Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ethnic Variance in the Epidemiology of Scoliosis in New Zealand

A manual and computerized search of orthopaedic outpatient records over a 10-year period (1990–2000) identified 386 new patients younger than age 20 years with a diagnosis of scoliosis. Patients were grouped according to race and their numbers were compared with predicted values calculated from New Zealand census data. Of the various etiological categories, idiopathic scoliosis and scoliosis secondary to syringomyelia showed significant ethnic variance. For idiopathic scoliosis, higher numbers than predicted were observed in Europeans and lower numbers than predicted were observed in Polynesians. Conversely, for scoliosis secondary to syringomyelia, relatively higher numbers were observed in Polynesians and relatively lower numbers in Europeans and other ethnic groups. The demonstration in this study of a low incidence of idiopathic scoliosis and conversely a high incidence of syringomyelia in Polynesians has led the authors to reconsider the indications for magnetic resonance imaging when patients of this ethnic group are referred with scoliosis that initially appears to be idiopathic.
Long-Term Effects of Class Size

This paper evaluates the long-term effects of class size in primary school. We use rich data from Sweden and exploit variation in class size created by a maximum class size rule. Smaller classes in the last three years of primary school (age 10 to 13) are beneficial for cognitive and non-cognitive ability at age 13, and improve achievement at age 16. Most importantly, we find that smaller classes have positive effects on completed education, wages, and earnings at age 27 to 42. The estimated wage effect is much larger than any imputed estimate of the wage effect, and is large enough to pass a cost-benefit test.
Mechanical effects of compression of peripheral nerves.

Effects of graded compression on nerve function were analyzed in order to evaluate the relative importance of pressure level and duration of compression for functional deterioration. The pressure was applied by means of a small inflatable cuff. The effects of two pressure levels, i.e., 80 mm Hg applied for 2 hr or 400 mm Hg applied for 15 min, were studied in rabbit tibial nerves. The lower pressure tested, which is known to induce ischemia of the compressed nerve segment, also causes some degree of mechanical deformation of the nerve trunk, which leads to incomplete recovery following pressure release. The duration of compression is of importance for the degree of nerve injury even at the higher pressure level tested.
Beyond the closed suture in apert syndrome mouse models: Evidence of primary effects of FGFR2 signaling on facial shape at birth

Apert syndrome is a congenital disorder caused mainly by two neighboring mutations on fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2). Premature closure of the coronal suture is commonly considered the identifying and primary defect triggering or preceding the additional cranial malformations of Apert phenotype. Here we use two transgenic mouse models of Apert syndrome, Fgfr2+/S252W and Fgfr2+/P253R, to explore variation in cranial phenotypes in newborn (P0) mice. Results show that the facial skeleton is the most affected region of the cranium. Coronal suture patency shows marked variation that is not strongly correlated with skull dysmorphology. The craniofacial effects of the FGFR2 mutations are similar, but Fgfr2+/S252W mutant mice display significantly more severe dysmorphology localized to the posterior palate. Our results demonstrate that coronal suture closure is neither the primary nor the sole locus of skull dysmorphology in these mouse models for Apert syndrome, but that the face is also primarily affected. Developmental Dynamics 239:3058–3071, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1&agr; suppresses steatosis-associated liver cancer by inhibiting PPAR&ggr; transcription

Worldwide epidemics of metabolic diseases, including liver steatosis, are associated with an increased frequency of malignancies, showing the highest positive correlation for liver cancer. The heterogeneity of liver cancer represents a clinical challenge. In liver, the transcription factor PPAR&ggr; promotes metabolic adaptations of lipogenesis and aerobic glycolysis under the control of Akt2 activity, but the role of PPAR&ggr; in liver tumorigenesis is unknown. Here we have combined preclinical mouse models of liver cancer and genetic studies of a human liver biopsy atlas with the aim of identifying putative therapeutic targets in the context of liver steatosis and cancer. We have revealed a protumoral interaction of Akt2 signaling with hepatocyte nuclear factor 1&agr; (HNF1&agr;) and PPAR&ggr;, transcription factors that are master regulators of hepatocyte and adipocyte differentiation, respectively. Akt2 phosphorylates and inhibits HNF1&agr;, thus relieving the suppression of hepatic PPAR&ggr; expression and promoting tumorigenesis. Finally, we observed that pharmacological inhibition of PPAR&ggr; is therapeutically effective in a preclinical murine model of steatosis-associated liver cancer. Taken together, our studies in humans and mice reveal that Akt2 controls hepatic tumorigenesis through crosstalk between HNF1&agr; and PPAR&ggr;.
Hyaluronan and proximal tubular cell migration.

