Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Health-related quality of life in children with Hymenoptera venom allergy treated with VIT and quality of life of their parents].

UNLABELLED Hymenoptera venom allergy, although rare in children, by its potential fatalities, leads to many psychosocial consequences, influencing quality of life of children and their parents. Aim of this paper is the estimation of health-related quality of life of venom allergic children treated with specific immunotherapy, and their parents. Assessment of factors influencing health-related quality of life levels was also performed. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sample under study consisted of 73 children: mean age 10.6, SD 2, 4, treated because of Hymenoptera venom allergy in 5 clinical allergy centers in Poland. Data was collected using VQLQ questionnaire adapted for children and their parents. Determinants of quality of life were assessed with multivariate linear and logistic regression models. Analysis were done with SPSS 15 for Windows package. RESULTS Girls reported higher level of anxiety than boys (B = 0.47; 95% CI = (0.01; 0.94)). Level of caution in children increased along with increase of their anxiety against re-sting (B = 0.49; 95% CI = (0.27; 0.71)). Level of anxiety of children who were under treatment from 6 months to 2 years was lower than level of anxiety of parents of children treated shorter than 6 months (B = -1.21; 95% CI = (-2.16; -0.25)). The lowest level of caution was reported by parents of children aged 10 year or less (B = -0.86; 95% CI = (-1.67; -0.05)), while the highest was reported by parents of children aged 11 years (B = 0.86; 95% CI = (0.20; 1.53)) in comparison to parents of children aged 12 years or more. Parents' caution increased along with increase of their anxiety (B = 0.61; 95% CI = (0.40; 0.83)). Higher level of limitations was imposed by parents of children treated with rush or ultra rush method, in comparison to parents of children treated with conventional method (B = 1.27; 95% CI = (0.21; 2.33)). Levels of quality of life in children and their parents were strongly dependent in the same dimensions. CONCLUSIONS 1. Levels of quality of life in particular dimension in children is related to level of the same dimension in parents. 2. Age of children influenced level of caution of their parents. 3. Treatment duration influenced level of anxiety of parents. 4. Safety feeling acquired by parents at the beginning of treatment improves their quality of life in all dimensions.
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ssp. plantarum strains as potential protective starter cultures for the production of Bikalga, an alkaline fermented food

To identify and screen dominant Bacillus spp. strains isolated from Bikalga, fermented seeds of Hibiscus sabdariffa for their antimicrobial activities in brain heart infusion (BHI) medium and in a H. sabdariffa seed‐based medium. Further, to characterize the antimicrobial substances produced.
CD8+ T Cell Cross-Priming via Transfer of Proteasome Substrates

“Cross-priming” describes the activation of naïve CD8+ T cells by professional antigen-presenting cells that have acquired viral or tumor antigens from “donor” cells. Antigen transfer is believed to be mediated by donor cell–derived molecular chaperones bearing short peptide ligands generated by proteasome degradation of protein antigens. We show here that cross-priming is based on the transfer of proteasome substrates rather than peptides. These findings are potentially important for the rational design of vaccines that elicit CD8+ T cell responses.
Long-term outcomes after acute necrotizing pancreatitis: what happens to the pancreas and to the patient?

