Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long‐Term Follow‐Up of Serum N‐Terminal Propeptide of Collagen Type III Levels in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic significance of the N‐terminal propeptide of collagen Type III (Col 1–3) in chronic liver disease, the peptide level was measured in the serum of 4 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, 5 with chronic persistent hepatitis, 12 with chronic active hepatitis, and 1 with autoimmune hepatitis, for a period of 2 to 10 years and compared with liver function and histology. In primary biliary cirrhosis, Col 1–3 peptide levels were always elevated, regardless of medical therapy; however, after liver transplantation in one patient, the Col 1–3 peptide level decreased. In chronic persistent hepatitis, the peptide level fluctuated around the upper limit of normal. Among patients with chronic active hepatitis, the Col 1–3 peptide level normalized in 2 patients during remission, but was elevated in 7 patients who developed cirrhosis. Only in a patient with autoimmune hepatitis was the Col 1–3 peptide level normal, although the patient developed cirrhosis during prednisone therapy. When prednisone was withdrawn, the Col 1–3 peptide level increased. The data suggest that the serum Col 1–3 peptide may estimate the course of liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease and has prognostic value, particularly in chronic active hepatitis. Persistent elevation suggests ongoing fibrosis and development of cirrhosis; normalization suggests remission.
Axonal wiring in neural development: Target‐independent mechanisms help to establish precision and complexity

The connectivity patterns of many neural circuits are highly ordered and often impressively complex. The intricate order and complexity of neuronal wiring remain not only a challenge for questions related to circuit functions but also for our understanding of how they develop with such an apparent precision. The chemotropic guidance of the growing axon by target‐derived cues represents a central paradigm for how neurons get connected with the correct target cells. However, many studies reveal a remarkable variety of important target‐independent wiring mechanisms. These mechanisms include axonal sorting, axonal tiling, growth cone polarization, as well as cell‐intrinsic mechanisms underlying growth cone sprouting, and neurite branching. Our review focuses on target independent wiring mechanisms and in particular on recent progress emerging from studies on three different sensory systems: olfactory, visual, and somatosensory. We discuss molecular mechanisms that operate during axon‐axon interactions or constitute axon‐intrinsic functions and outline how they complement the well‐known target‐dependent wiring mechanisms.
Social Origins of Self-Regulatory Competence

This article reviews the social origins of students' development of self-regulatory skill with special emphasis on observational learning through modeling. A social cognitive perspective on self-regulation is presented. In this view, students' academic competence develops initially from social sources of academic skill and subsequently shifts to self sources in a series of 4 levels: observational, imitative, self-controlled, and self-regulated. The effects of models on observers depend in part on perceptions of self-efficacy, or beliefs about one's capabilities to learn or perform designated behaviors. Research on social influences is reviewed, and includes factors such as cognitive modeling, coping and mastery models, self-modeling, learning goals, and progress feedback. Related theoretical perspectives are discussed along with suggestions for future research.
Multichannel Cochlear Implantation in the Scala Vestibuli

Objective: Sensorineural hearing loss resulting from otosclerosis, meningitis, chronic otitis media, autoimmune ear disease, and trauma can be associated with partial or total obstruction of the cochlear scalae. Multichannel cochlear implantation may be difficult in a cochlea with an obstructed scala tympani. The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of scala tympani electrode insertion. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: Academic medical center. Patients: Eight children and adults with profound sensorineural hearing loss who underwent cochlear implantation with known scala vestibuli electrode array insertion were subjects for this study. Interventions: Eight study subjects underwent implantation: five with the Nucleus 24RCS (Contour) device and three with the Nucleus 24M device. Outcome Measures: Imaging findings, operative findings, and age-appropriate speech perception testing. Results: All patients had full electrode insertion. Various obstructive patterns on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were found, and there was a range of speech perception results. All but one patient improved based on age-appropriate monosyllabic word and sentence tests. Conclusion: Scala vestibuli multielectrode insertion is a viable alternative when scala tympani insertion is not possible because of abnormal anatomy or anatomical changes secondary to disease or previous implantation. We will also present an algorithm of options for decision making for implantation when encountering cochlear obstruction and difficult electrode insertion.
Fingerprint Template Protection Using One-Time Fuzzy Vault

