Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association Between Traumatic Brain Injury-Related Brain Lesions and Long-term Caregiver Burden

Objective:To investigate the association between traumatic brain injury (TBI)–related brain lesions and long-term caregiver burden in relation to dysexecutive syndrome. Setting:National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. Participants:A total of 256 participants: 105 combat veterans with TBI, 23 healthy control combat veterans (HCv), and 128 caregivers. Outcome Measure:Caregiver burden assessed by the Zarit Burden Interview at 40 years postinjury. Design:Participants with penetrating TBI were compared with HCv on perceived caregiver burden and neuropsychological assessment measures. Data of computed tomographic scans (overlay lesion maps of participants with a penetrating TBI whose caregivers have a significantly high burden) and behavioral statistical analyses were combined to identify brain lesions associated with caregiver burden. Results:Burden was greater in caregivers of veterans with TBI than in caregivers of HCv. Caregivers of participants with lesions affecting cognitive and behavioral indicators of dysexecutive syndrome (ie, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex) showed greater long-term burden than caregivers of participants with lesions elsewhere in the brain. Conclusion and Implication:The TBI-related brain lesions have a lasting effect on long-term caregiver burden due to cognitive and behavioral factors associated with dysexecutive syndrome.
Aspetti della competenza ortografica e fonologica nell'italiano di emigrati di seconda generazione nella Svizzera tedesca

This paper examines the relationship between the graphemic and phonological representations of multilingual subjects by means of an analysis of the written and oral production (in Italian) of 24 Italian students living in German-speaking Switzerland. Particular attention is dedicated to the features [±voice] and [±tense], which have a different phonological status in the language varieties of the subjects' repertoire; furthermore, the treatment of geminates is examined. It appears that deviations from the standard Italian norm are mainly due to the influence of the regional varieties of Italian (of the central or southern type) to which the subjects are mostly exposed. The problem of correctly interpreting lax intervocalic obstruent is solved in two different ways by the informants : in the dication task, hypercorrect devoicing of voiced obstruents prevails, whereas, in the reading task, allophonic lenition of voiceless obstruents is applied more frequently. On the whole, the phonological representations of the subjects essentially appear to belong to 'coexistent' (and independent) systems, even if some traces of 'subordination' can be found in the devoicing of segments which lack a lax equivalent in the Swiss German dialect
Transformative Formworks : Towards Mass Customization of Double-Curved Surfaces

To create a highly customized and non-repetitive double-curved element, this research investigated the possibilities, developments, and challenges related to a digitally-driven, reconfigurable molding system called a “transformative” formwork. This formwork is a promising step toward closing the economic gap between existing free-form components and the designs made possible by digital advancements. A transformative formwork is an array of adjustable vertical elements called bars, coupled with a membrane or “interpolation layer” that rests upon the bar tops. To have a physical double-curved surface similar to this design in a digital model, it is essential that the material of the interpolation layer be streachable. If a non-stretchable material is used for the formwork membrane, the formwork will not accurately generate most of the smooth, double-curved surfaces. This research reviews the results of a preliminary method of resolving this obstacle. By turning an inextensible material into a flexible and stretchable layer, this process presents a newfound capacity to generalize relief-cut patterns into general tiling arrangements, changing the local properties of the formwork membrane. In such cases, every non-developable surface can be fabricated.
A qualitative approach exploring the experiences of smoking and quitting attempts in type 1 diabetes

