Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neutralizing antibody responses induced by varicella‐zoster virus gE and gB glycoproteins following infection, reactivation or immunization

The purpose of this study was to compare the antibody responses to varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) gE and gB after natural VZV infection and after vaccination with live attenuated OKA vaccine in order to determine the relative importance of these proteins as components of a subunit vaccine. Anti‐VZV antibody titers determined by IFA were of the same order of magnitude in sera from individuals with a history of varicella and in vaccinated children but higher in individuals given booster vaccination. The titers of anti‐gE and anti‐gB antibodies were measured by ELISA using recombinant gE or gB as capture antigen. From these experiments, it appears that the ratio of anti‐gE to anti‐gB antibody is highly variable from one individual to another but relatively stable over a long period of time for a particular individual, even after a zoster episode. Neutralizing antibodies directed against gE or gB were also measured by subtracting the neutralization titers obtained before and after depletion of the specific antibodies on immobilized recombinant gE, gB, or both. This showed that, with respect to neutralization, anti‐gE and anti‐gB are equally prevalent in vaccinated children and that anti‐gE is generally, but not always, predominant over anti‐gB in VZV‐infected individuals. Finally, antibodies to these two glycoproteins appear to be predominant among the neutralizing antibodies directed to other VZV antigens. J. Med. Virol. 53:63–68, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Efficacy and safety of pathogen‐reduced platelet concentrates in children with cancer: a retrospective cohort study

The safety of blood component transfusions is still of concern and the use of pathogen reduction (PR) methods is increasing. Limited data are available describing safety and efficacy of PR platelet (PLT) transfusions in children. We report the results of a retrospective evaluation of prophylactic transfusions of PR PLT units treated with riboflavin and ultraviolet light in pediatric patients with malignant disorders.
Effect of Cholecystokinin1 Receptor Antagonist Loxiglumide (CR1505) on Basal Pancreatic Exocrine Secretion in Conscious Rats

Introduction and Aim To examine the involvement of cholecystokinin (CCK) in the basal pancreatic exocrine, we investigated the effect of loxiglumide (CR1505), a CCK1 receptor antagonist, on basal pancreatic exocrine secretion in conscious rats. Methodology After the basal collection of pancreatic juice for 1 hour, loxiglumide (10 mg/kg/h) or saline was infused via the femoral vein continuously for 2 hours. Results Loxiglumide significantly suppressed the basal pancreatic protein and amylase outputs. However, loxiglumide did not alter the basal pancreatic juice volume. Conclusions These results demonstrate that loxiglumide suppresses basal pancreatic exocrine secretion in normal rats. They also suggest that CCK is involved in basal pancreatic exocrine in conscious rats and that loxiglumide may be useful as a therapeutic agent for pancreatitis, even during fasting, by attenuating the basal pancreatic exocrine burden on the pancreas.
Polymorphisms in FGFBP1 and FGFBP2 genes associated with carcass and meat quality traits in chickens.

In the past, the focus of broiler breeding programs on yield and carcass traits improvement led to problems related to meat quality. Awareness of public concern for quality resulted in inclusion of meat quality traits in the evaluation process. Nevertheless, few genes associated with meat quality attributes are known. Previous studies mapped quantitative trait loci for weight at 35 and 42 days in a region of GGA4 flanked by the microsatellite markers, MCW0240 and LEI0063. In this region, there are 2 fibroblast growth factor binding protein (FGFBP) genes that play an important role in embryogenesis, cellular differentiation, and proliferation in chickens. The objective of this study was to identify and associate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FGFBP1 and FGFBP2 with performance, carcass, and meat quality in experimental and commercial chicken populations. In the commercial population, SNP g.2014G>A in FGFBP1 was associated with decreased carcass weight (P < 0.05), and SNP g.651G>A in FGFBP2 was associated with thawing loss and meat redness content (P < 0.05). Four haplotypes were constructed based on 2 SNPs and were associated with breast weight, thawing loss, and meat redness content. The diplotypes were associated with thawing loss, lightness, and redness content. The SNPs evaluated in the present study may be used as markers in poultry breeding programs to aid in improving growth and meat quality traits.
Electronic Word-of-Mouth: Motives for and Consequences of Reading Customer Articulations on the Internet

