Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Principled Utility Discounting Under Risk

Abstract Utility discounting in intertemporal economic modelling has been viewed as problematic, both for descriptive and normative reasons. However, positive utility discount rates can be defended normatively; in particular, it is rational for future utility to be discounted to take into account model-independent outcomes when decision-making under risk. The resultant values will tend to be smaller than descriptive rates under most probability assignments. This also allows us to address some objections that intertemporal considerations will be overdemanding. A principle for utility discount rates is suggested which is rooted in probability discounting. Utility discounting is defended against objections from Parfit (1984) and Broome (2005); Broome (2012). A sample utility discount rate is estimated.
Different routes and forms of uterotonics for treatment of retained placenta: a randomized clinical trial*

Abstract Objectives: To compare between three different uterotonics (oxytocin, carbetocin and misoprostol) given via three different routes (intraumbilical, intravenous and sublingual, respectively) in reducing the need for manual removal of placenta (MROP). Methods: A randomized trial for cases with retained placenta 30 min following vaginal delivery. They received intraumbilical oxytocin, intravenous carbetocin or sublingual misoprostol. Main outcome measures were delivery of the placenta within 30 min following drug administration, and need for MROP. Secondary outcome measures were injection to placental delivery time, post-delivery hemoglobin, need for blood transfusion or additional uterotonics. Results: The overall success rate was 66.7% (64/96), 71.3% (67/94) and 63.7% (58/91) for oxytocin, carbetocin and misoprostol groups, respectively (p > 0.05). When time needed to achieve placental delivery considered, a significant difference was observed with the shortest time for carbetocin (16.61 ± 3.76 min), then oxytocin (18.28 ± 3.34 min) and lastly misoprostol (23.00 ± 3.38 min) (p <0.001). Again, carbetocin group needed less additional uterotonics to achieve adequate uterine contractions (p <0.001). Conclusions: Although we aimed to exploit the advantage of certain drug over another, all seemed to have close efficacy but it would be important that further research should highlight availability, cost, ease of administration and storage requirements to determine which agent would best be used in this clinical scenario.
Age at time of corticosteroid administration is a risk factor for osteonecrosis in pediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective magnetic resonance imaging study.

OBJECTIVE To clarify whether age at the time of the initial administration of corticosteroids is a risk factor for corticosteroid-associated osteonecrosis in children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS From 1986 to 2007, MRI was used to prospectively study 676 joints, including 72 joints (36 hips and 36 knees) in 18 pediatric patients with SLE (<15 years old), 100 joints (50 hips and 50 knees) in 25 adolescent patients with SLE (15-20 years old), and 504 joints (252 hips and 252 knees) in 126 adult patients with SLE (>20 years old), beginning just after corticosteroid administration, for at least 1 year. The followup rate was 100%. RESULTS In pediatric patients, osteonecrosis developed in 4 joints (6%; all hips). In adolescent patients, osteonecrosis developed in 49 joints (49%; 18 hips and 31 knees). In adult patients, osteonecrosis developed in 207 joints (41%; 95 hips and 112 knees). The rate of osteonecrosis was significantly lower in pediatric patients than in adolescent or adult patients (P = 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that adolescent and adult patients had a significantly higher risk for osteonecrosis compared with pediatric patients, with an odds ratio of 10.3 (P < 0.0001). The youngest patients with osteonecrosis in the hip and knee were 14.9 years old and 15.5 years old, respectively. Osteonecrosis did not develop in patients younger than age 14 years. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that age at the time of the initial administration of corticosteroids is associated with osteonecrosis in pediatric patients with SLE.
Early rejection episodes.

