Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gestational age specific neonatal survival in the State of Qatar (2003-2008) - a comparative study with international benchmarks.

OBJECTIVE To analyze and compare the current gestational age specific neonatal survival rates between Qatar and international benchmarks. STUDY DESIGN An analytical comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Women's Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar, from 2003-2008. METHODOLOGY Six year's (2003-2008) gestational age specific neonatal mortality data was stratified for each completed week of gestation at birth from 24 weeks till term. The data from World Health Statistics by WHO (2010), Vermont Oxford Network (VON, 2007) and National Statistics United Kingdom (2006) were used as international benchmarks for comparative analysis. RESULTS A total of 82,002 babies were born during the study period. Qatar's neonatal mortality rate (NMR) dropped from 6/1000 in 2003 to 4.3/1000 in 2008 (p < 0.05). The overall and gestational age specific neonatal mortality rates of Qatar were comparable with international benchmarks. The survival of < 27 weeks and term babies was better in Qatar (p=0.01 and p < 0.001 respectively) as compared to VON. The survival of > 32 weeks babies was better in UK (p=0.01) as compared to Qatar. The relative risk (RR) of death decreased with increasing gestational age (p < 0.0001). Preterm babies (45%) followed by lethal chromosomal and congenital anomalies (26.5%) were the two leading causes of neonatal deaths in Qatar. CONCLUSION The current total and gestational age specific neonatal survival rates in the State of Qatar are comparable with international benchmarks. In Qatar, persistently high rates of low birth weight and lethal chromosomal and congenital anomalies significantly contribute towards neonatal mortality.
Mutations of fumarase that distinguish between the active site and a nearby dicarboxylic acid binding site

Two mutant forms of fumarase C from E. coli have been made using PCR and recombinant DNA. The recombinant form of the protein included a histidine arm on the C‐terminal facilitating purification. Based on earlier studies, two different carboxylic acid binding sites, labeled A‐ and B‐, were observed in crystal structures of the wild type and inhibited forms of the enzyme. A histidine at each of the sites was mutated to an asparagine. H188N at the A‐site resulted in a large decrease in specific activity, while the H129N mutation at the B‐site had essentially no effect. From the results, we conclude that the A‐site is indeed the active site, and a dual role for H188 as a potential catalytic base is proposed. Crystal structures of the two mutant proteins produced some unexpected results. Both mutations reduced the affinity for the carboxylic acids at their respective sites. The H129N mutant should be particularly useful in future kinetic studies because it sterically blocks the B‐site with the carboxyamide of asparagine assuming the position of the ligand's carboxylate. In the H188N mutation at the active site, the new asparagine side chain still interacts with an active site water that appears to have moved slightly as a result of the mutation.
Preemptive morphine suppository for postoperative pain relief after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background: Postoperative pain is a major problem following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and there is no general agreement on the effective method of pain relief. Rectal morphine suppositories are one of the newly released morphine forms. The aim of this study is to compare the impact of suppository morphine with placebo on pain relief after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Materials and Methods: Seventy patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia, were randomly allocated to two groups according to the drug used for postoperative analgesia: Group morphine suppository (MS - 10 mg) just before induction of anesthesia And Group placebo suppository (PS) (the pills were made from cocoa butter, physically similar to the real drug). Pain intensity based on visual analog scale (VAS) and opioid consumption were assessed 30 and 60 min, and 2, 4, 8, 16, and 24 h after arrival of the patient to the recovery room. Results: VAS scores were significantly lower in MS group (from 3.8 ± 1 to 5.3 ± 1.6) compared with PS group (from 4.9 ± 0.9 to 6.7 ± 1) from 30 min after arrival to the recovery room until 16 h postoperatively (P < 0.05). There were no additional analgesic requirements in the first 2 h after the entrance of the patient to the recovery room in MS group. The number of patients requiring pethidine was significantly different between two groups (P < 0.05) in all periods except for 24 h postoperatively. Conclusion: Suppository morphine administration is more effective than placebo to reduce pain and analgesic requirements after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Clinical Significance of Serum DKK-1 in Patients With Gynecological Cancer

Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) is a secreted protein involved in embryonic development. Dickkopf-1 is also implicated in osteoporosis, arthritis, and cancer and represents a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of these diseases. Because DKK-1 encodes a secreted protein, we investigated whether the DKK-1 protein is secreted into the sera of patients with gynecological cancer. The levels of DKK-1 protein were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the sera of 104 patients with gynecological cancer including 36 with ovarian, 40 with cervical, and 28 with endometrial cancers. The serum levels of DKK-1 protein were higher in patients with cervical (314.13 [385.02] pg/mL, P = 0.000) and endometrial (46.95 [21.62] pg/mL, P = 0.000) cancers than in healthy individuals (29.45 [11.86] pg/mL). The serum levels of DKK-1 protein were associated with clinical stage in all patients with gynecological cancer. In patients with cervical cancer, the serum levels of DKK-1 protein were also associated with histological type and lymphatic metastasis. Dickkopf-1 protein detection using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as a molecular marker can contribute to the detection and the diagnosis of cervical and endometrial cancers, especially for cervical squamous cell cancer.
Simulation of Longitudinal Exposure Data with Variance‐Covariance Structures Based on Mixed Models

Longitudinal data are important in exposure and risk assessments, especially for pollutants with long half‐lives in the human body and where chronic exposures to current levels in the environment raise concerns for human health effects. It is usually difficult and expensive to obtain large longitudinal data sets for human exposure studies. This article reports a new simulation method to generate longitudinal data with flexible numbers of subjects and days. Mixed models are used to describe the variance‐covariance structures of input longitudinal data. Based on estimated model parameters, simulation data are generated with similar statistical characteristics compared to the input data. Three criteria are used to determine similarity: the overall mean and standard deviation, the variance components percentages, and the average autocorrelation coefficients. Upon the discussion of mixed models, a simulation procedure is produced and numerical results are shown through one human exposure study. Simulations of three sets of exposure data successfully meet above criteria. In particular, simulations can always retain correct weights of inter‐ and intrasubject variances as in the input data. Autocorrelations are also well followed. Compared with other simulation algorithms, this new method stores more information about the input overall distribution so as to satisfy the above multiple criteria for statistical targets. In addition, it generates values from numerous data sources and simulates continuous observed variables better than current data methods. This new method also provides flexible options in both modeling and simulation procedures according to various user requirements.
IgE to Bet v 1 and profilin: cross-reactivity patterns and clinical relevance.

BACKGROUND Individuals with pollen allergy often have IgE against plant-derived foods. This can be due to cross-reactive IgE against Bet v 1 and homologues, profilins, and/or cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to correlate sensitization to Bet v 1 and profilin with individual recognition patterns to plant foods and clinical relevance. METHODS Fifty-two patients with pollen allergy and IgE against at least one plant-derived food were included in the study. Adverse reactions to plant-derived foods were documented by using standardized interviews. Skin prick tests were performed for pollen (grass, birch, and mugwort) and 14 plant-derived foods. In addition, recombinant (r) Bet v 1 and rBet v 2 (profilin) were tested intracutaneously. Specific IgE against the abovementioned allergens were determined by means of RAST. Cross-reactivity was studied by means of RAST inhibition. RESULTS Eighty-five percent of patients were sensitized to Bet v 1, and 71% were sensitized to profilin. Profilin was associated with a higher number of positive RAST results to plant-derived foods than Bet v 1. In contrast, Bet v 1 was associated with more positive skin prick test responses and more food-related symptoms. Sensitization to Bet v 1 was associated with IgE against apple, hazelnut, and peach, whereas sensitization to profilin was associated with positive RAST results to all investigated plant-derived foods except apple, peach, and melon. CONCLUSIONS IgE antibodies against Bet v 1 have a more limited spectrum of cross-reactivity than those against profilin, but they frequently give rise to clinically relevant cross-reactivities to food. In analogy to anticarbohydrate IgE, cross-reactive IgE against food profilins have no or very limited clinical relevance.
Characteristics of non-urgent patients

