Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing Effort: Differentiating Performance and Symptom Validity

The current study aimed to clarify the relationship among the constructs involved in neuropsychological assessment, including cognitive performance, symptom self-report, performance validity, and symptom validity. Participants consisted of 120 consecutively evaluated individuals from a veteran’s hospital with mixed referral sources. Measures included the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition Full Scale IQ (WAIS-IV FSIQ), California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT-II), Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B), Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM), Medical Symptom Validity Test (MSVT), WAIS-IV Reliable Digit Span (RDS), Post-traumatic Check List-Military Version (PCL-M), MMPI-2 F scale, MMPI-2 Symptom Validity Scale (FBS), MMPI-2 Response Bias Scale (RBS), and the Postconcussive Symptom Questionnaire (PCSQ). Six different models were tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to determine the factor model describing the relationships between cognitive performance, symptom self-report, performance validity, and symptom validity. The strongest and most parsimonious model was a three-factor model in which cognitive performance, performance validity, and self-reported symptoms (including both standard and symptom validity measures) were separate factors. The findings suggest failure in one validity domain does not necessarily invalidate the other domain. Thus, performance validity and symptom validity should be evaluated separately.
Localization of salmonellae within the intestinal tract of chickens.

Shed pattern was studied in 4-week-old straight-run New Hampshire chickens inoculated orally with 108 salmonellae of two species, S. typhimurium and S. infantis. Birds were sampled by cloacal swab at 0, 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 13 and 17 days postinoculation. Also, on each sample day material from 12 different areas of the intestinal tract of at least five birds was cultured for salmonellae. Results from 252 birds indicate that cecal contents provide the best evidence of salmonellae in the intestinal tract. On the basis of recovery from one or more portions of the intestinal tract, 182 of the 222 birds inoculated and subsequently necropsied were positive. Of these, 72 (39.6%) were positive by cloacal swab taken just prior to necropsy, 85 (46.7%) by cecal tonsil culture, 106 (58.2%) by cloacalcontents culture, and 155 (85.2%) by cecal-contents culture. There were no significant differences in localization between the two species of Salmonella. Repeated cloacal swabs indicated that birds positive for salmonellae on both the first and second days postinoculation remained positive longer than birds positive on only one of those days. Birds negative by cloacal swab on those first two days tended to remain negative during the entire experiment.
Identification of a Human Lactoferrin-Binding Protein in Gardnerella vaginalis

ABSTRACT Previous studies have shown that Gardnerella vaginaliscan utilize iron-loaded human lactoferrin as a sole source of iron. In this study, G. vaginalis cells were shown to bind digoxigenin (DIG)-labeled human lactoferrin in a dot blot assay. Using the DIG-labeled human lactoferrin, a 120-kDa human lactoferrin-binding protein was detected by Western blot analysis of G. vaginalis proteins. The lactoferrin-binding activity of this protein was found to be heat stable. Competition studies indicated that this binding activity was specific for human lactoferrin. Treatment ofG. vaginalis cells with proteases suggested that this protein was surface exposed. An increase in lactoferrin binding by the 120-kDa protein was observed in G. vaginalis cells grown under iron-restrictive conditions, suggesting that this activity may be iron regulated.
Ondas de Frío registradas en invierno de 2010: Necesidad de una perspectiva regional integrada para la Climatología latinoamericana

Se presentan los alcances y caracteristicas de las ondas de frio que afectaron al continente sudamericano los meses de julio y agosto de 2010 causando numerosas perdidas de vida, danos economicos e interrupciones en las comunicaciones y abastecimiento de energia. Se analizan las causas de macroescala que se conjugaron para la ocurrencia de estos eventos, identificando las condiciones presentadas por el Indice de Oscilacion del Sur, asociado a la ocurrencia del Fenomeno La Nina; la Oscilacion Decadal del Pacifico, que explica el predominio de las aguas frias en la superficie del mar y la Oscilacion Antartica o Modo Sur Anular, que favorece la presencia anomala de masas de aire frio sobre el continente. La trayectoria de las masas de aire complementan el analisis espacial de situaciones geograficas que requieren crecientemente visiones integradas entre los paises de la region.
Capacité du Pulsioflexᵀᴹ à évaluer les variations de débit cardiaque : une étude prospective multicentrique

