Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Attempts to isolate a virus from pemphigus foliaceus cases.

THE ETIOLOGY of the diseases or syndromes of the pemphigus group is a challenging subject which remains undisclosed despite the large volume of research done upon it. The number of theories on the cause of pemphigus is a good index of the tremendous confusion prevalent not only in the etiology, but in the pathogenesis, epidemiology, and other domains of the knowledge on pemphigus as well. The existence in the literature of rather numerous reports of isolation of a virus from pemphigus vulgaris cases * as well as several suggestive observations on pemphigus foliaceus 4 motivated the work reported here. Attempts to isolate a virus from pemphigus foliaceus material are apparently found only in the Brazilian literature which is explainable by the relative abundance of cases in Brazil. Lindenberg 5 was the only worker who reported success, but his work is open to criticism due to poor technique and small number of
Niching in evolution strategies

EAs have the tendency to converge quickly into a single solution. Niching methods, the extension of EAs to address this issue, have been investigated up to date mainly within the field of Genetic Algorithms (GAs). In our study we investigate the basis for niching methods within Evolution Strategies (ES), and propose the first ES niching method. Results show that this method can reliably find and maintain multiple niches even for high-dimensional problems.
Angle recession and secondary glaucoma.

In a previous article (Mooney, I972), the incidence and extent of angle tears was reported in a series of 53 cases of traumatic hyphaema examined within 3 years of the date of injury, and it was suggested that those cases with angle tears involving I8o° or more of the anterior chamber angle should have annual tonometry in order to detect the development of glaucoma in the injured eye at as early a stage as possible. The purpose of this paper is to report the findings in a series of cases examined between I I and I4 years after hyphaema due to non-perforating injury. The late development of glaucoma after traumatic hyphaema has been described by several authors. D'Ombrain (1944) drew attention to the association of ocular trauma and chronic glaucoma and described four patients with chronic unilateral glaucoma who had suffered ocular or periorbital injury i8, i6, 20, and 4 years previously. D'Ombrain substantiated his observations with further cases described in articles published in 1945, I946, and I949. He suggested that the glaucoma may be due to a process of fibrosis or cuticular proliferation in the region of the trabecular meshwork as described by Reese (I944). Wolff and Zimmerman (I962) described the early and late histopathological changes of angle recession in a series of eyes enucleated after ocular contusion and confirmed D'Ombrain's theory of the underlying cause. In early cases they noted lacerations into the face of the ciliary body with damage to the ciliary muscle. Those lacerations that passed between the circular and longitudinal muscles of the ciliary body resulted in posterior displacement of the former along with the iris root and pars plicata. They also noted disruption of the trabecular meshwork. In late cases they noted atrophy of the circular muscle fibres that had been separated from the longitudinal fibres and advanced degenerative changes of the trabecular meshwork consisting of atrophy, fibrosis, and hyalinization ofthe trabeculae and obliteration ofthe intertrabecular spaces and Schlemm's canal. In many cases there was a newly formed hyaline membrane covering the inner surface of the trabeculae continuous with Descemet's membrane and often extending into the recessed angle covering the longitudinal muscle. D'Ombrain made no comment about the gonioscopic findings in his cases, but Alper (i963) described the gonioscopic changes in a selected series of 27 non-perforating eye injuries; he noted deepening of the anterior chamber, widening of the ciliary body band and posterior displacement ofthe iris root. Fourteen of his 27 cases had chronic uniocular glaucoma in the injured eye. Pettit and Keates (I963) described eight cases of angle recession after blunt ocular trauma, one of which had chronic uniocular glaucoma 8 years after trauma. Blanton (i964) found I30 cases of angle recession in a series of I82 cases of traumatic hyphaema; four of these patients had chronic uniocular glaucoma diagnosed more than IO years after the injury and all four had angle recession involving more than 1800 of the anterior chamber angle.
A hybrid SDF for the detailed representation of liquid–solid mixed surfaces

