Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acute presentation of autoimmune hepatitis: a multicentre study with detailed histological evaluation in a large cohort of patients

Aims Although liver biopsy is crucial to diagnose and guide treatment decisions, a detailed histological analysis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) with clinically acute presentations has not yet been performed. This study aimed to characterise the histological features and explore potential histological hallmarks to diagnose the acute presentation of AIH. Methods We systematically evaluated liver specimens of 87 adult patients with acute presentation of AIH retrospectively enrolled from Japanese multicentre facilities. Each histological feature was predefined by consensus based on the diagnostic criteria. Results Key findings were that acute presentation of AIH revealed histological features of both acute hepatitis and chronic hepatitis accompanying various degrees of fibrosis. The prominent features were lobular necrosis/inflammation (97.7%), plasma cell infiltration (96.4%), emperipolesis (89.3%), pigmented macrophages (84.5%), cobblestone appearance of hepatocytes (82.6%) and perivenular necroinflammatory activity, including centrilobular necrosis (81.4%). Conclusions The acute presentation of AIH represents the entire histological spectrum of acute hepatitis and chronic hepatitis with various activity grades and fibrosis stages that clinically correspond to acute-onset AIH and acute exacerbation of classic AIH, respectively. Although there are no pathognomonic features for the pathological diagnosis, the prominent presence of lobular and perivenular necroinflammatory activity, pigmented macrophages and cobblestone appearance of hepatocytes in addition to the classic AIH features, such as plasma cell infiltration and emperipolesis, are useful for the pathological diagnosis of the acute presentation of AIH.
Seroprevalence of Bordetella pertussis antibody in pregnant women in Iran.

BACKGROUND The increasing incidence of pertussis among adolescents and adults in recent years is an alarming factor in transmission of the infection to non-immune infants and children. Vaccination of pregnant women, immediately after delivery and before being discharged from the hospital may help to protect mothers and their newborns against the disease. Decision making process, regarding maternal immunization, requires credible information and knowledge about seroepidemiology of the infection in pregnant women. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Bordetella pertussis antibody among admitted pregnant women in Hamadan, western Iran. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 288 pregnant women admitted to the Fatemiyeh Hospital, Hamadan, western Iran, were enrolled into the study. After obtaining consent from every patient, serum samples were taken from patients and were kept frozen until testing. Serum level of B. pertussis antibody was measured using ELISA. Level of antibody higher than 24 U/ml was considered positive. The obtained data were analyzed using the statistical software SPSS. RESULTS From 288 pregnant women, 126 (43.8%) were in their second trimester. Serological results in 103 patients (35.8%) were positive. The mean age of mothers with positive serology was 27.5±6 years old. Thirty-five percent of patients had a valid immunization record, and 1.57% of those with no vaccination record had a positive serology. CONCLUSIONS The level of immunity against B. pertussis in pregnant women was low. Immunization before or during pregnancy can stimulate newborn's immune response and gives them required protection against pertussis infection.
The Role of Leadership in Facilitating the Performance of Dispersed Teamwork

A mature body of research on leadership has investigated the impact of a variety of leadership behaviors and styles on team performance. This corpus of work is built on an assumption that team leaders can motivate, direct, and monitor teams by way of sustained, personal contact with team members. However, this assumption is being challenged by recent advances in information and communication technologies (ICTs). Use of ICTs has altered traditional team-based structures, enabling organizations to employ teams composed of members who are dispersed across geographic boundaries, while severing the direct, personal ties leaders have to team members. Recent reviews of the literature on dispersed teamwork point to the unique challenges faced by dispersed teams, including difficulties with communication, knowledge transfer, coordination, and social exchange. No less than five of these reviews call for research on leadership as a means to alleviate these challenges. This dissertation proposal, organized as three essays, seeks to respond to this call by examining leadership issues with respect to task structure, team development, and team structure. Essay 1 explores the role of empowering leadership in helping dispersed teams, and individuals within these teams, cope with information systems development (ISD) risk factors. Essay 2 investigates how technology capabilities can be leveraged to support coaching behaviors directed at facilitating interpersonal processes. Essay 3 draws on the theory of behavioral complexity in leadership to examine how leaders can help dispersed teams respond to the challenges incurred by differing forms of geographic dispersion. The models are tested with data collected from members and leaders of dispersed teams in a large, multinational organization. Results show that leaders have significant and varied influences on dispersed team functioning and can be both beneficial and detrimental for dispersed teams under different conditions. This dissertation makes importance contributions to both research and practice by deepening our understanding of the impacts of leadership in the dispersed team context and providing insight into leadership interventions designed to support dispersed teams in coping with the challenges they face.
Long-Acting Injectable Risperidone in the Treatment of Subjects With Recent-Onset Psychosis: A Preliminary Study

