Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variable Clinical Presentations of Secondary Delusional Infestation: An Experience of Six Cases from a Psychodermatology Clinic

Objective: Delusional Infestation (DI) is a relatively rare condition with a fixed belief of being infested with living organisms, despite a lack of medical evidence of such infestation. Although it seems to be a psychiatric disease, patients commonly are admitted to dermatology clinics because of skin findings. Psychiatrists can underestimate its prevalance, whereas dermatologists can miss the diagnosis. It should be managed as a psychodermato-logical disease. Our aim in the study was to evaluate six patients with different clinical presentations of DI and to emphasize some clinical features. Method: All patients were internalized in the psychodermatology clinic for this study. Medical history and clinical data from dermatologic and psychiatric examinations were noted; Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-Plus) and laboratory investigations including blood and urine analyses, microscopic analysis of so-called pathogens, and skin biopsy if needed, were performed. The diagnosis was made based on detailed history, dermatologic and psychiatric examinations, and laboratory investigations. Results: All patients had symptoms of itching, burning, or crawling sensations dermatologically and thus were admitted to dermatology clinic. They were all considered secondary DI to another medical condition or to psychiatric illness. Vitamin B12 deficiency, diabetes, and hypothyroidism were the underlying medical conditions. Related psychiatric illnesses were trichotillomania and schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, shared pychotic disorder, and brief psychotic disorder. Two patients had delusions of inanimate materials; four patients had partial and complete remissions; and two patients have dropped out. Conclusion: Each patient had different clinical characteristics creating diagnostic challenges. All complaints were related to the infestation of the skin. The presence of different psychiatric comorbidities is remarkable. It seems that both psychiatrists and dermatologists can face diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of this complex disease in clinical settings, particularly if there are unusual clinical features of DI. Therefore, both psychiatrists and dermatologists should be well aware of DI.
Nodular fasciitis: A frequent diagnostic pitfall on fine‐needle aspiration

Nodular fasciitis (NF) is a benign, self‐limited, fibroblastic/myofibroblastic proliferation that is diagnostically challenging, often mimicking a malignant process due to its rapid growth clinically and its high cellularity, mitotic activity, and variable/nonspecific cytomorphologic findings. Herein, the authors report what to their knowledge is the largest and first multi‐institutional study of the cytomorphologic characteristics of NF by fine‐needle aspiration (FNA).
Lane-Level Localization Using an AVM Camera for an Automated Driving Vehicle in Urban Environments

This paper describes a lane-level localization algorithm based on a map-matching method for application to automated driving in urban environments. The lane-level localization implies localizing the vehicle with centimeter-level accuracy. In order to achieve a satisfactory level of position accuracy with a low-cost GPS, a sensor fusion approach is essential for lane-level localization. The proposed sensor fusion approach for the lane-level localization of a vehicle uses an around view monitoring (AVM) module and vehicle sensors. The proposed algorithm consists of three parts: lane detection, position correction, and localization filter. In order to detect lanes, a commercialized AVM module is used. Since this module can acquire an image around the vehicle, it is possible to obtain accurate position information of the lanes. With this information, the vehicle position can be corrected by the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm. This algorithm estimates the rigid transformation between the lane map and lanes obtained by AVM in real-time. The vehicle position corrected by this transformation is fused with the information of vehicle sensors based on an extended Kalman filter. For higher accuracy, the covariance of the ICP is estimated using Haralick's method. The performance of the proposed localization algorithm is verified via vehicle tests on a proving ground. Test results show that the proposed method can achieve localization centimeter-level accuracy. The proposed algorithm will be useful in the implementation of automated driving control.
ASCENT: A Provably Terminating Decentralized Logging Service

Building a certification authority that is both decentralized and fully reliable is impossible. However, the limitation thus imposed on scalability is unacceptable for many types of information systems, such as e-government services, which require an infrastructure able to support heavy computation loads while remaining highly reliable. Our scalable approach opts for the next best thing to full reliability: a certification authority with a probability of arbitrary failure so low that, in practice, false positives should never occur.
Dyadic Effects, Relevance, and the Empirical Assessment of the Kantian Peace

