Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Disparities in Breast Cancer Incidence, Mortality, and Quality of Care among African American and European American Women in South Carolina

Objectives Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women and the second-leading cause of female cancer deaths in the United States. African Americans and other minorities in the United States experience lower survival rates and have a worse prognosis than European Americans despite European Americans having a much higher incidence of the disease. Adherence to breast cancer treatment–quality measures is limited, particularly when the data are stratified by race/ethnicity. Methods We aimed to examine breast cancer incidence and mortality trends in South Carolina by race and explore possible racial disparities in the quality of breast cancer treatment received in South Carolina. Results African Americans have high rates of mammography and clinical breast examination screenings yet suffer lower survival compared with European Americans. For most treatment-quality metrics, South Carolina fairs well in comparison to the United States as a whole; however, South Carolina hospitals overall lag behind South Carolina Commission on Cancer–accredited hospitals for all measured quality indicators, including needle biopsy utilization, breast-conserving surgeries, and timely use of radiation therapy. Accreditation may a play a major role in increasing the standard of care related to breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Conclusions These descriptive findings may provide significant insight for future interventions and policies aimed at eliminating racial/ethnic disparities in health outcomes. Further risk-reduction approaches are necessary to reduce minority group mortality rates, especially among African American women.
An emerging role for Wnt and GSK3 signaling pathways in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a disabling illness with limited treatment options. The underlying pathophysiology remains unknown, partially due to its heterogeneous nature, and a lack of understanding of the biological functions of genetic risk factors. Several signaling pathways have been implicated, however, with the varying degrees of support. In this article, I will focus on the converging evidence supporting a prominent role for Wnt and glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) signaling in the biological bases of schizophrenia. This includes current pharmacological therapies that target GSK3, animal model and cell‐based studies, and recent human genetic findings that implicate Wnt and GSK3 signaling.
Enhancing smallholder market participation through mobile phone-enabled services: The case of M-Farm in Kenya

Many farmers in the developing world have limited access to agricultural technologies and markets. Mobile phone-enabled services that offer price information and market linkages could contribute towards bridging th s gap by reducing uncertainty about expected profits, information asymmetrie s and market inefficiencies. This article uses the example of the price information nd marketing service M-Farm in Kenya to empirically test this potential. Findings from a survey of M-Farm users confirm that m-services offering price information can help farmers plan production processes better, but also show th at alternative channels, in particular the radio, can also be effective especially at the early stages of production. While evidence on the utility of the informa tion to help farmers obtain better prices is inconclusive, resulting changes in cropping pa tterns and harvesting times are likely to have contributed to perceived income gains. M-Farm appears to have had limited impact on broadening market link ages, in part due to the company's focus on facilitating single contracts between far mers and buyer s rather than establishing a mobile phone-enabled network of buyers .
ANALYTICAL STUDY ON STEEL PLATE SHEAR WALLS USING DUAL STRIP MODEL AND 3 D FE MODEL

Steel plate shear walls (SPSW) have been used as the primary lateral force resisting system in buildings. Extensive analytical studies on steel plate shear walls in the United States, Canada, Taiwan and other countries have already validated the simple analytical model known as strip model to predict the monotonic behavior of this kind of structural system. However, more research is still needed to better understand the local behavior of SPSW as it related to global behavior, most notably the behavior of intermediate beam in multi-story SPSW. This paper presents some analyses on the Phase II tests of MCEER/NCREE cooperative experimental program on the full scale two-story SPSW specimen. A dual strip model using tension-only strips was developed using the commercially available finite element soft package ABAQUS/standard to replicate the Phase II pseudo-dynamic test. Beam element (B31) and truss element (T3D2) were used to represent the boundary frames and dual strips respectively. It was found that the simulation results showed good agreement with experimental results. This paper also presents the results of monotonic pushover analysis conducted using 3D finite element model in ABAQUS/Standard. Shell element (S4R) was employed for all structural sub-assemblage in this model. Linear eigenvalue buckling analysis was performed prior to the pushover analysis to introduce initial imperfection. The global structural responses from the analysis were compared with those from the MCEER/NCREE Phase II cyclic test. It was found the lateral capacity of the steel plate shear wall can be accurately estimated by 3D finite element model. _____________ B. QU, Research Assistant, Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, Tel: 1-716-645-2114x2437, Fax: 1-716-645-3733, E-mail: bingqu@buffalo.edu. M. BRUNEAU, Director, Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research and Professor, Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, Tel: 1-716-645-3991x104, Fax: 1-716-645-3399, E-mail: bruneau@mceermail.buffalo.edu.
An In Vitro Organ Culturing System for Intervertebral Disc Explants With Vertebral Endplates: A Feasibility Study With Ovine Caudal Discs

