Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of Anti‐dsDNA Autoantibodies Prior to Clinical Diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Anti‐double stranded (dsDNA) antibodies are of considerable diagnostic value and are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Fluctuations in anti‐dsDNA antibody levels are also used as markers for disease activity and exacerbations. In this study we sought to evaluate the anti‐dsDNA antibody level in serum samples collected before the onset of SLE diagnosis. A total of 130 SLE patients were identified with stored serum samples available prior to diagnosis within the US Department of Defense serum repository. All 633 sera available from these patients were screened for anti‐dsDNA antibodies using an enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). Within this cohort 55% of cases had detectable anti‐dsDNA antibodies prior to SLE diagnosis. The onset of anti‐dsDNA antibodies ranged from 9.3 years before to within the same month as diagnosis (with a mean onset 2.7 years before diagnosis). In order to assess for fluctuations in anti‐dsDNA levels relative to diagnosis, cases were selected with at least two positive samples, one within 6 months and a second greater than 6 months prior to diagnosis (n = 26). Seven of these cases also had samples available shortly after diagnosis (≤ 6 months) for comparison. Fifty‐eight percent of the 26 cases developed a significant rise in anti‐dsDNA antibody levels within 6 months of diagnosis. A significant decline in anti‐dsDNA levels ensued after diagnosis (and following treatment with corticosteroids) in all seven cases with samples available. Patients with a significant rise in anti‐dsDNA antibodies at diagnosis were more likely to have renal disease than those who did not (66.7% compared to 27.3%, χ2=3.94, P<0.05). These data suggest that anti‐dsDNA antibodies are present in SLE patient sera much earlier than previously suspected. In addition, the data are consistent with increases in anti‐dsDNA levels contributing to the onset of clinical illness in some patients with SLE.
Updated Estimates of Healthcare Utilization and Costs Among Perinatally HIV-Infected Children

Objectives: This study examined changes in healthcare use among perinatally HIV-infected children and developed new estimates of expected lifetime treatment costs. Methods: The study analyzed longitudinal medical record data from the Pediatric Spectrum of Disease study on perinatally HIV-infected children enrolled in 6 US sites during 1995 and 2001 for enrollee characteristics including healthcare utilization. For the year 2001, costs were assigned to hospitalization, HIV-related drug usage, and laboratory testing. To estimate lifetime treatment costs based on those categories, median survival times of 9, 15, and 25 years were assumed and average annual healthcare utilization costs were applied to each year of survival. Results: From 1995 to 2001, hospitalization rates fell from 0.67 per child-year to 0.23 per child-year (P < 0.05). In 2001, the average cost of healthcare utilization per child was $12,663, including $2164 for hospitalization, $9505 for HIV-related drugs, and $994 for laboratory tests. The discounted lifetime treatment cost, based on those 3 cost categories, was $113,476 for 9 years of survival, $151,849 for 15 years, and $228,155 for 25 years. Conclusions: Hospitalizations among perinatally HIV-infected children decreased significantly from 1995 to 2001. Compared with previously published estimates, lifetime treatment costs for children perinatally infected with HIV have remained relatively stable. However, as years of survival increase for this population, lifetime costs also are likely to increase.
Hearing and vestibular disorders in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objectives Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with several comorbidities, including hearing and vestibular disorders. We recently described an increase of SLE prevalence in patients with Menierés disease (MD). The aim of this study is to explore if a subset of SLE patients may have a common inner ear disorder and determine the potential relationship with migraine. Methods Eighty-nine patients with SLE (according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria for the diagnosis of SLE) were evaluated for audiovestibular symptoms by a telephone interview carried out by two experienced otoneurologists. Twenty-one patients with SLE were referred to the otoneurology clinic for a detailed clinical history for criteria assessment for MD and a complete audiovestibular examination (audiogram, oculomotor, and caloric testing with video-oculography). Results Recurrent headache was found in 50/89 patients, and 26 of them had diagnostic criteria for migraine. Twenty-four percent of patients reported sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) or episodic vertigo. Among the eight patients (9%) with episodic vertigo, one had criteria for definite MD and another two patients had criteria for possible MD. SNHL was found to be associated with a history of episodic vertigo (Fisher’s test, p = 0.02), but not with headache or migraine. SLE and episodic vertigo were not associated with tinnitus, migraine, lupus nephritis, antinuclear antibodies or antiphospholipid syndrome. Conclusions Migraine, SNHL and episodic vertigo are comorbid conditions in patients with SLE, but migraine is not associated with SNHL or vertigo in these patients. However, SNHL and vertigo are associated conditions in SLE, suggesting a common audiovestibular dysfunction.
Probabilistic analysis of directed polymers in a random environment: a review

