Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Calibration Differences and the Prozone Phenomenon in IgG4‐Related Disease: Comment on the Article by Khosroshahi et al

total IgG test to minimize the risk of the prozone phenomenon. That is, when total IgG is 36 gm/liter we use an initial dilution of 1:8,000, when total IgG is 18 gm/liter we use an initial dilution of 1:2,000, when total IgG is 9 gm/liter we use an initial dilution of 1:400, and when total IgG is 9 gm/liter we use an initial dilution of 1:100. We are aware of no further errors of antigen excess that have occurred with this new protocol. While useful for the specific context described, this solution is generally unnecessary if using reagents and instrumentation from the same vendor, since antigen excess errors are automatically detected (currently, although not necessarily historically) and are therefore not reported.
Breast Implant Technology: What Can We Count On?

Scott L. Spear, MD, Washington, DC , is a board-certified plastic surgeon and an ASAPS member. Over the past few years, the use of breast implants has increased dramatically, from 60,000 in 1992 to an estimated 280,000 units in 1998.1 During this time, however, the breast implant technology available in this country has changed very little. What will the breast implant technology of the future look like? What will be available for nonrestricted use within the next 3 to 5 years? Before these questions can be answered, it should be recognized that any innovation must clear substantial regulatory hurdles. Additionally, any company that launches a new product expects to receive adequate financial return: The development, manufacturing, and sale of breast implants are a costly business, and without a reasonable expectation for success and profit, a diligent company would not pursue the effort. Significant new breast implant technology has been developed in the United States over the last 7 years, has been clinically proven abroad, and is poised to enter the US market. I will discuss only those innovations that are highly likely to be available once the regulatory hurdles are crossed. Although anatomic breast implants are not new, in the last 5 years at least 5 of these styles have become available. The rationale is that a full matrix of shapes meets a broad range of patient needs. This matrix is based on the proportion of projection-to-base width in 3 different height ranges and yields more than 100 potential implants that meet the anatomic needs of most women undergoing augmentation and reconstruction. On the basis of 5 years of experience with the matrix approach in Europe by one manufacturer, approximately 80% of patient needs are satisfied …
Target-enclosing control for second-order multi-agent systems

This paper poses the enclosing control problem with identical geometry for a group of targets which are either stationary or moving and offers consensus-based distributed control protocols. An estimator is first introduced to estimate the central position of the targets. We then propose a target-enclosing control law with velocity information based on the centre estimating algorithm and consensus theory. A target-enclosing control law without the velocity information is further designed. The Lyapunov theory and Lasalle’s invariance principle are applied to show the convergence of the proposed control algorithms. Finally, numerical simulations are given to illustrate the effectiveness of our proposed strategy.
FISH AND FARINHA: PROTEIN AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN AMAZONIAN RURAL COMMUNITIES ON ITUQUI ISLAND, BRAZIL

In order to better understand food consumption among indigenous peasant (the so-called “Caboclos”) communities in Amazonia, this article describes and analyzes household and individual food consumption in the communities of Aracampina and São Benedito, located on ltuqui Island on the lower courses of the Amazon river, in the municipio (county) of Santarém, State of Pará, Brazil. ltuqui Island's landscape is dominated by savannas, meadows, secondary floodplain forests, pastures, and cultivation plots. Food consumption data were collected using 24-hour food recalls for a sample of 12 households and 42 individuals. The main patterns of consumption observed on ltuqui Island were higher consumption of protein than energy, dependency on regional staple foods, and a high reliance on imported secondary food items purchased at local urban centers. Also, interhousehold and community variation point toward a sociohistorical particularism of kindreds, as well as microenvironmental differences, both critical elements in understanding food consumption. Other important findings provide some insights about modifications and adjustment of food repertoires in coping with high seasonality. The simplification of staple-food repertoire and increased consumption of energy-rich items such as sugar and oil are probably the most important strategies observed. We conclude that to understand food consumption among Caboclo communities in Amazonia research should focus more closely on the composition of the local food repertoire and local ecological and sociocultural variations.
Addressing negative attitudes toward substance use in nursing: A peer‐led approach in nurse education

Substance use tends to be overlooked in nursing training. As a possible consequence, many nurses harbour ill‐informed or even negative attitudes towards drug and alcohol users. The upshot can be poor care. In a bid to tackle this problem, a group of students developed a peer‐led workshop by encouraging open debate on issues associated with illicit drug use and access to healthcare for those with substance misuse problems. What ensued was an open and frank debate that increased awareness and the thirst for more knowledge.
Bcl‐2 Antagonists Kill Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells From Lupus‐Prone Mice and Dampen Interferon‐α Production

