Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rapid Microscale Enzymic Semisynthesis of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) Analogues

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) is a small growth factor containing 53 amino acid residues capable of stimulating the proliferation of both mesenchymal and epithelial cells. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of EGF from several species, and related proteins that can bind to the EGF receptor (e.g. TGFf, VGF, heparin-binding EGF, and betacellulin), suggests that Leu47, which is highly conserved, is important for biological function. Additionally, we have shown previously, using a combination of trypsin and carboxypeptidase Y digestion of native murine EGF, that removal of Leu47 results in more than 100-fold decrease in both receptor binding and mitogenic activity. We now describe a micromethod for the rapid generation of C-terminally modified EGFs to investigate further the role of C-terminal residues in determining functional activity. These analogues have been generated by digesting native murine EGF with trypsin, purifying the biologically inactive, but structurally intact, EGF1-45 core by micropreparative RP-HPLC, and then reversing the action of trypsin to couple synthetic peptides (e.g. DL, DI, DF, EL, DLLW) onto the C-terminus of the EGF1-45 core. This enzymic semisynthesis method allows multiple derivatives to be generated rapidly from microgram quantities of EGF1-45 in sufficient quantities for sensitive biological and physicochemical analysis. We have validated the method by regenerating EGF1-47 from EGF1-45 with equivalent mitogenic and receptor binding activity to EGF1-47 generated from wild type EGF by digestion with trypsin and carboxypeptidase Y. We have also investigated the effect of substituting alternative normal or non-physiological amino acids (e.g. allo-Ile) for Asp46, Leu47 or Arg48. Even small changes in these C-terminal residues reduce the mitogenic potency of the analogue.
An investigation of the human cortical evoked potential under conditions of monaural and binaural stimulation.

The human cortical potential evoked by a 1000-Hz tone was recorded under conditions of binaural and monaural stimulation which covered a wide range of stimulus intensities. The results showed that (1) the curve for the amplitude as well as for the area confined by the potential increased with increases in stimulus intensity. At higher stimulus intensities, these curves leveled off. (2) Bilateral stimulation generated larger cortical potentials than did monaural stimulation. (3) Latency of the potential decreased with increases in stimulus intensity. When the monaural stimulus was delivered to the ear contralateral to the active scalp electrode, the various components of the potential showed consistently a shorter latency than when the monaural stimulus was presented ipsi-laterally.This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness, USA. , and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
Chirality of Modern Antidepressants: An Overview

The majority of modern antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) have one or two centers of asymmetry in their structure; resulting in the formation of enantiomers which may exhibit different pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties. Recent developments in drug stereochemistry has led to understanding the role of chirality in modern therapy correlated with increased knowledge regarding the molecular structure of specific drug targets and towards the possible advantages of using pure enantiomers instead of racemic mixtures. The current review deals with chiral antidepressant drugs; presenting examples of stereoselectivity in the pharmacological actions of certain antidepressants and their metabolites and emphasizing the differences between pharmacological actions of the racemates and pure enantiomers.
Long-term tolerability, pharmacokinetic and preliminary efficacy study of lamotrigine in patients with resistant partial seizures.

