Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Critical Connections: Meaningful Mentoring Relationships Between Women Doctoral Students and Their Dissertation Chairpersons.

The purpose o f this research is to explore meaningful mentoring relationships between women doctoral students and their advisors. Specifically, this study examines how graduate women and their advisors navigate and perceive their mentoring relationships during the doctoral program o f study. Although research in higher education has addressed the lived experiences of women doctoral students, few have examined the doctoral student/advisor mentoring dynamic from both the student and advisor perspectives. This study provides an understanding of the mentoring experiences o f women doctoral students and advisors through qualitative conversation. The participants in the study are 6 women post-doctoral students and their advisors, 4 female and 2 male, from Louisiana State University, a Research I university located in the South. Through a feminist phenomenological qualitative approach, the following research questions are answered: How do graduate women and their advisors enter into mentoring relationships? What do graduate women and their advisors desire from doctoral advising relationships and how do they perceive each other’s needs and roles? And, what do advisors and graduate women perceive to be the benefits and problems that resulted from their mentoring experience? Through analysis o f the data, nine themes are identified under three categories o f understanding: participants’ needs and desires, benefits, and problems. Finally, participant perspectives on age and gender differences are explored. Three themes that emerge from participants’ needs and desires are matching o f personality, dedication,
Comparison of the efficacies of irbesartan and olmesartan after successful coronary stent implantation.

OBJECTIVE We compared the efficacies of irbesartan and olmesartan after successful stent implantation in patients with stable angina. METHODS Twenty-six patients were randomly divided into irbesartan and olmesartan groups and treated for approximately eight months (at follow-up coronary angiography). RESULTS There were no differences in blood pressure (BP) reduction or late loss between the groups. The BP levels in both groups at follow-up were significantly reduced. The equality of variance of systolic (S)BP (i.e., the intragroup standard deviation of SBP) in the irbesartan group was significantly smaller than that observed in the olmesartan group at follow-up. In addition, log[pentraxin-3] was significantly decreased in all of the patients at follow-up, with no differences between the groups. Interestingly, the levels of log[high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)] measured at 0 weeks were positively associated with in-stent late loss, and among independent biochemical variables in addition to age, gender, body mass index and the kind of angiotensin receptor blockers at 0 weeks, only these levels were related to in-stent late loss, as assessed by a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION The ability of irbesartan to reduce BP is comparable to that of olmesartan, and irbesartan exhibits a lower variance of systolic BP after treatment. The level of log[hs-CRP] before stent implantation is a predictor of in-stent late loss.
Ocular higher-order wavefront aberrations in the Japanese adult population: the Yamagata Study (Funagata).

PURPOSE To investigate the relationship between age and ocular higher-order wavefront aberrations (HOAs) in an adult Japanese population, in addition to factors associated with HOA variations. METHODS In the Yamagata Study (Funagata) cohort, 227 adult Japanese participants (aged 37-86 years) underwent systemic and ophthalmologic examinations in 2012. Ocular, corneal, and internal HOAs were measured in micrometers. From the Zernike coefficients, we calculated the root mean square of the total HOA, coma, and spherical aberration for a pupil diameter of 4 mm. Linear regression analyses were used to determine whether HOAs were associated with age or other factors. RESULTS Multiple adjusted linear regression analyses demonstrated that all components of logarithmic HOAs increase with age. Ocular, corneal, and internal HOAs increased by 0.012/y (P < 0.001), 0.007/y (P = 0.010), and 0.014/y (P < 0.001), respectively. Ocular coma also significantly increased with age (0.010/y, P = 0.007), but corneal (P = 0.963) and internal (P = 0.476) coma did not. Age-related spherical aberration increased only in the internal component (0.019/y, P = 0.001). In addition to age, ocular and corneal HOAs were mainly affected by corneal indexes. CONCLUSIONS Aging is associated with increases in ocular HOAs, independent of other possible confounding factors. The association of ocular HOAs with corneal parameters indicates that ocular HOAs are mainly generated by the cornea. Internal HOAs, supposedly generated from cataract progression, may be associated with systemic factors, including serum creatinine levels and blood pressure.
Prevalence of eczema and other dermatoses of the hands and arms in the Netherlands. Association with age and occupation

