Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EVALUATION OF PERIPHERAL LYMPHADENOPATHY IN CHILDREN

The aim of this study was to evaluate children with lymphadenopathy and clinical approach to the suspicion of malignancy. The authors evaluated 457 patients with peripheral lymphadenopathy, less than 19 years of age, and referred to the Pediatric Oncology Department of Gazi University Medical School during the periods March 1996–April 2004. A total of 346 patients had benign disorders and 111 had malignant pathologies. Excisional biopsies were performed to 134 patients. A specific etiology could be found 39% in the benign group. Of the 457 patients, 218 were presented as acute, the rest as chronic lymphadenopathy. In the acute lymphadenopathy group, 98.2% of the patients had benign etiologies. The malignant disorders were mostly represented as chronic lymphadenopathy. Concerning the extension, 193 patients had localized lymphadenopathy and 264 had generalized lymphadenopaties. Cervical region was the most frequent site in both localized and generalized lymphadenopathy groups. Malignancies occurred as generalized lymphadenopathy. Supraclavicular area were involved only in the malignant group. Axillary involvement was predominant in BCG vaccine associated lymphadenitis and mycobacterium tuberculosis. All the lymph nodes less than 1 cm were due to benign causes. The malignant lesions were usually more than 3 cm in diameters. The following findings should alert the pediatrician for the probability of a malignant disorder: lymphadenopathy of more than 3 cm in size, of more than 4 weeks in duration, with supraclavicular involvement, and with abnormal laboratory and radiological findings.
Human Cytomegalovirus Regulates Bioactive Sphingolipids*

Sphingolipids are present in membranes of all eukaryotic cells. Bioactive sphingolipids also function as signaling molecules that regulate cellular processes such as proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) exploits a variety of cellular signaling pathways to promote its own replication. However, whether HCMV modulates lipid signaling pathways is an essentially unexplored area of research in virus-host cell interactions. In this study, we examined the accumulation of the bioactive sphingolipids and the enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis and degradation of these lipids. HCMV infection results in increased accumulation and activity of sphingosine kinase (SphK), the enzyme that generates sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and dihydrosphingosine 1-phosphate (dhS1P). We also utilized a mass spectrometry approach to generate a sphingolipidomic profile of HCMV-infected cells. We show that HCMV infection results in increased levels of dhS1P and ceramide at 24 h, suggesting an enhancement of de novo sphingolipid synthesis. Subsequently dihydrosphingosine and dhS1P decrease at 48 h consistent with attenuation of de novo sphingolipid synthesis. Finally, we present evidence that de novo sphingolipid synthesis and sphingosine kinase activity directly impact virus gene expression and virus growth. Together, these findings demonstrate that host cell sphingolipids are dynamically regulated upon infection with a herpes virus in a manner that impacts virus replication.
The Calm Before the Storm

I provide evidence that stocks experiencing unusually low trading volume over the week prior to earnings announcements have more unfavorable earnings surprises. This effect is more pronounced among stocks with higher short-selling constraints. These findings support the view that unusually low trading volume signals negative information, since, under short-selling constraints, informed agents with bad news stay by the sidelines. Changes in visibility or risk-based explanations are insufficient to explain the results. This evidence provides insights into why unusually low trading volume predicts price declines.
Living or Surviving in an Intercultural Context: A Study on Transformative Learning of UK Students in China and Chinese Students in the UK