Interferon‐α (IFNα)–producing plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) are implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). IFNα‐related genes are highlighted among SLE susceptibility alleles and are characteristically expressed in the blood of patients with SLE, while in mouse models of lupus, PDC numbers and IFNα production are increased. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of inhibitors that selectively target different antiapoptotic molecules on the survival of PDCs.
Myofibroblasts in Murine Cutaneous Fibrosis Originate From Adiponectin‐Positive Intradermal Progenitors

Accumulation of myofibroblasts in fibrotic skin is a hallmark of systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma), but the origins of these cells remain unknown. Because loss of intradermal adipose tissue is a consistent feature of cutaneous fibrosis, we sought to examine the hypothesis that myofibroblasts populating fibrotic dermis derive from adipocytic progenitors.
Relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy men

Background:The high concentration of plasma total homocysteine is recently considered an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to provide reference ranges for plasma homocysteine levels and to investigate the relationship between plasma homocysteine and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy Korean men. Methods:Anthropometric parameters, alcohol intake, cigarette use and nutrient intake were determined in 166 healthy men within a wide age range (30-69 yr). Serum levels of lipids, glucose and insulin levels during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), plasma amino acid concentrations and levels of antioxidant nutrients and enzymes were also measured. Hyperhomocysteinemia was defined as plasma homocysteine levels above the 90th percentile (≥15 μmol/L) of respective plasma homocysteine distribution in study subjects. Characteristics of hyperhomocysteinemic men (n=16) were compared to normohomocys-teinemic men (n=16) matched for age and body mass index. Results:Plasma total homocysteine values ranged from 2.4 to 38.1 μmol/L, a skewed, right-tailed distribution. The homocysteine levels of 25th, 50th and 75th percentile were 7.02, 9.61 and 12.4 μmol/L, respectively. The mean concentration of plasma total homocysteine was 10.7 μmol/L. Plasma total homocysteine level was positively correlated to body mass index, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and alcohol intake, but negatively correlated to serum β-carotene concentration. In multivariate analysis, serum triglyceride level was the strongest determinant of plasma total homocysteine concentration. There were no significant differences between two groups in waist to hip ratio, alcohol intake, cigarette use, blood pressure and serum levels of glucose and insulin during OGTT. Hyperhomocysteinemic men had significantly higher mean values of serum triglyceride (258 mg/dl), total cholesterol (226 mg/dl), and LDL-cholesterol (140 mg/dl) than normohomocysteinemic men. Hyperhomocysteinemic men showed a decrease in lipid corrected values of serum β-carotene and α-tocopherol and plasma concentrations of serine and taurine, when compared to normohomocysteinemic men. The mean intakes of vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12 and β-carotene tended to decline by 25-30% in hyperhomocysteinemic group, when compared to normohomocysteinemic group. Conclusion:Our results indicate that healthy 논문접수일:1998년 12월 14일 심사완료일:1999년 3월 15일 교신저자:장양수, 120-749 서울 서대문구 신촌동 134 연세대학교 의과대학 내과학교실 전화:(02) 361-7266·전송:(02) 365-1878 E-mail:jangys1212@yumc.ac. kr
Percutaneous Spinal Tumor Management

Image-guided tumor management is a minimally invasive treatment for localized spinal tumors. Minimally invasive procedures require less resources, time, recovery, and cost, and often offer reduced morbidity and mortality, compared to other modalities. Many percutaneous techniques are available. Some aim to treat pain and consolidate spine (vertebroplasty). Others ablate or reduce the tumor (chemical and thermal ablation techniques). Spinal tumor management is considered with two different options: the first option is curative and the second one, far more frequent, is palliative. In secondary spinal tumors, only few patients are surgical candidates and some benign or malignant localized spinal tumors are excellent indications for percutaneous curative ablation. Indeed, pain management in terminally ill patients with tumors involving spinal can be challenging. Conventional therapeutic options for pain control include radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy, surgery, and the use of opioids and other analgesics. Existing image-guided techniques for the treatment of primary and secondary spinal tumors: ethanol ablation, cementoplasty, radiofrequency ablation, laser photocoagulation, radiofrequency ionization, and cryoablation are reviewed and debated. Indeed, each technique has its advantages and drawbacks. Ablation techniques are reducing the tumor size and treating pain. Cementoplasty is consolidating spinal and treating pain. Aspects of each technique including mechanism of action, equipment, patient selection, treatment technique, and recent patient outcome are presented.
Distinguishing Between Efficacy and Real-World Effectiveness: The Case for Thinking Beyond Classic Randomized Controlled Trial Design

