Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FETAL LEUKOCYTES IN THE MATERNAL CIRCULATION AFTER DELIVERY: Cytological Aspects

The presence of fetal cells in the maternal circulation after delivery was investigated by examining interphase cells for fluorescent Y-bodies after staining with quinacrine mustard. Mothers were excluded if their own autosomos had regions of brilliant fluorescence that simulated Y-bodies. In a study of 24 primiparas, the sex of whose children was unknown to the observer, the method was found to be reliable: 34 of the 240,000 cells examined showed a presumptive Y-body, and only one of these cells was from a woman who had delivered a female infant. Results of the study of 46 primiparas who had given birth to male children were: 14 (30%) had fetal lymphocytes and granulocytes, 17 (37%) had fetal lymphocytes only, 3 (7%) had fetal granulocytes only, and 12 (26%) had no Y-body-containing cells. Unequivocal evidence that presumptive interphase Y-bodies represented XY cells, was obtained by screening phytohomagglutinin-stimulated cultures of lymphocytes from three mothers. In each, one XY mitosis was found. Cell counts at intervals after delivery showed that fetal granulocytes disappeared within 1 week, whereas fetal lymphocytes persisted for at least 1 year. Cytotoxic antibodies directed against paternally derived fetal HL-A antigens were produced by 10 of 85 primiparas tested (22%). Tests for both fetal cells and HL-A antibodies at delivery were performed in 44 mothers. There was a clear-cut correlation between the presence of antibodies and the absence or paucity of fetal cells. No correlation was noted between the occurrence of cytotoxic antibodies and ABO incompatibility between mother and fetus.
Gene expression profiling as a tool for basic analysis and clinical application of human cancer

The sequentiation of the human genome, together with the development of high throughput technologies, particularly gene‐expression profiling, is giving us the opportunity to describe biological features in a quantitative manner. Here we review the use of global gene expression analyses in cancer research. Microarray analyses of tumor samples have allowed researchers the development of profiles that can distinguish, identify and classify discrete subsets of disease, predict the disease outcome, or the response to therapy. Profiling of experimental models with activation of certain oncogenic pathways could also be used to ascertain the molecular events involved in the establishment and development of tumors and, consequently, these models could be validated as tools for preclinical therapy. Furthermore, the detailed analysis of gene expression deregulation after response to the therapies in such models would allow us to predict the response to specific drugs, and to target the therapies to patients in search for individualized management of the disease. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A survey on next-generation power grid data architecture

The operation and control of power grids will increasingly rely on data. A high-speed, reliable, flexible and secure data architecture is the prerequisite of the next-generation power grid. This paper summarizes the challenges in collecting and utilizing power grid data, and then provides reference data architecture for future power grids. Based on the data architecture deployment, related research on data architecture is reviewed and summarized in several categories including data measurement/actuation, data transmission, data service layer, data utilization, as well as two cross-cutting issues, interoperability and cyber security. Research gaps and future work are also presented.
Mothers’ and Fathers’ Reports of Their Supportive Responses to Their Children’s Negative Emotions Over Time

SYNOPSIS Objective. Parents’ emotion socialization practices are thought to be moderately stable over time; however, a partner’s socialization practices could initiate change. Design. We examined mothers’ and fathers’ reports of their supportive responses to their children’s negative emotions when the target child was 7 years old and again at age 10. We tested a dyadic, longitudinal path model with 111 mother–father pairs. Results. Significant actor and partner effects emerged: Parents’ age 7 responses predicted their own age 10 responses and their partners’ later responses. Conclusions. Parents’ reported responses to children’s negative emotions during middle childhood are predicted by their own earlier responses and by their partners’ responses.
Modélisation des Interactions entre Experts dans un Processus de Télédiagnostic Coopératif

