Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of abnormal cervical cytology in Papanicolaou smears

Background: Cervical cytology by Papanicolaou (Pap) smears is an effective means of screening for cervical premalignant and malignant conditions. Cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer remain important health problems for women worldwide. Aim: To study the role of Pap smear in detecting premalignant and malignant lesions of cervix; and to determine the prevalence of various lesions. Materials and Methods: This study is based on 300 patients who attended the out-patient Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Pap smears were prepared from patients presenting with complaints like vaginal discharge, post-coital bleeding, inter-menstrual bleeding, dyspareunia, and pain lower abdomen. After fixation and staining, each smear was carefully examined. Results: Epithelial cell abnormalities were found in 5% smears, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) in 0.3%, squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) in 3.4% which includes low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) (2.7%) and high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) 0.7%. Invasive carcinoma was seen in 1.3% cases. Mean age of the patients with diagnosis of LSIL was 32.3 years and for HSIL, it was 40.5 years. The mean age of the patients with invasive carcinoma was 57 years. Conclusion: Premalignant and malignant lesions of cervix are not uncommon in our set up and can be diagnosed early by Pap smears.
Bankruptcy and Small Firms&Apos; Access to Credit

In this paper, we investigate how personal bankruptcy law affects small firms' access to credit. When a firm is unincorporated, its debts are personal liabilities of the firm's owner, so that lending to the firm is legally equivalent to lending to its owner. If the firm fails, the owner has an incentive to file for personal bankruptcy, since the firm's debts will be discharged and the owner is only obliged to use assets above an exemption level to repay creditors. The higher the exemption level, the greater is the incentive to file for bankruptcy. We show that supply of credit falls and demand for credit rises when non-corporate firms are located in states with higher bankruptcy exemptions. We test the model and find that, if small firms are located in states with unlimited rather than low homestead exemptions, they are more likely to be denied credit, they receive smaller loans and interest rates are higher. Results for non-corporate versus corporate firms suggest that lenders often disregard small firms' organizational status in making loan decisions.
Expression of different group A streptococcal M proteins in an isogenic background demonstrates diversity in adherence to and invasion of eukaryotic cells

The M protein of group A streptococcus (GAS) is considered to be a major virulence factor because it renders GAS resistant to phagocytosis and allows bacterial growth in human blood. There are more than 80 known serotypes of M proteins, and protective opsonic antibodies produced during disease in humans are serotype specific. M proteins also mediate bacterial adherence to epithelial cells of skin and pharynx. GAS strains vary in the genomic organization of the mga regulon, which contains the genes encoding M and M‐like proteins and other virulence factors. This diversity of organization makes it difficult to assess virulence of M proteins of different serotypes, unless they can be expressed in an isogenic background. Here, we express M proteins of different serotypes in the M protein‐ and protein F1‐deficient GAS strain, SAM2, which also lacks M‐like proteins. Genes encoding M proteins of different serotypes (emmXs) have been integrated into the SAM2 chromosome in frame with the emm6.1 promoter and its mga regulon, resulting in similar levels of emmX expression. Although SAM2 exhibits a very low level of adherence to and invasion of HEp‐2 and HaCaT cells, a SAM2‐derived strain expressing M6 protein adheres to and invades both cell types. In contrast, the isogenic strain expressing M18 protein adheres to both cell types, but invades with a very low efficiency. A strain expressing M3 protein adheres to both types of cells, but its invasion of HEp‐2 cells is serum dependent. A GAS strain expressing M6 protein does not compete with the isogenic strain expressing M18 protein for adherence to or invasion of HaCaT cells. We conclude that M proteins of different serotypes recognize different repertoires of receptors on the surfaces of eukaryotic cells.
SPERM MORPHOLOGY , MOTILITY , AND CONCENTRATION IN FERTILE AND INFERTILE MEN

D AVID S. G UZICK , M.D., P H . D. , J AMES W. O VERSTREET , M.D., P H . D. , P AM F ACTOR -L ITVAK , P H . D. , C HARLENE K. B RAZIL , B.S., S TEVEN T. N AKAJIMA , M.D., C HRISTOS C OUTIFARIS , M.D., P H . D. , S ANDRA A NN C ARSON , M.D., P AULINE C ISNEROS , P H . D. , M ICHAEL P. S TEINKAMPF , M.D., J OSEPH A. H ILL , M.D., D ONG X U , M.P HIL . , AND D ONNA L. V OGEL , M.D., P H . D. , FOR THE N ATIONAL C OOPERATIVE R EPRODUCTIVE M EDICINE N ETWORK *
Time-dependent inhibition of human drug metabolizing cytochromes P450 by tricyclic antidepressants.

