Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cytogenetic observations in vitamin B12 and folate deficiency.

Direct marrow cytogenetic preparations were examined in 14 cases of anemia associated with deficiency in vitamin B12 and/or folate. Seven cases showed distinct alterations in chromosome structure consisting of increased chromosome breakage, incomplete chromosome contraction and centromere spreading. These abnormalities were not present after vitamin replacement and were generally less distinct in cases with major medical complications or with only mild megaloblastic changes. No distinct aberrations in chromosome number or karyotype were found. The cytogenetic changes observed seem compatible with current concepts of megaloblastic cell division and with the role of folate and vitamin B12 in DNA metabolism.
Présentation des systèmes de régénération cacaoyère en milieu paysan au Togo

Depuis 1970 la production de cacao du Togo est en declin constant en raison de la degradation et du vieillissement des plantations. Apres 10 ans d'action de la SRCC les resultats ne sont pas satisfaisants. Depuis 1982, de nouveaux systemes de replantation associes a des techniques de plantation (vivriers intercalaires, economie en eau, fertilisation) ont ete etudies par l'IRCC. Les avantages et les inconvenients des systemes culturaux suivants sont examines : replantation directe sous la vieille cacaoyere; abattage de layons de 6 m de large au sein de la vieille cacaoyere, separes par des bandes de 6 m ou sont conserves les vieux cacaoyers qui servent d'ombrage a de jeunes cacaoyers plantes avec un ecartement de 3 x 2, 5 m; abattage de 3 bandes de 12 m et 2 de 8 m aux extremites de la plantation et plantation de 2 lignes de cacaoyers en quinconce 2 x 2, 5 m bordees de vivriers avec nouvel abattage 4 ans plus tard; replantation en haies fruitieres et plein soleil
Lisp on a reduced-instruction-set processor: characterization and optimization

The factors that motivated the choice of a reduced-instruction-set computer (RISC) on which to implement Lisp are examined. Dynamic profiling measurements used to characterise Lisp are reported. The implementation of tags in Lisp and the cost of function calls are discussed. Interprocedural register allocation is examined. Execution results for various benchmarks are presented and discussed. <<ETX>>
Teleoperation of a robot manipulator using a vision-based human-robot interface

Remote teleoperation of a robot manipulator by a human operator is often necessary in unstructured dynamic environments when human presence at the robot site is undesirable. Mechanical and other contacting interfaces used in teleoperation require unnatural human motions for object manipulation tasks or they may hinder human motion. Previous vision-based approaches have used only a few degrees of freedom for hand motion and have required hand motions that are unnatural for object manipulation tasks. This paper presents a noncontacting vision-based method of robot teleoperation that allows a human operator to communicate simultaneous six-degree-of-freedom motion tasks to a robot manipulator by having the operator perform the three-dimensional human hand-arm motion that would naturally be used to complete an object manipulation task. A vision-based human-robot interface is used for communication of human motion to the robot and for feedback of the robot motion and environment to the human operator. Teleoperation under operator position control was performed with high accuracy in object placement on a target. Semi-autonomous traded and shared control using robot-vision guidance aided in achieving a more accurate positioning and orientation of the end-effector for object gripping tasks.
Viral FLIP Impairs Survival of Activated T Cells and Generation of CD8+ T Cell Memory1

Viral FLIPs (vFLIPs) interfere with apoptosis signaling by death-domain-containing receptors in the TNFR superfamily (death receptors). In this study, we show that T cell-specific transgenic expression of MC159-vFLIP from the human Molluscum contagiosum virus blocks CD95-induced apoptosis in thymocytes and peripheral T cells, but also impairs postactivation survival of in vitro activated primary T cells despite normal early activation parameters. MC159 vFLIP impairs T cell development to a lesser extent than does Fas-associated death domain protein deficiency or another viral FLIP, E8. In the periphery, vFLIP expression leads to a specific deficit of functional memory CD8+ T cells. After immunization with a protein Ag, Ag-specific CD8+ T cells initially proliferate, but quickly disappear and fail to produce Ag-specific memory CD8+ T cells. Viral FLIP transgenic mice exhibit impaired CD8+ T cell responses to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus and Trypanosoma cruzi infections, and a specific defect in CD8+ T cell recall responses to influenza virus was seen. These results suggest that vFLIP expression in T cells blocks signals necessary for the sustained survival of CD8+ T cells and the generation of CD8+ T cell memory. Through this mechanism, vFLIP proteins expressed by T cell tropic viruses may impair the CD8+ T cell immune responses directed against them.
Hematologic responses to deferasirox therapy in transfusion-dependent patients with myelodysplastic syndromes