Introduction : L’optimisation hemodynamique precoce a prouve ses benefices sur la morbi-mortalite peri-operatoire et les durees de sejour hospitalier. La prise en charge des patients a haut-risque chirurgical et de reanimation est basee sur l’amelioration de l’oxygenation tissulaire, en optimisant son principal determinant, le debit cardiaque. Meme si les benefices sont connus des praticiens, la plupart ne monitorent pas au quotidien le debit cardiaque, et se contentent de la pression arterielle ou d’indices dynamiques pour guider le remplissage vasculaire. Un des principaux arguments avances est l’invasivite de la methode de reference. Le Pulsioflexᵀᴹ est un nouvel outil de monitorage du debit cardiaque, semi-invasif. Nous avons etudie sa capacite a evaluer les variations de debit cardiaque apres intervention therapeutique (augmentation ou diminution de noradrenaline, remplissage vasculaire) chez des patients sous vasopresseurs. La reference etait la mesure de debit cardiaque par echographie trans-thoracique. Materiel et methodes : Cette etude observationnelle, prospective et bicentrique, a ete menee entre juin 2012 et octobre 2014 dans les services de reanimation digestive et de dechocage du CHU de Bordeaux. Les patients inclus etaient repartis en trois groupes selon l’intervention therapeutique realisee : remplissage vasculaire, augmentation ou diminution de noradrenaline. Les valeurs absolues et les variations de debit cardiaque mesurees par Pulsioflexᵀᴹ etaient comparees a celles obtenues par echocardiographie transthoracique avant et apres manoeuvre therapeutique. Resultats : 60 patients ont ete inclus. Le pourcentage d’erreur global sur les valeurs absolues de debit cardiaque etait de 65% avant et 59 % apres intervention therapeutique. Le taux de concordance sur les variations de debit cardiaque etait de 79% (en excluant les variations non significatives). L’analyse en sous-groupe revelait un taux de concordance de 93% pour le groupe remplissage mais avec une analyse en polar plot qui montrait un biais angulaire de 27 ±20° et des limites d’agrement radiales de ±70°. Ce biais sur la mesure des valeurs absolues et des variations de debit etait correle a la baisse des resistances vasculaires systemiques. Conclusion : Le dispositif Pulsioflexᵀᴹ n’est pas capable de mesurer les variations de debit cardiaque apres modification de doses de noradrenaline chez les patients sous vasopresseurs, mais semble interessant pour estimer les variations de debit cardiaque apres remplissage vasculaire.
Human Prion Protein with Valine 129 Prevents Expression of Variant CJD Phenotype

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) is a unique and highly distinctive clinicopathological and molecular phenotype of human prion disease associated with infection with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)–like prions. Here, we found that generation of this phenotype in transgenic mice required expression of human prion protein (PrP) with methionine 129. Expression of human PrP with valine 129 resulted in a distinct phenotype and, remarkably, persistence of a barrier to transmission of BSE-derived prions on subpassage. Polymorphic residue 129 of human PrP dictated propagation of distinct prion strains after BSE prion infection. Thus, primary and secondary human infection with BSE-derived prions may result in sporadic CJD-like or novel phenotypes in addition to vCJD, depending on the genotype of the prion source and the recipient.
Met Receptors Induce Sam68-dependent Cell Migration by Activation of Alternate Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase Family Members*

The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/Met receptor signaling pathway is deregulated in diverse human malignancies and plays a central role in oncogenesis, tumor progression, and invasive cancer growth. Similarly, altered expression and splicing (i.e. inclusion of variant exon 5, “v5”) of the cell adhesion marker, CD44, is associated with advanced cancer phenotypes. We sought to further understand how HGF regulates CD44v5 expression. Immortalized nontumorigenic keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells abundantly express both Met receptors and CD44v5 transmembrane glycoproteins. HGF stimulated CD44v5 protein expression and HaCaT cell migration; these events required activation of the ERK1/2 MAPK module and Sam68, a protein involved in RNA processing, splicing, and v5 inclusion. Similar to HaCaT cells, highly migratory MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells also required Sam68 expression for HGF-induced migration. However, MDA-MB-231 cell migration occurred independently of ERK1/2 and CD44v5 expression and instead required ERK5 signaling to Sam68. Phospho-mutant, but not WT-Sam68, blocked HGF-induced cell migration in both cell types; MDA-MB-435 cells behaved similarly. These results suggest that Sam68 acts as a convergence point for ERK signaling to cell migration; blockade of phospho-Sam68 may provide a new avenue for therapeutic inhibition of metastatic cancers.
Protein digestibility-corrected amino acid scores and digestible indispensable amino acid scores differentially describe protein quality in growing male rats.

