Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pre- and Postexposure Prophylaxis of Ebola Virus Infection in an Animal Model by Passive Transfer of a Neutralizing Human Antibody

ABSTRACT A neutralizing human monoclonal antibody, KZ52, protects guinea pigs from lethal Ebola Zaire virus challenge. Administration before or up to 1 h after challenge resulted in dose-dependent protection by the antibody. Interestingly, some antibody-treated animals survived despite developing high-level viremia, suggesting that the mechanism of protection by KZ52 may extend beyond reduction of viremia by virus neutralization. KZ52 is a promising candidate for immunoprophylaxis of Ebola virus infection.
Early Physical Activity and Discharge Destination after Stroke: A Comparison of Acute and Comprehensive Stroke Unit Care

Background. Common models of acute stroke care include the acute stroke unit, focusing on acute management, and the comprehensive stroke unit, incorporating acute care and rehabilitation. We hypothesise that the rehabilitation focus in the comprehensive stroke unit promotes early physical activity and discharge directly home. Methods. We conducted a two-centre prospective observational study of patients admitted to a comprehensive or acute stroke unit within 14 days poststroke. We recruited 73 patients from each site, matched on age, stroke severity, premorbid function, and walking ability. Patient activity was measured using behavioural mapping. Therapy activity was recorded by therapist report. Time to first mobilisation, discharge destination, and length of stay were extracted from the medical record. Results. The comprehensive stroke unit group included more males, fewer partial anterior circulation infarcts, more lacunar infarcts, and more patients ambulant without aids prior to their stroke. Patients in the comprehensive stroke unit spent 14.4% more (95% CI: 8.9%–19.8%; P < 0.001) of the day in moderate or high activity, 18.5% less time physically inactive (95% CI: 5.0%–32.0%; P = 0.008), and were more likely to be discharged directly home (OR 3.7; 95% CI 1.4–9.5; P = 0.007). Conclusions. Comprehensive stroke unit care may foster early physical activity, with likely discharge directly home.
Prevalent Vertebral Deformities Predict Hip Fractures and New Vertebral Deformities but Not Wrist Fractures

Although vertebral deformities are known to predict future vertebral deformities, little is known about their ability to predict other osteoporotic fractures. We examined the association between prevalent vertebral deformities and incident osteoporotic fractures in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures, a prospective study of 9704 women aged 65 years and older. Prevalent vertebral deformities were determined morphometrically from spinal radiographs at baseline and incident deformities from repeat spinal radiographs after a mean of 3.7 years. Appendicular fractures were collected by postcard every 4 months for a mean of 8.3 years. During follow‐up, 389 women with new vertebral deformities, 464 with hip fractures, and 574 with wrist fractures were identified. Prevalent vertebral deformities were associated with a 5‐fold increased risk (relative risk 5.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.4, 6.6) of sustaining a further vertebral deformity; the risk increased dramatically with both the number and severity of the prevalent deformities. Similarly, the risks of hip and any nonvertebral fractures were increased with baseline prevalent deformity, with relative risks of 2.8 (95% CI 2.3, 3.4) and 1.9 (95% CI 1.7, 2.1), respectively. Risk increased with number and severity of deformities. These associations remained significant after adjustment for age and calcaneal bone mineral density (BMD). Although there was a small increased risk of wrist fracture, this was not significant after adjusting for age and BMD. In conclusion, the presence of prevalent morphometrically defined vertebral deformities predicts future vertebral and nonvertebral fractures, including hip but not wrist fractures. Spinal radiographs identifying prevalent vertebral deformities may be a useful additional measurement to classify further a woman's risk of future fracture.
Evaluation of methods for MR imaging of human right ventricular heart volumes and mass.