Four adult men with resistant partial seizures underwent an intensive open-label protocol designed to evaluate long-term add-on lamotrigine (LTG) therapy. Following an 8-week baseline, LTG was added to their background medication(s) (carbamazepine in three; carbamazepine and phenytoin in one). Incremental LTG doses of 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg every 12 h were given on days 58-60, 61-63, 64-127, and 128-176, respectively. The patients were hospitalized during and after each of the dose increases for a total of 25 days. Frequent outpatient visits were performed biweekly, weekly, or monthly, depending on the phase of the protocol. Frequent clinical, electrocardiographic (ECG), and laboratory evaluations were performed. Serial blood levels and 24-h urine collections were performed sequentially. In patients 1, 2, and 3, LTG was well tolerated at 200 mg b.i. d. Patient 4 did not tolerate 150 mg, b.i. d. , but tolerated and maintained complete seizure control on 100 b.i. d. All four patients tolerated LTG and continued to receive it for 39, 46, 105, and 104 weeks, respectively. Serial 12-h plasma LTG levels were obtained on days 63, 70, and 133. On these days, the mean (+/- SD) LTG clearances (dose/AUC) were 0.0436 +/- 0.0171, 0.0468 +/- 0.0093, and 0.0575 +/- 0.0160 L/h/kg, respectively. Some 43-87% of the LTG was recovered in the urine, predominantly as the glucuronide metabolite. In the four patients, the mean weekly seizure frequency per patient was 6.5 in baseline, 5.0 on submaximal LTG doses, and 3.5 on the maximum administered doses. Three of the four patients eventually experienced a greater than 50% decrease in seizure frequency. In conclusion, when given for long periods of time (9.5 months to 2 years), LTG was well tolerated in doses up to 400 mg/day and mean trough levels of 3.0 +/- 0.6 microgram/ml; LTG has a favorable pharmacokinetic profile and appears to exhibit first-order linear kinetics during long-term chronic dosing; LTG shows preliminary evidence of efficacy during long-term administration; and to date, our patients represent the longest reported experience of continuous and closely monitored LTG therapy in the literature.
Breast-feeding Duration and Childhood Acute Leukemia and Lymphomas in a Sample of Turkish Children

Objectives: Whether breast-feeding is associated with decreased incidence of the lymphoid malignancies in children is uncertain. We evaluated childhood acute leukemia and lymphoma in relation to duration of breast-feeding. Methods: We investigated this issue in a case-control study comprising 137 patients, aged 1 to 16 years, with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in addition to 146 controls matched for age and sex. Results: The median duration of breast-feeding among patients was shorter than that of controls (10 vs 12 months). Patients with ALL and AML had shorter mean breast-feeding duration compared with healthy children (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). The shortest mean breast-feeding duration was noted in the children with AML. Breast-feeding for a duration of 0 to 6 months, when compared with feeding of longer than 6 months, was associated with increased odds ratios (ORs) for ALL [OR = 2.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.17-5.10], AML (OR = 6.67, 95% CI = 1.32-33.69), Hodgkin lymphoma (OR = 3.33, 95% CI = 0.60-18.54), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (OR = 1.90, 95% CI = 0.68-5.34) and overall (OR = 2.54, 95% CI = 1.51-4.26). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that breast-feeding of more than 6 months is protective against childhood lymphoid malignancies, especially for AML and ALL. JPGN 42:568-572, 2006.
Ultrafast Electron Injection: Implications for a Photoelectrochemical Cell Utilizing an Anthocyanin Dye-Sensitized TiO2 Nanocrystalline Electrode

colloidal TiO2 powder, is shown to convert sunlight to electrical power at an efficiency of 0.56% under full sun. Fluorescence quenching is observed for the excited state of the TiO2-adsorbed anthocyanin dye, cyanin, and the photocurrent spectrum correlates well with the optical absorption of the cyanin-sensitized TiO 2 nanocrystalline film. The incident photon-to-current efficiency of 19% at the peak of the visible absorption band of the dye, the open-circuit voltages of 0.5-0.4 V, and short-circuit photocurrents of 1.5-2.2 mA/cm 2 are remarkable for such a simple system and suggest efficient charge carrier injection. The ultrafast excitedstate dynamics of cyanin in solution are compared with those of surface-adsorbed cyanin on TiO2 and ZrO2 colloids, as well as complexed with Al(III) ions. A transient absorption signal with a risetime of <100 fs for cyanin-sensitized TiO2 nanoparticles is assigned to electrons injected from the dye to TiO 2. This signal is fit to a double-exponential decay with time constants of 0.52 and 67 ps. The 0.52 ps component is due to trapping of conduction band electrons or to fast direct recombination with the dye cation, while the 67 ps decay is attributed to trap state mediated indirect recombination. In contrast, stimulated emission with a 2.6 ps decay time is observed for cyanin in solution, cyanin on ZrO2, and cyanin complexed with Al(III) ions. When compared to the photon-to-current efficiency measured for the solar cell, the efficiency estimated from the injection and recombination rate constants suggests that electron recapture by the redox mediator and light screening mechanisms may limit the efficiency of the cell.
Nonantiretroviral Drug Consumption by CD4 Cell Count in HIV-Infected Adults: A 5-Year Cohort Study in Côte d'Ivoire

