Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Expression of CD 86 on monocyte and B cell surface, the level of T(H)-derived cytokine and their correlation in children with asthma].

OBJECTIVE To explore the role of T lymphocytes activation co-stimulation pathway and T lymphocyte subset activation in asthma pathogenesis. METHODS The blood samples were taken from 35 asthma children (including 22 male and 13 female, age 11 months-9 years) and 31 normal children (including 19 male and 12 female, age 8 months-12 years). Direct immunofluorescence flow cytometry was used to detect the CD86 mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) on CD(14)(+) cell, CD(19)(+) cell percentage and CD19 and CD86 double positive cell percentage in PBMC activated by LPS. ELISA was used to detect the levels of IL-4, IL-13, IFN-gamma in culture supernatants of PBMC stimulated with PHA and plasma total IgE level. RESULTS (1) The CD86 MFI on CD(14)(+) cell in asthma group was elevated significantly (31.8 +/- 9.2 vs 23.5 +/- 6.4, P < 0.01). (2) CD(19)(+) cell percentage and CD19 and CD86 double positive cell percentage in PBMC stimulated with LPS in asthma group were increased significantly (13.5 +/- 4.0 and 4.6 +/- 2.0 vs. 8.2 +/- 3.0 and 2.3 +/- 1.4, respectively, P < 0.01). The plasma total IgE level [186.6 (64.3 - 723.6)] was higher than that of control's [41.95 (0.9 - 115.2)]. (3) The levels of IL-4 and IL-13 in supernatants stimulated with PHA increased significantly [34.2 (2.8 - 70.0) and 1 239.0 (378.3 - 2 929.0) vs. 9.7 (2.0 - 46.2) and 683.2 (128.8 - 1 560.8) respectively, P < 0.01, P < 0.05]; and the level of IFN-gamma decreased significantly [12.16 (1.6 - 44.8) vs. 26.7 (2.1 - 99.5) P < 0.05]. (4) In asthma group there was a significantly positive correlation of CD86 MFI on CD(14)(+) cell with CD19 and CD86 double positive cell percentage (r = 0.644), there was a significantly positive correlation of CD(19)(+)CD(86)(+)cells percentage with plasma total IgE (r = 0.537); there was a significantly positive correlation of CD(19)(+)cells percentage with the levels of IL-4 and IL-13 (r = 0.607, 0.540 respectively); a significantly positive correlation of CD(19)(+)CD(86)(+) percentage cells with the levels of IL-4 and IL-13 was found (r = 0.617, 0.678, respectively). CONCLUSIONS (1) The expression of CD86 on APC cells increased in children with acute asthma. (2) The response to mitogens of B lymphocyte and T(H2) but not T(H1) lymphocyte were increased significantly. The results suggest that CD86 and imbalance of T(H) subset may play an important role in asthma pathogenesis.
A Water Dense Dielectric Patch Antenna

A novel water dense dielectric patch antenna (DDPA) fed by an L-shaped probe is proposed and investigated. In contrast to the water antennas in the literature, including the water monopole and the water dielectric resonator antenna, the operation mechanism of the proposed water DDPA is similar to the conventional metallic patch antenna. The antenna is excited in a mode like the TM10 mode of the rectangular patch antenna. An L-shaped probe, which is widely used for the conventional patch antenna, is used to excite the water DDPA. A study on the bandwidth performance of the proposed design reveals that wide bandwidth can be achieved for the antenna by choosing a thick supporting substrate between the water patch and the ground plane. A prototype is fabricated to confirm the correctness of the design. An impedance bandwidth of 8%, maximum gain of 7.3 dBi, radiation efficiency up to 70%, and symmetrically unidirectional patterns with low backlobe and low cross polarization levels are obtained. Furthermore, owing to the transparency of the water patch, the proposed water DDPA can be conveniently integrated with the solar cells to realize a dual-function design. Measurements on the prototype demonstrate that the existence of the solar cells does not significantly affect the performance of the antenna and vice versa.
Applied medical informatics and computing skills of students, residents, and faculty.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Little is known regarding the applied medical informatics and computing skills of family practice residents and faculty, yet such information is critical when planning a medical informatics curriculum. We conducted a survey at our institution to collect this information. METHODS An applied medical informatics and computing skills survey was administered to 93 first-year medical students, 42 family practice residents, and 14 family medicine faculty. Responses were compared between groups before and after stratification by age and gender. RESULTS A total of 92% of students, 100% of residents, and 79% of faculty responded. Faculty had the highest rate of computer ownership (91%), followed by students (86%) and family practice residents (79%). Students and interns had the highest overall confidence using computers, followed by faculty and then senior residents. Faculty, students, and junior residents were significantly more confident than senior residents in their ability to perform several specific tasks, such as conducting a MEDLINE search. Residents perceived lack of money and time as barriers to improving their skills. CONCLUSIONS Current senior residents may require remedial training to graduate with the computer skills specified in curricular guidelines. While upcoming medical students and interns will demand more advanced training, faculty may not have the skills to provide it.
Very low rates of hip fracture in Beijing, People's Republic of China the Beijing Osteoporosis Project.