The fuzzy vault scheme has emerged as a promising solution to user privacy and fingerprint template security problems. Recently, however, the fuzzy vault scheme has been shown to be susceptible to a correlation attack. This paper proposes a novel scheme for one-time templates for fingerprint authentication based on the fuzzy vault scheme. As in one-time passwords, the suggested method changes templates after each completion of authentication, and thus the compromised templates cannot be reused. Furthermore, a huge number of chaff minutiae can be added by expanding the size of the fingerprint image. Therefore, the proposed method can protect a user’s fingerprint minutiae against the correlation attack. In our experiments, the proposed approach can improve the security level of a typical approach against brute-force attack by the factor of 10 34 .
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotides Arrest Photoreduction of Class II DNA Photolyases in FADH˙ State

All light‐sensitive members of the photolyase/cryptochrome family rely on FAD as catalytic cofactor. Its activity is regulated by photoreduction, a light‐triggered electron transfer process from a conserved tryptophan triad to the flavin. The stability of the reduced flavin depends on available external electron donors and oxygen. In this study, we show for the class II photolyase of Methanosarcina mazei, MmCPDII, that it utilizes physiologically relevant redox cofactors NADH and NADPH for the formation of the semiquinoid FAD in a light‐dependent reaction. Using redox‐inert variants MmCPDII/W388F and MmCPDII/W360F, we demonstrate that photoreduction by NADH and NADPH requires the class II‐specific tryptophan cascade of MmCPDII. Finally, we confirmed that mutations in the tryptophan cascade can be introduced without any substantial structural disturbances by analyzing crystal structures of MmCPDII/W388F, MmCPDII/W360F and MmCPDII/Y345F.
Diet, nutrition and prostate cancer

Although much has been written, little is known about the causes of prostate cancer. Variations between populations in the incidence of invasive cancers, together with changes in the incidence of invasive cancers in migrants, have pointed to environmental (lifestyle) factors that might be amenable to intervention. Conversely, there is a lack of international variation in the prevalence of microscopic tumours, so the essential question is: what causes only some of the common microscopic tumours to become aggressive? Dietary factors hold the most promise in this regard and have been the subject of recent reviews. The strongest and most consistent effects are positive associations with animal products such as red meats, eggs and dairy foods, and possibly by implication, fat. Evidence of a protective effect of fruit and vegetables is weak and inconsistent, as is the relationship with vitamin A and carotenoids, such as β‐carotene. There are some interesting leads. Lycopene, the carotenoid found in tomatoes, has been reported to be protective; α‐tocopherol supplementation has shown a protective effect in one intervention study; and vitamin D has been shown to be protective in a prospective study. Interest is also growing in phytoestrogens and the extent to which dietary manipulation with these and other phytochemicals might influence prostate cancer by modifying male sex hormone levels or actions. There is limited evidence of associations with obesity. It is not known whether these are related to a particular dietary pattern or to possible physiological effects on the male's hormonal milieu. Associations with lean body mass are likely to be related to the action of androgens during growth and development. Dietary and nutritional effects on prostate cancer do not appear to be strong, but they may be subtle and attenuated by measurement error. To explore these aspects further will require large prospective studies that include improved (repeated) dietary measurements and also blood sampling, so that genetic polymorphisms can be adequately investigated. Such studies are underway. Int. J. Cancer Suppl. 10:13–17, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss Inc.
MR evaluation of spinal tuberculosis

