Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growth Factors and Intrauterine Growth Retardation. II. Serum Growth Hormone, Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF) I, and IGF-Binding Protein 3 Levels in Children with Intrauterine Growth Retar Age1

The aim of this study was to describe serum GH, IGF-I, and IGF binding protein (BP) 3 levels at birth and during the first 2 y of life in intrauterine growth-retarded (IUGR) children and to correlate these hormonal values with auxologic parameters noted during this period to investigate their predictive value on the postnatal growth pattern. Three hundred and seventeen children were included at birth and studied for auxologic and biologic parameters at birth, 3 and 30 d, and 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 mo of age. At birth, when analyzed according to gestational age, serum GH levels were increased(p = 0.0001) and serum IGF-I and IGFBP3 levels were decreased(p = 0.0001) in IUGR as compared with normal neonates. When two cohorts were established at birth as a function of the ponderal index (PI)(≤ or >3rd percentile), serum IGF-I and IGFBP3 levels were found to be significantly reduced in the case of low PI. All parameters were within normal limits at 1 mo of age and remained normal thereafter. During the first 3 mo of life, a positive correlation was found between IGF-I increment and weight gain(r = 0.28, p = 0.002). None of the biologic parameters at birth were predictive either of later growth or of short stature at 2 y of age. In conclusion, low serum IGF-I and IGFBP3 levels at birth were related to fetal malnutrition and were not predictive parameters for later growth.
Are All Spillovers Created Equal? The Impact of Blockbusters and the Composition of Backers in Online Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding has emerged alongside the IT development. It is believed that overwhelmingly successful projects, blockbusters, would have significant impacts on the overall crowdfunding platform. However, there are notable limitations in previous studies. First, we consider how the advent of blockbusters impact according to the projects’ similarity with inside and outside clusters, rather than pre-determined category. Second, we examine the blockbusters’ heterogeneity with the type of backers that bring different effects. We use project-level dataset and apply novel clustering method to analyze blockbuster effects. We find empirical evidence that blockbusters have a spillover effect on same categories, especially inside clusters experience larger effects than outside clusters. In the long run, these spillover effects decay faster in outside clusters, but last long for inside cluster. Furthermore, this result changes according to the composition of backers. Our study presents a promising avenue for the application of semantic network analysis to the crowdfunding context.
Contractile effects and intracellular Ca2+ signalling induced by motilin and erythromycin in the circular smooth muscle of human colon

Motilin has excitatory effects on the colon of the rabbit and the dog, but little is known of its effect on the human colon. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects induced by motilin and erythromycin A (EMA) on muscle strips and on single cells from primary cultures from human colon. Isotonic contraction was recorded in circular muscle strips from macroscopically normal resection specimens of patients operated on for colonic neoplasm. Agonist‐induced intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) signalling was studied in primary cultures of colonic smooth‐muscle cells using the ratiometric Ca2+ indicator Indo 1, on a laser‐scanning confocal epifluorescence microscope. In circular muscle strips, norleucine13‐porcine motilin ([Nle13]‐pm)and EMA induced tonic contractions with an EC50 of 92 ± 21 nmol L−1 and 31 ± 16 μmol L−1, respectively. The maximal contraction was 21 ± 4% (motilin) and 33 ± 12% (EMA) of the response to 10−4 mol L−1 acetylcholine (ACh). The motilin antagonist OHM‐11526 (10−5.5 mol L−1) abolished the effects of both [Nle13]‐pm and EMA. Neither tetrodotoxin (10−5.5 mol L−1), L‐nitro‐D‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME) (10−3.5 mol L−1) nor guanethidine (10−5 mol L−1) interfered with the effects of [Nle13]‐pm or EMA. [Nle13]‐pm (10−11−10−6 mol L−1) induced rises of [Ca2+]i in cultured colonic myocytes. At 10−6 mol L−1, 94% of the cells responded, and half of the cells responded at 1.4 nmol L−1 [Nle13]‐pm. 81% (35/43) and 95% (75/79) responded to EMA (10−6 mol L−1) and acetylcholine (ACh, 10−4 mol L−1), respectively. The motilin antagonist GM‐109 inhibited motilin‐ and EMA‐induced [Ca2+]i rises. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, only 13% (7/52) of the cells responded to [Nle13]‐pm (10−6 mol L−1) vs. 90% (47/52) to ACh (10−4 mol L−1). Motilin and EMA have direct excitatory effects on circular smooth muscle from the human colon and these effects are mediated via a smooth‐muscle motilin receptor. These findings suggest that motilin may regulate colonic motility and that motilides may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of colonic hypomotility.
Prevalence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) and MRI-lesions in mild neurological decompression sickness (type B-DCS/AGE).