In a sample of about 3000 adults the hands and arms were examined for the presence of skin disorders. The most important diagnostic category was eczema; prevalence among males was 4.6% and among females it was 8%. In the majority of patients with eczema irritant factors were found to play a role. Among males occupation was a major factor associated with prevalence of eczema. After correction for occupation there remained no association with age.
Fostering Equality of Opportunity? Compulsory Schooling Reform and Social Mobility in Germany

There is an ongoing debate in the ﬁeld of social mobility research about whether intergenerational social mobility can be increased by way of education policy. However, evidence on the effects of speciﬁc education policies on social mobility continues to be scarce. This article analyses the effect of one speciﬁc policy reform, the extension of compulsory schooling in Germany, which has been argued to have led to a decrease in educational inequality and an increase in social mobility. Using a difference-in-difference design, the article exploits the variation in the timing of the reform across German states to estimate the reform effect on the educational attainment and labour market chances of individuals from different social class backgrounds. We ﬁnd that the reform resulted in a substantial narrowing of the gap in educational attainment between different social origin groups. This decline in educational inequality further translated into a reduction in the inequality in labour market chances between people from different social class backgrounds, thus increasing intergenerational social mobility. Our ﬁndings suggest that educational policy can lead to substantial increases in intergenerational social mobility, which may have been overlooked in past research on societal-level, long-run trends in social mobility.
Integrated detection of natural antisense transcripts using strand-specific RNA sequencing data

Pairs of RNA molecules transcribed from partially or entirely complementary loci are called cis-natural antisense transcripts (cis-NATs), and they play key roles in the regulation of gene expression in many organisms. A promising experimental tool for profiling sense and antisense transcription is strand-specific RNA sequencing (ssRNA-seq). To identify cis-NATs using ssRNA-seq, we developed a new computational method based on a model comparison framework that incorporates the inherent variable efficiency of generating perfectly strand-specific libraries. Applying the method to new ssRNA-seq data from whole-root and cell-type–specific Arabidopsis libraries confirmed most of the known cis-NAT pairs and identified 918 additional cis-NAT pairs. Newly identified cis-NAT pairs are supported by polyadenylation data, alternative splicing patterns, and RT-PCR validation. We found 209 cis-NAT pairs that have opposite expression levels in neighboring cell types, implying cell-type–specific roles for cis-NATs. By integrating a genome-wide epigenetic profile of Arabidopsis, we identified a unique chromatin signature of cis-NATs, suggesting a connection between cis-NAT transcription and chromatin modification in plants. An analysis of small-RNA sequencing data showed that ∼4% of cis-NAT pairs produce putative cis-NAT–induced siRNAs. Taken together, our data and analyses illustrate the potential for multifaceted regulatory roles of plant cis-NATs.
Phase II study of obatoclax mesylate (GX15-070), a small-molecule BCL-2 family antagonist, for patients with myelofibrosis.

BACKGROUND Myelofibrosis (MF) is a disease characterized by the overexpression of the antiapoptotic BCL-2 family of proteins (eg, BCL-XL and MCL-1). PATIENTS AND METHODS We conducted a multicenter, open-label, noncomparative phase II study of obatoclax mesylate, a small-molecule pan-BCL-2 antagonist, in patients with MF. Obatoclax was administered as a 24-hour infusion (on an outpatient basis) every 2 weeks at a fixed dose of 60 mg. RESULTS A total of 22 patients were enrolled, with a median age of 63 years (range, 43-89 years). Twelve were men, and all 22 patients were previously treated (median of 2 previous therapies). Ten patients (45%) had a Lille score of 1, and 9 patients (41%) had a Lille score of 2. Thirteen (59%) were red blood cell transfusion dependent. A median of 7 cycles of obatoclax were administered. No patient achieved complete or partial response according to International Working Group criteria. One patient (4%) demonstrated a clinical improvement (in terms of hemoglobin and platelet count) after 7 cycles of therapy. The improvement was sustained for 4 cycles of therapy, after which he underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The most common adverse events included low-grade ataxia and fatigue in 50% of the patients. Dose reduction because of toxicity was required in 1 patient, whereas 2 patients were taken off the study because of grade 3 ataxia and grade 3 heart failure. Grade 3/4 anemia and thrombocytopenia were evident in 6 (27%) and 4 (18%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSION Obatoclax exhibits no significant clinical activity in patients with MF at the dose and schedule evaluated.
Clinical Validation of Model-based RSA for a Total Knee Prosthesis

Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis generally is accepted as the most accurate method to measure prosthesis migration. A disadvantage of the method is it requires markers in the bone and the prosthesis. Model-based roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis circumvents the need for markers on prostheses by fitting virtual projections of a three-dimensional surface model of a prosthesis to its actual projections in the roentgen image. We confirmed a model-based roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis for a tibial component. Using implants with attached markers, we compared model-based roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis with marker-based roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis. In addition, we assessed precision of the model- based roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis with a phantom experiment. The precisions for translations of marker- based and model-based roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis were 0.06 and 0.11 mm, respectively, and for rotations, the precisions were 0.20° and 0.23°, respectively. The precisions of model-based roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis calculated from the phantom data were 0.08 mm for translations and 0.13° for rotations. Although model-based roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis is less precise than marker-based roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis, its precision is still acceptable for most clinical applications, especially where markerbased roentgen stereophotogram- metric analysis has practical limitations.Level of Evidence: Level II, prognostic study. See the Guide lines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
High-dose therapy with autologous hematopoietic rescue for follicular low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PURPOSE This study evaluated the results of high-dose therapy followed by autologous bone marrow or peripheral-blood stem-cell transplantation for patients with follicular low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective review of 100 patients undergoing autologous transplantation for follicular low-grade lymphoma between April 22, 1983 and December 31, 1993. RESULTS Sixty-seven patients remained alive and 48 were failure-free. The median follow-up duration of surviving patients was 2.6 years (range, 1.0 to 11.7). There were eight (8%) deaths within 100 days of transplantation. Six additional patients died of nonrelapse causes up to 912 days after transplantation. Overall survival at 4 years was estimated to be 65% (95% confidence interval [CI], 54% to 75%) and failure-free survival was estimated to be 44% (95% CI, 33% to 55%). There was no definite evidence of a plateau in the failure-free survival curve. The only factor significantly associated with overall survival and failure-free survival was the number of chemotherapy regimen received before transplantation. No significant differences in outcome were observed between patients with follicular small cleaved-cell lymphoma and follicular mixed lymphoma, or between patients who received peripheral-blood stem-cell transplants and unpurged autologous bone marrow transplants. CONCLUSION Prolonged failure-free survival is possible following high-dose therapy and autologous hematopoietic rescue for follicular low-grade lymphoma. It is unclear whether patients are cured with this therapy or if survival is prolonged.
Are there differences in disease progression and mortality among male and female HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy? A meta-analysis of observational cohorts

ABSTRACT Studies examining the sex differences in morbidity and mortality among HIV/AIDS patients have yielded inconsistent results. We conducted a meta-analysis of sex differences in disease progression and mortality among HIV/AIDS patients. Medical literature databases from inception to August 2014 were searched for published observational studies assessing sex differences in immunologic and virologic response, disease progression and mortality among HIV-infected patients. Random effects meta-analyses of 115 eligible studies were conducted to obtain pooled estimates of outcomes and heterogeneity was explored in sub-group analyses. Pooled estimates showed an increased risk of progression to AIDS (relative risk [RR]=1.11,95% CI=1.02–1.21) and all-cause mortality (RR=1.23, 95% CI=1.17–1.29) among males compared to females. All-cause mortality differed by sex only in low and middle income countries. The risk of AIDS-related mortality (RR=1.03, 95% CI=0.82–1.30), immunologic failure (RR=1.19,95% CI: 0.97–1.47), virologic suppression (RR=0.98, 95% CI=0.84–1.14), virologic failure (RR=1.26, 95% CI=0.99–1.61) and the change in CD4 cell count (Weighted mean difference [WMD] = −5.15, 95% CI= −13.57 to 3.28) did not differ by sex. These findings were modified by disease severity, adherence and use of highly active antiretroviral therapy. We conclude that HIV-related disease progression and survival outcomes are poorer in males.
Rhinolithiasis: Clinical, Radiological, and Mineralogical Features

