Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cirrhosis after orthotopic liver transplantation in the absence of primary disease recurrence

Liver allograft cirrhosis is a relatively uncommon complication of liver transplantation. Most cases can be attributed to disease recurrence, particularly recurrent hepatitis C. Little is known about the frequency, etiology, and natural history of liver allograft cirrhosis occurring without evidence of recurrent disease. The aim of the present study was to review the clinicopathological features in this group of patients. We retrospectively reviewed data from all adult patients who were transplanted between 1982 and 2002 and survived >12 months after orthotopic liver transplantation (n = 1,287). Cases of histologically proven cirrhosis were identified from histopathological data entered into the Liver Unit Database. A total of 48 patients (3.7%) developed cirrhosis. In 29 of them, cirrhosis could be attributed to recurrent disease (hepatitis C, 11; hepatitis B, 4; autoimmune hepatitis, 4; primary biliary cirrhosis, 2; primary sclerosing cholangitis, 3; nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, 4; alcoholic liver disease, 1). In 9 of the 19 patients without evidence of disease recurrence, another cause of cirrhosis could be identified (de novo autoimmune hepatitis, 4; biliary complications, 4; acquired hepatitis B, 1). In the remaining 10 cases, the cause of cirrhosis remained unknown; their previous biopsies had shown features of chronic hepatitis of uncertain etiology. Three patients in this group died, and the remaining 7 are alive with good graft function 3–12 years after cirrhosis was first diagnosed. The prevalence of “cryptogenic” posttransplant cirrhosis was significantly higher in patients initially transplanted for fulminant seronegative hepatitis (6%) than in those transplanted for other diseases (0.3%). In conclusion, posttransplant cirrhosis without disease recurrence is uncommon, but it is more frequent in patients transplanted for fulminant seronegative hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis is the most frequent underlying pathological process in cases where the cause of cirrhosis remains uncertain. Liver Transpl, 2007. © 2007 AASLD.
Brain networks of the imaginative mind: Dynamic functional connectivity of default and cognitive control networks relates to openness to experience

Imagination and creative cognition are often associated with the brain's default network (DN). Recent evidence has also linked cognitive control systems to performance on tasks involving imagination and creativity, with a growing number of studies reporting functional interactions between cognitive control and DN regions. We sought to extend the emerging literature on brain dynamics supporting imagination by examining individual differences in large‐scale network connectivity in relation to Openness to Experience, a personality trait typified by imagination and creativity. To this end, we obtained personality and resting‐state fMRI data from two large samples of participants recruited from the United States and China, and we examined contributions of Openness to temporal shifts in default and cognitive control network interactions using multivariate structural equation modeling and dynamic functional network connectivity analysis. In Study 1, we found that Openness was related to the proportion of scan time (i.e., “dwell time”) that participants spent in a brain state characterized by positive correlations among the default, executive, salience, and dorsal attention networks. Study 2 replicated and extended the effect of Openness on dwell time in a correlated brain state comparable to the state found in Study 1, and further demonstrated the robustness of this effect in latent variable models including fluid intelligence and other major personality factors. The findings suggest that Openness to Experience is associated with increased functional connectivity between default and cognitive control systems, a connectivity profile that may account for the enhanced imaginative and creative abilities of people high in Openness to Experience.
Recovery of human fibroblasts from attack by the pore-forming alpha-toxin of Staphylococcus aureus.

When applied at low concentrations (< 10 micrograms/ml), staphylococcal alpha-toxin generates a small channel in keratinocyte and lymphocyte membranes that permits selective transmembrane flux of monovalent ions. Here we show that a moderate concentration (1-50 micrograms/ml) of alpha-toxin similarly produces a small pore in membranes of human fibroblasts. This process leads to rapid leakage of K+ and to a drop in cellular ATP to 10-20% of normal levels in 2 h. In the presence of medium supplemented with serum and at pH 7.4, the cells are able to recover from toxin attack, so that normal levels of K+ and ATP are reached after 6-8 h at 37 degrees C. The repair process is dependent on the presence of serum in the medium and is very sensitive towards pH. Decreases of pH in the medium to < or = 7.0 as well as increases to > or = 7.8 causes the repair mechanism to fail. The fate of cell-bound toxin molecules was investigated by using a radiolabelled tracer and by immunological detection of toxin exposed at the cell surface. The results indicated that 50-70% of the toxin was shed from cell membranes. However, there was no clear correlation between shedding and recovery, and shedding was also observed in cells that died at pH 7.8. Shedding was not decisive for repair, since cells that had recovered from toxin attack continued to carry 30-40% of initially bound toxin on their cell surface. Blockade of Na+/K(+)-ATPases with ouabain evoked similar kinetics of K(+)-depletion in control cells, compared with cells that had just recuperated from toxin attack and that still carried 30-40% alpha-toxin on their surface. We therefore tentatively concluded that repair of alpha-toxin lesions was due to closure of small pores, rather than from compensation of membrane leaks by up-regulation of Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity. We speculate that repair of small membrane lesions may extend to other agents that produce channels of similar nature in nucleated cells. Larger pores created by E. coli hemolysin or streptolysin O, both of which form larger functional transmembrane lesions, could not be repaired by fibroblasts.
Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Colectomy: A Single-Institution Experience