BACKGROUND Neurological decompression sickness (DCS/AGE) may cover two variants with either severer and probably central nervous (Type A) or milder and sometimes doubtful neurological symptoms (Type B). The pathophysiology of the Type B-DCS/AGE might be different from the Type A-variant. In Type A-DCS/AGE a higher PFO-prevalence (patent foramen ovale) points towards an embolic origin of the Type A-symptomatology. This is not necessarily expected for the Type B-DCS/AGE if the pathophysiology here is micro-embolic or even non-embolic. METHODS 18 patients with Type B-DCS/AGE were tested against matched controls for presence and size of a PFO with echocardiography and transcranial ultrasound with echo-contrast. Prevalence and number of Type A-brain lesions were visualized by cranial MRI as possible sequelae from gas-embolic events. RESULTS PFO-prevalence in both groups, the patients with Type B-DCS/AGE (5/18) as well as the controls (7/18) was similar to published PFO-prevalences in normals without any difference between patients and controls (p = 0.725). Also the number of MRI-lesions (ACFs) was the same for Type B-DCS/AGE cases (15 ACFs in 5 patients) and controls (37 ACFs in 8 divers). CONCLUSION Indirect findings suggesting embolic brain injuries are found with similar frequency in patients with Type B-DCS/AGE and normal controls, which is in contrast to data about Type A-DCS/AGE. This is compatible with different pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the Type A- and Type B-DCS/AGE.
Non-commercial Research and Educational Use including without Limitation Use in Instruction at Your Institution, Sending It to Specific Colleagues That You Know, and Providing a Copy to Your Institution's Administrator. All Other Uses, Reproduction and Distribution, including without Limitation Comm

The increasing use of microarray technologies is generating a large amount of data that must be processed to extract underlying gene expression patterns. Existing clustering methods could suffer from certain drawbacks. Most methods cannot automatically separate scattered , singleton and mini-cluster genes from other genes. Inclusion of these types of genes into regular clustering processes can impede identification of gene expression patterns. In this paper, we propose a general clustering method, namely a dynamic agglomerative clustering (DAC) method. DAC can automatically separate scattered, singleton and mini-cluster genes from other genes and thus avoid possible contamination to the gene expression patterns caused by them. For DAC, the scattered gene filtering step is no longer necessary in data pre-processing. In addition, we propose a criterion for evaluating clustering results for a dataset which contains scattered, singleton and/or mini-cluster genes. DAC has been applied successfully to two real datasets for identification of gene expression patterns. Our numerical results indicate that DAC outperforms other clustering methods, such as the quality-based and model-based clustering methods , in clustering datasets which contain scattered, singleton and/or mini-cluster genes.
The bHLH genes GL3 and EGL3 participate in an intercellular regulatory circuit that controls cell patterning in the Arabidopsis root epidermis

The specification of the hair and non-hair cells in the Arabidopsis root epidermis provides a useful model for the study of cell fate determination in plants. A network of putative transcriptional regulators, including the related bHLH proteins GLABRA3 (GL3) and ENHANCER OF GLABRA3 (EGL3), is known to influence the patterning of these cell types. Here, we analyze the expression and regulation of GL3 and EGL3 during root epidermis development. Although they are thought to act in both the hair and non-hair cell types, we surprisingly found that GL3 and EGL3 gene expression and RNA accumulation occurs preferentially in the developing hair cells. By analyzing the expression of GL3::GUS and EGL3::GUS reporter fusions in various mutant and overexpression lines, we discovered that the expression of both genes is negatively regulated by WER, GL3 and EGL3 in the developing non-hair cells, and positively regulated by the CPC and TRY proteins in the developing hair cells. Further, the analysis of a GL3-YFP translational fusion, expressed under the GL3 promoter, indicates that the GL3 protein moves from the hair cells to the non-hair cells. These results suggest that GL3/EGL3 accumulation in the N cells is dependent on specification of the hair cell fate, which itself is known to be influenced (via CPC-mediated lateral inhibition) by the non-hair cells. This bi-directional signaling mechanism defines a new regulatory circuit of intercellular communication to specify the epidermal cell types.
Multichannel service retailing : examining the moderating effect of customer characteristics on the relationship between channel performance satisfaction and behavioural intention