ABSTRACT Dyadic effects to a large extent account for the difficulty of explaining and predicting international conflict. In this study, I derive a statistical model to estimate unobserved dyadic effects in the dyadic analysis of conflict. The proposed model employs a hierarchical modeling approach to estimate dyadic effects, thereby avoiding the problems caused by the use of fixed effects models. Furthermore, it simultaneously addresses the important sample selection issue of identifying relevant dyads. I show that the estimation of dyadic effects significantly improves the model fit and generates several interesting findings. Substantively, this study makes an important contribution to the empirical evaluation of the Kantian peace. It argues that international organizations increase the likelihood of conflict of interest between member states but reduce the probability of militarized conflict. I demonstrate that the positive coefficient of international organizations in Oneal and Russett (1999) is biased in the positive direction. When the proposed statistical model is used, international organizations, together with trade and democracy, reduce the probability of conflict.
Genome-wide association study of pre-harvest sprouting resistance in Chinese wheat founder parents

Abstract Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is a major abiotic factor affecting grain weight and quality, and is caused by an early break in seed dormancy. Association mapping (AM) is used to detect correlations between phenotypes and genotypes based on linkage disequilibrium (LD) in wheat breeding programs. We evaluated seed dormancy in 80 Chinese wheat founder parents in five environments and performed a genome-wide association study using 6,057 markers, including 93 simple sequence repeat (SSR), 1,472 diversity array technology (DArT), and 4,492 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The general linear model (GLM) and the mixed linear model (MLM) were used in this study, and two significant markers (tPt-7980 and wPt-6457) were identified. Both markers were located on Chromosome 1B, with wPt-6457 having been identified in a previously reported chromosomal position. The significantly associated loci contain essential information for cloning genes related to resistance to PHS and can be used in wheat breeding programs.
The effect of bias on particle behaviour for MOPSO

A general MOPSO algorithm was applied to ZDT1-4. Bias in the archive solutions was observed in the initialisation of the archive solutions. The bias continued until simulation end because a general MOPSO algorithm does not contain any explicit way to correct bias in its archive. Pareto dominance testing was discovered to be a main contributor to the bias. Bias was also introduced by the target's problem landscape. Crowding distance was used to try to correct the bias, but was not generally successful in treating the effects of landscape bias. It was however successful in treating the effects of bias in the density of archive solutions. Such techniques treat the symptoms of bias. With a better understanding of the reasons for algorithm behaviour, it may be possible to develop techniques that treat the cause of bias instead.
Interculturality as social capital at work: The case of disagreements in American-Japanese interaction

Abstract Theories of social capital hold that strong interpersonal relationships can be leveraged to facilitate information sharing, gain trust, and strengthen group solidarity. Thus, it is often predicted that international workers are disadvantaged in these areas because they lack established social ties. Using data from disagreements between American interns and their colleagues in Japanese companies, this study critically examines this prediction by illustrating some ways participants use socially constructed representations of intercultural ideologies in ways that facilitate similar outcomes and substitute for their lack of relational histories. Specifically, these representations temporarily reverse flows of information, resist restrictions stemming from perceived lack of trust, and create shared humor that helps redefine in-group boundaries. By using a formal social capital model to interpret these results, this study helps position socially constructed representations of interculturality within a broader theoretical account of the potentially many forms of symbolic ‘capital’ that enable action. (Social capital, interculturality, disagreements, workplace, social identity)*
Two different proteins that compete for binding to thrombin have opposite kinetic and thermodynamic profiles

