Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Detailed Assessment of Alterations in Bone Turnover, Calcium Homeostasis, and Bone Density in Normal Pregnancy

The effects of pregnancy on bone turnover and the potential risk of developing an osteoporotic fracture in pregnancy are controversial. Utilizing biochemical markers of bone formation and resorption and dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA), bone turnover before, during, and after pregnancy was studied in detail. Ten women (mean age 30 years; range 23–40) were recruited. Prepregnancy data were obtained and then a review was performed at 2‐week intervals, once pregnancy was confirmed, until 14 weeks of gestation and thereafter monthly until term. Bone mineral density (BMD) was estimated by DEXA scanning of hip, spine, and forearm preconception and postpartum. In addition, BMD of the forearm at 14 weeks and 28 weeks gestation was obtained. All pregnancies had a successful outcome. Urinary free pyridinium cross‐links, free pyridinoline (fPyr) and free deoxypyridinoline (fDPyr), were normal prepregnancy (mean [±SD]) 14.6 nmol/mmol (1.8) and 5.0 nmol/mmol (1.0) creat, respectively. By 14 weeks, they had increased to 20.8 nmol/mmol (4.3) and 6.1 nmol mmol (1.4) (both p < 0.02) and by 28 weeks to 26.3 nmol/mmol (5.6) and 7.4 nmol/mmol (1.6) (both p < 0.01). The ratio of fPyr to fDPyr remained constant. A similar significant increase was observed in N‐telopeptide (NTx). Bone formation was assessed by measurement of carboxy‐terminal propeptide of type 1 collagen (P1CP) and bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP). Neither were altered significantly before 28 weeks, but subsequently mean P1CP increased from 110 μg/liter (23) to 235 μg/liter (84) at 38 weeks and mean BSAP increased from 11.1 U/liter (5.0) to 28.6 U/liter (11.1) (p < 0.01 for both variables). Lumbar spine (L1–L4) BMD decreased from a prepregnancy mean of 1.075 g/cm (0.115) to 1.054 g/cm2 (0.150) postpartum (p < 0.05). Total hip BMD decreased from a prepregnancy mean of 0.976 g/cm2 (0.089) to 0.941 g/cm2 (0.097) (p < 0.05). Forearm BMD at midradius, one‐third distal and ultradistal decreased but did not reach statistical significance. As assessed by these bone markers, in the first 2 trimesters of pregnancy, bone remodeling is uncoupled with a marked increase in bone resorption. A corresponding increase in formation markers is not observed until the third trimester. Spinal BMD exhibits a significant decrease from prepregnancy to the immediate postpartum period with a mean reduction in BMD of 3.5% in 9 months.
The Relationship between Sustainability Performance and Sustainability Disclosure – Reconciling Voluntary Disclosure Theory and Legitimacy Theory

The relationship between sustainability performance and sustainability disclosure remains ambiguous, both theoretically and empirically. Voluntary disclosure theory would suggest that the relationship should be positive, whereas legitimacy theory points toward a negative relationship. However, the empirical evidence regarding this relationship is mixed, which indicates that the two theories are not necessarily contradictory but that they are instead two sides of the same coin. This paper refines the theoretical reasoning associated with the two theories and provides empirical evidence for their reconciliation by moving the focus of inquiry from the quantity of sustainability disclosure toward its quality. Our results reveal that – consistent with voluntary disclosure theory – superior sustainability performers choose high-quality sustainability disclosure to signal their superior performance to the market. In addition, based on legitimacy theory, poor sustainability performers prefer low-quality sustainability disclosure to disguise their true performance and to simultaneously protect their legitimacy. The results remain robust to various additional analyses. Thus, the paper indicates that the two theories dovetail with one another by redirecting the focus toward the quality of sustainability disclosure.
On the Effectiveness of Statistical Modeling Based Template Matching Approach for Continuous Speech Recognition

In this work, we validate the effectiveness of our recently proposed integrated template matching and statistical modeling approach on four baseline systems with increasing phone recognition accuracies in the range of 73% to 78% for the TIMIT task. The four baselines were generated using the methods of 1) Discriminative Training (DT) of Minimum Phone Error (MPE), 2) MFCC concatenated with ensemble Multiple Layer Perceptron (MFCC+EMLP) features, 3) DT combined with the MFCC+EMLP features, and 4) data sampling based ensemble acoustic models integrated with DT and MFCC+EMLP features. Experimental results obtained from template matching based rescoring on the phone lattices generated by the baseline models have shown that our template matching approach has produced consistent and significant improvements over the four baselines, and the highest recognition accuracy was 79.55% obtained from rescoring the phone lattices produced by the ensemble acoustic model baseline.
Reproductive ability of pubertal male and female rats.

