Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mother, Father, and Adolescent Self-Control and Adherence in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes

This study explored whether shared self-control across a family system, including adolescent, mother, and father self-control, as well as the interaction of mother and father self-control, was associated with ease of completing adherence tasks and the completion of adherence behaviors related to the Type 1 diabetes (T1D) regimen. One hundred thirty-seven adolescents (M = 13.48 years), mothers, and fathers completed a self-report measure of self-control, while adolescents also self-reported on ease of completing adherence tasks and the frequency with which they completed adherence tasks. Higher adolescent, mother, father, and the interaction of mother and father self-control were each associated with greater adolescent perceptions of ease of completing adherence tasks. Also, greater adolescent perception of ease of adherence mediated the association of higher adolescent, father, and the interaction of mother and father self-control on more frequent adherence behaviors. The results are consistent with the idea that family members may share the load of self-control within the family system. The results point to the importance of assessing and intervening within the entire family system to support improved quality of life and better adherence to the medical regimen in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.
Multicenter Comparison of the VITEK 2 Yeast Susceptibility Test with the CLSI Broth Microdilution Reference Method for Testing Fluconazole against Candida spp

ABSTRACT A fully automated commercial antifungal susceptibility test system (VITEK 2 yeast susceptibility test; bioMerieux, Inc., Hazelwood, Mo.) was compared in three different laboratories with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) reference broth microdilution (BMD) method by testing two quality control strains and a total of 426 isolates of Candida spp. (103 to 135 clinical isolates in each laboratory plus 80 challenge isolates in one laboratory) against fluconazole. Reference BMD MIC endpoints were established after 24 and 48 h of incubation. VITEK 2 endpoints were determined spectrophotometrically after 10 to 26 h of incubation (mean, 13 h). Excellent essential agreement (within two dilutions) between the VITEK 2 and the 24- and 48-h BMD MICs was observed. The overall agreement values were 97.9 and 93.7%, respectively. Both intra- and interlaboratory agreement was 100%. The overall categorical agreement between VITEK 2 and BMD was 97.2% at the 24-h BMD time point and 88.3% at the 48-h BMD time point. Decreased categorical agreement at 48 h was attributed to trailing growth observed with Candida glabrata. The VITEK 2 system reliably detected fluconazole resistance among Candida spp. and demonstrated excellent quantitative and qualitative agreement with the reference BMD method.
Controlling the size of nanoscale toroidal DNA condensates with static curvature and ionic strength

The process of DNA condensation into nanometer-scale particles has direct relevance to several fields, including cell biology, virology, and gene delivery for therapeutic purposes. DNA condensation has also attracted the attention of polymer physicists, as the collapse of DNA molecules from solution into well defined particles represents an exquisite example of a polymer phase transition. Here we present a quantitative study of DNA toroids formed by condensation of 3 kb DNA with hexammine cobalt (III). The presence or absence of static loops within this DNA molecule demonstrates the effect of nucleation loop size on toroid dimensions and that nucleation is principally decoupled from toroid growth. A comparison of DNA condensates formed at low ionic strength with those formed in the presence of additional salts (NaCl or MgCl2) shows that toroid thickness is a salt-dependant phenomenon. Together, these results have allowed the development of models for DNA toroid formation in which the size of the nucleation loop directly influences the diameter of the fully formed toroid, whereas solution conditions govern toroid thickness. The data presented illustrate the potential that exists for controlling DNA toroid dimensions. Furthermore, this study provides a set of data that should prove useful as a test for theoretical models of DNA condensation.
Risks of Adverse Perinatal Outcomes after Repeat Terminations of Pregnancy by their Methods: a Nationwide Register‐based Cohort Study in Finland 1996–2013