Thrombin binds thrombomodulin (TM) at anion binding exosite 1, an allosteric site far from the thrombin active site. A monoclonal antibody (mAb) has been isolated that competes with TM for binding to thrombin. Complete binding kinetic and thermodynamic profiles for these two protein–protein interactions have been generated. Binding kinetics were measured by Biacore. Although both interactions have similar KDs, TM binding is rapid and reversible while binding of the mAb is slow and nearly irreversible. The enthalpic contribution to the ΔGbind was measured by isothermal titration calorimetry and van't Hoff analysis. The contribution to the ΔGbind from electrostatic steering was assessed from the dependence of the ka on ionic strength. Release of solvent H2O molecules from the interface was assessed by monitoring the decrease in amide solvent accessibility at the interface upon protein–protein binding. The mAb binding is enthalpy driven and has a slow kd. TM binding appears to be entropy driven and has a fast ka. The favorable entropy of the thrombin–TM interaction seems to be derived from electrostatic steering and a contribution from solvent release. The two interactions have remarkably different thermodynamic driving forces for competing reactions. The possibility that optimization of binding kinetics for a particular function may be reflected in different thermodynamic driving forces is discussed.
Palmitoylethanolamide Modulates GPR55 Receptor Signaling in the Ventral Hippocampus to Regulate Mesolimbic Dopamine Activity, Social Interaction, and Memory Processing

Abstract Introduction: The GPR55 receptor has been identified as an atypical cannabinoid receptor and is implicated in various physiological processes. However, its functional role in the central nervous system is not currently understood. The presence of GPR55 receptor in neural regions such as the ventral hippocampus (vHipp), which is critical for cognition, recognition memory, and affective processing, led us to hypothesize that intra-vHipp GPR55 transmission may modulate mesolimbic activity states and related behavioral phenomena. The vHipp is involved in contextual memory and affective regulation through functional interactions with the mesolimbic dopamine system. Materials and Methods: Using a combination of in vivo electrophysiology and behavioral pharmacological assays in rats, we tested whether intra-vHipp activation of GPR55 receptor transmission with the fatty acid amide, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), a lipid neuromodulator with agonist actions at the GPR55 receptor, may modulate mesolimbic dopaminergic activity states. We further examined the potential effects of intra-vHipp PEA in affective, cognitive and contextual memory tasks. Discussion: We report that intra-vHipp PEA produces a hyper-dopaminergic state in the mesolimbic system characterized by increased firing and bursting activity of ventral tegmental area dopaminergic neuron populations. Furthermore, while PEA-induced activation of GPR55 transmission had no effects on opiate-related reward-related memory formation, we observed strong disruptions in social interaction and recognition memory, spatial location memory, and context-independent associative fear memory formation. Finally, the effects of intra-vHipp PEA were blocked by a selective GPR55 receptor antagonist, CID160 and were dependent upon NMDA receptor transmission, directly in the vHipp. Conclusions: The present results add to a growing body of evidence demonstrating important functional roles for GPR55 signaling in cannabinoid-related neuronal and behavioral phenomena and underscore the potential for GPR55 signaling in the mediation of cannabinoid-related effects independently of the CB1/CB2 receptor systems.
Terrestrial Orchids: From Seed to Mycotrophic Plant

Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Properties of 'dust' seeds 2. Seed development 3. Seed survival 4. Requirements for germination 5. Fungi 6. Germination processes 7. Underground organs 8. Orchid mycorrhiza 9. Abiotic factors in growth and development 10. Life history and phenology 11. Propagation 12. Effects of orchid mycorrhiza 13. Descriptions of genera Appendix A: nutrient substrates mentioned in the text Appendix B: names and synonyms References Index.
Accepting of E-banking among Banking Customers of Pakistan