Ten Fisher rats 50 to 55 days of age made up the pubertal group, and ten rats 90 to 95 days of age served as the controls. The testicular and epididymal weights and volumes of the pubertal males were lower than those of the controls (P<0.001). There was also a difference in relative epididymal weight (P<0.001). The sperm of pubertal males was morphologically abnormal in 58.2% of cases, as opposed to only 3.8% in the controls (P<0.001). The mean number of spermatozoa in the control group was 11.9 10(6)/ml and their viability was 99.6%, while these values could not be determined for pubertal rats. Serum testosterone was higher in the pubertal animals than in the controls (2.52 1.46 vs 0.92 0.34 nM, P<0.01). The ovaries of control females were heavier than those of pubertal females (P<0.001) but there was no difference in their relative weights. Serum estradiol was similar in both groups (75.5 12.8 vs 81.8 14.7 nM, P>0.05). At the beginning of gestation, the pubertal dams weighed less than the controls (P<0.001) but following uterectomy the body weights were equal. Pubertal dams delivered fewer pups than the controls (8.1 2.5 vs 10.4 1.3, P<0.05). There was no difference in the body weights of their offspring or in the weights of their placentas. The results suggest that, in contrast to their female counterparts, pubertal male rats are not fully mature and have not reached complete reproductive capacity at 50-55 days of age.
ABER Performance of LDPC-Coded OFDM Free-Space Optical Communication System Over Exponentiated Weibull Fading Channels With Pointing Errors

A low-density parity-check (LDPC)-coded free space optical (FSO) orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) communication system over aggregated exponentiated Weibull (EW) fading channels with pointing errors considered is investigated. On the basis of the probability density function and cumulative distribution function of the composite channel gain, the analytical expressions of average bit error rate (ABER) of this FSO-OFDM system with on–off keying, K-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) and phase shift keying (PSK) modulation schemes are derived by using generalized Gauss–Lagurre quadrature rule, respectively. Monte Carlo simulations are provided to verify the validity of these three expressions. Furthermore, LDPC codes are applied in the simulation to improve the ABER performance. The results show that the ABER performance of 16-QAM-OFDM is better than that of the 16-PSK-OFDM system over composite EW fading channels, regardless of the turbulence strengths. For the modulation schemes involved, the degradation due to the increase of atmospheric turbulence strength for turbulence only scenario is more severe when compared with pointing errors included case. The study also demonstrates that significant coding gain improvement can be achieved by LDPC codes over EW fading channels, especially under strong turbulence condition. With pointing errors, more coding gain can be obtained when the jitter increases or beamwidth decreases.
Water in the economy of Tamil Nadu, India: more flexible water allocation policies offer a possible way out of water-induced economic stagnation and will be good for the environment and the poor

The state of Tamil Nadu, India, is in the grips of a water crisis, with demand far outstripping supply. As the economy of the state grows, this crisis is going to become ever more serious. To date the focus of state waterpolicy has been on trying to augment supplies, from within the state (even from desalinization) and from neighboring states. In addition, the water use is regulated in a way that does not encourage the highest value uses. International experience shows that supply-side measures must be complemented by demand-side measures and that practice must move away from fixed, command-and-control allocation policies towards flexible allocation mechanisms, which facilitate the voluntary movement of water from low to high-value uses. This study addresses the question of whether such a change in allocation policies is worth doing. It addresses this question by developing optimization models for each of the 17 river basins in Tamil Nadu (including an assessment of the economic value of water in different end-uses - agriculture, domestic and industry), then using an input-output model embedded in a social accounting matrix (SAM), to assess the impact of these changes on the state economy and on different rural and urban employment groups. The results suggest that a shift to a flexible water allocation system would bring major environmental, economic and social benefits to the state. Compared with the current "fixed sectoral allocation" policy, a flexible allocation policy would, in 2020, result in 15% less overall water used; 24% less water pumped from doi: 10.2166/wp.2005. 049 aquifers; 20% higher state income; with all strata, rich and poor, benefiting similarly, with one important exception, that of agricultural laborers.
Characterizing the circulating, gliadin‐specific CD4+ memory T cells in patients with celiac disease: linkage between memory function, gut homing and Th1 polarization