One third of the world's hip fractures are said to occur in Asia, mostly in China. However, there have as yet been no validated studies of hip fracture rates in China. The authors estimated the incidence of hip fractures in Beijing, People's Republic of China, and took several steps to validate the estimates. All 76 Beijing hospitals reported all 1988-1992 admissions that had been coded as 820 (hip fracture) or 821 (other femoral fracture) according to the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision. The authors then compared a random sample of the reports with original medical records, and discovered that 70% of intertrochanteric hip fractures had been miscoded as "other femoral fractures. " The authors retrained all hospital staffs to provide corrected reports. Revised reports missed only 13% of the hip fracture cases recorded in operating room logs of 11 randomly selected hospitals. To validate hospital-based estimates of hip fracture rates, the authors interviewed a random sample of 2,113 Beijing women aged 50 years or more (97% response rate); all but 4% of past fractures and all seven hip fractures had been treated in hospitals. Finally, the authors surveyed the 27 hospitals in the counties surrounding Beijing. No Beijing residents had been treated for hip fracture outside of the city. Based on the 1990 China census, age-standardized rates of hip fracture (per 100,000) in Beijing-87 for women, 97 for men-were much lower than those seen in Hong Kong in 1985 (353 for women, 181 for men) or in US Caucasians (510-559 for women, 174-207 for men). From 1988 to 1992, the rates in Beijing increased 34% in women and 33% in men. The authors conclude that hip fracture rates in Beijing are among the lowest in the world but may be rising rapidly.
Rainfall characteristics for radiowave propagation studies in Greece

Using six recent years (2000-2005) of point rainfall data from several locations in Greece, the rainfall rate exceeded for 0.01% of the average year is derived. The originally reported resultsa, allow radio systems engineers to evaluate more accurately the effects of local climatology to wireless communications systems installed in Greece.
In-utero triple antiretroviral exposure associated with decreased growth among HIV-exposed uninfected infants in Botswana

Objective:To assess associations between in-utero triple antiretrovirals (cART) versus zidovudine (ZDV) monotherapy exposure and growth among HIV-uninfected children of HIV-infected women in Botswana. Design:Secondary retrospective data analysis from two randomized intervention trials of mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention. Methods:The Mashi and Mma Bana studies enrolled HIV-infected pregnant women, following their children through 24 months of age. This analysis includes singleton, full-term, HIV-exposed uninfected children. Mothers received cART or ZDV at least 2 weeks predelivery, and breastfed up to 6 months. Weight-for-age (WAZ), length-for-age (LAZ) and weight-for-length (WLZ) z-scores were derived. Mean z-scores were compared by exposure group at 24 months (t-test, linear regression). Results:Of 819 children, 303 were ZDV- and 516 cART-exposed in utero. Maternal median enrolment CD4+ was higher among ZDV versus cART-treated mothers (393 versus 324 cells/&mgr;l; P < 0.0001). Median duration of antepartum antiretroviral use was shorter among ZDV-treated women (5.7 versus 12.0 weeks; P < 0.0001). Median months breastfed were similar (5.9 and 6.0; P = 0.43). At 24 months, mean LAZ and WAZ were significantly lower among cART-exposed children (LAZ –1.01 versus –0.74; P = 0.003) (WAZ –0.53 versus –0.30; P = 0.002) in unadjusted analyses. Adjusting for maternal CD4+, viral load, enrolment site and maternal anthropometric measures, cART-exposed children had significantly lower LAZ and WAZ at 24 months (P = 0.0004 for both). Conclusion:At 24 months, in-utero cART-exposed children had significantly lower LAZ and WAZ. Poor growth impacts childhood and adult mortality. These findings raise concerns for potential lasting health impacts among HIV-exposed uninfected children with in-utero cART exposure.
Frameless stereotactic volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy of brachial plexus tumours in dogs: 10 cases.

