Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Health-related quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and proliferative lupus nephritis

This study investigated the influence of two different treatments for a kidney inflammation (i.e. proliferative lupus nephritis) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with the chronic auto-immune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). One treatment protocol, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) protocol, was characterized by a high dose of cyclophosphamide (CYC, an immunosuppressive drug), and the second treatment, the Euro-Lupus protocol, involved a low-dose CYC. Thirty-two SLE patients were included based on the received treatment for an episode of proliferative lupus nephritis, according to either the Euro-Lupus or the NIH protocol. The two groups were compared on HRQoL as measured by the SF-36 and the SLE Symptom Checklist (SSC). The Euro-Lupus group (N = 16) tended to show a higher HRQoL than the NIH group (N = 16) on four of seven scales of the SF-36. In addition, the Euro-Lupus group experienced less burden from nausea or vomiting than the NIH group as assessed by the SSC. Fatigue was the most disturbing symptom in both groups. The most burdensome aspects of treatment were related to chemotherapy (55.2%) and use of prednisone (34.5%). Patients with a low HRQoL and high levels of fatigue were more likely to have low levels of serum complement C4 (i.e. elevated immune activity). In conclusion, patients who are treated according to the Euro-Lupus protocol may experience a higher HRQoL than patients who receive the NIH treatment. However, chemotherapy remains burdensome in the low-dose treatment regimen. Potential interventions to further enhance the HRQoL in SLE patients with proliferative lupus nephritis are discussed.
Generalized expectancies for negative mood regulation and problem drinking among college students.

OBJECTIVE Motivational models of alcohol use often invoke constructs derived from social-learning theory, including coping styles, drinking motives and affective distress. To date, no study has assessed the potential role of negative mood regulation (NMR) expectancies (the extent to which one holds positive expectations of one's ability to cope with negative affect) in promoting problematic drinking behavior. This study evaluated the relationship between NMR expectancies and problem-related drinking while controlling for the influence of alcohol consumption, coping behaviors, drinking motives, demographic variables and affective distress. METHOD Participants (N = 136, 80% female) were college undergraduates who completed a battery of self-report questionnaires on two occasions that were separated by 8 weeks. RESULTS Initial correlational analyses indicated a strong (negative) association between NMR expectancies and problem drinking behavior. Findings from separate hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that NMR expectancies add significantly to the variance in predicting problem drinking, even when accounting for age and gender, alcohol consumption and, in respective analyses, coping styles, affective distress and drinking motives. Finally, simultaneous regression analyses showed that when all variables were considered together, only NMR expectancies, alcohol consumption and drinking-to-cope emerged as significant predictors of problem drinking. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the potential importance of NMR expectancies as a risk factor for problem drinking, above and beyond the risk posed by traditionally studied variables (e.g., depression and anxiety, coping repertoire and drinking motives). Results are interpreted within a self-regulation framework of alcohol consumption.
Limb anomalies in patients with CHARGE syndrome: An expansion of the phenotype

CHARGE syndrome is characterized by a wide clinical variability. During the past years the phenotypic spectrum was markedly expanded. Limb anomalies were initially not recognized as part of the phenotype but more recently mild limb anomalies were described in approximately 30% of the patients. We report on three patients with several major features of CHARGE syndrome who, in addition, presented severe limb anomalies including monodactyly, tibia aplasia, and bifid femora. Three different heterozygous truncating mutations in the CHD7 gene were detected. It has been hypothesized before that the CHARGE syndrome is caused by a disruption of mesenchymal‐epithelial interaction. Given the expression of the CHD7 gene in the developing limb bud, it was anticipated that limb defects would belong to the spectrum of manifestations of CHARGE syndrome. The present observations provide further support to this hypothesis. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Resourcefulness, Positive Cognitions, Relocation Controllability, Resourcefulness, Positive Cognitions, Relocation Controllability, and Relocation Adjustment Among Older People: A Cross and Relocation Adjustment Among Older People: A Cross Sectional Study of Cultural Differences Sectional Study of C