As international education continues to expand, countries providing such opportunities not only benefit but also face challenges. For traditional destinations, including the United States and the United Kingdom, the number of international students has been falling. At the same time emerging economies, such as China, are witnessing a rapid increase in the number of international students enrolled in their universities. China is, therefore, beginning to play an important role in the competitive global market for higher education. This thesis analyses and compares the experiences of international students in the UK and China using Transformative Learning theory. While there is an extensive literature on both international higher education and also Transformative Learning theory there are three important contributions that this thesis makes. First, this research applies the theory to two international student groups: UK students in Chinese universities and Chinese students in UK universities. Second, this study includes a focus on the intercultural learning of Chinese doctoral students in the UK filling a gap in current research. Finally, this investigation has extended the very limited number of current research projects on UK students in China. It is generally acknowledged that international students will experience various challenges when they are in a culturally different context. Little research has focused on how and why learners are transformed through exposure to their new environment and, also, why sometimes they are not. This study applies Transformative Learning theory to address two research questions: first, do UK international students in Chinese universities and Chinese international students in UK universities experience transformational learning in/during their overseas studies? Second, what factors foster or impede international students’ experience of transformative learning? To answer the above questions semi-structured interviews were used to investigate international students’ academic and social experiences. Based on the insights provided by Mezirow, Taylor, and previous studies on international students, I argue that international students’ intercultural experience is a complex process. Transformation can occur in various ways and social and personal perspectives underpin the transformative learning of the students. Contributing factors include culture shock, educational conventions, the student’s motivation, expectations, personality, gender and previous work experience. The results reflect the significance of differences in teaching styles in the UK and China and the impact this can have on the student teaching and learning process when they move to a new university.
The impact of light on current DLTS and gate-lag transients of AlGaAs-GaAs HFETs

Gate-lag transients and "hole-like" deep level transient spectroscopy signals from AlGaAs-GaAs heterostructure field-effect transistors are shown to be suppressed by illumination with photons with energy larger than the AlGaAs bandgap. The observed pulse-response dependence on light intensity is reproduced and explained by two-dimensional numerical device simulations based on hole-trap behavior of surface deep levels.
Health care use and health and functional impact of developmental disabilities among US children, 1997-2005.

OBJECTIVE To present nationally representative estimates of health-related limitations, needs, and service use among US children with and without developmental disabilities (DDs). DESIGN Retrospective analysis of data from a sample of US households from the 1997-2005 National Health Interview Surveys. PARTICIPANTS Children aged 3 to 17 years (n = 95 132). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Parents or other knowledgeable adults reported on their children's DDs, health needs, and use of health and education services. Developmental disabilities included attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism, blindness, cerebral palsy, deaf/a lot of trouble hearing, learning disability, mental retardation, seizures, stuttering/stammering, and other developmental delay. RESULTS Among children with 1 or more DDs, prevalence estimates for limitations in movement (6.1%), needed help with personal care (3.2%), needed special equipment (3.5%), received home health care (1.4%), and regularly took prescription medication(s) (37.5%) were 4 to 32 times higher than for children without DDs. Children with DDs were 2 to 8 times as likely to have had more than 9 health care visits (14.9%), received special education (38.8%), had a surgical or medical procedure (7.5%), and recently visited a medical specialist (23.9%), mental health professional (26.6%), therapist/allied health professional (19.6%), and/or emergency department (10.3%). Effects were generally stable during the study interval and independent of age, race, sex, and family income. Cerebral palsy, autism, mental retardation, blindness, and deafness/a lot of trouble hearing were associated with the highest levels of health and functional impact indicators. CONCLUSIONS Developmental disabilities profoundly affect children's health and functioning. These data can inform evidence-based targeted prevention strategies for minimizing functional limitations and lifetime disability. Additional study of unmet needs and access to care is needed.
Parasites in Stranded Cetaceans of Patagonia