BACKGROUND Repeat terminations of pregnancy (TOPs) are associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes in the subsequent birth. The perinatal outcomes after repeat TOPs by their methods have not yet been properly studied. This study aimed to examine perinatal outcomes in subsequent pregnancy among the women with a singleton birth and a history of TOPs. METHODS All the first-time mothers (n = 419 879) with a singleton birth during 1996-2013 in Finland were identified from the Medical Birth Register and linked to the Abortion Register. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to estimate risks of adverse perinatal outcomes. RESULTS The increased incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes was found with increasing number of surgical TOPs. After adjusting for confounders, the women with one surgical TOP had slightly increased but significant odds of 1.07 (95% CI 1.02, 1.13) for being small for gestational age compared with the women having no TOP. A significantly high risk for extremely preterm birth (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.03, 2.23) was found among the women having had repeat surgical TOPs when compared to the women with no TOP. Non-significant risks were found for adverse perinatal outcomes after women's repeat surgical TOPs than repeat medical TOPs. CONCLUSION Information regarding the consequences of repeat induced TOPs will be significant in sexual health education as well as counselling women after first termination.
Protection of Porcine Oocytes Against Cell Damage Caused by Oxidative Stress During In Vitro Maturation: Role of Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Porcine Follicular Fluid1

Abstract To elucidate the beneficial effects of porcine follicular fluid (pFF) added to maturation medium on the sustenance of cytoplasmic maturation responsible for the subsequent developmental competence after in vitro fertilization (IVF) of porcine oocytes, we focused on the antioxidative role of pFF in its function of protecting oocytes from reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced cell damage. Porcine follicular fluid collected from small (2–6 mm) follicles had about 7.2-fold higher levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity than that of fetal bovine serum (FBS), and this activity was markedly blocked by the CuZn-SOD inhibitor, diethyldithiocarbamate (DETC). The interruption of meiotic progression and the increasing intracellular glutathione (GSH) content throughout the maturation period, as well as an outbreak of DNA damage in oocytes and cumulus cells were difficult to detect in oocytes cultured in a medium supplemented with 10% pFF, even in the presence of ROS generated by the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system, whereas cell damage encompassed by ROS was prominent in oocytes cultured with 10% FBS and 10% pFF plus 100 μM DETC. Similarly, significant enhancement to the degree of transformation of the sperm nucleus into the male pronucleus (MPN) after in vitro fertilization was shown by the addition of pFF to the maturation medium. The presence of DETC during in vitro maturation reduced the ability of oocytes to promote MPN formation to the same extent as oocytes matured with FBS. The proportion developing to the blastocyst stage was increased in oocytes that matured with pFF, but this developmental competence was significantly lowered by treatment with DETC (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that pFF plays a critical role in protecting oocytes from oxidative stress through a higher level of radical scavenging activity elicited from SOD isoenzymes, resulting in the enhancement of cytoplasmic maturation responsible for developmental competence postfertilization.
Congenital Myopathies in Israeli Families

The clinical features of 37 patients from 32 Israeli families with congenital myopathies evaluated between 1983 and 2004 are described: 13 children were diagnosed with congenital fiber type disproportion, 10 had myotubular myopathy, 7 had nemaline myopathy, 5 had central core disease, 1 had actin myopathy, and 1 had multi-minicore disease. There were 7 families (22%) that had parental consanguinity, and 4 families (12%) had more than 1 patient with congenital myopathy. Of the patients, 31 (84%) presented with clinical symptoms before 4 months of age, and 6 children (16%) presented after 1 year of age. Thirteen children (35%) had a severe phenotype with chronic ventilatory dependence or mortality before the age of 11 years. Facial weakness was associated with a severe phenotype. There was a high rate of a severe clinical phenotype in patients with myotubular myopathy (60%) and in patients with nemaline myopathy (57%), whereas in patients with congenital fiber type disproportion and in patients with central core disease, the proportion of a severe phenotype was lower (23% and 0%, respectively).
Relationship of medial temporal lobe atrophy, APOE genotype, and cognitive reserve in preclinical Alzheimer's disease