The purpose of this study was to examine the results of a single institution experience with hand-assisted laparoscopic colon resection for benign disease. We conducted a retrospective study of consecutive cases performed by experienced laparoscopic surgeons at a single institution. From August 1999 to June 2001, 37 patients underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic colon resection. Seventeen patients were male, and 20 were female. Median patient age was 58 years (range 20–80). Indications for surgery were: polyp (13), uncomplicated diverticular disease (eight), complicated diverticular disease (i.e., colovesicular fistula, phlegmon, etc.) (seven), chronic constipation (four), rectal prolapse (two), ulcerative colitis (one), endometriosis (one), and fecal incontinence (one). Procedures performed were: sigmoidectomy (14), right colectomy (nine), low anterior resection (seven), subtotal colectomy (five), cecectomy (one), and transverse colectomy (one). Variables examined were: conversion to open procedure, operative time, blood loss, time to return of flatus, length of postoperative hospital stay, and complications. There were no deaths. One case was converted to celiotomy (unable to rule out malignancy). The median operative time was 122 minutes (range 32–240) with a median operative blood loss of 132 mL (range 0–300). Return of flatus was noted (median) at postoperative day 3 (range 1–5), and the median length of stay after operation was 4 days (range 2–8). One patient developed a superficial wound infection, and there was one pelvic abscess (drained percutaneously). One patient developed urinary retention. There were no reoperations. In this single-institution experience hand-assisted laparoscopic elective colectomy for benign disease was successful in both straightforward and complicated cases. A low conversion rate to celiotomy and favorable operative times compared with published “pure” laparoscopic results suggest a flatter learning curve for handoscopy while retaining the benefits of “minimally invasive” surgery such as early return of flatus and short postoperative hospital stay. For these reasons hand-assisted laparoscopy should be considered an acceptable technique in elective colon resection for benign disease.
Levels of prostaglandin E2, thromboxane, and prostacyclin in periodontal tissues.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), thromboxane A2 (TXA2), and prostacyclin (PGI2) are naturally occurring metabolites of arachidonic acid which have been associated with inflammation. To assess the relative importance of these mediators in periodontal diseases, the levels of all three were measured by radioimmunoassay in human tissues removed during surgery. TXA2 and PGI2 were determined as their stable hydrolysis products thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-K-PGF1α), respectively. Tissues from periodontal pockets were separated into superficial (n = 8) and deep (n = 22) samples. Noninflamed gingival samples (n = 3) were taken from distal wedges with no clinical evidence of periodontal disease. Most of the samples taken from deep sites (73%) had measurable PGE2 with a mean level of 122 pg/mg. Half of these samples also had measurable TXB2 which correlated positively with levels of PGE2. Half of the superficial gingival samples had detectable levels of PGE2, and none had detectable TXB2. 6-K-PGF1α was found in virtually all samples but at somewhat lower levels in noninflamed tissue. Neither PGE2 nor TXB2 were detected in noninflamed samples.
Preliminary evaluation of in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy features of discoid lupus erythematosus

Background Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) can simulate other inflammatory diseases both clinically and histologically. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a noninvasive, reproducible imaging technique already reported to be useful in the evaluation of several inflammatory skin conditions such as contact dermatitis, psoriasis and Darier disease.
Aptitude Tests and Successful College Students: The Predictive Validity of the General Aptitude Test (GAT) in Saudi Arabia.

Aptitude tests should predict student success at the university level. This study examined the predictive validity of the General Aptitude Test (GAT) in Saudi Arabia. Data for 27420 students enrolled at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University were analyzed. Of these students, 17565 were male students, and 9855 were female students. Multiple regression, logistic regression, and correlation analyses were conducted. The results show that the best predictor of student success at the university was the combination of high school GPA (HSGPA) and the National Achievement Test (NAT), as measured by cumulative GPA or by new students’ GPA. However, the GAT was the best predictor of graduation as a criterion of success. Conclusions and recommendations for future studies are provided.
Corrected atomic limit in the local-density approximation and the electronic structure of d impurities in Rb.

