Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A questions-based investigation of consumer mental-health information

Despite the wealth of mental-health information available online to consumers, research has shown that the mental-health information needs of consumers are not being met. This study contributes to that research by soliciting consumer questions directly, categorizing them, analyzing their form, and assessing the extent to which they can be answered from a trusted and vetted source of online information, namely the website of the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). As an alternative to surveys and analyses of online activity, this study shows how consumer questions provide new insight into what consumers do not know and how they express their information needs. The study crowdsourced 100 consumer questions through Amazon Inc.’s Mechanical Turk. Categorization of the questions shows broad agreement with earlier studies in terms of the content of consumer questions. It also suggests that consumers’ grasp of mental health issues may be low compared to other health topics. The majority of the questions (74%) were simple in form, with the remainder being multi-part, multifaceted or narrative. Even simple-form questions could, however, have complex interpretations. Fifty four questions were submitted to the search box at the NIMH website. For 32 questions, no answer could be found in the top one to three documents returned. Inadequacies in the search and retrieval technology deployed at websites account for some of the failure to find answers. The nature of consumer questions in mental health also plays a role. A question that has a false presupposition is less likely to have an answer in trusted and vetted sources of information. Consumer questions are also expressed with a degree of specificity that makes the retrieval of relevant information difficult. The significance of this study is that it shows what an analysis of consumer mental-health questions can tell us about consumer information needs and it provides new insight into the difficulties facing consumers looking for answers to their questions in online resources.
Benefits of omalizumab as add‐on therapy in patients with severe persistent asthma who are inadequately controlled despite best available therapy (GINA 2002 step 4 treatment): INNOVATE

Background: Patients with severe persistent asthma who are inadequately controlled despite Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2002 step 4 therapy are a challenging population with significant unmet medical need. We determined the effect of omalizumab on clinically significant asthma exacerbations (requiring systemic corticosteroids) in the first omalizumab study to exclusively enrol patients from this difficult‐to‐treat patient population.
Erythropoietin and blood doping

Objective and method: To outline the direct and indirect approaches in the fight against blood doping in sports, the different strategies that have been used and are currently being used to fight efficiently against blood doping are presented and discussed. Results and conclusions: The paper outlines the different approaches and diagnostic tools that some federations have to identify and target sportspeople demonstrating abnormal blood profiles. Originally blood tests were introduced for medical reasons and for limiting misuse of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO). In this way it became possible to prevent athletes with haematocrit levels well above normal, and potentially dangerous for their health, competing in sport. Today, with nearly a decade of blood testing experience, sports authorities should be familiar with some of the limitations and specially the ability of blood tests performed prior to competitions to fight efficiently against the misuse of rHuEPO, blood transfusion, and artificial haemoglobin.
Genomic analysis of the uncultivated marine crenarchaeote Cenarchaeum symbiosum

Crenarchaeota are ubiquitous and abundant microbial constituents of soils, sediments, lakes, and ocean waters. To further describe the cosmopolitan nonthermophilic Crenarchaeota, we analyzed the genome sequence of one representative, the uncultivated sponge symbiont Cenarchaeum symbiosum. C. symbiosum genotypes coinhabiting the same host partitioned into two dominant populations, corresponding to previously described a- and b-type ribosomal RNA variants. Although they were syntenic, overlapping a- and b-type ribotype genomes harbored significant variability. A single tiling path comprising the dominant a-type genotype was assembled and used to explore the genomic properties of C. symbiosum and its planktonic relatives. Of 2,066 ORFs, 55.6% matched genes with predicted function from previously sequenced genomes. The remaining genes partitioned between functional RNAs (2.4%) and hypotheticals (42%) with limited homology to known functional genes. The latter category included some genes likely involved in the archaeal–sponge symbiotic association. Conversely, 525 C. symbiosum ORFs were most highly similar to sequences from marine environmental genomic surveys, and they apparently represent orthologous genes from free-living planktonic Crenarchaeota. In total, the C. symbiosum genome was remarkably distinct from those of other known Archaea and shared many core metabolic features in common with its free-living planktonic relatives.
Rate and predictors of treatment prescription for hepatitis C

