Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronic Disease Score as a Predictor of Hospitalization

Background. The Chronic Disease Score is a risk-adjustment metric based on age, gender, and history of dispensed drugs. We compared four versions of the score for their ability to predict hospitalization among members of eight health maintenance organizations nationwide. Methods. The study included 29,247 women age 45 years and older. Logistic regression models were constructed using rank quintile and rank decile indicators for each of four scores as predictors of hospitalization during the year after 1 October 1995. Discrimination and model fit were compared using several model properties including the C statistic and the odds ratio comparing highest with lowest quantiles. Results. All Chronic Disease Score versions performed similarly, with the version that predicts total healthcare cost, proposed by Clark et al. (Med Care 1995;33:783–795), performing somewhat better than the other three. The overall risk of hospitalization was 12%. Individuals with higher quantile ranks had a higher risk of hospitalization. Among the Chronic Disease Score versions, the risk of hospitalization ranged from 4% for the lowest decile to 27–29% for the highest decile. Odds ratios comparing the highest with the lowest deciles ranged from 8.9 to 10.2. Conclusions. The Chronic Disease Score predicts hospitalization and therefore may be a useful indicator of baseline comorbidity for control of confounding.
Glucocorticoid receptors are down‐regulated in inflamed colonic mucosa but not in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Growing evidence indicates that the immune system and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal system are linked by several mechanisms, for example intracellular glucocorticoid receptors (hGR). Glucocorticoids are the standard treatment of acute attacks of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Binding of glucocorticoids to hGR down‐regulates the transcription of inflammatory genes that can propagate IBD.
Recent Advances on Deep Learning based Knowledge Tracing

Knowledge tracing (KT) is the task of using students' historical learning interaction data to model their knowledge mastery over time so as to make predictions on their future interaction performance. Recently, remarkable progress has been made of using various deep learning techniques to solve the KT problem. However, the success behind deep learning based knowledge tracing (DLKT) approaches is still left somewhat unknown and proper measurement and analysis of these DLKT approaches remain a challenge. In this talk, we will comprehensively review recent developments of applying state-of-the-art deep learning approaches in KT problems, with a focus on those real-world educational data. Beyond introducing the recent advances of various DLKT models, we will discuss how to guarantee valid comparisons across DLKT methods via thorough evaluations on several publicly available datasets. More specifically, we will talk about (1) KT related psychometric theories; (2) the general DLKT modeling framework that covers recently developed DLKT approaches from different categories; (3) the general DLKT benchmark that allows existing approaches comparable on public KT datasets; (4) the broad application of algorithmic assessment and personalized feedback. Participants will learn about recent trends and emerging challenges in this topic, representative tools and learning resources to obtain ready-to-use models, and how related models and techniques benefit real-world KT applications.
Brief report: recognition of acute myocarditis masquerading as acute myocardial infarction.

Myocarditis occasionally masquerades as acute myocardial infarction because patients may present with severe chest pain, electrocardiographic changes, and elevated serum levels of creatine kinase. In patients with normal coronary arteries who presumably died of acute myocardial infarction, myocarditis has been reported as an incidental abnormality at autopsy1–4. Although there have been anecdotal clinical reports of myocarditis mimicking myocardial infarction in patients with normal coronary arteries, this association has almost always relied on a demonstration of diffuse electrocardiographic abnormalities or a preceding viral illness in young patients with few coronary risk factors5–7. In most cases no definitive .
Jaagsiekte Sheep Retrovirus Is Necessary and Sufficient To Induce a Contagious Lung Cancer in Sheep