We propose an energy functional for localized electron systems that corresponds to the constrained-local-density approximation (LDA) but includes some corrections for spin and orbital polarization to take Hund's first and second rules into account. The discontinuity of the one-electron potential known for an exact density functional can be easily incorporated in LDA in the scope of our formalism. Applications of the method to the electronic structure and configurational stability of d impurities in Rb are presented.
Review on Benefits of Owning Companion Dogs among Older Adults

Background: a world that is facing major global demographic trend of population ageing as well as increasing number of pet ownership, the benefits of companion animals on older adults is a noteworthy area of study. Objectives: To conduct a literature review on the existing studies focusing on the benefits of companion dogs on older adults. Method: Narrative review on original published articles in both Western and Asian countries pertaining to the benefits of companion dogs for older adults were conducted. Discussion: The benefits of companion dogs on older adults were analyzed in the domains of physical well-being, psychological well-being and social interaction. Most of the research papers included, suggest positive correlation between dog ownership and owner’s well-being but a few papers also found no correlation between dog ownership and owner’s general well-being. Conclusion: Even though companion dogs might not be for everyone and their benefits on their owners could not be determined conclusively, it is undeniable that companion dogs do play an important role in contributing to the well-being of their owners whether it is in the form of increasing social contact, motivation for exercise and reducing stress. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016. v7n4p397
Effects of soil and space on the woody species composition and vegetation structure of three Cerrado phytophysiognomies in the Cerrado-Amazon transition

The Cerrado Biome is considered one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots because of its rich biodiversity, the high level of endemism and the increasing threat. The Cerrado is composed by a mosaic of different vegetation types, including physiognomies that vary from grasslands (campo limpo) to savannas (typical cerrado or cerrado sensu stricto) and cerrado woodlands (cerradão). However, the factors that determine the composition of the Cerrado’s flora and the structure of the physiognomies that compose this biome are still poorly understood. Here, we investigate the influence of the chemical and granulometric properties of the soil and the effect of geographic distance on the occurrence and abundance of woody species in three Cerrado phytophysiognomies – cerrado woodland (cerradão), dense cerrado savanna and typical cerrado savanna – in the Cerrado-Amazon transition. We tested the hypothesis that the edaphic characteristics and geographic space determine the species composition and the structure of the woody vegetation of these three phytophysiognomies. We demonstrate that the dissimilarities in the structure and composition of the three sites were determined more by space (13% of explanation) than edaphic properties (1%), but primarily by the interaction between these two factors (26%). We conclude that, in situations where the chemical and granulometric properties of the soil are relatively homogeneous, as we found in the present study, geographic distance between sites has a greater influence than variation in the substrate’s properties on modelling the occurrence and abundance of the woody plant species in the Cerrado.
Smoking, sociodemographic determinants, and stress in the Alabama Black Belt.

PURPOSE In the Alabama Black Belt, poverty is high, and the educational level is low. Studies have found increased tobacco use among individuals exposed to high levels of stress. Few studies have been conducted in this region to measure smoking status, its sociodemographic determinants, and how smoking status relates to stressful environmental conditions. METHODS A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 1,387 individuals. FINDINGS Approximately 25% of the respondents currently smoked cigarettes. Females were less likely to smoke compared to males (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.23-0.38). Blacks were less likely to smoke cigarettes compared to whites (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.43-0.95). Compared to individuals who were employed, participants who were unemployed or retired had increased odds of smoking (OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.15-2.20). The odds of being a current smoker were increased in the presence of moderate level stress (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.38-3.07) or when there was a high level of stress (OR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.47-3.31). Smoking was associated with increased odds of having a moderate level (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.38-3.08) and a high level of stress (OR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.47-3.32). Females who reported moderate to high levels of stress had increased odds of being smokers compared to males. Interaction between gender and stress showed deviation from additivity. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest a high rate of cigarette use in the area. Increased stress levels appear to predispose females more than males to cigarette smoking. The implications of this association may guide interventions targeted at reducing smoking and its complications.
Oral health status and oral health behaviour of 12-year-old urban schoolchildren in the People's Republic of China.

OBJECTIVE To describe oral health status of urban Chinese children aged 12 years, to evaluate the pattern of oral health behaviour, and to assess the relative effect of socio-behavioural risk factors on dental caries experience. DESIGN A cross-sectional survey of 12-year-old children was conducted in the Hubei Province of China, including urban and periurban groups. The sampling was in accordance with the WHO procedures as applied in the second national survey of oral health. Data were collected by clinical examinations and use of self-administered questionnaires. SETTING The survey was initiated by the National Committee of Oral Health, China, in order to aid the planning and evaluation of school-based oral health care. SUBJECTS A sample of 698 children aged 12 years (96 per cent of original sample) participated in the survey; the sample was balanced by gender and urbanisation (urban/periurban). OUTCOME MEASURES The children were clinically examined according to the WHO basic methods and responded to standardised questionnaires on oral health behaviour, knowledge, and attitudes. RESULTS The mean DMFT of the children was 0.77 and DT constituted most of the caries index. About 65 per cent of the children had CPITN maximum score 2 (gingival bleeding and calculus). Only 40 per cent brushed their teeth at least twice a day and 46 per cent had seen a dentist within the past year. Variations by urbanisation were observed and the multiple linear regression of dental caries experience revealed that consumption of surgary foods, location and dental visits were the most important independent variables. CONCLUSION This study has shown that systematic oral health promotion programmes for children in China are urgently needed.
Microstructure evaluation of UNS S32205 duplex stainless steel friction stir welds

