Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reactive lesions of oral cavity: A survey of 100 cases in Eluru, West Godavari district

Aim: Reactive lesions of the oral cavity are associated with injuries of soft tissue and have high prevalence rates and different involvement patterns in different parts of the world. This study reviews the pathogenesis and analyzes demographic data, histopathological features and compares the clinico-pathologic profiles of the diseases to those previously reported. Materials and Methods: Patient records of the Department of Oral Pathology during one and half year period were reviewed for diagnosis of oral connective tissue reactive hyperplastic lesion. Data including the area involved and the type of lesion were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and ANOVA test. Results: 100 cases (mean age 36 years, male:female ratio 1:2) matched study criterion. The most common affected site was mandibular anterior region and buccal mucosa and the most common lesion was pyogenic granuloma and focal fibrous hyperplasia. All the lesions were more common in the mandible than in the maxilla. PGCG was seen to be equally distributed in males and females. Conclusion: Reactive hyperplastic lesions of the oral connective tissue are more common in females and the majority of the lesions occur in gingiva. This study supports previous assertions that PG and FFH may occur on any oral mucosal site with special preference for the mandibular anterior gingiva and buccal mucosa while PGCG and POF occur exclusively on the mandibular gingiva.
Relationship Between kdr Mutation and Resistance to Pyrethroid and DDT Insecticides in Natural Populations of Anopheles gambiae

Abstract The spread of insecticide resistance genes in Anopheles gambiae Giles sensu stricto threatens to compromise vector-based malaria control programs. Two mutations at the same locus in the voltage-gated sodium channel gene are known to confer knockdown resistance (kdr) to pyrethroids and DDT. Kdr-e involves a leucine-serine substitution, and it was until recently thought to be restricted to East Africa, whereas kdr-w, which involves a leucine-phenylalanine substitution, is associated with resistance in West Africa. In this study, we analyze the frequency and relationship between the kdr genotypes and resistance to type I and type II pyrethroids and DDT by using WHO test kits in both the Forest-M and S molecular forms of An. gambiae in Cameroon. Both kdr-w and kdr-e polymorphisms were found in sympatric An. gambiae, and in many cases in the same mosquito. Kdr-e and kdr-w were detected in both forms, but they were predominant in the S form. Both kdr-e and kdr-w were closely associated with resistance to DDT and weakly associated with resistance to type II pyrethroids. Kdr-w conferred greater resistance to permethrin than kdr-e. We also describe a modified diagnostic designed to detect both resistant alleles simultaneously.
The Role of Intereukin-31 in Pathogenesis of Itch and Its Intensity in a Course of Bullous Pemphigoid and Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Itch which is one of the major, subjective symptoms in a course of bullous pemphigoid and dermatitis herpetiformis makes those two diseases totally different than other autoimmune blistering diseases. Its pathogenesis is still not fully known. The aim of this research was to assess the role of IL-31 in development of itch as well as to measure its intensity. Obtained results, as well as literature data, show that lower concentration of IL-31 in patients' serum may be correlated with its role in JAK/STAT signaling pathway which is involved in development of autoimmune blistering disease. Intensity of itch is surprisingly huge problem for the patients and the obtained results are comparable with results presented by atopic patients.
Mortgage Spreads, Asset Prices, and Business Cycles in Emerging Countries

We investigate an unexplored link between the US mortgage spread and business cycle and house price fluctuations in emerging market economies (EMEs). An increase in the US mortgage spread leads to substantially lower output, investment, consumption, house and stock prices, and to an improvement in the trade balance-to-output ratio in EMEs. We find that the financial channel is the main transmission mechanism through which US mortgage spread shocks affect business and house price cycles in EMEs. The US mortgage spread remains a key driver of aggregate economic activity in EMEs when extending the baseline model with alternative domestic and foreign variables, such as global financial risk, and considering alternative country subgroups.
An Antibody Combination That Targets Activated T Cells Extends Graft Survival in Sensitized Recipients

Memory T cells are the very essence of adaptive immunity with their rapid and efficient response to antigen rechallenge and long‐term persistence. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that when primed with self or transplanted tissue, these cells play a key role in causing and perpetuating tissue damage. Furthermore, current treatments, which efficiently control the naive response, have limited effects on primed T cells. We have used a treatment based on a combination of antibodies specific for molecules expressed by activated T lymphocytes to selectively remove these cells. This approach, which we termed multi‐hit therapy, leads to cumulative binding of antibodies to the target T cells and a striking prolongation of skin graft survival in presensitized recipients in a stringent skin transplant model. The findings are consistent with the depletion of graft‐specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, although other modes of action, such as T‐cell regulation and altered migration could play a role. In conclusion, our therapeutic strategy controls primed T cells which are a major driving force in the pathology of many autoimmune diseases and in transplant rejection.
Abnormal expression of BRCA1 and BRCA1‐interactive DNA‐repair proteins in breast carcinomas