A fter all the power calculations, P values, odds ratios, and effect estimates, at the end of the day clinicians really just want to know what are the safest and most impactful strategies to care for their patients. Unfortunately, our knowledge of what is best for our patients is based ultimately on our ability to extract useful information from the mucky arena of clinical research. As research consumers, we are taught to rank the quality of scientific evidence as a function of its position on a hierarchical research design scale. At the top lies what is often considered the ultimate study design [drum roll please]: the randomized controlled trial (RCT), which when summarized collectively into systematic reviews andmeta-analyses often givesway to best practice guidelines. Lower in the hierarchy are a collection of observational analytic study designs ranging from expert opinion to sophisticated population-based prospective cohort studies. Some have questioned the clinical impact of observational studies. However, there is also growing concern that the findings fromRCTs repeatedly fail to translate into real-world clinical benefits.
Educational Strategies and Interventions Targeting Adults Age 50 and Older for HIV/AIDS Prevention

This article discusses the need for targeting adults age 50 and older for HIV/AIDS prevention education. First, the authors consider a variety of educational strategies that can address both primary prevention (risk reduction) and secondary prevention (prompt identification and treatment) with regard to older adults. Examples of existing prevention education programs designed for older adults are presented together with a discussion of what has been learned about effective educational strategies and interventions among other targeted groups. Finally, suggestions are made for future research needed to help design and implement effective HIV/AIDS education programs for older adults.
Open‐heart surgery increases cerebrospinal fluid levels of Alzheimer‐associated amyloid β

Neurocognitive dysfunction occurs frequently after open‐heart surgery. It has been suggested that cognitive decline after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) could be a functional consequence of Alzheimer's disease (AD)‐like neuropathological changes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of amyloid β peptide (Aβ1–42) and soluble fragments of amyloid precursor protein (sAPP) as well as the cerebral inflammatory response to open‐heart surgery.
A single mitochondrial haplotype and nuclear genetic differentiation in sympatric colour morphs of a riverine cichlid fish

Some of the diversity of lacustrine cichlid fishes has been ascribed to sympatric divergence, whereas diversification in rivers is generally driven by vicariance and geographic isolation. In the riverine Pseudocrenilabrus philander species complex, several morphologically highly distinct populations are restricted to particular river systems, sinkholes and springs in southern Africa. One of these populations consists of a prevalent yellow morph in sympatry with a less frequent blue morph, and no individuals bear intermediate phenotypes. Genetic variation in microsatellites and AFLP markers was very low in both morphs and one single mtDNA haplotype was fixed in all samples, indicating a very young evolutionary age and small effective population size. Nevertheless, the nuclear markers detected low but significant differentiation between the two morphs. The data suggest recent and perhaps sympatric divergence in the riverine habitat.
A novel optimal tracking control scheme for a class of discrete-time nonlinear systems using generalised policy iteration adaptive dynamic programming algorithm

ABSTRACT In this paper, a novel iterative adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) algorithm, called generalised policy iteration ADP algorithm, is developed to solve optimal tracking control problems for discrete-time nonlinear systems. The idea is to use two iteration procedures, including an i-iteration and a j-iteration, to obtain the iterative tracking control laws and the iterative value functions. By system transformation, we first convert the optimal tracking control problem into an optimal regulation problem. Then the generalised policy iteration ADP algorithm, which is a general idea of interacting policy and value iteration algorithms, is introduced to deal with the optimal regulation problem. The convergence and optimality properties of the generalised policy iteration algorithm are analysed. Three neural networks are used to implement the developed algorithm. Finally, simulation examples are given to illustrate the performance of the present algorithm.
Selective Loss of Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family Member 4–Positive CD8+ T Cells Contributes to the Decreased Cytotoxic Cell Activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Engagement of signaling lymphocytic activation molecule family member 4 (SLAMF4; CD244, 2B4) by its ligand SLAMF2 (CD48) modulates the function and expansion of both natural killer cells and a subset of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. Because the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T lymphocytes isolated from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is known to be impaired, the aim of this study was to assess whether the expression and function of the checkpoint regulator SLAMF4 are altered on CD8+ T cells from patients with SLE.
Divergent timing of egg‐laying may maintain life history polymorphism in potentially multivoltine insects in seasonal environments

The length of the favourable season determines voltinism in insect populations. In some insects, there is variation in fecundity and timing of reproduction among females. If the length of the favourable season does not allow all offspring to develop into adults without diapause, the benefits of high early fecundity may outweigh the associated cost of low lifetime fecundity. We tested this by exploring mating frequencies of Pieris napi females along a latitudinal gradient in different generations. Pieris napi is a bivoltine butterfly, and genetically polyandrous females enjoy higher lifetime fecundity than monandrous ones. Polyandry is, however, coupled with a relatively low early fecundity. We found that monandrous females are more likely to produce an additional generation than polyandrous ones under conditions that allow production of only a partial summer generation. Monandrous females were also the first to emerge and slightly over‐represented in the summer generation under conditions that allow the development of a complete summer generation. Further, a stochastic model shows that variation in the timing of reproduction between strategies is sufficient to explain the observed patterns. Thus, seasonality may counter‐select against polyandry, or more generally against low early reproductive rate, and promote maintenance of polymorphism in life history strategies.
Bone Mineral Density and Risk of Breast Cancer in Older Women: The Study of Osteoporotic Fractures