Background Reductions in transfusion requirements/improvements in hematologic parameters have been associated with iron chelation therapy in transfusion-dependent patients, including those with myelodysplastic syndromes; data on these reductions/improvements have been limited to case reports and small studies. Design and Methods To explore this observation in a large population of patients, we report a post-hoc analysis evaluating hematologic response to deferasirox in a cohort of iron-overloaded patients with myelodysplastic syndromes enrolled in the Evaluation of Patients’ Iron Chelation with Exjade® (EPIC) study using International Working Group 2006 criteria. Results Two-hundred and forty-seven, 100 and 50 patients without concomitant medication for myelodysplastic syndromes were eligible for analysis of erythroid, platelet and neutrophil responses, respectively. Erythroid, platelet and neutrophil responses were observed in 21.5% (53/247), 13.0% (13/100) and 22.0% (11/50) of the patients after a median of 109, 169 and 226 days, respectively. Median serum ferritin reductions were greater in hematologic responders compared with non-responders at end of study, although these differences were not statistically significant. A reduction in labile plasma iron to less than 0.4 μmol/L was observed from week 12 onwards; this change did not differ between hematologic responders and non-responders. Conclusions This analysis suggests that deferasirox treatment for up to 1 year could lead to improvement in hematologic parameters in some patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.
Bilinear Power System State Estimation

This paper presents a three-stage state estimation methodology based on the sequential solution of two weighted least squares (WLS) linear problems with a nonlinear explicit transformation in between. This requires that appropriate sets of auxiliary variables be introduced so that the resulting measurement models become linear. Simulation results show that the proposed approach yields, in a non-iterative manner, virtually the same solution as that provided by the Gauss-Newton iterative scheme arising in the conventional WLS method.
Monitoring, analysing and predicting network performance in grids

The grid computing paradigm has facilitated the instrumentation of complex, highly-demanding collaborative applications. The technologies that make grid computing possible have mostly evolved from parallel and cluster systems. Although this has certainly empowered the grid computing field, part of the heritage has been the perception that required network resources are taken for granted. This is precarious, considering that most grids rely on public IP networks, like the Internet, as the underlying network. This assumption has obstructed the path of grid computing. This thesis aims to improve the performance of grid applications by facilitating network-aware grid scheduling. This is achieved by providing network performance information to grid schedulers, allowing them to adapt to changes in the network. The contribution of this thesis is twofold: a novel approach to network measurement that is particularly suitable for grid environments; and a distributed system that collects and manages these measurements, predicts future network performance, and disseminates this information to schedulers. The accuracy and effectiveness of this system is evaluated on a production grid infrastructure used for e-science applications. The outcomes of this evaluation provide a strong argument for the introduction of network-aware grid schedulers, information systems, and job and resource description standards.
Incidence of Salmonella in processed broilers following transportation in contaminated coops.

