Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prolactin results for samples containing macroprolactin are method and sample dependent.

Prolactin (PRL) exists in human serum in several molecular forms that can be identified by gel-filtration chromatography (GFC). The 23-kDa monomer is the predominant form in the general population, but other circulating species include the 50-kDa form (big PRL) and the 150- to 170-kDa macroprolactin (big big PRL) (1)(2). The prevalence of macroprolactin in the general population is currently unknown, but this macromolecular form of PRL has been characterized as a complex of PRL with an IgG antibody (3) that has reduced bioactivity in vivo (4) and a variable reactivity with commercial immunoassays for PRL (4)(5)(6)(7)(8). Macroprolactin is cleared from the blood circulation more slowly than monomeric PRL, leading to an apparent hyperprolactinemia, depending on the immunoassay used for the measurement of PRL. Thus, identification of macroprolactin as a cause of high PRL in a patient sample is important because it can help resolve diagnostic confusion and avoid expensive pituitary imaging studies and inappropriate treatment (5). As a result of distribution of serum containing macroprolactin in the United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Scheme, immunoassays for the measurement of PRL have been subdivided into three classes according to their reactivity with macroprolactin: low-, medium-, and high-reading methods (6). We used the polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation method (4) to screen for the presence of macroprolactinemia in a population of 319 samples with increased serum PRL (>30 μg/L) measured by our routine method [electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (Elecsys 2010; Roche)], an immunoassay that reacts strongly with macroprolactin (high-reading method). The presence of macroprolactin was confirmed by GFC on a Sephacryl S-300 column (Pharmacia) as described elsewhere (4). All samples containing macroprolactin, as well as 48 hyperprolactinemic samples containing …
Effect of I/D Polymorphism of the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Gene on Postinfarction In- Hospital Mortality

292 ñ HJC (Hellenic Journal of Cardiology) Effect of I/D Polymorphism of the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Gene on Postinfarction InHospital Mortality Findings of the GEMIG Study STYLIANOS TZEIS, GEORGE ANDRIKOPOULOS, DIMITRIOS RICHTER, MIHALIS ZAIRIS, ELIAS KARABINOS, ELIAS GIALAFOS, EVANGELOS PAPASTERIADIS, THOMAS APOSTOLOU, FOTIOS KARDARAS, STEFANOS FOUSSAS, MIHALIS KYRIAKIDIS, ATHANASIOS KONTOPOULOS, CHRISTODOULOS STEFANADIS, PAVLOS TOUTOUZAS. 1st. Cardiology Department, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Cardiology Department, Athens Euroclinic, Cardiology Department, Tzaneio Hospital, Piraeus, Cardiology Department, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, 1st. Cardiology Department, "Agios Panteleimonas" General Hospital, Nikaia, 2nd. Cardiology Department, "Agios Panteleimonas" General Hospital, Nikaia, 2nd. Cardiology Department, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Cardiology Department, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, 1st. Cardiology Department of the University of Athens, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens, Athens University Medical School, Hellenic Heart Foundation.
Middle to Upper Jurassic Saudi Arabian carbonate petroleum reservoirs: biostratigraphy, micropalaeontology and palaeoenvironments

