Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous thoracolumbar spinal cord infarction: report of six cases

We present a retrospective study of 6 patients with spinal cord infarction in the territory of the Adamkiewicz artery. In all patients, the clinical picture was stereotyped: sudden onset of paraplegia and bilateral radicular pain, dissociated sensory loss below the level of infarction and sphincter dysfunction. Emergency neuroradiological investigation ruled out a compressive lesion in all cases. In one patient, spinal angiography was performed and identified an occlusion of the Adamkiewicz artery. Treatment was supportive and all patients had a substantial recovery over a period of weeks.
The IPR-cleared Corpus of Contemporary Written and Spoken Romanian Language

The article describes the current status of a large national project, CoRoLa, aiming at building a reference corpus for the contemporary Romanian language. Unlike many other national corpora, CoRoLa contains only - IPR cleared texts and speech data, obtained from some of the country’s most representative publishing houses, broadcasting agencies, editorial offices, newspapers and popular bloggers. For the written component 500 million tokens are targeted and for the oral one 300 hours of recordings. The choice of texts is done according to their functional style, domain and subdomain, also with an eye to the international practice. A metadata file (following the CMDI model) is associated to each text file. Collected texts are cleaned and transformed in a format compatible with the tools for automatic processing (segmentation, tokenization, lemmatization, part-of-speech tagging). The paper also presents up-to-date statistics about the structure of the corpus almost two years before its official launching. The corpus will be freely available for searching. Users will be able to download the results of their searches and those original files when not against stipulations in the protocols we have with text providers.
Clinico-microbiological profile of necrotizing fasciitis secondary to diabetes mellitus in a tertiary care hospital

Objectives: Necrotizing fasciitis is a life-threatening soft-tissue infection primarily involving the superficial fascia. The present study describes the clinical presentation and microbiological characteristics of this condition as well as risk factors, management and outcome of the patients. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, tissue and/or wound swabs and blood for culture from 50 clinically suspected cases were cultured aerobically and anaerobically and the isolates tested for sensitivity. Clinical correlation and follow-up was done. Results: The age range was 17-87 years (mean=54 yrs) with a male predominance. The most common site of infection was the calf region (59.5%) and diabetes mellitus was the most common associated comorbidity (44.7%). Majority of the patients presented with symptoms of sepsis, systemic toxicity, or evidence of skin inflammation. Hyperacute cases presented with sepsis and quickly progressed to multiorgan failure (40%). 23 patients (57.5%) had microbiological isolates and in 16% of the cases, there was an anaerobic growth. Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia were the most common isolates, whereas Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common environmental strains, suggestive to be colonizer. Antibiotics were instituted in all patients and all required debridement. Amputation had to be done in 2 patients. 21.3% of the patients were admitted in the ICU. Most of the patients recovered on treatment. Conclusions: Necrotizing fasciitis is a common condition that results in gross morbidity and mortality if not treated at early stages. A high index of suspicion is important in view of the paucity of the specific cutaneous findings early in the course of the disease.
Macrophage Tropism of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Facilitates In Vivo Escape from Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Pressure

ABSTRACT Early after seroconversion, macrophage-tropic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) variants are predominantly found, even when a mixture of macrophage-tropic and non-macrophage-tropic variants was transmitted. For virus contracted by sexual transmission, this is presently explained by selection at the port of entry, where macrophages are infected and T cells are relatively rare. Here we explore an additional mechanism to explain the selection of macrophage-tropic variants in cases where the mucosa is bypassed during transmission, such as blood transfusion, needle-stick accidents, or intravenous drug abuse. With molecularly cloned primary isolates of HIV-1 in irradiated mice that had been reconstituted with a high dose of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, we found that a macrophage-tropic HIV-1 clone escaped more efficiently from specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) pressure than its non-macrophage-tropic counterpart. We propose that CTLs favor the selective outgrowth of macrophage-tropic HIV-1 variants because infected macrophages are less susceptible to CTL activity than infected T cells.
The Big Mush: Psychometric Measures are Confounded and Non-Independent in Their Association with Age at Initial Diagnosis of Ischaemic Coronary Heart Disease