Using a long-acting antipsychotic to improve adherence early in the illness may reduce relapse rates and promote sustained remission, thereby improving the long-term outcome of schizophrenia. We assessed whether risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI) could be used safely and effectively in the treatment of recent-onset psychosis. Fifty patients aged 15 to 43 years with newly diagnosed schizophreniform disorder or schizophrenia were treated with RLAI 25 to 50 mg every 2 weeks for 2 years. Thirty-six patients (72%) completed the trial. Of 39 (78%) who showed a clinical response of 50%, 4 relapsed. Thirty-two patients (64%) achieved remission. Mean maximum increase in Extrapyramidal Symptoms Rating Scale total score was 1.4 (95% confidence interval, 0.61-2.10; n = 50); 10 patients required anticholinergic medication, and 1 subject developed persistent dyskinesia. Prolactin levels were elevated in 18 patients, 4 of whom reported possible prolactin-related adverse events. Mean increase in body mass index to last visit for all patients was 4.8 kg/m2 (SD, 3.8 kg/m2). The final RLAI dose was 25 mg for 54% of patients, 37.5 mg for 30%, and 50 mg for 16%. This preliminary study suggests that RLAI was overall well tolerated and appears to be effective in recent-onset psychosis. Further investigation is warranted.
[Why renal transplant from living donors gives better results than cadaver renal transplant?].

BACKGROUND According to literature, patient and graft survival is better in living donor renal transplants (LRT) than in cadaver renal transplants (CRT). OBJECTIVE To study factors that determine the best results in LRT related to those of CRT, found in univariate studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS Renal transplants (RT) done in Catalonia during the 1990-2004 period, performed in patients over 17 years (135 LRT and 3.831 CRT), have been analyzed (retransplants were not included). The data come from the Renal Patients Transplant Registry (RMRC). Student's t-test and chi2 test have been used for mean and for proportions comparisons, respectively. To analyze univariate and multivariate survival, actuarial method and Cox regression have been used, respectively. Estimated creatinine clearance has been studied and its data have been showed through Selwood modified Analysis. RESULTS As it happens with other great RT patients series, the RMRC analysis, globally and without any adjustment, shows that patient and graft survival in LRT is better than that obtained with CRT. When we studied which variables explain these results, we found that main factors were smaller recipient age and the short time on dialysis. The great influence of both factors has been published in a large number of papers, explaining the differences obtained on the transplanted renal patient survival. CONCLUSIONS Once adjusted the analysis by the different factors that influence the survival of the patient and the graft, there are no differences in the obtained results, since the best outcomes of the TRV are due to factors like the smaller recipient age and the advanced TR.
You are what you eat: So measure what you eat!

Measuring food calorie and nutrition intake on a daily basis is one of the main tools that allows dieticians, doctors, and their patients to control and treat obesity, overweightness, or other food-related health problems. Yet doing this measurement correctly and on a daily basis is challenging and one of the main reasons why diet programs fail. In this article, we look at calorie-intake measurement techniques, and we cover both traditional and newer methods with emphasis on the latter. Among the newly proposed methods, Vision Based Measurement (VBM) [1] has gained a lot of attention, because it makes it very easy for users to measure their food's calories and nutrition by simply taking a picture of their food with their smartphone. However, this still faces challenges, such as achieving higher measurement accuracies, recognizing complex food items such as mixed food, lack of sufficient processing power, etc. When measuring food calories with VBM, recognition of the food is a particularly difficult process because food items have different variations in shape and appearance. Furthermore, the algorithms used for food recognition and classification are computationally intensive. We will cover several solutions and architectures in this article that have been proposed to tackle these challenges.
Evolutionary learning of BMF fuzzy-neural networks using a reduced-form genetic algorithm

In this paper, a novel approach to adjust both the control points of B-spline membership functions (BMFs) and the weightings of fuzzy-neural networks using a reduced-form genetic algorithm (RGA) is proposed. Fuzzy-neural networks are traditionally trained by using gradient-based methods, which may fall into local minimum during the learning process. To overcome the problems encountered by the conventional learning methods, genetic algorithms are adopted because of their capabilities of directed random search for global optimization. It is well known, however, that the searching speed of the conventional genetic algorithms is not desirable. Such conventional genetic algorithms are inherently incapable of dealing with a vast number (over 100) of adjustable parameters in the fuzzy-neural networks. In this paper, the RGA is proposed by using a sequential-search-based crossover point (SSCP) method in which a better crossover point is determined and only the gene at the specified crossover point is crossed, serving as a single gene crossover operation. Chromosomes consisting of both, the control points of BMFs and the weightings of the fuzzy-neural network are coded as an adjustable vector with real number components that are searched by the RGA. Simulation results have shown that faster convergence of the evolution process searching for an optimal fuzzy-neural network can be achieved. Examples of nonlinear functions approximated by using the fuzzy-neural network via the RGA are demonstrated to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The Fuzzy Power Flow Revisited

