Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pretreatment elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein as a predictor of malarial complications.

INTRODUCTION Complications of malaria can develop suddenly and unexpectedly. Although various parameters have been associated with severity of malaria, they have not been studied as predictors of these events. Many of the malarial complications are inflammatory in nature, and C-reactive protein (CRP) and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) could be early markers of these complications and might precede and predict the development of complications. METHODOLOGY A total of 122 inpatients with uncomplicated newly diagnosed malaria were studied. CRP, ESR, hemoglobin, and platelets were measured before initiating treatment. Patients were monitored closely for the subsequent development of complications based on the World Health Organization's definition of severe malaria. RESULTS Seven patients (5.7%) had worsening of symptoms compared to the day of admission and had higher pretreatment CRP and increased ESR compared to those patients who did not develop complications. Area under receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.761(p=0.02) for CRP and 0.739 (p = 0.035) for ESR. CRP>124 mg/L and increased ESR (>34.5 mm in the first hour) had a sensitivity of 71.4% and specificity of 79.1%, respectively, for predicting complications of malaria. Other parameters did not reach statistical significance for predicting complications. Elevated CRP and elevated ESR had a negative predictive value of 97.8%. CONCLUSIONS Elevated CRP>124mg/L and increased ESR>34.5 mm in the first hour at the time of diagnosis in patients with uncomplicated malaria identifies patients who might subsequently develop complications of malaria.
Physiological diversity of rumen spirochetes

Bovine rumen fluid contained relatively large numbers of spirochetes capable of fermenting polymers commonly present in plant materials. Polymers such as xylan, pectin, and arabinogalactan served as fermentable substrates for the spirochetes, whereas cellulose did not. Furthermore, spirochetes cultured from rumen fluid utilized as growth substrates hydrolysis products of plant polymers (e.g., D-xylose, L-arabinose, D-galacturonic acid, D-glucuronic acid, cellobiose), but did not ferment amino acids. Viable cell counts of spirochetes capable of fermenting individual plant polymers or their hydrolysis products yielded minimum values ranging from 0.2 X 10(6) to 4 X 10(6) cells per ml of rumen fluid. Thirteen strains of rumen spirochetes were characterized in terms of their fermentation products from glucose, the guanine plus cytosine content of their DNA, their ultrastructure, and their ability to ferment pectin, starch, or arabinogalactan. Of the 13 strains, 6 fermented glucose mainly to formate, acetate, and succinate, whereas the remaining 7 strains did not produce succinate, but instead formed ethanol, in addition to formate and acetate. The succinate-forming strains had two periplasmic (axial) fibrils per cell, measured 0.2 to 0.3 by 5 to 8 micrograms, had a guanine plus cytosine content of the DNA ranging from 36 to 38 mol%, and lacked the ability to ferment pectin, starch, or arabinogalactan. The ethanol-forming strains had from 8 to more than 32 periplasmic fibrils per cell, tended to be larger in cell size than the succinate-forming strains, and had a guanine plus cytosine content of the DNA ranging from 41 to 54 mol%. Some of the ethanol-forming strains fermented pectin, starch, or arabinogalactan. The results of this study indicate that the bovine rumen is inhabited by a physiologically and morphologically diverse population of spirochetes. It is likely that these spirochetes contribute significantly to the degradation of plant materials ingested by the ruminants.
Early Bone Marrow Hematopoietic Defect in Simian/Human Immunodeficiency Virus C2/1-Infected Macaques and Relevance to Advance of Disease

