Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of Sickle a- or $#{176}-Thalassemia by Studies of Globin Biosynthesis

Globin synthesis studies are useful in the analysis of thalassemia syndromes. We have applied globin synthesis and free a-chain pool studies of peripheral blood to characterize hematologic disorders where a- or�- thalassemia was present in com- bination with HbS or HbC. In 60 non- thalassemic controls, the $/a specific activity ratio was 1.O� ± 0.06 (SD). In three patients with HbS-fi#{176}-thalassemia, the ( � + 'y)/a ratios were 0.48-0.67. In fouratients with HbSS-a-thalassemia, theIa ratio was 1.26± 0.18 (1.13- 1.53). The radioactive free a-chain pool in three patients with HbS-fi#{176}-thalassemig was elevated (35.1%-53.0%), while three patients with HbSS-a-thalassemia had decreased free radioactive a-chain pools (3.2%-6.4%); both were signifi- cantly different from the mean 1 5 . 1 % ± 2.6%) of the 1 7 iron-sufficient controls. Simultaneous studies of the fraction of newly synthesized a chain contained in the free a-chain pool in peripheral blood and bone marrow demonstrated that this fraction was larger in peripheral blood than in marrow, and that the differences between thalassemia patients and con- trols previously found in bone marrow using these methods were also present in peripheral blood. The results indicate that even when family studies are not possible, patients with HbS in combination with a- or �1#{176}-thalassemia can be differentiated from those with homozygous sickle cell disease by globin synthesis and free a-chain pool studies using peripheral blood. LOBIN SYNTHESIS has been extensively studied in patients with thalas- semia. Blacks with a- or f3-thalassemia trait exhibit a wide range of globin synthesis ratios, overlapping normal and abnormal values in whites. ' � These findings raise the question ofwhether the differentiation of sickling disorders in association with a- or j3-thalassemia from homozygous sickle cell disease may be possible on the basis ofglobin synthesis studies alone. A significantly larger free radioactive ct-chain pool is present in the marrow of patients with f�-thalassemia trait or Hb Lepore trait than in nonthalassemic controls4 and a smaller pool than normal is found in a-thalassemia.5'6 Although the bone marrow free radioactive a-chain pool may be useful in differentiating sickling syndromes with thalassemia from those without thalassemia, a method using peripheral blood would be more convenient and less painful. In the present study peripheral blood was used instead of marrow to de- termine the fraction of newly synthesized a chain in the free a-chain pool in
Energy Harvesting and Remote Powering for Implantable Biosensors

This paper reviews some popular techniques to harvest energy for implantable biosensors. For each technique, the advantages and drawbacks are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the inductive links that are able to deliver power wirelessly through the biological tissues and enable bidirectional data communication with the implanted sensors. Finally, high-frequency inductive links are described, focusing also on the power absorbed by the tissues.
Associations of Menstrual Cycle Length With Intake of Soy, Fat, and Dietary Fiber in Japanese Women

Abstract: A decreased risk of breast cancer has been reported among women who have longer menstrual cycles or anovulatory cycles. The present study examined the relationships between intake of fat, soy, and dietary fiber and length of menstrual cycle among 341 Japanese women aged 18 to 29 yr old at two colleges and three nursing schools. Intake of nutrients and foods including fats, dietary fiber, and soy products was estimated through the use of a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The mean cycle length was determined for each women based on a prospective record of menstruation. Polyunsaturated fat intake was significantly inversely associated with cycle length; the means of cycle length were 33.2 and 31.0 days for the lowest and the highest quintiles of intake, respectively, after controlling for covariates (trend = 0.03). The odds ratio of a long cycle (> 35 days) for the highest vs. lowest quintile of dietary fiber intake was 2.12 (95% confidence interval 1.00-4.47), although the trend was not statistically significant. The data suggest that polyunsaturated fat and dietary fiber intake are associated with the parameters of menstrual cycle length, but further studies are required to better characterize these associations.
Integrating peer-provided services: a quasi-experimental study of recovery orientation, confidence, and empowerment.

