Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Folate and intrauterine growth retardation

Summary The objectives of this case-control study were to compare the levels of folate in cord and maternal blood of 315 mothers who had intrauterine growth-retarded (IUGR) babies and 321 mothers who had appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) babies, to evaluate the correlation between cord and maternal folate and to assess the prevalence of folate deficiency. Mothers were recruited from the four largest hospitals in Campinas city, south-east Brazil. The gestational ages of the newborns were evaluated by the Capurro method. They were classified as being IUGR according to the Lubchenco birthweight-for-gestational-age standard. Red blood cell (RBC) folate was measured by radio-immunoassay. Slightly more IUGR (25.7%) than AGA babies (19.9%) had cord folate levels ≤ 226.5 nmol/l (100 ng/ml) (p = 0.05) and similar percentages of IUGR (32.1%) and AGA (29.9%) mothers had folate levels ≤ 226.5 nmol/l. Mean cord folate levels in IUGR and AGA babies were 10% higher than mean folate levels in the two groups of mothers (p < 0.001). There were weak correlations between maternal and cord folate in IUGR (r = 0.31) and AGA (r = 0.35) (p < 0.001) mother/baby groups. In this population, 35% of mothers were folate-deficient although it was not associated with IUGR. Nevertheless, it would be important to give Brazilian women folate tablets during pregnancy and to investigate the effect on concentrations of homocysteine and on the prevalence of birth defects.
Cytokines Regulate the Pattern of Rejection and Susceptibility to Cyclosporine Therapy in Different Mouse Recipient Strains After Cardiac Allografting1

We determined the role of cytokines in regulating the pattern of rejection and recipient susceptibility to cyclosporine (CsA) in a mouse cardiac allograft model. Hearts from C3H mice transplanted into untreated BALB/c (Th2-dominant) and C57BL/6 (Th1-dominant) mice showed different patterns of rejection. C3H allografts in BALB/c mice showed typical acute vascular rejection (AVR) with strong intragraft deposition and high serum levels of anti-donor IgG with predominant IgG1, while C3H allografts in C57BL/6 mice showed typical acute cellular rejection (ACR) with massive intragraft infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes and low serum levels of anti-donor IgG with predominant IgG2a. Elevated intragraft mRNA expression of IL-2, IFN-γ, and IL-12 mRNA was present in C57BL/6 recipients, whereas allografts in BALB/c mice displayed increased IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA levels. CsA therapy completely inhibited ACR and induced indefinite allograft survival in C57BL/6 recipients, while the same therapy failed to prevent AVR, and only marginally prolonged graft survival in BALB/c recipients. In contrast, rapamycin blocked AVR, achieving indefinite survival in BALB/c recipients, but was less effective at preventing ACR in C57BL/6 recipients. The disruption of the IL-12 or IFN-γ genes in C57BL/6 mice shifted ACR to AVR, and resulted in concomitant recipient resistance to CsA therapy. Conversely, disruption of IL-4 gene in BALB/c mice markedly attenuated AVR and significantly prolonged allograft survival. These data suggest that the distinct cytokine profiles expressed by different mouse strains play an essential role in regulating the pattern of rejection and outcome of CsA/rapamycin therapy.
Prioritization of applicable drivers for green supply chain management implementation toward sustainability in Thailand

ABSTRACT It is essential that the green supply chain management (GSCM) implementation is effectively supported by several strategic drivers for successful implementation and sustainability, especially for the ‘green’ start-ups with a sustainability-driven organizational strategy. This study aims to determine and prioritize the applicable drivers for GSCM implementation of sustainable development strategies in the electronics industry in Thailand. The applicable drivers and their priorities are obtained by applying the fuzzy group decision-making approaches including fuzzy Delphi and fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process, based on Thai experts’ perspectives. In this study, three prominent organizational theories, resource-based view, relational view, and institutional theory, are needed to explain the drivers of sustainability and to develop a hierarchical model for prioritization of the drivers. Finally, based on the findings of this study, several recommendations are made that may help to improve the sustainable development in Thailand through more effective implementation of GSCM.
Biosimilar ESAs: a comparative review.