AIMS To investigate time-dependent inhibition (TDI) of human drug metabolizing CYP enzymes by tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). METHODS CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A/CYP3A4 activities were investigated following co- and preincubation with TCAs using human liver microsomes (HLM) and human recombinant CYP proteins (expressed in Escherichia coli) as the enzyme sources. A two-step incubation method was employed to examine the in vitro mechanism-based inactivation (MBI) criteria. Potential metabolite-intermediate complex (MIC) formation was studied by spectral analysis. RESULTS TCAs generally exhibited significant TDI of recombinant CYP1A2, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 (>10% positive inhibition differences between co- and preincubation conditions). TDI of recombinant CYP2C9 was minor (<10%), and was minor or absent in experiments utilizing recombinant CYP3A4 or HLM as the enzyme sources. Where observed, TDI of recombinant CYP occurred via alkylamine MIC formation, but evidence to support similar behaviour in HLM was limited. Indeed, only secondary amine TCAs reduced the apparent P450 content of HLM (3-6%) consistent with complexation. As a representative TCA, nortriptyline fulfilled the in vitro MBI criteria using recombinant CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 (K(I) and k(inact) values of 4 microm and 0.19 min(-1), and 70 microm and 0.06 min(-1)), but not with the human liver microsomal enzymes. CONCLUSIONS TCAs appear to have minimal potential for MBI of human liver microsomal CYP enzymes involved in drug metabolism. HLM and recombinant CYP (expressed in E. coli) are not equivalent enzyme sources for evaluating the TDI associated with some drugs.
Environmental enrichment of brown capuchins (Cebus apella): Behavioral and plasma and fecal cortisol measures of effectiveness

No consensus exists about the quantity and variety of environmental enrichment needed to achieve an acceptable level of psychological well‐being among singly housed primates. Behavioral and plasma and fecal cortisol measures were used to evaluate the effectiveness of four levels of toy and foraging enrichment provided to eight wild‐caught, singly housed adult male brown capuchins (Cebus apella). The 16‐week‐long study comprised six conditions and began with a 4‐week‐long preexperimental and ended with a 4‐week‐long postexperimental period during which the subjects were maintained at baseline enrichment levels. During the intervening 8 weeks, the subjects were randomly assigned to a sequence of four 2‐week‐long experimental conditions: control (baseline conditions), toy (the addition of two plastic toys to each cage), box (access to a foraging box with food treats hidden within crushed alfalfa), and box & toy (the addition of two plastic toys and access to a foraging box). Behavioral responses to changes in enrichment were rapid and extensive. Within‐subject repeated‐measure ANOVAs with planned post hoc contrasts identified highly significant reductions in abnormal and undesirable behaviors (and increases in normal behaviors) as the level of enrichment increased from control to toy to box to box & toy. No significant behavioral differences were found between the control and pre‐ and postexperimental conditions. Plasma and fecal cortisol measures revealed a different response to changing enrichment levels. Repeated‐measure ANOVA models found significant changes in both these measures across the six conditions. The planned post hoc analyses, however, while finding dramatic increases in cortisol titers in both the pre‐ and postexperimental conditions relative to the control condition, did not distinguish cortisol responses among the four enrichment levels. Linear regressions among weekly group means in behavioral and cortisol measures (n = 16) found that plasma cortisol was significantly predicted by the proportions of both normal and abnormal behaviors; as the proportion of normal behaviors increased, the plasma cortisol measures decreased. Plasma cortisol weekly group means were also significantly and positively predicted by fecal cortisol weekly group means, but no behavioral measure significantly predicted fecal cortisol weekly group means. In sum, these findings argue strongly that access to a variety of toy and foraging enrichment positively affects behavioral and physiological responses to stress and enhances psychological well‐being in singly housed brown capuchins. Am. J. Primatol. 48:49–68, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Increase in dendritic cell numbers, their function and the proportion uninfected during AZT therapy