OBJECTIVE Peer-provided mental health services have become increasingly prominent in recent years, despite a lack of evidence of beneficial impact. The study presented here compared the effectiveness of the Vet-to-Vet program, a peer education and support program, and standard care without peer support on measures of recovery orientation, confidence, and empowerment. METHODS Participants were recruited in two consecutive cohorts between 2002 and 2006, one before the implementation of the Vet-to-Vet program in June 2002 (cohort 1; N=78) and one after (cohort 2; N=218). Follow-up interviews were conducted at one, three, and nine months. There were few baseline differences between the cohorts. Intention-to-treat analyses compared cohorts on changes over time on measures of recovery orientation, confidence, and empowerment. A third cohort (cohort 2-V) was constructed that consisted of the subset of participants from the second cohort who directly participated in more than ten Vet-to-Vet sessions since the last research interview (N=102). Comparisons between this cohort and the first cohort constitute as-treated analyses. RESULTS In the intention-to-treat analyses, the Vet-to-Vet cohort scored significantly higher on measures of empowerment. In the as-treated analyses, significant differences favoring the Vet-to-Vet cohort were observed on both empowerment and confidence. Secondary analyses of clinical measures showed significant differences favoring the cohorts 2 and 2-V on measures of functioning and on alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that participation in peer support may enhance personal well-being, as measured by both recovery-oriented and more traditional clinical measures.
Relationship between Prevalent Oral and Cervical Human Papillomavirus Infections in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive and -Negative Women

ABSTRACT Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an etiologic agent for both oropharyngeal and cervical cancers, yet little is known about the interrelationship between oral and cervical HPV infections. Therefore, we compared the prevalences and type distributions of oral and cervical HPV infections and evaluated infection concordance in a cross-sectional study within the Women's Interagency HIV Study cohort. Oral rinse and cervical-vaginal lavage samples were concurrently collected from a convenience sample of 172 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and 86 HIV-negative women. HPV genomic DNA was detected by PGMY09/11 L1 consensus primer PCR and type specified by reverse line blot hybridization for 37 HPV types and β-globin. Only 26 of the 35 HPV types found to infect the cervix were also found within the oral cavity, and the type distribution for oral HPV infections appeared distinct from that for cervical infections (P < 0.001). Oral HPV infections were less common than cervical infections for both HIV-positive (25.2% versus 76.9%, P < 0.001) and HIV-negative (9.0% versus 44.9%, P < 0.001) women. Oral HPV infections were more common among women with a cervical HPV infection than those without a cervical HPV infection (25.5% versus 7.9%, P = 0.002). The majority of women (207; 93.7%) did not have simultaneous oral and cervical infections by the same HPV type; however, the number of women who did (14; 6.3%) was significantly greater than would be expected by chance (P = 0.0002). Therefore, the oral and cervical reservoirs for HPV infection are likely not entirely independent of one another.
The impact of different methods of DNA extraction on microbial community measures of BALF samples based on metagenomic data.

PURPOSE It is a challenge to find a better microorganisms DNA extraction method for samples taken from the lower airways for metagenomic sequencing, as the concentrations of bacteria in the alveoli and small airways are likely considerably less than that of the mouth or lower digestive tract. Background DNA from the host, and extraction biases can significantly interfere with microbiota assessment and increase the cost of sequencing. This study aimed to develop an optimized DNA extraction method, which would enable a higher concentration of microbial DNA to be extracted from the samples. METHODS We compared the microbiota profiles of the lower airway communities in twelve individuals with IIP. DNA was extracted using three different extraction methods: QIAamp UCP PurePathogen Blood Kit named kit3 in this study, QIAamp UCP Pathogen Mini Kit named kit2, and QIAamp DNA Microbiome Kit named kit1. DNA libraries were constructed according to the manufacturer's instructions (Illumina). The same workflows from Illumina were used to perform cluster generation, template hybridization, isothermal amplification, linearization, blocking, denaturing, and hybridization of the sequencing primers. Raw data was uploaded to MG-RAST v3 and analyzed. RESULTS A great number of bacterium inhabits the lower airways of patients with IIP, though there is no airway infection. More bacterium was found in mouth or upper airway. DNA concentrations of DNA samples isolated with kit1 with Benzonase were significantly lower than those isolated with the other two kits for BALF and mouthwash samples. Moreover, the ratio of human genome in clean reads of samples isolated with kit1 with Benzonase was remarkably smaller than those isolated with kit2 and kit3. The relative abundance of total bacteria, the total number of taxa, and the relative abundance of taxa in BALF samples as opposed to mouthwash samples with kit1 were significantly higher than for those extracted the other kits. CONCLUSION A microbial DNA extraction method with pretreatment of depletion of host nucleic acid by Benzonase can enable a higher yield of microbial DNA from samples with a higher fraction of host cells to be obtained. The lower airways of patients with IIP without airway infection were inhabited by a great number of bacterium.
Hepatitis C virus infection in haemodialysis and kidney transplant patients

Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important global health problem. The prevalence of HCV is significantly higher in haemodialysis and kidney transplant patients, as compared to the general population. In spite of the relatively milder liver disease activity reported in HCV‐infected haemodialysis patients, HCV infection adversely affects survival. Likewise, HCV has a detrimental effect on both patient and graft survival after kidney transplantation. However, patient survival is significantly better with kidney transplantation compared to remaining on dialysis; therefore, HCV infection alone should not be a contraindication to transplantation. Combination antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon‐alpha and low‐dose ribavirin is currently evolving in haemodialysis patients. Interferon‐alpha (standard/pegylated) is relatively contraindicated after kidney transplantation because of an increased risk of allograft rejection. Therefore, antiviral treatment of transplant candidates while on dialysis remains the best option and may avoid the risk of HCV‐associated liver and renal disease after transplantation. Large multi‐centre clinical trials are required in HCV‐infected haemodialysis and kidney transplant patients in order to define optimal therapeutic strategies before and after transplantation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Searching for Experience on the Web: An Empirical Examination of Consumer Behavior for Search and Experience Goods

By lowering the costs of gathering and sharing information and offering new ways to learn about products before purchase, the Internet reduces traditional distinctions between search and experience goods. At the same time, differences in the type of information sought for search and experience goods can precipitate differences in the process through which consumers gather information and make decisions online. A preliminary experiment shows that though there are significant differences in consumers’ perceived ability to evaluate product quality before purchase between search and experience goods in traditional retail environments, these differences are blurred in online environments. An analysis of the online behavior of a representative sample of U.S. consumers shows that consumers spend similar amounts of time online gathering information for both search and experience goods, but there are important differences in the browsing and purchase behavior of consumers for these two types of goods. In particular, experience goods involve greater depth (time per page) and lower breadth (total number of pages) of search than search goods. In addition, free riding (purchasing from a retailer other than the primary source of product information) is less frequent for experience than for search goods. Finally, the presence of product reviews from other consumers and multimedia that enable consumers to interact with products before purchase has a greater effect on consumer search and purchase behavior for experience than for search goods.
Closed-loop subcutaneous insulin infusion algorithm with a short-acting insulin analog for long-term clinical application of a wearable artificial endocrine pancreas.

Considering the management and safety of the insulin delivery route when a wearable artificial endocrine pancreas is applied to ambulatory diabetic patients on a long-term basis, we developed a s.c. insulin infusion algorithm by analyzing the dynamics of a s.c. injected short-acting insulin analog (Insulin Lispro) by a three-compartment model. Principally the insulin infusion algorithm was developed as a transfer function with the first-order delay in both proportional and derivative actions to blood glucose concentrations. The parameters for this algorithm were calculated to simulate a physiological plasma insulin profile as closely as possible. By applying this algorithm with regular insulin, diabetic patients showed a 2 h postprandial hyperglycemia and a delayed hyperinsulinemia, followed by hypoglycemic episodes 4-5 h after oral glucose load, just as observed in the computer simulation study. However, using Insulin Lispro, a near-physiological glycemic control (postprandial blood glucose of 153.1 +/- 8.3 mg/100 ml at 60 min and 90.3 +/- 7.1 mg/100 ml at 180 min, respectively) could be achieved without showing any delayed hyperinsulinemia or hypoglycemia. Daily glycemic excursions were also controlled near-physiologically and although the daily insulin requirement (731.7 +/- 160.5 mU/kg/day) was slightly higher, it was not significantly different from that with i.v. insulin infusion (622.3 +/- 142.6 mU/kg/day). These results indicate that the application of s.c. insulin infusion algorithm with Insulin Lispro is feasible for long-term glycemic control with a wearable artificial endocrine pancreas in ambulatory diabetic patients.
Fusion rules for the logarithmic N = 1 superconformal minimal models: I. The Neveu–Schwarz sector

It is now well known that non-local observables in critical statistical lattice models, polymers and percolation for example, may be modelled in the continuum scaling limit by logarithmic conformal field theories. Fusion rules for such theories, sometimes referred to as logarithmic minimal models, have been intensively studied over the last ten years in order to explore the representation-theoretic structures relevant to non-local observables. Motivated by recent lattice conjectures, this work studies the fusion rules of the N = 1 supersymmetric analogues of these logarithmic minimal models in the Neveu–Schwarz sector. Fusion rules involving Ramond representations will be addressed in a sequel.
Promiscuity of Hosting Nitrogen Fixation in Rice: An Overview from the Legume Perspective

ABSTRACT: The subject area of this review provides extraordinary challenges and opportunities. The challenges relate to the fact that the integration of various fields such as microbiology, biochemistry, plant physiology, eukaryotic as well as bacterial genetics, and applied plant sciences are required to assess the disposition of rice, an alien host, for establishing such a unique phenomenon as biological nitrogen fixation. The opportunities signify that, if successful, the breakthrough will have a significant impact on the global economy and will help improve the environment. This review highlights the literature related to the area of legume-rhizobia interactions, particularly those aspects whose understanding is of particular interest in the perspective of rice. This review also discusses the progress achieved so far in this area of rice research and the possibility of built-in nitrogen fixation in rice in the future. However, it is to be borne in mind that such research does not ensure any success at this point. It provides a unique opportunity to broaden our knowledge and understanding about many aspects of plant growth regulation in general.
Lattice low-delay vector excitation coding of speech at 8-16 kb/s