1. Early rejection episodes had an overriding effect on graft survival. One-year graft survival decreased by 18% in LRD transplants and by 27% in cadaver-donor transplants when rejection occurred. Early rejection-free patients had 96% (LRD) and 87% (cadaver-donor) 1-year graft survival. 2. Among rejection-free recipients of first cadaver transplants, 1-year graft survival decreased by 5% when function was delayed for 8-14 days and by 10% when function was delayed more than 14 days, suggesting some rejections were masked by early nonfunction. 3. Rejections occurred in 30% of first cadaver donor transplants overall and ranged from 9-50% at individual contributing centers. Rejections occurred in 27% of LRD transplants and 37% of cadaver retransplants. 4. Histocompatibility affected the frequency of rejection as well as subsequent graft survival. The lowest incidence of rejection was 17% in HLA-identical sibling transplants, followed by 0 HLA-B,DR mismatched first cadaver transplants, with a progressive increase to 34% in completely mismatched (HLA-B,DR) first cadaver transplants. Parent and 1-haplotype sibling donor transplants were intermediate with a 30% incidence of rejection. In first cadaver transplant recipients with rejection, graft survival decreased from 78-59% with the degree of HLA mismatch. 5. Pretransplant transfusions also reduced the rejection frequency from 42% without to 24% with more than 4 transfusions. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Pelvic Muscle Strength After Childbirth

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to estimate the effect of vaginal childbirth and other obstetric exposures on pelvic muscle strength 6–11 years after delivery and to investigate the relationship between pelvic muscle strength and pelvic floor disorders. METHODS: Among 666 parous women, pelvic muscle strength was measured with a perineometer 6–11 years after delivery. Obstetric exposures were classified by review of hospital records. Pelvic floor outcomes, including stress incontinence, overactive bladder, anal incontinence, and prolapse symptoms, were assessed with a validated questionnaire. Pelvic organ support was assessed using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to estimate the univariable associations of obstetric exposures and pelvic floor outcomes with peak muscle strength. Stepwise multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate the association between obstetric exposures and muscle strength. RESULTS: In comparison with women who delivered all of their children by cesarean, peak muscle strength and duration of contraction were reduced among women with a history of vaginal delivery (39 compared with 29 cm H2O, P<.001). Pelvic muscle strength was further reduced after history of forceps delivery (17 cm H2O, P<.001). After vaginal delivery, reduced pelvic muscle strength was associated with symptoms of anal incontinence (P=.028) and pelvic organ prolapse on examination (P=.025); these associations were not observed among those who had delivered exclusively by cesarean. CONCLUSION: Pelvic muscle strength almost a decade after childbirth is affected by vaginal delivery and by forceps delivery. Although statistically significant, some of the differences observed were small in magnitude. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II
Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Is a Growth Repressor of Both Rhizoid and Gametophore Development in the Moss Physcomitrella patens1[OPEN]

PTEN proteins regulate rhizoid and gametophore development in Physcomitrella patens. Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a lipid phosphatase implicated in cellular proliferation and survival. In animal cells, loss of PTEN leads to increased levels of phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate, stimulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, cellular growth, and morphological changes (related to adaptation and survival). Intriguingly, in plants, phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate has not been detected, and the enzymes that synthesize it were never reported. In this study we performed a genetic, biochemical, and functional characterization of the moss Physcomitrella patens PTEN gene family. P. patens has four PTENs, which are ubiquitously expressed during the entire moss life cycle. Using a knock-in approach, we show that all four genes are expressed in growing tissues, namely caulonemal and rhizoid cells. At the subcellular level, PpPTEN-green fluorescent protein fusions localized to the cytosol and the nucleus. Analysis of single and double knockouts revealed no significant phenotypes at different developmental stages, indicative of functional redundancy. However, compared with wild-type triple and quadruple pten knockouts, caulonemal cells grew faster, switched from the juvenile protonemal stage to adult gametophores earlier, and produced more rhizoids. Furthermore, analysis of lipid content and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction data performed in quadruple mutants revealed altered phosphoinositide levels [increase in phosphatidylinositol (3,5)-bisphosphate and decrease in phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate] and up-regulation of marker genes from the synthesis phase of the cell cycle (e.g. P. patens proliferating cell nuclear antigen, ribonucleotide reductase, and minichromosome maintenance) and of the retinoblastoma-related protein gene P. patens retinoblastoma-related protein1. Together, these results suggest that PpPTEN is a suppressor of cell growth and morphogenic development in plants.
ARFI elastography as a complementary diagnostic method for mammary neoplasia in female dogs - preliminary results.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the applicability of acoustic radiation force impulse elastography as a complementary method in diagnosing mammary neoplasia in dogs. METHODS Mammary tumours from 50 female dogs were evaluated and divided into two groups: G1 (benign tissue) and G2 (malignant tumours). The nodules were assessed by B-Mode ultrasonography, qualitative and quantitative acoustic radiation force impulse elastography and histopathology. RESULTS B-Mode ultrasound examination was ineffective at separating the tumours into the two groups. Likewise, there was no correlation between the grayscale images of the mammary tissue by qualitative elastography. A difference was found in the deformity of the mammary masses between the malignant and benign groups (P = 0 · 002). Using quantitative elastography, the mean values of shear velocity were 3 · 33 m/s for malignant tumours and 1 · 28 m/s for benign tissue (P < 0 · 0001). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The use of acoustic radiation force impulse elastography may help to differentiate between malignant and benign mammary neoplasms.
Cardiac dysfunction following brain death after severe pediatric traumatic brain injury: A preliminary study of 32 children