E-banking is a platform through which a banking customer can perform its financial or non financial transactions electronically without visiting bank, which not only reduces transaction costs but also saves time.E-banking customers are increasing worldwide but its adoption is low in Pakistan. This study is done to investigate the most important factors which contribute to the espousal of E-banking in Pakistan. For this research primary data was collected from 217 customers of different ages, data was collected by structured questionnaire. Statistical descriptive analysis was used to analyze the data. The results shows that privacy and security, trust, ease of usefulness, knowledge and awareness, inaccessibility and came in person preferences are the factors which affect adoption of E-banking in Pakistani customers. Findings also indicate that banking customers of Pakistan are willing to take on E-banking if proper guideline and awareness is provided to them by banks or banking regularity authorities.
Prevalence of chronic kidney disease and decreased kidney function in the adult US population: Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND Recently developed clinical practice guidelines and calibration of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) serum creatinine assay provide a basis for estimating the prevalence and distribution of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the United States using standardized criteria based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and persistent albuminuria. METHODS A nationally representative sample of 15,625 noninstitutionalized adults aged 20 years and older from the NHANES III was analyzed. Kidney function (GFR), kidney damage (albuminuria), and stages of CKD (GFR and albuminuria) were estimated from calibrated serum creatinine level, spot urine albumin level, age, sex, and race. GFR was estimated using the simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation and compared with the Cockcroft-Gault equation for creatinine clearance (CCr). RESULTS The prevalence of CKD in the US adult population was 11% (19.2 million). By stage, an estimated 5.9 million individuals (3.3%) had stage 1 (persistent albuminuria with a normal GFR), 5.3 million (3.0%) had stage 2 (persistent albuminuria with a GFR of 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), 7.6 million (4.3%) had stage 3 (GFR, 30 to 59 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), 400,000 individuals (0.2%) had stage 4 (GFR, 15 to 29 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), and 300,000 individuals (0.2%) had stage 5, or kidney failure. Aside from hypertension and diabetes, age is a key predictor of CKD, and 11% of individuals older than 65 years without hypertension or diabetes had stage 3 or worse CKD. Compared with GFR estimates, CCr estimates showed a steeper decline with age and were lower in non-Hispanic blacks. CONCLUSION CKD is common and warrants improved detection and classification using standardized criteria to improve outcomes. Am J Kidney Dis 41:1-12.
Ligand‐Induced Changes in T Box Antiterminator RNA Stability

The T box antiterminator RNA element is an important component of the T box riboswitch that controls the transcription of vital genes in many Gram‐positive bacteria. A series of 1,4‐disubstituted 1,2,3‐triazoles was screened in a fluorescence‐monitored thermal denaturation assay to identify ligands that altered the stability of antiterminator model RNA. Several ligands were identified that significantly increased or decreased the melting temperature (Tm) of the RNA. The results indicate that this series of triazole ligands can alter the stability of antiterminator model RNA in a structure‐dependent manner.
Differentiation-dependent cytoplasmic distribution and in vivo RNA association of proteins recognized by the 3'-UTR stability element of alpha-globin mRNA in erythroleukemic cells.

In this study, we analyzed subcytoplasmic distribution and in vivo RNA association of proteins with specific affinity to cytosine-rich stability determinant sequences of alpha-globin mRNA 3'-UTR in a MEL-707 erythroleukemic model. We took advantage of the possibility that these cells can be reversibly differentiated (as a continuous population, but not at the level of individual cells) which, therefore, allows analysis of various stages of erythroid differentiation within the same cell population. Label transfer experiments revealed four major complexes with molecular mass of 110-, 70-, 55- and 50-kDa in various cytoplasmic fractions. Using the combination of in vitro label transfer and in vivo UV-crosslinking techniques, we also demonstrated that subcytoplasmic distribution as well as in vivo RNA association of various complex-forming proteins is differentiation dependent in MEL-707 cells. These results indicate that changes in the cytoplasmic environment imposed by the differentiating stimulus might direct important biochemical signals as to how the stability determinant 3'UTR elements interact with their binding proteins. These data also suggest that stability complexes are dynamic macromolecular structures with high response capacity to various extra- and intracellular regulatory stimuli.
Public advisory services for early-stage companies in northern sparsely populated area