ResumeLa maintenance est aujourd’hui une activite ou la collaboration est fondamentale. En effet, de nombreux acteurs collaborent pour atteindre un but commun : reduire la probabilite de defaillance ou de degradation d’un objet. Chacun, ayant ses connaissances personnelles, son savoir faire, et ses pratiques propres. Ainsi, Plusieurs personnes de pays et de professions differents, travaillant pour des entreprises distinctes, peuvent etre amenees a travailler ensemble pour la maintenance d'un produit. Ceci n'est pas sans causer de nombreux problemes. Il faut alors reinventer l’organisation du processus de maintenance et redefinir les relations que doivent entretenir entre les hommes de metier dans le cadre d’un travail cooperatif, au sein duquel les roles et les positions de chaque acteur doivent etre redefinis. C’est pourquoi nous proposons la specification d’un modele workflow pour l’aide a la maintenance cooperative, dont l’objectif principal sera de coordonner les interactions entre les differents acteurs intervenant au sein du processus de maintenance.
A 10-bit 30-MS/s 50mW pipelined A/D converter

A 10-bit 30-Msample/s pipelined analog-to-digital converter is designed and implemented in a 0.6mum CMOS technology. Sampling capacitors scaling technique is employed to reduce the power dissipation. The digital correction technique is used to relax the offset requirement of the comparators. A sample-and-hold amplifier (SHA) is also used to improve the signal-to-noise and distortion ratio (SNDR) performance and the linearity of ADC. The simulation and experiment results reveal that the ADC designed with this method achieves the SNDR of 58dB or the ENOB of 9.34 at full speed of 30MHz when input frequency is 7MHz. Furthermore, the ADC consumes only 50mW power at 5V supply voltage with a low power operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) and the dynamic comparators
Post-partum depression and the mother-infant relationship in a South African peri-urban settlement

Background Post-partum depression in the developing world has received tittle research attention, and its association with disturbances in the mother–infant relationship is unknown. Aims To determine the prevalence of post-partum depression and associated disturbances in the mother–infant relationship in Khayelitsha, a South African peri-urban settlement. Method The mental state of 147 women who had delivered two months previously was assessed, and the quality of their engagement with their infants was determined. Results The point prevalence of DSM–IV major depression was found to be 34.7%. Maternal depression was associated with poor emotional and practical support from the partner. It was also associated with insensitive engagement with the infants. Conclusions The rate of post-partum depression in Khayelitsha was around three times that found in British post-partum samples, and these depressions were strongly associated with disturbances in the mother–infant relationship.
Metyrapone, an inhibitor of corticosterone synthesis, blocks the kainic acid‐induced expression of HSP 70

It is shown in the present study that metyrapone (100 mg/kg), an inhibitor of corticosterone synthesis, given twice, 30 min before and 6 h after kainic acid (10 mg/kg) administration, blocks the kainic acid‐evoked induction of heat shock proteins 72 kDa (HSP 70). Specifically, it was observed that metyrapone completely prevented kainic acid‐induced appearance of HSP 70 in the rat amygdala, habenula, parietal cortex, and significantly decreased the number of HSP 70‐positive neurons in the CA1, CA3, and CA4 subregions of hippocampus. The reduction in HSP 70 induction was paralleled by a complete prevention of the kainic acid‐induced rise in the circulating corticosterone level by metyrapone; however, in applied doses metyrapone evoked slight enhancement of blood corticosterone. Despite the fact that metyrapone blocked/attenuated the kainic acid‐evoked induction of HSP 70, its administration did not affect the behavioral effects of kainic acid, regarded as “limbic status epilepticus. ” It is concluded that the blockade of corticosterone synthesis might have neuroprotective effects in the pathological states associated with the overstimulation of glutamatergic receptors. Synapse 38:144–150, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Four year follow up of aortic valve replacement for isolated aortic stenosis: a link between reduction in pressure overload, regression of left ventricular hypertrophy, and diastolic function