CONTEXT Late consequences of acute pancreatitis have received little attention. It is controversial whether the pancreas fully recovers after an episode of acute pancreatitis, especially in the presence of necrosis. Therefore, the presence of late pancreatic dysfunction following acute necrotizing pancreatitis is uncertain and there are controversies about how it may affect long-term quality of life. OBJECTIVES To evaluate pancreatic function and morphology, besides quality of life, in patients with prior acute necrotizing pancreatitis. PATIENTS Patients who were admitted to our hospital with acute necrotizing pancreatitis in a ten-year interval were identified and thirty-eight survivors were contacted to enroll in the study out of which sixteen patients were included. METHODS Exocrine function was studied by qualitative fecal fat excretion. Endocrine function was evaluated by oral glucose tolerance test, HOMA-beta and C-peptide. Pancreatic morphology was examined by computed tomography. Quality of life was measured by 36-item short-form health survey. Tests were performed at least twelve months after the index episode of acute necrotizing pancreatitis. RESULTS The prevalence of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency was 6.2%. Endocrine dysfunction was observed in half the cases, and no association with the extension of necrosis was found. Morphological changes were frequent (62.5%) and more prevalent in those who faced extensive necrosis. Quality of life was considered good, and its impairment was found exclusively in mental health domain, markedly in patients who had alcoholic pancreatitis. There was no correlation between quality of life and prognostic indicators. CONCLUSIONS Exocrine function and quality of life were preserved in this group of patients. However, endocrine dysfunction and morphological abnormalities were frequent after acute necrotizing pancreatitis. These findings justify a long-term follow-up in order to initiate specific treatment promptly.
Role of symmetric dimethylarginine in vascular damage by increasing ROS via store-operated calcium influx in monocytes.

BACKGROUND The guanidines asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), a marker of endothelial dysfunction, and its counterpart symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), considered inert, are accumulated in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The present study evaluates their effect on monocyte function, since previous data demonstrated leukocyte activation by other guanidino compounds. METHODS The effect of ADMA and SDMA on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in human whole blood at baseline and after N-formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine (fMLP) stimulation was evaluated. By using the fluorescent probe Fluo3-AM, the role of changes in monocytic cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca2+]i) was studied. Thapsigargin, and removal followed by addition of extracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+(ex)), was used to investigate the contribution of store-operated Ca2+-channels (SOCs). SKF96365 was used as a selective inhibitor of the SOCs. A pharmacologic intervention with captopril, known to affect Ca2+ influx, was tested. RESULTS SDMA enhanced ROS production in fMLP-stimulated monocytes using heparinized blood, and this effect was abolished in EDTA-anticoagulated blood. In the presence of SDMA, an increased Ca2+ entry from the extracellular milieu resulted in an elevated amplitude of the peak [Ca2+]i change triggered by fMLP. None of these effects were seen with ADMA. Depletion of the intracellular stores with thapsigargin in the absence of Ca2+(ex), followed by re-addition of Ca2+(ex) triggered a significantly larger Ca2+ entry after SDMA treatment versus saline. This effect was prevented with SKF96365, as was the SDMA-enhanced oxidative burst after fMLP. Pre-incubation with captopril also reduced the increased ROS production seen with SDMA. CONCLUSIONS SDMA, a uraemic retention solute considered inert, stimulates ROS production of monocytes by acting on Ca2+ entry via SOCs. This pro-inflammatory effect may trigger vascular pathology and may be involved in altering the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in CKD.
Immunomodulatory effect of non-viable components of probiotic culture stimulated with heat-inactivated Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus on holoxenic mice

Background Competition of probiotic bacteria with other species from the intestinal microbiota involves different mechanisms that occur regardless of probiotics’ viability. The objective of this paper was to assess the cytokine serum levels in holoxenic mice after oral administration of non-viable components (NVC) of Enterococcus faecium probiotic culture stimulated with heat-inactivated Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus in comparison to NVC of unstimulated E. faecium probiotic culture. Methods Probiotic E. faecium CMGb 16 culture, grown in the presence of heat-inactivated cultures of E. coli and B. cereus CMGB 102, was subsequently separated into supernatant (SN) and heat-inactivated cellular sediment (CS) fractions by centrifugation. Each NVC was orally administered to holoxenic mice (balb C mouse strain), in three doses, given at 24 hours. Blood samples were collected from the retinal artery, at 7, 14, and 21 days after the first administration of the NVC. The serum concentrations of IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) interleukins were assessed by ELISA method. Results After the oral administration of SN component obtained from the probiotic culture stimulated with heat-inactivated cultures of B. cereus CMGB 102 and E. coli O28, the serum concentrations of IL-12 were maintained higher in the samples collected at 7 and 14 days post-administration. No specific TNF-α profile could be established, depending on stimulated or non-stimulated probiotic culture, NVC fraction, or harvesting time. Conclusion The obtained results demonstrate that non-viable fractions of probiotic bacteria, stimulated by other bacterial species, could induce immunostimulatory effects mediated by cytokines and act, therefore, as immunological adjuvants.
Assessment of different topographic correction methods in ALOS AVNIR-2 data over a forest area