Study Design. Whole ovine caudal intervertebral discs with vertebral endplates were cultured under uniaxial diurnal loading for 7 days. Objectives. To establish and characterize an organ culture system for intervertebral discs, in which disc cells may be “maintained” in their native three-dimensional environment under load. Summary of Background Data. In vitro culturing of entire discs with preserved biologic and structural integrity would be a useful model to study the effects of nutrition and mechanical loading. Methods. To maintain endplate permeability, sheep were systemically anticoagulated before death and their caudal vasculature was evacuated with saline postmortem. The first 4 caudal discs were explanted with their adjacent endplates and cultured in bioreactors under uniaxial diurnal loading (0.2 MPa for 8 hours and 0.8 MPa for 16 hours) for 4 or 7 days. Solute transport into the center of the disc was measured after 4 days of culture using a low molecular weight fluorescent marker. Cell viability, glycosaminoglycan synthesis rate, and gene expression profile were measured after 7 days of culture and compared with fresh tissue. Results. Fluorescent images showed that solutes could diffuse into the disc under both static and diurnal loading, but penetration through the endplate increased with diurnal loading. Cell viability and glycosaminoglycan synthesis rates remained unchanged after 7 days of culture. Expression of catabolic genes was significantly up-regulated, whereas anabolic genes tended to be down-regulated after 7 days. Conclusions. With this novel preparation and culturing technique, endplate permeability could be maintained, which allowed culturing of intact disc explants with endplates for up to 7 days.
A molecular mechanism for aberrantCFTR‐dependent HCO3− transport in cystic fibrosis

Aberrant HCO3− transport is a hallmark of cystic fibrosis (CF) and is associated with aberrant Cl−‐dependent HCO3− transport by the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). We show here that HCO3− current by CFTR cannot account for CFTR‐activated HCO3− transport and that CFTR does not activate AE1–AE4. In contrast, CFTR markedly activates Cl− and OH−/HCO3− transport by members of the SLC26 family DRA, SLC26A6 and pendrin. Most notably, the SLC26s are electrogenic transporters with isoform‐specific stoichiometries. DRA activity occurred at a Cl−/HCO3− ratio ≥2. SLC26A6 activity is voltage regulated and occurred at HCO3−/Cl− ≥2. The physiological significance of these findings is demonstrated by interaction of CFTR and DRA in the mouse pancreas and an altered activation of DRA by the R117H and G551D mutants of CFTR. These findings provide a molecular mechanism for epithelial HCO3− transport (one SLC26 transporter—electrogenic transport; two SLC26 transporters with opposite stoichiometry in the same membrane domain—electroneutral transport), the CF‐associated aberrant HCO3− transport, and reveal a new function of CFTR with clinical implications for CF and congenital chloride diarrhea.
Effect of Diabetogen and Diabetogen Plus Antioxidant on the Concentration of Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ( TBARS )

Increasing evidence in both experimental and clinical studies suggests that oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathogenesis of both types of diabetes mellitus. Free radicals are formed disproportionately in diabetes by glucose oxidation, nonenzymatic glycation of proteins, and the subsequent oxidative degradation of glycated proteins. Abnormally high levels of free radicals and the simultaneous decline of antioxidant defense mechanisms can lead to damage of cellular organelles and enzymes, increased lipid peroxidation, and development of insulin resistance. These consequences of oxidative stress can promote the development of complications of diabetes mellitus. Changes in oxidative stress biomarkers, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione levels, vitamins, lipid peroxidation, nitrite concentration, nonenzymatic glycosylated proteins, and hyperglycemia in diabetes, and their consequences, are discussed in this review. In vivo studies of the effects of various conventional and alternative drugs on these biomarkers are surveyed. There is a need to continue to explore the relationship between free radicals, diabetes, and its complications, and to elucidate the mechanisms by which increased oxidative stress accelerates the development of diabetic complications, in an effort to expand treatment options. C © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 17:24–38, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.10058
Red blood cell mass and plasma volume changes in manned space flight.

