Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soluble Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-&kgr;B Ligand and Risk for Cardiovascular Disease

Background— Overexpression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-&kgr;B ligand (RANKL) is a prominent feature of vulnerable atherosclerotic lesions prone to rupture and was thought to contribute to the transition from a stable to an unstable plaque phenotype in both human and murine atherosclerosis because of its ability to promote matrix degradation, monocyte/macrophage chemotaxis, and vascular calcification. Methods and Results— The Bruneck Study is a prospective, population-based survey of men and women 40 to 79 years of age at the 1990 baseline examination. Levels of soluble RANKL and other variables were assessed in 909 subjects (1990). All cases of cardiovascular disease were carefully recorded between 1990 and 2005. During follow-up, cardiovascular disease (defined as ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack, myocardial infarction, and vascular death) manifested in 124 of the 909 subjects. Baseline serum level of RANKL emerged as a highly significant predictor of vascular risk (adjusted hazard ratio per 1-unit increase in soluble RANKL, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.16 to 1.40; P<0.001). Predictive significance was independent of that afforded by the classic vascular risk factors, C-reactive protein, osteoprotegerin concentration, and severity of carotid atherosclerosis. Findings were internally consistent and robust in a variety of sensitivity analyses. Notably, soluble RANKL was not associated with carotid or femoral artery atherosclerosis. Conclusions— Our study lends large-scale epidemiological support to a role for RANKL in cardiovascular disease. In the absence of a significant association between RANKL and atherosclerosis, the idea that RANKL promotes plaque destabilization and rupture is a highly appealing concept.
The impact of stochastic dopant and interconnect distributions on gigascale integration

Opportunities for GSI are governed by a hierarchy of physical limits whose five levels can be codified as: fundamental, material, device, circuit, and system. This distinctive methodology is extended here by elucidating the impact on GSI of random dopant atom placement in the channel region of a MOSFET and of interconnect distributions in random logic networks in context with projected advances in device and circuit techniques.
AphasiaBank: A Resource for Clinicians

Abstract AphasiaBank is a shared, multimedia database containing videos and transcriptions of ~180 aphasic individuals and 140 nonaphasic controls performing a uniform set of discourse tasks. The language in the videos is transcribed in Codes for the Human Analysis of Transcripts (CHAT) format and coded for analysis with Computerized Language ANalysis (CLAN) programs, which can perform a wide variety of language analyses. The database and the CLAN programs are freely available to aphasia researchers and clinicians for educational, clinical, and scholarly uses. This article describes the database, suggests some ways in which clinicians and clinician researchers might find these materials useful, and introduces a new language analysis program, EVAL, designed to streamline the transcription and coding processes, while still producing an extensive and useful language profile.
Resistance to Reform of Creole as a Medium of Instruction in Schools: Rebuilding Haiti's Educational System

This paper examines the educational and linguistic situation in Haiti by positioning it in the broader linguistic reality of a post-colonial society where language stratification prevails. A critical approach is used to explore the language situation in Haiti through a historical, political, and social context, focusing on linguistic discrimination and inequality, which are perpetuated through the language of instruction in schools. In looking ahead at re-creating Haiti’s educational system with a particular focus on language of instruction, Haiti’s current educational language policy is explored by examining the ways that the government and schools affect language use and language acquisition in Haiti. Particular emphasis is placed on the Bernard Reform of 1982, which placed Creole as a medium of instruction in the early grades, yet received much resistance from monolingual Creole speakers as well as the upper and middle classes. The author concludes with recommendations for future reform including implementing Creole as the medium of instruction in schools, teaching French as a foreign language, and empowering policymakers, teachers, parents and students through awareness of the current research on the importance of instruction in one’s native language.
Dento-Craniofacial Phenotypes and underlying Molecular Mechanisms in Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia (HED): a Review

The hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasias (HED) belong to a large and heterogenous nosological group of polymalfomative syndromes characterized by dystrophy or agenesis of ectodermal derivatives. Molecular etiologies of HED consist of mutations of the genes involved in the Ectodysplasin (EDA)-NF-κB pathway. Besides the classic ectodermal signs, craniofacial and bone manifestations are associated with the phenotypic spectrum of HED. The dental phenotype of HED consists of various degrees of oligodontia with other dental abnormalities, and these are important in the early diagnosis and identification of persons with HED. Phenotypic dental markers of heterozygous females for EDA gene mutation—moderate oligodontia, conical incisors, and delayed dental eruption—are important for individuals giving reliable genetic counseling. Some dental ageneses observed in HED are also encountered in non-syndromic oligodontia. These clinical similarities may reflect possible interactions between homeobox genes implicated in early steps of odontogenesis and the Ectodysplasin (EDA)-NF-κB pathway. Craniofacial dysmorphologies and bone structural anomalies are also associated with the phenotypic spectrum of persons with HED patients. The corresponding molecular mechanisms involve altered interactions between the EDA-NF-κB pathway and signaling molecules essential in skeletogenic neural crest cell differentiation, migration, and osteoclastic differentiation. Regarding oral treatment of persons with HED, implant-supported prostheses are used with a relatively high implant survival rate. Recently, groundbreaking experimental approaches with recombinant EDA or transgenesis of EDA-A1 were developed from the perspective of systemic treatment and appear very promising. All these clinical observations and molecular data allow for the specification of the craniofacial phenotypic spectrum in HED and provide a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of this syndrome.
Social influences on expressed willingness to pay: results of a deliberative monetary valuation study in Colombia

Deliberative monetary valuation (DMV) methods can support environmental decision making by enabling the exchange of arguments and information to produce more democratic outcomes. The product of a valuation may be an array of expressions of willingness to pay (WTP) by individuals or a collectively agreed monetary value. Concerns have been raised, however, as to whether this product is an outcome of thoughtful and independent decision-making or influenced by social pressures to conform. Our study examines this issue and addresses concerns about the use of DMV, based on a public deliberation of forest conservation in Colombia. We analyzed the impacts of social conformity on WTP under two different decision scenarios: individual and collective. The results suggest that the impacts of social conformity are greater when a collective decision is required. These findings indicate that tensions between the differing goals of DMV could undermine its democratic promise.
Lowering cholesterol concentrations and mortality: a quantitative review of primary prevention trials.

OBJECTIVE--To determine the effects of lowering cholesterol concentrations on total and cause specific mortality in randomised primary prevention trials. DESIGN--Qualitative (meta-analytic) evaluation of total mortality from coronary heart disease, cancer, and causes not related to illness in six primary prevention trials of cholesterol reduction (mean duration of treatment 4.8 years). PATIENTS--24,847 Male participants; mean age 47.5 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Total and cause specific mortalities. RESULTS--Follow up periods totalled 119,000 person years, during which 1147 deaths occurred. Mortality from coronary heart disease tended to be lower in men receiving interventions to reduce cholesterol concentrations compared with mortality in control subjects (p = 0.06), although total mortality was not affected by treatment. No consistent relation was found between reduction of cholesterol concentrations and mortality from cancer, but there was a significant increase in deaths not related to illness (deaths from accidents, suicide, or violence) in groups receiving treatment to lower cholesterol concentrations relative to controls (p = 0.004). When drug trials were analysed separately the treatment was found to reduce mortality from coronary heart disease significantly (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS--The association between reduction of cholesterol concentrations and deaths not related to illness warrants further investigation. Additionally, the failure of cholesterol lowering to affect overall survival justifies a more cautious appraisal of the probable benefits of reducing cholesterol concentrations in the general population.
[High-dose neuropeptide Y inhibits proliferation and promotes differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of neuropeptide Y (NPY) at different concentrations on the proliferation and differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs). METHODS The hADSCs were separated and incubated with NPY at a range of concentrations 10(-6)-10(-15) mol/L. MTT assay was used to detect cell proliferation. Following the treatment of complete medium, NPY and insulin separately, cell differentiation was observed by Oil red O staining. In addition, Western blotting was performed to exam the levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), cell death-inducing dFF45-like effector c (Cidec) and receptor interacting protein 140 (RIP140). RESULTS MTT assay revealed that 10(-11)-10(-15) mol/L NPY stimulated the proliferation of hADSCs, while high-dose NPY (10(-6)-10(-10) mol/L) inhibited the cell proliferation. NPY (10(-7), 10(-9), 10(-11) mol/L) induced the differentiation of hADSCs. The expression levels of related adipocyte markers (PPARγ, C/EBPα), mature white adipose tissue specific markers (Cidec, RIP140) increased at the presence of NPY (10(-7), 10(-9), 10(-11) mol/L). CONCLUSION Low-dose NPY could stimulate the proliferation of hADSCs, and high-dose NPY could inhibit the proliferation and promote the differentiation of hADSCs.
Induction of Apoptosis by a Nonnucleoside Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor

ABSTRACT Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (RT) by both nucleoside and nonnucleoside RT inhibitors profoundly inhibits virus replication. Nucleoside RT inhibitors are known to be toxic, but there is little information regarding the toxicities of nonnucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTI). We demonstrate that efavirenz (an NNRTI) induces caspase- and mitochondrion-dependent apoptosis of Jurkat T cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The clinical relevance of these observations is not yet clear.
Bleeding on probing as it relates to smoking status in patients enrolled in supportive periodontal therapy for at least 5 years.

AIM To relate the mean percentage of bleeding on probing (BOP) to smoking status in patients enrolled in supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective data on BOP from 8'741 SPT visits were related to smoking status among categories of both periodontal disease severity and progression (instability) in patients undergoing dental hygiene treatment at the Medi School of Dental Hygiene (MSDH), Bern, Switzerland 1985-2011. RESULTS A total of 445 patients were identified with 27.2% (n = 121) being smokers, 27.6% (n = 123) former smokers and 45.2% (n = 201) non-smokers. Mean BOP statistically significantly increased with disease severity (p = 0.0001) and periodontal instability (p = 0.0115) irrespective of the smoking status. Periodontally stable smokers (n = 30) categorized with advanced periodontal disease demonstrated a mean BOP of 16.2% compared to unstable smokers (n = 15) with a mean BOP of 22.4% (p = 0.0291). Assessments of BOP in relation to the percentage of sites with periodontal probing depths (PPD) ≥ 4 mm at patient-level yielded a statistically significantly decreased proportion of BOP in smokers compared to non-smokers and former smokers (p = 0.0137). CONCLUSIONS Irrespective of the smoking status, increased mean BOP in SPT patients relates to disease severity and periodontal instability while smokers demonstrate lower mean BOP concomitantly with an increased prevalence of residual PPDs.
The inner struggle of visiting ‘dark tourism’ sites: examining the relationship between perceived constraints and motivations

Numerous conflicting factors impact the tourism decision process especially as it relates to dark tourism, that is, tourism that focuses on mortality. This research examines the relationships among constraints and motivational factors that affect tourists’ decision to visit the Memorial of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre in China. Seven dimensions of constraints were revealed with the most important factor being an interest in other leisure activities. Of the three motivational factors discovered, the obligation the respondents feel to visit the site was discovered to be the most important. The major contribution of this research is its analysis of the relationship between motivations and constraints and the discovery that there are both positive and negative relationships between constraint and motivation factors. The most important finding may be that an increase in curiosity motivation may result in a decrease in disinterest constraints but an increase in the strength of the constraint of Chinese cultural perspectives on death and taboos. The findings suggest that the most effective marketing might not focus too much on the development of curiosity but on other motives, such as obligation and education.
Analysis of PMU response under voltage fluctuations in distribution grids

Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) are currently used for the monitoring of the electrical quantities mainly in the transmission networks. Nevertheless, they are expected to become an important element also in the monitoring of the dynamic and complex scenario of the future smart distribution grids. The IEEE standard C37.118. 1 defines the measurements, the indices and the methods to evaluate synchrophasors, frequency and ROCOF (Rate Of Change Of Frequency) under steady-state and dynamic conditions. The compliance to this standard ensures the interoperability between the PMUs provided from different vendors. The test signals defined in the standard C37.118. 1 mainly reflect operating conditions that can occur in the transmission networks. On the other hand, the electrical signals that can be measured in the distribution networks may be different and these different scenarios should be kept into account when a PMU is purposely engineered for the needs of the electric distribution grids. Several international standards describe the voltage characteristics of electricity supplied by distribution systems and consider some operating conditions that are not included in the synchrophasor standard. The aim of this paper is to highlight, through an appropriate test setup, the performance of the PMUs under one of such unexpected conditions, namely the voltage fluctuations that give rise to the disturbance commonly known as light flicker.
Mobilization of CD34+ cells in elderly patients (≥ 70 years) with multiple myeloma: influence of age, prior therapy, platelet count and mobilization regimen

Summary. The mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells was studied in 984 multiple myeloma patients, including 106 patients aged ≥ 70 years. Increasing age correlated inversely with CD34+ yield (P < 0·0001), but also with ≥ 12 months of prior standard chemotherapy (P = 0·0001), < 200 × 109/l platelets (P = 0·0006) premobilization and mobilization with growth factors only (P = 0·0001). After controlling for these age covariates, multivariate analysis identified ≤ 12 months standard therapy and platelet count ≥ 200 × 109/l premobilization as favourable variables (both P < 0·0001), while increasing patient age remained an unfavourable factor (P = 0·0009). With both favourable variables, 85% of elderly patients collected ≥ 4 × 106/kg CD34+ cells in a median of one collection. The effect of age was incremental with no age threshold showing acceleration in the decline of CD34+ yield. Chemotherapy significantly increased CD34+ yield compared with growth factors only. However, the subgroup of patients with > 12 months prior therapy and premobilization platelet count < 200 × 109/l mobilized as many CD34+ cells with granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) alone as with chemotherapy and haematopoietic growth factors. Increasing patient age had no effect on post‐transplant neutrophil recovery, but significantly delayed platelet recovery (≥ 50 × 109/l) if < 2 × 106/kg CD34+ cells were infused, but this effect was eliminated completely with infusion of ≥ 4 × 106/kg CD34+ cells. Increasing age adversely affected CD34+ yield even with limited premobilization therapy, indicating that early collection is important in elderly patients.
Efficacy of Compound Kushen Injection in Combination with Induction Chemotherapy for Treating Adult Patients Newly Diagnosed with Acute Leukemia

We assessed the clinical effectiveness and safety of CKI (compound Kushen injection) plus standard induction chemotherapy for treating adult acute leukemia (AL). We randomly assigned 332 patients with newly diagnosed AL to control (n = 165, receiving DA (daunorubicin and cytarabine) or hyper-CVAD (fractionated cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and dexamethasone)) or treatment (n = 167, receiving CKI and DA or hyper-CVAD) groups. Posttreatment, treatment group CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, natural killer (NK) cell, and immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, and IgM) levels were significantly higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05), and CD8+ levels were lower in the treatment group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Treatment group interleukin- (IL-) 4 and IL-10 levels were significantly higher compared to the control posttreatment (both p < 0.05) as were complete remission, overall response, and quality of life (QoL) improvement rates (p < 0.05). The control group had more incidences of grade 3/4 hematologic and nonhematologic toxicity (p < 0.05). Responses to induction chemotherapy, QoL improvement, and adverse events incidence between control group patients with acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia were not significantly different. CKI plus standard induction chemotherapy is effective and safe for treating AL, possibly by increasing immunologic function.
Adrenal Medullary Hyperplasia: Hyperplasia‐pheochromocytoma Sequence

