Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Chronic Inhibition of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Impairs Postoperative Renal Function

Postoperative renal impairment can increase postoperative mortality and morbidity. We sought to identify preoperative risk factors responsible for postoperative renal impairment in patients undergoing aortic surgery. This prospective study included 249 patients admitted for aortic surgery. Preoperative and postoperative glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) were assessed with pre- and postoperative creatinine clearance measurements. Postoperative renal impairment was defined as a 20% decrease in GFR between Day 0 (before surgery) and Day 7 ±1 day (after surgery). Preoperative and intraoperative variables considered as potentially responsible for postoperative renal impairment were tested. Chronic treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) was the only factor significantly associated with postoperative renal impairment (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 2.01 [1.05–3.83]). Chronic preoperative ACEI treatment is significantly associated with postoperative renal impairment. Inhibition of renal compensatory mechanisms caused by renin angiotensin system blockade might be responsible for the observed decrease in renal function in patients chronically treated with ACEIs undergoing aortic surgery. However, age and preoperative renal dysfunction were not associated with a postoperative decrease in GFR, but they were associated with a postoperative creatinine clearance <60 mL/min.
Epidemiology of the Relationship between Traumatic Experience and Suicidal Behaviors

Afifi, T.o. , Enns, M.W. , Cox, B.J., Asmundson, G.J.G. , Stein, M.B. , & Sareen, J. (2008). Population attributable fractions of psychiatric disorders and suicide ideation and attempts associated with adverse childhood experiences. American Journal of Public Health, 98, 946-952. We sought to determine the fractions of psychiatric disorders and suicide ideation and attempts in a general population sample attributable to childhood physical abuse, sexual abuse, and witnessing domestic violence. Data were obtained from the US National Comorbidity Survey Replication. The estimated attributable fractions for psychiatric disorders attributable to having experienced any adverse childhood event ranged from 22% to 32% among women and 20% to 24% among men. Having experienced any adverse event accounted for a substantial proportion of suicide ideation and attempts among women (16% and 50%, respectively) and men (21% and 33%, respectively). Substantial proportions of poor mental health outcomes were also attributable to increasing number of adverse events. The estimated proportions of poor mental health outcomes attributed to childhood adversity were medium to large for men and women. Prevention efforts that reduce exposure to adverse childhood events could substantially reduce the prevalence of psychopathology and suicidal behavior in the general population. [abstract adapted] Blaauw, E. , Arensman, E. , Kraaij, V. , Winkel, F.W. , & Bout, R. (2002). Traumatic life events and suicide risk among jail inmates: The influence of types of events, time period and significant others. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 15, 9-16. Relationships between traumatic life events and suicide risk were studied in two samples of jail inmates with a low (N = 216) and a high (N = 51) suicide risk. Although nonsuicidal inmates reported a high prevalence of traumatic life events, suicidal inmates reported even higher prevalence rates. Suicidal inmates reported more episodes of sexual abuse, physical maltreatment, emotional maltreatment, abandonment, and suicide attempts by significant others. They also had experienced more traumatic life events during childhood, later life, and detention. It is concluded that traumatic life events are associated with suicide risk and that such an association remains in a population with a high prevalence of traumatic life events. It is also concluded that suicide risk is dependent of the type of life event, the timing of the event, and the type of persons involved in the event. VolUME 19/No. 4 FAll 2008 PAGE 3
Prevalence and clinical correlates of JAK2 mutations in Down syndrome acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Recurrent, prognostically significant chromosomal abnormalities occur in approximately 75% of paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), but only infrequently in children with Down syndrome (DS) and ALL. Recently, novel somatic activating mutations in the gene Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) were reported in 18% of DS ALL. Here we report identification and clinical correlates of JAK2 mutations in an independent cohort. JAK2 activating mutations occurred in 10/53 DS ALL cases (18·9%). Mutations were overrepresented in males (P < 0·03), occurred once in association with high hyperdiploidy and were not significantly correlated with age, initial white blood count, or event‐free survival. Our results confirm the significance of JAK–STAT pathway activation in DS ALL.
Is there an association between oral submucous fibrosis and ABO blood grouping?