This study evaluated the utility of baseline and longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of medial temporal lobe brain regions collected when participants were cognitively normal and largely in middle age (mean age 57 years) to predict the time to onset of clinical symptoms associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Furthermore, we examined whether the relationship between MRI measures and clinical symptom onset was modified by apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype and level of cognitive reserve (CR). MRI scans and measures of CR were obtained at baseline from 245 participants who had been followed for up to 18 years (mean follow‐up 11 years). A composite score based on reading, vocabulary, and years of education was used as an index of CR. Cox regression models showed that lower baseline volume of the right hippocampus and smaller baseline thickness of the right entorhinal cortex predicted the time to symptom onset independently of CR and ApoE‐ɛ4 genotype, which also predicted the onset of symptoms. The atrophy rates of bilateral entorhinal cortex and amygdala volumes were also associated with time to symptom onset, independent of CR, ApoE genotype, and baseline volume. Only one measure, the left entorhinal cortex baseline volume, interacted with CR, such that smaller volumes predicted symptom onset only in individuals with lower CR. These results suggest that MRI measures of medial temporal atrophy, ApoE‐ɛ4 genotype, and the protective effects of higher CR all predict the time to onset of symptoms associated with MCI in a largely independent, additive manner during the preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease. Hum Brain Mapp 36:2826–2841, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluation of Etomidate for Seizure Duration in Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

&NA; The optimum induction agent for anesthesia for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been long debated. Ideal agent should be short acting with minimal suppression of seizure potentials. Recent studies have suggested longer seizure duration with etomidate in comparison to propofol, thiopental, and methohexital. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to pool data available from studies comparing systematically the efficacy of etomidate against other induction agents in terms of seizure duration (both electroencephalography (EEG) and motor). Methods We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane registry for trials evaluating etomidate against methohexital, propofol, or thiopental for duration of EEG or motor seizure in patients undergoing ECT. Specific adverse effects reported were also identified. Results Seventeen trials were identified involving 704, 84, 2491, and 258 setting of ECT using etomidate, methohexital, thiopental, and propofol, respectively. In the etomidate group, pooled EEG seizure duration was longer by 2.23 seconds (95% confidence interval [CI], −3.62 to 8.01; P = 0.456) than methohexital, longer by 17.65 seconds (95% CI, 9.72–25.57; P < 0.001) than propofol, and longer by 11.81 seconds (95% CI, 4.26–19.35; P = 0.003) than thiopental. Pooled motor seizure duration was longer in etomidate group by 1.45 seconds (95% CI, −4.79 to 7.69; P = 0.649) than methohexital, longer by 11.13 seconds (95% CI, 6.64–15.62; P < 0.001) than propofol, and longer by 3.60 seconds (95% CI, 2.15–5.06; P < 0.001) than thiopental. Myoclonus (6 trials) and painful injection (4 trials) were commonest adverse effects with etomidate. Conclusions Etomidate is clearly better in terms of seizure duration potential (both motor and EEG) than propofol and thiopental. Superiority/inferiority over methohexital could not be demonstrated with the presently available literature.
INTERACTIVE MORTALITY FACTORS IN COMMON LOONS FROM MARITIME CANADA

Between August 1992 and November 1995, 31 moribund or dead common loons (Gavia immer) found in the three Maritime provinces of Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island) were necropsied. Eight of these birds were in good body condition and died acutely from drowning or trauma. The remaining 23 birds were in poor body condition and had either chronic lead poisoning, respiratory mycosis, or oil contamination of their plumage. Loons in poor body condition had significantly higher numbers of intestinal trematodes and significantly higher levels of total renal mercury than loons in good body condition. Therefore, poor body condition in many loons was associated with two or more concurrent potential disease processes, although we could not establish a cause-effect relationship among these processes in individual birds. These results suggest that mortality in chronically ill wild animals can result from synergism among several potentially debilitating agents present in their environment.
Effect of potassium chloride and cationic drug on swelling, erosion and release from κ-carrageenan matrices