We present a case of unilateral adrenal medullary hyperplasia in a 63‐year‐old woman with‐clinical signs and symptoms of pheochromocytoma unassociated with multiple endocrine neoplasia. The surgically removed adrenal gland revealed diffuse medullary hyperplasia with multiple micronodules measuring up to 2 mm. The micronodules were composed of enlarged chromaffin cells with atypia, histologically similar to those of pheochromocytoma, forming small solid alveolar patterns separated by a fibrovascular stroma. Removal of the hyperplastic adrenal gland resulted in disappearance of paroxysmal nocturnal hypertension and palpitation. These results suggest that diffuse and nodular medullary hyperplasia is the precursor of pheochromocytoma.
Cold chemistry with electronically excited Ca+ Coulomb crystals.

Rate constants for chemical reactions of laser-cooled Ca(+) ions and neutral polar molecules (CH(3)F, CH(2)F(2), or CH(3)Cl) have been measured at low collision energies (/k(B)=5-243 K). Low kinetic energy ensembles of (40)Ca(+) ions are prepared through Doppler laser cooling to form "Coulomb crystals" in which the ions form a latticelike arrangement in the trapping potential. The trapped ions react with translationally cold beams of polar molecules produced by a quadrupole guide velocity selector or with room-temperature gas admitted into the vacuum chamber. Imaging of the Ca(+) ion fluorescence allows the progress of the reaction to be monitored. Product ions are sympathetically cooled into the crystal structure and are unambiguously identified through resonance-excitation mass spectrometry using just two trapped ions. Variations of the laser-cooling parameters are shown to result in different steady-state populations of the electronic states of (40)Ca(+) involved in the laser-cooling cycle, and these are modeled by solving the optical Bloch equations for the eight-level system. Systematic variation of the steady-state populations over a series of reaction experiments allows the extraction of bimolecular rate constants for reactions of the ground state ((2)S(1/2)) and the combined excited states ((2)D(3/2) and (2)P(1/2)) of (40)Ca(+). These results are analyzed in the context of capture theories and ab initio electronic structure calculations of the reaction profiles. In each case, suppression of the ground state rate constant is explained by the presence of a submerged or real barrier on the ground state potential surface. Rate constants for the excited states are generally found to be in line with capture theories.
Awareness of palliative care among doctors of various departments in all four teaching medical colleges in a metropolitan city in Eastern India: A survey

Objective: To enquire about the level of awareness regarding various important aspects of palliative medicine among doctors of various departments in four Medical Colleges in Kolkata through a questionnaire. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was developed by few members of Indian Association of Palliative Care. It was distributed, to a convenience sample of doctors who worked at various departments in all four teaching hospitals in Kolkata. The distribution and collection of questionnaires was carried out within four months. Results: The results suggested that 85% of the doctors felt that cancer was the commonest reason for the palliative care teams to be involved. Seventy four percent of the doctors mentioned that pain control was their prime job; 53% said that they are enjoying their encounter with palliative care, so far; 77% of the doctors thought breaking bad news is necessary in further decision making process; only 22% of the doctors reported the WHO ladder of pain control sequentially, 35% of the doctors believed other forms of therapies are useful in relieving pain, 35% of the doctors thought that they gave enough importance and time for pain control; 77% said that they had heard about a hospice, among them still 61% of the doctors thought that the patients should spend last days of their life at home. Thinking of the future, 92% of the doctors think that more and more people will need palliative care in the coming days. Conclusion: Amongst the doctors of various departments, there is a lack of training and awareness in palliative care. Almost all the doctors are interested and they are willing to have more training in pain control, breaking bad news, communication skills and terminal care.