We propose a hybrid signed distance field (SDF) method for reconstructing the detailed surface of a model as it changes from a solid state to a liquid state. Previous particle‐based fluid simulations suffer from a noisy surface problem when the particles are distributed irregularly. If a smoothing scheme is applied to reduce the problem, sharp and detailed features can be lost by over‐smoothing artifacts. Our method constructs a hybrid SDF by combining level‐set values from the solid and liquid parts of the object. This makes it possible to represent the detailed features and smooth surfaces of an object when both solid and liquid parts are mixed in that object. In addition, the concept of a guiding shape is proposed, which uses a coordinate‐warping technique to query the level‐set values quickly. The guiding shape is constructed from the object before the simulation begins and some parts of it become liquid. To track the details of the initial solid shape and preserve it, the transformation of the guiding shape is accumulated while the phase‐shift is in progress. By warping the coordinates of this accumulated transformation of the guiding shape, the level‐set values of the solid part can be acquired very quickly. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Assessment of the Construct Validity of the ICD-11 Proposal for Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Background: A new diagnosis, complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), is set to be introduced in the 11th revision to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Studies have supported a unique group of trauma-exposed individuals who exhibit symptoms consistent with CPTSD proposals. No studies have yet tested the proposed latent symptom structure of CPTSD proposed for ICD-11. This study tests the factorial validity of CPTSD and assesses the role of a range of risk factors to predict CPTSD. Method: A large sample (N = 453) of treatment-seeking adult victims of childhood sexual abuse completed self-report measures of CPTSD. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to compare a set of alternative factor models of CPTSD. Results: Just less than half of the sample met the diagnostic criteria for CPTSD (42.8%). CFA results supported the factorial validity of the ICD-11 proposals for CPTSD. Being female and experiencing a greater number of sexual abuse acts during childhood were more strongly associated with PTSD than CPTSD symptoms. Regarding symptoms, anxiety was more strongly associated with PTSD than CPTSD, whereas higher levels of dysthymia were more strongly associated with CPTSD than PTSD symptoms. Conclusions: Results provide initial evidence regarding the factorial validity of the proposed ICD-11 model of CPTSD. In addition, current results support the proposals of the ICD-11 that exposure to abuse during early development is associated with a greater likelihood of CPTSD than PTSD. The study contributes to a growing body of empirical data supporting the construct validity of CPTSD as a unique diagnostic entity.
Molecular Analysis of Fungal Microbiota in Samples from Healthy Human Skin and Psoriatic Lesions

ABSTRACT Psoriasis, a common cutaneous disease of unknown etiology, may be triggered by infections, including those due to fungi. Since the fungal community of human skin is poorly characterized, we aimed to analyze the mycological microbiota in healthy skin and psoriatic lesions. Twenty-five skin samples from five healthy subjects (flexor forearm) and three patients with psoriasis were analyzed using broad-range 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and 5.8S rDNA/internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) Malassezia-specific PCR primers. Broad-range PCR analysis indicated that most organisms resembled Malassezia. Malassezia-specific 5.8S/ITS2 analysis of 1,374 clones identified five species and four unknown phylotypes, potentially representing new species. The species distribution appears largely host specific and conserved in different sites of healthy skin. In three subjects, the Malassezia microbiota composition appeared relatively stable over time. Samples of Malassezia microbiota from healthy skin and psoriatic lesions were similar in one patient but substantially different in two others. These data indicate the predominance of Malassezia organisms in healthy human skin, host-specific variation, stability over time, and as yet, no consistent patterns differentiating psoriatic skin from healthy skin.
A Google-inspired error-correcting graph matching algorithm