OBJECTIVE Treatment of canine peripheral nerve sheath tumours (PNSTs) is challenging and prognosis after surgical resection is considered poor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of stereotactic radiotherapy (RT) of these tumours. METHODS 10 dogs with clinical symptoms and MRI findings consistent with PNSTs of the brachial plexus, branches and nerve roots were treated with linear accelerator-based volumetric-modulated arc radiotherapy (VMAT) with a dose of 35 Gy/5 fractions. Clinical and MRI follow-up examinations were planned and radiotoxicity and survival times were investigated. RESULTS Tumours involved the plexus and proximal nerves in three dogs, the plexus, proximal nerves and nerve roots in five dogs and the nerve roots and proximal nerves in two dogs. Partial response and partial or complete reductions of neurological deficits were observed in all the treated dogs. Local recurrence was observed in 9/10 of treated dogs. No symptom directly referable to radiotoxicity was observed. Mean overall survival of 371 ± 30 days [95% confidence interval (CI) of (315-427)] and mean progression-free survival of 240 ± 30 days (95% CI of 188-291) from this work are comparable with surgical literature data regarding the plexus and proximal nerve localization, but are superior in comparison with nerve root localization. CONCLUSION VMAT can be a safe and viable alternative to surgery in cases of canine brachial plexus PNSTs involving the proximal nerves and nerve roots. Advances in knowledge: To our knowledge, this is the first prospective observational clinical study regarding VMAT stereotactic RT treatment for canine brachial plexus PNSTs and suggests that VMAT may achieve at least similar clinical outcome than surgery in a safer way.
Functional interleukin-10 promoter variants in coronary artery disease patients in Tunisia.

OBJECTIVES The contribution of interleukin (IL)-10 promoter variants -1082G/A, -819C/T, and -592C/A to the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) was investigated in 291 CAD patients and 291 age- and gender-matched control subjects. METHODS AND RESULTS IL-10 genotyping was performed using PCR-allele-specific amplification (PCR-ASA). Regression analysis was employed in assessing the contribution of the IL-10 variants to the overall CAD risk. A higher frequency of the -592A allele (p = 0.004), but not the -1082A (p = 0.828) or -819T (p = 0.952) alleles, was seen in CAD patients. A higher frequency of -592C/A (p = 0.011), and a lower frequency of -592C/C (p = 0.015) genotypes was noted in patients compared to healthy controls. Regression analysis demonstrated an association of -592C/A [OR (95% CI) = 1.82 (1.02-3.23)] and -592A/A [OR (95% CI) = 3.33 (1.27-9.09)] genotypes with 1-artery disease. Haplotype analysis revealed that none of the eight possible IL-10 haplotypes was associated with CAD or with the severity of CAD, and was confirmed by multivariate regression analysis, after adjusting for a number of confounders (smoking, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes, glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the -592C/A, more so than the -1082G/A or the -819C/T IL-10 promoter variant alleles, may be considered to be a risk factor for CAD in Tunisians.
Global Analysis of Borrelia burgdorferi Genes Regulated by Mammalian Host-Specific Signals

