Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Myelodysplastic syndromes: the pediatric point of view.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal disorders of the multipotent hematopoietic stem cell characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and associated with marrow hypercellularity, increased intramedullary cell death and peripheral cytopenias of varying severity. Patients with myelodysplasia have a propensity (20% to 30% of cases) to undergo transformation into acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and a large body of evidence indicates that MDS represent steps in the multiphasic evolution of AML. Progression of the disease is characterized by expansion of the abnormal clone and inhibition of normal hematopoiesis leading to deterioration of the blood cell count and/or development of AML. MDS are relatively unusual in childhood, representing only 3% of pediatric hematological malignancies, although it has been reported that up to 17% of pediatric AML cases may have a previous myelodysplastic phase. The first systematic attempt at morphological classification of MDS was provided by the French-American-British (FAB) group. However, the FAB classification of MDS is only partially applicable in children. Some variants are extremely rare or absent (refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia), and other peculiar pediatric disorders, represented by juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia (JCML) and the monosomy 7 syndrome, are not included. Moreover, since there is a partial overlap between pediatric MDS and myeloproliferative disorders and the variants occurring in young children have rather specific features, some confusion still surrounds the nosographical definition of childhood MDS, so that none of the proposed classifications are widely accepted and used. Characteristically, some genetic conditions such as Fanconi's anemia, Shwachman's and Down's syndromes predispose to the development of MDS in childhood. The most common variants of childhood MDS are represented by JCML and the monosomy 7 syndrome, both disorders typically occurring in young children. JCML is characterized by a spontaneous growth of granulocyte-macrophage progenitors that show a striking hypersensitivity to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Clinical presentation resembles that of some myeloproliferative disorders, with massive organomegaly usually not observed in the classically reported variants of MDS. Clinical features of the monosomy 7 syndrome resemble those observed in JCML and a differential diagnosis between these two entities relies upon the higher percentage of fetal hemoglobin, the more pronounced decrease in platelet count and, in some cases, the lack of the peculiar cytogenetic abnormality in the latter. With the number of children being cured of cancer constantly rising, a significant increase in secondary or chemotherapy-related myelodysplasia is being observed, and these disorders represent a formidable challenge for pediatric hematologists due to their poor response to chemotherapy. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Recidivebericht 2012 : landelijke cijfers met betrekking tot de strafrechtelijke recidive van justitiabelen uit de periode 2002-2009

Het WODC berekent jaarlijks met behulp van de Recidivemonitor de strafrechtelijke recidive van Nederlandse justitiabelen. Zo goed als iedereen die in Nederland als verdachte met justitie te maken kreeg, wordt met het onderzoek van de Recidivemonitor gevolgd. Deze Factsheet richt zich op vaste dadergroepen: volwassen daders met een strafzaak, minderjarige daders met een strafzaak, ex-gedetineerden, ex-pupillen van justitiele jeugdinrichtingen en reclasseringsclienten. Over de terugval in de tbs-sector wordt apart verslag gedaan.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP/1.1): Message Syntax and Routing

The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a stateless application- level protocol for distributed, collaborative, hypertext information systems. This document provides an overview of HTTP architecture and its associated terminology, defines the "http" and "https" Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) schemes, defines the HTTP/1.1 message syntax and parsing requirements, and describes related security concerns for implementations.
Human Intelligence and Power Spectral Analysis of Visual Evoked Potentials

The relationship between intelligence and power spectra of visual evoked potential was investigated using 8 normal and 8 mentally retarded children as subjects. The results showed the power spectrum of mentally retarded has a peak at 4 to 6 Hz, whereas that of normal has two apparent peaks at 4 and 12 Hz. It appears the peak at 12 Hz reflects the difference of intelligence.
Three-dimensional condylar positions and forms associated with different anteroposterior skeletal patterns and facial asymmetry in Chinese adolescents