The idea behind the first proposal of the fuzzy power flow (FPF) was to analyze the impact of the uncertainties in load and generation at the power flow level, when no statistical information is available. Further development of the field addressed the optimal power flow problem and the use of fuzzy methodologies to help planners of the composite generation-transmission system. In a market environment, transmission system adequacy may be defined as the ability of the system to meet reasonable demands for the transmission of electricity. The starting point of this paper is that FPF can be used as a tool to quantify this adequacy, without the need of making too many assumptions about load and generation uncertainties. However, some changes in the basic concept of the FPF are needed in order to accomplish this task - part of this paper is devoted to the description of the adequate formulation. We will also show that this formulation can be used both in the normal operation situation and in the reliability evaluation of the transmission system. An illustrative example completes this paper.
Increased risk in the elderly parturient

Purpose of review The steady increase in age in primiparous and multiparous women raises questions concerning increased obstetric risk and outcome in such pregnancies. This review highlights the effects of maternal age on obstetric and perinatal outcome. Recent findings Complications have been associated with increasing maternal age, including abnormal weight gain, obesity, gestational diabetes, chronic and pregnancy-induced hypertension, antepartum haemorrhage, placenta praevia, multiple gestation, prelabour rupture of membranes, and preterm labour. Intrapartum complications of malpresentation, fetopelvic disproportion, abnormal labour, increased use of oxytocin in labour, caesarean section, instrumental delivery, sphincter rupture, and postpartum haemorrhage are more frequent in older women. Advanced maternal age is associated with a higher risk of stillbirth throughout gestation, and the peak risk period is 37–41 weeks. Perinatal outcomes differ with maternal age concerning gestational age, birth weight, prematurity, low birth weight, incidence of small-for-gestational-age infants, fetal distress, and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The increased risk cannot be explained only by intercurrent illness or pregnancy complications. Summary Increasing maternal age is independently associated with specific adverse outcomes. Increasing age is a continuum rather than threshold effect. More information about obstetric consequences of delayed childbearing is needed both for obstetricians and fertile women.
SAR tomography from bistatic single-pass interferometers

In this work we discuss the differences between SAR tomographic analyses produced by direct 3D focusing, which we refer to as coherent tomography, and by processing simultaneous interferometric pairs collected in different passes, which we refer to as incoherent tomography. While the application of coherent tomography using space-borne sensors is often hindered by temporal decorrelation, incoherent SAR tomography appears to be a viable solution upon the condition that simultaneous InSAR pairs are available, which is possible by using bistatic SAR systems. For this reason, this paper is focused on assessing the capabilities of incoherent tomography, and on discussing the implications for bistatic SAR systems. Examples are shown based on simulated SAOCOM-CS data.
Modeling overhead transmission lines for line arrester studies

Surge arresters are installed in transmission lines to improve their lightning performance. To date simulation, usually based on EMTP-like tools, has been extensively used for evaluation of line arrester energy stresses. However, simulation results depend on the models chosen for representing the line. This aspect is particularly important for some parts of the line, e.g. tower footing impedances. The main goal of this paper is twofold: analyze the influence that some modeling approaches can have on arrester energy discharge and decide how the line has to be represented for an accurate calculation of energy stresses.
Expression of prostate specific membrane antigen and three alternatively spliced variants of PSMA in prostate cancer patients

Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a folate γ glutamyl carboxypeptidase that is oriented on the plasma membrane of normal and prostate cancer cells. A cytosolic version of PSMA, PSM′, results from alternative splicing of the PSMA gene. Two additional alternatively spliced variants of PSMA, PSM‐C and PSM‐D, have been described recently. The ratio of PSMA to PSM′ mRNA was higher in a small number of prostate cancer specimens compared to normal prostate cancer and benign prostatic hypertrophy (Su et al. Cancer Res 1995;55:1441). The intent of our study was to measure the gene expression of PSMA and the 3 PSMA splice variants in a large number of patient's tissues. A real‐time, quantitative PCR assay was developed to quantify PSMA, PSM′, PSM‐C and PSM‐D. Discrimination among the variants was achieved by designing unique primers and TaqMan probes for each gene. Amplification and detection was specific for the desired splice variant and was sensitive to one gene copy per reaction. The assay was used to quantify the gene expression in specimens of normal, benign, primary and metastatic prostate cancer from 72 patients. The mean PSMA expression (relative to 18S rRNA) was 2‐ to 3‐fold lower in normal prostate (n = 4) compared to primary (n = 55, p = 0.31) and metastatic (n = 20, p = 0.33) prostate cancer. There was no difference in the PSMA expression between benign and cancerous prostate tissue from the same patients (n = 35). The ratio of PSMA to PSM′ was lowest in the normal prostate and increased with increasing Gleason score (p < 0.001). The increased ratio in these tissues was a reflection of both increasing PSMA levels and decreasing PSM′ mRNA. The expression of PSM‐C did not differ in any of the tissue categories studied. The expression of PSM‐D was similar in normal and primary prostate cancer but was 2‐fold higher in lymph node (p < 0.005) and bone metastases (p < 0.05) compared to the primary tumors. Our results of the first detailed quantitative analysis of PSMA mRNA expression in patient's tissues demonstrate that PSMA and the 3 PSMA splice variants are expressed in normal, benign, cancerous and metastatic prostate cancer. We note increased PSMA expression in some malignant tissues, however, these increases are modest in magnitude. We also report that the expression of a novel splice variant, PSM‐D, is elevated in prostate cancer metastases. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characteristics of 2278 Patients Visiting the Nihon University Hospital Taste Clinic over a 10-Year Period with Special Reference to Age and Sex Distributions