OBJECTIVE To evaluate changes in left ventricular function and the impact of ventricular hypertrophy and pressure gradient early and late after aortic valve replacement in patients with isolated aortic stenosis. DESIGN 41 patients with isolated aortic stenosis and normal systolic function underwent cross sectional and Doppler echocardiography two months before and two weeks and four years after aortic valve replacement. RESULTS Early after the operation, left ventricular mass index (mean (SD)) decreased from 187 (44) g/m2 to 179 (46) g/m2, because of a reduction in end diastolic diameter (p < 0.05). Aortic pressure gradients were reduced, as expected. Isovolumic relaxation time was reduced from 93 (20) ms to 78 (12) ms, and deceleration time from 241 (102) ms to 205 (77) ms (p < 0.05). At four years, left ventricular mass index was further reduced to 135 (30) g/m2(p < 0.01) as a result of wall thickness reduction in the interventricular septum (from 14 (1.6) mm to 12 (1.4) mm, p < 0.01) and the posterior wall (from 14 (1.6) mm to 12 (1.3) mm, p < 0.01). Diastolic function, expressed by a reduction in isovolumic relaxation time from 93 (20) ms to 81 (15) ms (p < 0.01) and deceleration time from 241 (102) ms to 226 (96) ms (p < 0.05), remained improved. Prolonged isovolumic relaxation time was associated with significant septal and posterior wall hypertrophy (wall thickness > 13 mm) (p < 0.05), whereas prolonged deceleration time was related to high residual gradient (peak gradient > 30 mm Hg ) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Left ventricular diastolic function improves early after surgery for aortic stenosis in parallel with the reduction in the aortic gradient. However, prolongation of Doppler indices of myocardial relaxation and ventricular filling is observed in patients with significant left ventricular hypertrophy and a residual pressure gradient early after surgery. At four years postoperatively, diastolic function remains improved.
Imaging Tumor Cell Movement In Vivo

This unit describes the methods that we have been developing for analyzing tumor cell motility in mouse and rat models of breast cancer metastasis. Rodents are commonly used to provide a mammalian system for studying human tumor cells as xenografts in immunocompromised mice, as well as for following the development of tumors from a specific tissue type in transgenic lines. The Basic Protocol describes the standard methods used for generation of mammary tumors and imaging them. Additional protocols for labeling macrophages, blood vessel imaging, and image analysis are also included.
“Sleep Is Not Tangible2” or What the Hebrew Tradition Has to Say About Sleep

Much of what is known about sleep disorders has been uncovered in the last forty years. As scientists, we consider these discoveries to be landmarks. Yet there is a tremendous amount of information written about sleep in the Bible and its commentaries. Sleep, and even sleep disorders, are referred to in many instances and can be directly interpreted by what we know today. Our forefathers and foremothers generally viewed sleep as both pleasant and necessary and were aware that sleep was not one continuous stage. They referred to the function of sleep as being restorative. They deplored sleep deprivation, believing that it impaired life. They felt that excessive sleepiness was harmful. They understood that insomnia could be caused by stress and anxiety and by excessive alcohol, and that physical activity (exercise) and drinking milk could improve sleep. They suggested cures for insomnia, including some of the ideas included in today’s sleep hygiene rules. They understood that there was a rhythm or timing to sleep. They even understood that it is easier to delay the circadian rhythm that to advance it. Although naps are not recommended, they sometimes took naps in the afternoon, but suggested just how long that nap should last—about one-half hour. And they knew that with age, although sleep is advanced, healthy elderly do not have difficulty sleeping. Although we think we have discovered many new features about sleep disorders, much of what we know today was suggested thousands of years ago and documented in the Bible and the Talmud.
Programmierunterstützung im Kontext von Cloud Computing