To determine the influence of contaminated live-haul cages (coops) on subsequent contamination of broilers prior to and during processing, broilers subjected to feed withdrawal were transported in sanitized and Salmonella-contaminated coops, processed under simulated commercial conditions, and analyzed for incidence of Salmonella. At 5, 6, or 7 wk of age, 128 broilers from the same research flock were subjected to 4 h feed withdrawal, and placed (8 birds/coop) into pre-assigned plastic coops with solid flooring. Coops were loaded onto a trailer as 2 groups, each consisting of 2 stacks of 4 coops. Group 1, placed on the front of the trailer, consisted of sanitized coops while Group 2 placed on the rear of the trailer had 4 sanitized coops alternating with 4 coops containing feces (0.4 g/cm) from colonized broilers knowingly shedding Salmonella (~10 cfu/g). Broilers were transported 6 h, held 2-3 h, and processed by coop number. Half of the broilers from Group 1 were processed first, all of Group 2 second, and the remaining group 1 broilers last. The latter 2 processing Groups were chilled in a common slush ice bath. From each of 4 birds/coop, incidence of Salmonella in crop, ceca, post-pick carcass rinse and post-chill carcass rinse samples was determined. Salmonella incidence ranged from 10-20% in these samples from broilers transported in the sanitized coops (i.e., first half of Group 1). In contrast, Salmonella incidence ranged from 70-100% in samples from broilers transported in the contaminated coops (i.e., Group 2). Salmonella incidence ranged from 40-90% in samples from broilers transported in the sanitized coops that were processed after the birds from the contaminated coops (i.e., second half of Group 1). This latter observation indicates that significant cross contamination occurred during processing; to the extent that there was no difference (p>0.05) in Salmonella incidence on chilled carcasses from Group 2 (95%) vs second half of Group 1 (90%). Coop position had little effect on Salmonella incidence. __________________________________________________________________________________
Mutations in the human laminin β2 (LAMB2) gene and the associated phenotypic spectrum a

Mutations of LAMB2 typically cause autosomal recessive Pierson syndrome, a disorder characterized by congenital nephrotic syndrome, ocular and neurologic abnormalities, but may occasionally be associated with milder or oligosymptomatic disease variants. LAMB2 encodes the basement membrane protein laminin β2, which is incorporated in specific heterotrimeric laminin isoforms and has an expression pattern corresponding to the pattern of organ manifestations in Pierson syndrome. Herein we review all previously reported and several novel LAMB2 mutations in relation to the associated phenotype in patients from 39 unrelated families. The majority of disease‐causing LAMB2 mutations are truncating, consistent with the hypothesis that loss of laminin β2 function is the molecular basis of Pierson syndrome. Although truncating mutations are distributed across the entire gene, missense mutations are clearly clustered in the N‐terminal LN domain, which is important for intermolecular interactions. There is an association of missense mutations and small in frame deletions with a higher mean age at onset of renal disease and with absence of neurologic abnormalities, thus suggesting that at least some of these may represent hypomorphic alleles. Nevertheless, genotype alone does not appear to explain the full range of clinical variability, and therefore hitherto unidentified modifiers are likely to exist. Hum Mutat 31:992–1002, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Depletion of Taurine in Experimental Diabetic Neuropathy: Implications for Nerve Metabolic, Vascular, and Functional Deficits

In diabetes, increased oxidative stress, disruption of signal transduction pathways, and endothelial dysfunction have been critically implicated in the pathogenesis of experimental diabetic neuropathy (EDN). The development of nerve conduction slowing in diabetes is accompanied by depletion of the beta-amino acid taurine. Since taurine functions as an antioxidant, calcium modulator, and vasodilator, taurine depletion may provide a pathogenetic link between nerve metabolic, vascular, and functional deficits complicating diabetes. The mechanism(s) of nerve taurine depletion, the localization of critical taurine deficits, and its pathophysiological significance in EDN are however unknown. This study explored the pathophysiological effects of selective nerve taurine replacement in streptozotocin-diabetic (STZ-D) rats. A polyclonal human taurine transporter (TT) antibody was also generated in order to determine potential loci of critical taurine depletion. Two weeks of STZ-D reduced sciatic motor nerve conduction velocity (NCV) by 23% (P < 0.01), decreased composite nerve blood flow by 38% (P < 0.01), and reduced nerve taurine content by 29% (P < 0.05). In STZ-D rats, a 1% taurine diet corrected nerve taurine depletion, prevented motor NCV slowing, and partially attenuated composite nerve blood flow deficits. After 6 weeks of STZ-D, a 1% taurine diet ameliorated motor NCV slowing and endoneurial nutritive blood flow deficits, prevented digital sensory NCV slowing, and reduced ouabain-sensitive nerve (Na,K)-ATPase activity. Immunohistochemical studies localized taurine and the TT to the vascular endothelium and Schwann cells of the sciatic nerve. In conclusion, taurine depletion in the vascular endothelium and Schwann cells of the sciatic nerve may contribute to the neurovascular and metabolic deficits in EDN.
Primary autoimmune myelofibrosis: Definition of a distinct clinicopathologic syndrome

