Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incidence and Predictors of Serious Bacterial Infections Among 57- to 180-Day-Old Infants

BACKGROUND. Numerous researchers have investigated fever in infants <2 months of age. However, the etiology of fever and usefulness of screening tests in older (2–6 months) infants is not well studied. METHODS. This was a prospective study of febrile infants 57–180 days old. Evaluation included blood and urine tests and direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) of nasal swabs for respiratory viruses. Additional studies were performed at the discretion of managing clinicians. RESULTS. Serious bacterial illness (SBI) was diagnosed in 44 (10.3%) of 429 infants: 41 with bacteruria and 4 with bacteremia (1 infant had concurrent Escherichia coli bacteruria and bacteremia). Lumbar puncture, performed in 58 (13.5%) infants, revealed no cases of bacterial meningitis. DFAs were positive in 163 (38.0%) infants: the majority were respiratory syncytial virus or influenza A. SBI was noted in 4.9% of infants with positive DFA. Age and height of fever were not significant predictors of SBI. White blood cell count (17.1 K/mm3 vs 12.4 K/mm3) and CRP (2.6 mg/dL vs 0.9 mg/dL) were elevated in infants with SBI, as was the Yale Observation Score (9.4 vs 8.0). CONCLUSIONS. A substantial proportion (10.3%) of older febrile infants has SBI. In the postpneumococcal vaccine era, only 1 infant had pneumococcal disease; bacteremia was noted in 0.9%. Bacteruria is commonly associated with fever in this age range. Infants older than 8 weeks remain at risk for bacteremia and bacteruria, regardless of positive DFA or other apparent source of fever. CRP is a better indicator than white blood cell count, but no single ideal indicator of SBI was identified for this age group.
Expression dynamics of bovine MX genes in the endometrium and placenta during early to mid pregnancy

MX belongs to a family of type I interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes, and the MX protein has antiviral activity. MX has at least two isoforms, known as MX1 and MX2, in mammals. Moreover, bovine MX1 has been found to have alternative splice variants—namely, MX1-a and MX1B. In ruminants, IFN-τ—a type I IFN—is temporarily produced from the conceptus before implantation and induces MX expression in the endometrium. However, the expression dynamics of MX after implantation are not clear. In the present study, we investigated the expression of MX1-a, MX1B and MX2 in the endometrium and placenta before and after implantation along with the expression of IFN-α, type I receptors (IFNAR1 and IFNAR2) and interferon regulatory factors (IRF3 and IRF9). Pregnant uterine samples were divided into five groups according to pregnancy days 14–18, 25–40, 50–70, 80–100, and 130–150. Tissue samples were collected from the intercaruncular endometrium (IC), caruncular endometrium (C) and fetal placenta (P). Although all the MX expressions were significantly higher in the IC and C at days 14–18, presumably caused by embryo-secreted IFN-τ stimulation, their expressions were also detectable in the IC, C and P after implantation. Furthermore, IFN-α expression was significantly higher in the IC. RT-PCR indicated IFNAR1, IFNAR2, IRF3 and IRF9 mRNA in all the tissues during pregnancy. These results suggest that all the MX genes are affected by the type I IFN pathway during pregnancy and are involved in an immune response to protect the mother and fetus.
KAC'S CHAOS AND KAC'S PROGRAM

In this note I present the main results about the quantitative and qualitative propagation of chaos for the Boltzmann-Kac system obtained in collaboration with C. ~Mouhot in \cite{MMinvent} which gives a possible answer to some questions formulated by Kac in \cite{Kac1956}. We also present some related recent results about Kac's chaos and Kac's program obtained in \cite{MMWchaos,HaurayMischler,KleberSphere} by K. ~Carrapatoso, M. Hauray, C. Mouhot, B. Wennberg and myself.
Blind source separation from hybrid mixture based on nonlinear InfoMax approach

