Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Severity of respiratory syncytial virus infection influenced by clinical risk factors and subtype A and B in hospitalized children].

BACKGROUND Since it is possible to identify the subgroups of RSV, A-subtype and B-subtype, there are findings indicating that the subtype may influence severity of RSV infection. Our study was designed to assess the hypothesis that A-subtype infections were more severe than B-subtype infections among hospitalized children. PATIENTS All medical records of patients hospitalized with RSV infection between March 1990 and March 1993 were reviewed. A total of 107 children with proven RSV infection were identified. METHODS Nasal waste specimens for culture were obtained from infants with suspected RSV infection. Subtype determination was done on frozen virus cultures. The following risk factors were defined: age < or = 3 months, weight < 5 kg, prematurity and underlying cardiac or respiratory disease and immune deficiency. To analyse the relationship between risk factors, subtype and severity a multivariate analysis was performed. Severity was measured by clinical observations as following: pH, PCO2, SaO2, oxygen supplementation, history of apnea and length of hospital stay. MAIN RESULTS Of the enrolled patients 11 had underlying disease and 17 were premature. The age range was 1 week to 4.2 years, median 3.5 months. 46 children were younger than 3 months, 33 had a weight of less than 5 kg. The isolates of 84 children were typeable: 63 isolates were subtype A and 21 subtype B. Underlying disease and prematurity were associated with SaO2 < 87% (p = 0.003) and oxygen supplementation (p = 0.017). A weight of less than 5 kg was correlated with a PCO2 > or = 50 mmHg. The RSV subtype was not significantly correlated with severity. CONCLUSIONS RSV infection even in very young children is predominantly influenced by underlying disease, prematurity and weight. The RSV subtype was no independent risk factor for an increased morbidity in this retrospective study. Therefore, in our opinion, RSV subtype is less meaningful to predict the severity of RSV infection than known risk factors.
Oral carcinoma with perineural invasion has higher nerve growth factor expression and worse prognosis.

BACKGROUND This study elucidated the association between histopathological factors and the prognosis of oral carcinoma. As the histopathological factors were determined from the surgical specimen and this can only be used for the choices of postoperative regimens, this study also investigated the linkage between prognostic factors and the expression of key molecules to examine the feasibility of markers as predictors. METHODS Clinicopathological factors of 101 oral carcinomas were cross-analyzed with disease-free survival. The expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptor, tyrosine kinase A receptor, was assayed with immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Nodal metastasis was the most crucial clinical predictor for disease-free survival. Perineural invasion (PNI) was an independent histopathological predictor for both nodal metastasis (P = 0.004) and disease-free survival (P = 0.019). Patients with advanced tumor and PNI exhibited the high hazard for tumor progression and poor disease-free survival. NGF immunoreactivity in tumors was correlated with PNI (P = 0.005) and neck lymph node metastasis (P = 0.036). CONCLUSION Perineural invasion is the indicator of worst prognosis. As NGF immunoreactivity was found to be associated with PNI and nodal metastasis, the NGF immunoreactivity of oral carcinoma revealed by diagnostic biopsy suggests that alternative therapeutic approaches might be appropriate.
Progress with surface passivation of heavily doped n+ silicon by industrial PECVD SiNx films

Significant progress in surface passivation of phosphorus diffused n<sup>+</sup> silicon surfaces is reported in this work using standard industrial inline plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposited (PECVD) silicon nitride (SiN<sub>x</sub>) films deposited on ultrathin (~0.6 nm) chemically grown silicon oxide (SiO<sub>x</sub>). Record low emitter saturation current density (J<sub>0e</sub>) values of 10 and 22 fA/cm<sup>2</sup> are reported for 170-Ω/sq planar and textured n<sup>+</sup> silicon, respectively. Contactless corona-voltage measurements revealed mid-gap interface defect density D<sub>it</sub> at the Si surface to be about 1×10<sup>11</sup> eV<sup>-1</sup>cm<sup>-2</sup> for SiN<sub>x</sub> films deposited on the ultrathin SiO<sub>x</sub>. It is explained that the surface passivation mechanism of the fabricated samples to be completely ruled by chemical passivation.
Knowledge spillover from university research before the national innovation system reform in Japan: localisation, mechanisms, and intermediaries