We followed a cohort of 592 HIV-infected adults during 1292 person-years in Abidjan before the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era. On the basis of the exhaustive monitoring of nonantiretroviral drugs actually delivered to the patients and of the real cost of drugs at the cohort center's pharmacy during the study period, we estimated the mean cost of drugs per person per year (MCPPY) overall, by drug characteristics, and by patients' baseline CD4 cell count. The MCPPY was $198 US overall and $83 US, $101 US, $186 US, $233 US, and $459 US in patients with a baseline CD4 count ≥500 cells/mm3, 350 to 499 cells/mm3, 200 to 349 cells/mm3, 100 to 199 cells/mm3, and <100 cells/mm3, respectively. The most costly classes of drugs were the antibacterial (MCPPY $30 US), the antifungal ($16 US), and the analgesic ($6 US) classes in patients with a baseline CD4 count ≥500 cells/mm3 versus the antifungal ($208 US), the antibacterial ($49 US), and the antiparasitic ($31 US) classes in patients with a baseline CD4 count <100 cells/mm3. These data could be used in further cost-effectiveness analyses that seek to prioritize health interventions. Meanwhile, they roughly suggest that successful antiretroviral treatment, which would stabilize the CD4 count above 500 cells/mm3, could reduce by 5-fold the cost of nonantiretroviral drugs in HIV-infected adults in Abidjan.
Hepatitis C Virus–Associated Cholestatic Hepatitis: We Cannot Seem to Agree on Diagnostic Criteria

Marina Berenguer and Geoffrey McCaughan Hepatology/Liver Transplantation Unit, Digestive Medicine Service, and Network Center for Biomedical Research in Hepatic and Digestive Diseases, National Network Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology Research, Carlos III Institute of Health, Valencia, Spain; and A. W. Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre, Centenary Research Institute, Australian National Liver Transplant Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Coverage Among Girls Before 13 Years

Routine human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is recommended at 11 or 12 years by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. National Immunization Survey–Teen data were analyzed to evaluate, among girls, coverage with one or more doses of HPV vaccination, missed opportunities for HPV vaccination, and potential achievable coverage before 13 years. Results were stratified by birth year cohorts. HPV vaccination coverage before 13 years (≥1 HPV dose) increased from 28.4% for girls born in 1995 to 46.8% for girls born in 2000. Among girls born during 1999-2000 who had not received HPV vaccination before 13 years (57.2%), 80.1% had at least 1 missed opportunity to receive HPV vaccination before 13 years. Opportunities to vaccinate for HPV at age 11 to 12 years are missed. Strategies are needed to decrease these missed opportunities for HPV vaccination. This can be facilitated by the administration of all vaccines recommended for adolescents at the same visit.
Examining multiple sources of differential item functioning on the Clinician & Group CAHPS® survey.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate psychometric properties of a widely used patient experience survey. DATA SOURCES English-language responses to the Clinician & Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CG-CAHPS®) survey (n = 12,244) from a 2008 quality improvement initiative involving eight southern California medical groups. METHODS We used an iterative hybrid ordinal logistic regression/item response theory differential item functioning (DIF) algorithm to identify items with DIF related to patient sociodemographic characteristics, duration of the physician-patient relationship, number of physician visits, and self-rated physical and mental health. We accounted for all sources of DIF and determined its cumulative impact. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The upper end of the CG-CAHPS® performance range is measured with low precision. With sensitive settings, some items were found to have DIF. However, overall DIF impact was negligible, as 0.14 percent of participants had salient DIF impact. Latinos who spoke predominantly English at home had the highest prevalence of salient DIF impact at 0.26 percent. CONCLUSIONS The CG-CAHPS® functions similarly across commercially insured respondents from diverse backgrounds. Consequently, previously documented racial and ethnic group differences likely reflect true differences rather than measurement bias. The impact of low precision at the upper end of the scale should be clarified.
A comparison of methods for the assessment of postural load and duration of computer use