Background: The true treatment rate for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in veterans is unknown. Aim: To determine the treatment prescription rates and predictors of treatment prescription for HCV in a large national population. Methods: The Department of Veterans Affairs National Patient Care Database (NPCD) was used to identify all HCV-infected people between the fiscal years 1999 and 2003 using the International classification of diseases, 9th revision codes. Demographic information, medical and psychiatric comorbidities, and drug and alcohol use diagnoses were retrieved. Pharmacy data were retrieved from the Department of Veterans Affairs Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) database. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of treatment for HCV in HCV. Results: 113 927 veterans in the Department of Veterans Affairs care with a diagnosis of HCV were identified. The treatment prescription rate for HCV was 11.8%. Patients not prescribed treatment were older, more likely to be from minority races, have more alcohol and drug misuse, and have medical and psychiatric comorbid conditions. In a multivariate logistic regression model, the following factors were predictive of non-treatment for HCV: increasing age (odds ratio (OR) 0.77 for each 5-year increase in age; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.76 to 0.78); black race (OR 0.64; 95% CI 0.6 to 0.68); Hispanic race (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.8 to 0.96); alcohol abuse and dependence (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.59 to 0.65); drug abuse and dependence (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.74 to 0.82); anaemia (OR 0.18; 95% CI 0.16 to 0.21); hepatitis B infection (OR 0.72; 95% CI 0.62 to 0.83); coronary artery disease (OR 0.9; 95% CI 0.85 to 0.97); stroke (OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.67 to 0.85); bipolar disorder (OR 0.64; 95% CI 0.58 to 0.70); major depression (OR 0.72; 95% CI 0.67 to 0.77); mild depression (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.53 to 0.59); and schizophrenia (OR 0.71; 95% CI 0.65 to 0.77). The following factors were associated with a higher likelihood of treatment prescription for HCV: liver cirrhosis (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.5 to 1.7); and diabetes (OR 1.07; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.12). Conclusions: A small number of HCV-infected veterans were prescribed treatment for HCV. Non-treatment is associated with increasing age, non-white race, drug and alcohol abuse, and dependence and comorbid illnesses. Reasons for non-treatment need further study.
Identification of HLA-DR1 beta chain residues critical for binding staphylococcal enterotoxins A and E

Superantigens are thought to make external contacts with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules and with the V beta portion of a T cell antigen receptor (TCR), thereby stimulating entire families of T cells. The precise mapping of superantigen binding sites on class II molecules may provide valuable information on how TCR and MHC molecules interact. Two bacterial superantigens, staphylococcal enterotoxins A and E (SEA/SEE) bind well to most HLA-DR alleles, but poorly to HLA-DRw53. The sequences responsible for this binding were localized to the putative alpha helix of the DR beta chain by measuring toxin binding to a panel of chimeric class II molecules expressed on transfected cells. Binding of SEA/SEE to the DRw14 (Dw9) molecule suggested that the conserved histidine 81 in the beta chain of most DR molecules was important, whereas the tyrosine 81 in the DRw53 beta chain was detrimental for high-affinity binding. To prove this, reciprocal point mutations were introduced in the DR1 and DRw53 beta chains. Mutation of histidine 81 in the DR1 beta chain to tyrosine reduced SEA/SEE binding, but did not prevent recognition of two DR1- restricted peptides by six of eight antigen-specific T cell lines. Conversely, introduction to histidine at position 81 in the DRw53 beta chain restored normal levels of SEA/SEE binding. These data suggest that a binding site of SEA and SEE lies on the outer face of the beta chain alpha helix, pointing away from the antigen-binding groove.
Adjusting for subgroup differences in extreme response tendency in ratings of health care: impact on disparity estimates.

OBJECTIVE Adjust for subgroup differences in extreme response tendency (ERT) in ratings of health care, which otherwise obscure disparities in patient experience. DATA SOURCE 117,102 respondents to the 2004 Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Medicare Fee-for-Service survey. STUDY DESIGN Multinomial logistic regression is used to model respondents' use of extremes of the 0-10 CAHPS rating scales as a function of education. A new two-stage model adjusts for both standard case-mix effects and ERT. Ratings of subgroups are compared after these adjustments. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Medicare beneficiaries with greater educational attainment are less likely to use both extremes of the 0-10 rating scale than those with less attainment. Adjustments from the two-stage model may differ substantially from standard adjustments and resolve or attenuate several counterintuitive findings in subgroup comparisons. CONCLUSIONS Addressing ERT may be important when estimating disparities or comparing providers if patient populations differ markedly in educational attainment. Failures to do so may result in misdirected resources for reducing disparities and inaccurate assessment of some providers. Depending upon the application, ERT may be addressed by the two-stage approach developed here or through specified categorical or stratified reporting.
Pharmacokinetics, Metabolism, and Oral Bioavailability of the DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitor 5-Fluoro-2′-Deoxycytidine in Mice