Recent work has improved understanding of the benthic foraminiferal stratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental ranges of the Middle to Upper Jurassic reservoir-containing carbonates of Saudi Arabia. The entire Jurassic succession includes the Marrat, Dhruma, Tuwaiq Mountain, Hanifa, Jubaila and Arab formations that terminate with a succession of evaporites, the final, thickest unit of which is termed the Hith Formation. This study focuses on selected carbonate members studied from the Dhruma Formation and above, and includes the Lower Fadhili, Upper Fadhili, Hanifa and Arab-D reservoirs. The Hadriya and Manifa reservoirs are not considered. An ascending order of tiered deep-to shallow-marine foraminiferal assemblages has been determined for each formation and applied to distinguish both long- and short-term palaeobathymetric variations. The Lenticulina-Nodosaria-spicule dominated assemblage characterises the deepest mud-dominated successions in all formations. The consistent presence of Kurnubia and Nautiloculina species suggests only moderately deep conditions, considered to be below fair-weather wave base and shelfal. A foraminiferally-depleted succession then follows that is characterised by encrusting and domed sclerosponges, including Burgundia species, in the Tuwaiq Mountain, Hanifa and Jubaila formations. This assemblage is followed, in the Hanifa and upper Jubaila formations, by a biofacies dominated by fragments of the branched sclerosponge Cladocoropsis mirabilis, together with Kurnubia and Nautiloculina species and a variety of indeterminate simple miliolids. Pseudocyclammina lituus, Alveosepta powersi/jacardi and Redmondoides lugeoni are present within this assemblage. A slightly shallower, possibly lagoon-influenced assemblage is developed in the Hanifa and Arab formations that include Cladocoropsis mirabilis, Kurnubia and Nautiloculina species and the dasyclad algae Clypeina sulcata and Heteroporella jaffrezoi. A further shallower assemblage, found only in the upper Arab-D Member, is characterised by the presence of Mangashtia viennoti, Clypeina sulcata and Cladocoropsis mirabilis. This assemblage is gradually supplemented by “Pfenderina salernitana” and is interpreted as slightly shallower conditions in the upper Arab-D. A very shallow assemblage in the uppermost Arab-D is characterised by the presence of Trocholina alpina, which is then followed by an intertidal assemblage of cerithid gastropods and felted calcareous algae in which foraminifera are typically absent. These various microbiofacies have provided depositional and potential reservoir stratification. A phenomenon termed “palaeobathymetric compression” has been observed in which depositional cycles are enhanced by rapidly shallowing upwards tiered biofacies that encompass less than 3m of sediment thickness but represent in excess of 20m of water depth reduction. This is attributed to short-term rapid lowering of sea level, and may be considered as the microfaunal signals of high frequency forced regressions.
Aedes aegypti and haemorrhagic fever.

Although the history of mosquito-borne haemorrhagic fever is brief, it is intriguing. This severe haemorrhagic syndrome is caused by strains of dengue virus, some of which cannot be distinguished immunologically from the types that cause classical mild dengue disease. This apparent modification of dengue infection, which has developed into a major public health problem in South-East Asia within the past few years, has raised several problems that require investigation. Among these are the origin or source of the dengue virus strains involved, the factors that may influence human host response and, of special interest, the possibility that the introduced vector, Aedes aegypti, may have played and may be playing a role in the modification of wild strains of dengue virus, resulting in the appearance of lethal haemorrhagic strains. It was not until the Second World War that strains of dengue viruses were isolated from the blood of dengue-fever patients and adapted to laboratory mice, and that practical laboratory methods for working with these viruses were developed (Kimura & Hotta, 1943; Sabin, 1952a, 1952b). Subsequently, it was shown by immunological methods that these viruses were members of arbovirus serogroup B, which includes such other viruses as yellow fever, St Louis encephalitis and Japanese encephalitis (Casals, 1957). Before the Second World War, nevertheless, extensive outstanding experimental and field observations provided us with well-documented descriptions of dengue disease, its history and distribution, and its transmission and epidemiology in great detail (Sabin, 1952b). Thlese descriptions included rather precise data on viraemia, intrinsic and extrinsic incubation periods, vector abilities, and the development of immunity in man. It is important to emphasize, even today, that much of our knowledge of dengue, especially in
Pair bonding and lateral neck-resting preferences in captive Caribbean flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber)

When flamingos rest, they typically lay their head on their back and curve their neck to either the right or left of their body, with both individual and population-level lateral preferences for rightward neck resting when preferences are tracked over time (Anderson, Williams, & O'Brien, 2009). The present study attempted to replicate these previous neck-resting preferences, to examine how they changed over time, and to examine the possibility of a relationship between lateral neck-resting preference and pair bonding in captive Caribbean flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) housed at the Philadelphia Zoo (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Results successfully replicated the individual- and population-level lateral preferences for rightward neck resting, and demonstrated that these preferences were stable over time. Moreover, individual flamingos that demonstrated stronger pair bond strengths tended to differ less from their partners in terms of neck-resting preference than did those birds displaying weaker pair bond strengths, suggesting a relationship between laterality and social cohesion.
Spatial Incidence of National Policies and Fixed Infrastructure: An Application to the Ethanol Mandate