Background: Cardiac dysfunction after brain death has been described in a variety of brain injury paradigms but is not well understood after severe pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). Cardiac dysfunction may have implications for organ donation in this patient population. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients with severe TBI, both with and without a diagnosis of brain death, who underwent echocardiography during the first 2 weeks after TBI, between the period of 2003-2011. We examined cardiac dysfunction in patients with and without a diagnosis of brain death. Results: In all, 32 (2.3%) of 1,413 severe pediatric TBI patients underwent echocardiogram evaluation. Most patients had head abbreviated injury score 5 (range 2-6) and subdural hematoma (34.4%). Ten patients with TBI had brain death compared with 22 severe TBI patients who did not have brain death. Four (40%) of 10 pediatric TBI patients with brain death had a low ejection fraction (EF) compared with 1 (4.5%) of 22 pediatric TBI patients without brain death who had low EF (OR = 14, P = 0.024). Conclusions: The incidence of cardiac dysfunction is higher among pediatric severe TBI patients with a diagnosis of brain death, as compared to patients without brain death. This finding may have implications for cardiac organ donation from this population and deserves further study.
The influence of acute and chronic hypercalcemia on the parathyroid hormone response to hypocalcemia in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the influence of acute and chronic hypercalcemia on the parathyroid hormone (PTH) response to hypocalcemia. DESIGN The PTH response to hypocalcemia has been evaluated in three groups of rabbits: Group I, normal rabbits, Group II, normal rabbits subjected to an acute hypercalcemic clamp (induced by CaCl(2) infusion) and Group III, rabbits with chronic hypercalcemia (due to surgical reduction of renal mass). RESULTS In Group I (baseline Ca(2+)=1.69+/-0.02 mM), hypocalcemia resulted in stimulation of PTH secretion which reached a maximum (PTHmax) of 91.7+/-6.4 pg/ml. In rabbits from Group II, which also had normal baseline Ca(2+) (1.70+/-0.02 mM), plasma Ca(2+) was maintained at an elevated level for 2 h, at around 2.05 mM. The PTH response to hypocalcemia in Group II was attenuated and the PTHmax in these rabbits was 45.6+/-7.4 pg/ml. In rabbits from Group III, baseline Ca(2+) was elevated (2.06+/-0.06 mM) for 1 month. The PTH response to hypocalcemia in Group III was esentially the same as in Group I and PTHmax reached levels of 94.8+/-9.9 pg/ml. CONCLUSIONS A difference in PTH response to hypocalcemia has been found in rabbits after exposure to either acute or chronic hypercalcemia. After acute hypercalcemia, an attenuated PTH response to hypocalcemia has been identified. Chronic hypercalcemia, however, did not influence the PTH response to hypocalcemia.
Diurnal intraocular pressure and blood pressure with two dosing regimens of brimonidine in normal tension glaucoma.