Abstract Because the removal of topographic effects is one the most important pre-processing steps when extracting information from satellite images in digital Earth applications, the problem of differential terrain illumination on satellite imagery has been investigated for at least 20 years. As there is no superior topographic correction method applicable to all areas and all images, a comparison of topographic normalization methods in different regions and images is necessary. In this study, common topographic correction methods were applied on an ALOS AVNIR-2 image of a rugged forest area, and the results were evaluated through different criteria. The results show that the simple correction methods [Cosine, Sun-Canopy-sensor (SCS), and Minnaert correction] are inefficient in exceptionally rough forests. Among the improved correction methods (SCS+C, modified Minnaert, and pixel-based Minnaert), the best result was achieved using a pixel-based Minnaert approach in which a separate correction factor in various slope angles is used. Thus, this method should be considered for topographic correction, especially in forests with severe topography.
IMPROVED TECHNIQUES FOR THE PREPARATION OF ULTRATHIN FROZEN SECTIONS

Ultrathin frozen sections of biological tissues for electron microscopy provide certain advantages in cytochemical studies in which the penetration of cells by large molecules is necessary and in morphological studies of cellular constituents which are dissolved by the reagents employed in routine plastic embedding. The recent introduction of several types of commercially available cryo-ultramicrotomes makes it possible for many laboratories to employ this valuable tool. This paper summarizes recent improvements in the methods developed in this laboratory for preparing ultrathin frozen sections and reviews some of the inherent problems involved in their use. These procedures may serve as a baseline for other investigators who can then modify or adapt them for their specific purposes.
A Low-Power Buffered Tree Construction Algorithm Aware of Supply Voltage Variation

Power dissipation problem becomes a dominant factor in the state-of-the-art IC design. In this paper, we use accurate delay and power models to construct buffered routing trees with consideration of power optimization under timing constraints. Moreover, with the supply voltage goes down, the supply voltage variation becomes an important part of total supply voltage, and make the traditional timing estimation inaccurate and unreliable. Our algorithm takes the supply voltage variation into account to obtain better solutions. Experimental results show, our method can save 42.8% and 75.9% of power dissipation and total buffer area, respectively. Moreover, with the consideration of supply voltage variation, 12.0% power dissipation and 31.6% total buffer area will be saved compared with the worst case IR-drop estimation, and more reliable solutions are obtained compared with the cases not considering supply voltage variation.
I never forget a face

There are large individual differences in face recognition ability. Prosopagnosics – or sufferers from face blindness appear at one end of the scale. A large body of research has examined this deficit and considerably enhanced our knowledge of how all human’s process faces. Far less research has been conducted on superrecognisers who have the extraordinary ability to be able to recognise people they have only seen fleetingly. This article describes recent research conducted on super-recognisers, such as police officers who have used these skills to enhance detection rates.
Evaluation of a side population of canine lymphoma cells using Hoechst 33342 dye