PURPOSE To assess the utility of two different imaging directions in the evaluation of human right ventricular (RV) heart volumes and mass with MR imaging; to compare breath-hold vs. non-breath-hold imaging in volume analysis; and to compare turbo inversion recovery imaging (TIR) with gradient echo imaging in RV mass measurement. MATERIAL AND METHODS We examined 12 healthy volunteers (age 27-59 years). Breath-hold gradient echo MR imaging was performed in two imaging planes: 1) perpendicular to the RV inflow tract (RVIT view), and 2) in the transaxial view (TA view). The imaging was repeated in the TA view while the subjects were breathing freely. To analyze RV mass using TIR images, the RV was again imaged at end-diastole using the two views. The RV end-diastolic cavity (RVEDV) and muscle volume as well as end-systolic cavity volume (RVESV) were determined with the method of discs. All measurements were done blindly twice to assess repeatability of image analysis. To assess reproducibility of the measurements, 6 of the subjects were imaged twice at an interval of 5-9 weeks. RESULTS RVEDV averaged 133.2 ml, RVESV 61.5 ml and the RVmass 46.2 g in the RVIT view and 119.9 ml, 56.9 ml and 38.3 g in the TA view, respectively. The volumes obtained with breath-holding were slightly but not significantly smaller than the volumes obtained during normal breathing. There were no marked differences in the RV muscle mass obtained with gradient echo imaging compared to TIR imaging in either views. Repeatability of volume analysis was better in TA than RVIT view: the mean differences were 0.7 +/- 4.0 ml and - 5.4 +/- 14.0 ml in end-diastole and 1.6 +/- 3.1 ml and - 1.5 +/- 13.9 ml in end-systole, respectively. Repeatability of mass analysis was good in both TIR and cine images in the RVIT view but slightly better in TIR images: - 0.5 +/ -2.4 g compared to 0.8 +/- 2.9 g in cine images. Reproducibility of imaging was good, mean differences for RVEDV and RVESV were -1.0 +/- 4.8 ml and -0.8 +/- 2.8 ml, respectively. Mean difference for RVmass was -0.9 +/- 2.6 g. CONCLUSION The present study suggests that gradient echo MR imaging is well applicable to RV volume and mass measurements. The best imaging plane for volumetric analysis seems to be the TA plane and there was no significant difference between breath-hold and conventional imaging. To assess RV mass, we recommend RVIT view; the TIR sequence quickly produced images of better quality compared to gradient echo images but no significant difference between masses was found and repeatability of analysis was equally good with both methods.
Structural Insight into Host Recognition by Aggregative Adherence Fimbriae of Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is a leading cause of acute and persistent diarrhea worldwide. A recently emerged Shiga-toxin-producing strain of EAEC resulted in significant mortality and morbidity due to progressive development of hemolytic-uremic syndrome. The attachment of EAEC to the human intestinal mucosa is mediated by aggregative adherence fimbria (AAF). Using X-ray crystallography and NMR structures, we present new atomic resolution insight into the structure of AAF variant I from the strain that caused the deadly outbreak in Germany in 2011, and AAF variant II from archetype strain 042, and propose a mechanism for AAF-mediated adhesion and biofilm formation. Our work shows that major subunits of AAF assemble into linear polymers by donor strand complementation where a single minor subunit is inserted at the tip of the polymer by accepting the donor strand from the terminal major subunit. Whereas the minor subunits of AAF have a distinct conserved structure, AAF major subunits display large structural differences, affecting the overall pilus architecture. These structures suggest a mechanism for AAF-mediated adhesion and biofilm formation. Binding experiments using wild type and mutant subunits (NMR and SPR) and bacteria (ELISA) revealed that despite the structural differences AAF recognize a common receptor, fibronectin, by employing clusters of basic residues at the junction between subunits in the pilus. We show that AAF-fibronectin attachment is based primarily on electrostatic interactions, a mechanism not reported previously for bacterial adhesion to biotic surfaces.
The Influence of Juvenile Graves' Ophthalmopathy on Graves' Disease Course