Aim: To compare two different methods for assessment of postural load and duration of computer use in office workers. Methods: The study population existed of 87 computer workers. Questionnaire data about exposure were compared with exposures measured by a standardised or objective method. Measuring true exposure to postural load consisted of an observation of the workstation design and posture by a trained observer. A software program was used to record individual computer use. Results: Comparing the answers for each item of postural load, six of eleven items showed low agreement (kappa <0.20). For six items the sensitivity was below 50%, while for eight items the specificity was 80% or higher. Computer workers were unable to identify risk factors in their workplace and work posture. On average, computer workers overestimated their total computer use by 1.6 hours. The agreement among employees who reported a maximum of three hours of computer use per day was higher than the agreement among employees with a high duration of computer use. Conclusions: Self-report by means of this questionnaire is not a very reliable method to measure postural load and duration of computer use. This study emphasises that the challenge to develop quick and inexpensive techniques for assessing exposure to postural load and duration of computer use is still open.
New split-radix algorithm for the discrete Hartley transform

This paper presents a split-radix algorithm that can flexibly compute the discrete Hartley transforms of various sequence lengths. Comparisons with previously reported algorithms are made in terms of the required number of additions and multiplications. It shows that the length-3*2/sup m/ DHTs need a smaller number of multiplications than the length-2/sup m/ DHTs. However, they both require about the same computational complexity in terms of the total number of additions and multiplications. Optimized computation of length-12, -16 and -24 DFTs are also provided.
The appropriateness of analysis of variance and multiple-comparison procedures.

Consider the situation where samples have been obtained randomly from each of five populations A, B, C, D and E. The question arises, 'How should the data be analyzed? '. A common answer to this question is 'Do one-way analysis of variance and, if P < . 05, make pairwise comparisons using an appropriate multiple-comparison algorithm'. This is the approach presented in virtually all textbooks, subscribed to by most statisticians, and expected (if not required) by most journals. Conversely, the alternative answer, 'Do 10 two-sample t tests', would typically be considered naive and likely to elicit the response, 'You should consult a statistician'. Perhaps most importantly, medical research is likely to fare poorly among reviewers when the statistical analysis is judged to be naive. Thus the purpose of this
Modeling a Dual-Material-Gate Junctionless FET Under Full and Partial Depletion Conditions Using Finite-Differentiation Method

In this paper, we have developed a model for the surface potential and the drain current of a dual-material double-gate (DMDG) junctionless FET (JLFET) transistor. A finite-differentiation method has been used to decompose the 2-D Poisson's equation into two 1-D equations, which allows the modeling of the DMDG structure as two individual single-material double-gate JLFETs. The two 1-D models are then combined using appropriate boundary conditions to provide a simple solution to the complex 2-D Poisson's equation. The proposed model has been verified for different values of doping concentration (ND), oxide thickness (Tox), and channel thickness (Tsi) against the numerical simulations.
Soft-tissue lipomas: accuracy of sonography in diagnosis with pathologic correlation.