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To explore the experiences of smoking and quitting attempts in people with type 1 diabetes, including their perceptions of existing services for smoking cessation. BACKGROUND In the UK, approximately a fifth of the population with type 1 diabetes smoke and despite the adverse effects of smoking, these individuals continue with their smoking habits. There is limited information on the barriers and facilitators to quitting smoking in people with type 1 diabetes. METHODS This study adopted a qualitative study design using semi-structured individual interviews guided by PRIME theory. Participants (n = 12) were purposively sampled and recruited from two diabetes outpatient clinics in London (UK). Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using the Framework method. RESULTS Most smokers with type 1 diabetes reported lack of motivation to stop smoking due to the addictive nature of cigarettes. Further barriers to quitting included self-image and habits associated with smoking, such as social activities. Generally, most reported limited awareness about the risks associated with smoking and diabetes. Moreover, the perceived negative attitude towards nicotine replacement therapy and pharmacotherapy impeded their willingness to alter their smoking habits. Nonetheless, these patients suggested that informative guidance from medical professionals and strategies to tackle cravings related to nicotine as helpful approaches to improve quitting attempts. CONCLUSION Internal and external factors influence quitting attempts among smokers with type 1 diabetes, with particular emphasis on self-image and societal norms. It is evident that existing strategies for smoking cessation recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have either not been implemented or not well received by people with type 1 diabetes. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Strategies and resources, such as staff training, to increase delivery of smoking cessation support to patients with diabetes are needed.
Functional and Physiological MR Imaging (E0201)

DKFZ 2001: Research Report 1999/2000 Scientists: Dr. Michael Amann (08/00 ) PD Dr. Peter Bachert Dr. Reiner Bader Dr. Klaus Baudendistel Dr. Michael Bock Dr. Jan Boese (01/00 ) Dr. Josef Doll Dr. Andreas Eisenmenger (02/00 ) Dr. Matthias Günther (12/00) Jutta Kissel (04/99) Dr. Roswitha Kraft (08/00 01/01) Adolf Lorenz Prof. Dr. Lothar Schad Dr. Peter Schmidlin (06/99) Dr. Rainer Umathum (07/00 ) Dr. Horst Wesch Dr. Gerd Wolber Hans-Joachim Zabel
Quantitative Determinations of Anti-Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) Antibody Levels in Men Who Have Sex with Men

Infection with Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV-8) is common among men who have sex with men (MSM). Here quantitative anti-KSHV antibody levels were measured using Luciferase Immunoprecipitation Systems (LIPS) in a MSM cohort with and without HIV from the NIH Clinical Center. Antibodies were detected using a mixture of four KSHV antigens in the MSM cohort and in Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) patients. Along with HIV status, these results were compared with K8.1 and ORF73 ELISA, PCR virus detection, and additional LIPS testing. LIPS revealed that 25% (76/307) of the MSM cohort were KSHV seropositive, including 59 HIV+ and 17 HIV− subjects. The anti-KSHV antibody levels detected by LIPS were not statistically different between the KSHV+/HIV+ and KSHV+/HIV− subgroups, but were lower than the KS patients (P<0.0001). ELISA analysis of the MSM cohort detected a 35.5% frequency of KSHV infection and showed agreement with 81% of the samples evaluated by LIPS. Further LIPS testing with v-cyclin, a second ORF73 fragment and ORF38 reconciled some of the differences observed between LIPS and the ELISA immunoassays and the revised LIPS seroprevalence in the MSM cohort was increased to 31%. Additional quantitative antibody analysis demonstrated statistically lower KSHV antibody levels in MSM compared to KS patients, but no difference was found between KSHV infected with and without HIV coinfection. These findings also suggest that antibodies against v-cyclin and ORF38 are useful for identifying patients with asymptomatic KSHV infection.
Persistence of repair proteins at unrepaired DNA damage distinguishes diseases with ERCC2 (XPD) mutations: cancer‐prone xeroderma pigmentosum vs. non‐cancer‐prone trichothiodystrophy

Patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) have a 1,000‐fold increase in ultraviolet (UV)‐induced skin cancers while trichothiodystrophy (TTD) patients, despite mutations in the same genes, ERCC2 (XPD) or ERCC3 (XPB), are cancer‐free. Unlike XP cells, TTD cells have a nearly normal rate of removal of UV‐induced 6‐4 photoproducts (6‐4PP) in their DNA and low levels of the basal transcription factor, TFIIH. We examined seven XP, TTD, and XP/TTD complex patients and identified mutations in the XPD gene. We discovered large differences in nucleotide excision repair (NER) protein recruitment to sites of localized UV damage in TTD cells compared to XP or normal cells. XPC protein was rapidly localized in all cells. XPC was redistributed in TTD, and normal cells by 3 hr postirradiation, but remained localized in XP cells at 24‐hr postirradiation. In XP cells recruitment of other NER proteins (XPB, XPD, XPG, XPA, and XPF) was also delayed and persisted at 24 hr (p<0.001). In TTD cells with defects in the XPD, XPB, or GTF2H5 (TTDA) genes, in contrast, recruitment of these NER proteins was reduced compared to normals at early time points (p<0.001) and remained low at 24 hr postirradiation. These data indicate that in XP persistence of NER proteins at sites of unrepaired DNA damage is associated with greatly increased skin cancer risk possibly by blockage of translesion DNA synthesis. In contrast, in TTD, low levels of unstable TFIIH proteins do not accumulate at sites of unrepaired photoproducts and may permit normal translesion DNA synthesis without increased skin cancer. Hum Mutat 0, 1–15, 2008. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Response of bistatic scattering to soil moisture and surface roughness at L-band

Remote sensing of soil moisture in a bistatic mode has attracted increasing attention in recent years. This paper investigates the bistatic radar response of soil moisture and surface roughness at L-band by using the advanced integral equation model (AIEM). To better explore the potential of bistatic scattering for soil moisture sensing, both polarized and angular scattering coefficients, and their combinations, were evaluated using a defined sensitivity index. Results show that sensitivity is enhanced in a bistatic mode compared to the monostatic case. Using a combination of dual polarized and angular data suppresses an undesired impact of the surface correlation function. Among the combinations, the dual angular observation reduces the influence of surface roughness, preserves a good sensitivity to soil moisture, and thus seems to be a good candidate for sensing soil moisture in bistatic configuration.
SDN-based wireless access network with media independent management capabilities

This paper presents signaling architecture models and protocol procedures for SDN-based wireless access networks with Media Independent Management (MIM) capabilities. Three models are described for the framework of SDN and MIM controls, which are decoupled interworking, loosely-coupled integration, and tightly-coupled integration between SDN and MIM controls.
Safe driving and executive functions in healthy middle-aged drivers

ABSTRACT The introduction of the point system driver’s license in several European countries could offer a valid framework for evaluating driving skills. This is the first study to use this framework to assess the functional integrity of executive functions in middle-aged drivers with full points, partial points or no points on their driver’s license (N = 270). The purpose of this study is to find differences in executive functions that could be determinants in safe driving. Cognitive tests were used to assess attention processes, processing speed, planning, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control. Analyses for covariance (ANCOVAS) were used for group comparisons while adjusting for education level. The Bonferroni method was used for correcting for multiple comparisons. Overall, drivers with the full points on their license showed better scores than the other two groups. In particular, significant differences were found in reaction times on Simple and Conditioned Attention tasks (both p-values < 0.001) and in number of type-III errors on the Tower of Hanoi task (p = 0.026). Differences in reaction time on attention tasks could serve as neuropsychological markers for safe driving. Further analysis should be conducted in order to determine the behavioral impact of impaired executive functioning on driving ability.
Romantic relationship status and alcohol use and problems across the first year of college.

OBJECTIVE We examined the associations between romantic relationship status and alcohol use and problems in a large sample of first-year college students. METHOD Participants (n = 2,056) came from a longitudinal study of college students who answered questions about relationship status (single, in an exclusive relationship, or dating several people), alcohol use, and alcohol problems at two time points across their first year. RESULTS After we controlled for a number of covariates (parental alcohol problems, high school conduct problems, peer deviance, and extraversion), we found that dating several people was associated with higher alcohol use and problems, compared with being single or being in an exclusive relationship, at the follow-up assessment only, with modest effect sizes. Being in an exclusive relationship was not associated with lower alcohol use or problems compared with being single. Relationship dissolution was associated with a modest longitudinal increase in alcohol problems. CONCLUSIONS It is important to consider alternative relationship statuses (e.g., dating several people) for understanding the association of romantic status with alcohol use and problems in college-aged samples. Involvement in an exclusive romantic relationship (vs. being single) in this age group is not associated with the behavioral health benefits documented in older-adult samples. College students dating several people may be at risk for high levels of alcohol use or problems and may benefit from targeted interventions. Those who have recently experienced a breakup also may be at risk for increases in alcohol problems, although the clinical relevance of this finding should be tempered by the small observed effect size.
Response to emotional expressions in generalized social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder: evidence for separate disorders.

