Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Red cell antibodies arising from solid organ transplants

RBC antibodies arising from transplanted organs and directed against recipient RBCs represent a well-established immunohematologic complication of solid organ transplantation. In ABO-unmatched organs, the frequency and severity of graft antibodies and hemolysis generally increase with the size (lymphoid content) of the organ, from kidney to liver to heart-lung transplants. In the cases reviewed here, the frequency of hemolysis increased in cyclosporine-treated kidney transplant recipients and O-to-A liver transplant recipients and decreased in group AB liver transplant recipients and kidney transplant recipients receiving azathioprine or low-dose postoperative graft irradiation. Available data cannot otherwise distinguish which cyclosporine-treated recipients of ABO-unmatched kidneys and livers (30-40% of total) will develop graft antibody. There has been no conclusive effect to date of the age, race, or gender of the donor or the recipient, of cadaver versus living kidney donors, or of patients' A2 or secretor status. In a few cases of living-donor kidney grafts, the donor was the patient's mother or wife who had been exposed to the recipient's RBC antigens via pregnancy. The ABO antibodies are typically IgG, appear 7 to 10 days after transplantation, and last for about a month. If immediate-spin crossmatching is done routinely, DATs are recommended in compatibility testing after ABO-unmatched transplants. Changes in the immunosuppressive regimen, such as a change from cyclosporine therapy, have not affected the duration of these antibodies. Most patients require only transfusions for this self-limited process, but six cases of hemolysis-induced acute renal failure have been reported, and one death was attributed to complications of hemolysis. RBC or plasma exchange has been performed in a few fulminant cases. RBCs of the donor's blood type are given when antibody appears. Some workers recommend such transfusion as prophylaxis at the time of surgery, although in liver transplants, the plasma accompanying a large amount of group O RBCs given perioperatively might be problematic. In several other centers, ABO-unmatched liver transplants have equivalent overall graft survivals, but the Pittsburgh adult patients with hemolysis have had reduced early graft survival. In the cases reviewed here, nine IgG Rh antibodies from kidney grafts directed against recipient RBCs have been observed, usually beginning 2 to 3 weeks after a cyclosporine-treated transplant, lasting for 2 to 6 months after operation, and causing mild hemolysis. One case represented a primary immune response from a previously unsensitized donor. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
study of incremental step pulse programming (ISPP) and STI edge effect of BE-SONOS NAND Flash

Incremental-step-pulse programming (ISPP) is a key enabler for achieving tight VT distribution for MLC NAND Flash. The ISPP characteristics for BE-SONOS NAND Flash are studied extensively in this work. Experimentally we find that the ISPP slope is very close to 1 for BE-SONOS capacitors for a wide range of EOT and O1 variations. A theoretical model is developed to prove that ISPP slope~1 is a universal property for any charge-trapping devices, assuming charges are fully captured. However, when the device is integrated in various STI geometries, the ISPP slope is often degraded. This is due to the STI edge effect. Non-uniform injection happens along the channel width and degrades the programming efficiency at higher VT levels. The degradation of trans-conductance (gm) and subthreshold slope (S.S) during programming validates the STI edge effect. We find that through process modifications for the STI edge, the ISPP slope can be improved.
Human cytomegalovirus replication and modulation of apoptosis in astrocytes.

OBJECTIVES To characterize replication patterns and cytopathic effects during human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection of brain cells. DESIGN Primary human mixed glial/neuronal cells, as well as purified microglial, astroglial, and enriched neuronal cell cultures, were infected with HCMV strains AD169 and RC256 to determine the ability of the different brain cell types to support viral replication. RESULTS Mixed glial/neuronal cell cultures were fully permissive for viral replication. Based on previous studies, we hypothesized that human microglial cells would preferentially support productive HCMV replication. However, HCMV did not replicate or display genomic expression in microglial cells. In contrast, primary astrocytes were fully permissive and displayed HCMV-induced cytopathic effects resulting in cell death. In highly enriched neuronal cultures, productive infection and viral expression occurred only in scattered astrocytes. Early in the infection, apoptotic plasma membrane changes were induced in astrocytes. However, nuclear fragmentation was not apparent until later during the course of infection. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that HCMV possesses astrocytotropic properties that confer preferential expression and cytopathic replication in astrocytes over microglia or neuronal cells. Apoptotic cell death, which is a result of HCMV infection, appears to be delayed until peak viral replication has occurred.
CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CURRENT ACCOUNT AND FINANCIAL ACCOUNT BALANCE IN SELECTED CEE COUNTRIES

