Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
P.5.c.002 Non-fatal and fatal liver failure associated with valproic acid

Abstract Introduction: Little is known about hepatotoxicity associated with valproic acid (VPA), a widely used substance in neuropsychiatry. Methods: All reported cases to the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices between 1993 and 2009 of VPA-induced serious hepatic side effects were evaluated. Results: A total of 132 cases of serious VPA-associated liver failure were identified. Approximately one third (34.8%) occurred under VPA monotherapy, while the majority was seen with VPA plus co-medication, most frequently antiepileptics (34.8%) and benzodiazepines (16.7%). A subgroup of 34 cases (25.8%) had a fatal outcome, the largest number reported to date. Of these, 32.4% were under VPA monotherapy and 67.6% under VPA plus concomitant medication. Within the study period a significant increase in the total number of reported cases and the subgroup of fatal cases was found. Discussion: This first pharmacovigilance study of VPA-associated liver failure indicates a higher rate of non-fatal and fatal liver failure when VPA is given with co-medication as compared to monotherapy. However, co-medication per se does not increase the risk of fatalities.
Skyscraper Height and the Business Cycle: Separating Myth from Reality, a Comment

In a recent paper in Applied Economics, Barr, Mizrach and Mundra test for the existence of a “Skyscraper Curse”. Their results led the Economist magazine to conclude that you cannot forecast the onset of recessions using the announcement or completion dates of the world’s tallest building – in effect, there is no Skyscraper Curse. This paper reinterprets Barr, Mizrach and Mundra showing that their evidence is consistent with the theory underlying the Skyscraper Curse, so that skyscraper construction is a strong signal of an impending major crisis.
Immunoenzyme Western blotting analysis of antibody specificity in Aleutian disease of mink, a parvovirus infection

Aleutian disease virus (ADV), an autonomous parvovirus, persistently infects mink and induces very high levels of virus-specific antibody. All strains of ADV infect all mink, but only highly virulent strains cause progressive disease in non-Aleutian mink. The development of antibody to individual ADV proteins was evaluated by Western blotting by using the sera of 22 uninfected mink and 163 naturally or experimentally infected mink. ADV has virion proteins of 86,000 and 78,000 daltons that are closely related. A new, possibly nonvirion protein of 143,000 daltons was observed, as well as a known nonvirion protein of 71,000 daltons. Sera from mink experimentally or naturally infected with ADV of high or low virulence generally reacted about equally with all four proteins. The only exceptions noted were that 8 of 15 sera of mink infected transplacentally preferentially reacted with the two virion proteins and sera from mink with the monoclonal gammopathy of Aleutian disease reacted preferentially with either virion (10 of 12) or nonvirion (2 of 12) proteins.
Occurrence of Proteocephalus tetrastomus (Rudolphi, 1810) (Cestoda: Proteocephalidea) in Larval Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) in North America: Identification of a Potential Pathogen Confirmed

A morphological evaluation and genetic analysis (sequencing of ITS2 region of rDNA) of proteocephalidean cestodes from rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) in the Saint Lawrence Estuary, Canada, has shown their conspecificity with Proteocephalus tetrastomus, a specific parasite of smelt (Osmeridae), previously known only from northern Europe, Russia, and Japan. The parasite occurs only in larval, but not adult, smelt in the Saint Lawrence Estuary. Prevalence of larval smelt infection was 42% (n = 50), mean intensity 2.1 ± 2.4 and mean abundance 1.1 ± 1.0.
Esthetic lip repositioning: A cosmetic approach for correction of gummy smile – A case series