The advent of multiple channel strategies motivate service providers, especially banks, to link their traditional existing channels (i.e., the service provider’s employees) to more innovative channels such as the Internet; in an attempt to increase profitability by retaining their existing customers and attracting new potential customers. The purpose of the current research is to identify factors which influence customers’ satisfaction with the performance of a service provider’s multiple channel's which might lead to desirable behavioural outcomes such as staying loyal. In particular, this study focuses on the interaction affects personality traits (i.e., the five-factor model of personality) might have on the relationship between satisfaction with multichannel performance and behavioural intention, and how significant these interaction effects are in enhancing or weakening this relationship. Data was collected primarily using a questionnaire which was completed by a sample of 380 chosen customers of various Saudi banks in the city of Jeddah. Results obtained from performing structural equation modelling indicate that customers’ satisfaction with both employee channel performance and on-line banking channel performance have a positive significant effect on their behavioural intention. In addition, existence of channel synergies was confirmed; whereby customers’ satisfaction with the bank employee’s fact-to-face performance leads to a positive attitude towards the channel and, in turn, this positive attitude extends to the on-line banking channel. Findings have also revealed a positive moderating effects that the extravert trait has on enhancing the positive relationship between their satisfaction with the online channel’s performance and behavioural intention, whilst, at the same time displaying negative effect on satisfaction with the employee channel’s performance and behavioural intention, which indicates that extravert individuals from the study sample are adventurous and are in favour of trying new ways of performing their banking activities. Furthermore, both neuroticism trait and openness to experience were found having a negative moderating effect on customers’ satisfaction with the employee channel’s performance and behavioural intention. However, no significant interaction effects were detected for these traits on satisfaction with online banking and behavioural intention. As for technology readiness, no moderating effects were found with regards to this relationship. Finally, there are several managerial implications provided by the study as well as direction for future research.
High incidence of HAM/TSP-like symptoms in WKA rats after administration of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1-producing cells

We demonstrate a significantly high incidence of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy (HAM)-or tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP)-like symptoms in WKA rats after injection with HTLV-1-producing MT-2 cells, while no symptoms were observed in F344 rats injected with MT-2 cells or in control WKA rats. Five of the eight (63%) WKA rats injected with MT-2 cells showed HAM/TSP-like paraparesis at 105 weeks of age, but none of seven MT-2-injected F344 rats or eight control WKA rats showed symptoms. This high incidence of HAM/TSP-like symptoms in WKA rats was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Six of the eight (75%) WKA rats injected with MT-2 cells showed HAM/TSP-like paraparesis at 108 weeks of age. HAM/TSP-like symptoms were also observed in one of the two WKA rats injected with HTLV-1-producing Ra-1 cells at 128 weeks of age. HTLV-1 provirus was detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in both WKA and F344 rats. The provirus was detected in the spinal cords of the HAM/TSP-like WKA rats that had severe neuropathological changes. WKA and F344 rats showed no significant difference in antibody response against HTLV-1 Gag antigen. However, the antibody response against the C-terminal half of gp46 HTLV-1 envelope protein was lower in WKA rats than in F344 rats. Pathological analysis of the HAM/TSP-like rats showed degeneration of the white matter of the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. These findings suggest that both the genetic background of the host and HTLV-1 infection are important in neuropathogenesis of HAM/TSP-like paraparesis in rats.
Comprehensive Memory Error Protection via Diversity and Taint-Tracking