Purpose To investigate juvenile Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) signs and compare Graves' disease (GD) course in patients with or without GO. Patients and Methods There were analyzed data (visual acuity, proptosis, palpebral fissure measurements, clinical activity score (CAS), and the course of GD) of 67 children who have been newly diagnosed with GD. 26.9% of patients with GD had signs of ophthalmopathy (GO+), and 73.1% were without ophthalmopathy (GO−). Results Upper eyelid retraction (72.3%), proptosis (66.7%), and soft tissue changes (27.8−38.9%) were in GO+ patients. The palpebral fissure, CAS, and proptosis values were greater in the GO+ group than in the GO− group (p < 0.001). GD course in GO+ patients was longer than that in GO− patients (p < 0.001). The duration of the first remission was longer in GO− than in GO+ patients (p < 0.001). The duration of first remission was longer than one year for 61.2% in GO− and 33.3% in GO+ patients (p < 0.02). Conclusion The common manifestations of juvenile GO patients were upper eyelid retraction, proptosis, and soft tissue involvement. The study demonstrates that pediatric patients with GO are more likely to have a severe course of autoimmune thyroid disease.
Pulmonary infections in transplant recipients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Hematopoietic stem cell as well as solid-organ transplantation is being carried out with increasing frequency throughout the world. Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) remain a common life-threatening complication faced by the transplant recipients. The purpose of this review is to provide up-to-date information on pulmonary infections among the transplant recipients, especially emphasizing the endemicity of microorganisms, epidemiology, work-up of infections, and principles of their management. RECENT FINDINGS A lower respiratory tract infection such as pneumonia is the most frequent of all the infections and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Factors increasing the risk of pulmonary infections include surgical techniques, immune status, chemoradiotherapy, alloimmune mechanisms between the host and the graft, and the environment. A high degree of suspicion, computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest, and flexible bronchoscopy are required in most to establish the diagnosis. SUMMARY Proper management of LRTI in transplant recipients requires a high degree of suspicion, thorough knowledge of the epidemiology and endemicity of the suspected organisms, CT scan of the chest, and expertise at bronchoscopy. Utmost teamwork among transplant physicians, infectious disease specialist, and bronchoscopist is essential.
Treatment of pleural malignancies by photo‐induction combined to systemic chemotherapy: Proof of concept on rodent lung tumors and feasibility study on porcine chest cavities

Low‐dose, Visudyne®‐mediated photodynamic therapy (photo‐induction) was shown to selectively enhance tumor vessel transport causing increased uptake of systemically administered chemotherapy in various tumor types grown on rodent lungs. The present experiments explore the efficacy of photo‐induced vessel modulation combined to intravenous (IV) liposomal cisplatin (Lipoplatin®) on rodent lung tumors and the feasibility/toxicity of this approach in porcine chest cavities.
Multipotent stromal cells induce human regulatory T cells through a novel pathway involving skewing of monocytes toward anti‐inflammatory macrophages

Multipotent stromal cells (MSC) have been shown to possess immunomodulatory capacities and are therefore explored as a novel cellular therapy. One of the mechanisms through which MSC modulate immune responses is by the promotion of regulatory T cell (Treg) formation. In this study, we focused on the cellular interactions and secreted factors that are essential in this process. Using an in vitro culture system, we showed that culture‐expanded bone marrow‐derived MSC promote the generation of CD4+CD25hiFoxP3+ T cells in human PBMC populations and that these populations are functionally suppressive. Similar results were obtained with MSC‐conditioned medium, indicating that this process is dependent on soluble factors secreted by the MSC. Antibody neutralization studies showed that TGF‐β1 mediates induction of Tregs. TGF‐β1 is constitutively secreted by MSC, suggesting that the MSC‐induced generation of Tregs by TGF‐β1 was independent of the interaction between MSC and PBMC. Monocyte‐depletion studies showed that monocytes are indispensable for MSC‐induced Treg formation. MSC promote the survival of monocytes and induce differentiation toward macrophage type 2 cells that express CD206 and CD163 and secrete high levels of IL‐10 and CCL‐18, which is mediated by as yet unidentified MSC‐derived soluble factors. CCL18 proved to be responsible for the observed Treg induction. These data indicate that MSC promote the generation of Tregs. Both the direct pathway through the constitutive production of TGF‐β1 and the indirect novel pathway involving the differentiation of monocytes toward CCL18 producing type 2 macrophages are essential for the generation of Tregs induced by MSC. Stem Cells 2013;31:1980‐1991
Information as Distinctions: New Foundations for Information Theory