ABSTRACT Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection that can lead to chronic, debilitating problems if not recognized or treated appropriately. Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, is maintained in nature by a complex enzootic cycle involving Ixodes ticks and mammalian hosts. Many previous studies support the notion that B. burgdorferi differentially expresses numerous genes and proteins to help it adapt to growth in the mammalian host. In this regard, several studies have utilized a dialysis membrane chamber (DMC) cultivation system to generate “mammalian host-adapted” spirochetes for the identification of genes selectively expressed during mammalian infection. Here, we have exploited the DMC cultivation system in conjunction with microarray technology to examine the global changes in gene expression that occur in the mammalian host. To identify genes regulated by only mammal-specific signals and not by temperature, borrelial microarrays were hybridized with cDNA generated either from organisms temperature shifted in vitro from 23°C to 37°C or from organisms cultivated by using the DMC model system. Statistical analyses of the combined data sets revealed that 125 genes were expressed at significantly different levels in the mammalian host, with almost equivalent numbers of genes being up- or down-regulated by B. burgdorferi within DMCs compared to those undergoing temperature shift. Interestingly, during DMC cultivation, the vast majority of genes identified on the plasmids were down-regulated (79%), while the differentially expressed chromosomal genes were almost entirely up-regulated (93%). Global analysis of the upstream promoter regions of differentially expressed genes revealed that several share a common motif that may be important in transcriptional regulation during mammalian infection. Among genes with known or putative functions, the cell envelope category, which includes outer membrane proteins, was found to contain the most differentially expressed genes. The combined findings have generated a subset of genes that can now be further characterized to help define their role or roles with regard to B. burgdorferi virulence and Lyme disease pathogenesis.
POTENTIAL USES OF Moringa oleifera AND AN EXAMINATION OF ANTIBIOTIC EFFICACY CONFERRED BY M. oleifera SEED AND LEAF EXTRACTS USING CRUDE EXTRACTION TECHNIQUES AVAILABLE TO UNDERSERVED INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS

Moringa oleifera, a pantropical plant, is one of approximately thirteen species belonging to the monogeneric Moringaceae family. Ethnobotanical studies conducted in Guatemala found that one of the primary medicinal purposes of M. oleifera was its use for the treatment of infectious skin and mucosal diseases. As it is common practice for researchers to scientifically validate the efficacy of traditional medicine, it is less common for researchers to scientifically validate simple, reproducible means of conferring therapeutic benefits of plant parts. This study was conducted to investigate pragmatic extraction techniques for seed and leaf extracts of M. oleifera, a plant species for which numerous studies have demonstrated its antimicrobial efficacy. M. oleifera seeds and leaves were extracted using three different solvents (de-ionized water, inorganic ethanol, organic ethyl acetate) and two different extraction methods (crude, sophisticated). Sensitivity disks impregnated with the various extracts were used for antibiotic susceptibility testing of fourteen bacterial species: seven representative Gram-negative and seven representative Gram-positive. De-ionized water was the only solvent capable of extracting plant constituents which conferred bacterial inhibition. Seed extracts were found to inhibit a broader range of organisms (4) than leaf extracts (1). 75% of the organisms inhibited by seed extracts were Gram-positive bacteria. A single parameter, the zone of inhibition, was used to compare antibacterial efficacy between extraction methods, trials, and controls. No difference was observed between the zone of inhibition of crude and sophisticated extracts. Seed extracts demonstrated a zone of inhibition comparable to that of penicillin and tetracycline.
Implementing the Zero Lower Bound in an Estimated Regime-Switching DSGE Model

The Zero Lower Bound (ZLB) on policy rates is one of the key monetary policy issues du jour. In this paper we investigate the problem of modelling and estimating the ZLB in a simple New Keynesian model with regime switches. The key features of the model include switches in the time preference shock, productivity growth rate and the steady state rate of inflation leading to two steady states: a normal steady state and a ZLB steady state. The model is tted to US data using Bayesian methods and is found to match the US experience over the great moderation and the ZLB periods very well. The key features of the model allow us to test competing theories about the determinants of the ZLB steady state. Our results suggest that the ZLB steady state is driven by precautionary savings behavior. It is also found that expectations over different regimes crucially matter for the dynamics of the system.
Screening Rates and Characteristics of Health Plan Members Who Respond to Screening Reminders