BACKGROUND The management of anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease has been transformed by development of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). Following expiry of the patent of the originator epoetin alfa in Europe, a number of biosimilar ESAs have been licensed for use in the nephrology setting. Biosimilars are biological medicines that are approved via stringently defined regulatory pathways on the basis that they have demonstrated comparable safety, efficacy and quality to their reference product. OBJECTIVES As nurses have a pivotal role in patient care, not only administering medications but also educating patients about their treatment options, it is important that nurses understand the differences between biosimilar medicines and their reference products and appreciate the stringent regulatory requirements for approval of biosimilars. METHODS In this review, we use epoetin zeta as a case study to highlight practical considerations of using biosimilar ESAs in the management of patients with kidney disease. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Biosimilar products, such as epoetin zeta, may offer a range of features to patients, nurses and physicians, such as greater flexibility over dose and route of administration, in addition to greater access to biological medicines through cost savings. APPLICATION TO PRACTICE Renal nurses play a significant role in the management of patients with kidney disease and anaemia, not only having an important role in the delivery of medicine but also in the education of patients. This review discusses some of the practical aspects associated with the use of biosimilar medicines to assist nurses in making informed decisions over their use.
An Interactive Activation Model of Face Naming

Burton and Bruce's (1992) model of face naming predicts a “fan effect”, in which naming of famous people about whom many descriptive properties are known should be slower than naming of celebrities about whom few properties are known. An experiment is reported that showed that, contrary to this prediction, knowledge of many descriptive properties facilitated face-naming latency. An alternative architecture for an interactive activation model is proposed in which descriptive properties are represented in separate pools of units for each domain of information and in which names are represented by a separate pool of lexical output units. Computer simulations showed that this model could simulate the previously available empirical data as effectively as Burton and Bruce's (1992) original model. However, the proposed model could also simulate the effect of the number of known descriptive properties upon face-naming latency observed in the experiment reported. The new architecture also has the advantage of being more compatible with current models of speech production, and it allows preserved access to unique semantic properties in the context of impaired face naming as reported in the neuropsychological literature.
Market Foreclosure and the Welfare Impacts of Price Discrimination

There is an extensive literature studying the welfare comparison of third-degree price discrimination vs. uniform pricing, typically under the assumption that all markets are served under uniform pricing. In this study, we allow market foreclosure and show that the welfare comparison of price discrimination vs. uniform pricing depends on whether market foreclosure is allowed. We also analyze how firms' foreclosure incentives vary with competition intensity. Our results show that an increase in competition intensity makes complete foreclosure less likely to be an equilibrium. On the other hand, the impact of competition intensity on partial foreclosure is non-monotonic. We also show that equilibrium under uniform pricing may feature strategic market foreclosure, defined as committing not to serve a market when demand there is positive.
Augmentation of natural cytotoxic reactivity of mouse lymphoid cells against syngeneic and allogeneic target cells

The levels of natural cell‐mediated cytotoxicity against tumor cells in young BALB/c and BALB/c nude mice could be augmented by inoculation of a variety of mouse tumor cells or of mouse thymocytes. In older mice with low levels of spontaneous cytotoxic reactivity, inoculation of tumor cells led to rapid appearance of cytotoxicity. This augmented cytotoxicity reached a peak 3 days after inoculation, and then declined rapidly. The specificity of the augmented cytotoxicity appeared to be the same as that seen with natural cell‐mediated cytotoxicity. The detected antigens were restricted to mouse tumor cells and thymocytes, and were absent on cells from other species. The effector cells after boosting also had the same cell surface characteristics as the natural cytotoxic effector cells, being non‐adherent, non‐phagocytic, and only weakly sensitive to treatment with anti‐theta serum plus complement. In addition to this boosting by mouse tumor cells, marked increases in the levels of cytotoxicity were caused by a variety of murine viruses, including murine sarcoma virus and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. These effector cells also had the same properties as those seen with natural cytotoxic effector cells. The results indicate that the levels of natural cell‐mediated cytotoxicity in conventional and athymic BALB/c mice can be consistently and rapidly boosted by inoculation with tumor cells or viruses. This should provide a valuable tool for better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the expression of natural cytotoxicity and its relevance to in vivo resistance to tumor growth.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis: outcomes and response to corticosteroid treatment.