The logical basis for information theory is the newly developed logic of partitions that is dual to the usual Boolean logic of subsets. The key concept is a "distinction" of a partition, an ordered pair of elements in distinct blocks of the partition. The logical concept of entropy based on partition logic is the normalized counting measure of the set of distinctions of a partition on a finite set--just as the usual logical notion of probability based on the Boolean logic of subsets is the normalized counting measure of the subsets (events). Thus logical entropy is a measure on the set of ordered pairs, and all the compound notions of entropy (join entropy, conditional entropy, and mutual information) arise in the usual way from the measure (e.g., the inclusion-exclusion principle)--just like the corresponding notions of probability. The usual Shannon entropy of a partition is developed by replacing the normalized count of distinctions (dits) by the average number of binary partitions (bits) necessary to make all the distinctions of the partition.
The psychological and physiological effects of yoga on children

The rise in popularity of health practices such as yoga coincides with a period of growing publicity about the benefits of promoting positive health from an early age. Despite this, empirical research in the field is limited. Thus, the aim of the current study was to assess the psychological and physiological impact of a brief yoga program for children using a randomised placebo-control design. Twenty-two school-girls aged 8-10 were recruited to take part in a 6-session after-school program. Participants were randomly allocated to either yoga classes or recreation classes. Heart rate change and respiration rate were measured pre-post program as physiological indicators of relaxation. For mental wellbeing, preand post-session mood and preand post-program self-esteem and physical self-worth variables were assessed. Later, a replication study was conducted where yoga was offered to the former recreation group. Contrary to expectations, no significant changes were found on the physiological indicators of relaxation. Global self-esteem and physical self-worth variables also remained constant in both the yoga and recreation groups. As hypothesised, significant reductions in anxious mood were consistently reported from the second session onwards following yoga classes. Contrary to expectations however, depressed mood remained unchanged in either group. Results of the follow-up study confirmed most of the findings of the main study, except for a small improvement on the physical self-worth variable of self-perceived sports competency, and no significant post-session mood changes. Nonetheless qualitative data suggested that this group also experienced anxiety reduction following yoga practice. The results of the project remain speculative because of the small sample size and generous criteria used to determine statistical significance. Despite this, it was concluded that while brief yoga programs might have little impact on children’s overall self-esteem or physical selfperceptions, especially where children are physically active and already enjoy moderate to high levels of self-esteem, yoga classes may contribute to reductions in immediate anxiety levels. While the ability to relax voluntarily was not demonstrated by the end of program, it was suggested that a longer yoga program which incorporated more overt teaching of relaxation skills might produce such a result. This and other recommendations for future research are presented and the implications for the understanding of positive health are discussed.
American Chestnut Growth and Survival Five Years after Planting in Two Silvicultural Treatments in the Southern Appalachians, USA

The ability to restore American chestnut (Castanea dentata) through the planting of blight-resistant (Cryphonectria parasitica) trees is currently being tested. Forest-based research on the species’ silvicultural requirements and chestnut blight development are lacking. Pure American chestnut seedlings were planted in a two-age shelterwood forest with low residual basal area and in a midstory-removal treatment with high residual basal area. Survival did not differ between silvicultural treatments and averaged 67 percent across both treatments by the fifth year. Trees in the two-age shelterwood were 2.36 m and 16.8 mm larger in height and ground-line diameter, respectively, compared to trees in the midstory-removal by the fifth growing season. Blight occurrence was not affected by silvicultural treatment. Exploratory analyses indicated that seedling grading at planting and keeping trees free-to-grow through competition control would have resulted in a two-year gain in height and GLD growth in the two-age shelterwood treatment. The two-age shelterwood represented the most efficacious prescription for chestnut restoration, but the midstory-removal prescription may offer a reasonable alternative in areas where harvesting must be delayed.
From Eden to Agora: The E-Learning Trading Zone