There is an increasing interest in parasites of marine mammals of Argentina. Here, we examined several poorly known cetaceans, i.e., 2 spectacled porpoises and 1 Burmeister's porpoise (Phocoenidae), and 1 Gray's beaked whale and 1 Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphidae); we also updated the parasite information for 1 sperm whale (Physeteridae). These hosts strand only occasionally. We found Anisakis simplex s.l. in 2 spectacled porpoises and the Burmeister's porpoise, and recorded its distribution among the stomach chambers. Anisakis physeteris infected the sperm whale; Corynosoma cetaceum occurred in the duodenal ampulla of the Burmeister's porpoise; Corynosoma australe was found in the posterior-most region of the intestine of 1 spectacled porpoise, while another one had Tetrabothrius sp. in the anal crypts; Corynosoma bullosum and Corynosoma sp. were found in the sperm whale. The only digenean found was Pholeter gastrophilus in the Burmeister's porpoise. Merocercoids of Phyllobothrium delphini were present in the blubber of 1 spectacled porpoise, the sperm whale, and the Gray's beaked whale, while Scolex pleuronectis infected the Gray's beaked whale and 1 spectacled porpoise. No parasites were recovered from the Cuvier's beaked whale. Poor parasite-species assemblages are consistent in marine mammals of Patagonia. Given the conservation status of these hosts, the limited parasitological information gathered is valuable for conservation or management of these hosts in Patagonia.
SUPPLEMENT 2 SPECIAL ISSUE: BONE AND SOFT TISSUE

Oncogenic osteomalacia (OO) is a rare paraneoplastic condition in which a bone or soft tissue tumor induces biochemical and clinical signs and symptoms of osteomalacia (or rickets) most often by the production of the phosphaturic protein, fibroblast growth factor-23. Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor, mixed connective tissue type (PMTMCT) is a rare, histologically distinct tumor that represents the most common cause of OO. As the clinical diagnosis of OO is typically suspected on the basis of clinical and biochemical features and the presence of a bone or soft tissue tumor, cytologic examination might potentially provide the necessary pathologic confirmation of OO. In this case of a 46-year-old female with clinical stigmata of OO and a right distal humeral mass, we report that the fine-needle aspiration findings of short, cytologically bland spindled cells embedded in a fine, fibrillary stromal-rich matrix and the presence of osteoclast-type giant cells associated with the stromal matrix provide strong pathological evidence for PMTMCT and assist in pathologically confirming the clinical impression of OO, thus alleviating the need for a more invasive diagnostic surgical procedure Diagn. Cytopathol. 2012;40:E109–E113. ' 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mammographic density in a multiethnic cohort

Objectives:To compare mammographic density among premenopausal and early perimenopausal women from four racial/ethnic groups and to examine density and acculturation among Japanese and Chinese women. Design:The study included 391 white, 60 African American, 171 Japanese, and 179 Chinese participants in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, a multisite study of US women transitioning through menopause. Mammograms done when women were premenopausal or early perimenopausal were assessed for area of dense breast tissue and the percent of the breast occupied by dense tissue (percent density). Information on race/ethnicity, acculturation, and other factors was obtained from standardized instruments. Multiple linear regression modeling was used to examine the association between race/ethnicity or acculturation and density measures. Results:Age-adjusted mean percent density was highest for Chinese (52%) and lowest for African American (34%) women. After additional adjustment for body mass index, menopause status, age at first birth, breast-feeding duration, waist circumference, and smoking, African Americans had the highest mean percent density (51%) and Japanese women had the lowest (39%). In contrast, the area of dense tissue was highest for African Americans and similar for white, Japanese, and Chinese women. Less acculturated Chinese and Japanese women tended to have a larger area of density and a higher percent density. Conclusions:Neither the age-adjusted nor fully adjusted results for percent density or area of dense tissue reflected current differences in breast cancer incidence rates among similarly aged African American, Japanese, Chinese, and white women. In addition, mammographic density was higher in less acculturated Asian women.
Energy and phosphorus values of sunflower meal and rice bran for broiler chickens using the regression method.