Background. The population of older people in both the United States and Egypt is expected to double by the year 2030. With ageing, chronic illnesses increase and many older people need to relocate to retirement communities. Research has shown that positive cognitions and resourcefulness are positively correlated with adaptive functioning and better adjustment. psychological symptoms as a result of relocation.
Composition of Luminal Fluid Secreted by the Seminiferous Tubules and After Reabsorption by the Extratesticular Ducts of the Japanese Quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica1

Abstract The present report examines the composition of luminal fluid in the seminiferous tubule (STF), rete testis (RTF), and ductus epididymidis of the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). This subject is of particular interest, both because the reproductive ducts are intra-abdominal and because sperm production is more rapid in birds than in mammals. It was interpreted that micropuncture samples of STF contain varying amounts of contamination with intracellular solute, particularly K and protein. The concentration of solute in samples was correlated with packed cell volume (spermatocrit), and when the latter was used to assess estimates of solute concentration in STF, the magnitude of the estimates were much the same as determinations in RTF. Consequently, it is concluded that the fluid entering the rete testis of the quail is the primary secretion of the seminiferous tubules. The composition of RTF in the quail was determined to be 148 mM Na, 126 mM Cl, 9.8 mM K, 2.7 mM Mg, 1.4 mM Ca, 2.1 mM glutamate, 3.4 mM glutamine, 20.2 mM bicarbonate, 1.8 μg μl−1 of protein, pH 7.34, and 310 mmol kg−1, and it is significantly different from the composition of blood plasma. Estimates of solute output by the testis and reabsorption by the extratesticular ducts indicate, first, that most of the solutes secreted into the seminiferous tubules are subsequently reabsorbed from the extratesticular ducts and, second, that sufficient solute of testicular origin (except for protein) exists to account for the concentrations of solutes throughout the lumen of the duct system. Changes in the concentration of solute in the extratesticular ducts probably result from different reabsorption rates of solute and water. The composition of fluid from the distal end of the ductus epididymidis was 133 mM Na, 125 mM Cl, 25 mM K, 1.0 mM Mg, 0.3 mM Ca, 6.7 mM glutamate, 4.0 mM glutamine, 19.5 mM bicarbonate, 6.0 μg μl−1 of protein, pH 7.33, and 335 mmol kg−1, and it is significantly different from those of RTF and blood.
Association of N-Ethylmaleimide Sensitive Fusion (NSF) Protein and Soluble NSF Attachment Proteins-α and -γ with Glucose Transporter-4-Containing Vesicles in Primary Rat Adipocytes.

To investigate the role of N-ethylmaleimide sensitive fusion protein (NSF) and soluble NSF attachment proteins (SNAP)-containing fusion complexes in glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) membrane trafficking, the subcellular distributions of NSF, α-SNAP, and γ-SNAP in primary rat adipocytes were determined. A large fraction of the NSF and SNAPs were associated with intracellular membranes, distributed between the low-density microsomes (LDM) and high-density microsomes. Very little of the NSF and SNAPs were associated with the plasma membrane fraction. This distribution did not change after insulin stimulation. Approximately 75% of the NSF and SNAPs in the LDM fraction were coimmunoprecipitated with 85% of the GLUT4 and 60% of the vesicle associated membrane proteins (VAMPs; synaptobrevins) VAMP-2 and cellubrevin in anti-GLUT4 immunoadsorptions. In contrast to NSF and the SNAPs, the β-coatomer protein (β-COP) found in the LDM fraction was excluded from GLUT4 vesicles. When LDM fractions were solubilized with Thes.
A serological method for distinguishing coagulase-negative staphylococci from micrococci

Absorbed antisera prepared against heat-killed suspensions of a coagulase-negative staphylococcus and of a micrococcus were used in a slide-agglutination test. A collection of 176 coagulase-negative aerobic cocci, from which Staphylococcus aureus had been excluded, was classified into staphylococci and micrococci by means of the test for anaerobic utilization of glucose. Of 113 staphylococci, 99 reacted with the anti-staphylococcus serum, seven with the micrococcus serum, and seven with neither; of 63 micrococci, 55 reacted with the micrococcus serum and eight were untypable. Thus 161 of 176 strains (91%) were classifiable serologically, and in 154 of 161 instances (95%) the results of the serological and biochemical classification were in agreement.
Evaluation of the effect of partial splenic embolization on platelet values for liver cirrhosis patients with thrombocytopenia.