Purpose:In vivo, 5-fluoro-2′-deoxycytidine (FdCyd) is rapidly and sequentially converted to 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine, 5-fluorouracil, and 5-fluorouridine. The i.v. combination of FdCyd and 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrouridine (THU), a cytidine deaminase (CD) inhibitor that blocks the first metabolic step in FdCyd catabolism, is being investigated clinically for its ability to inhibit DNA methyltransferase. However, the full effects of THU on FdCyd metabolism and pharmacokinetics are unknown. We aimed to characterize the pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and bioavailability of FdCyd with and without THU in mice. Experimental Design: We developed a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry assay to quantitate FdCyd and metabolites in mouse plasma. Mice were dosed i.v. or p.o. with 25 mg/kg FdCyd with or without coadministration of 100 mg/kg THU p.o. or i.v. Results: The oral bioavailability of FdCyd alone was ∼4%. Coadministration with THU increased exposure to FdCyd and decreased exposure to its metabolites; i.v. and p.o. coadministration of THU increased exposure to p.o. FdCyd by 87- and 58-fold, respectively. FdCyd exposure after p.o. FdCyd with p.o. THU was as much as 54% that of i.v. FdCyd with i.v. THU. Conclusions: FdCyd is well absorbed but undergoes substantial first-pass catabolism by CD to potentially toxic metabolites that do not inhibit DNA methyltransferase. THU is sufficiently bioavailable to reduce the first-pass effect of CD on FdCyd. Oral coadministration of THU and FdCyd is a promising approach that warrants clinical testing because it may allow maintaining effective FdCyd concentrations on a chronic basis, which would be an advantage over other DNA methyltransferase inhibitors that are currently approved or in development.
Conjugation of enzymes on RNA probes through Cu(I) catalyzed alkyne‐azide cycloaddition

Northern and Southern blots are the most commonly used techniques for the confirmation of presence and expression of target genes. Molecular tools available for this purpose include radioisotope‐, enzyme‐ and hapten‐labeled nucleic acid probes. In particular, the use of enzyme‐labeled probes are easy and safe, and do not require bound/free processes after hybridization associated with an antibody‐based detection system. However, there are few approaches that enable the post‐transcriptional modification of RNA with enzymes or proteins. In this study, we applied the Cu(I)‐catalyzed [3 + 2] azide‐alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction to the labeling of an RNA strand with enzymes. The C‐5 position of UTP was modified with an alkyne group and alkyne‐bearing RNA was prepared by in vitro transcription using T7 RNA polymerase. Surface amino groups of bacterial alkaline phosphatase (BAP) were randomly derivatized with azide groups at different modification ratios. The CuAAC reaction occurred selectively between the alkyne‐modified RNA and the azide‐modified enzyme. The RNA probe conjugated with BAP using this technique could detect a specific RNA by dot blot northern hybridization.
AN EXPERIMENTAL NEUROVASCULAR ISLAND SKIN FLAP FOR THE STUDY OF THE DELAY PHENOMENON

We present an experimental neurovascular island skin flap. It is a consistent, reproducible model which produces a definite pattern of surviving skin flap area versus skin flap necrosis. There is a constant, anatomically definable nerve and vascular supply to the flap. This model permits independent experimental manipulation of the neural, arterial, and venous supply to the skin. It is useful, therefore, for the study of the vascular mechanisms of the skin microcirculation. We also demonstrated that increased flap survival can be produced by a delay involving denervation alone (leaving the vascular supply intact) or by devascularization alone (leaving the nerve supply intact). We conclude that both the adrenergic denervation and the ischemia contribute to the production of the delay phenomenon. We suggest that sustained vasodilation--vascular smooth muscle relaxation--is the vascular mechanism that accounts for the delay phenomenon.
Fabrication, Surface Properties and Protein Encapsulation/Release Studies of Electrospun Gelatin Nanofibers

The aim of this study was to fabricate gelatin nanofibers by electrospinning and investigate the characteristics of these nanofibers. It has been reported that composite nanofibrous mats with drug impregnated in biocompatible and biodegradable polymer nanofibers can serve as tissue-engineering scaffolds with desired and controllable drug-release properties. The composite nanofibrous mats electrospun from a solution consisting of gelatin, bovine serum albumin (BSA, a model compound to simulate proteins), poly(ethylene glycol) sorbitan monolaurate (Tween-20) and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) were prepared and characterized. The BSA release profile in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4) was recorded and analyzed. For comparison, nanofibrous mats electrospun from the solution containing gelatin and BSA were also prepared and assessed. The morphologies of the nanofibrous mats were examined by scanning electron microscopy; the surface hydrophilicity was measured by water contact angle method; and the protein-release profiles were recorded by analyzing BSA amount after immersing the electrospun nanofibrous mats in PBS for various time periods. The results indicated that the composite nanofibrous mats electrospun from the gelatin emulsion and/or solution had controllable protein-release behavior and they could be utilized as tissue-engineering scaffolds with protein encapsulated.
A novel micromachining process for the fabrication of monocrystalline Si-membranes using porous silicon