BACKGROUND To compare the effects of 2 dosing regimens of brimonidine tartrate 0.2% on diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) and systemic hemodynamics in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). METHODS Twenty NTG patients were enrolled and randomized to receive either brimonidine twice daily (BID) for 4 weeks followed by brimonidine 3 times daily (TID) for another 4 weeks, or in reverse order. Diurnal variations of IOP and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP), as well as the 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate, were evaluated at baseline and after treatment. Baseline and post-treatment data were compared using a paired Student's t test, and treatment effects were compared between regimens using a crossover-designed analysis of variance. RESULTS Both regimens decreased the mean (p < 0.001) and minimum (p < 0.001) diurnal IOP, and only the TID regimen decreased the maximum IOP with a marginal significance (p = 0.049). The TID regimen decreased the maximum OPP (p = 0.009) while the BID regimen caused no changes in OPP. No significant difference in IOP or OPP was noted between regimens at each time point. Neither regimen caused changes in BP or pulse rate as assessed using the 24-hour ambulatory monitoring device. CONCLUSIONS The TID regimen of brimonidine produces similar reductions in diurnal IOP for NTG patients as the BID regimen, and it alone decreases the maximum OPP. Neither of the 2 regimens causes exaggerated nocturnal reduction of BP.
The Impact of Water Deficiency on Leaf Cuticle Lipids of Arabidopsis1[W][OA]

Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants subjected to water deficit, sodium chloride (NaCl), or abscisic acid treatments were shown to exhibit a significant increase in the amount of leaf cuticular lipids. These stress treatments led to increases in cuticular wax amount per unit area of 32% to 80%, due primarily to 29% to 98% increases in wax alkanes. Of these treatments, only water deficit increased the total cutin monomer amount (by 65%), whereas both water deficit and NaCl altered the proportional amounts of cutin monomers. Abscisic acid had little effect on cutin composition. Water deficit, but not NaCl, increased leaf cuticle thickness (by 49%). Electron micrographs revealed that both water-deprived and NaCl-treated plants had elevated osmium accumulation in their cuticles. The abundance of cuticle-associated gene transcripts in leaves was altered by all treatments, including those performed in both pot-grown and in vitro conditions. Notably, the abundance of the ECERIFERUM1 gene transcript, predicted to function in alkane synthesis, was highly induced by all treatments, results consistent with the elevated alkane amounts observed in all treatments. Further, this induction of cuticle lipids was associated with reduced cuticle permeability and may be important for plant acclimation to subsequent water-limited conditions. Taken together, these results show that Arabidopsis provides an excellent model system to study the role of the cuticle in plant response to drought and related stresses, and its associated genetic and cellular regulation.
[A study of cytomegalovirus (CMV) glycoprotein B genotypes in patients with CMV infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation].

OBJECTIVE To study the different cytomegalovirus (CMV) glycoprotein (G) B genotypes in the patients with CMV infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and the correlation between genotype and pathogenesis of CMV disease. METHODS Thirty-eight patients received allogenetic from March 2001 to December 2003. CMV GB DNA was detected with nested-PCR in all the patients and the products were digested with RsaI and HinfI. RESULTS The distribution of GB types were as follows: GB1, 19/38 (50.0%); GB2, 3/38 (7.9%), GB3, 14/38 (36.8%). GB1 was associated with favorable clinical outcome, while GB3 might contribute to fatal interstitial pneumonia (IP). The incidences of graft versus host disease (GVHD) were not different significantly between the patients with GB1 and those with GB3. CONCLUSION CMV GB genotypes might play an important role in the pathogenesis of CMV-IP, but not of GVHD.
Ongoing research in Europe: Alpha One International Registry (AIR) objectives and development