AIM To investigate the effect of partial splenic embolization (PSE) on platelet values in liver cirrhosis patients with thrombocytopenia and to determine the effective embolization area for platelet values improvement. METHODS Blood parameters and liver function indicators were measured on 10 liver cirrhosis patients (6 in Child-Pugh grade A and 4 in grade B) with thrombocytopenia (platelet values < 80 x 10(3)/microL) before embolization. Computed tomography scan was also needed in advance to acquire the splenic baseline. After 2 to 3 d, angiography and splenic embolization were performed. A second computed tomography scan was made to confirm the embolization area after 2 to 3 wk of embolization. The blood parameters of patients were also examined biweekly during the 1 year follow-up period. RESULTS According to the computed tomography images after partial splenic embolization, we divided all patients into two groups: low (< 30%), and high (> or = 30%) embolization area groups. The platelet values were increased by 3 times compared to baseline levels after 2 wk of embolization in high embolization area group. In addition, there were significant differences in platelet values between low and high embolization area groups. GPT values decreased significantly in all patients after 2 wk of embolization. The improvement in platelet and GPT values still persisted until 1 year after PSE. In addition, 3 of 4 (75%) Child-Pugh grade B patients progressed to grade A after 2 mo of PSE. The complication rate in < 30% and > or = 30% embolization area groups was 50% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION Partial splenic embolization is an effective method to improve platelet values and GPT values in liver cirrhosis patients with thrombocytopenia and the > or = 30% embolization area is meaningful for platelet values improvement. The relationship between the complication rate and embolization area needs further studies.
Usability Evaluation of Randomly Generated Fonts for Bubble Captcha

A Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart (CAPTCHA), is the wide-spread concept of systems suited to secure the web services from automated SPAM scripts. The most common CAPTCHA systems benefit from imperfections of Optical Character Recognition algorithms. This paper presents our ongoing work focused on the development of a new CAPTCHA scheme based on a human perception. The goal of this work is to evaluate the usability of randomly generated fonts used in Bubble Captcha scheme with both humans and OCR classifiers.
Bridging the gap between anecdotal and empirical evidence in the international education market : insights from the US and UK

Education is an industry which has seen rapid growth in its trade over a short period of time. From the import and export of textbooks to international examinations such as the British Advanced and Ordinary levels and the American GMAT, GRE, LSAT, TOEFL and others, international trade in education has truly become a multidimensional phenomenon (Liston and Reeves, 1985). While all these aspects have largely contributed to the development of the so called “academic trade” (McMahon, 1988), it is the cross-border migration of international students which however remains the most visible aspect of this trade (Bourke, 2000). Indeed, recent estimates by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) suggest that nearly 1.9 million students were abroad in 2002 (OECD, 2004). There are probably thousands more foreign students involved in lower level education, language training and the like, but at the time of writing, no comprehensive statistics is yet available on international students enrolled in non-tertiary level institutions (Knight, 2002). As a result, it is vital to stress at the outset that this paper focuses exclusively on cross-border tertiary education but parallels can be drawn for lower level education.
Factors that influence dairy cow preference to be indoors or at pasture