In this paper, we show that the nonlinear InfoMax algorithm in blind source separation is also based on the contrast function of Kullback-Leibler divergence under certain conditions. Its high separating performance for speech sources is closely related to the fact that the selected nonlinear functions approximate the probability density functions (PDFs) of source signals. With this understanding, we propose a new nonlinear InfoMax algorithm in which the nonlinear functions are iteratively updated simultaneously with the estimation of the unmixing matrix. Simulation results show that the algorithm can extract independent sources from the hybrid mixture of any super-Gaussian and sub-Gaussian signals.
Chapter 8 MIG-6 and SPRY 2 in the Regulation of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signaling : Balancing Act via Negative Feedback Loops

Tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) function in concert with diverse parts of the cellular machi‐ nery and integrate the signaling networks in a cell [1]. TSGs act to safeguard the networks, to fine-tune signaling outputs, and to maintain tissue homeostasis. The loss of tumor sup‐ pressor activity or inactivation of a TSG is often due to genetic alterations such as a loss-offunction mutation or a deletion in the gene; alternatively, epigenetic silencing can result from methylation or histone modification in the TSG’s promoter regulatory elements [1-3]. Cells with a loss or a significant reduction of a particular tumor suppressor’s activity are prone to develop neoplasia in the tissues/organs where the TSG is expressed [1, 2].
ABCB1 (MDR1, P-Glycoprotein) C3435T Gene Polymorphism and its Possible Association with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Prognosis

Adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette B1 (MDR1- multiple drug resistance gene1), a drug transporter gene encodes a transmembrane glycoprotein (P-gp), which functions as an efflux pump for various structurally unrelated anticancer agents and toxins. Our main objective is to study MDR1 gene polymorphism at C3435T in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) to understand its association with development and response to drug (Imatinib) treatment. The present study comprises of 150 CML cases and 150 age and sex matched controls. MDR1 C3435T polymorphism was analyzed through polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction enzyme digestion (PCR-RFLP). The MDR1 genotype distribution revealed elevated frequency of TT genotype in CML patients (34%) when compared to controls (28.67%). Within the disease group, T allele frequency (0.59) was elevated as compared to C allele frequency (0.41). The functional significance of MDR1 C3435T polymorphism with respect to Imatinib (P-gp substrate) treatment was also studied in terms of hematological and cytogenetic responses. Patients without hematological response had higher frequency of TT genotype (52.63%) as compared to those with major (32.23%) or minor (20%) hematological response. Whereas patients without cytogenetic response had higher frequency of CC genotype (27.03%) compared to those with major (15.15%) or minor (10.64%) cytogenetic response When the data was compared in relation to combination of both types of responses, the frequency of CC genotype was increased significantly in cytogenetic nonresponders and the increase was found to be inversely proportional to the degree of cytogenetic response. This could be attributed to over expression of P-gp in individuals with CC genotype that might have resulted in increased efflux of Imatinib, a P-gp substrate leading to drug resistance.
Phospholipase D1: a key factor for the exocytotic machinery in neuroendocrine cells

Phospholipase D (PLD) has been proposed to mediate cytoskeletal remodeling and vesicular trafficking along the secretory pathway. We recently described the activation of an ADP ribosylation factor‐regulated PLD at the plasma membrane of chromaffin cells undergoing secretagogue‐stimulated exocytosis. We show here that the isoform involved is PLD1b, and, using a real‐time assay for individual cells, that PLD activation and exocytosis are closely correlated. Moreover, overexpressed PLD1, but not PLD2, increases stimulated exocytosis in a phosphatidylinositol 4,5‐bisphosphate‐dependent manner, whereas catalytically inactive PLD1 inhibits it. These results provide the first direct evidence that PLD1 is an important component of the exocytotic machinery in neuroendocrine cells.
Biofeedback based computational approach for Working Stress reduction through meditation technique

Working stress is recognized as one of the major challenges faced by the working community around the world. Working Stress is the response of the people, when presented work demands are not matched to their knowledge and ability and which challenge their ability to cope. Increased stress at work cause depression and anxiety. Working stress cannot be avoided, so mechanism to cope with the stress positively should be identified and practiced. Mindful meditation together with biofeedback helps to reduce the working stress. Quantitative classification of mental stress is important to cope up with the stress effectively. This paper proposes a novel approach for detecting and classifying stress using galvanic skin response and image based biofeedback assisted mindfulness meditation to cope with the stress positively in real time. Stress was classified into two levels and meditation was identified as separate level using a statistical framework and during the evaluation of the framework proposed method obtained the accuracy of 82.418%, 73.945% and 64.96% for each respective level.
Identification of candidate tumor suppressor genes inactivated by promoter methylation in melanoma

Tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) are sometimes inactivated by transcriptional silencing through promoter hypermethylation. To identify novel methylated TSGs in melanoma, we carried out global mRNA expression profiling on a panel of 12 melanoma cell lines treated with a combination of 5‐Aza‐2‐deoxycytidine (5AzadC) and an inhibitor of histone deacetylase, Trichostatin A. Reactivation of gene expression after drug treatment was assessed using Illumina whole‐genome microarrays. After qRT‐PCR confirmation, we followed up 8 genes (AKAP12, ARHGEF16, ARHGAP27, ENC1, PPP1R3C, PPP1R14C, RARRES1, and TP53INP1) by quantitative DNA methylation analysis using mass spectrometry of base‐specific cleaved amplification products in panels of melanoma cell lines and fresh tumors. PPP1R3C, ENC1, RARRES1, and TP53INP1, showed reduced mRNA expression in 35–59% of the melanoma cell lines compared to melanocytes and which was correlated with a high proportion of promoter methylation (>40–60%). The same genes also showed extensive promoter methylation in 6–25% of the tumor samples, thus confirming them as novel candidate TSGs in melanoma. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fertility of norgestomet treated suckler cows

Four studies are described involving 3050 single suckled mainly Hereford-Friesian cross beef cows treated with norgestomet and oestradiol valerate to control the ovarian cycle. In study 1 the effect of insemination timing on pregnancy rate was studied. A greater proportion of cows inseminated 48 and 72 hours after treatment became pregnant than after a single insemination at 48 hours. In study 2 large variations in fertility among farms were recorded in field trials of norgestomet and oestradiol valerate. In study 3 the effect on fertility of nutrition, weight and body condition was examined. In study 4 57.9 per cent of 1113 treated cows became pregnant to insemination at 48 and 72 hours. Cows were fed a balanced ration designed to provide for a predicted daily milk yield of 9.0 kg for a 12-week period starting six weeks before insemination. The range of fertility was from 36.7 per cent to 94.9 per cent.
Platelet Count and Mean Platelet Volume in Patients With In-Hospital Deep Venous Thrombosis

Aim: To investigate the relationship between mean platelet volume (MPV) and in-hospital deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Material and methods: 147 patients with the diagnosis of DVT and 149 control participants were included in the study. For all participants, clinical risk factors, smoking status, and other demographic data were recorded from hospital registries. The data of patients with DVT were compared with the control participants. Results: Mean MPV was significantly higher in patients with DVT than the control group (8.91 ± 1.86 vs 7.86 ± 0.9; P < .001). Body mass index, smoking frequency, hematocrit, and platelet count were significantly correlated with MPV. Independent predictors of in-hospital DVT were MPV (odds ratio [OR] = 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2-1.87; P ≤ .001), body mass index (OR = 1.17; 95% CI = 1.04-1.34; P = .012), and smoking (OR = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.09-3.08; P = .023). Conclusion: Mean platelet volume was significantly higher in patients with DVT, and it is an independent predictor of in-hospital DVT.
Higher Radix Square Root with Prescaling

A scheme for performing higher radix square root based on prescaling of the radicand is presented to reduce the complexity of the result-digit selection. The scheme requires several steps, namely multiplication for prescaling the radicand, square root, multiplication for prescaling for the division, and division. Online algorithms are used to reduce the overall time and pipelining to reuse the different modules. An estimate of the execution time for a radix-256 unit for double-precision square root and a comparison with other implementations indicate that the proposed approach is an alternative to consider when designing a square-root unit. >
A concise process technology for 3-D suspended radio frequency micro-inductors on silicon substrate

In this letter, a concise process technology is proposed for the first time to enable the fabrication of good quality three-dimensional (3-D) suspended radio frequency (RF) micro-inductors on bulk silicon, without utilizing the lithography process on sidewall and trench-bottom patterning. Samples were fabricated to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed process technology.
Computation in Multicast Networks: Function Alignment and Converse Theorems

