Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cigarette smoking and vascular pathology in renal biopsies.

BACKGROUND In recent years cigarette smoking has been identified as a progression factor in chronic nephropathies such as glomerulonephritis or diabetic nephropathy. The exact pathomechanism of nicotine-induced renal damage is, however, unknown. Autopsy studies and functional investigations suggest that the renal vasculature is primarily affected by smoking. METHODS Renal vascular pathology, that is, glomerulosclerosis, hyalinosis of arterioles and myointimal hyperplasia of small arteries, was determined in 135 biopsies of patients over thirty years of age. A questionnaire about smoking habits was returned by 107 of the patients. For glomerular sclerosis the percentage of sclerotic glomeruli was determined, whereas arteriolar hyalinosis and myointimal hyperplasia of small arteries were described as present or absent without further quantification. A univariate analysis was performed for existence of vascular changes and ever-smoking status. In addition, a multivariate analysis for glomerular sclerosis and logistic regression analysis for arteriolar hyalinosis and myointimal hyperplasia and the variables ever-smoking, age, body mass index, creatinine clearance, blood pressure and lipids were performed. RESULTS Creatinine clearance was comparable for nonsmokers, ex-smokers and smokers. Frequency of myointimal hyperplasia of small arteries was twice as high in ever-smokers as compared to nonsmokers (50% vs. 25.5%, P < 0.01). Arteriolar hyalinosis was detected in 23.5% of nonsmokers and in 35.7% of smokers, showing a trend toward hyalinosis in ever-smokers (P=0.20). Glomerular sclerosis was found in 62.7% of nonsmokers and in 69.6% of ever-smokers. Logistic regression analysis confirmed an association between ever-smoking and myointimal hyperplasia (P < 0.01). This association also was present in males and patients over fifty years of age, but not in younger patients and females. CONCLUSION In patients with renal, especially glomerular disease, cigarette smoking exhibits its deleterious effect on the kidneys primarily through damage of small interlobular arteries.
[Psoriasis induced by infliximab].

INTRODUCTION Recently, the tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors (anti-TNF-α) have been extensively used in clinical practice, in the treatment of several immune-mediated disorders, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and more recently in psoriasis. CASE REPORT A 35-year-old woman, suffering from Crohn's disease, diagnosed in 1994, successfully treated with infliximab at the dosage of 5 mg/Kg every 8 weeks, since 10 months ago, was referred to our Dermatology Department due to the development of erythematic-scaling confluent plaques on the scalp, back and umbilical fold. The skin biopsy confirmed the clinical diagnosis of psoriasis. Given the severity of the skin lesions and its relation with the anti-TNF-α, we decided to discontinue infliximab. DISCUSSION Psoriasis results from the combination of polygenic predisposition and several triggering factors. Paradoxically, it has been described an increase of psoriasis induced by biologic agents. The pathogenic mechanism of such paradoxical effect has not yet been clearly elucidated.
RESULT OF EARLY VITRECTOMY FOR ENDOGENOUS KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE ENDOPHTHALMITIS

Purpose: To determine the role of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in the treatment of Klebsiella pneumoniae endogenous endophthalmitis. Methods: Records of seven consecutive patients (10 eyes) diagnosed with Klebsiella endogenous endophthalmitis were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Five patients (71%) had diabetes, and four (57%) had a liver abscess as the source. In most cases, the inflammation progressed within days and resulted in decreased vision worse than hand motions and a total vitreous abscess, despite systemic and intravitreal antibiotic injections. A PPV with subretinal abscess drainage and silicone oil tamponade was performed within 2 weeks. After 6 months, the retina remained attached in all eyes (100%), and vision was counting fingers or better in five eyes (50%). Two eyes recovered visual acuity between 20/63 and 20/125. Conclusions: Physicians should be alerted to the development of endogenous endophthalmitis in patients with Klebsiella septicemia, especially in diabetics with a hepatobiliary abscess. Aggressive therapy, including early vitrectomy with antibiotic injection, may improve the final outcome in this otherwise devastating ocular condition.
Education and peer discussion group interventions and adjustment to breast cancer.