The basic objective of this work was to study the effect of model cationic drug metformin HCl on swelling and erosion and, in turn, the release of KCl and drug itself, from the κ-carrageenan matrices. Water uptake by the matrix up to 2 hours was found to increase with KCl concentration from the plain matrix. Erosion was not affected by concentration of KCl. Incorporation of drug favors water uptake, but in presence of KCl it was found to be reduced. Drugcontaining matrices have shown higher release of KCl as compared with plain batches. Drug release was retarded as KCl concentration increased up to 5%, above which the reduced cohesivity of the matrix caused increase in drug release.
MECHANISMS OF THE URINARY CONCENTRATION DEFECT AND EFFECT OF DESMOPRESSIN DURING ENDOTOXEMIA IN RATS

Acute renal failure during human sepsis is often nonoliguric. To study the underlying mechanisms, renal function was assessed in endotoxic and control male Wistar rats during and after saline loading and treatment with the selective V2 receptor agonist desmopressin. Escherichia coli endotoxin (dose, 8 mg/kg) was administered from time (t) = 0 to t = 60 min; saline loading (rate, 5 mL/100 g per hour) was administered from t = 0 to t = 120 min. Thereafter, half of each group received desmopressin (dose, 10 &mgr;g) for 1 h. The inner medullary (IM) osmolality, hematocrit, plasma, and urinary concentrations of sodium, potassium, urea, and osmolality were measured; then, aquaporin 2 (AQP2) immunohistochemistry was performed. Plasma vasopressin concentrations were measured at t = 180 min. Saline loading increased urine volume in all rats. In the endotoxic group, mean arterial pressure decreased when saline loading was stopped. Despite increased hematocrit and vasopressin levels (>16 pg/mL), the endotoxin group had a low IM osmolality (mean ± SEM, 412 ± 0.04 mOsm/kg H2O) in comparison with the control group (mean ± SEM, 1,094 ± 0.17 mOsm/kg H2O) and was not able to either decrease urine volume or raise urine osmolality. Desmopressin treatment in endotoxin-treated rats maintained mean arterial pressure, increased sodium reabsorption, IM osmolality, and urine osmolality, and decreased urine flow. The AQP2 intensity decreased in the endotoxin group, and the apical localization disappeared; both were not affected by desmopressin. Our results indicate that endotoxemia in rats acutely diminishes renal urinary concentration capacity and is associated with a decreased IM osmolality and diminished apical AQP2 localization. These findings may help to explain nonoliguric acute renal failure in human septic shock.
Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus lung infection in patients with cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-expressing (PVL+) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an emerging pathogen worldwide causing fatal necrotizing pneumonias in otherwise healthy individuals but has not been described in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Following two cases of patients with CF admitted with lung abscesses in association with PVL+ MRSA, we examined the incidence and the clinical characteristics of MRSA acquisition in our CF patient population. METHODS Newly acquired MRSA isolates from patients with CF followed up at St. Louis Children's Hospital were analyzed for the presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin coding region, clindamycin susceptibility, staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) mec type, and multilocus sequence type. Medical records and pulmonary function studies at the time of MRSA isolation were reviewed. RESULTS MRSA isolates from 40 CF patients were available for analysis. Six children (15%) had PVL+ MRSA infection. All PVL+ organisms were clindamycin susceptible. Patients who acquired a PVL+ organism were more likely to have a focal pulmonary infiltrate on chest radiograph, including cavitary lung lesions in two patients (p = 0.04), a markedly greater decline in FEV1 at the time of MRSA detection (p = 0.01), and a significantly higher WBC count (p = 0.04) and absolute neutrophil count (p = 0.04). These patients were more likely to be admitted for IV antibiotic therapy for respiratory illnesses (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS We describe the emergence of PVL+ MRSA in our CF population in association with development of invasive lung infections including lung abscesses. Early identification and treatment of CF patients with newly acquired PVL+ MRSA may be crucial.
Low-energy RGB color approximation for digital LCD interfaces

The limited resolution capabilities of color displays, coupled with the limited perceptual resolution of the human eye has been widely exploited to reduce the actual number of colors that are simultaneously displayed. In this work, we propose a color approximation technique that is orthogonal to traditional, color simplification schemes, and targets the reduction of the energy required for the transmission of color information on digital LCD interfaces. Our approach leverages the serial nature of the transmission so as to approximate RGB pixel values with suitable codes that minimize the number of transitions on the LCD bus, for a given tolerated image quality level. Application of this scheme on a set of benchmark images shows average savings from 60% to 75%, depending on the image quality
MDCT and clinicopathological features of small bowel gastrointestinal stromal tumours in 102 patients: a single institute experience.