BACKGROUND The FAO has recommended replacing the protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) with the digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS). OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to compare aspects underlying the calculation of the DIAAS and PDCAAS, including 1) fecal digestibility vs. ileal digestibility, 2) using a single nitrogen digestibility value for all amino acids, and 3) the effect of truncation. Truncated PDCAAS and untruncated DIAAS values calculated as formally defined were also compared and DIAAS data presented for 14 dietary protein sources. METHODS Semisynthetic wheat starch-based diets were formulated to contain the test protein (as consumed by humans) source (whey- and soy-protein isolates, milk-, whey-, rice- and pea- protein concentrates, cooked kidney beans, roasted peanuts, cooked peas, corn-based breakfast cereal, cooked rice, cooked rolled oats, and wheat bran) as the sole nitrogen source and with an indigestible marker (titanium dioxide). Growing male rats (∼250 g bodyweight) were given a basal casein-based diet from day 1 to day 7 and then allocated (n = 6) to the test diets for day 8 to day 14 before ileal digesta were collected after the rats were killed. Total feces were collected from day 11 to day 14. RESULTS True fecal nitrogen digestibility was different (P < 0.05; 10% difference on average) from true ileal nitrogen digestibility for 11 of the 14 protein sources. True ileal nitrogen digestibility was different (P < 0.05) from true ileal amino acid digestibility for almost half of the indispensable and conditionally indispensable amino acids (differences ranged from 0.9% to 400%). DIAAS values ranged from 0.01 for a corn-based cereal to 1.18 for milk protein concentrate. CONCLUSION Untruncated PDCAAS values were generally higher than a DIAAS values, especially for the poorer quality proteins; therefore, the reported differences in the scores are of potential practical importance for populations in which dietary protein intake may be marginal.
Differential synaptic localization of two major y-aminobutyric acid type A receptor a subunits on hippocampal pyramidal cells

Hippocampal pyramidal cells, receiving domain specific GABAergic inputs, express up to 10 different subunits of the y-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor, but only 3 different subunits are needed to form a functional pentameric channel. We have tested the hypothesis that some subunits are selectively located at subsets of GABAergic synapses. The al subunit has been found in most GABAergic synapses on all postsynaptic domains of pyramidal cells. In contrast, the a2 subunit was located only in a subset of synapses on the somata and dendrites, but in most synapses on axon initial segments innervated by axo-axonic cells. The results demonstrate that molecular specialization in the composition of postsynaptic GABAA receptor subunits parallels GABAergic cell specialization in targeting synapses to a specific domain of postsynaptic cortical neurons.
Diabetes, glucose, insulin, and heart rate variability: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.

OBJECTIVE To describe the progression of autonomic impairment among individuals with diabetes and pre-diabetic metabolic impairments. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We investigated the consequence of diabetes and pre-diabetic metabolic impairments on the 9-year change in heart rate variability (HRV) in a population-based cohort of 6,245 individuals aged 45-64 years at baseline and cross-sectional associations among 9,940 individuals. RESULTS Diabetic subjects had a more rapid temporal decrease in HRV conditional on baseline HRV than nondiabetic subjects. Adjusted mean annual changes (95% CI) (ms/year) in the SD of all normal-to-normal R-R intervals were -0.65 (-0.69 to -0.61) for those with normal fasting glucose vs. -0.95 (-1.09 to -0.81) for diabetic subjects, in root mean square of successive differences in normal-to-normal R-R intervals -0.35 (-0.39 to -0.30) vs. -0.66 (-0.82 to -0.51), and in R-R interval 6.70 (6.37-7.04) vs. 3.89 (2.72-5.05). While we found cross-sectional associations between decreased HRV and diabetes and nondiabetic hyperinsulinemia and a weak inverse association with fasting glucose, neither impaired fasting glucose nor nondiabetic hyperinsulimenia was associated with a measurably more rapid decline in HRV than normal. CONCLUSIONS Cardiac autonomic impairment appears to be present at early stages of diabetic metabolic impairment, and progressive worsening of autonomic cardiac function over 9 years was observed in diabetic subjects. The degree to which pre-diabetic metabolic impairments in insulin and glucose metabolism contribute to decreases in cardiac autonomic function remains to be determined.
Metabolic outcomes in a randomized trial of nucleoside, nonnucleoside and protease inhibitor-sparing regimens for initial HIV treatment