PURPOSE To compare the clinical course and effect of adjunctive corticosteroid therapy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa with those of all other strains of bacterial keratitis. METHODS Subanalyses were performed on data collected in the Steroids for Corneal Ulcers Trial (SCUT), a large randomized controlled trial in which patients were treated with moxifloxacin and were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 adjunctive treatment arms: corticosteroid or placebo (4 times a day with subsequent reduction). Multivariate analysis was used to determine the effect of predictors, organism, and treatment on outcomes, 3-month best-spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), and infiltrate/scar size. The incidence of adverse events over a 3-month follow-up period was compared using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS SCUT enrolled 500 patients. One hundred ten patients had P. aeruginosa ulcers; 99 of 110 (90%) enrolled patients returned for follow-up at 3 months. Patients with P. aeruginosa ulcers had significantly worse visual acuities than patients with other bacterial ulcers (P = 0.001) but showed significantly more improvement in 3-month BSCVA than those with other bacterial ulcers, adjusting for baseline characteristics (-0.14 logMAR; 95% confidence interval, -0.23 to -0.04; P = 0.004). There was no significant difference in adverse events between P. aeruginosa and other bacterial ulcers. There were no significant differences in BSCVA (P = 0.69), infiltrate/scar size (P = 0.17), and incidence of adverse events between patients with P. aeruginosa ulcers treated with adjunctive corticosteroids and patients given placebo. CONCLUSIONS Although P. aeruginosa corneal ulcers have a more severe presentation, they appear to respond better to treatment than other bacterial ulcers. The authors did not find a significant benefit with corticosteroid treatment, but they also did not find any increase in adverse events. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00324168.).
Local rotation-based ensemble

Many data analysis problems involve an investigation of relationships between attributes in heterogeneous databases, where different prediction models can be more appropriate for different regions. We propose a technique of local rotation-based ensemble of weak classifiers. In order to determine rotation forests, we identify local regions having similar characteristics and then build local classification experts on each of these regions describing the relationship between the data characteristics and the target class. We performed a comparison with other well-known combining methods using weak classifiers as based learners, on standard benchmark datasets and we took better accuracy.
Influence of alkaloid concentration of tall fescue straw on the nutrition, physiology, and subsequent performance of beef steers.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate digestion, performance, and physiological responses to Acremonium coenophialum-infected tall fescue straw offered to vary ergovaline concentrations. In Exp. 1, 16 Hereford x Angus ruminally cannulated steers (370 +/- 12 kg BW, mean +/- SE) were blocked by age and BW and, within block, randomly assigned to one of four treatments containing graded concentrations of ergovaline in the diet: 1) 0 ppb, 2) 158 ppb, 3) 317 ppb, and 4) 475 ppb. Alkaloid concentrations were produced using various mixtures of two varieties of tall fescue straw that had similar genetic and phenotypic characteristics but differed in degree of endophyte incidence and associated concentrations of alkaloids. In the 36-d digestion study, feed intake, apparent DMD, and total tract NDF digestion were not influenced by alkaloid concentration (P > .10). Differences were observed with digesta kinetics; specifically indigestible ADF (IADF) fill and outflow decreased linearly with increasing alkaloid concentration (P < .10). These differences, however, may be attributed to differences in IADF concentration of the diets. Physiological variables (heart rates, respiration rates, and rectal, ear, and tailhead skin surface temperatures) were not influenced by alkaloid concentration (P > .10). Concentration of serum prolactin measured weekly tended (P < .10) to decrease with increasing alkaloid concentration of the diet. At the conclusion of the study, each steer was injected with 100 micrograms of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). All steers responded to the TRH challenge (P < .10); however, responses did not differ (P > .10) between alkaloid concentrations of the basal diet (P > .10). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Vehicle-Assisted Offloading on Metropolitan Streets: Enhancing Geographical Fluidity of Wireless Resources

According to field measurement data, we show that the traffic load of cellular networks is highly nonuniform along metropolitan streets. To overcome this predicament, we propose a vehicle-assisted offloading (VAO) scheme, which exploits the vehicle queue stopping for the red light to offload data traffic from busy street intersection cells to their adjacent cells that are largely idle. The performance of VAO is theoretically analyzed by considering both the road traffic conditions and the communications between vehicles and pedestrians. Simulations with practical configurations have verified our analysis and demonstrated that the VAO is capable of achieving substantial performance gain.
PEVs modeling and impacts mitigation in distribution networks

This paper proposes a novel model to estimate the electric energy consumption of light duty fleet of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). This model can be used to evaluate the impacts of plugging such loads in distribution networks. Both vehicles users' habits and diversity of usage are considered in the presented model, as well as different electric ranges and ambient temperature effect. Moreover, the paper proposes a method to optimally allocate distributed generation (DG) units in the distribution network to mitigate the impacts of high penetration of PEVs. The proposed model shall help the local distribution companies (LDC) to better assess the expected effects of PEVs on their networks and evaluate the required upgrades. Furthermore, the proposed DG allocation methodology helps to identify the optimal buses on which to connect these DG units in the presence of high PEVs penetration. A genetic based approach is utilized for the planning problem of determining the optimal locations and sizes of DG units, which is defined as a multi-objective mixed integer programming.
Diagnostic criteria for idiopathic intracranial hypertension