Directed polymers in random environment can be thought of as a model of statistical mechanics in which paths of stochastic processes interact with a quenched disorder (impurities), depending on both time and space. We review here main results which have been obtained during the last fifteen years, with proofs to most of the results. The material covers the diffusive behavior of the polymers in weak disorder phase studied by J. Imbrie, T. Spencer, E. Bolthausen, R. Song and X. Y. Zhou [11, 3, 25], and localization of the paths in strong disordered phase recently obtained by P. Carmona, Y. Hu, and the authors of the present article [4, 5].
Paraoxonase and Arylesterase Activity With Oxidative Status in Children With Thalassemia Major

Purpose The aim of this study was to study paraoxonase and arylesterase activities along with oxidative status parameters, and to find out whether there is any increased susceptibility to atherogenesis, which might be reflected with increased oxidative stress and decreased serum paraoxonase/arylesterase activity in β-thalassemia major (BTM) patients. Patients and Methods Eighty-seven patients with BTM and 33 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Results Paraoxonase and arylesterase activities were significantly lower in BTM patients than controls (for all P<0.0001), whereas total oxidant status, total peroxide concentration levels, and oxidative stress index were significantly higher (P<0.0001, <0.0001, and <0.001, respectively). Correlations were found between serum iron and ferritin and levels of total oxidant status in BTM patients. Significant correlation was found with serum total peroxide concentration levels and paraoxonase and arylesterase activities in patients with BTM. Conclusions It was seen that oxidative stress increases, while serum paraoxonase activity is decreased in BTM patients. Decrease in paraoxonase activity seems to be associated with both the degree of oxidative stress and anemia. BTM patients may be more prone to development of atherogenesis because of low serum paraoxonase/arylesterase activity.
Fetal hemangioma. Sonographic and color flow Doppler findings

Hemangiomas are the most common of all congenital anomalies. The sonographic appearance and Doppler characteristics are variable, depending on the location, size of vessels, amount of arteriovenous shunting, and degree of endothelial proliferation. We report a case of an extracranial mass followed prenatally by sonogra~ phy and color Doppler flow imaging. At delivery and subsequent surgical resection, a mixed capillary cavernous hemangioma was confirmed pathologically.
Maintenance of informative ruler sets for predictions

An Informative Rule Set (IRS) is the smallest subset of an association rule set such that it has the same prediction sequence by confidence priority [9]. The problem of maintenance of IRS is a process by which, given a transaction database and its IRS, when the database receives insertion, deletion, or modification, we wish to maintain the IRS as efficiently as possible. Based on the Fast UPdating technique (FUP) [5] for the updating of discovered association rules, we propose here two algorithms to update the discovered IRS when the database is updated by insertion and deletion respectively. Numerical comparisons with the non-incremental informative rule set approach show that our proposed techniques require less computation time, due to less database scanning and less number of candidate rules generated.
Utility and Efficacy of Fluticasone Propionate and Salmeterol Inhaled from a Single Inhaler for Persistent Asthma

The utility of a new therapy, in this instance fluticasone and salmeterol combination (FSC), is determined by multiple uncontrollable factors in individual patients and can be measured by continued use and efficacy over time. Over one year from April 2001, 186 patients with persistent asthma were switched from controller pharmacotherapy to FSC at equidose to prior inhaled corticosteroid. Follow-up data on 171 (92%) indicated 129 (75%) had continued FSC for one year. Compared to the 42 who discontinued FSC, those who continued had significant reduction of asthmatic exacerbations, improved spirometry, and reduced usage of inhaled reliever and systemic corticosteroid.
Docetaxel-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers functionalized with trastuzumab (Herceptin) for HER2-positive breast cancer cells

Abstract The aim of the present study was to prepare Herceptin targeted nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) of docetaxel (DTX). Herceptin was conjugated by chemical and physical methods to NLCs prepared by solvent extraction technique followed by probe sonication. Different types of fatty amines were used in construction of NLCs. The NLCs were characterized for their antibody coupling efficiency, particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, drug entrapment efficiency and drug release profiles. The toxicity of NLCs on MDA-MB-468 (HER2 negative receptor) and BT-474 (HER2 positive) breast cancer cell lines was evaluated by MTT assay. Also their cellular uptake was studied by flow-cytometry and fluorescent microscopy. The results showed the NLCs containing stearyl amine had the lowest particle size, the highest zeta potential and antibody coupling efficiency values. Herceptin binding to NLCs led to reduction in zeta potential and drug entrapment efficiency while, particle size increased. The NLCs containing spermine(SP) released DTX slower than other fatty amines. Non-conjugated nanoparticles containing DTX had more toxicity than the free DTX on both cell lines. Herceptin targeted NLCs caused more mortality on BT-474 cells than MDA-MB-468 cells. Flow-cytometry studies revealed enhanced cellular uptake of nanoparticles chemically conjugated by Herceptin on the BT-474 cells. DTX loaded in chemically conjugated NLCs to Herceptin showed more cytotoxic effects than the physically coated nanoparticles. The Herceptin conjugated NLCs seem promising in oriented delivery of DTX to HER2 positive breast cancer cells.
The 2,6-diaminopurine riboside.5-methylisocytidine wobble base pair: an isoenergetic substitution for the study of G.U pairs in RNA.