The present study uses early diagnosis of ischaemic coronary heart disease (ICHD) as a proxy for disease malignancy in testing the statistical strength of association, and uniqueness/confounding, of several psychometric scales that have previously been found to prospectively predict death in cardiac samples (Beck Depression Inventory, Crown–Crisp Phobic Anxiety Scale, Type D Scale & Ketterer Stress Symptom Frequency Checklist). Eighty-three patients (no. of females=35) with documented ICHD were assessed for traditional and psychometric risk factors. The psychometric risk factors were moderately to strongly intercorrelated, and strongly confounded in their relationship to age at initial diagnosis. In a stepwise multiple regression, only the AIAI (aggravation, irritation, anger and impatience) scale of the Ketterer Stress Symptom Frequency Checklist (KSSFC) survived as a predictor of age at initial diagnosis (P=0.016). In a subgroup of the sample for whom the Spouse/Friend Version of the KSSFC was received (n=58, or 70%), spouse/friend reported AIAI survived as the only predictor (P=0.010). While present results need replication in a prospective study of diagnosed ICHD patients for all important clinical outcomes, only one psychometric screening instrument may be necessary to identify patients in need of treatment.
External laryngeal manipulation done by the laryngoscopist makes the best laryngeal view for intubation

Purpose: External laryngeal manipulation (ELM) is used to get better laryngeal view during direct laryngoscopy. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that ELM done by the intubating anesthetist (laryngoscopist) offers the best laryngeal view for tracheal intubation. Materials and method: A total of 160 patients underwent different surgical procedures were included in this study. Percentage of glottic opening (POGO) score and Cormack and Lehane scale were used as outcome measures for comparison between different laryngoscopic views. Four views were described; basic laryngoscopic view and then views after ELM done by the assistant, by the laryngoscopist and finally by the assistant after the guidance from the laryngoscopist respectively. The last three views compared with the basic laryngoscopic view. Results: ELM done by the laryngoscopist or by the assistant after guidance from the laryngoscopist showed significant improvement of Cormack grades and POGO scores compared with basic laryngoscopic view. Number of patients with Cormack grade1 increased from 39 after direct laryngoscopy to 97 and 96 patients (P < 0.001 by Fisher's exact test), after ELM done by the laryngoscopist and that done by the assistant after guidance from the anesthetist respectively. Furthermore, the number of patients with POGO scores of 100% increased from 39 after direct laryngoscopy to 78 and 61 (P < 0.01) patients after ELM done by the laryngoscopist and that done by the assistant after guidance from the anesthetist respectively. Conclusion: It appeared from this study that ELM done by the anesthetist makes the best laryngeal view for tracheal intubation.
Breastfeeding and Weaning: Awareness and Practices among Female Health Providers working in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Karachi-Pakistan

Objectives: To assess the awareness and practices regarding breastfeeding and weaning among female healthcare providers working in tertiary care hospital of Karachi. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among married female healthcare professionals who have at least one child under the age of five years. A sample of 94 study participants working in a private tertiary care hospital was selected through convenience sampling technique. Data collected using structured and self administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done by SPSS version 20 and Chi-square was applied with P-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Of the 94 female healthcare providers questioned, 90 (95.7%) recognized breast feeding as the preferred mode of feeding however, only 74 (78.7%) practiced it while 28 (29.8%) did not. 15 (15.9%) of these cited workplace related issues as an important reason for hindrance. Although healthcare providers were aware of the hazards of bottle feeding yet majority i.e. 80 (85.1%) practiced it. The most appropriate age for weaning was considered to be six months by 73 (77.7%) of the participants, however, only 50 (53.2%) practiced it. Homemade meals were used by 80 (85.1%) of the participants for hygienic reasons. Conclusion: Healthcare providers were found to have the right knowledge regarding the practices of breast feeding and weaning, however there was a significant gap between their knowledge and practice. Workplace related hindrances were found to be the main reason for this gap. So it is recommended to empower working mothers in order for them to be able to carry out the best feeding practices.
Interaction between very‐KIND Ras guanine exchange factor and microtubule‐associated protein 2, and its role in dendrite growth – structure and function of the second kinase noncatalytic C‐lobe domain

The kinase noncatalytic C‐lobe domain (KIND) is a putative protein–protein interaction module. Four KIND‐containing proteins, Spir‐2 (actin‐nuclear factor), PTPN13 (protein tyrosine phosphatase), FRMPD2 (scaffold protein) and very‐KIND (v‐KIND) (brain‐specific Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor), have been identified to date. Uniquely, v‐KIND has two KINDs (i.e. KIND1 and KIND2), whereas the other three proteins have only one. The functional role of KIND, however, remains unclear. We previously demonstrated that v‐KIND interacts with the high‐molecular weight microtubule‐associated protein 2 (MAP2), a dendritic microtubule‐associated protein, leading to negative regulation of neuronal dendrite growth. In the present study, we analyzed the structure–function relationships of the v‐KIND–MAP2 interaction by generating a series of mutant constructs. The interaction with endogenous MAP2 in mouse cerebellar granule cells was specific to v‐KIND KIND2, but not KIND1, and was not observed for the KINDs from other KIND‐containing proteins. The binding core modules critical for the v‐KIND–MAP2 interaction were defined within 32 residues of the mouse v‐KIND KIND2 and 43 residues of the mouse MAP2 central domain. Three Leu residues at amino acid positions 461, 474 and 477 in the MAP2‐binding core module of KIND2 contributed to the interaction. The MAP2‐binding core module itself promoted dendrite branching as a dominant‐negative regulator of v‐KIND in hippocampal neurons. The results reported in the present study demonstrate the structural and functional determinant underlying the v‐KIND–MAP2 interaction that controls dendrite arborization patterns.
Approximate multivariate genetic evaluation of functional longevity and type traits in Austrian Fleckvieh cattle