Many factors influence dairy cow preference to be at pasture. The studies reported here investigated whether herbage mass and previous experience affected preference. The first study offered a high (3000 ± 200 kg DM) vs. low (1800 ± 200 kg DM) mass at a near (38 m) vs. far (254 m) distance to 16 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. Masses were offered at two distances to determine motivation. A continuously housed control group (n =16) was also compared to cows with free access to pasture. Video recordings and scan-sampling with five-minute intervals revealed that mass did not affect preference (P > 0.05), but the proportion of time cows spent at pasture during the day was more at the near distance (73.7% vs. 28.8%, P < 0.05). Night-time pasture use was not affected by distance. Continuously housed cows produced 6.7 kg less milk/day than free-access cows (P < 0.05). To determine the effect of previous experience, two groups of 12 Holstein-Friesian dairy heifers were reared with or without exposure to pasture and tested for their preference for pasture at 16 months in 2012. In 2013, when lactating, a similar study was conducted with the same treatment groups in addition to a group that was reared without exposure in their first grazing season, but with exposure in their second grazing season. Indoor-reared heifers spent more time indoors (82.6 vs. 55.6%, P 0.05). The original findings of this thesis show that herbage mass does not affect high yielding dairy cow preference for pasture, but pasture access can have a beneficial effect on production. Dairy cattle without experience of pasture show a decreased preference for it, but depending on age of exposure this changes over time.
Predicting the Semantic Category of Internally Generated Words from Neuromagnetic Recordings

In this study, we explore the possibility to predict the semantic category of words from brain signals in a free word generation task. Participants produced single words from different semantic categories in a modified semantic fluency task. A Bayesian logistic regression classifier was trained to predict the semantic category of words from single-trial MEG data. Significant classification accuracies were achieved using sensor-level MEG time series at the time interval of conceptual preparation. Semantic category prediction was also possible using source-reconstructed time series, based on minimum norm estimates of cortical activity. Brain regions that contributed most to classification on the source level were identified. These were the left inferior frontal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, and left posterior middle temporal gyrus. Additionally, the temporal dynamics of brain activity underlying the semantic preparation during word generation was explored. These results provide important insights about central aspects of language production.
Fifty Years of Research in Balkan Endemic Nephropathy: Where Are We Now?

Despite broad investigations into the possible role of genetic factors, environmental agents and immune mechanisms, the etiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) is only partially understood. An increased incidence of upper urothelial cancer in patients with BEN and in populations from endemic settlements has been demonstrated. Genetic studies have landed support for genetic predisposition to BEN. The similarity of the morphological and clinical pattern of BEN and Chinese herbs nephropathy has raised the possibility of a common etiologic agent, aristolochic acid (AA), described in 1969 by Ivić and confirmed by a recent study of AA-DNA adducts. Ochratoxin A (OTA) is studied extensively as the etiologic agent of BEN. Weathering of low-rank coals nearby the endemic villages produces water-soluble polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aromatic amines, similar to metabolic products of acetaminophen, which has a causal relationship with analgesic nephropathy. AA is confirmed as the etiologic agent of BEN; however, it may not be the sole risk factor. More research is needed on the patterns of BEN over time and between different endemic places. Therefore, it is important to test etiological hypotheses in different endemic foci, preferably as a multicentric research. An international approach to solving the etiology of BEN is needed in the coming years. The geographic correlation and presence of AA-DNA adducts in both BEN and associated urothelial cancer support the hypothesis that these diseases share a common etiology.
Role of Double-Stranded RNA Pattern Recognition Receptors in Rhinovirus-Induced Airway Epithelial Cell Responses1

Rhinovirus (RV), a ssRNA virus of the picornavirus family, is a major cause of the common cold as well as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations. Viral dsRNA produced during replication may be recognized by the host pattern recognition receptors TLR-3, retinoic acid-inducible gene (RIG)-I, and melanoma differentiation-associated gene (MDA)-5. No study has yet identified the receptor required for sensing RV dsRNA. To examine this, BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells were infected with intact RV-1B or replication-deficient UV-irradiated virus, and IFN and IFN-stimulated gene expression was determined by quantitative PCR. The separate requirements of RIG-I, MDA5, and IFN response factor (IRF)-3 were determined using their respective small interfering RNAs (siRNA). The requirement of TLR3 was determined using siRNA against the TLR3 adaptor molecule Toll/IL-1R homologous region-domain-containing adapter-inducing IFN-β (TRIF). Intact RV-1B, but not UV-irradiated RV, induced IRF3 phosphorylation and dimerization, as well as mRNA expression of IFN-β, IFN-λ1, IFN-λ2/3, IRF7, RIG-I, MDA5, 10-kDa IFN-γ-inducible protein/CXCL10, IL-8/CXCL8, and GM-CSF. siRNA against IRF3, MDA5, and TRIF, but not RIG-I, decreased RV-1B-induced expression of IFN-β, IFN-λ1, IFN-λ2/3, IRF7, RIG-I, MDA5, and inflammatory protein-10/CXCL10 but had no effect on IL-8/CXCL8 and GM-CSF. siRNAs against MDA5 and TRIF also reduced IRF3 dimerization. Finally, in primary cells, transfection with MDA5 siRNA significantly reduced IFN expression, as it did in BEAS-2B cells. These results suggest that TLR3 and MDA5, but not RIG-I, are required for maximal sensing of RV dsRNA and that TLR3 and MDA5 signal through a common downstream signaling intermediate, IRF3.
Mitogenic Signal Transduction Pathways in Meningiomas: Novel Targets for Meningioma Chemotherapy?