Gummy smile has been a prevalent esthetic disorder commonly affecting younger individuals due to various causes such as skeletal, dento-alveolar, or soft-tissue origin. It can be due to jaw deformities, altered passive eruption, or tooth malpositioning. Usually, the corrective measures incorporate orthognathic surgery and orthodontic treatment. Orthognathic surgery results in significant morbidity and hospitalization. Lip repositioning can be employed as an alternative cosmetic treatment modality for the correction of an excessive gingival display with minimal risk or side effects. Although there are many articles existing in the literature on this topic, a series of three cases is unique in demonstrating the esthetic smile enhancement in an orthodontic patient and also a combination of lip–repositioning technique and laser-assisted crown lengthening in vertical maxillary excess cases. This case series also showed the predictability of lip-repositioning technique with a follow-up of 2 years.
Mediated receptive multilingualism

This article introduces and defines the concept of mediated receptive multilingualism as a mode of multilingual communication which eases understanding between typologically distant languages through the medium of a language closely related to the target. In an experimental setting, Estonians without previous exposure to Ukrainian were quite successful in understanding Ukrainian texts via their knowledge of Russian. As expected, they made use of various language-specific elements to improve intelligibility, such as linguistic similarities between Russian and Ukrainian. However, a number of extra-linguistic factors were detected as influential predictors of success, especially metalinguistic awareness, exposure to Russian, exposure to various registers, experience with multilingual situations, learnability, and attitudes towards Ukrainian. These findings contest a static take on multilingual potential and point out the emergent nature of competencies and practices that become relevant in multilingual settings. Unconventional communicative modes – like mediated receptive multilingualism – may activate linguistic and sociolinguistic resources needed for establishing understanding in novel and potentially challenging communicative settings.
Social isolation undermines quality of life in older adults

ABSTRACT Objective: Several studies have documented associations between social isolation and poor physical health or well-being. However, little is known of the importance of social support among older adults on specific topics about their quality of life. The purpose of the present study was to determine the relationship between social isolation and quality of life among older adults. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: Mexico City. Participants: 1,252 subjects aged ≥ 60 years living at home. Measurements: We used the Abbreviated Version of the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6) to assess social isolation and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Older Adults Module (WHOQOL-Old) to assess quality of life. Socio-demographic and health factors were collected through face-to-face interviews. A series of linear regression analyses were used to investigate relationship between social isolation and quality of life. The statistical models were controlled for socio-demographic and health factors. Results: A total of 750 women (60%) and 502 men (40%) participated in the study. According to their LSNS-6 scores, 426 participants (34.0%) were classified into the highest group of isolation (range 0-10 points). Older adults with higher scores of social isolation exhibited lower quality of life. Regression analyses indicated that social isolation correlated with lower levels of global quality of life, autonomy, intimacy, and past, present, and future activities. Conclusions: Coping with life from a socially isolated situation entails serious difficulties concerning quality of life. Interventions that foster environments where older adults can forge social bonds might improve their quality of life.
Wellbeing and Social Safeness Questionnaire (WSSQ): Initial psychometric assessment of a short digital screening instrument for primary school children

Abstract In the Netherlands, all schools are required to develop a wellbeing and social safeness policy. Despite this legislation, there is currently no adequate instrument available to measure the wellbeing and social safeness. Therefore, the present study investigates the psychometric properties of the Wellbeing and Social Safeness Questionnaire (WSSQ). The WSSQ is a Dutch online questionnaire and was filled in by 1468 students (grade 5–8, age 8–12) from 14 Dutch primary schools. Exploratory and confirmatory factory analysis showed an adequate fit for a two factor structure consisting of (1) School-Related Wellbeing and Social Safeness, and (2) Generic Wellbeing. Adequate reliability and construct validity were demonstrated for both factors. Conceptually, it was found that school-related social safeness and wellbeing are not empirically separate factors, however, generic wellbeing may deserve separate consideration. The initial psychometric properties of the WSSQ are promising. This online instrument could potentially be used as a screening tool for teachers to measure social safeness and wellbeing of students.
A GFP promoter fusion library for the study of Salmonella biofilm formation and the mode of action of biofilm inhibitors