OBJECTIVE Small bowel (SB) is the second most common site of gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs). We evaluated clinical presentation, pathology, imaging features and metastatic pattern of SB GIST. METHODS Imaging and clinicopathological data of 102 patients with jejunal/ileal GIST treated at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston, MA) between 2002 and 2013 were evaluated. Imaging of treatment-naive primary tumour (41 patients) and follow-up imaging in all patients was reviewed. RESULTS 90/102 patients were symptomatic at presentation, abdominal pain and lower gastrointestinal blood loss being the most common symptoms. On pathology, 21 GISTs were low risk, 17 were intermediate and 64 were high risk. The mean tumour size was 8.5 cm. On baseline CT (n = 41), tumours were predominantly well circumscribed, exophytic and smooth/mildly lobulated in contour. Of 41 tumours, 16 (39%) were homogeneous, whereas 25 (61%) were heterogeneous. Of the 41 tumours, cystic/necrotic areas (Hounsfield units < 20) were seen in 16 (39%) and calcifications in 9 (22%). CT demonstrated complications in 13/41 (32%) patients in the form of tumour-bowel fistula (TBF) (7/41), bowel obstruction (4/41) and intraperitoneal rupture (2/41). Amongst 102 total patients, metastases developed in 51 (50%) patients (27 at presentation), predominantly involving peritoneum (40/102) and liver (32/102). 7/8 (87%) patients having intraperitoneal rupture at presentation developed metastases. Metastases elsewhere were always associated with hepatic/peritoneal metastases. At last follow-up, 28 patients were deceased (median survival, 65 months). CONCLUSION SB GISTs were predominantly large, well-circumscribed, exophytic tumours with or without cystic/necrotic areas. Complications such as TBF, bowel obstruction and intraperitoneal perforation were visualized at presentation, with patients with perforation demonstrating a high risk of metastatic disease. Exophytic eccentric bowel wall involvement and lack of associated adenopathy are useful indicators to help differentiate GISTs from other SB neoplasms. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE SB GISTs are predominantly large, well-circumscribed, exophytic tumours, and may present with complications. They often are symptomatic at presentation, are high risk on pathology and metastasize to the peritoneum more commonly than the liver.
The cost of presidential impeachment to politically connected firms

Abstract This study examines the ways political events can affect the stock prices of politically connected firms by studying one of the biggest corruption scandals in modern South Korean history, which led to the first-ever impeachment of a sitting president. We analyzed the stock returns of firms that donated money to foundations allegedly controlled by the president's confidante. We found that the abnormal stock returns of politically connected firms decreased when the president was removed from office. Using tick-by-tick stock price data, we were able to pinpoint the exact moments when the stock prices of firms that donated money fluctuated, as the president's fate was determined by the justices of the Constitutional Court.
United We Stand: Narrative Study to Aid the Counseling Profession in Developing a Coherent Identity

The purpose of the study was to learn how non-counseling-related professions have navigated the developmental issues the counseling profession has been facing such as (1) strengthening identity, (2) presenting as one profession, (3) improving public perception and advocacy, and (4) creating licensure portability. The researchers provide the narratives of six people from three non-counseling-related professions who have been instrumental in the development of their respective professions. The overarching open-ended research question posed was, “What is the narrative history of your profession? ” Follow-up questions were used to explore specific challenges within their respective professions that may have been similar to the developmental issues within the counseling profession. The narrative inquiry study results provided four emergent themes of how the participants navigated their developmental issues: Quality Accredited Education; Professional Identity; A Link between Accreditation, National Certification, a State License; and United Advocacy.