ABSTRACT To clarify hematological abnormalities following infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), we examined the hematopoietic capability of bone marrow by using cynomolgus monkeys infected with pathogenic simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) strain C2/1, an animal model of HIV infection. The relationship between the progress of the infection and the CD4/CD8 ratio of T lymphocytes or the amount of SHIV C2/1 viral load in the peripheral blood was also investigated. A colony assay was performed to assess the hematopoietic capability of bone marrow stem cells during the early and advanced phases of the infection. Colonies of granulocytes-macrophages (GM) were examined by PCR for the presence of the SIVmac239 gag region to reveal direct viral infection. There was a remarkable decrease in the CFU-GM growth on days 1 and 3 postinoculation, followed by recovery on day 56. During the more advanced stage, the CFU-GM growth decreased again. There was minimal evidence of direct viral infection of pooled cultured CFU-GM despite the continuously low CD4/CD8 ratios. These results indicate that the decrease in colony formation by bone marrow stem cells is reversible and fluctuates with the advance of the disease. This decrease was not due to direct viral infection of CFU-GM. Our data may support the concept that, in the early phase, production of inhibitory factors or deficiency of a stimulatory cytokine is responsible for some of the bone marrow defects described in the SHIV C2/1 model.
A new standardized-automatic method for bone-to-implant contact histomorphometric analysis based on backscattered scanning electron microscopy images.

AIM To establish an image analysis procedure for measuring the bone-to-implant contact (BIC) by a systematic non-subjective approach based on backscattered scanning electron microscopy (BS-SEM) images. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 36 dental implants (9 mm length, Ø 4.0 mm with a SBM surface) were implanted in six beagle dog mandibles. The implants were removed after 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks and then embedded in resin and cut along their long axis. Sample observation was performed by BS-SEM, acquiring 10 to 16 images per sample. Image processing and BIC determination were performed using the Fiji image processing package. Images were stitched, filtered, and thresholded to obtain a binary image of the whole implant that finally was dilated and outlined. The length of this outline was measured as the maximum possible BIC. The regions of coincidence between this line and the bone were measured as the real BIC. RESULTS The proposed methodology for BIC determination, based on SEM, which has a much higher resolution than optical microscopy, allows the acquisition of highly discriminative images with great contrast between implant and bone. The high resolution and high contrast in SEM images provide more accurate results than those obtained by classical methods. Furthermore, the methodology of image analysis described in this study delineates precisely and automatically the contour of the implant, which results in non-biased measurements. The average percentage of BIC was 35%, ranging from 24.7 to 45.5%. These values were similar to the results documented in the literature for implants of similar roughness in animal models. CONCLUSIONS A novel, non-subjective, and systematic method for measuring BIC is described based on BS-SEM images. The proposed methodology minimizes the shortcomings of the results obtained by previously described methods.
The distribution and developmental regulation of NMDA receptor subunit proteins in the outer and inner retina of the rat.

In order to investigate whether N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors with distinct pharmacological properties are differentially distributed within the retinal layers, the spatial distribution and temporal regulation of all NMDA receptor subunits was analyzed in parallel on the protein level in the rat retina during development. Immunohistochemistry was performed on retinal sections at different developmental ages between embryonic (E) days 20/21 and the adult stage using specific antibodies against NMDA subunits (NR1, NR2A-D). All NMDA subunits were expressed in the rat retina postnatally but showed different spatial patterns. In particular, and in contrast to previous in situ hybridization studies, labeling of NR2 subunits was observed in horizontal cell bodies and in the outer plexiform layer, indicating that functional NMDA receptors are expressed in this retinal cell type in the rat. Expression of NR2D was restricted to the inner retina and seemed to be involved in neurotransmission within the rod pathway. In the inner plexiform layer (IPL), distinct patterns of labeling were observed for different NMDA subunits. NR1 was found in two bands which can be related to the off- and on-signal pathways, whereas NR2A and NR2B were located in two bands within the off-sublaminae of the IPL. The antibody against NR2C was distributed throughout the whole IPL, and NR2D was expressed exclusively in the innermost part of the IPL where rod bipolar cell terminals terminate. Distinct bands of immunoreactivity in the IPL were observed only from P14 on. In conclusion, there are clear differences in the spatial distribution and temporal expression of NMDA receptor subtypes in the rodent retina. This indicates that specific retinal cells selectively express glutamate receptors composed of different subunit combinations and thus display different pharmacological and kinetic properties.
The multifunctionality of dehydrins: An overview