Background Rhinolithiasis is a rare and under-diagnosed clinical entity whose etiology and pathogenesis is poorly understood. Objective The objective of the study is to review the clinical and radiologic features of rhinolithiasis and mineralogical–chemical composition of the rhinoliths with the aim of shedding light on its etiology and pathogenesis. Methods Our subjects consisted of 8 rhinolithiasis cases. Clinical presentations, signs, and symptoms of the patients with radiologic findings are presented, and X-ray diffraction analyses of the stones were carried out to assess their mineralogical composition. Results Nasal obstruction appeared to be the chief symptom, followed by nasal discharge and facial pain. Neither exogenous nor endogenous nidi were identified in any of the cases. Mineralogical analyses of the rhinoliths revealed Whitlockite [(Ca, Mg)3 (PO4)2] in one and Dahllite [Ca5 (PO4, CO3)3OH] in 7 cases. Conclusion We hypothesized that some substances or organic objects form the nidi of the rhinoliths and are disintegrated over the course of mineral precipitation. This hypothesis was supported by radiologic and microscopic findings.
General Mitochondrial Trifunctional Protein (TFP) Deficiency as a Result of Either α- or β-Subunit Mutations Exhibits Similar Phenotypes Because Mutations in Either Subunit Alter TFP Complex Expression and Subunit Turnover

The mitochondrial trifunctional protein (TFP) is a multienzyme complex of the β-oxidation cycle. Human TFP is an octamer composed of four α-subunits harboring long-chain enoyl-CoA hydratase and long-chain L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase and four β-subunits encoding long-chain 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase. Mutations in either subunit may result in general TFP deficiency with reduced activity of all three enzymes. We report five new patients with α-subunit mutations and compare general TFP deficiency caused by α-subunit mutations (n = 15) to that caused by β-subunit mutations (n = 13) with regard to clinical features, enzyme activity, mutations, thiolase expression, and thiolase protein turnover. Among patients with α-subunit mutations, the same three heterogeneous phenotypes reported in patients with β-subunit mutations were observed: a lethal form with predominating cardiomyopathy; an infancy-onset, hepatic presentation; and a milder, later-onset, neuromyopathic form. Maternal HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) occurred with an incidence of 15 to 20%, as in families with β-subunit mutations. Enzyme assays in fibroblasts revealed an identical biochemical pattern in both groups. α-Subunit mutational analysis demonstrated molecular heterogeneity, with 53% (9 of 17) truncating mutations. In contrast, patients with β-subunit mutations had predominantly missense mutations. Thiolase expression in fibroblasts was as markedly reduced in α-subunit patients as in the β-subunit group with similarly increased thiolase degradation, presumably secondary to TFP complex instability. TFP deficiency as a result of either α- or β-subunit mutations presents with similar, heterogeneous phenotypes. Both α- and β-subunit mutations result in TFP complex instability, demonstrating that the mechanism of disease is the same in α- or β-mutation-derived disease and explaining the biochemical and clinical similarities.
Estrogen-Metabolizing Gene COMT Polymorphism Synergistic APOE ε4 Allele Increases the Risk of Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a polygenic multifactorial disorder. Several studies suggested that the neuroprotective effect of estrogen was based on an APOE-dependent mechanism. The goals of the current study were to determine if the genes involved in estrogen metabolism were linked to the risk of AD and find out if there was an interaction between estrogen-metabolizing gene polymorphisms and the APOE Ε4 allele in the risk of prevalent AD. We investigated 66 patients with AD and 86 age- and gender-matched normal subjects. The polymorphisms of APOE and estrogen-metabolizing genes CYP17, CYP1A1 and COMT were examined. No association was found between each estrogen-metabolizing gene polymorphism and AD. However, the COMT HH genotype and APOE Ε4 allele had a synergistic effect on the risk of AD. Taking subjects with Ε4–Ε4–/HH– as reference, the risk of developing AD in subjects with one Ε4 allele (Ε4+Ε4–/HH–) was 2.6 (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.7– 9.1); however, the risk in subjects with both HH and one Ε4 (Ε4+Ε4–/HH+) increased to 3.6 (95% CI 1.2–10.6). The subjects with homozygous Ε4 still had the highest risk in developing AD (odds ratio 6.6, 95% CI 0.6–69.6). The p value of the linear trend test for this regression model was 0.004. It is possible that a high metabolism of estrogen by COMT may have reduced the protective effect of estrogen in AD. Further studies to clarify this interaction may improve our understanding of the generic risks for AD.
The Acute Phase Response and Exercise: The Ultramarathon as Prototype Exercise