Salmonella, an important foodborne pathogen, forms biofilms in many different environments. The composition of these biofilms differs depending on the growth conditions, and their development is highly coordinated in time. To develop efficient treatments, it is therefore essential that biofilm formation and its inhibition be understood in different environments and in a time-dependent manner. Many currently used techniques, such as transcriptomics or proteomics, are still expensive and thus limited in their application. Therefore, a GFP-promoter fusion library with 79 important Salmonella biofilm genes was developed (covering among other things matrix production, fimbriae and flagella synthesis, and c-di-GMP regulation). This library is a fast, inexpensive, and easy-to-use tool, and can therefore be conducted in different experimental setups in a time-dependent manner. In this paper, four possible applications are highlighted to illustrate and validate the use of this reporter fusion library.
Sympathetic activation and loss of reflex sympathetic control in mild congestive heart failure.

BACKGROUND Baroreflex control of sympathetic activity is impaired in severe congestive heart failure (CHF), probably causing the marked sympathetic activation typical of this condition. Little information exists, however, as to whether baroreflex impairment and related sympathetic activation also occur in mild CHF. METHODS AND RESULTS We studied 19 patients (age, 57.5 +/- 2.2 years, mean +/- SEM) with CHF in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV and with a marked reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, 30.1 +/- 1.5% from echocardiography) and 17 age-matched patients with CHF in NYHA class I or II and with an only slightly reduced LVEF (44.9 +/- 3.3%) that never was < 40%. Seventeen age-matched healthy subjects served as control subjects. Primary measurements included beat-to-beat arterial blood pressure (with the Finapres technique), heart rate (from ECG), and postganglionic muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA, from microneurography at the peroneal nerve). Measurements were performed at baseline and during baroreceptor stimulation (intravenous phenylephrine infusion), baroreceptor deactivation (intravenous nitroprusside infusion), and cold-pressor test. Baseline blood pressure was similar in the three groups, whereas heart rate was progressively greater from control subjects to patients with mild and severe CHF, MSNA (bursts per 100 heart beats) increased significantly and markedly from control subjects to patients with mild and severe CHF (47.1 +/- 2.9 versus 64.4 +/- 6.2 and 82.1 +/- 3.4, P < .05 and P < .01, respectively). Heart rate and MSNA were progressively reduced by phenylephrine infusion and progressively increased by nitroprusside infusion. Compared with control subjects, the responses were strikingly impaired in severe CHF patients, but a marked impairment also was seen in mild CHF patients. On average, baroreflex sensitivity in mild CHF patients was reduced by 59.1 +/- 5.5% (MSNA) and 64.8 +/- 4.8% (heart rate). In contrast, reflex responses to the cold-pressor test were similar in the three groups. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that in mild CHF patients the baroreceptor inhibitor influence on heart rate and MSNA is already markedly impaired. This impairment may be responsible for the early sympathetic activation that occurs in the course of CHF.
Supply Response and Price Volatility in the Greek Pork Industry

This paper examines the supply response of the Greek pork market. A GARCH process is used to estimate expected price and price volatility, while price and supply equations are estimated jointly. In addition to the standard GARCH model, several different symmetric, asymmetric and nonlinear GARCH models are estimated. The empirical results indicate that among the estimated GARCH models the quadratic NAGARCH model seems to describe better producers' price volatility, which was found to be an important risk factor of the supply repose function of the Greek pork market. Furthermore, the empirical findings show that feed price is an important risk factor of the supply repose function and that high uncertainty restricts the expansion of the Greek pork sector. Finally, the model provides forecasts for quantity supplied, producers' price and price volatility.
Gonadotropin and steroid hormones stimulate proliferation of the rat ovarian surface epithelium

The ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) is a single layer of flattened or cuboidal cells covering the ovary. Ninety percent of all human ovarian malignancies arise from this layer of cells. Incessant ovulation, hyperovulation induced by infertility treatment, and hormone replacement therapy have been suggested as risk factors for ovarian cancer. In this study, two groups of rats, with and without surgically induced injury to the ovary, were treated with 17β‐estradiol, pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), or the combination PMSG/hCG, and the proliferative response of the OSE cells was measured using bromodeoxyuridne (BrdU) and 3H‐thymidine. All hormones, alone or in combination with ovarian surgery, were found to increase significantly the rate of proliferation of the rat OSE. These data demonstrate that hormones associated with infertility treatments and hormone replacement therapy, as well as injury‐ or ovulation‐induced rupture of the ovarian surface, stimulate the rat OSE, and hence could have a role in the development of ovarian cancer via proliferation‐associated mutagenesis, or alternatively, by promoting the rapid selection of OSE cells with accumulated mutations. J. Cell. Physiol. 198: 119–124, 2004. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence of the “High-Pathogenicity Island” of Yersinia Species among Escherichia coliStrains That Are Pathogenic to Humans

ABSTRACT The fyuA-irp gene cluster contributes to the virulence of highly pathogenic Yersinia (Yersinia pestis,Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, and Yersinia enterocolitica 1B). The cluster encodes an iron uptake system mediated by the siderophore yersiniabactin and reveals features of a pathogenicity island. Two evolutionary lineages of this “high pathogenicity island” (HPI) can be distinguished on the basis of DNA sequence comparison: a Y. pestis group and a Y. enterocolitica group. In this study we demonstrate that the HPI of the Y. pestis evolutionary group is disseminated among species of the family Enterobacteriaceae which are pathogenic to humans. It prevails in enteroaggregativeEscherichia coli and in E. coli blood culture isolates (93 and 80%, respectively), but is rarely found in enteropathogenic E. coli, enteroinvasive E. coli, and enterotoxigenic E. coli isolates. In contrast, the HPI was absent from enterohemorrhagic E. coli, Shigella, and Salmonella entericastrains investigated. Polypeptides encoded by the fyuA,irp1, and irp2 genes located on the HPI could be detected in E. coli strains pathogenic to humans. However, these E. coli strains showed a reduced sensitivity to the bacteriocin pesticin, whose uptake is mediated by the FyuA receptor. Escherichia strains do not possess thehms gene locus thought to be a part of the HPI of Y. pestis. Deletions of the fyuA-irp gene cluster affecting solely the fyuA part of the HPI were identified in 3% of the E. coli strains tested. These results suggest horizontal transfer of the HPI between Y. pestis and some pathogenic E. coli strains.
Improving student learning in an introductory programming course using flipped classroom and competency framework

In this paper we report our study on the impact of implementing a flipped classroom model on student learning in an undergraduate introductory programming course. We use three components to measure student learning namely, final exam scores, competency acquisition and feedback levels. We compare a traditional offering with a flipped offering delivered the following year to a comparable student population, and with no change in the course content and assessments. We observed that in comparison to the traditional, the flipped model increased pass rates in the final exam and also enhanced competency acquisition. In terms of feedback levels, the flipped classroom provided more time for one-to-one in-class personalized feedback. Our approach is unique in the sense that we use a competency framework to be able to pin point the competencies that were improved as a result of the flipped model.
Effective Teacher Practices in Community College Online Instruction: An Exploratory Sequential Mixed-Methods Study