Cancer stem cell (CSC) research has increased exponentially to gain further insight into the mechanisms underlying both carcinogenesis and chemotherapy resistance. The present study was performed to explore the potential value of a side population (SP) assay for identifying and characterizing putative CSCs among canine lymphoma cells. Canine lymphoma cells from cell lines and clinical samples were subjected to the SP assay consisting of Hoechst 33342 staining and subsequent flow cytometric analysis. The SP assay revealed various amounts of a SP fraction among the canine lymphoma cells. The percentages of SP were not affected by inhibitors of membrane transporters, verapamil hydrochloride, or fumitremorgin C. Most of the canine lymphoma cells expressed high levels of Bmi-1 and membrane transporter proteins such as ABCG2 and phosphorylated (p)-glycoprotein. This investigation lays the groundwork for further studies of the biological behaviors and molecular characteristics of CSCs in cases of canine lymphoma.
Consumer Search and Purchase: An Empirical Investigation of Search-Based Retargeting

This paper empirically investigates how marketers can retarget consumers based on their behaviors in the previous search process, a practice we call “search-based retargeting”. To infer the relationship between search activities and preferences of retargeted consumers, we develop a dynamic consumer search model that is based on Weitzman’s model (1979) but it incorporates several key modifications. Based on the model estimation results, we explore the effectiveness of retargeting by studying two types of marketing actions. We find that, when the marketing action is to recommend a seller and provide full seller information, the retargeting value is high for consumers with intensive search and for sellers with high conversion rates. When the marketing action is couponing, it is more useful for a seller to target “own” customers rather than competitors’ customers who have previously clicked into other sellers’ pages but not his. The retargeting value is high for consumers who have searched multiple sellers and have searched the seller first in the search process, and for sellers with high click rates. By charging sellers for either the seller recommendation or the coupon delivery, the online retail platform will obtain a substantial profit gain, and sellers and consumers are also benefited. However, the gains from the seller recommendation are significantly higher, suggesting that providing the seller information is more important as a retargeting strategy.
Techno-economic feasibility analysis of constrained application protocol

Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) has been developed as an alternative to the HyperText Transfer protocol (HTTP) to connect resource-limited devices to the Web. In addition to technical advantages, the success of Internet protocols depends also on their economic feasibility for the stakeholders involved in protocol deployment. Therefore, this paper studies the techno-economic feasibility of CoAP by applying a methodological framework. Based on literature review and nine expert interviews, the paper identifies potential deployment challenges of CoAP and suggests solutions to them. The results can be used to facilitate the deployment of CoAP and to guide the potential adopters in decision-making.
Deficient ryanodine receptor S-nitrosylation increases sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium leak and arrhythmogenesis in cardiomyocytes

Altered Ca2+ homeostasis is a salient feature of heart disease, where the calcium release channel ryanodine receptor (RyR) plays a major role. Accumulating data support the notion that neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS1) regulates the cardiac RyR via S-nitrosylation. We tested the hypothesis that NOS1 deficiency impairs RyR S-nitrosylation, leading to altered Ca2+ homeostasis. Diastolic Ca2+ levels are elevated in NOS1−/− and NOS1/NOS3−/− but not NOS3−/− myocytes compared with wild-type (WT), suggesting diastolic Ca2+ leakage. Measured leak was increased in NOS1−/− and NOS1/NOS3−/− but not in NOS3−/− myocytes compared with WT. Importantly, NOS1−/− and NOS1/NOS3−/− myocytes also exhibited spontaneous calcium waves. Whereas the stoichiometry and binding of FK-binding protein 12.6 to RyR and the degree of RyR phosphorylation were not altered in NOS1−/− hearts, RyR2 S-nitrosylation was substantially decreased, and the level of thiol oxidation increased. Together, these findings demonstrate that NOS1 deficiency causes RyR2 hyponitrosylation, leading to diastolic Ca2+ leak and a proarrhythmic phenotype. NOS1 dysregulation may be a proximate cause of key phenotypes associated with heart disease.
A Model predictive control scheme with ultimate bound for economic optimization