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies among women. The molecular mechanisms involved in breast carcinogenesis, however, remain to be elucidated. Although somatic mutation of BRCA1 is rare, BRCA1 protein expression is reduced in about 30% of sporadic breast carcinomas (Yoshikawa et al., Clin. Cancer Res., 5:1249–1261, 1999), indicating its possible involvement even in sporadic breast carcinogenesis. Among the BRCA1‐interactive proteins are hRAD51 (a human homologue of Escherichia coli rec A protein), BARD1 (BRCA1‐associated RING domain 1) and p53, all of which are involved in DNA repair. We have analyzed the expression patterns of the hRAD51, BARD1 and p53 proteins in five breast cancer cell lines, including a BRCA1‐deficient cell line, and in 179 breast cancer tissue samples from Japanese women, including 113 sporadic, 47 hereditary (i.e., BRCA1 status unknown), and 19 BRCA1‐associated cases. Of the 179 breast carcinomas, fifty‐four (30%) exhibited reduced hRAD51 expression, and sixty‐two (35%) exhibited p53 overexpression. On the other hand, reduced expression level of BARD1, and of hMSH2 and hMLH1, which are components of DNA mismatch‐repair pathway and are involved in colorectal carcinogenesis, was observed respectively in only 10 (6%), 8 (5%) and 3 (2%) cases. The overall frequency of sporadic breast carcinomas with abnormal expression of either BRCA1 or the BRCA1‐interactive proteins was 67% (76/113). These results indicate that there may be an important role for the BRCA1‐associated DNA‐repair pathway, not only in BRCA1‐associated breast carcinomas, but also in sporadic breast carcinomas. Int. J. Cancer 88:28–36, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of Radiation Shielding Properties of the Polyvinyl Alcohol/Iron Oxide Polymer Composite

Context: Lead is the conventional shielding material against gamma/X-rays. It has some limitations such as toxic, high density, nonflexibility, and also bremsstrahlung production during electron interaction. It may affect the accuracy of radiotherapy outcome. Aims: To theoretically analyze the radiation shielding properties of flexible polyvinyl alcohol/iron oxide polymer composite with five different concentrations of magnetite over the energy range of 15 KeV–20 MeV. Subjects and Methods: Radiological properties were calculated based on the published literature. Attenuation coefficients of pure elements are generated with the help of WinXCOM database. Results: Effective atomic numbers and electron density are increased with the concentration of magnetite. On the other hand, the number of electrons per gram decreased. Mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ϼ) and linear attenuation coefficients (μ) are higher in the lower energy <100 KeV, and their values decreased when the energy increased. Computed tomography numbers (CT) show the significant variation between the concentrations in <60 KeV. Half-value layer and tenth-value layers are directly proportional to the energy and indirectly proportional to the concentration of magnetite. Transmission curve, relaxation length (ƛ), kinetic energy released in the matter, and elemental weight fraction are also calculated and the results are discussed. Conclusions: 0.5% of the magnetite gives superior shielding properties compared with other concentrations. It may be due to the presence of 0.3617% of Fe. Elemental weight fraction, atomic number, photon energy, and mass densities are the important parameters to understand the shielding behavior of any material.
Gender Differences in Intimate Partner Homicides Among Ethnic Sub-Groups of Asians

This study explored differences in intimate partner homicides (IPHs) among Asian Americans. Data from newspapers and femicide reports by different state coalitions on 125 intimate partner killings occurring between 2000 and 2005 were analyzed. Men were the perpetrators in nearly 9 out of 10 cases of Asian IPHs. Gender differences were found in ages of victims and perpetrators, types of relationship between partners, and methods of killing. Most homicides occurred among South-east Asians, and East Asians had the highest within-group proportion of suicides. The findings call for culturally competent risk assessment and intervention strategies to prevent IPHs among at-risk Asian Americans.
Physical Analysis of the Campoletis sonorensis Virus Multipartite Genome and Identification of a Family of Tandemly Repeated Elements