BACKGROUND The ubiquitous polysaccharide hyaluronan has been associated with both acute renal injury and progressive renal disease. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of hyaluronan on proximal tubular cell migration. METHODS The proximal tubular cell line, HK-2 cells, were grown in monolayer culture, and cell migration following addition of hyaluronan characterized in an in vitro model of injury that we have previously developed and characterized. RESULTS Addition of well-defined preparations of exogenous hyaluronan increased cell migration; however, optimum enhancement of migration was seen with hyaluronan of high molecular weight. Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade, as assessed by increased expression of the dually phosphorylated active form of MAPK, could be demonstrated following addition of hyaluronan. This was blocked by the addition of a specific antibody to the hyaluronan receptor, CD44. Hyaluronan-dependent enhanced migration was also abrogated by addition the CD44 blocking antibody, and by inhibition of MAPK kinase (MEK) activity. Generation of a denuded area also led to increased synthesis of endogenous hyaluronan and activation of MAPK, and blockage of either CD44 or MAPK activation inhibited proximal tubule cell (PTC) migration and re-epithelialization under nonstimulated conditions. CONCLUSION We have demonstrated that hyaluronan activation of the MAPK pathway through binding to its receptor CD44, enhances proximal tubule cell (PTC) migration. In addition, the results suggest that mechanical injury of PTC stimulated hyaluronan generation. These observations may have implications for both recovery from acute tubular injury and progressive renal fibrosis.
MEDICAID DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENT DISPROPORTIONATELY HARMS NON-HISPANICS, NEW STATE DATA SHOW: Rule Mostly Hurts U.S. Citizen Children, Not Undocumented Immigrants

Newly available data from three states show that white and African American children are much more likely than Hispanic children to have their Medicaid coverage delayed, denied, or terminated as a result of a citizenship documentation requirement that took effect last year. These data provide further evidence that the requirement, purportedly aimed at preventing undocumented immigrants from improperly obtaining Medicaid, is instead overwhelmingly affecting U.S. citizens who are eligible for the program. (Under the requirement, low-income individuals who state they are U.S. citizens must produce a passport or birth certificate, naturalization document, or similar documentation to prove they are U.S. citizens when they apply for Medicaid or renew their Medicaid coverage.)
Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Liver Regeneration in Liver Failure: From Experimental Models to Clinical Trials

The liver centralizes the systemic metabolism and thus controls and modulates the functions of the central and peripheral nervous systems, the immune system, and the endocrine system. In addition, the liver intervenes between the splanchnic and systemic venous circulation, determining an abdominal portal circulatory system. The liver displays a powerful regenerative potential that rebuilds the parenchyma after an injury. This regenerative mission is mainly carried out by resident liver cells. However, in many cases this regenerative capacity is insufficient and organ failure occurs. In normal livers, if the size of the liver is at least 30% of the original volume, hepatectomy can be performed safely. In cirrhotic livers, the threshold is 50% based on current practice and available data. Typically, portal vein embolization of the part of the liver that is going to be resected is employed to allow liver regeneration in two-stage liver resection after portal vein occlusion (PVO). However, hepatic resection often cannot be performed due to advanced disease progression or because it is not indicated in patients with cirrhosis. In such cases, liver transplantation is the only treatment possibility, and the need for transplantation is the common outcome of progressive liver disease. It is the only effective treatment and has high survival rates of 83% after the first year. However, donated organs are becoming less available, and mortality and the waiting lists have increased, leading to the initiation of living donor liver transplantations. This type of transplant has overall complications of 38%. In order to improve the treatment of hepatic injury, much research has been devoted to stem cells, in particular mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), to promote liver regeneration. In this review, we will focus on the advances made using MSCs in animal models, human patients, ongoing clinical trials, and new strategies using 3D organoids.
Patent Ductus Arteriosus Ligation and Adverse Outcomes: Causality or Bias?

Observational studies have associated patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation in preterm infants with increased chronic lung disease (CLD), retinopathy of prematurity, and neurodevelopmental impairment at long-term follow-up. Although the biological rationale for this association is incompletely understood, there is an emerging secular trend toward a permissive approach to the PDA. However, insufficient adjustment for postnatal, pre-ligation confounders, such as intraventricular hemorrhage and the duration and intensity of mechanical ventilation, suggests the presence of residual bias due to confounding by indication, and obliges caution in interpreting the ligation-morbidity relationship. A period of conservative management after failure of medical PDA closure may be considered to reduce the number of infants treated with surgery. Increased mortality and CLD in infants with persistent symptomatic PDA suggests that surgical ligation remains an important treatment modality for preterm infants.
MHC Class II-Regulated Central Nervous System Autoaggression and T Cell Responses in Peripheral Lymphoid Tissues Are Dissociated in Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein-Induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis1