BACKGROUND Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is one of the most common premalignant conditions in Indian subcontinent due to the traditional use of Areca nut and its various preparations. The genetic predisposition has also been reported in its etiopathogenesis. The rate of malignant transformation is between 7% to 14%. AIM To evaluate whether ABO blood group is related to OSMF risk. SUBJECTS AND METHODS It was a cross-sectional hospital-based study. A convenient sample of 164 study subjects constituted the cases and 180 subjects constituted the comparison group. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED The results were analyzed using chi-square test and odds ratio. RESULTS The chi-square analysis could not establish any significant relationship between OSMF and ABO blood group. But, when the strength of the association was measured using odds ratio, subjects with blood group A had 1.181 times higher risk of developing OSMF in comparison to other groups. CONCLUSION The subjects with blood group A were at higher risk of developing OSMF in comparison to others. By performing blood group determination using a routine method at outreach programs, the susceptible individuals can be identified and counselled to quit the habit, thereby avoiding potential complications.
Measuring science or religion? A measurement analysis of the National Science Foundation sponsored science literacy scale 2006–2010

High scientific literacy is widely considered a public good. Methods of assessing public scientific knowledge or literacy are equally important. In an effort to measure lay scientific literacy in the United States, the National Science Foundation (NSF) science literacy scale has been a part of the last three waves of the General Social Survey. However, there has been debate over the validity of some survey items as indicators of science knowledge. While many researchers treat the NSF science scale as measuring a single dimension, previous work (Bann and Schwerin, 2004; Miller, 1998, 2004) suggests a bidimensional structure. This paper hypothesizes and tests a new measurement model for the NSF science knowledge scale and finds that two items about evolution and the big bang are more measures of a religious belief dimension termed “Young Earth Worldview” than they are measures of scientific knowledge. Results are replicated in seven samples.
Effect of Instrument Lubricants on the Surface Degree of Conversion and Crosslinking Density of Nanocomposites.

PURPOSE The surface degree of conversion and crosslink density of composites should not be affected by the use of instrument lubricants in order to provide long-lasting tooth restorations. This study aimed to analyze the effect of instrument lubricants on the degree of conversion and crosslink density of nanocomposites. MATERIALS AND METHODS Samples (N = 10) were fabricated according to the composites (Filtek Z350 XT, 3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA; and IPS Empress Direct, Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Schaan, Liechtenstein and lubricants used (Adper Single Bond 2 and Scotchbond Multi-Purpose bonding agent adhesive systems, 3M ESPE; 70% ethanol, absolute ethanol, and no lubricant). Single composite increments were inserted into a Teflon mold using the same dental instrument. The composite surface was then modeled using a brush wiped with each adhesive system and a spatula wiped with each ethanol. The control group was fabricated with no additional modeling. The surface degree of conversion and crosslink density were measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the hardness decrease test, respectively. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance and the Tukey's test (p < 0.05). RESULTS Filtek Z350 XT showed statistically similar degree of conversion regardless of the lubricant used, whereas the use of adhesive systems and 70% ethanol decreased the degree of conversion for IPS Empress Direct. Only Scotchbond Multi-Purpose bonding agent decreased crosslink density for Filtek Z350 XT, whereas both adhesive systems decreased crosslink density for IPS Empress Direct. CONCLUSION Filtek Z350 XT appeared to be less sensitive to the effects of lubricants, and absolute ethanol did not affect the degree of conversion and crosslink density of the nanocomposites tested. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Although the use of lubricants may be recommended to minimize the stickiness of dental instruments and composite resin, dentists should choose materials that do not have a negative effect on the surface properties of composites. Only the use of absolute ethanol safely maintains the surface integrity of nanocomposites in comparison with adhesive system and 70% ethanol.
Goal-Setting: Learnings from a Business Process Management Class Assignment

Goal setting is an important part of business process management requiring metrics against which to measure performance. Similarly, as future business process analysts, information systems students require goal setting and measurement competencies. Following an inductive process, goals set by students with no a-priori training in self-assessment were explored based on two questions: What goals do students set? And how do they assess these goals? The findings reveal that students make use of multiple goal types with goals of effort and understanding linked to higher performance. Furthermore, goals need not be explicitly stated nor defined prior to beginning a task to be effective. Higher performing students were better at self-assessment which was considered a function of goal setting and previous selfassessment experience. In addition, the findings reveal temporal aspects to goal setting with short-term goals providing better outcomes. Goal setting was shown to be entangled with types of goals transcending temporal levels. Additional entanglements were observed with goals providing motivation and increased self-efficacy but are in turn moderated by lack of motivation and low self-efficacy. Assemblage theory was applied to understand the emergent properties of the entanglements. From an assemblage perspective, goals, goal types, goal levels, self-assessment, motivation, and self-efficacy combine with the individual and their environment in diverse ways to form larger goals that can be replicated throughout a person’s life. From a practice perspective, educators can design course interventions being cognizant of the impact of goal setting and self-assessment on student outcomes.
Nonsensory neglect