The energy and phosphorus values of sunflower meal (SFM) and rice bran (RB) were determined in 2 experiments with Ross 708 broiler chickens from 15 to 22 d of age. In Exp.1, the diets consisted of a corn-soybean meal reference diet (RD) and 4 test diets (TD). The TD consisted of SFM and RB that partly replaced the energy sources in the RD at 100 or 200 g/kg and 75 or 150 g/kg, respectively, such that the equal ratios were maintained for all energy containing ingredients across all experimental diets. In Exp.2, a cornstarch-soybean meal diet was the RD and TD consisting of SFM and RB that partly replaced cornstarch in the RD at 100 or 200 g/kg and 60 or 120 g/kg, respectively. Addition of SFM and RB to the RD in Exp.1 linearly decreased (P < 0.01) the digestibility coefficients of DM, energy, ileal digestible energy (IDE), metabolizability coefficients of DM, nitrogen (N), energy, N correct energy, metabolize energy (ME), and nitrogen-corrected ME. Except for RB, the increased levels of the test ingredients in RD did affect the metabolizability coefficients of N. The IDE values (kcal/kg DM) were 1,953 for SFM and 2,498 for RB; ME values (kcal/kg DM) were 1,893 for SFM and 2,683 for RB; and MEn values (kcal/kg DM) were 1,614 for SFM and 2,476 for RB. In Exp.2, there was a linear relationship between phosphorus (P) intake and ileal P output for diets with increased levels of SFM and RB. In addition, there was a linear relationship between P intake and P digestibility and retention for diets with increased levels of SFM. There were a quadratic effect (P < 0.01) and a tendency of quadratic effect (P = 0.07) for P digestible and total tract P retained, respectively, in the RB diets. The P digestibility and total tract P retention from regression analyses for SFM were 46% and 38%, respectively.
Analysis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Gag Dimerization-Induced Assembly

ABSTRACT The nucleocapsid (NC) domains of retrovirus precursor Gag (PrGag) proteins play an essential role in virus assembly. Evidence suggests that NC binding to viral RNA promotes dimerization of PrGag capsid (CA) domains, which triggers assembly of CA N-terminal domains (NTDs) into hexamer rings that are interconnected by CA C-terminal domains. To examine the influence of dimerization on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag protein assembly in vitro, we analyzed the assembly properties of Gag proteins in which NC domains were replaced with cysteine residues that could be linked via chemical treatment. In accordance with the model that Gag protein pairing triggers assembly, we found that cysteine cross-linking or oxidation reagents induced the assembly of virus-like particles. However, efficient assembly also was observed to be temperature dependent or required the tethering of NTDs. Our results suggest a multistep pathway for HIV-1 Gag protein assembly. In the first step, Gag protein pairing through NC-RNA interactions or C-terminal cysteine linkage fosters dimerization. Next, a conformational change converts assembly-restricted dimers or small oligomers into assembly-competent ones. At the final stage, final particle assembly occurs, possibly through a set of larger intermediates.
Transfusion-related adverse events at the tertiary care center in North India: An institutional hemovigilance effort

Aim: This study was designed to analyze the incidence and spectrum of adverse effects of blood transfusion so as to initiate measures to minimize risks and improve overall transfusion safety in the institute. Materials and Methods: During the period from July 2002 to July 2003 all the adverse events related to transfusion of blood and blood components in various clinical specialties were recorded. They were analyzed and classified on the basis of their clinical features and laboratory tests. Attempt was also made to study the predisposing risk factors. Results: During the study period 56,503 blood and blood components were issued to 29,720 patients. A total of 105 adverse reactions due to transfusion were observed during the study period. A majority of the adverse reactions was observed in hemato-oncology patients 43% (n = 45) and in presensitized patient groups 63% (n = 66). FNHTR 41% (n = 43) and allergic reactions 34% (n = 36) were the most common of all types of adverse transfusion reactions, followed by AcHTR 8.56% (n = 9). Majority of these AcHTR were due to unmonitored storage of blood in the refrigerator of wards resulting in hemolysis due to thermal injury. Less frequently observed reactions were anaphylactoid reactions (n = 4), bacterial sepsis (n = 4), hypervolemia (n = 2), hypocalcemia (n = 2), TRALI (n = 1), DHTR (n = 1), and TAGvHD (n = 1). Conclusion: Analysis of transfusion-related adverse outcomes is essential for improving safety. Factors such as improvement of blood storage conditions outside the blood bank, improvement in cross-matching techniques, careful donor screening, adherence to good manufacturing practices while component preparation, bedside monitoring of transfusion, and documentation of adverse events will help in reducing transfusion-related morbidity and mortality.
Insomnia in a post-acute brain injury sample