Abstract Objective. To evaluate the association of condylar asymmetry and chin position with different anteroposterior skeletal patterns using three-dimensional models reconstructed from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Materials and methods. CBCT scans of 123 Chinese adolescents (aged 11–15 years, 68 girls and 55 boys) with 64 skeletal Class I, 46 Class II and 13 Class III were selected from scans of patients attending the orthodontic clinic. The condyles of the subjects were reconstructed bilaterally and 25 linear, angular and volumetric measurements were performed to evaluate the asymmetry of the condyles and position of the chin. The proportions of condylar asymmetry in the different skeletal groups were calculated by the absolute difference value between the left and right sides to the smaller side value. One-way analysis of variance and Pearson's correlations were used to analyse the data. Results. The values for RV, RCL, LCH, RCH, LCGM, RCGM, LCo-Me and RCo-Me were significantly different among the three skeletal groups (p < 0.05). There were significant positive correlations between Pog-Ss and Co-Sh, Co-Me in the Class I and II groups (p < 0.05). Asymmetries for Co-Ss, Co-Sh, CP and SP between the left and right condyles exceeded a ratio of 20% for more than 30% of the subjects. Conclusion. Condylar asymmetry varied significantly among the three skeletal groups, with the vertical position of the condyle (Co-Sh) and height of the mandibular ramus (Co-Me) being significantly and positively related to the chin position.
Image analysis of the morphology of filamentous micro-organisms.

Overview Image analysis is a powerful tool for characterizing the gross and internal morphology of filamentous microorganisms. Methods are available for characterizing both dispersed and pelleted growth forms, and for identifying apices, vacuoles and degenerated regions of hyphae. The technique has also been applied to the morphological characterization of dimorphic yeasts. Such methods can be used to study the complex interactions between morphology, productivity and process conditions in submerged fermentations of filamentous micro-organisms, including the effects of changes in inocula, and to study the growth of such organisms on solid surfaces. Amongst other applications, image analysis has been used to relate fermentation broth rheology to morphology, to study mycelial fragmentation by impellers, and to investigate structural and biochemical differentiation of hyphae both on solid surfaces and in submerged fermentations. This review describes these image analysis methods and their actual and potential applications in the study of filamentous micro-organisms.
Elective Total Gastrectomy for Cancer of the Stomach: End Results

There has been no apparent improvement in overall salvage of patients with cancer of the stomach treated by elective extended total gastrectomy from 1950-1964 as compared with those treated by partial gastrectomy during the preceding 20-year period, 1931-1950 at Memorial Hospital in New York City. Criteria of resectability have been extended in recent years, and, therefore, the two series of patients cannot be considered strictly comparable. In the 94 patients subjected to elective total gastrectomy for cancer of the stomach, more than half (55 patients) had cancer in the proximal 1/3 of the stomach. The results obtained in this group by total gastrectomy are inferior to those obtained in the earlier series by partial gastrectomy. Patients with carcinoma of the mid 1/3 of the stomach showed essentially the same 5-year survival by elective total gastrectomy (34.8%) as by partial gastrectomy (33.5%), while those with carcinoma of the distal 1/3 of the stomach showed a greater 5-year survival by elective total gastrectomy (43.7%) than by partial gastrectomy (29.8%). However, of significance is the fact that the incidence of nodal metastasis was 3 times greater in the patients undergoing elective total gastrectomy than in those undergoing partial gastrectomy. Despite this unfavorable finding, 5-year survival in the patients undergoing elective total gastrectomy for carcinoma of the mid 1/3 or distal 1/3 of the stomach was equal to, or better than, that found in those undergoing partial gastrectomy for lesions similarly located. On the basis of this finding alone, we believe that elective total gastrectomy is a worthwhile endeavor and should be performed for operable carcinomas arising in the mid 1/3 or distal 1/3 of the stomach.
Inhibition of peptidoglycan biosynthesis in gram-positive bacteria by LY146032