To optimize the subindex for functional longevity in Austrian Fleckvieh, an approximate multivariate approach was analyzed. Genetic parameters for functional longevity and five type traits were estimated multivariately based on yield deviations. Genetic parameters differed slightly from the ones used in the routine evaluation. Indices and reliabilities computed in a full multivariate approach were defined as reference and compared with three other approaches: (1) is based on approximate genetic correlations and selection index theory; (2) is an approach using multivariate estimates of genetic correlations; (3) is a univariate approach ignoring auxiliary traits. Rank correlations of indices based on different approaches were above 0.90, except for those based on univariate EBVs. Variances of indices were lower for the multivariate approach when reliabilities were low. Results indicate that reliabilities and variances of indices are overestimated for the approaches that are based on selection index theory.
TLX1/HOX11‐mediated disruption of primary thymocyte differentiation prior to the CD4+CD8+ double‐positive stage

The TLX1/HOX11 homeobox gene is frequently activated in T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T‐ALL) by the t(10;14)(q24;q11) and t(7;10)(q35;q24) chromosomal translocations or by as yet unknown transcriptional mechanisms in the absence of 10q24 cytogenetic abnormalities. Almost all TLX1+ T‐ALLs exhibit a CD4+CD8+ double‐positive (DP) phenotype. To investigate the role of TLX1 as an initiating oncogene in T‐ALL pathogenesis, we assessed the consequences of retroviral vector‐directed TLX1 expression during the differentiation of murine and human thymocytes in fetal thymic organ cultures. Interestingly, enforced expression of TLX1 disrupted the differentiation of murine fetal liver precursors and human cord blood CD34+ stem/progenitor cells prior to the DP thymocyte stage. Although differentiation arrest was associated with an increased percentage of apoptotic thymocytes, it could only be partially bypassed by coexpression of transgenic BCL2. Mutation of the invariant asparagine residue at position 51 of the homeodomain – which is required for efficient DNA binding – released the block, consistent with the notion that TLX1 inhibits thymocyte differentiation and promotes T‐cell oncogenesis by functioning as a transcription factor. The relevance of these findings is discussed in the context of activating NOTCH1 mutations and the other genetic lesions implicated in the multistep transformation process of TLX1+ T‐ALL.
Reproductive biology of captive and free‐ranging spider monkeys

Records from 42 zoos and from long-term studies of wild populations were analysed to describe the reproductive biology of spider monkeys (Ateles spp.). Both data sets suggested that spider monkey females typically have their first infant between 7 and 8 years of age with an interbirth interval of approximately 32-36 months. Infant sex ratio for zoo populations was approximately 1 male to 1 female; infant sex ratios from wild populations were variable. Zoo records provided adequate sample size to suggest that interbirth interval was not influenced by the sex of the infant produced, and that the sex ratio and the probability of infant survival did not change with the number of infants the mother had produced. The findings of this study have implications with respect to the conservation of New World primate species. Since spider monkeys take a long time to reach sexual maturity and their interbirth interval is longer than that expected based on their body size, their populations may be slow to recover following disturbances. Thus, particular care should be taken for the protection of these species.
The Illumination-Invariant Matching of Deterministic Local Structure in Color Images

The availability of multiple spectral measurements at each pixel in an image provides important additional information for recognition. Spectral information is of particular importance for applications where spatial information is limited. Such applications include the recognition of small objects or the recognition of small features on partially occluded objects. We introduce a feature matrix representation for deterministic local structure in color images. Although feature matrices are useful for recognition, this representation depends on the spectral properties of the scene illumination. Using a linear model for surface spectral reflectance with the same number of parameters as the number of color bands, we show that changes in the spectral content of the illumination correspond to linear transformations of the feature matrices, and that image plane rotations correspond to circular shifts of the matrices. From these relationships, we derive an algorithm for the recognition of local surface structure which is invariant to these scene transformations. We demonstrate the algorithm with a series of experiments on images of real objects.
Occupational Segregation by Sex: The Role of Intergenerational Transmission