ObjectiveControversy exists in relation to the nature of the acute phase response, which is known to occur following endurance exercise. This study was conducted to demonstrate the similarities between this response and the response consequent to general medical and surgical conditions. DesignThis is a case series field study of serum levels of acute phase reactants in a group of ultramarathon runners competing in a 6-day track race. ParticipantsSeven male and one female experienced ultramarathon runners. InterventionA track race of 6 days duration. Main Outcome MeasuresSerum iron, ferritin, transferrin, albumin, haptoglobin, alpha-1 antitrypsin, complement components 3 and 4, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, total iron binding capacity, and transferrin saturation. ResultsOf the 11 acute phase reactants measured, 6 (serum iron, ferritin, percent transferrin saturation, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and haptoglobin) responded as if an acute phase response was present; 5 (tranferrin, albumin, alpha-1 antitrypsin, and complement components 3 and 4) did not respond in such a fashion. ConclusionThis study provides further evidence that the acute phase response consequent to exercise is analogous to that which occurs in general medical and surgical conditions. The previous demonstration of the presence of the appropriate cytokines following exercise, the findings of others in relation to acute phase reactants not the subjects of this study, the possibility that a training effect leading to attenuation of the response and the realization that the acute phase response is not identical across a range of medical conditions lends weight to the above conclusion.
Comparison of Shouldice and Lichtenstein repair for treatment of primary inguinal hernia.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome following Lichtenstein open mesh repair or Shouldice repair for the surgical treatment of primary unilateral inguinal hernias. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia who underwent a Shouldice repair (n: 120) and a Lichtenstein open mesh techniques (n: 121) between 1994 and 1998 were evaluated retrospectively. Operation time, hospital stay, postoperative analgesic consumption and complications, return to work and recurrence after surgery were assessed and compared. RESULTS The two groups were comparable regarding age, types of hernia and the follow-up interval. There were no significant differences in hospital stay and postoperative complications. The number of recurrences differed significantly between the groups with five in the Shouldice group (4.1%) and one in the Lichtenstein group (0.8%) (p < 0.05). The need of analgesic medication after mesh repair was significantly lower than the Shouldice group (3.9+/-1.4 vs. 4.9+/-1.6 gr. p < 0.05). The operation time was 36+/-14 min. for Lichtenstein repair and 61+/-12 min. for Shouldice repair (p < 0.05). The time for return to work was shorter in Lichtenstein group (17+/-4 days) compared to Shouldice group (25+/-5 days) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Shorter operation time, faster return to work, less need to analgesia and lower recurrence rate, shows the superiority of Lichtenstein repair against Shouldice repair in the surgical repair of primary unilateral inguinal hernia.