UNS S32205 duplex stainless steel welds were performed by friction stir welding (FSW). Advancing and retreating sides showed distinct characteristics in the welded joint. The advancing side shows the strongest grain refinement which is corroborated by microhardness measurements. The microstructure characterization was carried out by optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The thermomechanically affected zone displays austenite islands deformed in a ferrite matrix. The stir zone (SZ) showed a fine recrystallized microstructure providing an outstanding increase of hardness associated with better corrosion performance. Transmission electron microscopy and corrosion tests have corroborated the absence of intermetallic phases on welded joints.
Predictors of Daily Deal Customers’ Loyalty in the Restaurant Industry

Online group buying is a growing fashion among consumers, especially in the restaurant industry. However, customer loyalty in the context of this new business model was a neglected research area. With a survey of daily deal customers, this study examined predictors of customer loyalty in the restaurant industry in China. Besides perceived value and satisfaction, which were well-established predictors in the marketing literature, the study included several variables that reflected the unique experiential aspects of the daily deal offerings. Specifically, the results indicated that customers with higher intention to repurchase were those who were less deal prone and those who thought less of a restaurant because of its offering of daily deals.
Social security and national insurance trust of Ghana annual reports: a readability analysis

The aim of annual reports is to give shareholders and other interested people information about a company’s activities and financial performance. The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) of Ghana churns out annual reports on yearly basis. But some of the annual reports are likely to be more difficult to understand than others and may not be effective if the reader is unable to completely comprehend the contents. Yet, nothing is known about the readability of annual reports produced by SSNIT. Hence, this paper attempts to evaluate the readability of annual reports of SSNIT and establish the trend in readability, covering a period of years (from 2011 to 2015). SMOG readability index was used to compute readability scores and descriptive statistics and ANOVA were used to analyse the data. The results indicate that the annual reports of SSNIT were generally very difficult to comprehend. In addition, the study showed that the readability level of all annual reports was similar. The trend indicates a deterioration in readability of the annual reports over the five-year period. The researcher recommends that authors of the report use plain language to enhance ease in the understanding of the reports.
Reductions for the Stable Set Problem

One approach to finding a maximum stable set (MSS) in a graph isto try to reduce the size of the problem by transforming the problem into an equivalent problem on a sma ller graph. This paper introduces several new reductions for the MSS problem, extends several well-known reductionsto the maximum weight stable set (MWSS) problem, demonstrates how reductions for the generalized stable setproblem can be used in conjunction with probing to produce powerful new reductions for both the MSS and MWSS problems, a nd shows how hypergraphs can be used to expand the capabilities of clique projections. The effectivenessof these new reduction techniques are illustrated on the DIM ACS benchmark graphs, planar graphs, and a set of challenging MS S problems arising from Steiner Triple Systems.
Identification and Characterization of Regions of the Rice Genome Associated With Broad-Spectrum, Quantitative Disease Resistance

Much research has been devoted to understanding the biology of plant-pathogen interactions. The extensive genetic analysis of disease resistance in rice, coupled with the sequenced genome and genomic resources, provides the opportunity to seek convergent evidence implicating specific chromosomal segments and genes in the control of resistance. Published data on quantitative and qualitative disease resistance in rice were synthesized to evaluate the distributions of and associations among resistance loci. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to multiple diseases and qualitative resistance loci (R genes) were clustered in the rice genome. R genes and their analogs of the nucleotide binding site–leucine-rich repeat class and genes identified on the basis of differential representation in disease-related EST libraries were significantly associated with QTL. Chromosomal segments associated with broad-spectrum quantitative disease resistance (BS-QDR) were identified. These segments contained numerous positional candidate genes identified on the basis of a range of criteria, and groups of genes belonging to two defense-associated biochemical pathways were found to underlie one BS-QDR region. Genetic dissection of disease QTL confidence intervals is needed to reduce the number of positional candidate genes for further functional analysis. This study provides a framework for future investigations of disease resistance in rice and related crop species.
Paraoxonase‐1 activity is related to Trichinella spiralis‐induced hepatitis in rats

Little is known about the potential adverse effects of a chronic zoonotic nematode Trichinella spiralis infection on hepatic inflammation and its relationship to paraoxonase (PON)‐1 and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activities. Therefore, we aimed to examine the effects of T. spiralis infection on hepatic synthesis of PON1.