ABSTRACT Sheep pulmonary adenomatosis (SPA) is a contagious and experimentally transmissible lung cancer of sheep resembling human bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma. A type D retrovirus, known as jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV), has been associated with the etiology of SPA, but its exact role in the induction of the tumor has not been clear due to the lack of (i) a tissue culture system for the propagation of JSRV and (ii) an infectious JSRV molecular clone. To investigate the role of JSRV in the etiology of SPA, we isolated a full-length JSRV proviral clone, pJSRV21, from a tumor genomic DNA library derived from a natural case of SPA. pJSRV21 was completely sequenced and showed open reading frames in agreement with those deduced for the original South African strain of JSRV. In vivo transfection of three newborn lambs by intratracheal inoculation with pJSRV21 DNA complexed with cationic lipids showed that pJSRV21 is an infectious molecular clone. Viral DNA was detected in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of the transfected animals by a highly sensitive JSRV-U3 heminested PCR at various time points ranging from 2 weeks to 6 months posttransfection. In addition, proviral DNA was detected in the PBMCs, lungs, and mediastinal lymph nodes of two lambs sacrificed 9 months posttransfection, but no macroscopic or histological SPA lesion was induced. We prepared JSRV particles by transient transfection of 293T cells with a JSRV construct (pCMV2JS21) in which the upstream U3 was replaced with the cytomegalovirus early promoter. Four newborn lambs were inoculated with JSRV21 particles produced in this manner, and two of them showed the classical signs of SPA 4 months postinfection. The resulting tumors were positive for JSRV DNA and protein. Thus, JSRV21 is an infectious and pathogenic molecular clone and is necessary and sufficient to induce sheep pulmonary adenomatosis.
The experiences and morale of Metropolitan Special Constables. an analysis of the factors associated with volunteer officer job motivation and retention

Special constables have a long established history within British policing. Today, they hold full police powers and are an important part of the police workforce across all areas in England and Wales. The Metropolitan Special Constabulary (MSC) is the largest in the country. One in four special constables nationally belong to the MSC and in 2015 they provided London with over half a million policing hours. Since 2012, the number of special constables in the MSC has fallen by 40 per cent. Despite their longevity, special constabularies are under researched and the factors associated with volunteer officer motivation and retention are pooly understood. In spite of the high levels of attrition, successive governments have promoted the benefits of special constabularies in terms of increasing legitimacy, fostering responsibilisation, and reducing costs, and encouraged forces to run regular recruitment campaigns to boost the size and capability of their special constabularies. This study uses qualitative interviewing to explore the experiences and motivations of current and former MSC officers and to understand the factors that impact upon retention. The thesis uses Clary et al.‘s (1998) functional multifactor model of volunteer motivation, widely accepted in the volunteer field, as a lens through which to analyse the results. The study highlights varying degrees of satisfaction with being a special constable and suggests that training, deployment, integration and recognition are all important factors in the morale of special constables and their commitment to further service. The study suggests that functional motivational principles are not being applied to the special constabulary. The thesis concludes by making a number of recommendations to the Metropolitan Police Service to assist in improving the morale and retention of MSC officers.
Involvement of CD4+ T lymphocytes in induction of severe destructive Lyme arthritis in inbred LSH hamsters

We determined that Borrelia burgdorferi-specific CD4+ T lymphocytes are responsible for the development of severe destructive Lyme arthritis and affect the production of borreliacidal antibody. Severe destructive Lyme arthritis was readily evoked in immunocompetent inbred LSH hamsters vaccinated with a whole-cell preparation of Formalin-inactivated B. burgdorferi sensu stricto isolate C-1-11 in adjuvant when challenged with B. burgdorferi sensu stricto isolate 297. When vaccinated hamsters were depleted of CD4+ T lymphocytes by the administration of monoclonal antibody GK1.5 and challenged, they failed to develop severe destructive arthritis. Similarly, nonvaccinated hamsters with or without the depletion of CD4+ T lymphocytes failed to develop severe destructive arthritis. In addition, depleting CD4+ T lymphocytes impaired the development of borreliacidal antibody in vaccinated and nonvaccinated hamsters challenged with the Lyme borreliosis spirochete. These findings show that CD4+ T lymphocytes are important for the recognition of arthritogenic and protective antigens of B. burgdorferi sensu lato isolates. Additional studies are needed to define the mechanisms responsible for the development of severe destructive Lyme arthritis and the production of borreliacidal antibody.
Predictive value of clinical and electrophysiological variables in patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia.