We investigated the incidence of taste disorders in 2278 patients (871 men, 1407 women) who visited our Taste and Smell Clinic during the 10-year period between 1981 and 1990. Although a higher proportion of our patients were women, there was a significant gender difference only in the proportion of women with mild symptoms; the proportions of men and women with moderate or severe taste disorders were not significantly different. We propose that the incidence of taste disorders is the same among men and women but that women with milder symptoms are more likely to seek treatment. The time from onset of symptoms to the first clinic visit lengthened with increasing patient age. The efficacy of treatment decreased with increasing patient age, regardless of the severity of taste disorder at the initial visit.
Exact Closed-Form Expression of the Electromagnetic Field Excited by Pulse-Shaped and Triangular Line Currents

The exact closed-form expression for the electromagnetic field excited by pulse-shaped and triangular line currents is presented. The analytical formulation, based on the incomplete Hankel functions, shows that the field is composed of cylindrical waves excited near the current axis and spherical waves arising from the source critical points. Spherical waves related with pulse-shaped current basis functions are shown to have stronger field singularities than for triangular basis functions because of the impulsive charges present at the current truncations. For triangular line currents, it is further shown that an additional spherical wave arises from the critical point featuring a charge jump discontinuity. Near and high-frequency asymptotic field expressions show explicitly the nature of the field singularities. Using the analytical properties of the incomplete Hankel functions, the Galerkin's impedance matrix coefficients, useful to solve radiation and scattering problems in truncated cylindrical structures using the method of moments, are finally derived in a closed-form. Numerical examples show the accuracy of the proposed field representation.
Reduction of hepatitis C virus load by H.E.L.P.–LDL apheresis

The association of HCV with apolipoprotein B containing lipoproteins has been observed and this led to the assumption that the LDL receptor may also serve as a candidate receptor for HCV. H.E. L.P.–LDL apheresis is suggested to be an effective and rapid tool to safely eliminate apolipoprotein B containing lipoproteins.
Assessing the Effects of Variability in Interest Rate Derivative Pricing

CROTTY, MICHAEL THOMAS. Assessing the Effects of Variability in Interest Rate Derivative Pricing. (Under the direction of Peter Bloomfield.) Interest rate derivatives are financial instruments similar in spirit to stock options. The value of such a derivative depends on the level of a particular interest rate at a designated time. One type of interest rate derivative is an interest rate cap, which pays a notional amount multiplied by the amount by which a specified interest rate exceeds the strike rate at periodic intervals until maturity. Many models exist for pricing interest rate derivatives. This research uses the Hull-White model (Hull, 2003) for the short rate, implemented with a trinomial tree. This model can be used to determine pricing for interest rate derivatives. The first part of this research explores various spline methods for estimating the term structure of the zero rate curve, one of the inputs into the Hull-White trinomial tree. The zero rate is the interest rate that would be earned on a bond that has no intermediate coupon payments and pays face value at maturity. The zero rate curve is modeled with splines extending an approach developed by Fisher et al. (1994). The second part of this research uses bootstrap techniques to determine the variability of the zero rate curve at various maturities and to propagate the variability of the zero rate curve into the Hull-White pricing model. The latter bootstrap includes the entire method of derivative pricing from the calculation of a zero curve using a set of bond prices through entering that zero curve into the pricing model, and on to the pricing of a derivative. Assessing the Effects of Variability in Interest Rate Derivative Pricing by Michael T. Crotty a dissertation submitted to the graduate faculty of north carolina state university in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy statistics raleigh, north carolina 2 November 2006 approved by: Dr. Peter Bloomfield (Chair) Dr. David Dickey Dr. Sujit Ghosh Dr. Denis Pelletier