BACKGROUND We report a clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of education-based and peer discussion-based group interventions on adjustment to breast cancer. METHODS Women with stage I, II, or III breast cancer (n = 312) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 group conditions: control, education, peer discussion, or education plus peer discussion (combination). Seven groups (each comprising 8-12 women) were conducted in each of the 4 conditions (28 groups total). Adjustment was measured before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 6 months after the intervention. RESULTS Consistently positive effects on adjustment were seen in the education groups both immediately following and 6 months after the intervention. There were no benefits of participation in peer discussion groups, and some indications of adverse effects on adjustment at both follow-up examinations. The effects could be explained by changes in self-esteem, body image, and intrusive thoughts about the illness. CONCLUSIONS Education-based group interventions facilitated the initial adjustment of women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. There was no evidence of benefits from peer discussion group interventions.
The role of medial temporal lobe in retrieving spatial and nonspatial relations from episodic and semantic memory

This study examined the involvement of medial temporal lobe, especially the hippocampus, in processing spatial and nonspatial relations using episodic and semantic versions of a relational judgment task. Participants studied object arrays and were tested on different types of relations between pairs of objects. Three prevalent views of hippocampal function were considered. Cognitive map theory (O'Keefe and Nadel (1978) The Hippocampus as a Cognitive Map. USA: Oxford University Press) emphasizes hippocampal involvement in spatial relational tasks. Multiple trace theory (Nadel and Moscovitch (1997) Memory consolidation, retrograde amnesia and the hippocampal complex Curr Opin Neurobiol 7:217–227) emphasizes hippocampal involvement in episodic tasks. Eichenbaum and Cohen's ((2001) From Conditioning to Conscious Recollection: Memory Systems of the Brain. USA: Oxford University Press) relational theory predicts equivalent hippocampal involvement in all relational tasks within both semantic and episodic memory. The fMRI results provided partial support for all three theories, though none of them fit the data perfectly. We observed hippocampal activation during all relational tasks, with increased activation for spatial compared to nonspatial relations, and for episodic compared to semantic relations. The placement of activation along the anterior‐posterior axis of the hippocampus also differentiated the conditions. We suggest a view of hippocampal function in memory that incorporates aspects of all three theories. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Brain glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in human trinucleotide repeat disorders.

BACKGROUND Although the abnormal gene products responsible for several hereditary neurodegenerative disorders caused by repeat CAG trinucleotides have been identified, the mechanism by which the proteins containing the expanded polyglutamine domains cause cell death is unknown. The observation that several of the mutant proteins interact in vitro with the key glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) suggests that interaction between the different gene products and GAPDH might damage brain neurons. OBJECTIVE To measure the activity of GAPDH in postmortem brain of patients with CAG repeat disorders. PATIENTS AND METHODS Activity of GAPDH was measured in morphologically affected and unaffected brain areas of patients with 4 different CAG repeat disorders (Huntington disease, spinocerebellar ataxia 1 [SCA1], SCA2, and SCA3-Machado-Joseph disease), in brains of patients with Friedreich ataxia (a GAA repeat disorder) and Alzheimer disease, and in brains of matched control subjects. RESULTS Brain GAPDH activity was normal in all groups with the exception of a slight but statistically significant region-specific reduction in the patients with Huntington disease (caudate nucleus, -12%) and Alzheimer disease (temporal cortex, -19%). CONCLUSION The presence of the polyglutamine-containing proteins in CAG repeat disorders does not result in substantial irreversible inactivation or in increased activity of GAPDH in human brain.
Murine Vaginal Colonization Model for Investigating Asymptomatic Mucosal Carriage of Streptococcus pyogenes

