainin 2 adopted an amphipathic α‐helical conformation, particularly in the presence of negatively charged bilayers. The ability of the peptides to fold into amphipathic conformations was strictly correlated to their ability to bind and to permeabilize phospholipid as well as glycolipid membranes. Apidaecin Ib and drosocin, which are unable to adopt an amphipathic structure, showed negligible dye‐leakage activity even in the presence of GL2‐containing vesicles. It is reasonable to suppose that, as for the killing mechanism, the two classes of antimicrobial peptides follow different patterns to cross the bacterial outer membrane. Copyright © 2005 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A multilevel analysis of the service marketing triangle in theme parks

ABSTRACT This study explores multilevel relationships between employees and visitors within 25 theme parks in Taiwan. The adapted constructs with corresponding items of interactive, internal, and external marketing were developed based on the service marketing triangle theory and previous literature. The results show that interactive marketing influences visitor satisfaction and behavioral intentions; internal marketing influences interactive marketing, and moderates the effect of interactive marketing on satisfaction; external marketing influences satisfaction; and satisfaction affects behavioral intentions. This study demonstrates that examining the influence of cross-level service marketing on internal and external customer satisfaction is crucial to the operational success of theme parks.
Entscheidungsverhalten, Empathiefähigkeit und Moralität bei Psychopathy: Bieten die empirischen Befunde neue Aspekte im Hinblick auf die Beurteilung der Schuldfähigkeit?

Psychopathy is a well explored dimensional construct only partially overlapping with dissocial personality disorder according to ICD-10. Until now, psychopaths have not been assessed as having diminished legal responsibility, unless they show impulsive or dissocial behaviour in an early stage of development, since they are considered able to adapt themselves to social norms. This forensic practice has been criticised from a deterministic-neurobiological point of view. This article discusses whether the latest empirical results on the psychopath's capacity for decision-making, empathy, and morality should lead to a new assessment of legal responsibility. The author shows that the psychopath's reduced capacities for decision-making, response reversal, and emotional empathy do not tell us much about the way such an individual arrives at decisions outside the laboratory since there has been no exploration of how compensation is made for psychophysiological deviation. Studies comparing criminal and non-criminal (so called "successful") psychopaths support the view that single physiological findings such as a hypoarousal do not necessarily lead to criminal behaviour. The moral knowledge of psychopaths is not disturbed. That is why criminality seems to be caused mainly by developed motivational factors (risk-seeking and hedonistic life-style). Empirical research into psychopathy may enlarge our knowledge about pathogenesis but does not offer new perspectives concerning legal responsibility.
CAPM Vs Fama-French Three-Factor Model: An Evaluation of Effectiveness in Explaining Excess Return in Dhaka Stock Exchange

CAPM has been prevalently used by practitioners for calculating required rate of return despite having drawbacks. Fama French presented their 3 factor model in order to gap the limitations posed by CAPM model. This paper attempts to examine practical implications and effectiveness of Fama French model vis-a-vis the CAPM model in explaining excess return of Dhaka Stock Exchange by analyzing five publicly listed firms of Cement industry over 10 years period of 2004-2014. As the representative of market index, DGEN is taken from 2004 till 2013 and later on DSEX is taken. Simple and multiple linear regression analysis have been used against daily market return and respective companies return. Results shows that adjusted R square of Fama French model have a higher value than adjusted R square of CAPM model after running cross sectional regression of the observed panel data. It means that Fama French model is better predicting variation in excess return over Rf than CAPM for all the five companies of the Cement industry over the period of ten years. Low p values indicate that the coefficients are statistically significant. Nonetheless this paper concludes that the companies who want to use Fama French model instead of CAPM must evaluate the time and effort required to use the model before they replace CAPM with the multi factor model for their stock return analysis.
[The relation between blood pressure variation and daily physical activity in early morning surge in blood pressure].

Morning rise in blood pressure (morning surge; MS) has been shown to be associated with the occurrence of myocardial ischemic events and stroke. This study aimed to elucidate the incidence and the mechanism of MS in hypertensive patients (HT). We monitored ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and physical activity in 68 untreated HTs using TM2421 (A & D Co. Ltd.) and ACTIVETRACER (GMS Ltd.) for detection of MS. MS was defined as a rise in BP > 50 mmHg (90% tile of 35 normotensives) during early morning (4:00 to 9:00 A.M.) compared with the lowest basal BP at night. MS was seen in 41 patients (52.6%) and was classified into two groups; MS1: BP rose steeply after waking up (27 patients) and MS2: BP started to rise gradually during sleep (14 patients). The mean age of MS1 was significantly higher than that of MS2 (72 vs. 62 years, p < 0.01). BP reached its basal value earlier in MS2 than in MS1 at night though the basal BP values were comparable between the two groups. Mean 24-hour BP and physical activity were similar between the two groups, though significantly higher incidence of cases with a correlation between SBP and activity was seen in MS1. In conclusion, there are two types of MS, the mechanisms of which may differ. MS occurring immediately after waking up was more common in older HTs, and possibly was related to augmented arousal response in BP, while MS beginning gradually during sleep was more common in younger HTs and was characterized by reaching basal BP earlier at night.
The cross-pin retained implant supported restoration: a study of gasket placement and leakage.