Mit dem Aufkommen des Cloud Computing wurden große Rechner-Cluster für jedermann verfügbar. Um diese Rechenleistung der Cloud aber auch wirklich ausnutzen zu können, müssen Programme derart geschrieben werden, dass sie auch tatsächlich parallel berechenbar sind. Eine einfache Möglichkeit der fast automatischen Parallelisierung bietet das von Google patentierte [1] Konzept MapReduce, das dank einiger Open-Source-Implementierungen für jedermann nutzbar ist. Die eigentliche Berechnung geschieht in zwei vom Benutzer geschriebenen Funktionen. In der map-Funktion werden zuerst die Eingabedaten auf Schlüssel-Wert-Paare abgebildet, um diese anschließend in der reduce-Funktion zu einer Ausgabe zusammenzuführen. Die Zuweisung der Funktionen an Rechner des Clusters, die Aufteilung der Daten und die Abstimmung der Rechner übernimmt die Infrastruktur. Neben dem ursprünglichen Google-Konzept gibt es dabei auch noch mehrere Open-Source-Implementierungen, wie Disco [2] oder Hadoop MapReduce [3]. Durch diese Unterstützung durch die Infrastruktur begiebt sich der Benutzer von MapReduce auf eine Abstraktionsebene, auf der die Daten und deren Fluss betrachtet werden, anstatt die Koordination von Rechnern oder Prozessen. Ein weiteres Projekt, das sich sehr intensiv mit diesem datenzentrischen Programmieren auseinandersetzt ist BOOM [4].
Heterogeneous type 4 enhancement of hepatocellular carcinoma on dynamic CT is associated with tumor recurrence after radiofrequency ablation.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to predict recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from baseline dynamic CT images. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective study included 191 consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) between January 2005 and September 2009 for the treatment of HCC. Enhancement on pretreatment arterial and portal phase dynamic CT images was classified into one of the four following enhancement patterns: Types 1 and 2 are homogeneous enhancement patterns without or with increased arterial blood flow, respectively; type 3 is a heterogeneous enhancement pattern with septations; and type 4 is an irregularly shaped ring structure enhancement pattern. Predictive factors for tumor recurrence including dynamic CT enhancement pattern were also evaluated. Moreover, risk factors including recurrence type (i.e., tumor number ≥ 10, portal vein invasion, or both) were evaluated in RFA-treated cases. RESULTS Among 60 patients who underwent surgical resection, no statistical association was observed between dynamic CT enhancement patterns and recurrence rate. In contrast, in the 131 patients who underwent RFA, cumulative recurrence rates for each enhancement pattern were significantly different: Recurrence rates 2 years after RFA for patients with type 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 26.6%, 46.9%, 38.6%, and 77.8%, respectively (p = 0.042). Recurrence, which was defined as the presence of 10 or more nodules, portal vein invasion, or both occurred in nine of 131 patients (6.9%) in the RFA group. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that the type 4 dynamic CT enhancement pattern is an independent factor for HCC recurrence (hazard ratio, 27.68; 95% CI, 6.82-112.33; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The pretreatment type 4 dynamic CT enhancement pattern can potentially be used to predict recurrence of HCC after RFA treatment.
The Rise of Marijuana as the Drug of Choice among Youthful Adult Arrestees. Research in Brief.

Various surveys have identified a rapid increase in marijuana use during the 1990s, especially among youths. This raises a variety of questions about the future of the Nation’s drug problems. On one hand, the gateway theory posits that youthful use of alcohol and/or tobacco and marijuana tends to precede use of other illicit drugs like crack and heroin (see “The Gateway Theory”). The recent increase in youthful marijuana use has fueled speculation that a new epidemic of hard drug abuse may be imminent and that the burden of drug abuse will be dramatically increasing in the near future. On the other hand, the start of this new epidemic coincides with the decline of the crack epidemic. This suggests that youthful subcultures may have shifted from the destructive nature of crack abuse to the use of less dangerous drugs.
The Dichotomy Between Understanding and Treating Emphysema

The long history of investigations into the causes and potential treatments of emphysema encompasses a vast array of chemical and biological research disciplines. A key finding that played a major role in initiating these inquiries occurred in 1963 when Laurell and Eriksson[1] found that individuals with a genetic deficiency in serum alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) were prone to develop pulmonary emphysema[2]. This genetic linkage was given a mechanistic basis when Turino and colleagues in 1969 discovered that patients with reduced inhibition of pancreatic elastase also lacked serum AAT and were prone to develop severe pulmonary emphysema[3]. Subsequent studies in the early 1970s confirmed that excessive elastase activity due to lack of AAT was in fact the genetic mechanism responsible for the onset of emphysema [4-7]. A key environmental connection was made with the discovery that cigarette smoke increased macrophage secretion of elastase[8] in the lungs, oxidized AAT[9], and that the chemical irritants in smoke recruited neutrophils to the lungs via chemotaxis[10-12]. This integrated genetic-environmental understanding firmly established elastase inhibition as a mechanistic target for preventing the alveolar destruction characteristic of emphysema.
Efecto de la sutura peritoneal en la formación de adherencias post-operatorias. Estudio experimental en ratas