OBJECTIVE Risk stratification of patients with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) and chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC). METHODS Seventy eight patients with CCC and NSVT were consecutively and prospectively studied. All patients underwent to 24-hour Holter monitoring, radioisotopic ventriculography, left ventricular angiography, and electrophysiologic study. With programmed ventricular stimulation. RESULTS Sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (SMVT) was induced in 25 patients (32%), NSVT in 20 (25.6%) and ventricular fibrillation in 4 (5.1%). In 29 patients (37.2%) no arrhythmia was inducible. During a 55. 7-month-follow-up, 22 (28.2%) patients died, 16 due to sudden death, 2 due to nonsudden cardiac death and 4 due to noncardiac death. Logistic regression analysis showed that induction was the independent and main variable that predicted the occurrence of subsequent events and cardiac death (probability of 2.56 and 2.17, respectively). The Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test showed that survival probability was significantly lower in the inducible group than in the noninducible group. The percentage of patients free of events was significantly higher in the noninducible group. CONCLUSION Induction of SMVT during programmed ventricular stimulation was a predictor of arrhythmia occurrence cardiac death and general mortality in patients with CCC and NSVT.
A Multi-Method Investigation of the Association Between Emotional Clarity and Empathy

Higher emotional clarity, the extent to which people unambiguously identify, label, and describe their own emotions, is related to a host of positive intrapersonal factors but its relation to interpersonal factors is unexplored. We hypothesized that emotional clarity would be related to cognitive empathy (i.e., perceiving others’ emotions) and to accurately understanding others’ negative affect (NA), but not positive affect (PA), in the context of a stressful situation. After completing self-reports of trait emotional clarity and cognitive and affective empathy (i.e., one’s emotional reaction to others), participants (N = 94 undergraduate students; i.e., perceivers) viewed a series of video clips of adults (i.e., targets) completing a stressful laboratory task in a previous research study. Before and after the stress task, targets reported their state NA and PA. While viewing the recordings, perceivers rated how they thought the targets were feeling at the corresponding time points. Correspondence between perceivers’ and targets’ affect ratings were used as indices of the outcome variable, performance-based cognitive empathy. As expected, self-reported emotional clarity was related to the self-reported cognitive, but not affective, empathy. Moreover, perceivers’ emotional clarity was related to higher cognitive empathy for NA not PA after the stressful task. Our findings provide preliminary support for the importance of emotional clarity in the ability to accurately understand others’ affective experiences, which has important interpersonal implications.
Nutrition Transition and Changing Food Preferences in India

We present empirical evidence on how changes in food preferences have contributed to nutrition transition, where the dietary pattern of households shifts away from traditional staples. Using household‐level time series cross‐section survey data for India, we estimate time varying demand elasticities, revealing evidence of the declining importance of cereals in Indian household diets. The estimates show that Indian demand for cereals has become more income inelastic and price elastic. We also find that cereals are a substitute rather than a complement to animal products in household diets. Since changes in elasticities can only be attributed to variation in utility parameters, this indicates that cereals are losing favour with Indian households. These findings have implications for Indian food policy design and implementation.
Allergen-immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide conjugate: a novel allergoid for immunotherapy