Objective. —To test the hypothesis that bone mineral density (BMD) is associated with the risk of developing breast cancer in older women. Design. —Prospective cohort study with mean (SD) follow-up of 3.2 (1.6) years. Setting. —Four clinical centers, one each located in the following areas: Baltimore, Md; Minneapolis, Minn; Portland, Ore; and the Monongahela Valley in Pennsylvania. Participants. —A total of 6854 nonblack women who were 65 years of age or older and enrolled in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. Measurements. —Radius and calcaneus BMD by single photon absorptiometry at baseline; hip and spine BMD by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry 2 years later. Main Outcome Measure. —Breast cancer confirmed by medical record review. Results. —A total of 97 women developed breast cancer. In the multivariate model, adjusting for age, the degree of obesity, and other important covariates, the risk of breast cancer was about 30% to 50% higher per 1 SD increase in BMD (relative risk, distal radius BMD=1.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-1.95). The age-adjusted incidence rate of breast cancer per 1000 person-years among women in the lowest quartile of distal radius BMD was 2.46, compared with 5.99 among women with the highest BMD. Women with BMD above the 25th percentile were at 2.0 to 2.5 times increased risk of breast cancer compared with women below the 25th percentile. Results were consistent across all BMD sites. Conclusions. —Bone mineral density predicts the risk of breast cancer in older women. The magnitude of the association is similar to that observed between BMD and all fractures. Our findings suggest a link between 2 of the most common conditions affecting a woman's health. Identifying a common denominator for these conditions should substantially improve our understanding of their etiology and prevention.
Model reference tracking control of an aircraft: a robust adaptive approach

ABSTRACT This work presents the design and the corresponding analysis of a nonlinear robust adaptive controller for model reference tracking of an aircraft that has parametric uncertainties in its system matrices and additive state- and/or time-dependent nonlinear disturbance-like terms in its dynamics. Specifically, robust integral of the sign of the error feedback term and an adaptive term is fused with a proportional integral controller. Lyapunov-based stability analysis techniques are utilised to prove global asymptotic convergence of the output tracking error. Extensive numerical simulations are presented to illustrate the performance of the proposed robust adaptive controller.
What determines dewlap diversity in Anolis lizards? An among‐island comparison

Animal signalling systems are extremely diverse as they are under different, often conflicting, selective pressures. A classic textbook example of a diverse signal is the anoline dewlap. Both at the inter‐ and intraspecific levels, dewlap size, colour, shape and pattern vary extensively. Here, we attempt to elucidate the various factors explaining the diversity in dewlap size and pattern among seven Anolis sagrei populations from different islands in the Bahamas. The seven islands differ in the surface area, number and kind of predators, sexual size dimorphism and Anolis species composition. In addition, we investigate whether selective pressures acting on dewlap design differ between males and females. Whereas dewlap pattern appears to serve a role in species recognition in both sexes, our data suggest that relative dewlap size is under natural and/or sexual selection. We find evidence for the role of the dewlap as a pursuit‐deterrence signal in both males and females as relative dewlap size is larger on islands where A. sagrei occurs sympatrically with predatory Leiocephalus lizards. Additionally, in males relatively large dewlaps seem to be selected for in a sexual context, whereas in females natural selection, for instance by other predators than Leiocephalus lizards, appears to constrain relative dewlap size.
Resource specialization in a phytophagous insect: no evidence for genetically based performance trade‐offs across hosts in the field or laboratory

We present a field test of the genetically based performance trade‐off hypothesis for resource specialization in a population of the moth Rothschildia lebeau whose larvae primarily feed on three host plant species. Pairwise correlations between growth vs. growth, survival vs. survival and growth vs. survival across the different hosts were calculated, using families (sibships) as the units of analysis. Of 15 pairwise correlations, 14 were positive, 5 significantly so and none were negative. The same pattern was found using complementary growth and survival data from the laboratory. Overall, we found no evidence of negative genetic correlations in cross‐host performance that would be indicative of performance trade‐offs in this population. Rather, variation among families in performance appears to reflect ‘general vigour’ whereby families that perform well on one host perform well across multiple hosts. We discuss the implications of positive genetic correlations in cross‐host performance in terms of the ecology and evolution of host range. We argue that this genetic architecture facilitates colonization of novel hosts and recolonization of historical hosts, therefore contributing to host shifts, host range expansions, biological invasions and introductions, and host ranges that are regionally broad but locally narrow.