This paper first examines the causal relationship between the current account and financial account then the current account and the main components of financial account and finally the financial account, saving, and investment in Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovenia. In this context we employ Toda-Yamamoto approach to Granger causality test by using the quarterly data. We find a causal relation running from the financial (current) account to the current (financial) account in Croatia (Poland) and Slovenia (Romania) while a bi-directional causality exists in the case of Hungary. We conclude that at least one component of financial account balance Granger causes current account in Croatia, Poland, Romania and Slovenia while the causality running from the current account to at least one component of financial account in Poland, Romania and Hungary. It seems that the financial account Granger causes the saving in Hungary and investment in Croatia while the causality running from the saving in Romania and investment in both Croatia and Poland to the financial account.
Endogeneous Insulin and Growth Hormone Response in Children with Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Mellitus

Extract: Forty-five children with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus were evaluated in terms of endogenous release of insulin and growth hormone using glucose, tolbutamide, arginine and glucagon as stimuli. The mean concentration of insulin in the plasma obtained from fasting diabetic children was found to be 10.0 μU/ml, a value significantly below the mean level of 15.3 μU/ml in the control group. Essentially no increase in the concentration of insulin in plasma resulted from stimulation with the above agents. The mean concentration of growth hormone in the plasma of fasting diabetics was found to be 3.8 mμg/ml, a value higher than but not significantly different from the value of 2.5 mμg/ml in the contrast patients. Following the intravenous infusion of arginine, however, the mean concentration of growth hormone in the plasma of diabetic children rose to 20.8 mμg/ml, a level significantly higher than the mean peak value of 7.4 mμg/ml in the nondiabetics. Although no change in the concentration of growth hormone followed glucagon injection in the nondiabetic children, a prompt, significant elevation to 9.4 mμg/ml occurred in the diabetics. Glucagon administration has not previously been reported to stimulate the release of growth hormone.Speculation: Insulin deficiency alone will not adequately explain the variability in clinical symptomatology and metabolic derangement seen in children with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus. These data suggest that growth hormone may play an important role. The finding that glucagon administration stimulates release of growth hormone in the juvenile diabetic may indicate the presence of a previously unrecognized interrelation between glucagon-growth hormone and insulin.
Vitamin D receptor ApaI gene polymorphism and tuberculosis susceptibility: a meta-analysis.

AIM Vitamin D performs its actions through the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which acts as a transcriptional factor. Many case-control studies have been performed in the past to elucidate the association of the ApaI polymorphism of VDR gene and the risk of tuberculosis (TB). However, these studies have shown inconsistent and conflicting results. In the present study, a meta-analysis was performed to investigate the potential relationship between the VDR ApaI gene polymorphism and the risk of TB. METHODOLOGY A quantitative synthesis was performed for the published studies based on the association between the VDR ApaI gene polymorphism and the risk of TB retrieved from PubMed (Medline) and EMBASE web databases. A meta-analysis was performed, and pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated for all the genetic models. RESULTS We observed a decreased risk of TB in allelic contrast (a vs. A: p=0.009; OR=0.869, 95% CI=0.782 to 0.965), homozygous (aa vs. AA: p=0.006; OR=0.724, 95% CI=0.575 to 0.910), and heterozygous (aA vs. AA: p=0.698; OR=0.948, 95% CI=0.722 to 1.243) comparisons. Similarly, dominant (aa+Aa vs. AA: p=0.032; OR=0.842, 95% CI=0.720 to 0.985) and recessive (aa vs. AA+Aa: p=0.027; OR=0.796, 95% CI=0.650 to 0.975) models also demonstrated a decreased risk of TB, whereas a heterozygous genotype (Aa vs. AA: p=0.109; OR=0.873, 95% CI=0.740 to 1.030) did not indicate any association with the risk of TB. There was no evidence of publication bias and heterogeneity test. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis suggests that ApaI polymorphism of the VDR gene is significantly associated with a decreased risk of TB. However, future larger studies with groups of populations are warranted to analyze this association.
Ontogenetic Increase of the Maximal Rate of Rise of the Chick Embryonic Heart Action Potential: Relationship to Voltage, Time, and Tetrodotoxin

The maximal rate of rise (Vmax) of the embryonic chick ventricular action potential increased about 2-fold from 112 ± 6 V/sec and 113 ± 5 V/sec on the 4th and 6th incubation days, respectively, to 217 ± 7 V/sec on the 12th incubation day. Neither the steady state inactivation (hx) of Vmax, the temperature-dependent shift of hx, nor the time constant for recovery (TReC) of Vmax changed significantly when Vmax had doubled. Inhibition of Vmax by tetrodotoxin (TTX) was the same in hearts from the 4th, 6th, and 18th incubation days. The relation between Vmax and TTX concentration could be described by a one-to-one binding curve with an apparent dissociation constant of 2 × 10−8 M. The increase of Vmax a valid measure of the early inward Na+ current (iNa) during the rising phase of the cardiac action potential, can be attributed to an elevated maximal Na+ conductance (gNa) during ontogenesis. These results indicate that the physicochemical properties of the gNa unit responsible for the rapid rising phase of the action potential and of the TTX binding site associated with it may remain constant during a period of embryonic development when gNa increased significantly. Circ Res 44: 358-367, 1979
Reproducibility of SPECT measurement of benzodiazepine receptors in human brain with iodine-123-iomazenil.

