Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does a Production Deficiency Hypothesis Account for Vocabulary Learning Among Adolescents with Learning Disabilities?

To test a production deficiency view of learning disabilities, students identified as learning disabled or normally achieving were compared on a vocabulary learning task. Subjects studied a list of words and definitions and then took a sentence completion vocabulary test. Subjects were not told how to study. The learning disabled group learned fewer words than the normally achieving group, as indicated by vocabulary learning test scores. The two groups did not differ in the observable learning strategies used during the study period; the most frequently observed strategy was rehearsal with self-testing. For all subjects, strategy use did not account for vocabulary learning score. Scores on standardized reading vocabulary and comprehension tests predicted vocabulary learning test score for the total group. The implications of these findings relative to a production deficiency view of learning disabilities are discussed.
Melanization of Plasmodium falciparum and C-25 Sephadex Beads by Field-Caught Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae) from Southern Tanzania

Abstract The melanization responses of field-captured Anopheles gambiae s.l. toward oocysts of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum or negatively charged (C-25) Sephadex beads were determined. Only two of 431 infected mosquitoes harboured melanized oocysts. However, 90% of field-captured mosquitoes melanized C-25 Sephadex beads. The effects of age, glucose concentration and blood meal on the melanization response of an An gambiae s.s. laboratory colony toward C-25 beads were also assayed. All newly emerged females (which did not blood-feed) melanized the beads. By 4 d postemergence, there was a marked reduction in melanization response, particularly among those mosquitoes that had not blood fed. A blood meal, however, taken by 4-d-old mosquitoes increased their immune response as did high glucose concentrations in the nonblood-fed group. These data indicate that C-25 Sephadex beads can estimate the general strength of An. gambiae’s immune response. However, C-25 beads do not accurately model An. gambiae’s susceptibility to P. falciparum oocysts in natural populations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of field refractoriness in An. gambiae s.l.
Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 is overexpressed in urinary tract carcinomas and modulates the neoplastic cell growth.

PURPOSE Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) mutations have been associated with achondroplastic syndromes and urinary bladder carcinomas. Here we describe changes in FGFR3 mRNA and protein expression in transitional carcinomas and determine the effect of monoclonal antibodies against FGFR3 in RT-112 cell line proliferation. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We used microarray tools to evaluate FGFR3 mRNA expression in 22 urinary bladder carcinomas at different stages (noninvasive pTa, lamina propria invasive pT1, and muscular invasive pT2) and 7 nonneoplastic tissue controls. FGFR3 protein expression was evaluated by Western blotting in 15 different carcinomas and 3 nonneoplastic controls. Two hundred thirty-seven urinary bladder and renal pelvis carcinomas and 21 negative controls were tested on tissue microarrays by immunohistochemistry. The effect on cell proliferation in the RT-112 bladder cancer cell line of monoclonal antibodies against FGFR3 was also evaluated. RESULTS Overexpression of FGFR3 mRNA was found in pTa and pT1 stage carcinomas (fold change >8) and in pT2 carcinomas (fold change >4). Nonneoplastic urinary bladder samples do not express FGFR3 protein. However, 83% of pTa, 100% of pT1, and 50% of pT2 carcinomas expressed FGFR3 as determined by Western blotting. By immunohistochemistry, FGFR3 was positive in 71.4% of pTa, 72% of pT1, and 49.2% of pT2 cases as well as 61.5% of upper urinary tract carcinomas. Proliferation of the RT-112 cell line was inhibited with monoclonal antibodies against FGFR3. CONCLUSIONS FGFR3 seems to play an important role in transitional cell carcinoma development. Our results suggest that FGFR3 antagonists could be developed as possible therapeutics for treatment of urinary tract carcinoma.
Long Adult Spinal Deformity Fusion to the Sacrum Using rhBMP-2 Versus Autogenous Iliac Crest Bone Graft