Five monkeys trained to perform with the extremity contralateral to a stimulus had unilateral neglect induced by frontal and reticular formation lesions. Postoperatively the performance of the animals was abnormal only on ipsilateral stimulation, which suggests that the mechanism underlying neglect in these subjects is not deafferentation or sensory inattention but a defect of intention.
“Everybody Puts a Lot into It!” Single Session Contacts in Hospital Social Work

Abstract For the most part, social casework literature is based on the assumption that social workers have on-going contacts with clients over a period of time. However, the experience of social workers in a number of fields of practice suggests that it is common for social workers to see clients only once. This paper reports on a qualitative study of hospital social workers' experiences of single session contacts with clients. Analysis of the data from focus groups with hospital social workers indicated that they do not always give single session work the significance it deserves, although a high level of skill is seen to be required to do such brief work well. A number of distinctive characteristics of single session work were identified including setting clear goals and parameters, establishing rapport quickly and adhering to the social work principle of self determination at the same time as working quite directively. The implications of these findings for future research are discussed.
On the Variability of Velopharyngeal Valve Anatomy and Function: A Combined Peroral and Nasendoscopic Study

The oropharynx stripped of the tonsils and the excessive mucosal folds after the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty operation allows a closed observation of the outline of the pharyngeal muscles. Forty-two consecutive patients undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty were subjected to peroral examination of the oropharynx combined with nasendoscopic examination of the velopharyngeal valve. At rest, the oropharynx of the patients with coronal closure patterns was found to be flat relative to the oropharynx of the patients with the other closure patterns. During closure of the velopharyngeal valve, an anteroposterior movement of the velum, forming the nasendoscopic coronal closure pattern, was observed in patients with a flat oropharynx. On the other hand, a medial movement of the pharyngeal walls was found, forming the circular or sagittal closure pattern seen in patients with a deep oropharynx. Our conclusion is therefore that a different muscular orientation is responsible for both the different pharyngeal configuration at rest and the different contribution of the lateral and posterior pharyngeal walls to velopharyngeal valve closure.
Effect of Dietary L-carnitine Supplementation on the Concentration of Circulating Serum Metabolites in Growing New Zealand Rabbits

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of three dietary L-carnitine levels on serum metabolites and hormones in growing New Zealand rabbits. Twenty 4-week-old growing New Zealand rabbits were assigned to four groups, each with five replicates. Four experimental diets were formulated by adding four levels (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/dl) of supplemental L-carnitine to a basal diet in pellet form from 4 to 8 weeks of age. At the end of the 8th week, rabbits were slaughtered to measure serum parameters. L-carnitine administration induced a marked dose-dependent reduction of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c, VLDL and elevation of HDL-c. Circulating serum aminotransferases (AST and ALT), alkaline phosphatase enzymes and cortisol were decreased while glucose and serum thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) were significantly increased. Serum creatinine was significantly increased, and serum electrolytes (Na+, K+ and Cl-) were altered. These alterations directly proportional to the dose of L-carnitine. In conclusion, L-carnitine supplementation induces improved serum lipid and lipoprotein metabolism but alters other circulating serum metabolites and hormones.
Decentralized Inverse-Droop Control for Input-Series–Output-Parallel DC–DC Converters

Input-series-output-parallel dc-dc converters are suited for high-input voltage and low output voltage applications. This letter presents a decentralized inverse-droop control for this configuration. Each module is self-contained and no central controller is needed; thus, improving the system modularity, reliability, and flexibility. With the proposed inverse-droop control, the output voltage reference rises as the load becomes heavy. Even though the input voltages are not used in the inverse-droop loop, the power sharing including input voltage sharing and output current sharing can still be well achieved. Besides, the output voltage regulation characteristic is not affected by the variation of input voltage. The operation principle is introduced, and stability of the strategy is also revealed based on small signal modeling. Finally, the experiment is conducted to verify the effectiveness of the control strategy.
Detection of immunoglobulin G antibodies to cytomegalovirus antigens by antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

An antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that uses horseradish-peroxidase-labeled antigen for the detection of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV) is described. A microtiter plate was coated with anti-human IgG and consecutively incubated with serum specimens, enzyme-labeled CMV antigen made from CMV-infected cell nuclei, and substrate. The CMV IgG antibody content was determined spectrophotometrically and expressed as absorbance. Furthermore, to reveal any nonspecific reactions, all sera were tested against an enzyme-labeled control antigen made from uninfected cell nuclei. The problem with nonspecific reactions was small and was circumvented by the addition of unlabeled control antigen to the conjugates. For epidemiological studies the test was not as sensitive as other serological tests. On the other hand, the IgG antibody capture ELISA was highly sensitive for detecting the serological antibody response in patients with primary and recurrent CMV infections. Thus, one positive serum remained positive at a serum dilution of 1:10(7). The specificity of the test was shown by a blocking experiment and by testing 126 complement fixation-positive sera, of which 97% were positive. There was a rather good correlation between the complement fixation test and the IgG antibody capture ELISA (rs = 0.79, P less than 0.001). The test is especially useful when tests for CMV antibodies of the IgM, IgA, and IgE classes are run by similar antibody capture ELISAs, since the same procedure and conjugate are used.
Clinical and immunomodulatory effects of toceranib combined with low-dose cyclophosphamide in dogs with cancer.

