Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of urbanisation on the climatology of thunderstorm initiation

This study assesses the impact of urban land use on the climatological distribution of thunderstorm initiation occurrences in the humid subtropical region of the southeast United States, which includes the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area. Initially, an automated technique is developed to extract the locations of isolated convective initiation (ICI) events from 17 years (1997–2013) of composite reflectivity radar data for the study area. Nearly 26 000 ICI points were detected during 85 warm‐season months, providing the foundation for first long‐term, systematic assessment of the influence of urban land use on thunderstorm development. Results reveal that ICI events occur more often over the urban area compared to its surrounding rural counterparts, confirming that anthropogenic‐induced changes in land cover in moist tropical environments lead to more initiation events, resulting thunderstorms and affiliated hazards over the developed area. The ICI risk for Atlanta is greatest during the late afternoon and early evening in July and August in synoptically benign conditions. Greater ICI counts downwind of Atlanta suggest that prevailing wind direction also influences the location of these events. Moreover, ICI occurrences over the city were significantly higher on weekdays compared to weekend days—a result that was not apparent in a rural control region located west of the city. This suggests that the weekly commuting cycle and associated aerosol levels of Atlanta may amplify ICI rates. The investigation provides a methodological framework for future studies that examine the effect of land use, land cover, and terrain discontinuities on the spatio‐temporal character of ICI events.
Maternal perspectives on growth and nutrition counseling provided at preschool well-child visits.

BACKGROUND The inclusion of growth assessment and nutrition-related anticipatory guidance in all well-child visits is recommended. Although prior studies have assessed whether these topics are discussed, the content of the discussions has not been explored from the maternal perspective. OBJECTIVE To explore what mothers of preschoolers recall and understand about growth assessment and nutrition anticipatory guidance provided at their child's most recent well-child visit. METHODS Qualitative, semistructured telephone interviews were performed with 20 mothers of preschoolers recruited from a Head Start program. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Themes were identified and refined in an iterative process. RESULTS Three main findings emerged: 1) although mothers generally recalled the use of growth charts and often recalled their child's height and weight percentiles, they were generally unable to articulate the meaning of these percentiles; 2) most mothers stated that their nutrition-related decisions were not influenced by growth chart findings. However, when growth chart findings were interpreted as positive, mothers found them reassuring. Conversely, when growth chart findings were interpreted as negative, mothers discounted the growth chart in favor of other comparisons of growth; 3) a considerable proportion of mothers reported that nutrition was not discussed at the most recent well-child visit, which mothers commonly attributed to a lack of weight or feeding problems for their child. CONCLUSION Among the low-income mothers studied, growth chart use and findings were memorable but frequently misunderstood, while nutrition-related anticipatory guidance was not consistently recalled. These findings suggest opportunities to improve physician-patient communication regarding these topics.
Intravascular ultrasound guidance improves clinical outcomes during implantation of both first- and second-generation drug-eluting stents: a meta-analysis.

AIMS Our aim was to assess whether intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) improves clinical outcomes during implantation of first- and second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES). IVUS guidance is associated with improved clinical outcomes during DES implantation, but it is unknown whether this benefit is limited to either first- or second-generation devices. METHODS AND RESULTS MEDLINE, EMBASE and PubMed were searched for studies comparing outcomes between IVUS- and angiography-guided PCI. Among 909 potentially relevant studies, 15 trials met the inclusion criteria. The primary endpoint was MACE, defined as death, myocardial infarction, target vessel/lesion revascularisation (TVR/TLR) or stent thrombosis (ST). Summary estimates were obtained using Peto modelling. In total, 9,313 patients from six randomised trials and nine observational studies were included. First-generation DES were implanted in 6,156 patients (3,064 IVUS-guided and 3,092 angiography-guided) and second-generation in 3,157 patients (1,528 IVUS-guided and 1,629 angiography-guided). IVUS guidance was associated with a significant reduction in MACE (odds ratio [OR] 0.73, 95% CI: 0.64-0.85, p<0.001), across both first- (OR 0.79, 95% CI: 0.67-0.92, p=0.01) and second-generation DES (0.57, 95% CI: 0.43-0.77, p<0.001). For second-generation DES, IVUS guidance was associated with significantly lower rates of cardiac death (OR 0.33, 95% CI: 0.14-0.78, p=0.02), TVR (OR 0.47, 95% CI: 0.28-0.79, p=0.006), TLR (OR 0.61, 95% CI: 0.42-0.90, p=0.01) and ST (OR 0.31, 95% CI: 0.12-0.78, p=0.02). Cumulative meta-analysis highlighted progressive temporal benefit towards IVUS-guided PCI to reduce MACE (OR 0.60, 95% CI: 0.48-0.75, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS IVUS guidance is associated with a significant reduction in MACE during implantation of both first- and second-generation DES platforms. These data support the use of IVUS guidance in contemporary revascularisation procedures using second-generation DES.
Disseminated Fusariosis Caused by Fusarium verticillioides in an Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patient after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