The effects of AZT treatment on the numbers, level of infection and function of peripheral blood dendritic cells (DC) were examined in patients with HIV infection. This was a cross‐sectional study of patients before AZT treatment and up to 20 months after initiation of treatment. Numbers of DC separated by density gradients were below the normal range in patients before treatment, but increased between 3 and 12 months of treatment. The numbers of DC per provirus copy rose from around 100 cells to 5000 cells and this decrease in viral load in DC was significant between 3 and 20 months of treatment. The capacity of DC to stimulate allogeneic T cell proliferation was low before treatment and significantly higher between 6 and 12 months after the start of AZT. This study indicated that AZT treatment produced beneficial effects on DC by increasing their numbers, reducing the provirus load and increasing their function in stimulating T cells. These results support the thesis that the function of these potent antigen‐presenting cells is important in development of immunological defects in AIDS, and that effects of AZT treatment on DC may provide a measure of its therapeutic effect.
Mice with Altered Myelin Proteolipid Protein Gene Expression Display Cognitive Deficits Accompanied by Abnormal Neuron–Glia Interactions and Decreased Conduction Velocities

Conduction velocity (CV) of myelinated axons has been shown to be regulated by oligodendrocytes even after myelination has been completed. However, how myelinating oligodendrocytes regulate CV, and what the significance of this regulation is for normal brain function remain unknown. To address these questions, we analyzed a transgenic mouse line harboring extra copies of the myelin proteolipid protein 1 (plp1) gene (plp1 tg/− mice) at 2 months of age. At this stage, the plp1 tg/− mice have an unaffected myelin structure with a normally appearing ion channel distribution, but the CV in all axonal tracts tested in the CNS is greatly reduced. We also found decreased axonal diameters and slightly abnormal paranodal structures, both of which can be a cause for the reduced CV. Interestingly the plp1 tg/− mice showed altered anxiety-like behaviors, reduced prepulse inhibitions, spatial learning deficits and working memory deficit, all of which are schizophrenia-related behaviors. Our results implicate that abnormalities in the neuron-glia interactions at the paranodal junctions can result in reduced CV in the CNS, which then induces behavioral abnormalities related to schizophrenia.
Parallel computing based distribution network reliability evaluation technology research

With the development of social economy and the expansion of distribution network scale, the demand of power supply reliability is gradually improving. However, the traditional reliability analysis of distribution network power supply is more suitable for the simplified small-scale system, which is difficult to meet the reliability calculation task of large-scale distribution network in the data age. In this paper, an analysis method based on Spark parallel computing platform is proposed, and the system reliability analysis is relied on Map-Reduce. Firstly, hash mapping the network topology data to determine every element's connection. Then the minimum cut-sets is determined by depth first search of each load point by Map-Reduce, and the reliability index is calculated according to the series parallel relationship of the components. On this basis, correcting the reliability index of the system by considering the influence of standby power supply and distribution automation equipment in network. Finally, the reliability of 10kV distribution network in a certain area is realized on the Spark platform, and the calculation speed and accuracy of the algorithm are verified.
Projecting Coral Reef Futures Under Global Warming and Ocean Acidification

Many physiological responses in present-day coral reefs to climate change are interpreted as consistent with the imminent disappearance of modern reefs globally because of annual mass bleaching events, carbonate dissolution, and insufficient time for substantial evolutionary responses. Emerging evidence for variability in the coral calcification response to acidification, geographical variation in bleaching susceptibility and recovery, responses to past climate change, and potential rates of adaptation to rapid warming supports an alternative scenario in which reef degradation occurs with greater temporal and spatial heterogeneity than current projections suggest. Reducing uncertainty in projecting coral reef futures requires improved understanding of past responses to rapid climate change; physiological responses to interacting factors, such as temperature, acidification, and nutrients; and the costs and constraints imposed by acclimation and adaptation.
Regional Expression and Histological Localization of Cysteine Sulfinate Decarboxylase mRNA in the Rat Kidney1

Cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSD) is the rate-limiting biosynthetic enzyme of the pathway that forms taurine, a putative osmolyte in the kidney, which was previously localized in various segments of the nephron. Although CSD is known to be expressed in whole kidney extracts, no information on CSD mRNA regional expression and histological localization is yet available. Western blotting and Northern blotting were performed in four dissected regions of the kidney using an antiserum against recombinant CSD and a [32P]-dCTP-labeled CSD cDNA probe, respectively. In situ hybridization was carried out using a [35S]-CTP-labeled CSD RNA probe. A single protein (53 kD) and a single mRNA (2.5 kb) were detected, both of which appeared to be most enriched in the outer stripe of the outer medulla. In situ hybridization of CSD mRNA showed strong labeling of the thick tubules in the outer stripe of the outer medulla and in cortical medullary rays that corresponded to the proximal straight tubules. The significance of this restricted expression of CSD is discussed in relationship to the data previously reported on the location of taurine and the location of the taurine transporter along the nephron.
Tissue distribution of the human soluble guanylate cyclases.

Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is an important component of the NO signaling pathway. Human sGC isoforms alpha(1), alpha(2), and beta(1) show differential mRNA tissue distributions. alpha(1) and beta(1) are expressed in most tissues; however, the alpha(2) isoform shows a more restricted expression pattern with high levels in brain, placenta, spleen, and uterus only. Both alpha subunits exist as multiple transcripts whereas beta(1) exists as a single message. This study reports for the first time the tissue distribution of human sGC message and demonstrates that sGC isoforms are nonuniformly expressed which may be useful if the enzyme is to be exploited as a therapeutic target.
An international comparison of cancer survival: relatively poor areas of Toronto, Ontario and three US metropolitan areas.

BACKGROUND This study of cancer survival compared adults in Toronto, Ontario and three US metropolitan areas: Seattle, Washington; San Francisco, California; and Hartford, Connecticut. It examined whether socioeconomic status has a differential effect on cancer survival in Canada and the United States. METHODS The Ontario Cancer Registry and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End RESULTS (SEER) programme provided a total of 23,437 and 37,329 population-based primary malignant cancer cases for the Toronto and US samples, respectively (1986-1988, followed until 1994). Census-based measures of socioeconomic status were used to ecologically control absolute income status. RESULTS Among residents of low-income areas, persons in Toronto experienced a 5 year survival advantage for 13 of 15 cancer sites [minimally one gender significant at 95 per cent confidence interval (CI)]. An aggregate 35 per cent survival advantage among the Canadian cohort was demonstrated (survival rate ratio (SRR) = 1.35, 95 per cent CI= 1.30-1.40), and this effect was even larger among younger patients not yet eligible for Medicare coverage in the United States (SRR = 1.46, 95 per cent CI = 1.40-1.52). CONCLUSION Systematically replicating a previous Toronto-Detroit comparison, this study's observed consistent pattern of Canadian survival advantage across various cancer sites suggests that their more equitable access to preventive and therapeutic health care services may be responsible for the difference.
Deregulation of c‐Src tyrosine kinase and its downstream targets in pre‐eclamptic placenta

Pre‐eclampsia is a serious pregnancy disorder characterized by the new onset of hypertension and proteinuria in the second trimester of pregnancy. The determination of a key signaling regulatory mechanism involved in placental functions is critical to understanding the pathogenesis of pre‐eclampsia. The aim of this study was to examine the activity of c‐Src and its downstream targets, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2, p38 and Jun N‐terminal kinase, as well as nuclear factor (NF)‐ĸB in placental tissues collected from women with pre‐eclampsia.
Running head : ONE-HOUR ONLINE INTERVENTION ON FRUIT INTAKE 1 Self-Regulation Prompts Can Increase Fruit Consumption : A One-Hour Randomized Controlled Online Trial