Study Design. Comparative study. Objective. To compare the radiographic outcome of patients undergoing long spinal deformity surgery to the sacrum/ilium, using either rhBMP-2 without iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) or ICBG without rhBMP-2. Summary of Background Data. rhBMP-2 has been shown to be more effective in promoting successful bone union in patients undergoing single level lumbar spinal fusion than ICBG. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no studies that compare the efficacy of rhBMP-2 versus ICBG in long spinal deformity surgery. Methods. To obtain uniform background, we selected patients with adult spinal deformity who underwent primary spinal fusion from the thoracic spine to the sacrum/ilium and had a minimum 2-year follow-up. Fifty-five consecutive patients, consisting of 32 patients who underwent a fusion using ICBG without rhBMP-2 (ICBG group) and 23 patients who underwent a fusion using rhBMP-2 without ICBG (BMP group) were analyzed. Results. The 2 groups were similar with respect to age, gender, smoking history, comorbidity, and body mass index. The average number of vertebrae fused (11.3 in both groups) and the degree of preoperative deformity (major Cobb angle 58.3° in ICBG group vs. 54.2° in BMP group) were also similar in both groups. All but 2 patients had both anterior and posterior surgery. Both groups were similar in terms of final deformity correction. The average total amount of rhBMP-2 used in the BMP group was 119.2 mg (anterior 11.6 mg/level; posterior 10.0 mg/level). Of the 32 patients in the ICBG group, 9 patients (28.1%) developed a pseudarthrosis, while only 1 of 23 patients (4.3%) in the BMP group developed a pseudarthrosis with the caveat that the follow-up period wasshorter in the BMP group (average follow-up of 4.9 vs. 2.7 years). Conclusion. The pseudarthrosis rate in the BMP group compares favorably to pseudarthrosis rate in ICBG group, suggesting that the use of rhBMP-2 without iliac harvesting leads to a competitive fusion rate in long adult spinal deformity surgery, while avoiding ICBG harvest site morbidity.
The Effect of Some Physical and Chemical Agents on the Infectivity of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in Egypt

Department of Veterinary Hygiene, Environmental Pollution and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza 11221, Egypt. Emaildrtamer2009@yahoo.com Department of Veterinary Hygiene, Environmental Pollution and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza 11221, Egypt. Email: ubiomahmoud@yahoo.com __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract: In this study we have presented some aspects of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPIIV) in Egypt and the effect of some physical and chemical agents on its activity. The effect of temperature and UV light on the infectivity of isolated avian influenza virus H5N1 virus in litter could be inactivated by increasing temperature above 50 o C for at least 24 hr . UV light could not destroy the infectivity of the virus completely even after exposure for 48 hr. Disinfectants evaluated in this study including Fnvirolyte , Virkon®-S 1%, Aldekol 0.5%, and bioscentry 0.5%. The results revealed that Envirolyte was very e f f e c t i v e in r e d u c i n g the titre of H5N1 virus after 1 0 , 30 min and 12 hr of exposure at 25°C from ( 2 8 ) to ( 2 3 ) but it completely destroying the virus after 24 hr of exposure at 25°C with
The real R&D options value incorporating technological risk management

– The paper aims to evaluate the real research and development (R&D) options value through the proposed model that can jointly consider the two types of risk management activities, i.e. hedging risks and making use of risks. Hedging is an important risk‐management tool that can diversify R&D risk internally since R&D organizations cannot transfer technological risks to another entity by conventional loss financing methods. Making use of risks means R&D organizations can benefit from proactively managing risks, and then can create management‐flexibility value from the real option reasoning viewpoint. , – Using the real options pricing approach, the paper provides an applicable assessment method for R&D projects that can jointly consider the aforementioned two types of risk management activities. The paper also investigates the value‐enhancing effects of R&D risk management activities via interviews survey and secondary data analyses in the pharmaceutical industry of Taiwan. , – Through numerical analyses, the results indicate that the hedging management can serve to be effective mechanisms of risk reduction as well as value enhancement for R&D projects. Additionally, the value‐enhancing effect of hedging management is more significant for those R&D projects with even higher risk‐level. The results of empirical study also are consistent with the model prediction. , – To achieve great performance of R&D risk management, R&D organizations need to implement both the types of risk management activities. By this real‐options valuation approach incorporating together those risk management activities, R&D projects portfolio can be evaluated adequately.
FTO, abdominal adiposity, fasting hyperglycemia associated with elevated HbA1c in Japanese middle-aged women.