Objective: To determine the frequency of post-operative adhesions using peritoneal suture in an experimental rat model. Setting: University hospital. Design: Experimental, prospective, comparative study. Material and methods: Two groups of 25 male Wistar rats were formed. Group A was subjected to medial laparotomy, exposing the cecum and the last 20 cm of the ileum, closing the abdominal cavity (peritoneum and aponeurosis) in planes. Group B was subjected to the same procedure but without suturing the peritoneal plane, only the aponeurosis. Both groups were compared using the recorded variables that integrated a quantitative index of adhesions searching for significant difference by means of the “Statistic” software. Results: In group A, the adhesions index was 9.3; length of adhesions 27 ± 1.8 cm; width 6.1 ± 0.8 cm; thickness 2.2 ± 1.3 mm. In group B, the adhesions index was 4.7; length of adhesions 4.5 ± 0.7 cm; width 1.3 ± 0.3 cm; thickness 0.3 ± 0.07 mm. When the peritoneum was sutured, 30.4% of the adhesions had to be separated through severe dissection, with 24% forming loop blocks, and 8% evisceration of the abResumen Objetivo: Determinar la frecuencia de adherencias postoperatorias con la sutura del plano peritoneal en la rata, en un modelo experimental. Sede: Hospital Universitario Diseño: Estudio experimental, prospectivo, comparativo. Material y métodos: Se formaron dos grupos de 25 ratas machos línea Wistar. Al grupo A se le practicó laparotomía media con exposición de ciego y los últimos 20 cm del íleon, cerrando por planos la cavidad abdominal (peritoneo y aponeurosis). Al grupo B se realizó el mismo procedimiento pero sin suturar el peritoneo sólo el plano aponeurótico. Se compararon ambos grupos usando las variables registradas como índice cuantitativo de adherencias buscando diferencias significativas por medio del programa computarizado Statistic. Resultados: En el grupo A el índice de adherencias fue de 9.3; el largo de las adherencias 27 + 1.8 cm; el ancho 6.1 ± 0.8 cm; el grosor 2.2 ± 1.3 mm. En el grupo B el índice de adherencias fue de 4.7; el largo de las adherencias 4.5 ± 0.7cm; el ancho 1.3 ± 0.3 cm; grosor 0.3 ± 0.07 mm. Cuando se suturó el peritoneo, el 30.4% de las adherencias necesitaron disección cruenta para ser Adherencias post-operatorias y cierre peritoneal 23 Volumen 24, Núm. 1 Enero-Marzo 2002 edigraphic.com dominal wall. No such case occurred when the peritoneum was not sutured. Conclusion: Closure of the peritoneum increases the number of post-operative adhesions within the abdominal cavity.
Trends in the incidence and mortality of systemic lupus erythematosus, 1950-1992.

OBJECTIVE To describe trends in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) incidence and mortality over the past 4 decades. METHODS Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project resources, medical records were screened to identify all Rochester, Minnesota residents with any SLE-associated diagnoses, discoid lupus, positivity for antinuclear antibodies, and/or false-positive syphilis test results determined between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1992. Medical records were then reviewed using a pretested data collection form in order to identify cases of SLE according to the American College of Rheumatology 1982 revised criteria for SLE. Drug-induced cases were excluded. All identified SLE patients were followed up until death, migration from the county, or October 1, 1997. These data were combined with similar data from the same community obtained between 1950 and 1979, and trends in the SLE incidence and mortality over time were calculated. RESULTS Of the 430 medical records reviewed, 48 newly diagnosed cases of SLE (42 women and 6 men) were identified between 1980 and 1992. The average incidence rate (age- and sex-adjusted to the 1970 US white population) was 5.56 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 3.93-7.19), compared with an incidence of 1.51 (95% CI 0.85-2.17) in the 1950-1979 cohort. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence rate as of January 1, 1993 was approximately 1.22 per 1,000 (95% CI 0.97-1.47). Survival among SLE patients was significantly worse than in the general population (P = 0.017 compared with the 1980-1992 cohort, and P < 0.0001 compared with the 1950-1979 cohort, by log-rank test). Cox proportional hazards modeling demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the survival rate over time (P = 0.035). CONCLUSION Over the past 4 decades, the incidence of SLE has nearly tripled, and there has been a statistically significant improvement in survival. These findings are likely due to a combination of improved recognition of mild disease and better approaches to therapy.