Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
No association of the CARD8 (TUCAN) c.30T>A (p.C10X) variant with Crohn's disease: A study in 3 independent European cohorts

Background: A recent study reported that the c.30T>A (p.Cys10Ter; rs2043211) variant, in the CARD8 (TUCAN) gene, is associated with Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of p.C10X in 3 independent European (IBD) cohorts from Germany, Hungary, and the Netherlands. Methods: We included a European IBD cohort of 921 patients and compared the p.C10X genotype frequency to 832 healthy controls. The 3 study populations analyzed were: (1) Germany [CD, n = 317; ulcerative colitis (UC), n = 180], (2) Hungary (CD, n = 149; UC, n = 119), and (3) the Netherlands (CD, n = 156). Subtyping analysis was performed in respect to NOD2 variants (p.Arg702Trp, p.Gly908Arg, c.3020insC) and to clinical characteristics. Ethnically matched controls were included (German, n = 413; Hungarian, n = 202; Dutch, n = 217). Results: We observed no significant difference in p.C10X genotype frequency in either patients with CD or patients with UC compared with controls in all 3 cohorts. Conversely to the initial association study, we found a trend toward lower frequencies of the suggestive risk wild type in CD from the Netherlands compared with controls (P = 0.14). We found neither evidence for genetic interactions between p.C10X and NOD2 nor the C10X variant to be associated with a CD or UC phenotype. Conclusions: Analyzing 3 independent European IBD cohorts, we found no evidence that the C10X variant in CARD8 confers susceptibility for CD.
Care Access in Rural Areas: What Leverage Mechanisms Do Regulatory Agencies Have in a Public System?

Abstract: Based on observations of the government's vital role in enhancing rural health care accessibility, in this article, we analyze solutions implemented by Quebec's public health system by highlighting the limitations in incentives used to remedy the dearth of rural medical resources and the consequent interest in ameliorating health care accessibility through service integration. The current challenge lies in fostering cooperation between health care institutions not subject to market incentives and integrating private practice physicians into the public system. To this end, regulatory agencies in public systems use four main leverage mechanisms: formal power, economic power, influence, and commitment, as illustrated in an experiment conducted in rural Quebec.
Self and near relative ratings of functional level one year after traumatic brain injury

Purpose: To quantify traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients’ perceptions of own function by the Patient Competency Rating Scale (PCRS) one year after injury, and to examine self-awareness of functional deficits by comparing PCRS ratings from patients (PCRS-P) and PCRS ratings from near relatives (PCRS-R), and to identify predictors of awareness deficits. Method: A cohort of 50 severe (n = 33) and moderate (n = 17) TBI patients. Awareness of deficits was investigated by subtracting PCRS relative ratings from PCRS patient ratings. Predictors of PCRS ratings and differences were assessed by stepwise multiple regression analyses.Results: The average patient PCRS sum score was 122/150 (95% CI = 115; 129) as compared to a sum score of 117/150 (95% CI = 110; 125), given by their relatives (p = 0.93). The patients scored themselves slightly higher than their relatives in the domains of activities of daily living (ADL) and cognitive function (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). Regression analyses showed that Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)score at admission to rehabilitation was the strongest predictor of patient PCRS (B = 3.314, p = 0.008). The strongest predictor of differences between patient and relative PCRS was GCS acute (B= −3.530, p = 0.001). Conclusions: TBI patients demonstrated a slight “awareness gap” in ADL and cognitive function. Low GCS in the acute phase and high age were the strongest predictors of self- awareness deficits. Implications for Rehabilitation Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may result in various cognitive, motor, sensory, social and emotional deficits. How TBI patients perceive their own functional level is less described. Lack of awareness is associated with poorer functional outcome, higher caregiver distress and poor compliance with rehabilitation. TBI patients demonstrated a slight “awareness gap” in ADL and cognitive function. Low Glasgow Coma Scale score in the acute phase and high age were the strongest predictors of self-awareness deficits.
Optimization of CD4+ T Lymphocyte Response to Human Cytomegalovirus Nuclear IE1 Protein through Modifications of Both Size and Cellular Localization1