We report a new surface micromachining technology to fabricate monocrystalline silicon membranes covering a vacuum cavity for applications like piezoresistive pressure sensors. The main process steps are: (i) local anodic etching of layered porous silicon with different porosities, (ii) thermal rearrangement of the porous silicon, and (iii) epitaxial growth of the silicon membrane layer. In contrast to conventional bulk micromachining the new technology has the benefit of a considerable freedom in the design of mono-crystalline silicon membranes. The membrane geometry is only determined by the porous region. Further, the new fabrication method is fully CMOS compatible. In fact, except for anodic etching, all process steps are part of a standard mixed signal IC production line. Various aspects of the used key process steps are discussed, particularly with regard to the oxygen and fluorine desorption during the porous silicon annealing. A piezoresistive pressure sensor with integrated ASIC based on the new fabrication method is demonstrated.
Temporal and spatial expression patterns of canonical clock genes and clock‐controlled genes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus

In mammals, the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus control endogenous circadian rhythms and entrainment to the environment. A core SCN region of calbindin (CalB)‐containing cells is retinorecipient and the cells therein lack rhythmic expression of clock genes and electrical activity. The core is surrounded by a ‘shell’ of rhythmic oscillator cells. In the present experiments, we studied the spatial arrangement of oscillator cells by examining the spatial and temporal patterns of expression of the canonical clock genes Per1, Per2 and vasopressin mRNA, a clock‐controlled gene. Surprisingly, in the SCN shell, the dorsomedial cells were the first to rhythmically express both Per1 and VP mRNA, with gene expression then spreading very slowly through much of the nucleus for the next 12 h then receding to baseline levels. Following a light pulse, Per expression increased after 1 h in the core SCN and after 1.5 h in the shell. Although expression in the shell occurred earlier in light‐pulsed animals than in those housed in constant darkness, it still followed the same spatial and temporal expression pattern as was observed in constant darkness. The results suggest that not only is the SCN organized into light‐responsive and rhythmic regions but also that the rhythmic region of the SCN itself has an ordered arrangement of SCN oscillator cells.
Impairment of CaMKII activation and attenuation of neuropathic pain in mice lacking NR2B phosphorylated at Tyr1472

Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a key mediator of long‐term potentiation (LTP), which can be triggered by N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor‐mediated Ca2+ influx. We previously demonstrated that Fyn kinase‐mediated phosphorylation of NR2B subunits of NMDA receptors at Tyr1472 in the dorsal horn was involved in a neuropathic pain state even 1 week after nerve injury. Here we show that Y1472F‐KI mice with a knock‐in mutation of the Tyr1472 site to phenylalanine did not exhibit neuropathic pain induced by L5 spinal nerve transection, whereas they did retain normal nociceptive responses and induction of inflammatory pain. Phosphorylation of NR2B at Tyr1472 was only impaired in the spinal cord of Y1472F‐KI mice among the major phosphorylation sites. There was no difference in the Ca2+ response to glutamate and sensitivity to NMDA receptor antagonists between naive wild‐type and Y1472F‐KI mice, and the Ca2+ response to glutamate was attenuated in the Y1472F‐KI mice after nerve injury. Autophosphorylation of CaMKII at Thr286 was markedly impaired in Y1472F‐KI mice after nerve injury, but there was no difference in phosphorylation of CaMKII at Thr305 or protein kinase Cγ at Thr674, and activation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and microglia in the superficial layer of spinal cord between wild‐type and Y1472F‐KI mice after the operation. These results demonstrate that the attenuation of neuropathic pain is caused by the impaired NMDA receptor‐mediated CaMKII signaling in Y1472F‐KI mice, and suggest that autophosphorylation of CaMKII at Thr286 plays a central part not only in LTP, but also in persistent neuropathic pain.
Reliability of length measurements in full-term neonates.

OBJECTIVE To describe and compare the intra- and interexaminer reliability of four techniques for measuring length in full-term newborns and to determine whether the different techniques yield significantly different measurements. DESIGN A descriptive study, describing the intra- and interexaminer reliability of four length measurement techniques: crown-heel, supine, paper barrier, and Neo-infantometer. The nurses were blind to their own and to the other nurse's measurements. The order of the nurses and the order in which the measurements were obtained was randomized. SETTING Mothers' rooms in a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS Thirty-two healthy full-term newborns. INTERVENTIONS Length measurements using four different length techniques were obtained twice each by two experienced neonatal nurses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES To measure the intra- and interexaminer reliability, the following statistics were calculated: mean absolute differences, standard deviations, technical error of measurement; percentage less than . 5 and 1.0 cm, and percentage of error. RESULTS Intra- and interexaminer differences were significantly larger when examiners used the crown-heel measurement technique. Although the intra- and interexaminer reliability of length measurements obtained with the supine, paper barrier, and Neo-infantometer techniques did not differ significantly, the amount of error in these measurements was large. CONCLUSIONS Measurements obtained using the crown-heel technique are significantly less reliable than measurements obtained using the supine, paper barrier, or Neo-infantometer techniques.