A memory error occurs when an object accessed using a pointerexpression is di erent from the one intended (the referent)Out-of-bounds access (e.g., bu er overow)Access using a corrupted pointers (e.g., bu er overow,format bug)Uninitialized pointer access, dangling pointers, . Memory error exploitation generally relies onData corruptionGathering information on memory location addresses
Consumer understanding and use of nutrition labelling: a systematic review

Abstract Objective: To explore published and unpublished research into consumer understanding and use of nutrition labelling which is culturally applicable in Europe. Design: A systematic review undertaken between July 2002 and February 2003. Results: One hundred and three papers were identified that reported on consumer understanding or use of nutrition labelling, most originating from North America or northern Europe. Only a few studies (9%) were judged to be of high or medium–high quality. We found that reported use of nutrition labels is high but more objective measures suggest that actual use of nutrition labelling during food purchase may be much lower. Whether or not consumers can understand and use nutrition labelling depends on the purpose of the task. Available evidence suggests that consumers who do look at nutrition labels can understand some of the terms used but are confused by other types of information. Most appear able to retrieve simple information and make simple calculations and comparisons between products using numerical information, but their ability to interpret the nutrition label accurately reduces as the complexity of the task increases. The addition of interpretational aids like verbal descriptors and recommended reference values helps in product comparison and in putting products into a total diet context. Conclusions: Improvements in nutrition labelling could make a small but important contribution towards making the existing point-of-purchase environment more conducive to the selection of healthy choices. In particular, interpretational aids can help consumers assess the nutrient contribution of specific foods to the overall diet.
The natural history of gluten sensitivity: report of two new celiac disease patients resulting from a long-term follow-up of nonatrophic, first-degree relatives

OBJECTIVE:Early studies revealed that up to 50% of nonatrophic, first-degree relatives of celiac disease patients exhibit features of gluten sensitivity. However, whether these features progress to a fully expressed celiac disease remain partially known. Our aim was to report two new patients resulting from a prospective, long-term surveillance of relatives who were nonatrophic at initial assessment.METHODS:After a median time of 86 months (range: 42–102 months) from the baseline assessment, we re-evaluated 44 first-degree relatives of propositi who had taken part in family studies and in whom baseline small intestinal biopsies were normal. At the baseline screening, 21 relatives had positive serum antigliadin antibodies and/or increased intraepithelial lymphocyte infiltration, and 23 did not. In addition, 11 of 18 had a celiac-like response to rectal gluten challenge and 16 of 34 possessed the characteristic HLA DQ2 haplotype (DQA1 0501 DQB1 0201). Re-evaluation was based on celiac-related serology antigliadin (AGA) and endomysial (EmA) antibodies. EmA-positive subjects underwent intestinal biopsy.RESULTS:At the end of the study, EmA was positive in only two subjects. Histological examination revealed flat small bowel mucosa in both. At baseline, both cases were EmA-negative and no minor histological changes were observed. One was a woman with positive baseline IgA and IgG AGA and a rectal gluten challenge with a celiac-like response; the other patient has presented only with a positive IgG AGA. In both cases, progression was detected in a clinically silent context. Both new patients had the characteristic HLA DQ2 haplotype.CONCLUSIONS:Our data suggest the need to re-evaluate relatives who have been negative on initial screening for celiac disease. Up to now, the progression to severe enteropathy was only observed in relatives who had presented some evidence of gluten sensitivity and the characteristic HLA DQ2 haplotype. Longer longitudinal studies are necessary to obtain definitive conclusions.
The association of gut microbiota with body weight and body mass index in preschool children of Estonia