AIM FTO is the most important polygene for obesity and type 2 diabetes. Our aims were to investigate whether a variant in FTO affects glucose dysregulation through its effect on fat accumulation or distribution, and when and how FTO influences fat accumulation and distribution and glucose dysregulation from birth until midlife. METHODS A total of 454 Japanese female university students (mean age: 20 years) and 132 middle-aged women (mean age: 50 years) who were the biological mothers of the students underwent the following: genotyping for rs1558902 in the FTO gene, assessment of fat accumulation and distribution, obesity-related metabolic traits and serum adipokine measurement. A subsample of 364 students reported their weight history since birth. RESULTS The A allele in rs1558902 was substantially less common in young and middle-aged Japanese women (18 and 17%, respectively) than in the European population (45%). The strong effect of genotype AA on BMI was evident at age 12, 15, 20 and 50 years whereas there was no effect on birth weight. In young and middle-aged women, the variant was strongly associated with higher body weight and fat mass. The effects on abdominal girth, fasting glucose, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance and HbA1c were evident in mothers but not in students. In addition, genotype AA was associated with increased white blood cell counts and hsCRP in mothers only. Associations with fasting glucose, insulin resistance, and white blood cell counts remained after correction for BMI, abdominal girth and fat mass. In multiple logistic regression analysis, AA homozygote in FTO was associated with higher odds of overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m(2)) in young (OR 1.73 (95%CI 1.06-30.0)) and middle-aged women (OR 1.73 (95%CI 1.06-30.0)). It was also associated with higher odds of abdominal fat accumulation (abdominal girth ≥90 cm, OR 1.73 (95%CI 1.06-30.0)) and fasting hyperglycemia (≥100 mg/dL) (OR 1.87(95%CI 1.05-40.4)) in middle-aged mothers. CONCLUSION Despite the small sample size, the low average BMI, and the low risk allele frequency, a genetic variation at the FTO locus was related to greater weight gain before age 12 in Japanese women. At age 20, it was related to general adiposity. In midlife, however, it was related to abdominal adiposity in addition to general adiposity, fasting hyperglycemia, higher HbA1c and subtle systemic inflammation. Fasting hyperglycemia associated with higher HbA1c in midlife was independent of its effects on general and abdominal adiposity.
Inflammation as a risk factor and target for therapy in chronic kidney disease

Purpose of reviewInflammation is a major driving force of the uremic phenotype. This review provides an update on inflammatory biomarkers in chronic kidney disease and possible therapeutic approaches targeting the uremic inflammatory milieu. Recent findingsSingle and longitudinal changes of C-reactive protein provide important outcome prediction. The uremic phenotype, which includes persistent inflammation, oxidative stress and protein energy wasting, has recently been shown to overshadow the traditional risk profile. As several small randomized controlled trials have shown that various nutritional, nonspecific immunomodulatory and targeted anticytokine interventions may have anti-inflammatory potential, future randomized control trials are needed to explore whether interventions specifically targeting inflammation will improve the dismal prognosis in end-stage renal disease. SummaryBecause circulating inflammatory markers predict outcomes in patients with end-stage renal disease, inflammation may be a logical future therapeutic target for nutritional and pharmacological interventions.
Induction of Foxp3 expression in T cells by cellulose acetate beads in vitro

Gene expression of transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) is needed to induce expression of transcription factor forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), which is required for the development and function of regulatory T (Treg) cells. The number of circulating Treg cells and the level of Foxp3 expression increase during granulocyte and monocyte apheresis (GMA), a useful therapy for ulcerative colitis. However, the mechanism underlying GMA‐induced Foxp3 expression is unknown. We found that the level of TGF‐β mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was augmented just after treatment of peripheral blood with a GMA carrier, cellulose acetate beads, in vitro and that Foxp3 expression in PBMCs increased after culturing these cells for 5 days after the treatment. The augmentation of TGF‐β expression was observed in CD3− PBMCs but not in CD3+ T cells. Furthermore, the increase in Foxp3 expression in T cells depended on co‐culture with CD3− PBMCs. We conclude that cellulose acetate beads have an ability to induce Foxp3 expression in peripheral blood T cells via augmentation of TGF‐β expression in CD3− PBMCs. J. Clin. Apheresis 25:216–222, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Stress-induced blood pressure reactivity and cognitive function