The syndrome of increased intracranial pressure without hydrocephalus or mass lesion and with normal CSF composition, previously referred to as pseudotumor cerebri, is a diagnosis of exclusion now termed idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Diagnostic criteria of this disorder have not been updated since the Modified Dandy Criteria were articulated in 1985. Since then, new developments, including advances in neuroimaging technology and recognition of additional secondary causes of intracranial hypertension, have further enhanced the ability to diagnose conditions that may mimic IIH. These factors are not addressed in the Modified Dandy Criteria. This report describes updated diagnostic criteria for IIH that may be used for routine patient management and for research purposes.
Impact of Completion Angiography on Operative Conduct and Results of Carotid Endarterectomy

ObjectiveThis study assessed the impact of operative completion angiography on conduct and results of carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Summary Background DataCompletion Imaging by angiography, ultrasound or angioscopy reveals occasional residual lesions after CEA. The importance and appropriate management of these lesions remain controversial with respect to operative morbidity and long-term restenosis. MethodsCarotid endarterectomy was performed 410 times for transient ischemic attack (44%), amaurosis fugax (19%), prior stroke (10%), and asymptomatic carotid stenosis (27%). Routine intraoperative completion angiograms were obtained to exclude significant residual lesions. Postoperative ultrasound follow-up was obtained in 232 patients over a mean interval of 17.3 months. ResultsAngiography revealed 71 defects warranting correction in 66 cases (16.1%), Including kinks (23), external carotid flaps (18), common carotid plaque (10), thrombus (10), distal internal carotid stenosis (8), intracranial occlusion (1), and spasm (1). Operative morbidity included seven lpsilateral strokes (1.7%) and operative mortality was 0.7%. During follow-up, restenosis > 80% was detected in 17 (7.3%) of 232 arteries, 9 (3.9%) of which underwent reoperation. Rates of restenosis of > 80% were similar between sexes and patched versus unpatched arteries. ConclusionsRoutine completion angiography after CEA guides use of selective operative revision contributing to low rates of perioperative morbidity and restenosis.
Extravascular lung water is an independent prognostic factor in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome*

Objective:Acute respiratory distress syndrome might be associated with an increase in extravascular lung water index and pulmonary vascular permeability index, which can be measured by transpulmonary thermodilution. We tested whether extravascular lung water index and pulmonary vascular permeability index are independent prognostic factors in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Design:Retrospective study. Setting:Medical intensive care unit. Patients:Two hundred consecutive acute respiratory distress syndrome patients (age = 57 ± 17, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II = 57 ± 20, overall day-28 mortality = 54%). Measurements:Extravascular lung water index and pulmonary vascular permeability index were collected (PiCCO device, Pulsion Medical Systems) at each day of the acute respiratory distress syndrome episode. Main Results:The maximum values of extravascular lung water index and pulmonary vascular permeability index recorded during the acute respiratory distress syndrome episode (maximum value of extravascular lung water index and maximum value of pulmonary vascular permeability index, respectively) were significantly higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors at day-28 (mean ± SD: 24 ± 10 mL/kg vs. 19 ± 7 mL/kg of predicted body weight, p < 0.001 [t-test] for maximum value of extravascular lung water index and median [interquartile range]: 4.4 [3.3–6.1] vs. 3.5 [2.8–4.4], p = 0.001 for maximum value of pulmonary vascular permeability index, Wilcoxon’s test). In multivariate analyses, maximum value of extravascular lung water index or maximum value of pulmonary vascular permeability index, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, maximum blood lactate, mean positive end-expiratory pressure, mean cumulative fluid balance, and the minimal ratio of arterial oxygen pressure over the inspired oxygen fraction were all independently associated with day-28 mortality. A maximum value of extravascular lung water index >21 mL/kg predicted day-28 mortality with a sensitivity of (mean [95% confidence interval]) 54% (44–63)% and a specificity of 73% (63–82)%. The mortality rate was 70% in patients with a maximum value of extravascular lung water index >21 mL/kg and 43% in the remaining patients (p = 0.0003). A maximum value of pulmonary vascular permeability index >3.8 predicted day-28 mortality with a sensitivity of (mean [95% confidence interval]) 67% (57–76)% and a specificity of 65% (54–75)%. The mortality rate was 69% in patients with a maximum value of pulmonary vascular permeability index >3.8 and 37% in the group with a maximum value of pulmonary vascular permeability index ⩽3.8 (p < 0.0001). Conclusions:Extravascular lung water index and pulmonary vascular permeability index measured by transpulmonary thermodilution are independent risk factors of day-28 mortality in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.