We dissected the requirements for disease induction of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in MHC (RT1 in rat) congenic rats with overlapping MOG peptides. Immunodominance with regard to peptide-specific T cell responses was purely MHC class II dependent, varied between different MHC haplotypes, and was linked to encephalitogenicity only in RT1.Ba/Da rats. Peptides derived from the MOG sequence 91–114 were able to induce overt clinical signs of disease accompanied by demyelinated CNS lesions in the RT1.Ba/Da and RT1n haplotypes. Notably, there was no detectable T cell response against this encephalitogenic MOG sequence in the RT1n haplotype in peripheral lymphoid tissue. However, CNS-infiltrating lymphoid cells displayed high IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-4 mRNA expression suggesting a localization of peptide-specific reactivated T cells in this compartment. Despite the presence of MOG-specific T and B cell responses, no disease could be induced in resistant RT1l and RT1u haplotypes. Comparison of the number of different MOG peptides binding to MHC class II molecules from the different RT1 haplotypes suggested that susceptibility to MOG-experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis correlated with promiscuous peptide binding to RT1.B and RT1.D molecules. This may suggest possibilities for a broader repertoire of peptide-specific T cells to participate in disease induction. We demonstrate a powerful MHC class II regulation of autoaggression in which MHC class II peptide binding and peripheral T cell immunodominance fail to predict autoantigenic peptides relevant for an autoaggressive response. Instead, target organ responses may be decisive and should be further explored.
Electrophoretic analysis of the surface components of autoagglutinating surface array protein-positive and surface array protein-negative Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas sobria

The protein and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) compositions of 10 autoagglutinating Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas sobria strains were studied; one group consisted of five serogroup O:11 strains that contained an S layer, while a second group was composed of diverse serogroups that were S layer negative by transmission electron microscopy. All serogroup O:11 strains were found to contain a predominant 52,000- to 54,000-molecular-weight protein that was present on both whole-cell and outer membrane protein profiles; this protein was found to be glycine extractable under low-pH (pH 4) conditions and was identified as the surface array protein. LPS analysis revealed that all O:11 strains exhibited homogeneous-length O-polysaccharide side chains characterized primarily by two or three major bands. In contrast, S-layer-negative autoagglutinating strains of other serogroups lacked this predominant surface array protein, and silver stain analysis of LPS indicated that such profiles mainly consisted of core antigens and were deficient in or devoid of O-polysaccharide side chains. These collective results offer potential explanations for observed differences between these two groups in virulence, disease spectrum, and pathogenic properties.
Effectiveness of a Nursing Consultation Intervention for Older People With Functional Mobility Impairments: A Prospective, Longitudinal Study

Background: There is a need for prevention strategies in elderly individuals with mobility impairments. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of nursing consultations on the functional abilities and quality of life of elderly individuals with mobility impairments after discharge from a rehabilitation facility. Methods: A single-site, prospective, longitudinal study with a nonequivalent control group pretest–posttest design was conducted in a geriatric rehabilitation facility and in the living environments of the patients after discharge. The intervention consisted of nurse-delivered consulting home visits and follow-up telephone calls. Patient quality of life and functional status were the primary outcomes, and self-efficacy was the secondary outcome. Data were collected at admission, at discharge, and at a 6-month follow-up visit. Results: A cohort of 124 patients participated in the study. The intervention group showed a nonsignificant improvement in functional status compared with the control group. The intervention did not affect quality of life, except for a trend toward significance in the social domain (p = .060). Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that nursing consultations do not significantly improve functional status and have almost no effect on quality of life.
Motives and behaviour of second home owners in Iceland reflected by place attachment

Second home tourism has a long tradition in the Nordic countries, and seems to be gradually growing worldwide. The processes underpinning the decision to own a second home are often complex and connected with numerous influencing factors such as cultural setting, personal preferences and attitudes, economic situation, as well as practical questions regarding distance, anticipated utilization, and localization factors. The relationship between the environment in which the second home is situated and the prospective homeowners is likely to have a strong geographic character. This study aims to assess and analyse the habits and motivations of second home owners in Iceland and evaluate whether their behavioural patterns and patterns of geographical preferences can be explained by the concept of place attachment. The results reveal that place attachment can be seen as a significant localization factor influencing temporal and spatial development of second homes, which in turn helps explain the observed geographical patterns. While it has also been shown that homeowners with a prior connection to the locations in question do display different behavioural patterns than homeowners who obtained property in locations to which they had no prior connection, the results further reveal that heterogeneity is caused by diversity in lengths of ownership rather than being due to place attachment. In conclusion, the concept of place attachment is of only limited use in seeking to explain differences in behaviour among second home owners subsequent to the acquisition of property, suggesting that different forms of place attachment produce similar behavioural patterns.
Changes in Maternal Weight 5–10 Years after a First Delivery