LY146032, a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic, is an inhibitor of cell wall peptidoglycan biosynthesis in gram-positive bacteria. Although LY146032 at relatively high concentrations inhibited the in vitro polymerization of UDP-linked sugar precursors, inhibition of cell wall formation in intact Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus megaterium cells did not lead to the accumulation of UDP-N-acetyl-muramyl (MurNAc)-peptide(s). Experiments that measured formation of UDP-MurNAc-peptides revealed that LY146032 inhibited the formation of these nucleotide-linked intermediates. This antibiotic had a disruptive effect on membrane permeability as evidenced by the loss of intracellular potassium immediately after exposure to the drug. The lack of any major disruption of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system indicated that the membrane is not likely a lethal target for this antibiotic. The findings are consistent with a mechanism by which LY146032 inhibits the formation of precursor molecules utilized in peptidoglycan biosynthesis. The observed membrane effects likely result from transit of the inhibitor to its lethal target site.
Automated determination of free amino groups in serum and plasma using 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonate.

A simple automated method is described for determining the level of total free amino acids in the blood. The method utilizes the AutoAnalyzer, and is based on the formation of colored complexes by uniting free amino groups with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS). Proteins do not interfere because the free amino acids are first separated by dialysis. Characteristics of the reaction and potential clinical applications of the procedure are discussed.
The behaviour of high strength lightweight concretes with the addition of steel fibers

The use of high strength lightweight concretes with the addition steel fibers has become more popular in recent days due to their mechanical proprieties. It was possible to observe that structural lightweight concrete has benefits when compared to normalweight concretes due to higher strengthens-weight ratio and improves tensile strain capability. Moreover, even thought it was demonstrated that the shear behavior of LWC are reduced when compared with NWC, more studies about shear behavior in LWC beams need to be done. Moreover, the addition of 0.75% of steel fibers by volume, 15% of Fly-ash and 5% of silica fume has demonstrated to be an ideal amount to obtain high-strength concretes with great mechanical properties. Hence, this paper presents a literature review about the behaviour of high strength lightweight concretes with the addition of steel fibers pointing out its mainly mechanical properties.
Pathway sampling by regenerating peripheral axons

A century ago, Ramon y Cajal described the generalized response of regenerating peripheral axons to their environment. By using mice that express fluorescent proteins in their axons, we are now able to quantify the response of individual axons to nerve transection and repair. Sciatic nerves from nonexpressing mice were grafted into those expressing a yellow variant of green fluorescent protein, then examined at 5, 7, or 10 days after repair. Regeneration was found to be a staggered process, with only 25% of axons crossing the repair in the first week. In the setting of Wallerian degeneration, this stagger will expose growth cones to an evolving menu of molecular cues upon which to base pathway decisions. Many axons arborize, allowing them to interact simultaneously with several pathways. Arborization could serve as the anatomical substrate for specificity generation through collateral pruning. Axons often travel laterally across the face of the distal stump before choosing a pathway. As a result, the average unbranched axon has access to over 100 distal Schwann cell tubes. This extensive access, however, does not ensure correct matching of axon and end organ, suggesting that pathway choice is made on the basis of factors other than end organ identity. These observations explain the failure of refined surgical techniques to restore normal function after nerve injury. The apparent wandering of axons across the repair defies surgical control and mandates a biological approach to reuniting severed axons with appropriate distal pathways. J. Comp. Neurol. 485:183–190, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
TRPC3 Activation by Erythropoietin Is Modulated by TRPC6*