We have previously reported that the CD4+ T lymphocyte response against nuclear human CMV IE1 protein depends in part on endogenous MHC class II presentation. To optimize presentation by HLA-DR of the nuclear IE1 protein and increase the response by CD4+ T cells, we have constructed two different adenovirus vectors containing mutant versions of IE1, containing a HLA-DR3 epitope, fused to GFP. The first construct consisted of a sequence of 46 aa encoded by exon 4, called GFP-IE1 (86–131). The second construct consisted of the whole IE1 mutated on exon 4 nuclear localization signals, identified in this study, and deleted of already known exon 2 nuclear localization signals (GFP-IE1M). Both of these IE1 vectors expressed proteins with cytoplasmic localization, as evidenced by GFP expression, as opposed to control GFP-IE1, which was nuclear. GFP-IE1 (86–131) induced IE1-specific CD4+ T cell clone response that was >30-fold more potent than that against GFP-IE1 and GFP-IE1M. The CD4+ T cell response was due to endogenous presentation followed by exogenous presentation at later time points. Presentation was dependent on both proteasome and acidic compartments. GFP-IE1 (86–131) was rapidly degraded by the APC, which may account for better presentation. Our data show potentiation of the CD4+ T cell response to a specific epitope through shortening and relocation of an otherwise nuclear protein and suggest applications in vaccination.
Cataract surgery outcome in eyes with keratoconus

Background To review the refractive outcome of cataract surgery in eyes with keratoconus. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 64 consecutive patients (92 eyes) who underwent cataract surgery with implantation of a spherical intraocular lens (IOL). We recorded the method of refractive correction and the effect of the keratometry (K) on the biometry prediction error (BPE). Results 35 eyes had mild keratoconus (mean K<48 dioptres (D)), 40 had moderate keratoconus (mean K 48 D to 55 D) and 17 had severe keratoconus (mean K>55 D). Actual K values were used in all eyes with mild or moderate keratoconus with a target refraction of approximately −1.0 D in mild keratoconus and −1.5 D in moderate keratoconus that resulted in a mean BPE of 0.0 D and +0.3 D, respectively. The actual K values were used in eight of the 17 eyes with severe keratoconus with a mean target refraction of −5.4 D, which resulted in a mean BPE of +6.8 D. In the remaining nine eyes, a standard K value of 43.25 D was used with a mean target refraction of −1.8 D, which resulted in a mean BPE of +0.6 D. Conclusions Using the actual K values with a target of low myopia is a suitable option for spherical IOL selection for eyes with a mean K of ≤55 D. When there is severe keratoconus, the use of actual K values can result in a large hyperopic error and the use of standard K value in these eyes should be considered.
Relationship between nocturnal penile tumescence parameters, International Index of Erectile Function symptom scores and sildenafil responses

Objective. To evaluate the correlation between International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire scores, nocturnal penile tumescence parameters and sildenafil response in patients with erectile dysfunction using a minimal investigations approach. Material and methods. A total of 97 patients without any risk factors for erectile dysfunction were included. After completing the IIEF questionnaire, nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring was performed in all patients for 1 or 2 nights. Subsequently, sildenafil was given at a dosage of 50 or 100 mg according to the response. The relationship between nocturnal penile tumescence results, the severity of erectile dysfunction according to the IIEF questionnaire and sildenafil response was evaluated using Pearson's χ2 test. Results. Based on the questionnaire scores, 25 patients (25.8%) had mild, 44 (45.4%) had moderate and 28 (28.8%) had severe erectile dysfunction. Forty-four patients (45.4%) had normal and 53 (54.6%) had abnormal parameters after nocturnal penile tumescence recording. The sildenafil response was positive in 63 patients (64.9%) who were given 50 mg and in 26 (26.8%) who were given 100 mg. However, eight patients (8.2%) did not respond to sildenafil. While the severity of erectile dysfunction according to IIEF scores and the sildenafil response did not show any correlations with nocturnal penile tumescence results, there was a statistically significant relationship between sildenafil response and the severity of erectile dysfunction. Conclusion. Changing concepts in the evaluation of ED have resulted in the use of effective therapeutic applications consistent with the degree of symptoms of patients without the waste of time caused by performing expensive, invasive, ineffective and time-consuming diagnostic tests
Perinatal bisphenol A exposures increase production of pro-inflammatory mediators in bone marrow-derived mast cells of adult mice