ABSTRACT Fusarium species are saprophytic molds which cause disseminated or localized infections in humans. Disseminated Fusarium infection can cause significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. We present a case of disseminated fusariosis caused by Fusarium verticillioides in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and successfully treated using both liposomal amphotericin B and voriconazole.
The psychological evaluation of Samaritan kidney donors: a systematic review

Background Living kidney donation to a loved one has become common practice. Another type of living donation that is becoming more acceptable to the transplant community is ‘Samaritan donation’. Samaritan kidney donors are willing to donate to patients they do not know. Until recently there has been great reluctance to accept the offers of Samaritan donors because it was feared that these donors might be mentally unstable. Method The purpose of this article is to review the literature about the psychological evaluation of potential Samaritan kidney donors for donor suitability. We have performed a systematic literature search in Pubmed, ISI Web of Science and PsycINFO. We compare and discuss how each study approaches the question about Samaritan donor selection. In addition, we have also screened the studies for reports of rejections of Samaritan donors on psychological grounds. Results We have found five articles that at least in some detail describe the evaluation of potential Samaritan donors. For all five articles found, a consultation with either a psychiatrist or a psychologist formed a standard part of the donor evaluation procedure. This evaluation consisted of an interview, and in most instances, additional psychometric testing. According to the articles found, the two major criteria for donor rejection were psychopathology/psychological instability and motivational issues. Three studies reported on the rejection of potential donors on psychological grounds. Conclusions The evaluation of Samaritan kidney donors is a developing field in clinical medicine. Given the relatively low incidence of these types of donations, we recommend the exchange of experience between centres that run a Samaritan donor programme, in order to improve donor evaluation criteria.
Early detection of subclinical HIV sensory polyneuropathy using intraepidermal nerve fibre density quantification: association with HIV stage and surrogate markers

The linear intraepidermal nerve fibre density (IENFD) and secondary branching were evaluated from skin biopsy of both the distal calf and the proximal thigh after staining with protein gene product 9.5 in 94 individuals of an HIV outpatient cohort. Possible correlations with clinical and electrophysiological evidence of distal sensory polyneuropathy (DSP), patients' demographics, antiretroviral history and HIV surrogate markers were analysed. Reduced IENFD was recognized in the majority of this population (mean ± standard deviation [SD] IENFD in the calf and the thigh was 3.19 ± 1.91 and 7.07 ± 3.5 fibres/mm, respectively). One-third of the patients with low IENFD had no clinical or electrophysiological evidence of DSP. The level of prior immunosuppression as expressed by lower nadir CD4 count, more advanced HIV stage and prior exposure to combinations of neurotoxic antiretrovirals was associated with more decreased IENFD. Increased SB was associated with symptomatic DSP.
Evaluation of PCR-Based Methods for Discrimination ofFrancisella Species and Subspecies and Development of a Specific PCR That Distinguishes the Two Major Subspecies of Francisella tularensis