Using a quantile difference-in-differences econometric approach to analyze weekly gasoline price data for 200 cities from 2007 to 2014, we find evidence that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) ethanol mandate differentially impacted gasoline prices across the U.S. Driven by the east coast- which receive roughly half of all ethanol shipments- cities farther from ethanol production centers paid significantly higher gasoline prices than cities close to ethanol production centers. We argue that the observed price differences are driven by transportation costs for ethanol which, unlike petroleum, cannot be shipped via pipeline. Our research design attributes our findings to positive ethanol RIN (renewable identification numbers) prices from the ethanol mandate binding after 2013.
Psychological factors predict adherence to methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis; findings from a systematic review of rates, predictors and associations with patient-reported and clinical outcomes

Treatment response to methotrexate (MTX) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not universal and non-adherence may partially explain this. The aims of this systematic review were to: (1) summarise existing rates of adherence to MTX, (2) identify predictors of adherence to MTX, and (3) assess the association between non-adherence and patient outcomes. The authors conducted a systematic search of papers published from January 1980 to February 2015 in PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE and CINAHL databases. Studies were eligible for inclusion if: (1) MTX was used as monotherapy or in combination with other therapies, (2) MTX was used in an RA or inflammatory polyarthritis population, (3) adherence was defined and measured as the extent to which patients followed their MTX regimen during the period of prescription, and (4) it was an original piece of research. In total, 10 studies met the inclusion criteria and 8 were evaluated as high quality. Rates of adherence ranged from 59% to 107%, and exposed differences in definitions of adherence, study methodologies and sample heterogeneity. A number of potential predictors of MTX adherence were identified; the strongest being related to beliefs in the necessity and efficacy of MTX, absence of low mood, mild disease and MTX monotherapy. Furthermore, 3 studies tested the association of adherence with disease activity as an outcome measure; all 3 found non-adherence associated with poor treatment response. This systematic review shows the importance of adherence to MTX treatment and summarises the associated modifiable factors.
Nightly Analyses of Subjective and Objective (Actigraphy) Measures of Sleep in Fibromyalgia Syndrome: What Accounts for the Discrepancy?

ObjectivesTo evaluate the concordance between the subjective and objective methods of sleep assessment in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and to delineate factors associated with discrepancy between the 2 sleep assessment methods. MethodsSeventy-five patients with FMS completed a 7-day home assessment protocol. They wore an actigraphic device at all times. In the morning, they used the electronic diary to record the subjective report of sleep from the previous night and current severity of the FMS-related symptoms. ResultsOn average, the 2 assessment methods yielded a 73 absolute minute difference per night per patient. About half of the nights, sleep duration was underestimated. Approximately 20% of the nights had greater than 2-hour difference between the 2 methods. Factors related to this large discrepancy were (1) objective indicator of restless sleep, (2) subjective report of difficulty falling asleep, and (3) report of fatigue at the time of reporting. FMS-related symptoms were related to subjective report of poor sleep but not to objective sleep data. DiscussionMisestimation of sleep seems common in FMS patients, particularly when their sleep quality is poor. Careful considerations for evaluating the severity of patients' sleep complaints are critical in adequate management of sleep disturbance that is commonly reported by FMS patients.
Predictors of health related quality of life in childhood epilepsy and comparison with healthy children: findings from an Indian study.