In developed countries, the public sector allocates substantial resources to support entrepreneurship. Current literature provides limited evidence on how public advisory services should be efficiently and effectively organised. This study investigated what the perceived significance and service level of public advisory services is. A single case study focusing on a sparsely populated region in Northern Finland was performed by carrying out orientation interviews and a customer survey. As a result of this study, the levels of successfulness and the importance of the public advisory services were clarified from the customers' perspective. The results imply that the services are particularly important in the very beginning of the development of the business. It is also then when the most tailoring is called for. This research includes a novel sample, reflecting experiences particularly from a northern sparsely populated area. The perceived customer value of the services is a significant new viewpoint.
MKP‐1 is a target of miR‐210 and mediate the negative regulation of miR‐210 inhibitor on hypoxic hPASMC proliferation

Chonic hypoxia, smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and vascular remodeling are hallmark features of pathogenic pulmonary artery hypertension. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), endogenously expressed small noncoding RNAs, regulate gene expression at the post‐transcriptional level. MiR‐210 is considered a “master miRNA” in the control of diverse functions in hypoxic cells and tissues and has a cytoprotective function in pulmonary artery SMCs during hypoxic stress. MiR‐210 is also upregulated in lung tissue of chonically hypoxic mice suffering from pulmonary hypertension. Jin et al. ( ) showed that mice deficient in mitogen‐activated protein kinase phosphatase 1 (MKP‐1) had severe hypoxia‐induced pulmonary hypertension, so MKP‐1 may be important in the progression of hypoxic pulmonary artery hypertension. We investigated the possible interactions between miR‐210 and MKP‐1 and the effect on cell proliferation in hypoxic human pulmonary artery SMCs (hPASMCs). miR‐210 was significantly increased in cultured hPASMCs exposed to 1% O2 hypoxia for 48 h, as was MKP‐1 mRNA and protein expression. Furthermore, inhibiting miR‐210 expression increased MKP‐1 mRNA and protein expression in hPASMCs and decreased cell proliferation under hypoxia. Conversely, overexpressing miR‐210 prevented hypoxia‐induced MKP‐1 expression with no effect on cell proliferation. siRNA knockdown of MKP‐1 abolished the miR‐210‐inhibition prevention of cell proliferation under hypoxia. MKP‐1 is a target of miR‐210 and could mediate the negative regulation of miR‐210 inhibition on hypoxic hPASMCs.
Comparison of RT‐PCR assay and virus isolation in cell culture for the detection of alkhumra hemorrhagic fever virus

Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever virus (AHFV) is an emerging flavivirus that was isolated originally from Saudi Arabia in 1994–1995. The main tests used for the detection of AHFV are the real time (rt) RT‐PCR and virus isolation in cell culture. In the present study the detection of AHFV by rtRT‐PCR was compared with virus isolation in BHK‐21, HEp‐2, and LLC‐MK2 cell lines. AHFV suspensions grown in BHK‐21, HEp‐2, and LLC‐MK2 cell lines were serially diluted 10‐fold from 10−1 to 10−11. Samples from each dilution were used to inoculate four cell culture tubes and were also examined by the rtRT‐PCR for AHFV RNA. Fifteen non‐inoculated cell culture samples (five from each cell line) were included blindly in both tests. Thus, a total of 132 AHFV‐positive and 15 negative control samples were tested. The rtRT‐PCR could detect the viral RNA in all diluted specimens up to and including the 10−10 dilution (40 specimens for each cell line), whereas, cell cultures were positive in 70% of specimens for BHK‐21, 65% for LLC‐MK2, and 45% for HEp‐2 at this dilution. None of the three cell cultures nor the rtRT‐PCR was positive at 10−11 dilution. The specificity and positive predictive values of virus isolation compared to rtRT‐PCR were each 100%, whereas the negative predictive values were 29.4% for BHK‐21, 26.3% for LLC‐MK2, and 18.5% for HEp‐2. In conclusion, the rtRT‐PCR is more sensitive than virus isolation for detecting AHFV. J. Med. Virol. 86:1176–1180, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.