ABSTRACT Previous studies have demonstrated that the four subspecies of the human pathogen Francisella tularensis, despite showing marked variations in their virulence for mammals and originating from different regions in the Northern Hemisphere, display a very close phylogenetic relationship. This property has hampered the development of generally applicable typing methods. To overcome this problem, we evaluated the use of PCR for discrimination of the subspecies using various forms of long arbitrary primers or primers specific for repetitive extragenic palindromic sequences (REP) or enterobacterial repetitive intragenic consensus (ERIC) sequences. Patterns generated by use of REP, ERIC, or long arbitrary primers allowed differentiation at the species level and of the four subspecies of F. tularensis. With each of these three methods, similar or identical clustering of strains was found, and groups of strains of different geographical origins or differing in virulence showed distinct patterns. The discriminatory indices of the methods varied from 0.57 to 0.65; thus, the patterns were not sufficiently discriminatory to distinguish individual strains. The sequence of a fragment generated by amplification with an arbitrary primer was determined, and a region showing interstrain heterogeneity was identified. Specific primers were designed, and a PCR was developed that distinguished strains of F. tularensis subsp.holarctica from strains of other F. tularensissubspecies, including strains of the highly virulent F. tularensis subsp. tularensis. Notably, one European isolate showed the genetic pattern typical of the highly virulentF. tularensis subsp. tularensis, generally believed to exist only in North America. It is proposed that a combination of the specific PCR together with one method generating subspecies-specific patterns is suitable as a rapid and relatively simple strategy for discrimination of Francisella species and subspecies.
Intra‐operative cardiac arrests during liver transplantation – a retrospective review of the first 15 yr in Asian population

Although many report intra‐operative cardiac arrests (ICAs) in liver transplantation (LT), the incidence, major causes, and outcome remain unclear. We aimed to investigate retrospectively, the incidence, nature, and outcome of ICA in Asian population and to identify risk factors for ICA. Consecutive 1071 LTs in an institution during 1996–2011 (adult 920, pediatric 151/living donor liver transplantation, LDLT 841, deceased donor liver transplantation, DDLT 230) were reviewed. ICA occurred in 14 adult LTs (1.5%), but none in pediatrics. ICA occurred 1.0% and 3.3% in LDLT and DDLT, respectively. Stages of ICA incidence were three at pre‐anhepatic, one at anhepatic, and 10 at neohepatic stage. Post‐reperfusion syndrome (PRS) with hyperkalemia and bleeding were the major causes of ICA. While LDLT showed miscellaneous causes for ICA at various stages, DDLT incurred ICAs at neohepatic stage only. Interestingly, we did not find pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) to incur ICA. Risk factor analysis showed no association of pre‐operative patient condition, donor types, and intra‐operative parameters. In this review, the incidence of ICA was low in Asian population with LDLT predominance, and while PTE was not the cause of ICA, the neohepatic stage with PRS and bleeding was the most vulnerable period to anticipate ICA.
Association of Focal Adhesion Kinase with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 in the Regulation of S6 Kinase Activation and Cell Growth*

Tuberous sclerosis complex 1 (TSC1) and TSC2 tumor suppressor proteins have been shown to negatively regulate cell growth through inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase that plays a critical role in integrin signaling. Here we identify a novel interaction between FAK and TSC2 and show that TSC2 is phosphorylated by FAK. Furthermore, we show that overexpression of FAK kinase dead mutant inhibits the phosphorylation of ribosomal S6 kinase (S6K) and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein-1, two key mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) downstream targets, and negatively regulates the cell size and that FAK regulation of S6K phosphorylation is through TSC2. Finally, we provide data that FAK plays a positive role in cell adhesion-induced S6K phosphorylation, whereas TSC2 is required for cell suspension-induced S6K inactivation. Together, these results suggest that FAK might regulate S6K activation and cell size through its interaction with and phosphorylation of TSC2 and also provide a previously unappreciated role of TSC2 in the regulation of mTOR signaling by cell adhesion.
Preoperative DTI and probabilistic tractography in an amputee with deep brain stimulation for lower limb stump pain