BACKGROUND/AIM Children with epilepsy have reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL) due to disease and medications. We aimed to assess child-reported HRQOL in Indian children with epilepsy and compare it with that in healthy children. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study of 256 children with epilepsy aged between 5 and 18 years on antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment for at least 3 months was performed and 125 age and sex matched healthy children were included. A generic version of the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL version 4) scale was used to assess HRQOL. RESULTS Children with epilepsy had diminished scores in total score and all subdomains of PedsQL as compared to healthy children. Children with epilepsy on polytherapy had diminished HRQOL compared with those on monotherapy. Children with generalized seizures or with symptomatic epilepsy had diminished HRQOL. Significant predictors of poor HRQOL were adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to AED, polytherapy, longer duration of epilepsy, shorter seizure-free interval, and seizure frequency. CONCLUSION Children with epilepsy have diminished HRQOL than healthy children in all subdomains of PedsQL. Significant predictors are ADRs to AED, polytherapy, longer duration of epilepsy, shorter seizure-free interval, and seizure frequency. Comprehensive management of children with epilepsy must go beyond seizure control.
Low levels of genetic differentiation among populations of the freshwater fish Hypseleotris compressa (Gobiidae: Eleotridinae): implications for its biology, population connectivity and history

The isolating nature of freshwater systems may lead to expectations of substantial genetic subdivision among populations of obligate freshwater species. We examined the genetic structure of populations of the freshwater fish Hypseleotris compressa (Gobiidae) using allozyme and mtDNA markers. Fifteen east coast Queensland populations and one Northern Territory population were sampled to examine levels of differentiation within and between drainages at near, medium and broad scales. Initial allozyme data suggested high levels of gene flow and connectivity among populations at broad spatial scales. However there was no significant relationship between geographical distance and gene flow among east coast populations which may indicate, among other possibilities, that these populations are not at equilibrium between gene flow and genetic drift. Analyses of a 567-bp fragment of the ATPase6 mtDNA gene revealed a star-shaped phylogeny, with many singleton, recently derived haplotypes. Tajima’s test of neutrality was significantly negative. The allozyme and mtDNA data may be indicative of an historical demographic change that was reflected in the nonequilibrium pattern exhibited by contemporary populations. As estimating current levels of gene flow would violate basic assumptions of underlying models, approximations were not made. Nevertheless, patterns of genetic variation among populations of H. compressa do not match traditional expectations for a freshwater fish, and it would appear that there has been at least historical connectivity between populations now inhabiting different drainages.
The stethoscope. A potential source of nosocomial infection?

BACKGROUND Stethoscope diaphragms have been shown to harbor potentially pathogenic bacteria. OBJECTIVES To assess bacterial contamination on the diaphragm and under the plastic rim that secures the diaphragm of stethoscopes of physicians, nurses, medical students, and house staff in an intensive care unit and a general medical ward of a large university hospital. Also to compare the effectiveness of various cleaning agents and assess the transmissibility of bacteria from contaminated stethoscopes to human skin. METHODS Aerobic and anaerobic bacterial cultures were performed on 40 randomly selected stethoscopes. We compared the effects of isopropyl alcohol, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), and benzalkonium chloride swabs, as well as soap and water, on reducing bacterial contamination on the stethoscope diaphragm and under the rim. The transmissibility of Micrococcus luteus inoculated onto a stethoscope diaphragm to clean human skin was also determined. RESULTS Eleven genera and species of bacteria were isolated, with coagulase-negative staphylococcus present on 100% of stethoscopes and Staphylococcus aureus on 38%. Clostridium difficile was not isolated. The mean (+/-SE) number of total colony-forming units was 158 +/- 33 per diaphragm and 289 +/- 54 per rim. Physicians' stethoscope diaphragms had significantly more colony-forming units of coagulase-negative staphylococci than those of nurses: 163 +/- 44 vs 50 +/- 12, respectively (P = .02). The most effective cleaning agent was isopropyl alcohol after cleaning the diaphragm surface, the stethoscope diaphragms contained 0.2 +/- 0.2 colony-forming units and the rims contained 2.2 +/- 1.5 colony-forming units (P = .01). In addition, M luteus was transferred from inoculated stethoscopes to human skin. CONCLUSIONS Most stethoscopes harbor potential pathogens but are not a source of C difficile. Physicians' stethoscopes generally had a higher bacterial load than nurses' stethoscopes. Isopropyl alcohol is an effective cleaning agent when applied to the stethoscope diaphragm. Stethoscopes transfer M luteus to human skin, making it likely that other bacteria can be transferred as well.
The Modulation in Subunits e and g Amounts of Yeast ATP Synthase Modifies Mitochondrial Cristae Morphology*