This study examines whether and how university knowledge affected industry R&D in the period when university–industry collaborations encountered institutional barriers. Panel estimation of the regional knowledge production function (1983–1996) revealed that university research had localised impacts on industrial innovations, measured by patents filed by the Japanese firms, with a five-year lag. University–industry joint research did not act as a conduit of university spillover, which suggests that informal channels, such as voluntary transfer of academic inventions in return to donation, worked in the pre-reform period. Intermediaries as a part of regional innovation policy, represented as local public technology centres, exerted a positive impact on industrial innovations in the region. Their immediate impacts suggest the contribution of technology diffusion, such as technical consultation, that help small local firms solve current problems while their far-reaching impacts suggest the importance of knowledge creation, such as own research.
Role of interleukin‐6 in hemopoietic and non‐hemopoietic synergy mediating TLR4‐triggered late murine ileus and endotoxic shock1

Background Early murine endotoxin‐induced ileus at 6 h is exclusively mediated by non‐hemopoietic TLR4/MyD88 signaling despite molecular activation of hemopoietic cells which included a significant IL‐6 mRNA induction. Our objective was to define the role of hemopoietic cells in LPS/TLR4‐triggered ileus and inflammation over time, and identify mechanisms of ileus.
Methodology for evaluating gloves in relation to the effects on hand performance capabilities: a literature review

The present study was conducted to review the literature on the methods that have been considered appropriate for evaluation of the effects of gloves on different aspects of hand performance, to make recommendations for the testing and assessment of gloves, and to identify where further research is needed to improve the evaluation protocols. Eighty-five papers meeting the criteria for inclusion were reviewed. Many studies show that gloves may have negative effects on manual dexterity, tactile sensitivity, handgrip strength, muscle activity and fatigue and comfort, while further research is needed to determine glove effects on pinch strength, forearm torque strength and range of finger and wrist movements. The review also highlights several methodological issues (including consideration of both task type and duration of glove use by workers, guidance on the selection and allocation of suitable glove(s) for particular tasks/jobs, and glove design features) that need to be considered in future research. Practitioner Summary: The relevant literature on the effects of protective gloves on different aspects of hand performance was reviewed to make recommendations for the testing and assessment of gloves, and to improve evaluation protocols. The review highlights research areas and methodological issues that need to be considered in future research.
Common allergens in shoe dermatitis: our experience in Lahore, Pakistan

Background Shoe dermatitis is a form of contact dermatitis resulting from exposure to shoes. Different chemicals, in conjunction with a hot and humid environment within the shoe, give rise to allergic or irritant dermatitis. Allergic shoe dermatitis is commonly caused by constituents of rubber, leather, adhesives, and rarely by linings and dyes.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy: From Gene Discovery to Clinical Trials

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common neuromuscular disorder with autosomal recessive inheritance, resulting in the degeneration of motor neurons. The incidence of the disease has been estimated at 1 in 6000–10,000 newborns with a carrier frequency of 1 in 40–60. SMA is caused by mutations of the SMN1 gene, located on chromosome 5q13. The gene product, survival motor neuron (SMN) plays critical roles in a variety of cellular activities. SMN2, a homologue of SMN1, is retained in all SMA patients and generates low levels of SMN, but does not compensate for the mutated SMN1. Genetic analysis demonstrates the presence of homozygous deletion of SMN1 in most patients, and allows screening of heterozygous carriers in affected families. Considering high incidence of carrier frequency in SMA, population‐wide newborn and carrier screening has been proposed. Although no effective treatment is currently available, some treatment strategies have already been developed based on the molecular pathophysiology of this disease. Current treatment strategies can be classified into three major groups: SMN2‐targeting, SMN1‐introduction, and non‐SMN targeting. Here, we provide a comprehensive and up‐to‐date review integrating advances in molecular pathophysiology and diagnostic testing with therapeutic developments for this disease including promising candidates from recent clinical trials.
Prothrombin Binds to the Surface of Apoptotic, But Not Viable, Cells and Serves as a Target of Lupus Anticoagulant Autoantibodies1