Objective : The purpose was to establish the frequency of insomnia within the post-acute TBI population and compare it with insomnia rates among other rehabilitation outpatients. Design : A prospective study was undertaken of 50 consecutive post-acute TBI admissions and a comparison group of 50 rehabilitation outpatients evenly divided between spinal cord injury (SCI) and musculoskeletal (MSK) cases. Setting : Subjects were recruited at various outpatient clinics of a major rehabilitation hospital. Patients : Among the TBI subjects, the predominant cause of injury was motor vehicle accident; both mild and severe injuries were well represented in the sample; and, on average, patients were almost 4 months post-injury. The comparison and TBI groups did not differ significantly with respect to education or marital status. However, the MSK group was older and a higher proportion of the SCI group was female. Measures : The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and sleep diaries were administered to the TBI group. Only the PSQI and BDI were completed by the comparison group. Results : Thirty per cent of the patients were found to suffer from insomnia. Sleep initiation was a problem almost twice as often as sleep duration. An additional 12% did not meet the DSM-IV criteria for insomnia but, nevertheless, experienced a degradation of sleep quality, as measured by the PSQI. Conversely, only slightly more than half (58%) of the TBI sample reported sleep to be relatively normal and satisfactory. Insomnia was also commonly reported by the patients in the rehabilitation comparison groups. They generated significantly higher mean PSQI Global Scores relative to the TBI group and the frequency of poor sleep quality was elevated significantly above the TBI rate. Relative to the TBI cases, twice as many comparison group patients were classified by the PSQI as insomniacs. Conclusion : Poor sleep quality and insomnia were definitely problems for the TBI group, although the magnitude of these problems was much greater for the rehabilitation comparison group. Degraded and disordered sleep may represent widespread challenges within the rehabilitation population in general.
Cataract patients in a defined Swedish population 1986–1990

Abstract. With the Cataract Analysis System (CAS(TM)) we have analyzed 5.878 consecutive patients undergoing cataract operations from 1986 through 1990. The material is complete enough to be regarded as representative of the cataract surgery performed in the Lund Health Care District cataract surgery referral region during this period. There has been a striking increase in the number of operations, in 1990 reaching 3.6 per 1000 inhabitants in the referral region. A number of demographic factors have been analyzed previously, and the preoperative status of the patients is reported in this paper. In 1986, the cataract patients showed more visual impairment than in 1990, but the average age at surgery did not change between the years. We therefore suggest that the increase in the number of patients which were operated on represents a new category that was added. During the period, the planned refraction has changed towards emmetropia, presumably reflecting several kinds of improvements in the procedure. About 78 per cent of the population had a preoperative astigmatism < 1.5 D. As expected males had slightly longer eyes than women, and their corneal curvature was also slightly less.
Improving TCP Throughput over HSDPA Networks

The various link adaptation techniques employed by High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) in the third generation (3G) networks augment the bandwidth oscillation, which is identified as one of the most important factors resulting in the throughput deterioration of Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). In this paper, we firstly explain why the bandwidth oscillation degrades the TCP performance through a special simulation experiment. Subsequently, a split connection Window Adaptation TCP Proxy is proposed to improve the TCP throughput over HSDPA networks. In this solution, the built-in attributes of HSDAP system are sufficiently utilized. In order to effectively use the precious cellular link resources, the length of the queue connected with it is intentionally kept around the reference value through adjusting the sending window size of TCP proxy based on the dynamic values of varying bandwidth. A discrete-time stochastic state space model is formulated to analyze the system stability. The validity of enhanced scheme is verified through simulation experiments. The performance of TCP proxy is compared with the standard TCP protocol. The numerical results show that our TCP proxy is able to keep the cellular link utilization over 90%, and to improve TCP throughput by 100% under most conditions.