Regulation of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) by erythropoietin (Epo) is an essential part of signaling pathways controlling proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitors, but regulatory mechanisms are largely unknown. TRPC3 and the homologous TRPC6 are two members of the transient receptor potential channel (TRPC) superfamily that are expressed on normal human erythroid precursors. Here we show that TRPC3 expression increases but TRPC6 decreases during erythroid differentiation. This is associated with a significantly greater increase in [Ca2+]i in response to Epo stimulation, suggesting that the ratio of TRPC3/TRPC6 is physiologically important. In HEK 293T cells heterologously expressing TRPC and erythropoietin receptor (Epo-R), Epo stimulated an increase in [Ca2+]i through TRPC3 but not TRPC6. Replacement of the C terminus of TRPC3 with the TRPC6 C terminus (TRPC3-C6C) resulted in loss of activation by Epo. In contrast, substitution of the C terminus of TRPC6 with that of TRPC3 (TRPC6-C3C) resulted in an increase in [Ca2+]i in response to Epo. Substitution of the N termini had no effect. Domains in the TRPC3 C terminus between amino acids 671 and 746 are critical for the response to Epo. Epo-R and phospholipase Cγ associated with TRPC3, and these interactions were significantly reduced with TRPC6 and TRPC3-C6C chimeras. TRPC3 and TRPC6 form heterotetramers. Coexpression of TRPC6 or C3/C6 chimeras with TRPC3 and Epo-R inhibited the Epo-stimulated increase in [Ca2+]i. In a heterologous expression system, Epo stimulation increased cell surface expression of TRPC3, which was inhibited by TRPC6. However, in primary erythroblasts, an increase in TRPC3 cell surface expression was not observed in erythroblasts in which Epo stimulated an increase in [Ca2+]i, demonstrating that increased membrane insertion of TRPC3 is not required. These data demonstrate that TRPC6 regulates TRPC3 activation by Epo. Endogenously, regulation of TRPC3 by TRPC6 may primarily be through modulation of signaling mechanisms, including reduced interaction of TRPC6 with phospholipase Cγ and Epo-R.
In Vivo Antitumor Activity of Metal Silver and Silver Nanoparticles in the L5178Y-R Murine Lymphoma Model

Aims: To evaluate the antitumor potential of metal silver and polyvinilpyrrolidone nanoparticle-encapsulated silver on L5178Y-R murine lymphoma cell growth and survival of tumor-bearing mice. Study Design: In vitro and in vivo (pre-clinical) study. Place and Duration of Study: Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Departamento de Microbiologia e Inmunologia, San Nicolas de los Garza, N.L. , Mexico, from January 2009 to December 2011. Methodology: Concentration-response cell viability assay was performed in vitro and mice survival studies were done using a L5178Y-R tumor-bearing mouse model. The PROBIT regression analysis was performed to determine the in vitro LC50. In vivo survival distributions were calculated by Kaplan-Meier and Cutler-Ederer analysis, and Research Article British Journal of Medicine & Medical Research, 3(4): 1308-1316, 2013 1309 survival curves comparisons and hypothesis testing was done using the log-rank method. Results: Metal silver induced up to 100% L5178Y-R cells cytotoxicity, with an LC50 of 1.8 X 10 M, whereas silver nanoparticles caused up to 78% cytotoxicity, with an LC50 of 14.4 X 10 M. In addition, Intramuscular administration of metal silver and silver nanoparticles administered at the time of tumor injection significantly (P = .05) increased mice survival, where 70% and 60% of mice survived at day 35 respectively, as compared with such treatments administered 7 days after tumor induction (55% and 25% survival respectively); vincristine treatment caused 50% mice survival and tumor-bearing control mice had 20% survival. These results open further approaches on treating several types of cancer using free and nanoparticle-encapsulated silver-based therapies.
Microparticle‐mediated thrombin generation assay: increased activity in patients with recurrent thrombosis

Summary. Background: Circulating cell‐derived microparticles (MP) are important players in thrombogenesis, attributed in part to tissue factor (TF) carried on them. We developed MP‐mediated thrombin generation assay (TGA) and measured a series of patients with thrombosis (TBS) and normal controls (NC). Methods: MP were isolated from plasma of 66 patients with TBS and 34 NC. The MP were resuspended in normal pooled particle‐free plasma (PFP) containing corn trypsin inhibitor (to inhibit contact pathway). MP mediated TGA yields three parameters: lag time, peak and rate. This method is not influenced by anticoagulant therapy. Of the TBS patients, 41 had only a single thrombosis (S‐TBS) and 25 had recurrences (R‐TBS) within a 5‐year period. In parallel, MP were quantitated by flow cytometry, and cell origin was determined: endothelial cells (EMP), leukocytes (LMP), red cells (RMP) and platelets (PMP). Results: MP from all TBS patients exhibited higher thrombin generation than NC by all three TGA parameters. R‐TBS had significantly greater TGA values than S‐TBS, reflected in higher peak and rate, and shorter lag time. MP numbers were also higher in TBS vs. NC, for all MP subtypes, and were significantly higher in R‐TBS than S‐TBS (except LMP). All MP levels correlated with thrombin generation (P < 0.0001), most closely between PMP and peak (R = 0.47) and rate (R = 0.43). Conclusions: MP‐mediated TGA is a novel way to assess functional procoagulant activity of MP. Enhanced MP‐mediated TGA was demonstrated in TBS patients, and significantly higher activity in R‐TBS. These findings support a major role of MP in thrombogenesis.
Reliability of the diagnosis of rheumatic conditions at the primary health care level.