The classical problem in a network coding theory considers communication over multicast networks. Multiple transmitters send independent messages to multiple receivers that decode the same set of messages. In this paper, computation over multicast networks is considered: each receiver decodes an identical function of the original messages. For a countably infinite class of two-transmitter two-receiver single-hop linear deterministic networks, the computation capacity is characterized for a linear function (modulo-2 sum) of Bernoulli sources. A new upper bound is derived that is tighter than cut-set-based and genie-aided bounds. A matching inner bound is established via the development of a network decomposition theorem, which identifies elementary parallel subnetworks that can constitute an original network without loss of optimality. The decomposition theorem provides a conceptually simple proof of achievability that generalizes to L-transmitter L-receiver networks.
A pilot clinical study to evaluate changes in urine osmolality and urine cAMP in response to acute and chronic water loading in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) leads to kidney failure in half of those affected. Increased levels of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) play a critical role in disease progression in animal models. Water loading, by suppressing arginine vasopressin (AVP)-stimulated cAMP production, is a proposed therapy for ADPKD. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS The effects of acute and sustained water loading on levels of urine osmolality (Uosm) and cAMP in 13 subjects with ADPKD and 10 healthy controls were studied. Uosm and cAMP concentrations were measured before and after water loading. RESULTS Urine [cAMP] indexed to Uosm significantly decreased with acute water loading in both groups (58% in controls and 35% in ADPKD). Chronic water loading resulted in a nonsignificant 13% decrease in 24-hour urine cAMP excretion in ADPKD participants, despite an increase in 24-hour urine volume by 64% to 3.14 +/- 0.32 L and decrease in mean Uosm by 46%, to below that of plasma (270 +/- 21 mOsm/L). CONCLUSIONS Increased water intake of 3 L per day decreased Uosm in most ADPKD subjects. While urine [cAMP] accurately reflects changes in Uosm during acute water loading in ADPKD subjects, chronic water loading did not lower 24-hour urine cAMP excretion, although subjects with higher baseline [cAMP] (>2 nmol/mg Cr) responded best. Decreases in urine [cAMP] and osmolality are consistent with decreased AVP activity. These results support the need for a larger study to evaluate the effect of chronic water loading on ADPKD progression.
The changing spectrum of TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas: diagnosis and management in 43 patients.

OBJECTIVE Our aim was to report the recent changes in diagnosis and management of TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas. METHODS We retrieved 43 consecutive patients with TSH-secreting pituitary tumors (23 male and 20 female) among 4400 pituitary adenomas followed between 1976 and 2001 in six Belgian and French centers. RESULTS TSH was elevated in 18/43 and alpha subunit in 13/32 patients. In patients with intact thyroid (n=30), mean free tri-iodothyronine was 13.1 pmol/l (range 3.5-23) and mean free thyroxine was 38.4 pmol/l (range 10.2-62.7). Hyperprolactinemia and acromegaly were associated in 9/43 and 8/43 cases. The number of associated hypersecretions was higher in macroadenomas than in microadenomas (Chi square = 11.2, P<0.01). Two women had sporadic multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1-associated syndrome. The proportion of microadenomas versus macroadenomas was 1/11 (period 1974-1986) and 8/32 (period 1987-2001). Bilateral petrosal sinus sampling, (111)In-pentreotide scintigraphy and ((11)C)-l-methionine positron emission tomography scan confirmed diagnosis in four questionable microadenomas. Macroadenomas with extrasellar extension (31 cases) had a tendency to be medially located. Medical treatment with somatostatin analogs was initiated as first-line treatment in 26 patients. TSH levels were reduced by more than 50% in 23/26 cases. A tumoral shrinkage of more than 20% was observed in 5/13 cases. Surgery was performed in 36 patients. After 1 year, 21 of them (58.3%) met the criteria of surgical favorable outcome. Pituitary radiotherapy (n=8) and somatostatin analogs allowed normalization in cases not cured by surgery. CONCLUSION Ultrasensitive methods for TSH measurement led to an earlier recognition of TSH-secreting pituitary tumors. In this series, we observed that TSH-secreting pituitary tumors are today more frequently found at the stage of microadenomas, medially located, without associated hypersecretions and needing new exploration methods as compared with older series. This changing spectrum in the presentation of TSH-secreting pituitary tumors and the excellent response to somatostatin analogs has been accompanied by an improvement in the prognosis of the disease.
The Structure of Work Values in Relation to Status, Achievement, Interest, and Adjustment