Objective. To describe characteristics of patients seeking medical attention for non-urgent conditions at an emergency department (ED) and patients who use non-scheduled services in primary healthcare. Design. Descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting. Primary healthcare centres and an ED with the same catchment area in Stockholm, Sweden. Patients. Non-scheduled primary care patients and non-referred non-urgent ED patients within a defined catchment area investigated by structured face-to-face interviews in office hours during a nine-week period. Main outcome measures. Sociodemographic characteristics, chief complaints, previous healthcare use, perception of symptoms, and duration of symptoms before seeking care. Results. Of 924 eligible patients, 736 (80%) agreed to participate, 194 at the ED and 542 at nine corresponding primary care centres. The two groups shared demographic characteristics except gender. A majority (47%) of the patients at the primary care centres had respiratory symptoms, whereas most ED patients (52%) had digestive, musculoskeletal, or traumatic symptoms. Compared with primary care patients, a higher proportion (35%) of the ED patients had been hospitalized previously. ED patients were also more anxious about and disturbed by their symptoms and had had a shorter duration of symptoms. Both groups had previously used healthcare frequently. Conclusions. Symptoms, previous hospitalization and current perception of symptoms seemed to be the main factors discriminating between patients studied at the different sites. There were no substantial sociodemographic differences between the primary care centre patients and the ED patients.
Cognitive and daily functioning in older adults with vegetative symptoms of depression

In primary care 50–95% of patients with depression present with vegetative symptoms (VS). Based on the extant literature, older adults showing VS (but no dysphoria) may show functional impairment but this hypothesis has not been empirically tested. The goal of this study was to examine neurocognitive and daily functioning of elderly patients showing exclusively VS in comparison with patients presenting with VS and dysphoria.
Endotracheal and aerosol administrations of ceftazidime in patients with nosocomial pneumonia: pharmacokinetics and absolute bioavailability

Pharmacokinetic studies on ceftazidime, an aminothiazole cephalosporin with a wide spectrum of antibacterial activity, including activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were performed in patients with nosocomial pneumonia. The concentration-time profiles of ceftazidime in plasma, urine, and bronchial secretions of 12 patients were investigated after intravenous (i.v.) (n = 12), endotracheal (n = 10), and aerosol (n = 5) administrations. In all cases a 1-g dose was administered. Concentrations of drug in all samples were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. The elimination of the drug from the blood followed a biexponential (i.v. administration) or a monoexponential (endotracheal and aerosol administrations) decay, with an elimination half-life of 6 h and a total body clearance of 4.2 liters/h. The apparent volume of distribution was 0.36 liter/kg of body weight. Renal clearance of the drug accounted for 58% of the total clearance; 66% +/- 17.7%, 33.5% +/- 17.3%, and 6.59% +/- 3.45% of the administered dose were eliminated in urine as parent drug after i.v. , endotracheal, and aerosol administrations, respectively. The absolute bioavailabilities were 0.47 and 0.08 for endotracheal and aerosol administrations, respectively. Very high concentrations were found in bronchial secretions after local administration. The MICs for 90% of the most important pathogens responsible for nosocomial infections were exceeded by concentrations in bronchial secretion for up to 12 h after i.v. infusion and for up to 24 h after endotracheal and aerosol administrations.
Combined hydrogen sulfide removal and hydrate control for subsea application: Simulation study

The feasibility of the combination of hydrogen sulfide removal and dehydration is investigated in this work using Aspen Plus simulation software. First, the simulation model is validated against experimental data from the literature. Secondly, two process configurations are examined for the simultaneous removal of hydrogen sulfide and water vapor, and Aspen Plus limitations are discussed. Pressure of 100 bar was used in the absorption simulation, in order to simulate subsea high pressure while three different natural gas compositions, with increasing hydrogen sulfide content, were studied. The absorption performance using a mixed methyldiethanolamine (MDEA)-monoethylene glycol (MEG) solvent in one contactor was not possible due to convergence problems. Absorption of H2S and CO2 in aqueous MDEA, and H2O in aqueous MEG, including regeneration of the solvents, was therefore simulated separately and further analysis was performed. The specific reboiler duties required to meet the H2S content specification for trouble-free gas transportation in the sweet gas, using an aqueous MDEA solution for optimum Liquid-to-Gas ratio in the absorber, are in agreement with values reported in the literature. Gas dehydration in order to meet the water dew point specifications was also investigated.
Surgical Approach Influences Periprosthetic Femoral Bone Density