Objective: To examine the relation of stress-induced blood pressure (BP) reactivity to cognitive function. Methods: Ninety-four healthy stroke- and dementia-free middle-aged and older adults (ages 54 to 79; 62% male; 90% white) completed biomedical, psychophysiological, and neuropsychological assessment procedures. Results: After statistical adjustment for age, education, state anxiety, fasting glucose levels, and resting systolic or diastolic BP (depending on the model), greater systolic BP reactivity was associated with decreased performance on Logical Memory–Immediate Recall (r2 = 0.08; p < 0.007), Logical Memory–Delayed Recall (r2 = 0.06; p < 0.02), and Stroop interference scores (r2 = 0.04; p < 0.05). Enhanced diastolic BP reactivity was similarly associated with decreased performance on Logical Memory–Immediate Recall (r2 = 0.06; p < 0.02) and Stroop interference scores (r2 = 0.06; p < 0.02). Conclusions: Independent of resting clinic blood pressure (BP), systolic and diastolic BP reactivity was associated with diminished performance on tests of immediate and delayed verbal memory and executive function (i.e., response inhibition), accounting for 3 to 8% of the variance in these measures.
Conserved RXLR Effector Genes of Phytophthora infestans Expressed at the Early Stage of Potato Infection Are Suppressive to Host Defense

Late blight has been the most devastating potato disease worldwide. The causal agent, Phytophthora infestans, is notorious for its capability to rapidly overcome host resistance. Changes in the expression pattern and the encoded protein sequences of effector genes in the pathogen are responsible for the loss of host resistance. Among numerous effector genes, the class of RXLR effector genes is well-known in mediating host genotype-specific resistance. We therefore performed deep sequencing of five genetically diverse P. infestans strains using in planta materials infected with zoospores (12 h post inoculation) and focused on the identification of RXLR effector genes that are conserved in coding sequences, are highly expressed in early stages of plant infection, and have defense suppression activities. In all, 245 RXLR effector genes were expressed in five transcriptomes, with 108 being co-expressed in all five strains, 47 of them comparatively highly expressed. Taking sequence polymorphism into consideration, 18 candidate core RXLR effectors that were conserved in sequence and with higher in planta expression levels were selected for further study. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transient expression of the selected effector genes in Nicotiana benthamiana and potato demonstrated their potential virulence function, as shown by suppression of PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI) or/and effector-triggered immunity (ETI). The identified collection of core RXLR effectors will be useful in the search for potential durable late blight resistance genes. Analysis of 10 known Avr RXLR genes revealed that the resistance genes R2, Rpi-blb2, Rpi-vnt1, Rpi-Smira1, and Rpi-Smira2 may be effective in potato cultivars. Analysis of 8 SFI (Suppressor of early Flg22-induced Immune response) RXLR effector genes showed that SFI2, SFI3, and SFI4 were highly expressed in all examined strains, suggesting their potentially important function in early stages of pathogen infection.
Myeloperoxidase‐antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody seroconversion and fulminant vasculitis in Scl‐70‐positive scleroderma

Although anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are occasionally identified in the serum of patients with scleroderma, the finding is thought to lack clinical utility. We report the development of fulminant microscopic polyangiitis with the new emergence of myeloperoxidase (MPO)-specific ANCA in the serum of a patient with known Scl-70-positive diffuse-variant scleroderma. A 54-year-old man was under surveillance for a 3-year history of Scl-70-positive scleroderma characterized by Raynaud’s phenomenon, progressive interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, anorexia, weight loss, night sweats, sclerodactyly and small joint polyarthralgia. ANCA serology had been negative at his initial presentation. His clinical course deteriorated abruptly with the development of acute pericarditis followed by normotensive acute renal failure (Fig. 1a). New perinuclear pattern ANCA and MPO antibodies (36 U/mL, normal <5) were detected in serum. Glomerular basement membrane antibodies were not detected. A renal biopsy that was carried out showed florid, pauci-immune glomerulonephritis with epithelial
Adaptive Self-Regulation: Meeting Others' Expectations of Leadership and Performance