Anti-phospholipid Ab (aPL) are a heterogeneous group of autoantibodies directed against various combinations of phospholipids (PL) and PL-binding proteins. Lupus anticoagulant (LA) Ab, a subset of aPL, exhibit anticoagulant properties in vitro, but are procoagulant in vivo. Most LA Ab are specific for either β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) or prothrombin (PT), two PL-binding proteins. We have previously shown that β2GPI and β2GPI-dependent aPL bind specifically to apoptotic, but not viable, thymocytes. In this study, we demonstrate that PT, like β2GPI, binds selectively to the surface of apoptotic, but not viable, Jurkat cells. Furthermore, PT supports the binding of systemic lupus erythematosus-derived polyclonal and murine monoclonal LA Ab to apoptotic cells. Two LA mAb, which differed dramatically in their relative affinities for PT, were studied. Although one mAb (29J3-62) had a high affinity for PT alone, the other (29I4-24) showed minimal reactivity with PT alone and required PL for elevated binding. Monovalent fragments of 29I4-24 reacted with PL-bound PT with high affinity, suggesting that this mAb recognizes a PL-dependent epitope. Despite these differences, PT-dependent binding of both mAb to apoptotic cells was 30-fold greater than that to viable cells. Moreover, binding of PT to apoptotic cells was, itself, increased in the presence of bivalent, but not monovalent, forms of either mAb. In summary, our data demonstrate the following: 1) specific binding of PT to apoptotic cells, an effect enhanced by PT-dependent LA Ab; 2) heterogeneity of PT-dependent LA Ab; and 3) potential pathogenicity of Ab of either low or high affinity for PT.
Progesterone Metabolites as Farnesoid X Receptor Inhibitors

Sulfated progesterone metabolites rise 100-fold in the third trimester of human pregnancy and have been shown to be elevated further in the gestational disorder intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). Typical concentrations of progesterone sulfates range from 1 to 10 µmol/L in an uncomplicated pregnancy and rise to approximately 40 µmol/L in ICP. At this level they can influence bile acid and lipid metabolism. Studies using human and rodent specimens have shown that sulfated metabolites of progesterone competitively inhibit bile acid homeostasis pathways by functioning as partial agonists of farnesoid X receptor (FXR). This explains the loss of induction of FXR target genes in ICP, and may explain susceptibility to hypercholanaemia and dyslipidaemia in the second half of human pregnancy. Furthermore, progesterone sulfates are competitive inhibitors of biliary influx (NTCP) and efflux (BSEP) transport proteins, actions likely to further exacerbate hypercholanaemia and cholestasis.
A meta-analysis evaluating the risk for implant failure in patients who smoke.