This Ph.D. thesis in Economics consists of five self-contained chapters that investigate the role of gender and family background in generating socioeconomic inequality.Occupational segregation by sex: The role of intergenerational transmission studies the persistence of the occupational sex segregation by investigating intergenerational associations in the sex composition of occupations.Gender differences in initiation of negotiation: Does the gender of the negotiation counterpart matter? experimentally examines how the gender difference in the willingness to enter a negotiation is affected by the gender of the counterpart in the negotiation.The importance of family background and neighborhood effects as determinants of crime estimates sibling and neighborhood correlations in criminal convictions and incarceration.IQ and family background: Are associations strong or weak? examines sibling and intergenerational correlations in IQ.Gender and inequality of opportunity in Sweden explores to what extent income inequality is due to factors beyond individuals' control, such as gender and parental income.
Information Technology Resources and Customer-Service Process Coordination in Third-Party Logistics

Adopting the supply chain paradigm, we define customer service as a multifunctional sequence of process activities supported by an intricate tapestry of information technology (IT) and non-IT resources that enable the coordination and communication necessary to create value for the customer. The resource-based view (RBV) serves as our theoretical lens for assessing the strategic contributions of IT in the customer-service process of third-party logistics firms. Our findings support the RBV assertion of significant direct and indirect impacts but suggest that the challenges of fully integrating IT resources as process components go beyond merely leveraging complementarity, as emphasized by RBV.
The impact of marital status in hospitalized patients with bipolar disorder.

Rev Bras Psiquiatr. 2009;31(4):387-95 Case report: S. is a 21-year-old single woman who came to office asking for help to get a job. She applied for a selection process and asked for a prescription of methylphenidate to improve her chances. She became aware of this drug through a friend that was studying with her and reported an important improvement in academic test performance. The friend was using pills from his sister. S. had already taken this medication once, noticing a discrete improvement in her capabilities. There was no current or lifetime diagnosis of ADHD or any other psychiatric disorders. The performance in ASRS4 test was within the normal range. The risks and benefits of using stimulants in this manner were explained to her. General orientation about study, sleep, diet, leisure and relationships with others were highlighted. Methylphenidate was not prescribed. The patient seemed dissatisfied at the end of the appointment. A new appointment was scheduled, but the patient did not show up. Discussion: Changing cultural values may put pressures on clinicians’ decisions in order to prescribe performance enhancing drugs. We may be facing a paradigm shift towards Cosmetic
Overexpression of RPI1, a novel inhibitor of the yeast Ras-cyclic AMP pathway, down-regulates normal but not mutationally activated ras function

A high-copy-number plasmid genomic library was screened for genes that when overexpressed down-regulate Ras protein activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We report on the structure and characterization of one such gene, RPI1, which potentially encodes a novel 46-kDa negative regulator of the Ras-cyclic AMP pathway. Three lines of evidence suggest that the RPI1 gene product operates upstream to negatively regulate the activity of normal but not mutationally activated Ras proteins: (i) overexpressed RPI1 lowers cyclic AMP levels in wild-type yeast cells but not in yeast cells carrying the RAS2Val-19 mutation, (ii) overexpressed RPI1 suppresses the heat shock sensitivity phenotype induced by overexpression of normal RAS2 but does not suppress the same phenotype induced by RAS2Val-19, and (iii) disruption of RPI1 results in a heat shock sensitivity phenotype which can be suppressed by mutations that lower normal Ras activity. Thus, RPI1 appears to encode an inhibitor of Ras activity that shares a common feature with Ras GTPase-activating proteins in that it fails to down-regulate activated RAS2Val-19 function. We present evidence that the down-regulatory effect of RPI1 requires the presence of one of the two Ras GTPase activators, IRA1 and IRA2.
How Can Women Escape the Compensation Negotiation Dilemma? Relational Accounts Are One Answer

Policy makers, academics, and media reports suggest that women could shrink the gender pay gap by negotiating more effectively for higher compensation. Yet women entering compensation negotiations face a dilemma: They have to weigh the benefits of negotiating against the social consequences of having negotiated. Research shows that women are penalized socially more than men for negotiating for higher pay. To address this dilemma, the authors test strategies to help women improve both their negotiation and social outcomes in compensation negotiations. In Study 1, communicating concern for organizational relationships improved female negotiators’ social outcomes, and offering a legitimate account for compensation requests improved negotiation outcomes. However, neither strategy—alone or in combination—improved both women’s social and negotiation outcomes. Study 2 tested two strategies devised to improve female negotiators’ social and negotiation outcomes by explaining why a compensation request is legitimate in relational terms. Results showed that, although adherence to the feminine stereotype is insufficient, using these “relational accounts” can improve women’s social and negotiation outcomes at the same time. Normative implications of conformity to gender stereotypes to reduce gender pay disparities are discussed.