In 1997, the World Health Organization recommended establishing an international registry of α1-antitrypsin deficiency. The objective of the present article is to describe the organisation of an international network of registries, the Alpha One International Registry (AIR), and the processes of enrolling and entering data. By the end of 2005, the registry included individuals from 21 countries (from four continents). The inclusion criterion was either phenotypes PiZZ, PiSZ or other severely deficient variants. Demographic and clinical information have been collected by a standardised questionnaire, translated for each country. Data are transferred to the AIR database at the Dept of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden, either by e-mail or via two web-enabled questionnaires in HTML. All data are merged and checked for consistency and missing values. Collection of data started in 1999 and, by September 2005, data on 2,150 individual patients (1,180 male) had been submitted. Of these, 1,855 (84%) have phenotype PiZ, 181 (8%) PiSZ and 114 (5%) other rare Pi phenotypes. The mean age at inclusion was 49.8 yrs (sd = 13.3) and the majority were index cases (64.1%). The Alpha One International Registry is the largest specific α1-antitrypsin deficiency registry, fulfilling a major World Health Organization recommendation. The success related to the convergence of national registries into a common database creating a unique registry beyond geographic boundaries and encompassing α1-antitrypsin deficiency from various ethnic groups.
‘High-Skilled Good, Low-Skilled Bad?’ British, Polish and Romanian Attitudes Towards Low-Skilled EU Migration

A new skills-based immigration system, with a preference for the highly-skilled, is central to UK policy debates in the Brexit context, arguably responding to majority public opinion on migration. Through qualitative fieldwork with British, Polish and Romanian citizens living in two local authorities in England, this paper shows what participants understand by ‘low-skilled’ and how there is broad support of those who ‘contribute’, but are ‘controlled’ at the same time. Migrants’ narratives of downskilling also illustrate why the category of ‘low-skilled’ migration needs to be seen through a more critical lens in research and policymaking.
Rituximab in refractory autoimmune diseases: Brazilian experience with 29 patients (2002-2004).

OBJECTIVE Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody against B-lymphocytes that express CD 20, is already available for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Due to the increased relevance of B-cell regulation in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, rituximab is being used in the treatment of patients whose condition is refractory to conventional therapy. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated the short-term efficacy and tolerance of rituximab in patients with various autoimmune diseases who were treated at the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in the city of Sao Paulo. RESULTS During the period 2002-2004, 29 patients with various autoimmune diseases were treated with rituximab 375 mg/m2 for 4 consecutive weeks, or two doses of 1 g 2 weeks apart. We observed remarkable short-term results in all cases, except for one patient with thrombocytopenic purpura. Of note, we describe the results in two patients with diseases not previously treated with rituximab (hypergammaglobulinemic purpura of Waldenstrom and eosinophilic fasciitis with hypergammaglobulinemia). Treatment was well tolerated, with no unexpected adverse events. We also observed a marked reduction in steroid dosage. CONCLUSION Rituximab seems to be safe and effective in the treatment of patients with a variety of autoimmune diseases that are refractory to other modalities of treatment.
Driving factors of Deforestation in Indonesia: A case of Central Kalimantan

As one of countries which has the large tropical forests in the world and the largest in ASEAN, Indonesia has been facing serious deforestation problems. Eventhough some scholars have found causes of the deforestation and have tried to give solutions, however, identifications of deforestation causes are still worth studying as the deforestation still becomes an important issue in Indonesia. This study tries to extend and explore the causes of deforestation in Central Kalimantan, one of Provinces in Indonesia which has been facing the highest deforestation problem caused by many factors. This study applied a qualitative approach. Data were collected by using interview and focus group discussions. It involved about 27 informants representing 14 organizations including goverment officers and non-governmental organization leaders such as WALHI,AMAN, Save Our Borneo, Yayasan Bentang Borneo, Ampuh, TUK Jakarta, Greenpeace, SIEJ, SPKS, Sawit Watch, Forest Watch Indonesia, Mongabay, Institute Dayakologi, LINK-AR Borneo, WWF and Academia as informants. The study found that as a socio political construct, deforestation in Indonesia emerges at the intersection between the biophysical changes of the politically defined forest and the political economic struggles around access and control over forestland resources by domestic and international actors. Hardly is a given issue, the term deforestation itself is still subject to debate as state definition of deforestation is continuously being challenged by the definition developed by civil society members. Deforestation, in many of its aspects, is also associated with governance failure and complex political economic settings that shape its emergence.