The Internet makes it possible for consumers to obtain electronic word of mouth from other consumers. Customer comments articulated via the Internet are available to a vast number of other customers, and therefore can be expected to have a significant impact on the success of goods and services. This paper derives several motives that explain why customers retrieve other customers' on-line articulations from Web-based consumer opinion platforms. The relevance of these motives and their impact on consumer buying and communication behavior are tested in a large-scale empirical study. The results illustrate that consumers read on-line articulations mainly to save decision-making time and make better buying decisions. Structural equation modeling shows that their motives for retrieving on-line articulations strongly influence their behavior.
The teaching of novice computer programmers: bringing the scholarly-research approach to Australia

BRACElet is a multi-institutional multi-national research study of how novice programmers comprehend and write computer programs. This paper reviews the first action research cycle of the BRACElet project and, in the process, charts a path for the upcoming second cycle. The project remains close to educational practice, with much of the data being either data collected directly from exams sat by novices, or data from think-out-loud protocols where the task undertaken by a novice or an expert is modelled on an exam question. The first action research cycle analysed data in terms of the SOLO taxonomy. From think-aloud responses, the authors found that educators tended to manifest a SOLO relational response on small reading problems, whereas students tended to manifest a multistructural response. Furthermore, those students who manifested a relational response tended to do better overall in the exam than students who manifested a multistructural response. The second action research cycle will explore the relationship between the ability to read code and the ability to write code. Apart from reporting on the BRACElet project itself, this paper serves as an invitation for institutions and individuals to join the second action research cycle of the BRACElet project.
Measuring White Dwarf Accretion Rates via Their Effective Temperatures

Our previous theoretical study of the impact of an accreting envelope on the thermal state of an underlying white dwarf (WD) has yielded equilibrium core temperatures, classical nova ignition masses, and thermal luminosities for WDs accreting at time-averaged rates of ⟨⟩ = 10-11 to 10-8 M☉ yr-1. These ⟨⟩ values are appropriate to WDs in cataclysmic variables (CVs) of Porb ≲ 7 hr, many of which accrete sporadically as dwarf novae. Approximately 30 nonmagnetic dwarf novae have been observed in quiescence, when the accretion rate is low enough for spectral detection of the WD photosphere and a measurement of Teff. We use our theoretical work to translate the measured Teff values into local time-averaged accretion rates, confirming the factor of 10 drop in ⟨⟩ predicted for CVs as they transit the period gap. For dwarf novae below the period gap, we show that if ⟨⟩ is that given by gravitational radiation losses alone, then the WD masses are greater than 0.8 M☉. An alternative conclusion is that the masses are closer to 0.6 M☉ and ⟨⟩ is 3-4 times larger than that expected from gravitational radiation losses. In either case, it is very plausible that a subset of CVs with Porb < 2 hr will have Teff values low enough for them to become nonradial pulsators, as discovered by van Zyl and collaborators for GW Lib.
Coupled sea surface-atmosphere model: 2. Spectrum of short wind waves