This study aimed to find out whether preoperative diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and probabilistic tractography could help with surgical planning for deep brain stimulation in the periaqueductal/periventricular grey area (PAG/PVG) in a patient with lower leg stump pain. A preoperative DTI was obtained from the patient, who then received DBS surgery in the PAG/PVG area with good pain relief. The postoperative MRI scan showing electrode placement was used to calculate four seed areas to represent the contacts on the Medtronic 3387® electrode. Probabilistic tractography was then performed from the pre-operative DTI image. Tracts were seen to connect to many areas within the pain network from the four different contacts. These initial findings suggest that preoperative DTI scanning and probabilistic tractography may be able to assist surgical planning in the future.
Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in postmenopausal women with and without coronary artery disease

Background Middle-aged women have a lower prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) compared with age-matched men, but mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain controversial. To verify whether there is a link between circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and gender-specific difference of CAD, we compared subpopulations of EPCs among postmenopausal normal women, patients with CAD, and age-matched men. Methods We studied 71 consecutive middle-aged patients with stable CAD (30 postmenopausal women and 41 men) and 40 middle-aged normal controls (20 postmenopausal women and 20 men). Blood samples were drawn at time of coronary angiography and subpopulations of EPCs were measured by flow cytometry. Results Women and men with CAD had similar age, risk factors, clinical presentation, left ventricular function, extension of CAD, and medical therapy at time of coronary angiography. Hematologic analysis showed that men and women with CAD had similar white cell count, mononuclear cells, and subpopulations of EPCs. Postmenopausal normal women, conversely, had significantly higher absolute numbers of CD34+, CD133+, CD105+ and CD14+ cells than other groups. Conclusions Increased numbers of subpopulations of EPCs in normal postmenopausal women might contribute to the gender-specific difference of CAD in middle age. Lack of difference in EPCs between women and men with CAD suggests that stem cells become unable to play a protective role when the disease is clinically evident.
Investigation on the effect of parasitic inductance at connector contact boundary on electromagnetic radiation

A loosened connector causes an increase in electromagnetic radiation when electric devices operate in high-frequency bands. To investigate the mechanisms generating electromagnetic radiation due to a loose contact in a connector, we estimate high-frequency circuit elements at the contact boundary of a loosened connector. On the basis of this estimation, we show the relationship between high-frequency circuit elements and the electromagnetic radiation from electric devices through experiments.
Trypanosomose animale chez les bovins dans la zone sud-soudanienne du Burkina Faso. Résultats d'une enquête sérologique

A serological survey was performed to assess the importance of bovine trypanosomosis in the South-Sudan zone of Burkina Faso. In total, 1403 head of cattle were randomly examined by indirect-ELISA for the detection of antibodies in 18 farming sites spread out in four provinces. Blood sampling was carried out between July and September 1994, and in March 1995. The overall seroprevalence was estimated at 43 ± 2.6%. The seroprevalence was estimated at 41.7 ± 5.6%, 33.5 ± 4.4% and 34.3 ± 5.7% in the provinces of Bougouriba, Kenedougou and Mouhoun, respectively, during the rainy season (July-September 1994), whereas it was estimated at 62.5 ± 4.6% in the province of Comoe during the dry season (March 1995). No significant relationship was observed between the animal phenotype and the seroprevalence. In contrast, the seroprevalence increased significantly with the animal age.
Impact of thyroid dysfunction on serum cystatin C.