This paper presents a Model Predictive Control (MPC) scheme for nonlinear continuous-time systems where an economic stage cost, which is not a measure of the distance to a desired set point, is combined with a classic stabilizing stage cost. The associated control strategy leads to a closed-loop behavior that in a seamless way compromises between the convergence of the closed-loop state trajectory to a given steady-state and the minimization of the economic cost. More precisely, we derive a set of sufficient conditions under which the closed-loop state trajectory is ultimately bounded around the desired steady-state, with the size of the bound being proportional to the strength of the economic cost. Numerical results show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme on a simultaneous target estimation and tracking control problem.
The Genomes OnLine Database (GOLD) v.4: status of genomic and metagenomic projects and their associated metadata

The Genomes OnLine Database (GOLD, http://www.genomesonline.org/) is a comprehensive resource for centralized monitoring of genome and metagenome projects worldwide. Both complete and ongoing projects, along with their associated metadata, can be accessed in GOLD through precomputed tables and a search page. As of September 2011, GOLD, now on version 4.0, contains information for 11 472 sequencing projects, of which 2907 have been completed and their sequence data has been deposited in a public repository. Out of these complete projects, 1918 are finished and 989 are permanent drafts. Moreover, GOLD contains information for 340 metagenome studies associated with 1927 metagenome samples. GOLD continues to expand, moving toward the goal of providing the most comprehensive repository of metadata information related to the projects and their organisms/environments in accordance with the Minimum Information about any (x) Sequence specification and beyond.
Common vaccinations among adults do not increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis: results from the Swedish EIRA study

Objective To investigate the association between vaccinations in adults and the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Data from the Swedish population-based Epidemiological Investigation of RA case-control study encompassing 1998 incident cases of RA aged 18–70 years and 2252 randomly selected controls matched for age, sex and residency were analysed. Those vaccinated within 5 years before disease onset were compared with those not vaccinated by calculating OR with 95% CI. Results Vaccinations neither increased the risk of RA overall (OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.9 to 1.1) nor the risk of two major subgroups of RA (antibodies to citrullinated peptide-positive (ACPA-positive) and ACPA-negative disease). Furthermore, vaccinations did not increase the risk of RA in smokers or carriers of HLA-DRB1 shared epitope alleles, two groups with established risk factors for RA. Conclusions In this case-control study of incident cases of newly diagnosed RA, no increased risk of RA following immunisation was observed for vaccinations overall or for any specific vaccination. This indicates that immunological provocation of adults with commonly used vaccines in their present form carries no risk of RA. These findings should be implemented among public healthcare providers in order to encourage vaccinations according to recommended national vaccination schedules.
Underwater optical image dehazing using guided trigonometric bilateral filtering

This paper describes a novel method to enhance underwater optical images by dehazing. Scattering and color change are two major problems of distortion for underwater imaging. Scattering is caused by large suspended particles, like fog or turbid water which contains abundant particles, plankton etc. Color change corresponds to the varying degrees of attenuation encountered by light traveling in the water with different wavelengths, rendering ambient underwater environments dominated by a bluish tone. Our key contribution is to propose a fast image and video dehazing algorithm, to compensate the attenuation discrepancy along the propagation path, and to take the influence of the possible presence of an artificial lighting source into consideration. The enhanced images are characterized by reduced noised level, better exposedness of the dark regions, improved global contrast while the finest details and edges are enhance significantly. In addition, our enhancement method is comparable to higher quality than the state-of-the-art methods.
A Mobile Ad-Hoc Network Data Communication Benchmark

A Mobile Ad-Hoc Network is a wireless, selforganizing network where all clients and all servers are mobile and battery powered. Currently, most MANET research has been centered on data routing. Increasingly, data communication methods in MANET are being explored. A MANET allows data communication through data broadcast, data query, and peer-to-peer messages. One significant difficulty in assessing and comparing the different MANET data communication protocols proposed is the lack of a standard test environment or benchmark. A MANET data communication benchmark must include, at a minimum, a standard architecture, standard workload, and a standard set of evaluation parameters. This paper describes the major features of a MANET data communication benchmark and demonstrates the benchmark through analysis and simulation of the TriM MANET data communication protocol. This is the first benchmark targeted at MANET data communication