Dehydrins are highly hydrophilic proteins that accumulate during embryogenesis and water stress responses in plants. Although dehydrins were discovered in the 1980s, their physiological functions are unknown. However, recent molecular-based studies have provided insights into the multifunctionality of dehydrins. The functional versatility of dehydrins is reviewed using recent experimental evidence, and perspectives in the functional studies of dehydrins are also discussed.
Aberrant microRNA Expression in Radiation-Induced Rat Mammary Cancer: The Potential Role of miR-194 Overexpression in Cancer Cell Proliferation

Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is frequently associated with a variety of cancers, including breast cancer. We and others have demonstrated that radiation-induced rat mammary cancer exhibits a characteristic gene expression profile and a random increase in aberrant DNA copy number; however, the role of aberrant miRNA expression is unclear. We performed a microarray analysis of frozen samples of eight mammary cancers induced by γ irradiation (2 Gy), eight spontaneous mammary cancers and seven normal mammary samples. We found that a small set of miRNAs was characteristically overexpressed in radiation-induced cancer. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis confirmed that miR-135b, miR-192, miR-194 and miR-211 were significantly up-regulated in radiation-induced mammary cancer compared with spontaneous cancer and normal mammary tissue. The expression of miR-192 and miR-194 also was up-regulated in human breast cancer cell lines compared with noncancer cells. Manipulation of the miR-194 expression level using a synthetic inhibiting RNA produced a small but significant suppression of cell proliferation and upregulation in the expression of several genes that are thought to act as tumor suppressors in MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cells. Our data suggest that the induction of rat mammary cancer by radiation involves aberrant expression of miRNAs, which may facilitate cell proliferation.
Genetic Diversity of Mycoplasma gallisepticum Field Isolates Using Partial Sequencing of the pvpA Gene Fragment in Russia

Abstract The genetic diversity of the pvpA gene of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) samples originating from commercial chickens was investigated. In the present study, we evaluated the genetic variability of 26 field samples of MG detected in commercial chickens and turkeys from 18 regions of Russia and compared them to the reference strains of MG available in GenBank. Genetic variability was evaluated by partial nucleotide sequencing of the pvpA gene, which encodes a putative cytadhesin protein. Comparisons with MG strains and isolates from the United States, Australia, China, and Iran using sequence analysis of PCR products showed that Russian MG field samples clustered more closely to each other than to the international reference MG strains. The MG pvpA sequences were found to be highly variable with a discrimination index of 0.975 for Russian field samples. No apparent cluster was found using the criteria of year or location of detection. DNA sequence polymorphism and size variation in the pvpA gene were shown among the Russian MG field samples and could be used for MG typing. These findings might help better understand the relationship among MG isolates from Russia and other countries.
Hospital treatment of patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack using the "Get With The Guidelines" program.

BACKGROUND Adherence to evidence-based interventions for hospitalized patients who have experienced a stroke is suboptimal. We examined the association of process improvement and Internet-based data collection and decision support with stroke care. METHODS A 1-year intervention study to assess performance measure adherence in hospitals using the "Get With The Guidelines-Stroke" program. The program included 18 410 patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack admitted to 99 volunteer community and teaching hospitals. Data from eligible patients in the preintervention baseline period were compared with data from 4 subsequent quarters for 12 acute care or secondary prevention measures and an all-or-none measure of care based on 7 prespecified measures. RESULTS Significant improvements from baseline to the fourth quarter were seen in 11 of 13 measures: use of thrombolytic medications for patients with ischemic stroke presenting within 2 hours of onset, 23.5% vs 40.8% (P < .001); early use of antithrombotic medications, 88.2% vs 95.2% (P < .001); antithrombotic medications prescribed at discharge, 91.0% vs 97.9% (P < .001); anticoagulation agents for atrial fibrillation, 81.4% vs 96.5% (P < .001); smoking cessation counseling, 38.3% vs 54.5% (P < .001); lipid treatment for low-density lipoprotein levels 100 mg/dL or greater, 58.7% vs 77.0% (P < .001); diabetes mellitus treatment, 48.5% vs 83.5% (P = .001); and weight reduction counseling 32.5% vs 43.4% (P < .001). The all-or-none measure increased from 50.2% to 58.0% (P < .001). Complications from thrombolytic medications and prophylaxis for deep venous thrombosis did not change. CONCLUSION Statistically and clinically significant improvement in 11 of 13 quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients hospitalized for cerebrovascular disease was seen in hospitals participating in the Get With The Guidelines program.
Electrocardiogram signal processing for baseline noise removal using blind source separation techniques: A comparative analysis