This report is an analysis of cross-hybridizing sequences found within the 28 superhelical (SH) DNAs of the multipartite genome of the polydnavirus Campoletis sonorensis virus (CsV). A Southern cross-blot hybridization analysis showed that the majority of CsV EcoRI restriction fragments cross-hybridize to multiple EcoRI fragments. These sequence homologies were analyzed by hybridizing recombinant clones of the CsV SH DNAs B, H, M, and O1 to Southern blots of undigested CsV DNA, using different hybridization stringencies. The results indicated that homologous regions among the SH DNAs include closely related sequences that are detectable under stringent conditions and related but more diverged sequences which are only detectable under reduced stringencies. A sequence that hybridized to the majority of the CsV SH DNAs was identified and subcloned from the SH DNAs O1, H, and B. Nucleotide sequence data revealed that these homologous regions contained a family of imperfectly conserved repeated elements. These repeat elements were arranged singly or in direct tandem arrays and had an average length of 540 base pairs. Within the sequenced regions that contained the repeated elements six putative open reading frames were identified. These results show that the CsV genome consists of SH DNAs with complex sequence interrelationships that may have arisen due to multiple recombinational events.
Are Migrants Selected on Motivational Orientations? Selectivity Patterns amongst International Migrants in Europe

Migration scholars often assume migrants are the most ambitious and motivated individuals of their home countries. Yet research on motivational selectivity is scant. We present the first systematic cross-national analysis of migrants’ selectivity on achievement-related motivational orientations (ARMOs). We measure ARMOs using a validated scale that combines orientations towards socioeconomic success, risk, and money. Matching the European Social Survey and the World Value Survey cumulative data sets, we examine whether international migrants recently arrived in Europe are more achievement-oriented than those observational equivalents that do not migrate. We focus on migrants from nine different origins (France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Morocco, Brazil, and Andean countries) sampled at different European destinations varying in gross domestic product, type of welfare state, and linguistic distance. Our findings seem to contradict the arguments about a common migrant personality put forward by social psychologists, as well as most of the predictions of standard economic models. We do find, however, some support for the welfare magnet hypothesis, as well as for the expectation that gender traditionalism favours negative selectivity of migrant women. We show that reported estimates are not driven by educational selectivity and are unlikely to be biased by destination effects.
Assessment of Bone Microarchitecture in Postmenopausal Women on Long‐Term Bisphosphonate Therapy With Atypical Fractures of the Femur

Reports of atypical femoral fractures (AFFs) in patients receiving long‐ term bisphosphonate therapy have raised concerns regarding the genesis of this rare event. Using high‐resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR‐pQCT), we conducted a study to evaluate bone microarchitecture in patients who had suffered an AFF during long‐term bisphosphonate treatment. The aim of our study was to evaluate if bone microarchitecture assessment could help explain the pathophysiology of these fractures. We compared bone volumetric density and microarchitectural parameters measured by HR‐pQCT in the radius and tibia in 20 patients with AFFs with 35 postmenopausal women who had also received long‐term bisphosphonate treatment but had not experienced AFFs, and with 54 treatment‐naive postmenopausal women. Control groups were similar in age, body mass index (BMI), and bone mineral density (BMD). Mean age of the 20 patients with AFFs was 71 years, mean lumbar spine T‐score was −2.2, and mean femoral neck T‐score was −2. Mean time on bisphosphonate treatment was 10.9 years (range, 5–20 years). None of the patients had other conditions associated with AFFs such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes or glucocorticoid use. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the parameters measured by HR‐pQCT between postmenopausal women with or without treatment history and with or without history of atypical fractures. We could not find any distinctive microarchitecture features in the peripheral skeleton of women who had suffered an atypical fracture of the femur while receiving bisphosphonate treatment. This suggests that risk of developing an atypical fracture is not related to bone microarchitecture deterioration. Our results indicate that there may be other individual factors predisposing to atypical fractures in patients treated with bisphosphonates, and that those are independent of bone microarchitecture. In the future, identification of those factors could help prevent and understand the complex physiopathology of these rare events. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Asymmetric Learning Rates for Positive and Negative Feedback: A Formal Model Comparison

Reinforcement learning studies how learning systems interact with their environments in order to maximize a numerical reward signal. One of the central concepts in reinforcement learning is the reward “prediction error”, which is the numerical value of the reward received minus the expected reward value. The classic Rescorla-Wagner model posits that the learning agent updates their original reward estimate by stepwise error-correction: multiplying the prediction error by a learning rate parameter. The main limitation with the Rescorla-Wagner model is the implied valence symmetry with which feedback updates an action’s value estimate. This contradicts evidence that learning from positive and negative feedback has different effects on behavior and decision-making. In this thesis, I conduct a formal model comparison of the Rescorla-Wagner model with an alternative class of asymmetric learning models which discriminate based on valence. Our analyses show that behavioral choice data in a probabilistic learning experiment is more accurately described by an asymmetric learning algorithm rather than a symmetric learning rule which does not discriminate based on valence. Running head: MODELING ASYMMETRIC LEARNING RATES 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements.3 Abstract.4 Chapter
Exploring the experiences of child and youth care workers in residential care through a constructive-developmental lens