BACKGROUND Serum cystatin C (CysC) is a novel marker for kidney function that has been claimed to be superior to serum creatinine. Thyroid dysfunction may alter creatinine, which has been found to be increased in hypothyroidism and decreased in hyperthyroidism. This study was performed to evaluate whether changes in CysC and creatinine are parallel during the treatment of hypo- and hyperthyroidism, respectively. METHODS Prospective case series of 22 consecutively referred patients with thyroid dysfunction. Creatinine and CysC were determined at the time of diagnosis of hypo- and hyperthyroidism, and when free thyroxine (fT4) returned into the normal range. Hypothyroid patients were treated with levothyroxine. Hyperthyroid patients were treated with antithyroid drugs, surgery, or radioiodine. RESULTS Nine patients with hypothyroidism and 13 patients with hyperthyroidism were included. In patients with hypothyroidism mean fT4 (+/-SD) was 4.9 +/- 2.5 pmol/L (reference, 12 to 22) at diagnosis and increased to 16.6 +/- 3.6 pmol/L when patients were treated with levothyroxine. Creatinine decreased from 86 +/- 13 micromol/L (reference, 70 to 105) in the hypothyroid state to 76 +/- 16 micromol/L when fT4 normalized (P = 0.062), whereas CysC increased from 0.84 +/- 0.17 mg/L (reference, 0.63 to 1.33) to 1.1 +/- 0.28 mg/L (P < 0.001). In patients with hyperthyroidism, mean fT4 was 54.6 +/- 22.7 pmol/L (reference, 12 to 22) at diagnosis and decreased to 15.8 +/- 3.6 pmol/L following treatment with antithyroid drugs, thyroid surgery, or radioiodine. Creatinine increased from 67 +/- 15 micromol/L at diagnosis of hyperthyroidism to 75 +/- 9 micromol/L when fT4 normalized (P = 0.004), whereas CysC declined from 1.32 +/- 0.17 mg/L to 0.95 +/- 0.19 mg/L (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Thyroid dysfunction has a major impact on CysC levels. Therefore, thyroid function has to be considered when CysC is used as a marker of kidney function. In contrast to creatinine concentrations, CysC levels are lower in the hypothyroid and higher in the hyperthyroid state as compared with the euthyroid state.
A Substitute for the Feulgen Staining Technique

on Feulgen's finding that among the products of mild acid hydrolysis of nucleoprotein is a substance which gives a positive Schiff's test (recoloration of leucobasic fuchsin) for aldehydes. The Feulgen reaction is probably specific for deoxyribonucleoprotein (Pearse, 1953; Kurnick, 1955); thus nuclear chromatin and chromosomes are stained. Nucleoli and cytoplasm, which contain ribonucleoprotein, are Feulgen negative. The use of the Feulgen stain in haematological material has been described by La Cour (1944), Pittaluga and Bessis (1944), Gardikas and Israels (1948), Rheingold and Wislocki (1948), Thoma (1950), and Marinone (1951). The method has been used principally for the localization of deoxyribonucleoprotein and in the study of chromosomes and the processes of cell mitosis. Besides these rather academic uses, the stain has a practical use, that of assisting in the identification of primitive cells by virtue of the clear demonstration of the nucleoli (Hayhoe and Whitby, 1955). Some years ago, when the author first used the Feulgen stain, he attempted to counterstain blood and bone marrow films with Leishman's stain, but found that stain diluted in the ordinary way with buffered distilled water approximately 1 in 1 to 1 in 2, with the customary staining time of five to 10 minutes, gave useless results on account of the intensity of uptake of the Romanowsky stain by the nuclear chromatin. It was necessary to dilute the Leishman stain about 1 in 10 to 1 in 20, and to reduce the staining period to about one minute. This resulted in the Feulgenpositive material taking up a deep basophilic colour, while the cytoplasm and nucleoli remained unstained. The Feulgen staining technique is a fickle one. Peter Gray (1954) says of the Feulgen reaction: " Its nuclear reactions appear to depend upon the selective staining of the thymonucleic acid, but the stain itself is so difficult and so temperamental that it is doubtful that it has occasioned any real advance in microtomy. " Schiff's reagent does not keep well (Lhotka and Davenport, 1949; Lillie, 1951). The staining of the nuclei of blood cells is often faint and detail difficult to discern. On account of the improvement in contrast and definition of the Feulgen positive material, the author continued to use diluted Leishman's or Wright's stain after Feulgen staining. Subsequently, the effect of diluted Wright's or Leishman's stain was tested on smears fixed in the usual way and hydrolysed for 15 minutes at 560 C. in normal hydrochloric acid omitting the treatment with Schiff's reagent. It was found that this gave similar results to those obtained with diluted Wright's or Leishman's stain after using Schiffs reagent. The technique is easy and the reagents used are immediately available in any haematological laboratory.