Abstract The authors used longitudinal multisource field data to examine core aspects of the adaptive self-regulation model (A. S. Tsui & S. J. Ashford, 1994) in terms of linkages between self-monitoring, discrepancy in manager match-to-position, 5 measures of leadership, and manager performance. At Time 1,64 superiors of focal managers rated the managers' matches to their positions within the organization; at Time 3, they rated the managers' performance. At Time 2, the 64 focal managers completed a measure of self-monitoring, and 192 subordinates rated the focal managers' leadership behaviors. Results of partial least squares analysis revealed that discrepancy in manager match-to-position was associated with reductions in laissez faire and passive management-by-exception behaviors and increases in transformational leadership behavior. Self-monitoring was positively associated with all 5 leadership behaviors. Performance was related positively to transformational leadership behavior and negatively to passive management-by-exception and contingent-reward behaviors
Early Introduction of Dairy Products Associated with Increased Risk of IDDM in Finnish Children

Associations between infant-feeding patterns and risk of IDDM were investigated in a nationwide Finnish case-control study of 690 IDDM children <15 yr of age. Each child was matched by date of birth and sex to a randomly selected population-based control child. Univariate analysis revealed that the risk of IDDM was increased by ∼1.5 in children for whom breast-feeding was terminated at <2 mo of age, doubled in those who were exclusively breast-fed for <2 mo, and doubled in those who were introduced to dairy products at <2 mo of age. In further multivariate analyses of these factors, it was found that introduction of dairy products at an early age was the most important risk factor, and the observed univariate effects of duration of breast-feeding variables were explained by their correlation with this factor. This is the first observational study to show that early introduction of dairy products is independently associated with an increased risk of IDDM. Adjustment for mother's education and age, child's birth order, or birth weight did not affect the results.
Macrophage-induced muscle pathology results in morbidity and mortality for Ross River virus-infected mice.

Ross River virus (RRV) is an Australian alphavirus that is often responsible for chronic epidemic polyarthritis and myalgia in humans. Past studies have shown severe disruption of striated muscle fibers to be prominent in RRV pathology in mice; in the present study, macrophages were directly implicated as the primary mediators of muscle damage. General immunosuppressive therapies had only minor effects on mortality and morbidity in RRV-infected mice, with no inhibition of muscle damage. Treatment of mice with macrophage-toxic agents (e.g., silica) prior to RRV infection completely abrogated disease symptoms without significantly affecting titers of virus in organs. Further studies found that clinical signs of infection and muscle damage correlated with a massive influx of macrophages into hind leg muscle, whereas no such infiltrate or damage was observed for silica-treated mice. These observations are significant for the human disease context, as monocytic cells have been detected in the synovial effusions of persons with epidemic polyarthritis.
Effect of the Direct Factor Xa Inhibitor Apixaban in Rat Models of Thrombosis and Hemostasis

Apixaban is an oral, direct, and highly selective factor Xa inhibitor in late-stage clinical development for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic diseases. Apixaban was evaluated in rat thrombosis and hemostasis models. Thrombosis was produced in the carotid artery by FeCl2 application, in the vena cava by either FeCl2 application or tissue factor injection, and in an arterial-venous shunt. Hemostasis was assessed using cuticle, renal cortex, and mesenteric artery bleeding times. Intravenous apixaban infusions of 0.1, 0.3, 1, and 3 mg/kg per hour increased the ex vivo prothrombin time to 1.24, 1.93, 2.75, and 3.98 times control, respectively. The 0.3, 1, and 3-mg/kg per hour doses inhibited thrombosis in all models. Concentrations for 50% thrombus reduction ranged from 1.84 to 7.57 μM. The 3-mg/kg per hour dose increased cuticle, renal, and mesenteric bleeding times to 1.92, 2.13, and 2.98 times control, respectively. Lower doses had variable (1 mg/kg per hour) or no effect (0.1, 0.3 mg/kg per hour) on hemostasis. Heparin's prolongation of renal and cuticle bleeding time was twice that of apixaban when administered at a dose that approximated apixaban (3 mg/kg per hour) efficacy in arterial thrombosis. In summary, apixaban was effective in a broad range of thrombosis models at doses producing modest increases in multiple bleeding time models.