PURPOSE To retrospectively determine the accuracy of sonography in helping to distinguish soft-tissue lipomas from other soft-tissue masses by using histologic proof as the reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS Institutional review board approval was obtained, and informed consent was waived. Thirty-nine patients who underwent sonographic evaluation of a soft-tissue mass followed by biopsy or resection were retrospectively evaluated. Two musculoskeletal radiologists (readers 1 and 2) reviewed the sonographic images, characterized the masses, and rated the level of confidence in the diagnosis of lipoma by using a five-point scale. A level of confidence was also rated for the prospective sonographic report, which was reviewed and designated as reader 3. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, including 95% confidence intervals, were generated, and the area under the ROC curve (A(z)) was calculated for each reader. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for each reader were calculated by using a confidence rating of 4 or 5 as positive for lipoma. Weighted kappa analysis was also performed to assess for interobserver variability. RESULTS Histologic examination yielded 25 lipomas and 14 nonlipomas. The echogenicity of lipomas ranged from hypoechoic to hyperechoic relative to muscle, although most were isoechoic or hyperechoic. A(z) values were 0.79 for reader 1, 0.56 for reader 2, and 0.77 for reader 3. There was no significant difference between the A(z) for each reader and for chance. Interobserver agreement was fair, with a kappa value of 0.35 among the three readers. Sensitivities were 52%, 40%, and 52%, and accuracies were 64%, 49%, and 64% for readers 1, 2, and 3, respectively. CONCLUSION Sonography demonstrates low accuracy in the diagnosis of soft-tissue lipomas.
Normality of colour vision in a compound heterozygous female carrying protan and deutan defects

Background: Inherited red‐green colour vision defects are quite common, affecting one in 12 males, but are less common in women, affecting about one in 250. Because red‐green defects are X‐linked, nearly 15 per cent of females are heterozygous carriers of red‐green colour deficiency. In addition, about one in 150 females are ‘double carriers’, where both of their X chromosomes have L/M gene arrays encoding a red‐green defect. If a woman carries the same type of colour vision defect on each X‐chromosome, she will be red‐green colour deficient, whereas if she carries opposing defects (protan versus deutan) on each X chromosome, she will have normal colour vision, owing to the process of X‐inactivation. These women are referred to as compound heterozygotes, though very few have been reported. Questions remain about whether the colour vision capacity of these women is comparable to that of ‘normal’ trichromats.
A Hierarchical Framework for Estimating Heterogeneous Architecture-based Software Reliability

Problem. The composite model approach that follows a DTMC process with constant failure rate is not analytically tractable for improving its method of solution for estimating software reliability. In this case, a hierarchical approach is preferred to improve accuracy for the method of solution for estimating reliability. Very few studies have been conducted on heterogeneous architecture-based software reliability, and those that have been done use the composite model for reliability estimation. To my knowledge, no research has been done where a hierarchical approach is taken to estimate heterogeneous architecture-based software reliability. This paper explores the use and effectiveness of a hierarchical framework to estimate heterogeneous architecture-based software reliability. -- Method. Concepts of reliability and reliability prediction models for heterogeneous software architecture were surveyed. The different architectural styles were identified as batch-sequential, parallel filter, fault tolerance, and call and return. A method for evaluating these four styles solely on the basis of transition probability was proposed. Four case studies were selected from similar researches which have been done to test the effectiveness of the proposed hierarchical framework. The study assumes that the method of extracting the information about the software architecture was accurate and that the actual reliability of the systems used were free of software errors. -- Results. The percentage difference in results of the reliability estimated by the proposed hierarchical framework compared with the actual reliability was 5.12%, 11.09%, 0.82%, and 52.14% for Cases 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. The proposed hierarchical framework did not work for Case 4, which showed much higher values in component utilization and therefore higher interactions between components when compared with the other cases. -- Conclusions. The proposed hierarchical framework generally showed close comparison with the actual reliability of the software systems used in the case studies. However, the results obtained by the proposed hierarchical framework compared to the actual reliability were in disagreement for Case 4. This is due to the higher component interactions in Case 4 when compared with other cases and showed that there are limitations to the extent to which the proposed hierarchical framework can be applied. The reasoning for the limitations of the hierarchical approach has not been cited in any research on the subject matter. Even with the limitations, the hierarchical framework for estimating heterogeneous architecture-based software reliability can still be applied when high accuracy is not required and not too high interactions among components in the software system exist. Thesis (M.S.) -- Andrews University, College of Arts and Sciences, 2014