Phylogenetically invariant G.U wobble pairs are present in a wide variety of RNA's. As a means to study the contribution of individual chemical groups within a G.U pair, we have synthesized and thermodynamically characterized oligoribonucleotides containing the unnatural nucleosides 2,6-diaminopurine riboside (DAP) and 5-methylisocytidine (MeiC). The DAP.MeiC pair at the end of an RNA duplex is as stable as a G.U pair, consistent with formation of a wobble base pair with two hydrogen bonds. DAP.MeiC is a valuable substitution for the study of G.U wobble pairs because it is conformationally similar to the G.U pair, but has a different array of functional groups in the major and minor grooves of the duplex and a reversed hydrogen bonding polarity between the bases. We also report the stability of several other terminal pairs proposed to be in a wobble configuration including inosine.U (I.U), A.MeiC, DAP.C, A.C, G.5-methyl-U,2'-deoxyguanosine.U, and 2'-deoxy-7-deazaguanosine.U. These pairs present a diversity of functional group substitutions in the context of a wobble conformation. Comparison of wobble pairs with and without the N2 exocyclic amine, i.e., G.U vs I.U, DAP.MeiC vs A.MeiC, and DAP.C vs A.C, demonstrates that the amine does not contribute to base pairing stability when the pair is located at the terminal position of the RNA duplex. However, at a position internal to the duplex, the exocyclic amine does improve helix stability. An internal I.U pair is less stable (approximately 1 kcal.mol-1) than an internal G.U pair, and substantially less stable (approximately 2 kcal.mol-1) than an internal A-U pair. These data provide quantitation for the reduced duplex stability observed upon conversion of A-U to I.U pairs by double-stranded RNA adenosine deaminase (dsRAD). This collection of wobble pairs will help identify the contribution made by individual functional groups in RNA/protein interactions and in the tertiary folding of RNA.
Underfunding Annual Pension Contributions

Inadequate contributions are one factor behind the gap between pension assets and benefit liabilities. Each year, many states fail to meet their required pension contribution while others consistently meet or exceed their required amount. This study seeks to identify the factors that shape actual pension contributions across the states. Results suggest that states with smaller long-term funding gaps are more likely to fund required contributions. Legislative professionalism and constitutional collective bargaining privileges reduce annual funding. The effect of partisan and institutional traits was sensitive to methodology. Revenue changes and balanced budget requirements had no significant effect on pension contributions. These results suggest a number of reform avenues, including constitutional, institutional, and programmatic changes of varying political feasibility.
The frequency of mutation in CCR5 gene among Koreans

To better understand a role of the Delta32 allele of the CCR5 gene in HIV-1 transmission and disease progression, we determined the CCR5 genotypes within several groups of Koreans. Amplification of DNA from each subject was achieved with polymerase chain reaction, using the CCR5 specific primer pair, which flanks the 32 bp deletion. The 1.2 kb coding sequences of CCR5 were examined to see the possible effects of CCR5 polymorphism. All of the 339 healthy, HIV-uninfected individuals had no mutation in the CCR5 gene. All of the 115 HIV-1-infected patients including 11 long-term non-progressors (LTNPs) and 18 discordant spouses were also wild homozygotes. No variation in the 1.2 kb CCR5 coding sequence was found in 5 LTNPs and 5 discordant spouses. In conclusion, the 32 bp deletion mutant is rarely present in Koreans. Our data suggest that factors other than the CCR5 coding sequences may also play a role in the resistance to HIV infection.
Contributions of selected fundamental factors to wheelchair basketball performance.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the contributions of selected fundamental factors, such as arm length, sitting height, simple vision reaction time (SVRT), choice vision reaction time (CVRT), muscle strength, and range of motion (ROM) at the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints to wheelchair basketball (WCB) performance as measured by season statistics and coaches' evaluation. METHODS Thirty-seven Paralympic WCB players from seven countries participated in this study. A computerized reaction time system was used to test the SVRT and CVRT. The ROM and muscle strengths of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints were measured using a goniometer and MP DA100B BioPac force measurement system, respectively. Stepwise regression analysis was used to identify the contributions of these fundamental factors and "dimensional variables" (DV) derived from the selected factors fundamental to WCB performance. A DV represented a dimension or category of the factor, for example, the wrist flexion/extension DV represented the ROM of the wrist in flexion and extension, and the WCB performance DV represented average points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals per game. RESULTS The results of this study demonstrated that elbow extension and wrist extension had significant contributions to average points. Sitting height, shoulder internal rotation, and elbow flexion had significant contributions to the average rebounds. Arm length had a significant contribution to average assists, and SVRT had a significant contribution to the average blocks. Wrist flexion/extension ROM DV and wrist flexion/extension strength DV had significant contributions to the WCB performance DV. CONCLUSION Shoulder internal rotation, elbow extension, and wrist flexion/extension ROM, CVRT, and wrist flexion/extension muscle strength are important to WCB performance and should be addressed in WCB training.
Personality and incident disability in older persons.