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to describe the radiological features of spinal tuberculosis on MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and plain radiograph and the role of MRI in assessing the extent of disease, to assess the degree of cord/ thecal sac compression and to correlate with neurological deficit. Methods: This study was done on prospective basis in 30 patients with clinical suspicion of Pott's spine. Plain radiograph of the spine and chest was done followed by MRI of spine were done in all the patients. Various MRI features were observed on non-contrast T1W, T2W and STIR sequences followed by post-contrast T1W sequences and degree of cord compression was correlated with neurological deficit. The characteristic radiological features on plain radiograph and MRI along with response to treatment were considered diagnostic. Results: Back pain and low grade fever were most common clinical complaints followed by paraparesis and sensory deficit. Neurological symptoms were found in patients with degree of spinal canal compression exceeding 20%. Dorsal vertebrae were most commonly involved followed by lumbar and sacral vertebrae. Vertebral body wedge collapse, compression fracture and combination of both were evaluated. Prevertebral and paravertebral abscesses and epidural phlegmon were seen more on MRI. Conclusions: MRI is the best diagnostic modality for spinal TB and is more sensitive than plain radiography. It provides the diagnosis of spinal TB earlier than conventional methods, offering the benefits of earlier detection and treatment.
Good News from Immunotherapy: Our Immune Defense Stands Up to Cancer

The immune system defends us and combats many microbes, like the viruses that cause the common cold or bacteria that enter wounds. Our defenses can also learn to protect us from more difficult situations—and they can do so with the lessons learned from vaccines. For example, the poliovirus vaccine teaches the immune system to recognize and eliminate the poliovirus, in case it ever enters the body. In recent years, scientists have found that the immune system can also be taught to attack another type of disease: cancer. Cancer is a big mistake in our body. It happens when cells lose control and start to grow without limits. The good news is that we can educate the immune system in cancer patients—this is called immunotherapy. In this article, we will explain how our defenses can learn to attack and eliminate cancer.
Minimal Effect of Daytime Napping Behavior on Nocturnal Sleep in Pregnant Women.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To assess whether daytime naps negatively impact nocturnal sleep. DESIGN Longitudinal, prospective cohort design. PARTICIPANTS 161 pregnant women recruited and evaluated in early gestation (10-20 weeks). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Daily sleep information was collected in three 2-week periods (10-12, 14-16, and 18-20 weeks gestation) with a daily sleep diary and an actigraph. The average number of naps, as well as the average length of each nap, were calculated from sleep diaries. Women were categorized first as non nappers (0 naps/2-week period), moderate nappers (1-3 naps/2-week period), or frequent nappers (≥ 4 naps/2-week period). Then, based on the average nap length, they were categorized as short (< 90 min) or long (≥ 90 min) nappers. Nocturnal sleep parameters included SOL, WASO, SE, and TST. SAS procedure MIXED was used for modeling the main effects of nap group and time, and time by nap group interactions. Women who took naps had a decrease in diary-assessed nocturnal TST, but not actigraphy-assessed TST. This observation was group- and time-specific. There were no other group differences. Women who napped ≥ 90 min had poorer diary-assessed SE and lower diary-assessed TST than those who took shorter naps. Length of nap was not associated with any other sleep measures. CONCLUSIONS The number of daytime naps have minimal impact on nocturnal sleep parameters; however, long nappers did exhibit modestly impaired sleep continuity and sleep quality. Overall, we propose that daytime naps provide a beneficial countermeasure to the sleep disruption commonly reported by pregnant women. This may be clinically beneficial given that sleep continuity and quality are important correlates of pregnancy outcomes. COMMENTARY A commentary on this article appears in this issue on page 593.
Remifentanil produces vasorelaxation in isolated rat thoracic aorta strips

Background: Remifentanil can cause transient instability in hemodynamic variables. However this change may not be solely the result of autonomic or central nervous system inhibition or of centrally mediated vagal stimulation. In this study, the aim was to examine the direct effects of remifentanil on isolated thoracic aorta strips in vitro.
Sound-Color Associations in Psychosis-Prone Individuals