Aim: The objective of this study was to identify maternal, obstetrical and reproductive factors associated with long-term changes in maternal weight after delivery. Materials & methods: Participants were enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study of maternal health 5–10 years after childbirth. Data were obtained from obstetrical records and a self-administered questionnaire. Weight at the time of first delivery (5–10 years prior) was obtained retrospectively and each woman's weight at the time of her first delivery was compared with her current weight. Results: Among 948 women, obesity was associated with race, parity, education, history of diabetes and history of cesarean at the time of first delivery. On average, the difference between weight at the time of first delivery and weight 5–10 years later was −11 kg (11 kg weight loss). In a multivariate model, black race and diabetes were associated with significantly less weight loss. Cesarean delivery, parity and breastfeeding were not associated with changes in maternal weight. Conclusion: Black women and those with a history of diabetes may be appropriate targets for interventions that promote a long-term healthy weight after childbirth.
Concurrent and Dual Credit: The Bridge to Postsecondary Education for First-Generation College Students.

One of the most significance social challenges facing the United States is increasing the number of students entering postsecondary education and having them persist to degree completion. To accomplish this undertaking, more first-generation college students must matriculate and find academic success. Considerable research exists concerning the barriers firstgeneration students must overcome; however, little research exists regarding the benefits of participating in dual and concurrent credit coursework as a way to increase confidence and prepare for the rigors of higher education. The purpose of this correlational, quantitative, exploratory study was to consider the impact of dual and concurrent credit on the GPA and persistence of full-time, first-generation college students at a land-grant, four-year, research institution. The theoretical framework for the study rested on Tinto’s Theory of Academic and Social Integration and Astin’s Theory of Involvement. This research design was selected to focus on the predictive relationship between full-time, first-generation college students who completed dual/concurrent credit classes and those who did not. Three research questions were postulated focusing on demographics and firstto-second year GPA and persistence utilizing institutional data. The study included full-time, first generation college students at the University of Arkansas enrolled during a fall semester between 2004 and 2008. Variables considered included: gender, ethnicity, age, ACT scores, and prior credit hours earned. Results revealed that students were more likely to be female, Caucasian, age 19 or younger, and scored an average of 28 on their ACT. An ANCOVA and linear regression, using the demographic variables, reported the variability and numeric impact of dual/concurrent participation on a student’s GPA. A logistic regression was calculated to determine dual/concurrent credit’s effect on first-generation persistence. A multiple regression found that dual/concurrent credit had a nonsignificant, but positive effect on GPA and a logistic regression found a significant positive effect on retention. The current study helps fill a gap in the literature by addressing dual/concurrent credit and its impact on first-generation postsecondary students. This research may prove useful to practitioners and policy makers searching for ways to help first-generation students bridge the gap from high school to postsecondary education. This dissertation is approved for recommendation to the Graduate Council. Dissertation Director: Dr. John W. Murry, Jr. Dissertation Committee:
Functional Impairment of Murine Dendritic Cell Subsets following Infection with Infective Larval Stage 3 of Brugia malayi

ABSTRACT Filarial parasites cause functional impairment of host dendritic cells (DCs). However, the effects of early infection on individual DC subsets are not known. In this study, we infected BALB/c mice with infective stage 3 larvae of the lymphatic filarial parasite Brugia malayi (Bm-L3) and studied the effect on fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS)-sorted DC subsets. While myeloid DCs (mDCs) accumulated by day 3 postinfection (p.i.), lymphoid DCs (LDCs) and CD8+ plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) peaked at day 7 p.i. in the spleens and mesenteric lymph nodes (mLNs) of infected mice. Increased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) but reduced interleukin 12 (IL-12) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), -6, and -9 and reciprocal secretion of IL-4 and IL-10 were also observed across all DC subsets. Interestingly, Bm-L3 increased the expression of CD80 and CD86 across all DC subsets but decreased that of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) on mDCs and pDCs, resulting in their impaired antigen uptake and presentation capacities, but maximally attenuated the T-cell proliferation capacity of only mDCs. Furthermore, Bm-L3 increased phosphorylated p38 (p-p38), but not p-ERK, in mDCs and LDCs but downregulated them in pDCs, along with differential modulation of protein tyrosine phosphatases SHP-1, TCPTP, PTEN, and PTP1B across all DC subsets. Taken together, we report hitherto undocumented effects of early Bm-L3 infection on purified host DC subsets that lead to their functional impairment and attenuated host T-cell response.