Introduction Preventive screening is widely recognized as a key component of cost-effective, high-quality health care. Even so, national screening for cancer, diabetes, and cholesterol falls far short of U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations. Although evidence has shown that reminder programs improve preventive screening rates, this study is one of the first to examine the characteristics of health plan members who respond to screening reminders. Methods The study sample included active members of a large health plan in Hawaii who were identified by an algorithm as not having received one or more recommended screenings based on age and sex criteria (2000–2003) for breast cancer (n = 44,331), cervical cancer (n = 73,875), colon cancer (n = 131,860), diabetes (n = 86,216), and cholesterol (n = 54,843). Statistical analyses were conducted using Cox proportional hazard and logistic regression models. In the proportional hazard models, reminder letters were treated as time-varying exposures. Hazard ratios, or rate ratios, were used to examine the relationship between health plan member and physician characteristics and the likelihood of responding to the reminders. The effects of additional or multiple reminders among health plan members receiving more than one reminder were examined in multivariable regression models. Results The impact of health plan member characteristics and number of office visits on the response to reminders varied among the five health-screening types. Health plan members responded better to reminders for diabetes screening than for colon cancer screening. Members sent their second annual reminders were less likely to obtain screening than members sent their first reminder. Members receiving their third (or more) annual reminder were especially recalcitrant. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the response to reminders differs according to patient characteristics. In particular, targeted interventions may be needed to encourage screening for younger and healthier members whose response rate to reminders was low. Further research is needed to determine how health plans can best reach members who do not respond to patient reminders.
Compensating Conformity: resolving the tension between economic incentives and organizational legitimacy in entreprneurship

I theorize that regulatory changes that ease the entry of new ventures work at cross-purposes with the need for those ventures to gain legitimacy. Using insights from research on the effects of institutional change on entrepreneurship and quantitative data from new firm credit records, this study offers evidence that after a dramatic lowing of required starting capital, ventures in new industries compensate for their novelty with conformity to traditional capital levels. To support that this is a legitimating effect, this study also finds that ventures in new industries with the legitimating symbol of an elite founder will tend to adopt the lower cost capital level because their status attenuates the need to compensate for their novelty. This effect is further emphasized because this study finds that ventures with unconventional founders closely conform to the older, traditional capital levels. This study synthesizes these findings to offer a new theoretical construct of compensating conformity that explains the apparently divergent ideas of institutional forces and economic incentives. I contribute to prior literature that takes legitimacy as a single attribute of an organization to show that a venture can be unconventional or illegitimate in some aspects if it compensates for this by being more conventional or legitimate in other aspects. Policy implications are also explored. Jelcodes:M00,F00 Compensating Conformity Compensating Conformity: resolving the tension between economic incentives and organizational legitimacy in entreprneurship December 29, 2014 Abstract I theorize that regulatory changes that ease the entry of new ventures work at cross-purposes with the need for those ventures to gain legitimacy. Using insights from research on the effects of institutional change on entrepreneurship and quantitative data from new firm credit records, this study offers evidence that after a dramatic lowing of required starting capital, ventures in new industries compensate for their novelty with conformity to traditional capital levels. To support that this is a legitimating effect, this study also finds that ventures in new industries with the legitimating symbol of an elite founder will tend to adopt the lower cost capital level because their status attenuates the need to compensate for their novelty. This effect is further emphasized because this study finds that ventures with unconventional founders closely conform to the older, traditional capital levels. This study synthesizes these findings to offer a new theoretical construct of compensating conformity that explains the apparently divergent ideas of institutional forces and economic incentives. I contribute to prior literature that takes legitimacy as a single attribute of an organization to show that a venture can be unconventional or illegitimate in some aspects if it compensates for this by being more conventional or legitimate in other aspects. Policy implications are also explored. Compensating Conformity