Abstract Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used monomer of polycarbonate plastics and epoxide resin that has been implicated in asthma pathogenesis when exposure occurs to the developing fetus. However, few studies have examined the relationship between perinatal BPA exposure and asthma pathogenesis in adulthood. This study used an isogenic mouse model to examine the influence of perinatal BPA exposure via maternal diet on inflammatory mediators associated with asthma in 6-month-old adult offspring by measuring bone marrow-derived mast cell (BMMC) production of lipid mediators (cysteinyl leukotrienes and prostaglandin D2), cytokines (interleukin [IL]-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α), and histamine. Global DNA methylation levels in BMMCs from adult offspring were determined to elucidate a potential regulatory mechanism linking perinatal exposure to mast cell phenotype later in life. Four BPA exposure doses were tested: low (50 ng BPA/kg diet, n = 5), medium (50 μg BPA/kg diet, n = 4), high (50 mg BPA/kg diet, n = 4), and control (n = 3). Following BMMC activation, increases in cysteinyl leukotriene (p < 0.01) and TNFα (p < 0.05) production were observed in all BPA-exposure groups, and increases in prostaglandin D2 (p < 0.01) and IL-13 (p < 0.01) production were observed in the high exposure group. Additionally, BMMCs from adult mice in all exposure groups displayed a decrease in global DNA methylation compared to control animals. Thus, perinatal BPA exposure displayed a long-term influence on mast cell-mediated production of pro-inflammatory mediators associated with asthma and global DNA methylation levels, suggesting a potential for mast cell dysregulation, which could affect pulmonary inflammation associated with allergic airway disease into adulthood.
Antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy in patients with giant cell arteritis.

OBJECTIVE Vision loss and cerebrovascular accidents often complicate giant cell arteritis (GCA). Antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy reduce the risk of stroke in other populations. We sought to determine whether antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy reduces ischemic complications in patients with GCA. METHODS A retrospective chart review for patients with GCA was conducted. Included patients fulfilled modified 1990 American College of Rheumatology criteria for GCA. Collected information included demographic data, dates of antiplatelet or anticoagulant use, vision loss or stroke, and presence of bleeding complications and cerebrovascular risk factors. RESULTS A total of 143 patients were included with a mean followup period of 4 years. The cohort included 109 women (76%) and 34 men (24%) with a mean age of 71.8 years. A total of 104 patients (73%) had a biopsy-proven diagnosis. Eighty-six patients (60.1%) had received long-term antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy, including 18 (12.6%) who did not start therapy until after an ischemic event had occurred. Antiplatelet agents or anticoagulants were not used in 57 patients (39.9%). Overall, 11 of 68 patients (16.2%) had an ischemic event while receiving antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy, compared with 36 of 75 patients (48.0%) not receiving such therapy (P < 0.0005). Univariate analysis failed to show a statistical difference between groups in regard to cerebrovascular risk factors, age, sex, or biopsy-proven diagnosis. Bleeding complications occurred in 2 patients receiving aspirin, 1 patient receiving warfarin, and 5 patients who did not receive anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy. CONCLUSION Antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy may reduce the risk of ischemic events in patients with GCA. An increased risk of bleeding complications was not observed.
Rotation Therapy with a Cobalt 60 Unit

The logical extension of the cross-fire technique in radiotherapy is rotational treatment. The advantages of multiple beam cross-firing are universally acknowledged, whereas rotation therapy, in spite of its long history (30, 34) has until recently been regarded with reservations by many. One of the deterring factors in rotation therapy has been the fairly elaborate equipment required and the greater attention to detail necessary for carrying it out. Many of the technical problems are well on the way to being solved, and it is also being realized that methods of treatment which require greater care and accuracy will give better overall results quite apart from improvements due to better treatment technique itself. The theoretical and practical advantages of rotation therapy with conventional roentgen rays, as well as techniques, measurements and calculations have been reported and discussed in the literature at some length (1, 4, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 23, 24, 25, 28, 30,32, 34, 35), and the supporting evidence of clinical observations, especially in a series of excellent papers by JENS NIELSEN, HOWARD NIELSEN, and co-workers, in Denmark, GYNNING in Sweden, and MALLET in France, has been forthcoming (5, 7, 9, 10, 19, 21, 26, 27, 28, 31, 33). While it is true that, with low half-value layer radiations, rotation therapy results in greater relative improvements in dose distributions over those attainable with stationary fields (1, 14, 15, 23, 25, 28, 33, 34), it is at high energies of radiation that the greatest absolute advantages are obtained (2, 3, 11, 17, 20, 35, 36). It is the decrease in side scatter rather than the increase
A dual‐frequency approach for retrieving sea surface wind speed from TOPEX altimetry