A physical model of the short wind wave spectrum in the wavelength range from a few millimeters to few meters is proposed. The spectrum shape results from the solution of the energy spectral density balance equation. Special attention is paid to the description of the capillary range of the short wave spectrum. It is assumed that in this range the spectrum shape is determined mainly by the mechanism of generation of parasitic capillaries. This is described as the cascade energy transfer from the gravity to the capillary waves. Thus the capillary wave spectrum results through the balance between generation of capillaries and their viscous dissipation. The short gravity wave spectrum results through the balance between wind input and dissipation due to wave breaking. A parameterization of wind input is obtained in part 1 of the present paper. To describe the dissipation due to wave breaking, the approach developed by Phillips [1985] is used. The spectral rate of energy dissipation is presented in the form of a power dependence of the ratio of the saturation spectrum to some threshold level. It is further shown that the threshold level depends on the drift current shift in the water viscous sublayer, which affects the energy losses by wave breaking. To obtain a short wave spectrum which is valid in the whole wavenumber domain, the capillary and the short gravity wave spectra are patched in the vicinity of the wavenumber corresponding to the minimum phase velocity. This short wave spectrum is incorporated into the wind over waves coupled model developed in part 1 of the present paper. The measured statistical properties of the sea surface related to the short waves, such as the spectral shape of omnidirectional and up-wind spectra, their wind speed dependence and angular spreading, and the wind speed dependence of integral mean square slope and skewness parameters, are well reproduced by the model. Also the model well reproduces the measured wind speed dependence of the drag coefficient and of the coupling parameter.
Motivational Salience Modulates Hippocampal Repetition Suppression and Functional Connectivity in Humans

Repetition suppression (RS) is a rapid decrease of stimulus-related neuronal responses upon repeated presentation of a stimulus. Previous studies have demonstrated that negative emotional salience of stimuli enhances RS. It is, however, unclear how motivational salience of stimuli, such as reward-predicting value, influences RS for complex visual stimuli, and which brain regions might show differences in RS for reward-predicting and neutral stimuli. Here we investigated the influence of motivational salience on RS of complex scenes using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging. Thirty young healthy volunteers performed a monetary incentive delay task with complex scenes (indoor vs. outdoor) serving as neutral or reward-predicting cue pictures. Each cue picture was presented three times. In line with previous findings, reward anticipation was associated with activations in the ventral striatum, midbrain, and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Stimulus repetition was associated with pronounced RS in ventral visual stream areas like the parahippocampal place area (PPA). An interaction of reward anticipation and RS was specifically observed in the anterior hippocampus, where a response decrease across repetitions was observed for the reward-predicting scenes only. Functional connectivity analysis further revealed specific activity-dependent connectivity increases of the hippocampus and the PPA and OFC. Our results suggest that hippocampal RS is sensitive to reward-predicting properties of stimuli and might therefore reflect a rapid, adaptive neural response mechanism for motivationally salient information.
Assessing global dietary habits: a comparison of national estimates from the FAO and the Global Dietary Database

Background: Accurate data on dietary habits are crucial for understanding impacts on disease and informing policy priorities. Nation-specific food balance sheets from the United Nations FAO provided the only available global dietary estimates but with uncertain validity. Objectives: We investigated how FAO estimates compared with nationally representative, individual-based dietary surveys from the Global Dietary Database (GDD) and developed calibration equations to improve the validity of FAO data to estimate dietary intakes. Design: FAO estimates were matched to GDD data for 113 countries across the following 9 major dietary metrics for 30 y of data (1980–2009): fruit, vegetables, beans and legumes, nuts and seeds, whole grains, red and processed meats, fish and seafood, milk, and total energy. Both absolute and percentage differences in FAO and GDD mean estimates were evaluated. Linear regression was used to evaluate whether FAO estimates predicted GDD dietary intakes and whether this prediction varied according to age, sex, region, and time. Calibration equations were developed to adjust FAO estimates to approximate national dietary surveys validated by using randomly split data sets. Results: For most food groups, FAO estimates substantially overestimated individual-based dietary intakes by 74.5% (vegetables) and 270% (whole grains) while underestimating beans and legumes (−50%) and nuts and seeds (−29%) (P < 0.05 for each). In multivariate regressions, these overestimations and underestimations for each dietary factor further varied by age, sex, region, and time (P < 0.001 for each). Split–data set calibration models, which accounted for country-level covariates and other sources of heterogeneity, effectively adjusted FAO estimates to approximate estimates from national survey data (r = 0.47–0.80) with small SEs of prediction (generally 1–5 g/d). Conclusions: For all food groups and total energy, FAO estimates substantially exceeded or underestimated individual-based national surveys of individual intakes with significant variation depending on age, sex, region, and time. Calibration models effectively adjusted the comprehensive, widely accessible FAO data to facilitate a more-accurate estimation of individual-level dietary intakes nationally and by age and sex.
The fast Newton transversal filter: an efficient scheme for acoustic echo cancellation in mobile radio