Myelofibrosis is characterized by reticulin fibrosis of the bone marrow with resulting features of myelophthisis. Besides hematopoietic malignancies and other neoplasms involving the bone marrow, myelofibrosis has been described in association with autoimmune disorders, especially systemic lupus erythematosus. We describe the clinicopathologic features of a primary form of autoimmune myelofibrosis (AIMF) in patients who do not have systemic lupus erythematosus or another well‐defined autoimmune syndrome. Absence of marked splenomegaly, peripheral blood cytopenias with mild teardrop poikilocytosis and leukoerythroblastosis, bone marrow lymphoid aggregates, and presence of autoantibodies are some of the salient features of primary AIMF. AIMF should especially be differentiated from chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis, a neoplastic myeloproliferative disease. Primary AIMF appears to have an excellent prognosis, with all patients reported in this series responding to a short course of corticosteroid therapy. Am. J. Hematol. 72:8–12, 2003. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Estudo da radiação ultravioleta na Cidade de Natal-RN

Estudaram-se a variacao da radiacao ultravioleta (RUV) solar em quatro comprimentos de ondas (305 nm, 320 nm, 340 nm e 380 nm) e a dose eritemica, medidas em Natal RN Brasil, no periodo de janeiro de 2001 a dezembro de 2007, empregando-se o radiometro GUV (Ground Ultraviolet Radiometer), pertencente ao Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais / Centro Regional do Nordeste INPE-CRN, instalado no teto do Laboratorio de Variaveis Ambientais Tropicais LAVAT-INPE-CRN. Verificou-se que nos meses de outubro e novembro os indices medios de RUV na cidade atingem a categoria ALTO antes das 09h00 e MUITO ALTO antes das 09h40min; tambem foi verificado que, exceto nos meses de junho e julho, em todos os outros meses do ano os indices atingem a categoria ALTO antes das 10h00, contradizendo recomendacoes divulgadas na midia sobre o horario adequado para permanencia em praias da cidade. Apos as 14h30, os indices atingem a categoria MODERADO em qualquer mes do ano. Essas constatacoes se aplicam a todos os anos considerados na pesquisa. Dentro do periodo considerado na pesquisa, o ano de 2004 foi o que apresentou menores valores medios do IUV, enquanto em 2007 foram medidos os maiores valores medios. Comprovou-se, atraves da analise de variância (ANOVA), a variacao nos quatro comprimentos de ondas e na dose eritemica. Tendo em vista que a cidade detem elevados indices de câncer de pele e de catarata, os resultados da pesquisa podem servir de fonte de informacao para estudos que visem dar subsidios a programas de saude publica. Da mesma forma, o estudo e passivel de aplicacoes concernentes a ciencia dos materiais e a agricultura
Medial prefrontal cortex and self-referential mental activity: Relation to a default mode of brain function

Medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) is among those brain regions having the highest baseline metabolic activity at rest and one that exhibits decreases from this baseline across a wide variety of goal-directed behaviors in functional imaging studies. This high metabolic rate and this behavior suggest the existence of an organized mode of default brain function, elements of which may be either attenuated or enhanced. Extant data suggest that these MPFC regions may contribute to the neural instantiation of aspects of the multifaceted “self. ” We explore this important concept by targeting and manipulating elements of MPFC default state activity. In this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, subjects made two judgments, one self-referential, the other not, in response to affectively normed pictures: pleasant vs. unpleasant (an internally cued condition, ICC) and indoors vs. outdoors (an externally cued condition, ECC). The ICC was preferentially associated with activity increases along the dorsal MPFC. These increases were accompanied by decreases in both active task conditions in ventral MPFC. These results support the view that dorsal and ventral MPFC are differentially influenced by attentiondemanding tasks and explicitly self-referential tasks. The presence of self-referential mental activity appears to be associated with increases from the baseline in dorsal MPFC. Reductions in ventral MPFC occurred consistent with the fact that attention-demanding tasks attenuate emotional processing. We posit that both self-referential mental activity and emotional processing represent elements of the default state as represented by activity in MPFC. We suggest that a useful way to explore the neurobiology of the self is to explore the nature of default state activity.
Should bulimia nervosa be subtyped by history of anorexia nervosa? A longitudinal validation.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether a past diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN) predicts longitudinal course and outcome among women with bulimia nervosa (BN). METHOD A subset (n = 176) of participants in the Longitudinal Study of Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa who met DSM-IV criteria for BN either at study intake (n = 144) or during follow-up (n = 32; 4 had restricting AN at intake, 28 had binge/purge AN at intake) were included in this report. Over a median of 9 years, weekly eating disorder symptom data were collected from participants using the Longitudinal Interview Follow-up Examination, Eating Disorders Version. RESULTS While there were no between-group differences in likelihood of partial recovery, women with BN who had a history of AN were more likely to have a protracted illness, relapsing into AN during follow-up, compared to those with no AN history who were more likely to move from partial to full recovery. CONCLUSION Lifetime AN is an important prognostic indicator among women with BN and these longitudinal data would support the subtyping of BN on the basis of AN history.
A New Look at the Factor Structure of the MHC-SF in Iran and the United States Using Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the factor structure and measurement invariance of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) in young adults from Iran and the USA and across gender. METHOD The sample consisted of 387 Iranian and 395 American university students. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the new method of exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) were used to analyze the data. RESULTS The three-dimensional model of well-being as measured by the MHC-SF was consistent with the data. ESEM resulted in better fit indices as well as considerably lower factor correlations than did CFA. Partial measurement invariance across nations and full measurement invariance across gender were established. CONCLUSION The results confirm the three-dimensional structure of mental well-being, and indicate that the items of the MHC-SF function largely similarly across the two nations. These results also showcase the unique value of ESEM in understanding the factor structure of mental well-being.
Early amniotomy -- high risk factor for cesarean section.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of early amniotomy on mode of delivery and pregnancy outcome in comparison to a group of patients admitted with premature rupture of membranes at term. STUDY DESIGN The study population consists of all women (n=338) whose labor was induced by amniotomy, between the years 1988 to 1995. The comparison group were all women (n=1865) who were admitted with premature rupture of membranes during the same period. RESULTS Cesarean section was significantly higher in the amniotomy group than in the comparison group (162 (47.9%) vs. 348 (18.7%), P<0.001). This significant difference was noted only for those who did not had a previous cesarean section (106 (42.4%) vs. 224 (13.8%), P<0.001). Non progressive labor during the first stage was threefold higher in the amniotomy group than in the control group (30.8% vs. 10.9%, P<0.001). Abnormal fetal heart rate patterns were detected during labor in 52 patients (15.4%) of amniotomy group, as compared to 141 cases (7.6%) in the control group (P<0.001). To assess the independent contribution of early amniotomy to having cesarean section in the present delivery, a multiple logistic model was used. Early amniotomy (odds ratio [OR] 3.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.36-4.01), as well as a previous cesarean section (OR 5.04, 95% CI 3.90-6.52) and high parity (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.26) were all found as independent risk factors for cesarean section. CONCLUSIONS Early amniotomy appears to be associated with an increased risk for cesarean section.