More than a dozen of wind speed (U) algorithms have been proposed during the past 2 decades, as a result of a continuing effort to improve altimeter wind measurement. The progress in terms of accuracy, however, is seen to be rather slow. The reported root mean square (RMS) error of prevailing algorithms varies mostly between 1.6 and 2.0 m/s for the dominant wind regime. As far as the TOPEX altimeter is concerned, three measured quantities, namely, the radar cross sections from Ku and C band (sigma(Ku) and sigma(C)), as well as the significant wave height (H-s), have been used in previous algorithm developments, resulting in a variety of single-, dual-, and three-parameter model functions. On the basis of the finding of a banded dependency of the U-sigma(Ku) relationship on sigma(C) a new approach for retrieving altimeter wind speed, termed linear composite method (LCM), is proposed in this study. The LCM model function appears as a set of sigma(C)-dependent linear relations between U and sigma(Ku). A unique advantage of this approach is that it allows the algorithm to be tuned or expanded for a given range of wind speed without affecting the rest. Over 1.7 million coincident TOPEX/NASA scatterometer (NSCAT) and TOPEX/QuikSCAT data covering a period of 2.5 years are used to adjust the model. Validation against extensive buoy measurements indicates that the LCM algorithm is almost unbiased and has an overall RMS error of 1.56 m/s, which is 12% lower compared to the algorithm in operational use [Witter and Chelton, 1991]. In addition, a small (2.5-6%, depending on the reference data set) but significant improvement is found for the LCM when compared to the most recent dual- parameter algorithm [Gourrion et al., 2002].
Left ventricular response in healthy young men during heavy-intensity weight-lifting exercise.

We examined cardiac volumes (using echocardiography), intra-arterial blood pressure (BP), and intrathoracic pressure (ITP) in healthy males performing leg press exercise to failure at 95% of their maximum dynamic strength. Compared with preexercise, during the lifting phase of exercise, end-diastolic volume (EDV; 147 +/- 8 to 103 +/- 7 ml) and end-systolic volume (ESV; 54 +/- 5 to 27 +/- 4 ml) decreased (P < 0.05); heart rate (82 +/- 6 to 143 +/- 5 beats/min), systolic BP (160 +/- 6 to 270 +/- 21 Torr), diastolic BP (91 +/- 2 to 183 +/- 18 Torr), ITP (0.8 +/- 0.8 to 57.8 +/- 24 Torr), and peak systolic BP/ESV (SBP/ESV; 3.0 +/- 0.3 to 11.0 +/- 1.5 Torr/ml) increased (P < 0.05); and stroke volume decreased (94 +/- 3 to 77 +/- 4 ml; P > 0.05). Full knee extension was associated with most values returning to preexercise levels except for ESV (38 +/- 7 ml), heart rate (130 +/- 9 beats/min), and ITP (-12.5 +/- 2.1 Torr). During the lowering phase, significant decreases in EDV to 105 +/- 14 ml and ESV to 27 +/- 7 ml were observed with increases in systolic BP to 207 +/- 23 Torr, diastolic BP to 116 +/- 8 Torr, and SBP/ESV to 10.0 +/- 2.5 Torr/ml. Stroke volume decreased to 78 +/- 9 ml (P > 0.05). Thus rapid changes in cardiac volumes, contractility, and pressure occur during weight lifting that are related to different phases of the lift.
Differences in the Pharmacokinetics of Cocaine in Naive and Cocaine‐Experienced Rats