OBJECTIVE Generalized social phobia involves fear/avoidance, specifically of social situations, whereas generalized anxiety disorder involves intrusive worry about diverse circumstances. It remains unclear the degree to which these two, often comorbid, conditions represent distinct disorders or alternative presentations of a single, core underlying pathology. Functional magnetic resonance imaging assessed the neural response to facial expressions in generalized social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder. METHOD Individuals matched on age, IQ, and gender with generalized social phobia without generalized anxiety disorder (N=17), generalized anxiety disorder (N=17), or no psychopathology (N=17) viewed neutral, fearful, and angry expressions while ostensibly making a simple gender judgment. RESULTS The patients with generalized social phobia without generalized anxiety disorder showed increased activation to fearful relative to neutral expressions in several regions, including the amygdala, compared to healthy individuals. This increased amygdala response related to self-reported anxiety in patients with generalized social phobia without generalized anxiety disorder. In contrast, patients with generalized anxiety disorder showed significantly less activation to fearful relative to neutral faces compared to the healthy individuals. They did show significantly increased response to angry expressions relative to healthy individuals in a lateral region of the middle frontal gyrus. This increased lateral frontal response related to self-reported anxiety in patients with generalized anxiety disorder. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that neural circuitry dysfunctions differ in generalized social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder.
Evaluation of the In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacy of the JAK Inhibitor AZD1480 against JAK-Mutated Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Genome-wide studies have identified a high-risk subgroup of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) harboring mutations in the Janus kinases (JAK). The purpose of this study was to assess the preclinical efficacy of the JAK1/2 inhibitor AZD1480, both as a single agent and in combination with the MEK inhibitor selumetinib, against JAK-mutated patient-derived xenografts. Patient-derived xenografts were established in immunodeficient mice from bone marrow or peripheral blood biopsy specimens, and their gene expression profiles compared with the original patient biopsies by microarray analysis. JAK/STAT and MAPK signaling pathways, and the inhibitory effects of targeted drugs, were interrogated by immunoblotting of phosphoproteins. The antileukemic effects of AZD1480 and selumetinib, alone and in combination, were tested against JAK-mutated ALL xenografts both in vitro and in vivo. Xenografts accurately represented the primary disease as determined by gene expression profiling. Cellular phosphoprotein analysis demonstrated that JAK-mutated xenografts exhibited heightened activation status of JAK/STAT and MAPK signaling pathways compared with typical B-cell precursor ALL xenografts, which were inhibited by AZD1480 exposure. However, AZD1480 exhibited modest single-agent in vivo efficacy against JAK-mutated xenografts. Combining AZD1480 with selumetinib resulted in profound synergistic in vitro cell killing, although these results were not translated in vivo despite evidence of target inhibition. Despite validation of target inhibition and the demonstration of profound in vitro synergy between AZD1480 and selumetinib, it is likely that prolonged target inhibition is required to achieve in vivo therapeutic enhancement between JAK and MEK inhibitors in the treatment of JAK-mutated ALL. Mol Cancer Ther; 14(2); 364–74. ©2014 AACR.
Histopathology of the Lymph Nodes