BACKGROUND Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and metronomic dosing of cyclophosphamide (CYC) can improve tumor control by suppression of regulatory T cells (Treg) and restoration of T cell-mediated immune responses in mice and humans. The immunomodulatory effects of the TKI toceranib, as a single agent or in combination with metronomic CYC, have not been previously investigated in dogs. HYPOTHESIS The primary objectives of this study were to determine the effects of toceranib and metronomic CYC treatment on lymphocyte subsets including Treg and on interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) secretion in dogs with cancer. We hypothesized that toceranib would selectively decrease Treg numbers and increase IFN-γ production and that addition of CYC would further enhance these effects. ANIMALS Fifteen client-owned dogs with advanced tumors were entered into a prospective clinical trial. METHODS Dogs received toceranib at 2.75 mg/kg once every other day. After 2 weeks, oral CYC was added at 15 mg/m(2) daily. Numbers of Treg and lymphocyte subsets were measured in blood by flow cytometry during the 8-week study period. Serum concentrations of IFN-γ were measured by ELISA. RESULTS Administration of toceranib significantly decreased the number and percentage of Treg in the peripheral blood of dogs with cancer. Dogs receiving toceranib and CYC demonstrated a significant increase in serum concentrations of IFN-γ, which was inversely correlated with Treg numbers after 6 weeks of combination treatment. CONCLUSIONS In addition to antitumor effects, these data support further investigations into the immunomodulatory effects of toceranib, administered alone or in combination with CYC in dogs with cancer.
Malignant rolandic-sylvian epilepsy in children

Objective: To describe the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes in children with malignant rolandic-sylvian epilepsy (MRSE), defined as a form of epilepsy characterized by sensorimotor seizures, medical refractoriness, normal MRI, frontocentrotemporal EEG spikes, rolandic-sylvian spike sources on magnetoencephalography (MEG), and cognitive problems. Methods: A retrospective chart analysis of seven patients who had shown these characteristics and undergone extensive diagnostic testing, including MEG and intracranial video-EEG was performed. Results: Interictal scalp EEG spikes were seen over the frontocentrotemporal regions bilaterally (6) and unilaterally (1). MEG showed spike sources in the perisylvian region in two patients (both bilateral) and in the perirolandic fissure in five (two bilateral). Three patients required bilateral subdural strips to lateralize seizures before electrocorticography. Final electrocorticograms showed an ictal onset zone around the rolandic (four cases) and rolandic-sylvian regions (three cases). Six patients showed neuropsychological deficits. After cortical excision and multiple subpial transection, three were seizure free and four had seizures rarely (30 months’ mean follow-up). No child had a permanent deficit in sensorimotor or cognitive functions, although two showed exacerbation of preexisting attentional deficits. Tissue analysis showed definite evidence of neuronal migration disorders (3) and gliosis (2). Conclusions: MEG was helpful for localizing both malignant rolandic-sylvian neuronal activities and functional cortex. Successive neuropsychological assessments are necessary to detect cognitive deterioration and indicate remedial programming. If, after careful observation over at least 5 years, surgery is considered to control refractory seizures, intracranial video-EEG is needed to localize the epileptogenic zone.
Measuring real and financial cycles in Luxembourg: An unobserved components approach

We use unobserved components time series models to extract real and financial cycles for Luxembourg over the period 1980Q1-2018Q2. We find that financial cycles are longer and have larger amplitude compared to standard business cycles. Furthermore, financial cycles are highly correlated with cycles in GDP. We compare our results to other approaches to measure financial cycles and show how unobserved components models can serve to evaluate uncertainty and to monitor cyclical developments in real time. Overall, our estimates indicate that in mid 2018 both real and financial cycles in Luxembourg were close to zero, with financial conditions near their long-run trend.
Obesity Exacerbates Sepsis‐Induced Inflammation and Microvascular Dysfunction in Mouse Brain

Objective: Obese patients with sepsis have higher morbidity and mortality than lean counterparts, but the mechanisms involved are unknown. The authors examined the inflammatory and thrombogenic responses of the cerebral microvasculature to sepsis induced by cecal ligation and perforation in obese and lean wild‐type mice.