Background:The metabolic effects of initial therapy for HIV-1 infection are important determinants of regimen selection. Methods:Open-label study in 753 subjects randomized equally to efavirenz or lopinavir/ritonavir(r) plus two nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) vs. the NRTI-sparing regimen of lopinavir/r plus efavirenz. Zidovudine, stavudine, or tenofovir with lamivudine was selected prior to randomization. Metabolic outcomes through 96 weeks were lipoatrophy, defined as at least 20% loss in extremity fat, and fasting serum lipids. Results:Lipoatrophy by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at week 96 occurred in 32% [95% confidence interval (CI) 25–39%] of subjects in the efavirenz plus two NRTIs arm, 17% (95% CI 12–24) in the lopinavir/r plus two NRTIs arm, and 9% (95% CI 5–14) in the NRTI-sparing arm (P ≤ 0.023 for all comparisons). Varying the definition of lipoatrophy (≥10 to ≥40% fat loss) and correction for baseline risk factors did not affect the significant difference in lipoatrophy between the NRTI-containing regimens. Lipoatrophy was most frequent with stavudine-containing regimens and least frequent with tenofovir-containing regimens (P < 0.001), which were not significantly different from the NRTI-sparing regimen. Total cholesterol increases at week 96 were greatest in the NRTI-sparing arm (median +57 mg/dl) compared with the other two arms (+32–33 mg/dl; P < 0.001). Use of lipid-lowering agents was more common (25 vs. 11–13%) in the NRTI-sparing arm. Conclusion:Lipoatrophy was more frequent with efavirenz than lopinavir/r when combined with stavudine or zidovudine, and less frequent when either drug was combined with tenofovir. Lipoatrophy was least frequent with the NRTI-sparing regimen, but this benefit was offset by greater cholesterol elevations and the need for lipid-lowering agents.
ASSESSMENT OF TWO APPROXIMATION METHODS FOR THE INVERSE PROBLEM OF ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY

The goal of this paper is to compare two computational models for the inverse problem of electroencephalography: the localization of brain activity from measurements of the electric potential on the surface of the head. The source current is modeled as a dipole whose localization and polarization has to be determined. Two methods are considered for solving the corresponding forward problems: the so called subtraction approach and direct approach. The former is based on subtracting a fundamental solution, which has the same singular character of the actual solution, and solving computationally the resulting non-singular problem. Instead, the latter consists in solving directly the problem with singular data by means of an adaptive process based on an a posteriori error estimator, which allows creating meshes appropriately refined around the singularity. A set of experimental tests for both, the forward and the inverse problems, are reported. The main conclusion of these tests is that the direct approach combined with adaptivity is preferable when the localization of the dipole is close to an interface between brain tissues with different conductivities.
The use of cell-free fetal nucleic acids in maternal blood for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.

BACKGROUND Cell-free fetal nucleic acids (cffNA) can be detected in the maternal circulation during pregnancy, potentially offering an excellent method for early non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) of the genetic status of a fetus. Using molecular techniques, fetal DNA and RNA can be detected from 5 weeks gestation and are rapidly cleared from the circulation following birth. METHODS We searched PubMed systematically using keywords free fetal DNA and NIPD. Reference lists from relevant papers were also searched to ensure comprehensive coverage of the area. RESULTS Cell-free fetal DNA comprises only 3-6% of the total circulating cell-free DNA, therefore diagnoses are primarily limited to those caused by paternally inherited sequences as well as conditions that can be inferred by the unique gene expression patterns in the fetus and placenta. Broadly, the potential applications of this technology fall into two categories: first, high genetic risk families with inheritable monogenic diseases, including sex determination in cases at risk of X-linked diseases and detection of specific paternally inherited single gene disorders; and second, routine antenatal care offered to all pregnant women, including prenatal screening/diagnosis for aneuploidy, particularly Down syndrome (DS), and diagnosis of Rhesus factor status in RhD negative women. Already sex determination and Rhesus factor diagnosis are nearing translation into clinical practice for high-risk individuals. CONCLUSIONS The analysis of cffNA may allow NIPD for a variety of genetic conditions and may in future form part of national antenatal screening programmes for DS and other common genetic disorders.
[Establishment and biological characterization of a transplantable BALB/c mouse erythroblastic leukemia model].