Abstract Synesthetic-pseudosynesthetic characteristics have been hypothesized to be a schizophrenia endophenotype, a developmental feature, and/or a symptom of psychosis. Few studies to date, however, have examined whether individuals at risk for psychosis have synesthetic symptoms. We examined the relationship between hue and pitch in high psychosis prone (HP; n = 30) and low psychosis prone individuals (LP; n = 31). Synesthesia was evaluated using self-report and two performance-based tasks. Results revealed that HP subjects experienced more synesthetic experiences than the LP only on the self-report measure. These results suggest that high psychotic prone patients report unusual experiences but are no more likely to exhibit synesthesia than LP individuals. HP individuals, however, were more likely to choose shorter wavelength colors than LP individuals on performance tasks. These results are consistent with the notion that psychosis vulnerability is associated with a preference to light wavelengths associated with increasing emotional valence and negative affect.
3D geometry from planar parallax

Deriving 3D structure in a fixed object-centered coordinate system is an increasingly popular trend in shape from multiple views. For linear approximations to perspective projection (weak/para perspective), and for the case of image velocities, elegant linear methods have been devised for robust estimation. For reconstruction under arbitrary view transformations, linear projective methods using point correspondences have been suggested. In this paper, we formulate the problem of intrinsic 3D structure estimation through perspective projection using motion parallax, defined with respect to an arbitrary plane in the environment. It is shown that if an image coordinate system is warped using plane projective transformation with respect to a reference view, the residual image motion is dependent only on the epipoles and has a simple relation to the 3D structure. Our computational scheme avoids point/line correspondence and is based on hierarchical estimation and image warping working directly with spatio-temporal image intensities. <<ETX>>
Nighttime heartburn is an under-appreciated clinical problem that impacts sleep and daytime function: the results of a Gallup survey conducted on behalf of the American Gastroenterological Association

OBJECTIVE:Although a large body of information exists about the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in general, available data specifically addressing nocturnal reflux are limited. Because nocturnal acid reflux is reported to be associated with more severe injuries such as esophagitis and stricture, as well as adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, a better understanding of the prevalence and impact of nighttime heartburn as a sign of nocturnal acid reflux events can have significant potential management implications. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of nighttime heartburn and reflux-attributed supraesophageal symptoms among patients with GERD; and the impact of nighttime heartburn on sleep and several activities of daily living that could affect quality of life.METHODS:A nationwide telephone survey of 1000 adults experiencing heartburn at least once a week was conducted by the Gallup Organization on behalf of the American Gastroenterological Association.RESULTS:Altogether, 79% of respondents reported experiencing heartburn at night. Among those, 75% reported that symptoms affected their sleep, 63% believed that heartburn negatively affected their ability to sleep well, and 40% believed that nocturnal heartburn impaired their ability to function the following day. Of the 791 respondents with nighttime heartburn, 71% reported taking over-the-counter medicine for it, but only 29% of these rated this approach extremely effective. Forty-one percent reported trying prescription medicines, and 49% of these rated this approach extremely effective.CONCLUSIONS:Nighttime heartburn occurs in a large majority of adults with GERD, resulting in sleeping difficulties and impaired next-day function. The expected result from implemented therapy for heartburn is not achieved by a sizable percentage of patients.
Human Sex Hormone-binding Globulin Promoter Activity Is Influenced by a (TAAAA) n Repeat Element within an Alu Sequence*

Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is the major sex steroid-binding protein in human plasma and is produced by the liver. Plasma SHBG levels vary considerably between individuals and are influenced by hormonal, metabolic, and nutritional factors. We have now found that a (TAAAA) n pentanucleotide repeat, located within an alu sequence at the 5′ boundary of the human SHBG promoter, influences its transcriptional activity in association with downstream elements, including an SP1-binding site. Furthermore, SHBG alleles within the general population contain at least 6–10 TAAAA repeats, and the transcriptional activity of a human SHBGpromoter-luciferase reporter construct containing 6 TAAAA repeats was significantly lower than for similar reporter constructs containing 7–10 TAAAA repeats when tested in human HepG2 hepatoblastoma cells. This difference in transcriptional activity reflected the preferential binding of a 46-kDa liver-enriched nuclear factor to an oligonucleotide containing 6 rather than 7–10 TAAAA repeats. Thus, a (TAAAA) n element within the humanSHBG promoter influences transcriptional activity in HepG2 cells and may contribute to differences in plasma SHBG levels between individuals.
"My Story Has No Strings Attached": Credit Cards, Market Devices, and a Stone Guest

In the retail industry, consumer credit is sometimes seen as a dangerous parasite that can become bigger than its host. Credit cards are marketing devices that aim at easing the attachment between consumers and goods. Credit cards are also value meters that trace every single transaction. Credit cards can even be “gardening” tools. Sowing is the name used in Chile’s retail industry to call the data management strategy that consists of extending the credit limit of low income customers depending on their payment behavior. Data on previous transactions and behavior replaces collateral. Credit cards are not only used by the persons whose names are on the cards; People borrow and loan their cards, or, more precisely, their cards’ credit limits. Credit cards do not trace behavior but hidden networks. Can social relations act as parasites on credit – uninvited guests whose host is already a parasite? This article tells the story of a study that started in the middle – credit cards – and slowly became a Serresian economic anthropology.
SCA8 repeat expansions in ataxia: A controversial association

The observation of large SCA8 alleles in healthy control subjects and nonataxic patients, together with a lack of segregation of the expanded repeat with ataxia in several families, has raised questions about the pathogenic role of the SCA8 expansion. The authors found allele sizes within the proposed pathogenic range in three patients with ataxia of unknown etiology, in two individuals from pedigrees with either SCA2 or Friedreich’s ataxia, and in two patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Sizing of SCA8 alleles should not be a routine diagnostic test until its etiologic role is clarified and the pathogenic threshold is determined.
Intimate relationships among adolescent romantic partners and same-sex friends: individual and systemic perspectives.

Based on a comprehensive understanding of intimacy, and emerging from a systems theory, this chapter examines adolescent intimacy in close friendships and romantic relationships. Males and females deal differently with the balancing of closeness and individuality in the two types of close friendships. In addition, development of an intimate romantic relationship requires greater commitment for males than for females.
Interferon alfa versus chemotherapy for chronic myeloid leukemia: a meta-analysis of seven randomized trials: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Trialists' Collaborative Group.

BACKGROUND Several randomized clinical trials in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) have reported better patient survival with interferon alfa (IFN alpha) than with standard chemotherapeutic agents, such as busulfan or hydroxyurea. However, the size and persistence of this survival benefit is uncertain. Our aim was to assess these reliably, both overall and in particular patient subgroups. METHODS We collaborated in a worldwide overview of all clinical trials in which patients with CML were randomly assigned to receive either IFN alpha as the main drug or standard chemotherapy. Trials were identified by electronic and hand searching of the medical literature and databases and by personal contact. Individual patient data were available for each of 1554 patients who had been randomly assigned to treatment in seven trials (German, Italian, British, French, Japanese, and "Benelux"). Intention-to-treat stratified logrank survival analyses were performed, reporting two-sided P values. RESULTS Almost all of the patients in these trials had disease with the Philadelphia chromosome abnormality. Among those who did, the regimens that involved IFN alpha produced a statistically significantly better survival than those involving either hydroxyurea (P = .001) or busulfan (P = .00007) alone. The 5-year survival rates were 57% with IFN alpha and 42% with chemotherapy, with an absolute difference of 15% (standard deviation = 3%; P<.00001). There were no trials or subgroups of patients in which the treatment difference was statistically significantly different from the average. CONCLUSION For patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia, the inclusion of IFN alpha in the therapeutic regimen produced substantially better 5-year survival than standard chemotherapy alone.