ABSTRACT While many virulence factors promoting Streptococcus pyogenes invasive disease have been described, specific streptococcal factors and host properties influencing asymptomatic mucosal carriage remain uncertain. To address the need for a refined model of prolonged S. pyogenes asymptomatic mucosal colonization, we have adapted a preestrogenized murine vaginal colonization model for S. pyogenes. In this model, derivatives of strains HSC5, SF370, JRS4, NZ131, and MEW123 established a reproducible, asymptomatic colonization of the vaginal mucosa over a period of typically 3 to 4 weeks' duration at a relatively high colonization efficiency. Prior treatment with estradiol prolonged streptococcal colonization and was associated with reduced inflammation in the colonized vaginal epithelium as well as a decreased leukocyte presence in vaginal fluid compared to the levels of inflammation and leukocyte presence in non-estradiol-treated control mice. The utility of our model for investigating S. pyogenes factors contributing to mucosal carriage was verified, as a mutant with a mutation in the transcriptional regulator catabolite control protein A (CcpA) demonstrated significant impairment in vaginal colonization. An assessment of in vivo transcriptional activity in the CcpA− strain for several known CcpA-regulated genes identified significantly elevated transcription of lactate oxidase (lctO) correlating with excessive generation of hydrogen peroxide to self-lethal levels. Deletion of lctO did not impair colonization, but deletion of lctO in a CcpA− strain prolonged carriage, exceeding even that of the wild-type strain. Thus, while LctO is not essential for vaginal colonization, its dysregulation is deleterious, highlighting the critical role of CcpA in promoting mucosal colonization. The vaginal colonization model should prove effective for future analyses of S. pyogenes mucosal colonization.
The Influence of Pit and Fissure Sealants on Infrared Fluorescence Measurements

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of pit and fissure sealants on fluorescence readings using lasers. We selected 166 permanent molars and randomly divided them into 4 groups which were each treated with a different sealant (a commercially available clear sealant, 2 opaque sealants and an experimental nanofilled clear sealant). The teeth were independently measured twice by 2 experienced dentists using conventional laser fluorescence (LF) and a laser fluorescence pen device (LFpen), before and after sealing, and again after thermocycling to simulate the thermal stressing between the tooth and the dental materials. Friedman test showed no statistically significant changes using LF and LFpen for the commercial clear sealant group, although values tended to increase after sealing. However, the values increased significantly after thermocycling. There was a statistically significant decrease in fluorescence after application of opaque sealants. After application of the experimental nanofilled clear sealant, LF values increased only after thermocycling, whereas the LFpen values increased after sealing and after thermocycling as well. The intraclass correlation coefficient ranged from 0.87 to 0.96 for interexaminer and 0.82 to 0.94 for intraexaminer reproducibility. It was shown that pit and fissure sealants influence LF and LFpen readings, with the values increasing or decreasing according to the material used. In conclusion, both laser fluorescence devices could be useful as an adjunct to detect occlusal caries under unfilled clear sealants. Nevertheless, surfaces sealed with clear nanofilled material could be assessed using only the LF device.
Evaluating FPGA clusters under wide ranges of design parameters

The latest published studies with extensive explorations of look-up table and cluster sizes are now more than a decade old. However, CMOS technology as well as CAD and transistor modeling tools have improved so much since that it is reasonable to wonder whether the conclusions of such studies still hold. One of the major difficulties of conducting these studies, especially in academia, is producing credible delay and area models. In this paper, we take advantage of a recently developed architecture modeling tool to re-evaluate the effect of the various cluster parameters on the FPGA. We considerably extend the exploration space beyond that of the classic studies to include sparse crossbars and fracturable LUTs, and show some results that go against the current tenets of FPGA architecture.
Do remittances support consumption during crisis? Evidence from Kosovo