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic, immune‐mediated disorder of the gut, driven by T cells reacting locally to a distinct antigen, gliadin. Thus, CD offers the opportunity to study the T cell memory response to gliadin and whether gut tropism and T helper cell type 1 (Th1) polarization, which characterize the effector phase, are preserved in the memory progeny. It is notable that previous studies yielded conflicting results as to the presence of gliadin‐specific memory CD4+ T cells in the peripheral blood of CD patients. However, we used a different and highly sensitive approach based on fluorescein‐derived label dilution, whereby the memory cells are identified operationally by their greater capacity to proliferate upon re‐encounter with antigen. Thus, using flow cytometry, we could resolve multiple successive generations as well as immunophenotype the dividing cells. Here, we show that the peripheral blood lymphocyte of some CD patients on a gliadin‐free diet, but not healthy donors, contains a detectable population of CD4+ memory T cells specific for deamidated gliadin. Moreover, these gliadin‐specific memory T cells are marked by a distinctive phenotype: They express high levels of the gut‐homing β7 integrins and primarily produce interferon‐γ and tumor necrosis factor α. We conclude that memory for gliadin‐derived antigens within the circulating CD4+ T cells is linked with gut tropism as well as Th1 polarization.
A signature of the internal reionization of the Milky Way

We present a new semi-analytical model of the population of satellite galaxies of the Milky Way, aimed at estimating the effect of the geometry of reionization at galaxy scale on the properties of the satellites. In this model, reionization can be either (A) externally driven and uniform, or (B) internally driven by the most massive progenitor of the Milky Way. In the latter scenario, the propagation of the ionization front and photon dilution introduce a delay in the photoevaporation of the outer satellites’ gas with respect to the inner satellites. As a consequence, outer satellites experience a longer period of star formation than those in the inner halo. We use simple models to account for star formation, the propagation of the ionization front, photoevaporation and observational biases. Both scenarios yield a model satellite population that matches the observed luminosity function and mass-to-light ratios. However, the predicted population for scenario (B) is significantly more extended spatially than for scenario (A), by about 0.3 dex in distance, resulting in a much better match to the observations. The survival of the signature left by the local ultraviolet field during reionization on the radial distribution of satellites makes it a promising tool for studying the reionization epoch at galaxy scale in the Milky Way and nearby galaxies resolved in stars with forthcoming large surveys. However, more work is needed to determine how the effect reported here can be disentangled from that of cosmic variance between different realizations of Milky Way haloes.
Alemtuzumab as consolidation after a response to fludarabine is effective in purging residual disease in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

PURPOSE Treatment with alemtuzumab has resulted in negative responses for minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In a prior analysis we demonstrated that it is possible to achieved MRD negativity, as assessed by polyclonality of immunoglobulin heavy chain after consolidation with alemtuzumab. This phase II study evaluated 34 patients with CLL who received alemtuzumab consolidation in an effort to improve the quality of their response to fludarabine-based induction. Subsequent peripheral blood stem-cell (PBSC) collection and transplantation, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics also were assessed. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-four patients younger than 65 years who had a clinical response to fludarabine-based induction therapy received alemtuzumab 10 mg subcutaneously three times per week for 6 weeks. PBSCs were collected after mobilization with cytarabine and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Blood samples for pharmacokinetics study were taken between days 1 and 31. RESULTS The complete response rate improved from 35% after fludarabine induction to 79.4% after alemtuzumab consolidation, including 19 patients (56%) who achieved MRD negativity. The most common adverse events were injection-site reactions and fever. Cytomegalovirus reactivation occurred in 18 patients, all of whom were successfully treated with oral ganciclovir. PBSC collection was successful in 24 (92%) of 26 patients, and 18 patients underwent autologous PBSC transplantation. Alemtuzumab plasma concentrations increased gradually during the first 2 weeks and accumulated more rapidly thereafter. CONCLUSION Subcutaneously administered alemtuzumab was effective, safe, and well tolerated as consolidation therapy in patients with CLL who responded to fludarabine induction therapy. Subsequent PBSCT was feasible thereafter.
Proficiency testing performance in US laboratories: results reported to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 1994 through 2006.

CONTEXT Beginning in 1994, clinical laboratories performing nonwaived testing were required, under the regulations implementing the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA), to enroll and participate in a proficiency testing (PT) program approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Successful PT performance is a requirement for maintaining CLIA certification to perform testing in certain specialties and subspecialties and for specific analytes. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the PT performance from 1994 through 2006 of hospital and independent laboratories (HI) compared with all other testing sites (AOT) for selected commonly performed tests and analytes. DESIGN Proficiency testing data, from 1994 through 2006, were electronically reported to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by approved PT programs as required by CLIA regulations. Approximately 16 million PT event scores from 36 000 unique testing sites were sorted into 2 groups based on the type of testing facility: HI or AOT. RESULTS The PT performance scores for 15 of the most commonly performed tests demonstrated a decline in failure rates for both HI and AOT laboratory groups during 1994 through 2006 (analyte/test values reported in this article include alanine aminotransferase, amylase, bilirubin, cholesterol, digoxin, glucose, hemoglobin, leukocyte count, potassium, prothrombin time, theophylline, thyroxine, triglycerides, white blood cell differential, and uric acid). For most analytes, the difference in failure rates between HI and AOT was statistically significant. The AOT group started with higher failure rates, and remained higher for all analytes, during most years when compared with the HI group; although, over time, that difference diminished. The AOT group showed a greater decline in PT failure than the HI group. For all analytes, the AOT group performance improved during this period. CONCLUSIONS The PT performance improved dramatically for the AOT group from 1994 through 2006 as measured by a decrease in the percentage of laboratories with unsatisfactory performance for 15 selected analytes. The PT performance in the HI group improved modestly for some analytes during this same period, whereas, for other analytes, the group showed no apparent improvement.
Prevalence, Clinical Correlates, and Prognosis of Discrete Upper Septal Thickening on Echocardiography: The Framingham Heart Study