The authors investigate the recently suggested fast Newton family for adaptive filtering in the context of acoustic echo cancellation, with emphasis on the mobile radio case. A distinctive advantage of the fast Newton transversal filter (FNTF) is that it can offer high performance with speech inputs at low computational cost. They discuss possible implementations and compare the FNTF with classical schemes in terms of complexity. A complete numerically stabilized version is presented, and additional features for proper real-time operation with speech are discussed. Experimental comparisons using various signals and real situations show that in all cases, the FNTF behaves similarly to the standard fast RLS transversal filter (FTF) algorithm, whereas its complexity is only slightly higher than that of the normalized LMS (NLMS). Compared with the NLMS, the experiments show that in the context investigated, the latter exhibits inferior performance with respect to convergence and tracking. Thus, they demonstrate that the FNTF is an efficient scheme for acoustic echo cancellation in mobile radio. >
Prognostic value and cost‐effectiveness of different screening strategies for HLA antibodies prior to kidney transplantation

HLA antibody screening is conducted routinely prior to kidney transplantation, but the comparative prognostic value and cost‐effectiveness of different methods are unclear. Pre‐transplant sera of 141 patients transplanted between 1998 and 2000 were screened by ELISA and Luminex assays, and antibody specificities of reactive sera determined using bead array techniques. ELISA screening detected donor‐specific antibodies (DSA) in 19 patients, who had a higher incidence of impaired graft function (60% vs. 20%, p = 0.04) and antibody‐mediated rejection (AMR) within 90 d after transplantation (AMR, 35% vs. 5%, p = 0.02). Luminex screening detected eight additional patients with DSA, among those one with AMR. Six of eight patients with Luminex‐only‐DSA reported no prior immunizing events. Death‐censored graft survival was shorter only in patients with DSA and AMR (median, 1.7 yr instead of between 9.5 and 11.0 yr for patients without DSA or patients with DSA but no AMR, p < 0.001). Material costs per detected clinically relevant DSA were about 57% higher for Luminex screening, but this increase could be avoided by modifying the cut‐off recommended by the manufacturer. Conclusively, specification of antibodies only in sera reactive in screening tests was cost‐effective to prevent shortened graft survival. Preformed DSA were only harmful if AMR was diagnosed within 90 d after transplantation.
Gutter Impingement After Total Ankle Arthroplasty

Background: Symptomatic gutter impingement after ankle arthroplasty has been reported with various designs. However, the incidence and origin of impingement have not been fully elucidated. Furthermore, the outcome of patients following gutter debridement has not been reported. Methods: A review of 489 total ankle replacements was performed to calculate the incidence of symptomatic gutter impingement in 4 different devices and between the presenting causes of arthritis. The incidence of gutter impingement was determined for patients with and without preemptive gutter resection at the time of implantation. The functional outcome of 30 of the 34 patients who had subsequent gutter debridement was determined with 3 different outcome instruments. Results: Symptomatic gutter disease occurred in 34 of 489 cases (7%) followed for a minimum of 1 year (range, 1-12 years). There was a 2% incidence of gutter disease in the 194 ankles that had prophylactic gutter resection at the time of implantation and a 7% incidence in the 295 ankles that did not have gutter resection at the time of implantation. When the ankle treated with an Agility (DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc, Warsaw, IN) device was excluded, there was a 2% and an 18% incidence of gutter disease in the 2 groups, respectively (P < .05). There was no difference in the incidence of gutter disease between the various implants and origins of ankle arthritis. Postoperative outcomes were favorable in the 27 patients who did not have another procedure after the initial gutter debridement. Seven patients (21%) required reoperation. Conclusion: Prophylactic gutter resection should be considered at the time of implantation to reduce the incidence of postoperative symptoms. Although most patients had favorable outcomes following gutter debridement, there was a high reoperation rate. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative series.
Further studies of carbonate remagnetization in the northern Appalachian Basin