Online courses provide access to higher education for many community college students (Allen & Seaman, 2006). Despite the convenience of online classes for community college students and the recent surge in online courses (Allen & Seaman, 2013), they have higher failure rates than face-to-face classes (R. Jenkins, 2011; Patterson & McFadden, 2009; Xu & Jaggars, 2013). The study identified what community college students perceived as important elements of teacher practice that led them to feel successful in an online course. The community of inquiry framework (CoI) provided the theoretical framework for the exploratory sequential mixed methods study. Focus group data were analyzed through a qualitative coding process and used to build a quantitative survey instrument. Survey results were analyzed using descriptive statistics to identify their perceived importance (Krueger & Casey, 2015). Results indicated that participants valued having course material well-explained, effective learning tools, applicable course content, timely grading, personal feedback, and the ability to revise their work. Teachers having email contact, participating in online discussions, being available, and caring were also important to participants. Results support the foundation of the community of inquiry framework, particularly teaching presence. The most essential recommendation is to move from a teacher-centered model to a student-centered model for online learning. Recommendations include providing teacher and student preparation for online learning, offering institutional support, and researching best practices in online education. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Education (EdD) Department Executive Leadership First Supervisor C. Michael Robinson Second Supervisor Julie A. White Subject Categories Education This dissertation is available at Fisher Digital Publications: http://fisherpub.sjfc. edu/education_etd/237 Effective Teacher Practices in Community College Online Instruction: An Exploratory Sequential Mixed-Methods Study
Improvements in kidney transplantation from donors after cardiac death

To reduce the growing waiting list for kidney transplantation, we explored the limits of kidney transplantation from donors after cardiac death by liberally accepting marginal donor kidneys for transplantation. As the percentage of primary non‐function (PNF) increased, we evaluated our transplantation program and implemented changes to reduce the high percentage of PNF in 2005, followed by a second evaluation over the period 2006–2009. Recipients of a kidney from a donor after cardiac death between 1998 and 2005 were analyzed, with PNF as outcome measure. During the period 2002–2005, the percentage of PNF increased and crossed the upper control limits of 12% which was considered as unacceptably high. After implementation of changes, this percentage was reduced to 5%, without changing the number of kidney transplantations from donors after cardiac death. Continuous monitoring of the quality of care is essential as the boundaries of organ donation and transplantation are sought. Meticulous donor, preservation, and recipient management make extension of the donor potential possible, with good results for the individual recipient. Liberal use of kidneys from donors after cardiac death may contribute to a reduction in the waiting list for kidney transplantation and dialysis associated mortality.
Motivated scientific reasoning biases, epistemological beliefs, and theory polarization: a two-process approach to adolescent cognition.

Theory-motivated reasoning biases arise when different reasoning skills are invoked to evaluate evidence that is congruent or incongruent with individuals' belief systems. To explore this phenomenon, 66 early and 73 middle adolescents evaluated evidence relevant to their theories of social class or religion. In both conditions, reasoning biases were found, but in-group biases were evident only in the religion condition. In both conditions, higher order scientific reasoning was used to reject theory-incongruent evidence and judgmental heuristics (i.e., cognitive rules of thumb) were used to evaluate theory-congruent evidence. In both conditions, subsequent to the evidence presentation, adolescents' theories became more extreme (i.e., polarized) than at the outset of the experiment. Beliefs regarding the origin, acquisition, and certainty of knowledge, however, appeared to moderate reasoning biases and theory polarization. Age differences emerged on only one index of bias: In the religion condition, middle adolescents were more likely to treat theory-incongruent evidence as implausible. These findings are pertinent to theories of cognitive development, decision making, rationality, and in-group favoritism.
Delay Discounting and Probability Discounting, But Not Response Inhibition, Are Associated With Sexual Risk Taking in Adults

Sexual risk behavior (SRB) is associated with impulsivity, but it is not clear whether different aspects of impulsivity are uniquely related to SRBs in adults. Unmarried adults ages 18 to 30 (N = 296; 41.0% male) recruited from the community reported their frequency of SRBs over the past six months using the Sexual Risk Survey (SRS; Turchik & Garske, 2009) and completed three behavioral measures of impulsivity: insensitivity to delayed consequences (delay discounting [DD]), insensitivity to probabilistic consequences (probability discounting [PD]) and response inhibition (stop signal task [SST]). SRS total scores were significantly related to both DD and PD but not SST. These findings suggest that insensitivity to delayed and probabilistic consequences, but not response inhibition, are meaningfully associated with SRBs in young adults. This may be important for the development of strategies to prevent or reduce sexual risk behaviors.