Failure of dental implants to achieve osseointegration is often attributed to patient baseline variables, such as smoking. This meta-analysis examines outcomes of clinical studies that monitored the performance of machined-surfaced and Osseotite, implants; the analysis also isolates the effect of smoking. The implant data for the machined-surfaced implants are derived from three prospective multicenter studies (n = 2,614) and from six prospective studies (n = 2,274) for the Osseotite implants. All implant placement surgeries followed a two-stage surgical approach with an unloaded healing period of 4 to 6 months. An evaluation of the data sets (i.e., smokers vs nonsmokers) was first performed to determine the existence of imbalance in baseline variables, including patient demographics, bone quality, location, dimensions, and types of prostheses. Analysis of the distributions of these baseline variables showed similar proportionalities and therefore qualified the data sets for comparison of the cumulative success rates (CSR) of the implants on the basis of smoking. For the 2,117 nonsmoking, machined-surfaced implants, the 3-year CSR is 92.8%; for the 492 implants in the smoking group, the CSR is 93.5%. The 3-year CSR for 1,877 nonsmoking Osseotite implants is 98.4%; for the 397 smoking implants it is 98.7%. No difference is observed between the smoking groups and the nonsmoking groups in these patient populations. There is, however, a clinically relevant difference observed between the two implant types.
The association between heart rate reactivity and driving performance under dual task demands in late middle age drivers

Physiological indices of arousal generally increase when heightened demands are placed on an individual's cognitive resources. As a consequence, measures such as heart rate are frequently used as one method of assessing changes in workload. In a simulation study with young adult (19-23 yrs.) and late middle age (51-66 yrs.) drivers, heart rate responses were compared during a variety of dual task conditions along with driving and task performance data. During two of the tasks in which younger participants showed significant heart rate acceleration, older drivers, as a group, showed little or no change in heart rate. In this paper we present data on a more detailed analysis of the relationship between heart rate change and performance during one of the dual load conditions, a continuous performance task (CPT). The sample was subdivided into individuals who showed a substantive heart rate acceleration response during the task vs. those who showed little change or heart rate deceleration. Of the 18 younger and 15 older adults in the analysis, 56% of the younger and 27% of the older individuals fell into the heart rate acceleration category. Heart rate response did not correlate with performance on the CPT in the younger subjects. In the older subjects, however, the heart rate acceleration group scored significantly higher on the CPT than those who did not exhibit a pattern of heart rate acceleration. In addition to lower performance on the CPT task, older adults in the non-acceleration group showed a significant drop in driving speed, which is generally interpreted as a compensatory response employed to manage total workload. Overall, the late middle aged drivers who showed a heart rate accelerative response during the CPT task performed better on both the primary and secondary tasks than those that did not. The increase in heart rate in the late middle age drivers in this instance could serve as marker for a variety of important performance mediating variables including relative engagement in the task, availability of resources to invest in the dual tasks, attentional style, or overall flexibility of response. The results suggest the potential value of looking at differences in individual patterns of response in driving behavior studies in addition to overall group behavior. The presence of subtypes of heart rate responders, and the observed performance differences between subtypes in this paradigm, illustrate the importance of these considerations. Other heart rate patterning data from the literature is considered and suggestions for future investigation offered.
Psychometric Properties of a New HIV/AIDS Knowledge Measure for Adults

The aim of this study was to develop a new 29-item HIV/AIDS knowledge measure and to examine its psychometric properties for three samples of adults: non-HIV-positive heterosexual people, non-HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM), and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The authors collected data using an online questionnaire. A total of 9,349 Italian individuals agreed to participate in the study: 694 individuals (7.4%) were PLWHA, 5,232 (56.0%) were HIV negative, and the remaining 3,423 (36.6%) were MSM. Using two-parameter item response theory analysis, a bifactor model was found to be better fitting than a one-factor model or a 12 correlated first-order factor model. Differential item functioning showed evidence of measurement nonequivalence of the instrument for the three samples of adults. The reliability of HIV/AIDS knowledge scale among PLWHA was satisfactory. Criterion-related validity was only achieved among non-HIV-positive heterosexual people, non-HIV-positive MSM, as the HIV/AIDS knowledge scale was related with attitudes toward condom use, condom use with casual partners, unknown HIV status of partner, and HIV stigma. Among non-HIV-positive heterosexual people, the HIV/AIDS knowledge scale adds to the prediction of condom use above that of attitudes toward condom use scale. The HIV/AIDS knowledge scale is especially discriminating at low to medium levels of knowledge.
New Frontiers for the Treatment of Noncardiac Chest Pain: The Adenosine Receptors