Graphs and graph algorithms are applied in many different areas including civil engineering, telecommunications, bio-informatics and software engineering. While exact graph matching is grounded on a consolidated theory and has well known results, approximate graph matching is still an open research subject. This paper presents an error tolerant approximated graph matching algorithm based on tabu search using the Google-like PageRank algorithm. We report preliminary results obtained on 2 graph data benchmarks. The first one is the TC-15 database [14], a graph data base at the University of Naples, Italy. These graphs are limited to exact matching. The second one is a novel data set of large graphs generated by randomly mutating TC-15 graphs in order to evaluate the performance of our algorithm. Such a mutation approach allows us to gain insight not only about time but also about matching accuracy.
Cost efficient network slicing for optical packet switched torus data centers

In this paper, for the first time, a cost efficient network slicing method is proposed for torus data centers based on optical packet switching transport. The torus optical packet switched rings are separately synchronized so that electronic regrooming is employed at the nodes connecting different rings, for the inter-ring transit of optical packet traffic. In the proposed network slicing method called “HYB-BOSS network slicing”, we introduce optical circuit switching over “network slicing paths” in order to leverage low-cost network operation. The resulting network has a hybrid optical packet/circuit switching architecture. Next, an optimal network planning tool is developed to evaluate the cost efficiency of HYB-BOSS network slicing in terms of required optical interfaces and optical fibers when compared with network slicing in purely optical packet switched torus. The numerical results show that HYB-BOSS network slicing can reduce the number of optical interfaces in a network by up to 33%.
Dystrophic scrotal calcinosis originating from benign eccrine epithelial cysts

Scrotal calcinosis has been classified as a form of idiopathic calcinosis cutis. However, the pathogenesis of the calcified nodules has not been fully elucidated: it is still unclear whether the condition is truly idiopathic, or the result of breakdown of calcified epithelial cysts. We describe a 29‐year‐old Japanese patient with scrotal calcinosis originating from epithelial cysts. Light microscopy revealed a large epithelial cyst containing von Kossa‐positive material and several small dilated ductal structures beside the cyst. The epithelia of the cyst and ductal structures were connected, showing similar eccrine duct differentiation on immunohistochemical staining and electron microscopy. In the cyst lumen, calcium was present as needle‐shaped crystals. The pathogenetic mechanism of calcium deposition seemed to be due to excessive production and discharge of matrical debris and sulphated mucopolysaccharides, which derived from luminal cells, and their accumulation in the lumina.
Is Response to OROS‐Methylphenidate Treatment Moderated by Treatment with Antidepressants or Psychiatric Comorbidity? A Secondary Analysis from a Large Randomized Double Blind Study of Adults with ADHD

Aims: The main aim of this post hoc analysis was to evaluate whether response to osmotic release oral system (OROS) methylphenidate (OROS‐MPH) was moderated by the concomitant use of antidepressants in attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) adults stabilized on these medicines for the treatment of depression or anxiety disorders, or a history of mood, anxiety, or substance use disorders. Methods: Two hundred and ninety‐six subjects were screened for participation; 227 were randomized (112 to OROS‐MPH and 115 to placebo), and 223 were analyzed (N= 109 and N= 114 for OROS‐MPH and placebo, respectively). Subjects with anxiety disorders and depression treated with a stable medication regimen of non‐MAOI antidepressants or benzodiazepines for at least 3 months could be enrolled in the study. Subjects currently receiving pharmacotherapy for anxiety disorders or depression were required to have Hamilton‐Depression and Hamilton‐Anxiety rating scales below 15 (mild range). Results: Concomitant antidepressant use at baseline was not associated with ADHD response, OROS‐MPH dose, study completion rate, adverse effects, or exacerbation of anxiety/depression. We did find nominally significant evidence that a lifetime history of mood (P= 0.09) or anxiety (P= 0.04) disorders was a moderator of ADHD symptoms and that a lifetime history of substance use disorder (P= 0.02) was a potential moderator of dose at endpoint. Discussion and Conclusions: We found few moderating effects in this large clinical trial of OROS‐MPH in adults with ADHD, which supports the robustness of the clinical response to OROS‐MPH in adult ADHD despite variable clinical pictures.
Context-aware resource allocation and scheduling of hybrid mobile cloud