Subunits e and g of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATP synthase are required to maintain ATP synthase dimeric forms. Mutants devoid of these subunits display anomalous mitochondrial morphologies. An expression system regulated by doxycycline was used to modulate the expression of the genes encoding the subunits e and g. A decrease in the amount of subunit e induces a decrease in the amount of subunit g, but a decrease in the amount of subunit g does not affect subunit e. The loss of subunit e or g leads to the loss of supramolecular structures of ATP synthase, which is fully reversible upon removal of doxycycline. In the absence of doxycycline, mitochondria present poorly defined cristae. In the presence of doxycycline, onion-like structures are formed after five generations. When doxycycline is removed after five generations, cristae are mainly observed. The data demonstrate that the inner structure of mitochondria depends upon the ability of ATP synthase to make supramolecular structures.
Assessment of alteration in metabolic profile and milk composition of buffaloes with subclinical mastitis

The present study aimed to assess the metabolic status and milk composition of buffaloes with subclinical mastitis. Forty buffaloes in early lactation from local buffalo dairy farms of Mathura district Uttar Pradesh (India) and instructional livestock farm complex of DUVASU, Mathura, found positive for subclinical mastitis at the quarter level by California mastitis test (CMT) (++ score) and high somatic cell counts (SCC) (>5 lakh cells per ml) were included in the present study. Another 20 clinically healthy buffaloes in early lactation and free of mastitis were used as healthy control group. Blood samples (5 mL) were collected from the both healthy and subclinical mastitic buffaloes and were used for estimation of serum metabolites including glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, urea, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (P). Further, milk samples were obtained from each affected quarter of buffaloes having subclinical mastitis as well as from healthy group and used for assessment of milk composition. To evaluate the milk quality, milk lactose, protein, fat, solid-not-fat (SNF), salt, specific gravity and depression in freezing point were estimated. Statistical differences between groups were evaluated by using using ANOVA with general linear models. Significantly lower serum glucose (P≤0.01), Ca (P≤0.05) and P (P≤0.05) levels were revealed by buffaloes with subclinical mastitis as compared to healthy control group. Whereas, serum urea level of buffaloes with subclinical mastitis was significantly higher (P≤0.01) than healthy control group. However, significant alteration in serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein and magnesium contents was not revealed by buffaloes with subclinical mastitis in comparison with the healthy controls. Milk samples obtained from buffaloes with subclinical mastitis revealed significantly higher (P≤0.01) total protein and salts contents as well as depression in freezing point as compared to that of the healthy control group. However, significantly lower lactose (P≤0.01), fat (P≤0.01), SNF (P≤0.01) contents and specific gravity (P≤0.05) was estimated in mastitic milk as compared to nonmastitic milk (healthy control group). Therefore, it can be concluded that remarkably altered metabolic status of buffaloes could be associated with subclinical mastitis. In tandem, subclinical mastitis could result in marked alteration in the milk composition conferring the poor milk quality of buffaloes.
Efficient Move Evaluations for Time-Dependent Vehicle Routing Problems

In this paper we introduce several new methods for efficiently evaluating moves in neighborhood search heuristics for routing problems with time-dependent travel times. We consider both the case that route duration is constrained and the case that route duration appears in the objective. We observe that the composition of piecewise linear functions can be evaluated in various orders when computing the route duration. We use this to develop a new tree based data structure to improve the complexity of computations and memory usage. This also allows us to present methods that have the best known computational complexity, while they do not even require a lexicographic order of search. Our numerical experiments illustrate the trade-off between computation time and memory usage among the different methods. On 1000 customer instances, our methods are able to speed-up a construction heuristic by up to 8.89 times and an exchange neighborhood improvement heuristic by up to 3.94 times, without requiring excessive amounts of memory.