Abstract This paper focuses on the effect of remittances on per capita consumption over time in a context of conflict, war-to-peace transition and crisis. We use two household surveys from Kosovo with unique timing, one collected immediately after the civil war in 2000 and the other during the economic crisis in 2010. This territory, in which the tension among ethnic groups is the focus of international concern, is one of the top remittance-receiving countries in the world. We examine the effect of remittances not only at the average level of consumption, but also at various parts of the distribution of consumption using quantile regressions. We find that remittances alleviate poverty by enhancing the consumption level of the most vulnerable households, and the positive effect of remittances on consumption has remained constant between 2000 and 2010. This result may be connected with the resilience of remittances.
Effects of Methylphenidate on Default-Mode Network/Task-Positive Network Synchronization in Children With ADHD

Objective: A failure of the anti-phase synchronization between default-mode (DMN) and task-positive networks (TPN) may be involved in a main manifestation of ADHD: moment-to-moment variability. The study investigated whereby methylphenidate may improve TPN/DMN synchronization in ADHD. Method: Eleven drug-naive ADHD children and 11 typically developing (TD) children performed a flanker task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. The ADHD group was scanned without and 1 month later with methylphenidate. The signal was analyzed by independent component analysis. Results: The TD group showed anti-phase DMN/TPN synchronization. The unmedicated ADHD group showed synchronous activity in the posterior DMN only, which was positively correlated with response time variability for the flanker task. Methylphenidate initiated a partial anti-phase TPN/DMN synchronization, reduced variability, and abolished the variability/DMN correlation. Conclusion: Although results should be interpreted cautiously because the sample size is small, they suggest that a failure of the TPN/DMN synchronization could be involved in the moment-to-moment variability in ADHD. Methylphenidate initiated TPN/DMN synchronization, which in turn appeared to reduce variability.
Phonological Facilitation from Pictures in a Word Association Task: Evidence for Routine Cascaded Processing in Spoken Word Production

While most authors now agree that the language production system is in principle cascaded, the strength with which cascaded lemma-to-phoneme activation typically occurs is debated. Picture naming has been shown to be facilitated by phonologically related distractor pictures, but no such facilitation from pictures has been shown for word reading. Picture–picture paradigms have recently been suggested to represent an attentionally facilitated and unusually strong case of cascaded phonological facilitation, not typical of a more general weakly cascaded production system. We used a novel procedure based on picture–word interference paradigms, where participants made speeded verbal free association responses to presented words, with irrelevant picture distractors that were phonologically related to their predicted high-associate responses. Phonological facilitation effects from related picture names were observed on free associate verbal production latencies. These findings represent a far more general demonstration of routine cascaded language production and suggest that the strength and extent of cascaded activation is more substantial than that suggested by traditional picture–word paradigms.
The Cause of Infertility of Male c-ros Tyrosine Kinase Receptor Knockout Mice1

Abstract Male homozygous transgenic c-ros knockout mice are sterile by natural mating, lack a part of their epididymis, and the epididymal sperm exhibit tail angulation in vivo and in vitro. To ascertain if this abnormal tail form caused the infertility, the number and nature of sperm in the tract of females mated to knockout and wild-type mice were determined. Percentage motility and numbers of sperm in the uterus 1 h after mating were similar between genotypes. The majority of the uterine sperm from the wild-type males had straight flagella, whereas 46–86% of knockout sperm were bent at the cytoplasmic droplet even when motile. Motile knockout sperm showed a 54 and 37% reduction in the straightline and curvilinear velocities compared with straight wild-type sperm. Sequential flushings of the oviduct 4 h after mating with the wild-type males contained sperm: 591 ± 119 free, 371 ± 70 loosely, and 122 ± 47 tightly bound to the epithelium, but no knockout sperm were recovered from the oviduct or observed within the uterotubal junction in tissue sections. The infertility of c-ros knockout male mice can be explained by the sperm's inability to enter the oviduct, as a result of their bent tails forming the entangled sperm mass and their compromised flagellar vigor within the uterus.
Ethnicity , Citizenship and In-state Residence : Analyses of Postsecondary Education Choices of Major