Our hypothesis was that the bone mineral density of the proximal femur is altered significantly by surgical approach. The change in long-term periprosthetic bone mineral density in relation to the alteration of the musculature after the anterolateral (Group A) and transgluteal approaches (Group B) has been compared. There were 35 hips (30 patients) in Group A and 47 hips (37 patients) in Group B. No significant differences were seen between groups with respect to age, gender, diaphyseal bone mineral density distribution, or average stem size in a Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. Measurement of bone mineral density in femoral Gruen zones revealed a significant bone loss in Group B compared with Group A in the multivariate analysis, which was confirmed by univariate post hoc tests in Zones I, II, VI, and VII (multiple significance according to Bonferroni-Holm’s procedure). The functional outcome, however, showed no significant differences between the two groups postoperatively. A potential reason for the bone mineral density shift might have been a redistribution of the musculoskeletal loading across the hip after a transgluteal, compared with an anterolateral, surgical approach. A difference in the muscular damage caused by the two surgical approaches seems to have a significant influence on the long-term bone loss. Level of Evidence: Prognostic study, Level II-1 (retrospective study). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Les villes petites et moyennes et leurs acteurs: regards de chercheurs.

Ce dossier a pour origine le colloque « Villes petites et moyennes, un regard renouvele », organise a Tours fin 2010, par le laboratoire Cites, Territoires, Environnement et Societes (UMR 6173 de l’universite Francois-Rabelais de Tours et du CNRS), en collaboration avec les universites d’Orleans, Poitiers et La Rochelle. Durant deux jours, 70 communications ont ete presentees. 120 chercheurs sont intervenus, dont 30 venus de l’etranger (Europe, Canada, Amerique du Sud, Afrique). Plusieurs questions ont structure les debats : comment definir la ville petite ou moyenne ? Quelle place ces territoires occupent-ils dans l’espace regional ? Y a-t-il des mutations economiques specifiques a ces villes ? Quels sont les effets des politiques publiques, qu’il s’agisse de politiques dediees, de la reforme de l’Etat ou d’appels a projets ? En quoi les formes de solidarite ou d’exclusion, les strategies residentielles ou les modes d’habiter different-ils de ceux observes ailleurs ?
A Full-Swing a-IGZO TFT-Based Inverter With a Top-Gate-Bias-Induced Depletion Load

A high-performance inverter implemented with single-gated driving and dual-gated load amorphous-indium-gallium-zinc-oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs) is demonstrated. The threshold voltage of the load TFT shifts to the negative gate voltage direction when a constant positive bias is applied on the top gate while sweeping the bottom gate. Using a positive top gate bias, the load TFT can be operated in the depletion mode to realize inverters with excellent switching characteristics, such as a wider swing range and a higher noise margin.
CD4+ CD25+ Regulatory T Cell Selection