Cloud services can compensate for the resource constraints of mobile devices. However, challenges of utilizing the cloud service by mobile users arise from inherent characteristics such as user mobility and device energy. In this paper, we propose a scheme to monitor the energy level and communication quality as a part of a mobile user context information, and develop a resource allocation and scheduling scheme to adapt to the context changes by exploiting the slack time. The objective is to reduce the execution cost of the jobs while meeting the jobs deadlines set by the users. We developed Simulated Annealing based resource allocation algorithm and Earliest Deadline First scheduling. Simulation of our scheme using CloudSim and synthetic workload based on Google Cluster Traces shows benefits in reducing execution cost and improving resource utilization.
Isolation and characterization of 12 microsatellite loci in soapbark, Quillaja saponaria (Quillajaceae)1

Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were developed for the endemic Chilean tree Quillaja saponaria (Quillajaceae), a common member of the sclerophyllous Mediterranean forest, to investigate intraspecific patterns of genetic diversity and structure. Methods and Results: Using an enriched library, 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed in Q. saponaria. All loci consisted of dinucleotide repeats. The average number of alleles per locus was 5.3 (2–13), with a total of 64 alleles recorded in 39 individuals from three populations. Conclusions: The microsatellite markers described here are the first characterized for Q. saponaria. The polymorphic loci will be useful in studies of genetic diversity and genetic population differentiation in natural populations of this species.
Lifelong Learning Inequality? The Relevance of Family Background for On-the-Job Training

"Despite ample evidence on intergenerational persistence of formal education as well as on the determinants of non-formal training, these issues have not yet been analysed jointly. The question remains whether people from low-qualified family backgrounds make up for their relatively sparse own formal education by means of non-formal training during adulthood. Hypotheses based on economic theory and findings from various other disciplines suggest otherwise. I use the German ALWA survey to estimate the influence of family background on non-formal training participation. Count data analyses show that a low-qualified family background is negatively related to both likelihood and frequency of on-the-job training. This result holds when controlling for education, ability and personality as well as job and firm characteristics. " (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
Myopia stabilization and associated factors among participants in the Correction of Myopia Evaluation Trial (COMET).

PURPOSE To use the Gompertz function to estimate the age and the amount of myopia at stabilization and to evaluate associated factors in the Correction of Myopia Evaluation Trial (COMET) cohort, a large ethnically diverse group of myopic children. METHODS The COMET enrolled 469 ethnically diverse children aged 6 to younger than 12 years with spherical equivalent refraction between -1.25 and -4.50 diopters (D). Noncycloplegic refraction was measured semiannually for 4 years and annually thereafter. Right eye data were fit to individual Gompertz functions in participants with at least 6 years of follow-up and at least seven refraction measurements over 11 years. Function parameters were estimated using a nonlinear least squares procedure. Associated factors were evaluated using linear regression. RESULTS In total, 426 participants (91%) had valid Gompertz curve fits. The mean (SD) age at myopia stabilization was 15.61 (4.17) years, and the mean (SD) amount of myopia at stabilization was -4.87 (2.01) D. Ethnicity (P < 0.0001) but not sex or the number of myopic parents was associated with the age at stabilization. Ethnicity (P = 0.02) and the number of myopic parents (P = 0.01) but not sex were associated with myopia magnitude at stabilization. At stabilization, African Americans were youngest (mean age, 13.82 years) and had the least myopia (mean, -4.36 D). Participants with two versus no myopic parents had approximately 1.00 D more myopia at stabilization. The age and the amount of myopia at stabilization were correlated (r = -0.60, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS The Gompertz function provides estimates of the age and the amount of myopia at stabilization in an ethnically diverse cohort. These findings should provide guidance on the time course of myopia and on decisions regarding the type and timing of interventions.
Effect of Citrullus colocynthis hydro-alcoholic extract on hormonal and folliculogenesis process in estradiol valerate-induced PCOs rats model: An experimental study