OBJECTIVE to examine the relation of personality to the development of disability in old age. METHODS participants are 813 older Catholic nuns, priests and brothers without dementia or disability at study onset. As part of a uniform baseline evaluation, they completed standard measures of the five principal dimensions of personality. Disability was assessed at baseline and annually thereafter with the Katz scale. The relation of each trait to incident disability was assessed in proportional hazard models controlled for age, sex, education and selected clinical variables. RESULTS during a mean of about 6 years of observation, 255 persons (31%) became dependent on at least one activity of daily living. Risk of becoming disabled was 85% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 80.5-89.6%] lower in persons with high (90th percentile) compared to low (10th percentile) extraversion and 50% (95% CI = 46.6-54.2%) lower in those with high compared to low conscientiousness, and controlling for chronic medical conditions, depressive symptoms or social and cognitive activity did not substantially affect these associations. By contrast, neuroticism had a marginal association with disability risk that was eliminated after controlling for depressive symptomatology, and openness and agreeableness were unrelated to disability risk. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that higher levels of extraversion and conscientiousness may be associated with a reduced risk of incident disability in old age.
Prediction of Writing True Scores in Automated Scoring of Essays by Best Linear Predictors and Penalized Best Linear Predictors

Many assessments of writing proficiency that aid in making high-stakes decisions consist of several essay tasks evaluated by a combination of human holistic scores and computer-generated scores for essay features such as the rate of grammatical errors per word. Under typical conditions, a summary writing score is provided by a linear combination of the holistic scores and the feature scores. The best linear predictor (BLP) is used to approximate the true composite writing score by a linear combination of holistic scores and scores of essay features. However, because the relationship between computer-generated feature score and human scores may depend on subgroup membership and the same scoring rules must normally be applied to all test takers, Yao, Haberman, and Zhang proposed a modified methodology of the penalized best linear predictor (PBLP) by incorporating a quadratic penalty function into the conventional BLP method. This research report contains full accounts of the BLP results as well as supplementary PBLP results to Yao et al. for three assessments of writing that aid in making high-stakes decisions: the TOEFL iBT ® Writing test, the GRE ® General Analytical Writing subject test, and the Praxis ® Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing assessment. Results obtained indicate the added value in using machine features for prediction of composite true scores of essay writings and effectiveness of the penalty function in suppressing the lack of population invariance.
Quality Caring in Nursing: Applying Theory to Clinical Practice, Education, and Leadership

Practice, Education, and Leadership Dedicated time spent with patients and families in clinical settings is often limited, rushed, and impersonal. How can nurses develop more positive, caring relationships with their patients, and help to improve the quality of patient care at large? This book addresses this critical question by presenting Joanne R. Duffy's Quality-Caring Model -the result of 35 years of clinical experience and educational acumen.
Distributed Filtering for Switched Nonlinear Positive Systems With Missing Measurements Over Sensor Networks

In this paper, the distributed filtering problem is investigated for a class of switched nonlinear positive systems over sensor networks. The randomly varying nonlinearities and missing measurements, which are governed by two mutually independent Bernoulli distributed white sequences, are taken into account. Based on the output measurements of the individual sensor and its neighbors, the distributed filter with positivity constraint is designed to ensure the prescribed average l∞ performance index of the estimation error dynamics. Special attention is paid to preserve the positivity of the underlying system as well as the sparseness of the addressed network topology. Sufficient conditions are established on the existence of the desired filters by using the linear programming approach, and the filter gains are subsequently characterized. A simulation example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed filtering method.
Human Behavior Integration Improves Classification Rates in Real-Time BCI

Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) offer potential for individuals with a variety of motor and sensory disabilities to interact with their environment, communicate and control mobility aids. Two key factors which affect the performance of a BCI and its usability are the feedback given to the participant and the subject's motivation. This paper presents the results from a study investigating the effects of feedback and motivation on the performance of the Strathclyde Brain Computer Interface. The paper discusses how the performance of the system can be improved by behavior integration and human-in-the-loop design.