Lattice low-delay vector excitation coding (LLD-VXC) is a speech coding system based on analysis-by-synthesis excitation coding and backward adaptation of the synthesis filter. The introduction of a lattice filter as a (high order) short-term predictor has significant advantages, such as fast tracking of speech signal nonstationarities, simple stability verification, and uniform distribution of the computational load. The objective of this paper is to present a Lattice LD-VXC (LLD-VXC) codec and experimental results obtained at rates of 8, 9.6, and 16 kb/s. A sign algorithm for lattice filter adaptation is introduced in order to reduce computational complexity
Clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of foot orthoses for people with established rheumatoid arthritis: an exploratory clinical trial

Objectives: Foot orthoses are commonly prescribed as an intervention for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Data relating to the cost-effectiveness of foot orthoses in people with RA are limited. The aim was to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of two types of foot orthoses in people with established RA. Method: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was undertaken to compare custom-made foot orthoses (CMFOs) and simple insoles (SIs) in 41 people with established RA. The Foot Function Index (FFI) was used to measure foot pain, disability, and functional limitation. Costs were estimated from the perspective of the UK National Health Service (NHS), societal (patient and family) perspective, and secondary care resource use in terms of the intervention and staff time. Effects were assessed in terms of health gain expressed as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Results: At baseline, 20 participants received a CMFO and 21 participants received an SI. After 16 weeks foot pain improved in both the CMFOs (p = 0.000) and the SIs (p < 0.01). However, disability scores improved for CMFOs (p < 0.001) but not for SIs (p = 0.40). The cost-effectiveness results demonstrated no difference in cost between the arms (CMFOs: £159.10; SIs: £79.10; p = 0.35), with the CMFOs being less effective in terms of cost per QALY gain (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In people with established RA, semi-rigid customized foot orthoses can improve pain and disability scores in comparison to simple insoles. From a cost-effectiveness perspective, the customized foot orthoses were far more expensive to manufacture, with no significant cost per QALY gain.
Lactobacillus fermentum attenuates the proinflammatory effect of Yersinia enterocolitica on human epithelial cells

Background: Lactobacilli represent a major component of the human microbiota. In this study we investigated whether and how Lactobacillus fermentum inhibits the proinflammatory responses of human epithelial cells on Yersinia enterocolitica infection. Methods: Human epithelial cells were exposed to Y. enterocolitica pYV− or L. fermentum or to both strains, combinations of heat‐killed L. fermentum or supernatant of L. fermentum cultures and Y. enterocolitica. The modulation of Y. enterocolitica induced IL‐8 levels in the culture supernatants was determined and activation of Rac, p38, and NF‐&kgr;B was investigated. Results: Exposure of human epithelial cells to L. fermentum does not induce NF‐&kgr;B activation and subsequent IL‐8 secretion in HeLa cells, whereas Y. enterocolitica induces NF‐&kgr;B activation and high levels of IL‐8. Viable L. fermentum, supernatant of L. fermentum cultures, but not heat‐killed L. fermentum, inhibited IL‐8 secretion of HeLa cells triggered by Y. enterocolitica. Lactobacillus fermentum‐exposed HeLa cells showed decreased Rac, p38, and NF‐&kgr;B activation after Y. enterocolitica infection. Treatment of L. fermentum supernatants with phospholipase C abolished the inhibitory effect, indicating that a secreted phospholipid mediates the antiinflammatory properties of L. fermentum. Adhesion to or invasion of Y. enterocolitica into epithelial cells was not altered by coincubation with L. fermentum. Conclusion: Our results lead to the conclusion that L. fermentum inhibits the Y. enterocolitica‐induced IL‐8 production by a possibly secreted phospholipid of <10 kDa molecular weight. These data suggest that L. fermentum may have probiotic properties modulating intestinal inflammatory responses and might offer new therapeutic strategies in the treatment of intestinal inflammatory diseases.
Rejoinder - Further Reflections on Studying Social Influence in New Product Diffusion

Building on the commentaries on our work, we make additional suggestions for future research on social contagion and new product diffusion. In particular, we note that social contagion may occur for many reasons and that investigating how various personal or group characteristics moderate the amount of influence some customers exert or the extent to which others are sensitive to potential influence can provide insights into the social mechanism(s) at work.