Racial gaps in educational attainment increase in the early education years (Fryer and Levitt 2004 & 2006; Nores, 2007) and are sustained in secondary education (Reardon, 2008). By the end of high school, gaps can turn into different postsecondary education pathways: being a high school dropout, a high school graduate and going into the labor market, enrolling in a community college, and enrolling in a four-year institution. Among the latter two, selection into either a two year or a four year institution defines latter educational achievement (Leigh and Gill, 2003; Rouse, 1994 & 1995). However, even among those that apply to a four year institution (and are admitted to one) choice about a major still define later labor market outcomes, and labor market returns. Such decisions are usually informed by preferences, previous educational attainment (selection, plus preparation, e.g. AP courses in specific fields), and expected labor market returns (Turner & Bowen, 1999).
Parasitoids of Phyllonorycter platani ( Staudinger ) ( Lepidoptera , Gracillariidae ) in Serbia Č

In the study of parasitoids of the plane leaf miner Phyllonorycter platani during 2004, 18 polyphagous parasitoid species were recorded in four tree rows and four parks in Serbia (3 species of the family Ichneumonidae and 15 species of the family Eulophidae). Among the recorded parasitoids, the most significant were the species Minotetrastichus platanellus, Pediobius saulius and M. frontalis, followed by the species Pnigalio agraules, P. pectinicornis, Sympiesis gordius and Neochrysocharis formosa. The other parasitoid species were rare and few. The parasitism rates in the study samples of Ph. platani ranged from 15.0 to 37.8 %.
Lactate level, aetiology and mortality of adult patients in an emergency department: a cohort study

Background Increased lactate is associated with high mortality among patients with suspected infection or trauma in the emergency department (ED), but the association with patients with other aetiologies is less well described. The aim of this study was to describe the relation between lactate, aetiology and 7-day mortality in adult ED patients. Methods A retrospective cohort study of all adult patients who had a lactate measured within 4 h after arrival to the ED at Odense University Hospital between June 2012 and May 2013. The categorisation of suspected aetiology was based on discharge diagnoses. Results 5360 patients were included; 51.7% were men, and the median age was 67 years (IQR 50–79). 77.2% had low lactate (0–1.9 mmol/L), 16.2% intermediate lactate (2–3.9 mmol/L), and 6.6% high lactate (≥4 mmol/L). 7-day mortality was 2.9% (95% CI 2.4% to 3.5%) for patients with low lactate, 7.8% (95% CI 6.1% to 9.8%) for patients with intermediate lactate, and 23.9% (95% CI 19.6% to 28.8%) for patients with high lactate. The association between lactate level and mortality varied across different diagnostic groups. Based on Area Under the Curve in receiver operating characteristic analysis, lactate level showed to be useful in patients with infection (0.78, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.84), trauma (0.78, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.92), cardiac diseases (0.83, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.91) and gastrointestinal diseases (0.83, 95% CI 0.68 to 0.98). Lactate level was not useful in neurological (0.58, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.67) and respiratory disease (0.64, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.74), and of uncertain value in the remaining diagnostic groups. Conclusions Among adult ED patients, the prognostic value of lactate varies between diagnostic groups.
Two-Dimensional Software Reliability Assessment with Testing-Coverage

We propose a two-dimensional SRGM describing a software reliability growth process on the two-dimensional time-space which consists of testing-time and testing-coverage. Our two-dimensional SRGM conserves the theoretical means for the effect of such two-types of the reliability growth factors to the software reliability growth process. And we also discuss a parameter estimation method and a software reliability assessment measure of our model. Further, we show numerical examples for software reliability analysis by using actual data. Finally, we conduct goodness-of-fit evaluation of our model to the actual data, and see that our model has a better performance than representative one-dimensional SRGMs in terms of mean squared errors.