The Structure of work values in relation to status, achievement, interest, and adjustment (by Donald E. Super) - ABSTRACT: The Work Values Inventory (WVI), a 210-item, paired-comparison instrument designed to measure 15 different work values, was administered together with a number of measures of intelligence, interest, adjustment, and achievement to 9th grade boys of the Career Pattern Study (N = 88). The results show no tendency for so-called intrinsic values to be associated, nor for extrinsic values to be more intercorrelated than are values of different types. A centroid factor analysis of the 40 x 40 matrix yielded 10 factors, of which 7 were clearly identifiable. 4 were clearly value factors, 2 could be classified as either values of interests, 3 were personality and adjustment factors, and 1 was an achievement factor. The WVI seemed particularly useful in its measurement of 4 value factors not revealed by interest or adjustment measures.
Performance rating.

(Component weight: 3%) The school social worker does not demonstrate a commitment to the values and ethical principles of the social work profession. The school social worker demonstrates a commitment to the values and ethical principles of the social work profession. The school social worker demonstrates a commitment to the values and ethical principles of the social work profession and applies them in the educational setting. The school social worker demonstrates a commitment to the values and ethical principles of the social work profession, applies them in the educational setting, and actively promotes them with other professionals.
Racial segregation and longevity among African Americans: an individual-level analysis.

OBJECTIVE To test the relationship between racial segregation and mortality using a multidimensional questionnaire-based measure of exposure to segregation. DATA SOURCES Data for this analysis come from the National Survey of Black Americans (NSBA), a national multistage probability sample of 2,107 African Americans (aged 18-101). The NSBA was conducted as a household survey. The NSBA was matched with the National Death Index (NDI). STUDY DESIGN Prospective cohort study, where Cox regression analysis was used to examine the effect of baseline variables on time to death over a 13-year period. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Respondents who were exposed to racial segregation were significantly less likely to survive the study period after controls for age, health status, and other predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION The results support previous studies linking segregation with health outcomes.
Effects of Protons and HZE Particles on Glutamate Transport in Astrocytes, Neurons and Mixed Cultures

Abstract Radiation-induced neurotoxicity is a well-characterized phenomenon. However, the underlying mechanism of this toxicity is poorly understood. In the central nervous system (CNS), excitotoxic mechanisms are implicated in many neurodegenerative disease processes. Pivotal to the excitotoxic pathway is dysfunction of glutamate signaling. We reported previously that exposure to low-LET γ radiation results in altered glutamate transport in neurons and astrocytes. In the present study, we sought to investigate the effects of various particle radiations of differing LET on glutamate transport as a measure of the neurochemical vulnerability of the CNS. NTera2-derived neurons and astrocytes isolated as pure and mixed cultures were exposed to doses of 10 cGy, 50 cGy or 2 Gy of 250 MeV protons, 290 MeV/nucleon carbon ions, or 1000 MeV/nucleon iron ions. Transporter function was assessed at 3 h, 2 days and 7days after exposure. Functional assessment of glutamate transport revealed that neurons and astrocytes respond in a reciprocal manner after exposure to particle radiation. Uptake activity in neurons increased after particle irradiation. This effect was evident as late as our last time (7 days) after exposure (P < 0.05). In astrocytes, transporter activity decreased after exposure. The decrease in uptake observed in astrocytes was evident 7 days after exposure to carbon and iron ions. Uptake in mixed cultures after exposure to all three forms of radiation revealed a muted interactive response suggestive of the individual responses of each cellular phenotype acting in opposition.
Pseudo‐achondrogenesis with fractures

Two siblings are described who had some features characteristic of thanatophoric dwarfism and others characteristic of achondrogenesis. Pathologic fractures are not usually associated with these two forms of lethal short limbed dwarfism but were found in both infants. It is possible that the siblings reported here represent a new nosological entity.