Abstract: Accumulating evidence indicates that regulatory T cells play a crucial role in preventing autoimmunity. To examine the processes by which regulatory CD4+ T cells are produced during immune repertoire formation, we have developed transgenic mice that express the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) and coexpress major histocompatibility complex class II‐restricted T cell receptors (TCRs) with varying affinities for the HA‐derived CD4+ T cell determinant S1. We show that interactions with a single self‐peptide can induce thymocytes bearing an autoreactive TCR to undergo selection to become CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells, and that thymocytes bearing TCRs with low affinity for S1 do not undergo selection into this pathway. We show that CD4+ thymocytes with identical specificity for the S1 self‐peptide can undergo overt deletion versus abundant selection to become CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells in response to variations in expression of the S1 self‐peptide in different lineages of HA transgenic mice. We also show that CD4+ CD25+ T cells proliferate in response to their selecting self‐peptide in the periphery. Moreover, they do not proliferate in response to lymphopenia in the absence of the selecting self‐peptide, reflecting a low level of expression of the high‐affinity receptor for IL‐7 (CD127) relative to conventional CD4+ T cells. These studies are determining how specificity for self‐peptides directs the thymic selection and peripheral expansion of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells. Moreover, the differing responsiveness of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells to cytokine‐ versus self‐peptide‐mediated signals may direct their accumulation to sites where the self‐peptide is expressed.
Adipose Tissue Resistin Expression Is Severely Suppressed in Obesity and Stimulated by Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor γ Agonists*

Elevated levels of the hormone resistin, which is secreted by fat cells, are proposed to cause insulin resistance and to serve as a link between obesity and type 2 diabetes. In this report we show that resistin expression is significantly decreased in the white adipose tissue of several different models of obesity including the ob/ob, db/db, tub/tub, and KKAy mice compared with their lean counterparts. Furthermore, in response to several different classes of antidiabetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ agonists, adipose tissue resistin expression is increased in both ob/ob mice and Zucker diabetic fatty rats. These data demonstrate that experimental obesity in rodents is associated with severely defective resistin expression, and decreases in resistin expression are not required for the antidiabetic actions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ agonists.
Parenting and Socialization of Only Children in Urban China: An Example of Authoritative Parenting

ABSTRACT The authors report a semistructured interview of 328 urban Chinese parents regarding their parenting beliefs and practices with respect to their only children. Statistical analyses of the coded parental interviews and peer nomination data from the children show none of the traditional Chinese parenting or child behaviors that have been widely reported in the literature. The parenting of only children in urban China was predominantly authoritative rather than authoritarian. The parenting strategies and beliefs were child-centered, egalitarian, and warmth-oriented rather than control-oriented. Chinese parents encouraged prosocial assertiveness and discouraged behavioral constraint and modesty. The parenting of only children was also gender egalitarian in that there were few gender differences in child social behaviors and little gender differential parenting and socialization of these only children. Together with other recent studies, these findings and conclusions challenge the traditionalist view of Chinese parenting and beliefs and behaviors about child socialization.
N′-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-4-methoxybenzohydrazide monohydrate

In the title compound, C16H16N2O4·H2O, the dihedral angle between the two aromatic rings is 19.6 (2)°. In the crystal structure, molecules are linked into a three-dimensional network by intermolecular N—H⋯O, O—H⋯N and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.
Nanoerythrosomes, a new derivative of erythrocyte ghost: IV. Fate of reinjected nanoerythrosomes.

Recently, we have developed a promising new drug carrier named nanoerythrosome (nEryt). This transporter are small vesicles made with the red blood cell membrane. Anticancer drugs like daunorubicin, linked to these nEryt, have a higher antineoplastic activity than the free drug. In this paper, we first analyzed the biodistribution of 125I-nEryt purified by dialysis following intravenous (i.v.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections in CD1 mice. After i.v. administration, nEryt, are rapidly removed from blood circulation (< 30 min). Mainly the liver and spleen take up the vesicles. I.p. injections of nEryt purified by dialysis, showed a marked activity in the inguinal lymph nodes 2 hours post-injection. nEryt purified by centrifugation have a different biodistribution. They accumulate also in the lungs. We demonstrated that accumulation in the lungs is due to particle aggregation during the preparation procedure. Comparative analysis of size distribution of each nEryt preparation revealed that nEtyt purified by centrifugation has a mean diameter of 1.5 microm which is 10 times higher than its dialyzed counterpart. Light microscopic autoradiographs of dialyzed nEryt, reinjected i.v. , showed accumulation of nEryt in the sinusoidal lumen as well as in the parenchymal cells of the liver. Autoradiographs of the spleen revealed that nEryt are distributed specifically near the marginal zone and that some of them have escaped the meshes of the red pulp cords.