BACKGROUND Advantages of cross-pin retained implant supported restorations (ISRs) include predictable retrieval and predictable retention. Unlike direct to fixture (DTF) or cement retained restorations, the prosthetic design of a cross-pinned restoration retains gaps at the interfaces between the crown, abutment and cross-pin screw. These spaces permit leakage into the suprastructure and gasket placement has been recommended to prevent this leakage. METHODS Five different gaskets were assessed for their ability to prevent leakage into a cross-pinned ISR. The gaskets tested were: cement admixture on the cross-pin screw; cement admixture on the inner surface of the coping and the cross-pin screw; cement admixture on the inner surface of the coping only; cement admixture placed 1 mm from the margin of the coping and a filler placed in the abutment chimney. results: Only gaskets which sealed both the cross-pin screw interface and the abutment-crown interface prevented leakage. A filler placed in the abutment chimney prevented leakage into this space but did not prevent fluid accumulating between the coping and abutment. Conservative placement of cement at the margin of the coping failed to prevent leakage. CONCLUSIONS Cement gaskets may effectively prevent leakage into a cross-pinned ISR. However, the use of a cement as a gasket has to be weighed against the issue of predictable retrieval, cement extrusion and incomplete seating.
EXPRESSION PATTERN OF TRICHODERMA CELLULASES UNDER DIFFERENT CARBON SOURCES

Production of easily fermentable low-cost sugars demands for an economic and less expensive method of enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass. It is highly desirable to compare various fermentation media with different carbon sources for cellulase production. Trichoderma harzianum was grown on different carbon sources and monitored for cellulase production. Glucose-grown cultures of T. harzianum showed high amount of mycelial growth but no yield of cellulase enzyme. Cellulase expression was also studied herein by comparing the cellulase activities using soluble and insoluble cellulosic carbon sources in the growth media in order to obtain less expensive fermentation media. Outcome of the research will be helpful in the development of low cost system for production of cellulose.
Screening for Depression and Anxiety in Adolescent Cancer Patients

The goals of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of depression and anxiety screening in on-therapy adolescents with cancer, determine the prevalence of depression and anxiety in this sample, and assess the concordance between patient and oncologist report of patient symptoms. Forty-one adolescents (ages 12 to 18 y) undergoing cancer therapy in an outpatient oncology clinic completed the Beck Youth Inventory II (BYI II) Depression and Anxiety scales. Treating oncologists independently rated patient depression and anxiety. Ninety-eight percent of patients agreed to participate and average time to measure completion was <15 minutes. Mean T-scores for the BDI-Y (Depression module) and BAI-Y (Anxiety module) for most were not different than published norms. Three and 2 patients scored in the moderate-extremely elevated range of the BAI-Y and BDI-Y, respectively. There were no associations between scores and sex, age, diagnosis, time since diagnosis, or treatment intensity. A depression and anxiety-screening program is feasible in the outpatient pediatric oncology setting. Rates of adolescent self-reported anxiety and depression are low, although oncologists perceived more patient distress. This is an area for future investigation.
Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Continence Education Package in Acute and Subacute Care Settings

OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to trial and evaluate the effect that a discharge Continence Education Package (CEP) had on patients' continence awareness and management preferences. DESIGN An exploratory descriptive design was used. SETTINGS AND SUBJECTS A total of 631 participants were included in the study: 352 females (55.8%) and 279 males (44.2%) from 4 rural and regional settings in Victoria, Australia. INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS A specifically designed questionnaire was used to assess participants' knowledge of incontinence and its management and also to investigate their treatment preferences and intentions if they experienced this type of problem. Data were collected at 2 time periods. Specifically, patients were interviewed before discharge from acute and subacute settings identified as Time 1 (T1). Then the participants were given the CEP and asked to complete a similar questionnaire. RESULTS The findings revealed that fewer than 25% of participants had received information on continence before the study being conducted, yet the majority had indicated that they had experienced continence symptoms. The majority of participants found the CEP easy to understand (98.2%) and helpful (95.3%). Most participants said it provided them with information about types of actions to take and/or treatment options for incontinence problems. It also raised their awareness of the signs and symptoms associated with incontinence and provided them with a useful self-administered gauge with which to assess their continence status. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the CEP may be a useful educational tool for use in the general population.