Efficient processing of Electrocardiogram (ECG) signal is a major goal of this paper. ECG signal measured from the surface of human body is badly effected by different noises like power line noise, muscle noise, lung noise baseline noise. The main causes of baseline noise are breathing, lose sensor contact and body movements. Baseline noise is a low frequency signal. Baseline will disturb the whole cycle of ECG signal but mainly the low frequency part. T-wave is a part of ECG signal related to a phenomenon associated with increased risk of death and baseline wandering may prevent its correct detection. Different algorithm were applied for removal of this noise by different researchers like Kalman filter, Cubic spline, Moving average. We apply projection pursuit gradient ascent algorithm in a previous paper and observe the results in term of standard deviation of the error signal for different types of baseline noises. In this paper I am comparing the results of projection pursuit gradient ascent algorithm (PPGAA) and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) FASTICA algorithm for removing this noise. Results of FASTICA were also analyzed in the presence of 32db additive Gaussian noise. Then a comparative study of these algorithms was done and results were compared for baseline noise removal.
Treatment of Computer Addicts with Complex Co-Morbid Psychiatric Disorders

Computer technology is expanding at an exponential rate, and its effect on society and individuals is being observed in many locations and by many professionals. Computer-addictive behavior is characterized by excessive and inappropriate use of the computer that has repercussions on an individual's real life obligations and relationships. Currently, these unanticipated consequences have been variously classified as computer addiction, Internet addiction disorder, problematic internet use, pathological internet use, and as a new symptom to be added to other psychiatric conditions. Mounting evidence indicates that those who are vulnerable to these problems suffer from multiple co-morbid psychiatric disorders. The problem is further complicated because computer usage is so pervasive in our society that the aim of treatment cannot be abstinence. It must be treated as an eating disorder where the goal is to normalize computer activities in order to survive. Assessment of each patient consists of the measurement of problematic computer behavior and definition of the expectations they have for the effects of these activities. Because of the complexity of these patients' problems, treatment needs to be multidisciplinary and include cognitive behavior therapy, psychotropic medication, family therapy, and case managers. Teamwork is emphasized. Also, regular assessments at 3-month intervals are important both for the patient and the team. The aim of the treatment is to help the patient manage the inappropriate behavior and still be able to use the technology.
Les ados dans le cyberespace : Prises de risque et cyberviolence

Happy Slapping, diffusion de photos ou films embarrassants sur la Toile, exclusion des reseaux sociaux, diffamation, « lynchages » d'enseignants sur des blogs sont de nouveaux modes d'expression de la violence des jeunes et entre jeunes. Les consequences de ces violences sont graves et peuvent entrainer des problemes de decrochage scolaire mais aussi de depression, voire le suicide des victimes. Les agresseurs ne sont pas toujours conscients de la portee de leurs actes qu'ils situent dans un monde virtuel et montrent ainsi peu d'empathie pour leurs victimes. Les victimes quant a elles doivent faire face a un sentiment d'impuissance important devant une agression potentiellement diffusee a des centaines voire des milliers de personnes, 24 h sur 24 et 7 jours sur 7. Si les canaux de communication sont virtuels, l'impact dans la vie quotidienne et la souffrance sont bien reels. Les parents mais aussi les enseignants sont souvent demunis car peu au courant des activites des jeunes sur la Toile et parfois peu habiles eux-memes a utiliser ces outils de communication. L'auteur propose, ici, une synthese internationale des recherches sur ces nouvelles formes d'expression de violence, leurs caracteristiques, leurs consequences. Elle envisage aussi le probleme en lien avec le milieu scolaire et la violence a l'ecole et presente des resultats de recherche empirique inedits sur la situation francaise, montrant le lien entre ce qu'il se passe dans les etablissements et les activites en ligne. Dans une deuxieme partie, cet ouvrage presente une synthese des politiques publiques et modes d'intervention possibles pour tenter de prevenir et reduire le phenomene. Cet ouvrage de reference s'adresse aux professionnels de l'education, aux parents, aux travailleurs sociaux, aux etudiants en sciences sociales et en sciences de l'education et a tous ceux qui se sentent concernes par les questions sociales.
Psychotherapy of dysthymia.