OBJECTIVE Biological characterization of a BALB/c mouse transplantable erythroblastic leukemia model EL9611. METHODS AND RESULTS The original erythroblastic leukemia (EL) mouse was obtained by 7,12-DMBA induction. The spleen cell suspension from the original EL mouse was injected into the same inbred BALB/c strain mice. After successive transplantation for 20 generations, the incidence of EL was 100% without spontaneous remission. There was a linear relationship between the survival time of the EL mice and the number of leukemic cells inoculated. When 10(6) leukemic cells were inoculated intravenously, the EL mice survived 10.2 +/- 1.3 days. Invasion of leukemic cells involved mainly in the bone marrow, the spleen and the liver. There was no obvious infiltration of leukemic cells in lymph-nodes and thymus. In peripheral blood, there were a large number of leukemic cells and most of them were basophilic or polychromatophilic erythroblasts. At the advanced stage, the mice developed anemia and thrombocytopenia. The reaction of the leukemic cells for hemoglobin staining was positive or weakly positive. While the peroxydase reaction was negative, Thy-1 antigen and Fc-recepter were not presented. No virus-like particles was found in the cells under electron microscope. EL9611 leukemia model was sensitive to some antitumor drugs used in clinical therapy. CONCLUSION The establishment of EL9611 leukemia model offered a useful tool for studying proliferation and differentiation of erythroid cells, as well as pathogenesis and experimental treatment of non-virus erythroid malignancy.
Conjunctival impression cytology: a review

* DipOptom MPhil DPhil(RAU) CAS(NewEnCO) FAAO FIACLE Conjunctival anatomy The conjunctiva is a thin translucent mucous membrane that lines the posterior surfaces of the two eyelids and which reflects forwards onto the anterior surface of the globe of the eye. For ease of description the conjunctiva is divided into three regions: palpebral, bulbar and fornixial conjunctiva, however, all parts of the conjunctiva are continuous. The conjunctiva consists of two layers; the epithelium and the substantia propria1. The epithelium has a deep layer consisting of cylindrical cells covered by a number of layers of polyhedral cells with the most superficial cells being flattened while still retaining their nuclei1. The surface of the conjunctiva consists of non-keratinizing squamous epithelium with goblet cells interspersed between the epithelial cells. The basal layer of the epithelium presents with hemidesmosomes and tonofilaments and is separated from the substantia propria by a thin basement membrane2. Collagen fibrils of connective tissue are found beneath the basement membrane2. The thickness of the conjunctival epithelium varies between two and five cells (approximately)2. Goblet cells can be found in all areas of the conjunctiva and they are large, oval or round cells that resemble fat-cells and have flattened nuclei1. Goblet cells are more numerous in the caruncle, semilunar folds and fornixial areas2. Goblet cells are essentially absent from the limbal conjunctiva2. The conjunctival mucosubstance is derived from the goblet cells that exist in the conjunctiva. The cytoplasm of goblet cells is packed with collections of rope-like mucin that is released onto the surface of the conjunctiva2, 3. An electron microscopic study4 of the surface of the conjunctiva reveals that the epithelium of the conjunctiva has a continuous sheet of cells that have a polygonal shape with a shaggy texture. Randomly distributed among the epithelial cells are the goblet cells. Goblet cells were able to be categorized into small, mature and hypermature cell types4. The small goblet cells presented with flat surfaces, elliptical outlines and short microvilli. The mature cells were more globular and were more elevated relative to the surrounding tissue. Hypermature goblet cells were also globular but were without the microvilli. Goblet cells that had discharged their contents were found to have retracted into the surrounding surface tissue leaving a small surface defect that was covered over with time4.