UNLABELLED Iodine-123-iomazenil is a SPECT radiotracer used to image and quantify benzodiazepine receptors. The reproducibility of the measurement of benzodiazepine receptors in human brain with [123I]iomazenil and SPECT was investigated with a test/retest paradigm. METHODS Six subjects underwent two experiments during a 1-wk interval. Iodine-123-iomazenil was injected as a single bolus (12 mCi). The time-activity curves of the tracer in the arterial plasma were measured and corrected for metabolites. Regional time-activity curves of five brain regions were measured with the CERASPECT camera for 145 min postinjection with serial 2-min acquisitions. Data were analyzed using three kinetic models that included a two-compartment model, an unconstrained three-compartment model and a three-compartment model with a constraint on the nondisplaceable compartment. RESULTS The results from the various analyses and fitting strategies were compared. The variability (average absolute difference between test and retest, expressed as a percentage of the mean of both measurements) was 10% to 17%, depending on the outcome measure and the fitting procedure. The most reproducible outcome measure was the regional tracer distribution volume relative to the total arterial concentration (VT'). VT' showed an average regional variability of 10% +/- 2%, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.81. CONCLUSION SPECT measurement of regional [123I]iomazenil VT' is reproducible and reliable. The use of regional ratios results in a significant loss of information.
Low Power Bootstrapped CMOS Differential Cross Coupled Driver

This paper reports a high speed and low power consumption differential cross coupled bootstrapped CMOS driver circuit (db-driver). It is 34% faster and provides 8% less core area as compared to a counterpart circuit (Tseng and Wu, 1998) (yc-driver) using indirect bootstrap technique. In addition, db-driver reduces the power consumption by 35% db-driver is implemented on 0.13mum CMOS technology with a power supply of 1.2V
Credit Supply and Productivity Growth

We study the impact of bank credit supply on firm output and productivity. By exploiting a matched firm-bank database which covers all the credit relationships of Italian corporations over more than a decade, we measure idiosyncratic supply-side shocks to firms' credit availability. We use our data to estimate a production model augmented with financial frictions and show that an expansion in credit supply leads firms to increase both their inputs and their output (value added and revenues) for a given level of inputs. Our estimates imply that a credit crunch will be followed by a productivity slowdown, as experienced by most OECD countries after the Great Recession. Quantitatively, the credit contraction between 2007 and 2009 could account for about a quarter of the observed decline in Italy's total factor productivity growth. The results are robust to an alternative measurement of credit supply shocks that uses the 2007-08 interbank market freeze as a natural experiment to control for assortative matching between borrowers and lenders. Finally, we investigate possible channels: access to credit fosters IT-adoption, innovation, exporting, and the adoption of superior management practices.
Videofluoroscopy of swallowing abnormalities in 22 symptomatic patients after cardiovascular surgery.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the types of swallowing abnormalities that occur in symptomatic patients who have undergone cardiovascular surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS From 1994 to 2001, 22 patients (17 males and five females; age range, 4-89 years; mean age, 64 years) who had swallowing abnormalities after cardiovascular surgery were referred for a videofluoroscopic swallowing study. Each study was analyzed for functional abnormalities of the tongue, soft palate, epiglottis, hyoid and larynx, pharynx, upper esophageal sphincter, and esophagus. Also, the performance of transesophageal echocardiography, long-term intubation, or both was noted. RESULTS Swallowing abnormalities were present in 18 patients (81.8%) (range, one to eight functional abnormalities; mean, 3.9 functional abnormalities). The distribution of abnormalities across the functional units statistically significantly deviated (chi(2) = 14.4; df = 6; p = 0.025) from uniform distribution, with abnormalities most commonly involving the hyoid and larynx (13 patients [59.1%]) and the pharynx (10 patients [45.5%]). Aspiration was found in 13 patients (59.1%) (predeglutitive, n = 1; intradeglutitive, n = 4; postdeglutitive, n = 3; and mixed, n = 5). In the 14 patients (63.6%) who underwent transesophageal echocardiography, long-term intubation, or both, we frequently found incomplete tilting of the epiglottis, pharyngeal weakness, and postdeglutitive aspiration. CONCLUSION Most patients with swallowing problems after cardiovascular surgery present with multiple abnormalities that most commonly affect the hyoid and larynx and the pharynx and result predominantly in intra- or postdeglutitive aspiration. The performance of transesophageal echocardiography and long-term intubation may influence the types of swallowing abnormalities.
Malagasy Immigrant Experiences: How Perceptions of the American Dream Influence Acculturation to the United States