Background : The gut microbiota has been shown to affect both fat storage and energy harvesting, suggesting that it plays a direct role in the development of obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether intestinal colonization by particular species/groups of the intestinal microbiota is related to body weight values in Estonian preschool children born in different years during the entire 1990s. Methods : Body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), and quantitative composition of cultivable gut microbiota (staphylococci, enterococci, streptococci, enterobacteria, lactobacilli, anaerobic gram-positive cocci, bifidobacteria, eubacteria, bacteroides, clostridia, and candida) were studied in 51 healthy 5-year-old children (40 were born between 1993 and 94 and 11 were born between 1996 and 97). Results : At the age of 5 years, median weight was 19.5 kg and median BMI was 15.3 kg/m2. Significantly higher BMI (p=0.006) was found in 5-year-old children born in late versus early 1990s during the development of socioeconomic situation of Estonia (2% rise in gross domestic product). The counts of the different gut bacteria did not show any association with weight and BMI in the 5-year-old children. However, the BMI values were in positive correlation with a relative share of anaerobic gram-positive bacteria, for example, bifidobacteria when adjusted for sex and year of birth (adj R2=0.459, p=0.026) and eubacteria (adj R2=0.484, p=0.014) in the community of cultured intestinal microbiota. The relative share of bacteroides showed a negative correlation with the childrens’ weight (adj R2=− 0.481, p=0.015). Conclusion : The body weight indices of preschool children of the general population are associated with the proportion of anaerobic intestinal microbiota and can be predicted by sex and particular socioeconomic situation from birth to 5 years of age.
Crosstalk Analysis of an Inductively and Capacitively Coupled Interconnect Driven by a CMOS Gate

This paper deals with crosstalk analysis of a CMOS gate driven capacitively and inductively coupled interconnect. Alpha Power Law model of MOS - transistor is used to represent a transistor in CMOS- driver. This is combined with a transmission line based coupled RLC-model of interconnect to develop a composite driver interconnect load (DIL) model for analytical purpose. On this basis a transient analysis of crosstalk noise is carried out. Comparison of the analytical results with SPICE extracted results shows that the error involved is nominal.
Characterization of plasmid pXL100 from Amycolatopsis orientalis HCCB10007 and construction of a shuttle vector

Many strains of Amycolatopsis, such as Amycolatopsis orientalis, A. balhimycina, and A. mediterranei, are important antibiotic producers. Three indigenous plasmids, pMEA100, pMEA300, and pA387, found in this genus have been sequenced. However, only some vectors based on pA387 have been widely applied in Amycolatopsis research. An indigenous plasmid, pXL100, was isolated from the vancomycin producer A. orientalis HCCB10007. Sequence analysis of pXL100 revealed its total length to be 33,499 bp and GC content to be 68.9%. A 2830‐bp fragment containing three ORFs has been identified as essential for replication in A. orientalis, but it has no significant similarity to any known replicons. A vector, pLYZW7‐3, was constructed based on the pXL100 replicon and could be transferred into A. mediterranei and A. orientalis by electroporation or conjugation with high frequency. A mutant with a disrupted gene was successfully complemented with the pLYZW7‐3 vector, indicating that the vector is potentially useful in Amycolatopsis research.
Spaces of Hate: Geographies of Discrimination and Intolerance in the U.S.A.

Introduction: Spaces of Hate: Geographies of hate and intolerance in the United States of America - Colin Flint 1. One Social Milieu, Paradoxical Responses: A Geographical Re-Examination of the Ku Klux Klan and the Daughters of the American Revolution in the Early Twentieth Century - Carol Medlicott 2. The Geography of Racial Activism: Defining Whiteness at Multiple Scales - Kathleen M. Blee 3. House Bound: Women's Agency in White Separatist Movements, - Jennifer Fluri and Lorraine Dowler 4. Contesting Place Anti-gay and Lesbian Hate Crime in Colombus, Ohio, - Rini Sumartojo 5. Blame it on the Casa Nova? "Good Scenery and Sodomy" in Rural Southwestern Pennsylvania - Todd Heibel 6. If First You Don't Secede, Try, Try Again: Secession, Hate and the League of the South - Gerald R. Webster 7. United States Hegemony and the Construction of Racial Hatreds: The Agency of Hate Groups and the Changing World Political Map - Colin Flint 8. Mainstreaming the Milita - Carolyn Gallaher 9. When Extreme Political Ideas Move into the Mainstream - Andrew Kirby 10. Producing and Enforcing the Geography of Hate: Race, Housing Segregation, and Housing-Related Hate Crimes in the United States - Jeff Crump Afterword: Finding and Fighting Hate Where it Lives: Reflections of a Pennsylvania Practitioner - Daniel M. Welliver