OBJECTIVE To assess the reliability of the diagnosis given to rheumatic disease patients at the primary care level, the clinical records of 612 patients at the outpatient clinic of rheumatology of the main General Hospital in Alicante (Spain) were studied. METHODS The accuracy indices (sensitivity, specificity), the predictive values of tentative diagnosis made by the referring physicians and the degree of agreement (Kappa statistics) with the final diagnoses made by rheumatologists at the outpatient clinic of rheumatology were calculated. RESULTS There were differences in diagnosis agreement depending on the age of the referring doctor, with a greater degree of concordance among younger ones. More than 50% of the referral diagnoses were modified at the rheumatology outpatient clinic. In the most frequent diagnoses (inflammatory rheumatic diseases, osteoarthritis, soft tissue rheumatism) the level of concordance and the predictive values were low. CONCLUSION Our results highlight the need for upgrading courses in rheumatology for primary care physicians who have not been exposed to systematic training in rheumatology during their undergraduate studies. The epidemiological studies on rheumatic diseases based on primary care data should be interpreted with caution.
Abrupt millennial variability and interdecadal-interstadial oscillations in a global coupled model: sensitivity to the background climate state

The origin and bifurcation structure of abrupt millennial-scale climate transitions under steady external solar forcing and in the absence of atmospheric synoptic variability is studied by means of a global coupled model of intermediate complexity. We show that the origin of Dansgaard-Oeschger type oscillations in the model is caused by the weaker northward oceanic heat transport in the Atlantic basin. This is in agreement with previous studies realized with much simpler models, based on highly idealized geometries and simplified physics. The existence of abrupt millennial-scale climate transitions during glacial times can therefore be interpreted as a consequence of the weakening of the negative temperature-advection feed- back. This is confirmed through a series of numerical experiments designed to explore the sensitivity of the bifurcation structure of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation to increased atmospheric CO2 levels under glacial boundary conditions. Contrasting with the cold, stadial, phases of millennial oscillations, we also show the emergence of strong interdecadal variability in the North Atlantic sector during warm interstadials. The instability driving these interdecadal-interstadial oscillations is shown to be identical to that found in ocean-only models forced by fixed surface buoyancy fluxes, that is, a large-scale baro- clinic instability developing in the vicinity of the western boundary current in the North Atlantic. Comparisons with modern observations further suggest a physical mechanism similar to that driving the 30-40 years time scale associ- ated with the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation.
Catching Up to Girls: Understanding the Gender Imbalance in Educational Attainment within Race

Black females are 17 percentage points more likely to attend college than black males, making the gender gap among black youth larger than the black-white racial gap in college enrollment (14.7 pp). We estimate a sequential model of schooling and arrests to assess the major contributing factors to the gender imbalance in educational attainment within racial groups. First, we find that di erences between males and females in measures of early behavior account for the majority of the gender gap for each racial group. Second, despite the fact that 50% of black males were arrested at least once before age 25, we find little evidence that arrest outcomes in uence educational attainment, and that the negative correlation of educational attainment and arrests is entirely attributable to the same behavioral factors that explain the gender gap in education. Finally, we find that black males have the largest response to improvements in family background characteristics, such that equalizing the distribution of family background characteristics for black and white youths reduces the gender gap in college enrollment among black youth by 50% and completely eliminates the black-white racial gap in college enrollment.