E-learning is not just a learning and teaching innovation; it also signals a shift in human cognition and communication. The lexicon of e-learning borrows from the barren lexicon of information science: of users, usage and usability (Gould and Lewis, 1985), or of information-seeking and affordances (Pirolli and Card, 1999). Deep e-learning requires a more fecund idiom, a new myth: of the digital agora , an e-learning ‘trading zone’ (Mills and Huber, 1995). Here we reflect on the process of shaping an electronic version of our generic doctoral skills sessions, during which it occurred to us that, to match the benefits of interactivity in face-to-face teaching and learning and to be transformative of academic subjectivity, e-learning must be truly performative, rather than merely informative; e-learners (and e-teachers too) must enact the skills they hope to learn (or teach).
Does Character Education Really Support Citizenship Education? Examining the Claims of an Ontario Policy

The claim that the character education policy of a school board in Ontario, Canada supports citizenship education is examined. 181 documents were analyzed to determine the ways the policy supports and/or undermines citizenship education’s goal to prepare students to become “knowledgeable individuals committed to active participation in a pluralist society” (Sears, Clarke, and Hughes, 2000, p. 153). The findings show that the policy encourages students to acquire specific values, behaviours, and interpersonal skills rather than conceptual or situational knowledge. While the policy encourages active citizenship by promoting the development of decision-making, conflict resolution, and communication skills, it emphasizes participation in activities that support rather than challenge the status quo. The policy also offers some support for developing students’ commitment to pluralism, but its narrow definition of diversity and emphasis on shared values, behaviour, and language contradict these efforts. I conclude that the policy supports citizenship education that adopts an assimilationist conception of social cohesion and/or social initiation as its purpose(s).
Anchoring the experts: Using vignettes to compare party ideology across countries

Expert surveys are a valuable, commonly used instrument to measure party positions. Some critics question the cross-national comparability of these measures, though, suggesting that experts may lack a common anchor for fundamental concepts such as economic left–right. Using anchoring vignettes in the 2010 Chapel Hill Expert Survey, we examine the extent of cross-national difference in expert ideological placements. We find limited evidence of cross-national differences; on the whole, our findings further establish expert surveys as a rigorous instrument for measuring party positions in a cross-national context.
Measuring Income Risk Simon Burgess

We provide a critique of the methods that have been used to derive measures of income risk and draw attention to the importance of demographic factors as a source of income risk. We also propose new measures of the contribution to total income risk of demographic and labour market factors. Empirical evidence supporting our arguments is provided using data from the British Household Survey. JEL codes: D12, D31, D84
Cognitive Radio Spectrum Management

The emerging Cognitive Radio is combo of both the technologies i.e. Radio dynamics and software technology. It involve wireless system with efficient coding, designing, and making them artificial intelligent to take the decision according to the surrounding environment and adopt themselves accordingly, so as to deliver the best QoS. This is the breakthrough from fixed hardware and fixed utilization of the spectrum. This software-defined approach of research is centralized at user-definition and application driven model, various software method are used for the optimization of the wireless communication. This paper focused on the Spectrum allocation technique using genetic algorithm GA to evolve radio, represented by chromosomes. The chromosomes gene represents the adjustable parameters in given radio and by using GA, evolving over the generations, the optimized set of parameters are evolved, as per the requirement of user and availability of the spectrum, in our prototype the gene consist of 6 different parameters, and the best set of parameters are evolved according to the application need and availability of the spectrum holes and thus maintaining best QoS for user, simultaneously maintaining licensed user rights. The analyzing tool Matlab is used for the performance of the prototype. Keywords—ASDR, Cognitive Radio, QoS, Spectrum.
An Experimental Analysis

We experimentally investigate social eects in a principal-agent setting with incomplete contracts. The strategic interaction scheme is based on the well-known Investment Game (Berg et al., 1995). In our setting four agents (i.e., trustees) and one principal (i.e., trustor) are interacting and the access to choices of peers in the group of trustees is experimentally manipulated. Overall, subjects are positively inuenced by peer’s choices they observe. However, the positive interaction between choices is not strong enough to raise the reciprocity of those observing at the same level of those whose choices are observed.