Child and youth care workers in residential care provide support and intervention to young people who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. Caring for these young people can be complex and demanding and many child and youth care practitioners struggle to meet the challenges associated with their roles. Practice problems include volatile and punitive environments, inability of practitioners to safely manage young people’s threatening and aggressive behaviours, and staff turnover and burnout. These problems are often attributed to job stress, personal characteristics of practitioners, and lack of education, training, and professional development. To reconceptualise the aforementioned practice problems, Robert Kegan’s (1982) constructive-developmental theory was used as a theoretical framework to explore the experiences of child and youth care workers in residential care. The research was guided by 2 main questions: 1. How do different meaning-making systems influence how practitioners cope with and experience the demands of the job? 2. What role does the organizational environment play, if any, in mediating or exacerbating the demands of the job for practitioners with different meaning-making systems? An exploratory study was conducted using a mixed methods design. The study was conducted in two stages. First, 99 participants completed the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL), Work Environment Scale (WES), and Leadership Development Profile (LDP). Linear regression was conducted to explore the relationships between the ProQOL, LDP, and WES and most results were not significant.
Histochemical demonstration of zinc in the hippocampal region of the domestic pig: II. Subiculum and hippocampus

The distribution of zinc has been described in two areas of the hippocampal region of the domestic pig, viz., the subiculum and the hippocampus. Zinc was demonstrated histochemically according to the Neo‐Timm method, a modification of the sulphide‐silver procedure. In each of the examined areas the staining displayed a distinctly stratified pattern which has been compared in detail to fields and layers defined on the basis of cyto‐ and fibroarchitecture, resulting in a combined chemo‐ and cytoarchitectonic map. Most of the staining was confined to the neuropil, but a considerable number of stained nerve cell bodies were seen in both the subiculum and the hippocampus.
Indoor risk factors for cough and their relation to wheeze and sensitization in Chilean young adults.

OBJECTIVES We assessed the effects of indoor risk factors, including smoking, on different types of cough and on cough and wheeze in combination. METHODS Our sample was composed of 1232 men and women residing in a semirural area of Chile. We used a standardized questionnaire, sensitization to 8 allergens, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine to assess cough and wheeze characteristics. Information was gathered on dampness, mold, ventilation, heating, housing quality, smoking, and environmental tobacco smoke exposure. RESULTS Most exposures were associated with cough alone or cough in combination with wheeze. Smoking, past smoking, and environmental tobacco smoke exposure were strongly associated with dry cough and wheeze. The use of coal for heating was associated with dry cough. Leaks, mold, and lack of kitchen ventilation were associated with cough and wheeze. Nocturnal cough and productive cough were associated with specific types of sensitization, but dry cough was not. Productive cough was associated with hyperresponsiveness to methacholine. CONCLUSIONS Several different types of indoor exposures, including environmental tobacco smoke exposure, are important contributors to morbidity associated with cough and wheeze. A vigorous preventive strategy designed to lower exposures to indoor risk factors would lower rates of respiratory morbidity.
Corporate Governance And Bank Performance: Islamic Versus Non-Islamic Banks In GCC Countries

ABSTRACT:The literature on corporate governance at corporations and conventional banks is extensive; however, it does not assign proper weight to Islamic finance institutions despite their growing importance in the global financial system. Important questions that are still unexplored to date include: What are the attributes of the corporate governance mechanisms at Islamic finance institutions? and How do their corporate governance attributes affect their performance and risk taking behavior? To answer these questions, we use an exhaustive sample of Islamic and non-Islamic banks in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, in the years 2007 to 2009, i.e., around the global financial crisis of 2008 which represents a natural stress test. We assess the impact of the corporate governance characteristics ownership structure / concentration, board of directors' size, composition, and independence and the effectiveness of the legal system and investor protection of the country on a wide array of bank performance indicators, including profitability, efficiency, asset quality, and risk. We perform univariate and multivariate tests which control for many potentially confounding effects. Our results show that, during the 2008 global financial crisis, the return on assets and operating income-to-total assets were significantly higher at Islamic banks compared to non-Islamic banks in the GCC region by more than 1 and 2.5 percent, respectively. Islamic banks also exhibited a more prudent risk-management behavior and higher solvency than non-Islamic banks. Moreover, consistent with the notion of the importance of corporate governance, asset-productivity at Islamic banks is significantly increasing in family- and foreign-ownership and the effectiveness of the legal system and investor protection, and it is decreasing in board size and insiders. Furthermore, risk-taking behavior at Islamic banks is decreasing in government- and family-ownership and the investor-protection level in the home country. This study has important practical implications. Investors may consider including Islamic banks in their portfolios given their resilience to the financial crisis. Non-Islamic financial institutions may consider adopting some of the features of Islamic banking into their operating models. Policy makers can use our results for better policy formulation and regulation of their financial system.