Dr. Margaret Z. Booth, Advisor This phenomenological study explored the potential influence of the discourse of the American Dream on the acculturation of immigrants to the United States from Madagascar. The American Dream discourse is that anyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status at birth, can take advantage of the bountiful opportunities in the United States and work hard to achieve upward economic mobility. The phenomenological methods of this study aimed to reveal the essence of the shared experiences of acculturation of the nine Malagasy participants through textural description of their words. Data was collected through open-ended interviews with participants, which included four females, five males, aged 24-44, living throughout the United States and having arrived less than one year to 17 years ago. Particular attention was given to prior exposure to American media in disseminating the discourse of the American Dream and establishing preconceptions of life in the United States and how this affected acculturation. Five themes: choice in immigration, perceptions of opportunity in the United States, acculturation and acculturative stress in the United States, interpreting American culture, and navigating education values, emerged through analysis of interview transcripts. The results of this study indicated a gender difference in perceptions of the American Dream where most of the female participants echoed the discourse and succeeded according to the discourse while most of the male participants had little faith in the American Dream. Differences in perceptions of American culture also fell on gender lines. Additionally, consistent with previous studies, the participants
Evaluating Mitochondrial DNA Variation in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Despite the increasing speculation that oxidative stress and abnormal energy metabolism may play a role in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), and the observation that patients with mitochondrial defects have symptoms consistent with ASD, there are no comprehensive published studies examining the role of mitochondrial variation in autism. Therefore, we have sought to comprehensively examine the role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation with regard to ASD risk, employing a multi‐phase approach.
Conceptual overview of social entrepreneurship and its relevance to Nigeria's third sector

Social entrepreneurship has evolved as an important instrument for achieving measurable and sustainable change in the society. This paper attempts a conceptual overview of the field and its applicability to the third sector in Nigeria. Interview and secondary data sources guided the author to find that there is a dearth of information on social entrepreneurship in Nigeria and a lack of collaboration, partnership and the scalability of innovative solutions to address societal problems. However, the study recommends that the social entrepreneurship ecosystem should be developed and the political institutions recognise and support social entrepreneurs as sustainable positive change agents in the society.
Relation between use of antihypertensive medications and risk of breast carcinoma among women ages 65–79 years

Limited data are available regarding the incidence of breast carcinoma among users of relatively recently introduced forms of antihypertensive therapy. Although it has been suggested that women who have taken calcium channel blockers (CCBs) have an increased risk and that women who have taken angiotensin‐I‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have a decreased risk, currently, no conclusions can be drawn.
Mean-Entropy Models for Fuzzy Portfolio Selection

This short paper proposes two types of credibility-based fuzzy mean-entropy models. In the short paper, entropy is used as the measure of risk. The smaller the entropy value is, the less uncertainty the portfolio return contains, and thus, the safer the portfolio is. Furthermore, as a measure of risk, entropy is free from reliance on symmetrical distributions of security returns and can be computed from nonmetric data. In addition, the short paper compares the fuzzy mean-variance model with the fuzzy mean-entropy model in two special cases and presents a hybrid intelligent algorithm for solving the proposed models in general cases. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, the short paper also provides two numerical examples.
In vivo assessment of basal and drug‐induced dopamine release in cortical and subcortical regions of the anesthetized primate

There is an acute interest in studying the functional characteristics of dopamine systems in the cortex of primates. In particular, the prefrontal cortical dopamine projections have received a great deal of attention. This system is essential for proper functioning of the prefrontal cortex, and dysfunction within the system may be involved in some psychiatric and neurological illnesses. In vivo assessments of cortical dopamine in the primate have been scarce. This has been due, in part, to technical difficulties associated with these studies and with quantifying the relatively low levels of dopamine found in cortical regions. In the present study, intracerebral microdialysis was utilized to assess the extracellular concentration of dopamine in cortical and subcortical areas of the pentobarbital‐anesthetized rhesus monkey. Basal extracellular dopamine levels were consistently detected in the medial prefrontal cortex, premotor cortex, and caudate‐putamen. The basal extracellular concentration of dopamine in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was reliably detected in 1 of 4 animals. Intravenous administration of amphetamine (1 mg/kg) enhanced extracellular dopamine levels in the caudate‐putamen area by more than 20‐fold. In cortical areas, amphetamine's effect was less profound: An increase of 400–500 percent over basal extracellular dopamine levels was observed in each region. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of microdialysis for detecting extracellular fluxes of dopamine in the cortex of nonhuman primates. They further provide direct evidence that the dopamine released within the prefrontal cortex and the premotor cortex of nonhuman primates responds to pharmacological manipulation. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.