Paleomagnetic and rock magnetic studies of sedimentary carbonates in the northern Appalachian Basin demonstrate that the late Paleozoic remagnetization in this area is probably related to authigenesis of single domain magnetite. Fifteen sites within Middle Devonian carbonates were sampled along a transect extending from Albany, New York, to the Algonquin Arch in southeastern Ontario. Paleomagnetic studies show that all sites except the two westernmost sites on the Algonquin Arch were remagnetized during Alleghenian time. The very weakly magnetic unremagnetized sites retain a dual-polarity magnetization of probable Devonian age. In the remagnetized sites, both the size of the Kiaman components and magnetite concentration, estimated from low-field susceptibility (X), are highest in the central part of the transect and lower on either side. X ray powder diffraction analyses demonstrate that K-feldspar is also most abundant in the middle of the transect, with lower concentrations to the west and east. We suggest that formation of authigenic magnetite and K-feldspar may be related in this setting. Sites with the largest Kiaman components have the highest unblocking temperatures and the largest ratios of anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM) to bulk susceptibility (ARM/X), indicating that these sites have the greatest amounts of single-domain magnetite. Several remagnetized sites exhibit northerly, shallow magnetic components which may be Kiaman “normal” directions. We conclude that remagnetization along the New York-Ontario transect is a chemical remanent magnetization resulting primarily from authigenesis of single-domain magnetite. We present a model in which pulses of heated fluids triggered magnetite formation. Scanning electron microscope observation of magnetic extracts from 14 sites show that most of the resolvable magnetite grains are multidomain grains of irregular shape; many sites also contain a small percentage of magnetic spheres and/or euhedral magnetite particles. A majority of the magnetite grains contain Fe as the only cation, but many also contain minor amounts of other cations including various combinations of Cr, Ni, Ti, Zn, Mn, Si, Al, Ca, and Mg. Single domain magnetite is not resolvable with our observational techniques, but its presence is inferred from rock magnetic tests. Much of this magnetite may be of authigenic origin.
Optic nerve head morphometry in healthy adults using confocal laser scanning tomography

Background/aims: To study the optic nerve head (ONH) characteristics in a cross sectional study with confocal laser scanning tomography using the Heidelberg retina tomograph (HRT I) and thereby to obtain a new HRT database for comparison of healthy and glaucomatous eyes. Methods: White adults with no history of ocular pathology were eligible for the study. The examination comprised: assessment of visual acuity; slit lamp examination of the anterior and posterior segment; Goldmann applanation tonometry; computerised perimetry, and optic nerve head tomography with HRT. Eyes with ocular pathology were excluded. Mean (standard deviation, SD) and difference between right and left eye (RE–LE) were calculated for HRT I measurements. Differences in mean topographic parameters between male and female participants and between the age quartiles were analysed. The study included 1764 eyes of 882 healthy adults (154 females and 728 males, mean age of 46.8 (SD 8.6) years). The population investigated was larger and older in comparison with similar studies using confocal laser scanning tomography. Results: With HRT I, a mean disc area of 1.82 (SD 0.39) mm2, a mean cup area of 0.44 (SD 0.32) mm2 and a mean cup:disc area ratio of 0.22 (SD 0.13) was observed. Right eyes showed a larger mean retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFLT) (0.263 (SD 0.066) mm) compared with left eyes (0.252 (SD 0.065) mm, p<0.001). Higher values in younger volunteers (mean age 35.7 years) in comparison with elderly participants (mean age 59.1 years) were noted for disc area (1.84 mm2 v 1.78 mm2) and mean RNFLT (0.263 (SD 0.06) mm v 0.249 (SD 0.07) mm) but were not significant (p>0.01). The presented results differ from published data on ONH measurements of healthy volunteers with different techniques. Conclusion: The observed differences in ONH measurements between left and right eyes seem not to be of clinical importance. This is also true for age or sex dependent changes in ONH topographies. The presented data provide a new basis for comparison of optic disc characteristics between healthy eyes and glaucomatous eyes.