Abstract The roles of growth factor receptors and numerous downstream growth regulatory pathways are of increasing interest in neuro-oncology. These pathways have been extensively studied in gliomas but only recently analyzed in meningiomas. This article reviews current research on the growth factor receptor-Ras-Raf-1-MEK-1-MAPK, PI3K-Akt/PKB, PLC-γ1-PKC, phospholipase A2-cyclooxygenase, and TGF-β receptor-Smad pathways that appear to regulate meningioma growth and inhibit apoptosis. Sites along these receptor/kinase cascades that might be targeted by novel therapies are also discussed.
Differential effect of aging on B-cell immune responses to cholera toxin in the inductive and effector sites of the mucosal immune system

The age-associated primary immune response of B cells from the Peyer's patches (PP), the lamina propria (LP), the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), and the spleen of mice following oral immunization with cholera toxin (CTx) was investigated. The induction of immune responses was assessed in 4-, 11-, and 24-month-old, individual C57BL/6J male mice by determining the number and isotype of anti-CTx ELISPOT-forming cells (SFC) in the PP, LPL, MLN, and spleen and the titer and isotype of serum anti-CTx antibody. The data indicate a significant age-associated decline in immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA anti-CTx SFC in the LP B cells but only in IgA anti-CTx SFC in the PP. No decline was seen in the anti-CTx SFC response in the MLN and spleen. Peroral immunization of mice with CTx resulted in a serum anti-CTx antibody response which was predominantly of the IgG class in all three age groups of mice tested. There was no age-associated decline in anti-CTx IgM, IgG, or IgA titers in serum. Isoelectric focusing and affinity immunoblotting revealed several distinct new antibody clonotypes in the immune serum of old mice following oral immunization with CTx. The results indicate a loss of immune responsiveness to CTx following oral immunization in senescent PP and LP B cells. The MLN and spleen B-cell responses were found to be refractory to the loss of immune function with aging. These findings suggest a differential effect of aging in the inductive and effector sites of the mucosal immune system, and the loss of antigen-specific IgA responses at mucosal sites may have adverse effects on the host's defense against potential pathogens.
Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance: Perioperative Considerations

Metabolic syndrome represents a constellation of risk factors associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and progression to diabetes mellitus. Insulin resistance, a state of decreased biologic response to physiologic concentrations of insulin, is a key component of this syndrome and seems to be the result of a primary defect at the skeletal muscle glucose transporter. Acute illness and the perioperative period are characterized by a state of insulin resistance that manifests as hyperglycemia and leads to various other metabolic and biochemical alterations that adversely affect end organ function. Hyperglycemia in acutely ill patients adversely affects outcome. Achieving euglycemia seems beneficial in certain clinical situations, but considerable disagreement exists regarding the target blood sugar levels, the duration of therapy, and the modality. Pharmacotherapy, exercise, and nutrition to improve insulin sensitivity seem promising but require further evaluation to confirm their efficacy for perioperative risk reduction. This review discusses the pathophysiology and the clinical implications of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in the acutely ill patient with an emphasis on perioperative modulation strategies.