OBJECTIVE The author reviews empirical research on the psychotherapy of dysthymia. Dysthymia, a prevalent mood disorder, has been shown frequently to respond to antidepressant medication. The need for a treatment for dysthymic subjects unable or unwilling to take, or unresponsive to, medication still remains. METHODS Studies were located by computerized search and the author's knowledge of the literature. All reports of studies on psychotherapy outcome for dysthymic patients, except studies of late-life chronic major depression, were included. RESULTS Psychotherapy research on dysthymia has been confined to small, usually uncontrolled studies with varying methods and limited follow-up. Cognitive approaches have been most frequently studied; the results have not been dramatic but do suggest that some dysthymic patients respond to brief cognitive therapies. Preliminary results of an ongoing study of interpersonal psychotherapy are promising. CONCLUSIONS Given the public health importance of dysthymia and the availability of treatments, the time is ripe for clinical trials of antidysthymic psychotherapy. The author proposes the following guidelines for such trials: time-limited, manual-based psychotherapy, interpersonal focus, serial design, continuation and maintenance treatment, combined treatments, and follow-up assessments.
Notice of RetractionStudy of kindergartner work pressure based on fuzzy inference system

Since the change of economical level and population structure recently in Taiwan, a phenomenon of non-marriage and fertility declination is getting obvious. Therefore, parents emphasize the high quality of childcare education. This study mainly explores the relationship between childcare staffs working pressure as well as their efficiency in kindergartens and the management of children interpersonal conflict. With the results of a questionnaire and a rule base by specialists, the teacher working efficiency and pressure index can be obtained through the fuzzy inference system. From this study, we can conclude the childcare staffs working pressure is not identical because of their various individual backgrounds and the management of children interpersonal conflict is totally different in each kindergarten. This study result can be submitted to administrators for reference.
Growth mechanisms of endometriotic cells in implanted places: a review

Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease defined by extrauterine growth of endometrial glands and stroma. A variety of theories have been proposed to account for the pathogenesis of this disease, including retrograde transplantation theory, metaplasia of coelomic epithelium, hematogenic and lymphogenic spread, and remnants of the Mŭllerian duct. However, the etiopathology of endometriosis is still obscure. In this article, we aim to summarize recent researches concerning the growth mechanisms of endometriotic cells in implanted sites systematically, including the adhesion, invasion, angiogenesis, proliferation, apoptosis of endometriotic cells, variations of the immune molecules and endometriotic cells themselves, which may provide clues for future researches in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
ADAR1 Facilitates HIV-1 Replication in Primary CD4+ T Cells

Unlike resting CD4+ T cells, activated CD4+T cells are highly susceptible to infection of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1). HIV-1 infects T cells and macrophages without activating the nucleic acid sensors and the anti-viral type I interferon response. Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) is an RNA editing enzyme that displays antiviral activity against several RNA viruses. Mutations in ADAR1 cause the autoimmune disorder Aicardi-Goutieères syndrome (AGS). This disease is characterized by an inappropriate activation of the interferon-stimulated gene response. Here we show that HIV-1 replication, in ADAR1-deficient CD4+T lymphocytes from AGS patients, is blocked at the level of protein translation. Furthermore, viral protein synthesis block is accompanied by an activation of interferon-stimulated genes. RNA silencing of ADAR1 in Jurkat cells also inhibited HIV-1 protein synthesis. Our data support that HIV-1 requires ADAR1 for efficient replication in human CD4+T cells.