Background: Citrullus colocynthis (CCT) is used as the anti-diabetic and antioxidant agent. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a reproductive disorder which level of gonadotropins and sexual hormones are imbalanced. Objective: We evaluated the effect of CCT hydro-alcoholic extract on hormonal and folliculogenesis process in estradiol valerate-induced PCOs rats’ model. Materials and Methods: 40 female adult Wistar rats divided into five groups (n=8each: Group I (control) only injected by sesame oil as estradiol valerate solvent, group II (Sham) was orally received normal saline after estradiol valerate- induced polycystic ovarian syndrome (4 mg/rat estradiol valerate, intramuscularly), and three experimental groups, that after induction of PCOS within 60 days, received orally 50 mg/kg CCT extract (group III), 50mg/kg metformin (group IV), and CCT extract+ metformin (group V) for 20 days. The serum concentration level of luteinizing, testosterone and follicle stimulating hormones were measured using ELISA method and the serum concentration level of glucose were measured using the oxidative method (glucose meter). Histological study of ovary tissue carried out by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Results: There was a significant reduction in luteinizing hormone and testosterone in III-V groups compared to Sham group, whereas follicle stimulating hormone in III-V groups was not significantly changed in comparison with Sham group. Histological investigations showed a significant increase in number of preantral and antral follicles and corpus luteum in the experimental groups compared to group II. Conclusion: Marked improvement in hormonal and histological symptoms of PCOS may be due to CCT effects hence, CCT can potentially be considered as an effective drug for treatment of PCOS.
Resolution potential of surface wave phase velocity measurements at small arrays

SUMMARY The deployment of temporary arrays of broadband seismological stations over dedicated targets is common practice. Measurement of surface wave phase velocity across a small array and its depth-inversion gives us information about the structure below the array which is complementary to the information obtained from body-wave analysis. The question is however: what do we actually measure when the array is much smaller than the wave length, and how does the measured phase velocity relates to the real structure below the array? We quantify this relationship by performing a series of numerical simulations of surface wave propagation in 3-D structures and by measuring the apparent phase velocity across the array on the synthetics. A principal conclusion is that heterogeneities located outside the array can map in a complex way onto the phase velocities measured by the array. In order to minimize this effect, it is necessary to have a large number of events and to average measurements from events well-distributed in backazimuth. A second observation is that the period of the wave has a remarkably small influence on the lateral resolution of the measurement, which is dominantly controlled by the size of the array. We analyse if the artefacts created by heterogeneities can be mistaken for azimuthal variations caused by anisotropy. We also show that if the amplitude of the surface waves can be measured precisely enough, phase velocities can be corrected and the artefacts which occur due to reflections and diffractions in 3-D structures greatly reduced.
Brain Injury in Experimental Neonatal Meningitis Due to Group B Streptococci

Abstract. We have characterized the pattern of brain injury in a rat model of meningitis caused by group B streptococci (GBS). Infant rats (12–14 days old; n = 69) were infected intracisternally with 10 μl of GBS (log102.3 to 4.5 colony-forming units). Twenty hours later, illness was assessed clinically and cerebrospinal fluid was cultured. Animals were either immediately euthanized for brain histopathology or treated with antibiotics and examined later. Early GBS meningitis was characterized clinically by severe obtundation and seizures, and histopathologically by acute inflammation in the subarachnoid space and ventricles, a vasculopathy characterized by vascular engorgement, and neuronal injury that was most prominent in the cortex and often followed a vascular pattern. Incidence of seizures, vasculopathy and neuronal injury correlated with the inoculum size (p < 0.01). Early injury was almost completely prevented by treatment with dexamethasone. Within days after meningitis, injured areas became well demarcated and showed new cellular infiltrates. Thirty days post-infection, brain weights of infected animals treated with antibiotics were decreased compared to uninfected controls (1.39 ± 0.18 vs 1.64 ± 0.1 g; p < 0.05). Thus, GBS meningitis in this model caused extensive cortical neuronal injury resembling severe neonatal meningitis in humans.