Abstract: Enhanced cocaine concentrations in brain and blood observed after an intraperitoneal challenge dose in rats exposed to cocaine for 10 days by subcutaneous administration are traced to a change in the absorption process from the site of an intraperitoneal injection to general circulation. This conclusion is reached by three sets of corroborating results: (a) Adipose tissue of rats treated for 10 days with repeat subcutaneous injections of cocaine did not reveal a buildup of cocaine in sufficient concentrations to account for the twofold increase in brain and blood concentrations seen during intraperitoneal administration; (b) administration of the drug by an intravenous route after 10‐day cocaine treatment did not show a significant difference between treatment and control groups; (c) nonlinear regression on the intravenous and intraperitoneal data sets using a two‐compartment open model indicated a difference in the absorption process but not in the metabolic and blood‐brain transfer processes.
Batch Mode Active Learning Based Multi-view Text Classification

The goal of active learning is to select the most informative examples for manual labeling in order to reduce the effort involved in acquiring labeled examples, which is very important for large-scale text classification. However, most of the previous studies in active learning have focused on selecting a single unlabeled example at a time which could be inefficient since the model has to be retrained for every new labeled example. In this paper we propose a novel simple batch mode active learning(BMAL) method based on farthest-first traversal to select a number of informative examples for labeling simultaneously in each iteration. Furthermore, we combine the BMAL with a multi-view framework in order to improve its execution efficiency. The k nearest neighbor(kNN) model is used as the baseline classifier for its simplicity and efficiency. Extensive experiments on standard dataset have shown that our algorithm is more effective than the single mode counterpart and the baseline classifier.
Tailless aircraft flight control using multiple time scale reconfigurable sliding modes

A triple time scale tailless aircraft flight control problem is addressed via continuous sliding mode control. A reconfigurable sliding mode flight controller is designed that achieves robust, high accuracy command angle tracking both before and after damage to an aircraft. Command angles and angular rate commands are robustly tracked in outer and inner loops correspondingly via finite reaching time continuous sliding mode controllers. An optimal control allocation algorithm is employed using nominal mathematical model of an aircraft. Sliding surface boundary layer reconfiguration (direct adaptation) is used in the "very" inner loop to account for actuator dynamics, deflection limits, and rate limits. Online damage identification is not required by this design. The reconfigurable sliding mode flight control technique is applied to a flight dynamics model of a tailless jet fighter that was developed under is the innovative control effectors program. Simulations demonstrate stability and high accuracy tracking performance without violation of actuator limits.
The three-dimensional distribution of clouds over the Southern Hemisphere high latitudes.

AbstractThe authors exploit three years of data from the CloudSat and Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellites to document for the first time the seasonally varying vertical structure of cloudiness throughout Antarctica and the high-latitude Southern Ocean. The results provide a baseline reference of Southern Hemisphere high-latitude cloudiness for future observational and modeling studies, and they highlight several previously undocumented aspects and key features of Antarctic cloudiness.The key features of high-latitude Southern Hemisphere cloudiness documented here include 1) a pronounced seasonal cycle in cloudiness over the high-latitude Southern Hemisphere, with higher cloud incidences generally found during the winter season over both the Southern Ocean and Antarctica; 2) two distinct maxima in vertical profiles of cloud incidence over the Southern Ocean, one centered near the surface and another centered in the upper troposphere; 3) a nearly discontinu.
QUANTIFICATION OF ARGYROPHILIC NUCLEOLAR ORGANIZER REGIONS IN ESTROGEN RECEPTOR POSITIVE AND ESTROGEN RECEPTOR NEGATIVE DUCTAL BREAST CARCINOMAS

Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) analysis of 20 estrogen receptor positive (ER+) and 16 estrogen receptor negative (ER-) invasive ductal breast carcinomas was performed. The quantification of AgNORs was determined by using morphometrical method in three ways: 1) mean number of AgNORs per nucleus counted on a 100 random nuclei, 2) mean number of AgNORs per nucleus counted on 200-300 nuclei in fields chosen by "the chess fields" method, and 3) mean number of AgNORs on the nuclear surface unit. A significant difference in mean number of AgNORs per nucleus and on unit of the nuclear surface between estrogen receptor positive (ER+) and estrogen receptor negative (ER-) invasive ductal breast carcinomas was observed (p<0.001). The mean number of AgNORs was higher in ER– than in ER+ invasive ductal breast carcinomas. Despite interobserver variability in counting AgNORs, comparison was completed as well as the evaluation of validity of three stated ways of quantification of nucleolar organizers. Our results suggest more rapid proliferative activity in ERthan in ER+ breast cancers.