Purpose of reviewTo summarize the data of both preclinical studies and initial clinical trials of a novel allergoid for allergen specific immunotherapy. This allergoid consists of allergen covalently coupled to immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide DNA sequences. Recent findingsRecently, immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide sequences, also called unmethylated cytosin-guanine dinucleotide motifs, have been discovered that act as strong T helper 1 response inducing adjuvants in mice. Although mixing allergens with immunostimulatory DNA sequences induces T helper 1 responses in T helper 2 biased mice, the allergens in such mixes could still cause anaphylactic reactions when used in humans which is one of the reasons why immunotherapy has gradually been falling out of favor. Therefore, we made allergen-immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide conjugates and investigated their immunogenicity and allergenicity in animal models of allergy. These conjugates were highly immunogenic for inducing T helper 1-like antiallergen responses and reversed T helper 2 responses and symptoms of asthma in mouse models. They were also less allergenic, as shown by the reaction with human immunoglobulin E antibodies and by histamine release from basophils of allergic patients. Preliminary phase I and II trials in ragweed allergic patients showed that allergen-immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide conjugates are well tolerated, less allergenic and induce immunoglobulin G antiallergen antibodies more rapidly than allergen extracts without significantly increasing the immunoglobulin E titer. SummaryAllergen-immunostimulatory DNA conjugates induce T helper 1 and down regulate preexisting T helper 2 anti-allergen responses in mice. Initial phase I and II trials in ragweed allergic patients showed that ragweed allergen-DNA conjugates are well tolerated and induce a rapid immunoglobulin G but not E response. The data show that allergen-DNA conjugates are a novel type of allergoid that have great potential for a safe and potent form of allergen specific immunotherapy.
Direct Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Degenerative Conditions: Early Complication Profile

Study Design/Setting A community hospital prospective, nonrandomized chart review. March 2004 to December 2006, 58 patients were treated. Adverse events: new complaints and increasing length of stay limit early mobilization and require consultation with other physicians or reoperation. These formed the focus of the study. Objective Assess patient demographics and adverse events related to direct lateral lumbar approach. Summary of Background Data Clinicians advocate anterior column support for lumbar conditions. Minimally invasive stabilization of lumbar spine via direct lateral approach gained popularity owing to perceived decrease in patient morbidity. Methods Mild or major adverse events during hospital stay or within 6 weeks of discharge were considered early complications and designated as medical, approach, or implant related. A historical cohort of open posterior spinal fusion patients was used for comparison. Results Forty-three female and 15 male patients with a mean age of 61 years formed the study group. Surgery performed included 38 single level, 19 2-level, and 1 3-level case. Adverse events occurred in 13 patients (22.4%); 8 events were approach, 3 medical, and 1 implant bone interface related. Major complications occurred in 5 patients (8.6%). Two patients (3.4%) with L4 nerve injury showed residual motor effects, at 1 year postoperatively. Significant differences were noted between single and 2-level cases; Estimated blood loss (EBL) and operative time. Open posterior fusion patients experienced greater operative time and increased EBL compared with minimally invasive cases. Conclusions Major adverse events approximated 8.6% with approach-related complaints of nerve irritation nearing 3.4%. Mild complications occurred in 13.7% of patients. Meralgia paresthetica was a primary approach-related complaint. Most complaints significantly reduced by first postoperative visit. One patient (1.7%) had symptoms lasting over a year that did not adversely affect function. Significant finding related to exposure, that is, 1-versus 2-level cases. Overall morbidity reduction noted by EBL is considerably less compared with the historical cohort. Direct lateral lumbar interbody fusion has proven to be of value.
Genome of an Endosymbiont Coupling N2 Fixation to Cellulolysis Within Protist Cells in Termite Gut

Termites harbor diverse symbiotic gut microorganisms, the majority of which are as yet uncultivable and their interrelationships unclear. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of the uncultured Bacteroidales endosymbiont of the cellulolytic protist Pseudotrichonympha grassii, which accounts for 70% of the bacterial cells in the gut of the termite Coptotermes formosanus. Functional annotation of the chromosome (1,114,206 base pairs) unveiled its ability to fix dinitrogen and recycle putative host nitrogen wastes for biosynthesis of diverse amino acids and cofactors, and import glucose and xylose as energy and carbon sources. Thus, nitrogen fixation and cellulolysis are coupled within the protist's cells. This highly evolved symbiotic system probably underlies the ability of the worldwide pest termites Coptotermes to use wood as their sole food.
Genomic Profiling of Iron-Responsive Genes in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium by High-Throughput Screening of a Random Promoter Library