The upper interventricular septum may be prominent in elderly individuals, a finding referred to as discrete upper septal thickening (DUST). We examined the prevalence, clinical and echocardiographic correlates, and prognostic significance of DUST in a community‐based sample. We evaluated Framingham Study participants who underwent routine echocardiography. In 3562 Framingham Study participants (mean age 58 years, 57% women), DUST was observed in 52 participants. The clinical correlates of DUST were increasing age (odds ratio [OR] per 10 year increment 2.59, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.64–4.08) and systolic blood pressure (OR per SD increment 1.55, 95% CI 1.15–2.09). DUST was positively associated with left ventricular (LV) fractional shortening and mitral annular calcification but inversely with LV diastolic dimensions (P < 0.02 for all). On follow‐up (mean 15 years), 732 individuals died (33 with DUST) and 560 experienced a cardiovascular disease (CVD) event (18 with DUST). Adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, DUST was not associated with CVD or mortality risk (P > 0.30 for both). The follow‐up component of our study suggests that DUST is not independently associated with adverse prognosis.
Smooth-muscle progenitor cells of bone marrow origin contribute to the development of neointimal thickenings in rat aortic allografts and injured rat carotid arteries1

This study indicates that circulating progenitors of bone marrow origin give rise to cells with smooth muscle-like properties during formation of neointimal thickenings in the arterial wall after allotransplantation and after balloon injury. A segment of abdominal aorta was transplanted from female F344 to male LEW rats, and the grafts were analyzed for male cells by using the SRY gene as a marker. Immunostaining demonstrated that CD45-positive leukocytes made up 35–45% of the neointimal cells during the 8-week period examined. Concurrently, up to 70% of the neointimal cells were of host origin, as shown by real-time polymerase chain reaction for the SRY gene (Y chromosome). This suggests that the neointima contained host cells also of noninflammatory character. Accordingly, many cells positive for smooth-muscle &agr;-actin were detected in this layer. To explore the possible bone marrow origin of allograft cells, female LEW rats were irradiated and substituted with bone marrow from male LEW rats. Subsequently, the animals received an aortic transplant from female F344 rats or were exposed to a balloon injury of the carotid artery. Immunostaining and real-time polymerase chain reaction confirmed the above findings, but the fractions of leukocytes and SRY-positive cells were lower in the carotids than in the allografts. Combined primed in situ labeling and immunostaining verified that not only inflammatory but also smooth muscle-like cells of male origin appeared in the vessel wall in both situations. These observations suggest that the smooth-muscle cells that participate in the development of neointimal lesions during vascular disease may, in part, originate from circulating progenitors.
Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Enriched Grafts in an Ovine Posterolateral Lumbar Spine Model

Study Design. Four groups of 6 animals underwent single-level noninstrumented posterolateral lumbar fusion (PLF) with one of the following grafts: 1) autograft, 2) cell-enriched &bgr;-tricalcium phosphate (TCP), 3) TCP with whole bone marrow, and 4) TCP alone. Plain radiographs were taken after surgery and at death, 6 months after surgery. Explanted spine segments were analyzed by manual palpation, micro-CT, and histology. Objective. A sheep spine fusion study was undertaken to evaluate the healing performance of a TCP graft enriched with osteoprogenitor cells using Selective Cell Retention technology (SCR), compared with autograft, TCP with whole bone marrow, and TCP alone. Summary of Background Data. Improved bone healing with previously demonstrated using grafts enriched in osteoprogenitor cells. Methods. Cell-enriched grafts were obtained by processing 30 mL of bone marrow through 10 mL of TCP. TCP was also used either saturated with bone marrow or alone. Results. At 6 months, 33% of the SCR-enriched TCP and 25% of the autograft sites were fused, compared with 8% of the TCP plus whole bone marrow and 0% of the TCP alone. Histology of fused samples showed denser bone formation in the SCR-enriched TCP grafts than in the autograft sites. Conclusions. The use of SCR-enriched TCP and autograft resulted in similar fusion rates in an ovine posterolateral noninstrumented lumbar spine fusion model.