Emerging data suggest that noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) is a very common disorder of international proportions. In the United States alone, an estimated 69 million patients suffer from NCCP. The clinical spectrum of patients with NCCP being referred to gastroenterologists seems to be changing to those failing to respond acid inhibition therapy or those who may not have gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in the first place. For these individuals there is an important need to find effective therapeutic options. These patients are the subject of the study that appears in this issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology (Rao et al.,). Rao et al. report data from their tertiary center on consecutive patients with recurrent NCCP failing an 8-wk therapeutic trial of double-dose PPI or lacking evidence of GER on 24-h pH testing. They found that theophylline—a nonspecific adenosine receptor antagonist—when compared with placebo, improved the biomechanical and sensory properties of the esophageal wall and chest pain frequency, severity, and duration. This study underscores the potential role of adenosine receptors in visceral pain.
Sequential Upregulation of Superoxide Dismutase 2 and Heme Oxygenase 1 by tert-Butylhydroquinone Protects Mitochondria during Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress is linked to mitochondrial dysfunction in aging and neurodegenerative conditions. The transcription factor nuclear factor E2–related factor 2 (Nrf2)–antioxidant response element (ARE) regulates intracellular antioxidative capacity to combat oxidative stress. We examined the effect of tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), an Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway inducer, on mitochondrial function during oxidative challenge in neurons. tBHQ prevented glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in an HT-22 neuronal cell line even with an 8-hour exposure delay. tBHQ blocked glutamate-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial superoxide accumulation. It also protected mitochondrial function under glutamate toxicity, including maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial Ca2+ hemostasis, and mitochondrial respiration. Glutamate-activated, mitochondria-mediated apoptosis was inhibited by tBHQ as well. In rat primary cortical neurons, tBHQ protected cells from both glutamate and buthionine sulfoximine toxicity. We found that tBHQ scavenged ROS and induced a rapid upregulation of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) expression and a delayed upregulation of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) expression. In HT-22 cells with a knockdown of SOD2 expression, delayed treatment with tBHQ failed to prevent glutamate-induced cell death. Briefly, tBHQ rescues mitochondrial function by sequentially increasing SOD2 and HO-1 expression during glutamate-mediated oxidative stress. This study is the first to demonstrate the role of tBHQ in preserving mitochondrial function during oxidative challenge and provides a clinically relevant argument for using tBHQ against acute neuron-compromising conditions.
Depletion and enhancement mode β-Ga2O3 MOSFETs with ALD SiO2 gate and near 400 V breakdown voltage

As a next generation wide bandgap semiconductor for power electronics, β-Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) has shown a lot of potential in recent studies. It has been reported to have high Baliga's Figure of Merit (BFoM), a figure of merit for power devices, next only to diamond among wide bandgap semiconductor materials [1]. Moreover, a mature growth technology for large area substrates is a major practical advantage for cost effectiveness and rapid adaptation by industry [2]. Because of the advantages of this material, depletion mode MOSFETs and Schottky diodes based on Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> with high breakdown voltages have been recently demonstrated [3][4]. However, enhancement mode MOSFETs are preferred in power electronics applications. All the previous work incorporated ALD Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> as gate barrier due to its high dielectric constant. However, a recent study reported that SiO<sub>2</sub>/Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> interface has a much bigger conduction band offset than that of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> [5] which is preferred in MOSFET. In addition, SiO<sub>2</sub>/Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> interface has a relatively low interface states density according to our recent data. These properties make SiO<sub>2</sub> an attractive gate dielectric for Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> power MOSFETs. Here, we first report depletion mode MOSFET on MBE grown Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> with an ALD SiO<sub>2</sub> gate. We also report the first successful enhancement mode MOSFET on β-Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. Both depletion mode and enhancement mode MOSFETs show near 400 V off state drain source breakdown voltage.