ABSTRACT The importance of iron to bacteria is shown by the presence of numerous iron-scavenging and transport systems and by many genes whose expression is tightly regulated by iron availability. We have taken a global approach to gene expression analysis of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in response to iron by combining efficient, high-throughput methods with sensitive, luminescent reporting of gene expression using a random promoter library. Real-time expression profiles of the library were generated under low- and high-iron conditions to identify iron-regulated promoters, including a number of previously identified genes. Our results indicate that approximately 7% of the genome may be regulated directly or indirectly by iron. Further analysis of these clones using a Fur titration assay revealed three separate classes of genes; two of these classes consist of Fur-regulated genes. A third class was Fur independent and included both negatively and positively iron-responsive genes. These may reflect new iron-dependent regulons. Iron-responsive genes included iron transporters, iron storage and mobility proteins, iron-containing proteins (redox proteins, oxidoreductases, and cytochromes), transcriptional regulators, and the energy transducer tonB. By identifying a wide variety of iron-responsive genes, we extend our understanding of the global effect of iron availability on gene expression in the bacterial cell.
Transforming Growth Factor- (cid:1) 1 (TGF- (cid:1) 1 ) in Plasma Is Associated With Preeclampsia Risk in Peruvian Women With Systemic Inflammation

Background: In a case-control study of 100 preeclamptics and 100 controls, we assessed plasma transforming growth factor- (cid:1) 1 (TGF- (cid:1) 1 ) concentrations in relation to preeclampsia risk among Peruvian women with and without systemic inﬂammation. Methods: Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% conﬁdence intervals (CIs). Results: The OR of preeclampsia increased across quartiles of TGF- (cid:1) 1 concentrations. Women with elevated TGF- (cid:1) 1 and a proinﬂammatory proﬁle experienced the highest risk of preeclampsia (OR (cid:1) 15.4, 95% CI 4.7– 50.4). Conclusions: Our results conﬁrm an association between TGF- (cid:1) 1 and risk of preeclampsia and extend the literature by indicating a strong association in women with systemic inﬂammation. Am J Hypertens 2004;17: 334–338 © 2004 American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd.
IL-17 is increased in asthmatic airways and induces human bronchial fibroblasts to produce cytokines.

BACKGROUND IL-17 is a cytokine that has been reported to be produced by T lymphocytes. In vitro, IL-17 activates fibro-blasts and macrophages for the secretion of GM-CSF, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6. A number of these cytokines are involved in the airway remodeling that is observed within the lungs of asthmatic individuals. OBJECTIVE In this study, we investigated the expression of IL-17 in sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage specimens obtained from asthmatic subjects and from nonasthmatic control subjects. METHODS IL-17 was detected through use of immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization, and Western blot. Bronchial fibroblasts were stimulated with IL-17, and cytokine production and chemokine production were detected through use of ELISA and RT-PCR. RESULTS Using immunocytochemistry, we demonstrated that the numbers of cells positive for IL-17 are significantly increased in sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of subjects with asthma in comparison with control subjects (P <.001 and P <.005, respectively). We demonstrated that in addition to T cells, eosinophils in sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids expressed IL-17. Peripheral blood eosinophils were also positive for IL-17, and the level of IL-17 in eosinophils purified from peripheral blood was significantly higher in subjects with asthma than in controls (P <.01). To further investigate the mechanism of action of IL-17 in vivo, we examined the effect of this cytokine on fibroblasts isolated from bronchial biopsies of asthmatic and nonasthmatic subjects. IL-17 did enhance the production of pro-fibrotic cytokines (IL-6 and IL-11) by fibroblasts, and this was inhibited by dexamethasone. Similarly, IL-17 increased the level of other fibroblast-derived inflammatory mediators, such as the alpha-chemokines, IL-8, and growth-related oncogene-alpha. CONCLUSION Our results, which demonstrate for the first time that eosinophils are a potential source of IL-17 within asthmatic airways, suggest that IL-17 might have the potential to amplify inflammatory responses through the release of proinflammatory mediators such as alpha-chemokines.