Lymph nodes function as filters of tissues and tissue fluids and are sites of origin and production of lymphocytes for normal physiological functions. As part of this normal function, they react to both endogenous and exogenous substances with a variety of specific morphological and functional responses. Lesions can be both proliferative and nonproliferative, and can be treatment-related or not. The histological evaluation of lymph nodes is necessary in order to understand the immunotoxic effects of chemicals with the resulting data providing an important component of human risk assessment. It is the challenge of the toxicologic pathologist to interpret the pathology data within the complete clinical evaluation of the entire animal. Daily insults, ageing and toxins can alter the normal histology and primary function of lymph nodes. Therefore it is important to distinguish and differentiate lesions that occur naturally during normal development and ageing from those that are induced by xenobiotics. To achieve this goal, comparison with strain- age- and sex-matched controls is crucial.
Evolution of bird genomes—a transposon's‐eye view

Birds, the most species‐rich monophyletic group of land vertebrates, have been subject to some of the most intense sequencing efforts to date, making them an ideal case study for recent developments in genomics research. Here, we review how our understanding of bird genomes has changed with the recent sequencing of more than 75 species from all major avian taxa. We illuminate avian genome evolution from a previously neglected perspective: their repetitive genomic parasites, transposable elements (TEs) and endogenous viral elements (EVEs). We show that (1) birds are unique among vertebrates in terms of their genome organization; (2) information about the diversity of avian TEs and EVEs is changing rapidly; (3) flying birds have smaller genomes yet more TEs than flightless birds; (4) current second‐generation genome assemblies fail to capture the variation in avian chromosome number and genome size determined with cytogenetics; (5) the genomic microcosm of bird–TE “arms races” has yet to be explored; and (6) upcoming third‐generation genome assemblies suggest that birds exhibit stability in gene‐rich regions and instability in TE‐rich regions. We emphasize that integration of cytogenetics and single‐molecule technologies with repeat‐resolved genome assemblies is essential for understanding the evolution of (bird) genomes.
Osteoblasts Are Rapidly Ablated by Virus-Induced Systemic Inflammation following Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus or Pneumonia Virus of Mice Infection in Mice

A link between inflammatory disease and bone loss is now recognized. However, limited data exist on the impact of virus infection on bone loss and regeneration. Bone loss results from an imbalance in remodeling, the physiological process whereby the skeleton undergoes continual cycles of formation and resorption. The specific molecular and cellular mechanisms linking virus-induced inflammation to bone loss remain unclear. In the current study, we provide evidence that infection of mice with either lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) or pneumonia virus of mice (PVM) resulted in rapid and substantial loss of osteoblasts from the bone surface. Osteoblast ablation was associated with elevated levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, and CCL2. Both LCMV and PVM infections resulted in reduced osteoblast-specific gene expression in bone, loss of osteoblasts, and reduced serum markers of bone formation, including osteocalcin and procollagen type 1 N propeptide. Infection of Rag-1–deficient mice (which lack adaptive immune cells) or specific depletion of CD8+ T lymphocytes limited osteoblast loss associated with LCMV infection. By contrast, CD8+ T cell depletion had no apparent impact on osteoblast ablation in association with PVM infection. In summary, our data demonstrate dramatic loss of osteoblasts in response to virus infection and associated systemic inflammation. Further, the inflammatory mechanisms mediating viral infection-induced bone loss depend on the specific inflammatory condition.
Nonrandom occurrence of lymphoid cancer types in 140 families

Abstract We studied 140 families with two or more lymphoid cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and multiple myeloma (MM), for deviation from the population age of onset and lymphoid cancer co-occurrence patterns. Median familial NHL, HL, CLL and MM ages of onset are substantially earlier than comparable population data. NHL, HL and CLL (but not MM) also show earlier age of onset in later generations, known as anticipation. The co-occurrence of lymphoid cancers is significantly different from that expected based on population frequencies (p < .0001), and the pattern differs more in families with more affected members (p < .0001), suggesting specific lymphoid cancer combinations have a shared genetic basis. These families provide evidence for inherited factors that increase the risk of multiple lymphoid cancers. This study was approved by the BC Cancer Agency – University of British Columbia Clinical Research Ethics Board.