Objective: The purpose was to examine whether a one-hour intervention would help increase fruit consumption in motivated individuals and to study the role of self-regulatory mechanisms in the behavior change process, with a particular focus on dietary planning and action control. Methods: A randomized controlled trial compared a one-hour online intervention with controls in 791 participants. Dependent variables were fruit intake, planning to consume, and dietary action control. Results: Experimental condition by time interactions documented superior treatment effects for the self-regulation group, although all participants benefited from the study. To identify the contribution of the intervention ingredients, multiple mediation analyses were conducted that yielded mediator effects for dietary action control and planning. Conclusions: A very brief self-regulatory nutrition intervention was superior to a control condition. Dietary planning and action control seem to play a major role in the mechanisms that facilitate fruit intake.
Ultrasound of the shoulder: asymptomatic findings in men.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine the range and prevalence of asymp tomatic findings at sonography of the shoulder. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study sample comprised 51 consecutively enrolled subjects who had no symptoms in either shoulder. Ultrasound of one shoulder per patient was performed by a musculoskeletal sonographer according to a defined protocol that included imaging of the rotator cuff, tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii muscle, subacromial-subdeltoid bursa, acromioclavicular joint, and posterior labrum. The shoulder imaged was determined at random. The 51 scans were retrospectively analyzed by three fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists in consensus, and pathologic findings were recorded. Subtle or questionable findings of mild tendinosis, bursal prominence, and mild osteoarthritis were not recorded. RESULTS Twenty-five right and 26 left shoulders were imaged. The subject age range was 40-70 years. Ultrasound showed subacromial-subdeltoid bursal thickening in 78% (40/51) of the subjects, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis in 65% (33/51), supraspinatus tendinosis in 39% (20/51), subscapularis tendinosis in 25% (13/51), partial-thickness tear of the bursal side of the supraspinatus tendon in 22% (11/51), and posterior glenoid labral abnormality in 14% (7/51). All other findings had a prevalence of 10% or less. CONCLUSION Asymptomatic shoulder abnormalities were found in 96% of the subjects. The most common were subacromial-subdeltoid bursal thickening, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and supraspinatus tendinosis. Ultrasound findings should be interpreted closely with clinical findings to determine the cause of symptoms.
Short Form-36 Health Survey as an evaluation tool for cardiac rehabilitation programs: is it appropriate?

[Extract] Currently, patients are generally offered entry into cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs following cardiac surgery. Cardiac rehabilitation aims to promote optimal recovery and, where possible, to prevent coronary heart disease from progressing. Quality of life (QOL) is usually recommended as a standard component in evaluating CR. The Short Form-36 Health survey (SF-36) has been one of the most widely used general surveys for this purpose.
Diffusion-Weighted Imaging of Cerebral Infarctions: Are Higher b Values Better?

Purpose The purpose of this work is to determine whether high b-value (b = 3,000 s/mm2) diffusion-weighted (DW) imaging is superior to low b-value (b = 1,000 s/mm2) DW imaging for the detection of cerebral infarctions older than 6 h. Method Echo planar DW imaging was performed at 1.5 T in 26 consecutive patients (mean age 66 years) referred for clinical diagnosis of definite acute/subacute cerebral infarction (6 h to 14 days old). The DW imaging sequences were performed using matched parameters (TR = 10,000 ms, TEeff = 97 ms, FOV = 24 cm, 128 × 192 matrix, slice = 5 mm, NEX = 2) with b values of 1,000 and 3,000 s/mm2. Areas of infarction were compared visually by two experienced neuroradiologists. Quantitative measures of MR signal and noise levels in the infarcted areas compared with contralateral normal brain were also obtained. Results The median time after infarction was 2.5 days (range 10 h to 14 days). By visual inspection, all infarctions were reliably identified on both the b = 1,000 and the b = 3,000 images. The gross signal ratio (infarct/normal brain) was approximately 33% higher in the b = 3,000 images, but the b = 3,000 images were rated as noticeably “noisier” by both observers in every case. This visual observation was confirmed quantitatively: The signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise (CNR) ratios were 70% and 51% higher in the b = 1,000 than the b = 3,000 images (p < 0.0005 for both). Conclusion For the evaluation of late acute/subacute cerebral infarctions, high b-value (b = 3,000 s/mm2) DW imaging offers no apparent diagnostic advantages compared with b = 1,000 images and is significantly inferior in terms of SNR and CNR.