Plasma volume, red blood cell mass, and erythrocyte survival determinations were performed for the Gemini astronauts before and after Gemini orbital flights IV, V, and VII. Plasma volume decreases similar to those seen after bed rest and water immersion were found in Gemini IV and V. While each of these flights was affected by different stresses and the data accumulated are not as complete or extensive as desired, the results suggest that the plasma volume changes associated with the shorter flights may have been compensated for in the longer Gemini VII flight. These preliminary studies showed decreases in the survival of erythrocytes and red blood cell mass (both studied with sodium chromate Cr 51) in Gemini V and VII. No compensation for the RBC mass decrease was found even in the longer flight. Data obtained indicate decreased RBC mass is a result of mild hemolysis of unknown cause.
RIDDLE immunodeficiency syndrome is linked to defects in 53BP1-mediated DNA damage signaling

Cellular DNA double-strand break-repair pathways have evolved to protect the integrity of the genome from a continual barrage of potentially detrimental insults. Inherited mutations in genes that control this process result in an inability to properly repair DNA damage, ultimately leading to developmental defects and also cancer predisposition. Here, we describe a patient with a previously undescribed syndrome, which we have termed RIDDLE syndrome (radiosensitivity, immunodeficiency, dysmorphic features and learning difficulties), whose cells lack an ability to recruit 53BP1 to sites of DNA double-strand breaks. As a consequence, cells derived from this patient exhibit a hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation, cell cycle checkpoint abnormalities, and impaired end-joining in the recombined switch regions. Sequencing of TP53BP1 and other genes known to regulate ionizing radiation-induced 53BP1 foci formation in this patient failed to detect any mutations. Therefore, these data indicate the existence of a DNA double-strand break-repair protein that functions upstream of 53BP1 and contributes to the normal development of the human immune system.
Managing Risk in a Derivative IaaS Cloud

Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) cloud platforms rent computing resources with different cost and availability tradeoffs. For example, users may acquire virtual machines (VMs) in the <italic>spot market</italic> that are cheap, but can be unilaterally terminated by the cloud operator. Because of this revocation risk, spot servers have been conventionally used for delay and risk tolerant batch jobs. In this paper, we develop risk mitigation policies which allow even interactive applications to run on spot servers. Our System, SpotCheck is a derivative cloud platform, and provides the illusion of an IaaS platform that offers always-available VMs on demand for a cost near that of spot servers, and supports unmodified applications. SpotCheck’s design combines virtualization-based mechanisms for fault-tolerance, and bidding and server selection policies for managing the risk and cost. We implement SpotCheck on EC2 and show that it i) provides nested VMs with 99.9989 percent availability, ii) achieves upto 2-5<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\times$</tex-math><alternatives><inline-graphic xlink:href="sharma-ieq1-2658622.gif"/> </alternatives></inline-formula> cost savings compared to using on-demand VMs, and iii) eliminates any risk of losing VM state.
Effects of hatching asynchrony on sibling negotiation, begging, jostling for position and within-brood food allocation in the barn owl, Tyto alba

When siblings differ markedly in their need for food, they may benefit from signalling to each other their willingness to contest the next indivisible food item delivered by the parents. This sib–sib communication system, referred to as ‘sibling negotiation’, may allow them to adjust optimally to investment in begging. Using barn owl (Tyto alba) broods, I assessed the role of within-brood age hierarchy on sibling negotiation, and in turn on jostling for position where parents predictably deliver food (i.e. nest-box entrance), begging and within-brood food allocation. More specifically, I examined three predictions derived from a game-theoretical model of sibling negotiation where a senior and a junior sibling compete for food resources (Roulin, 2002a; Johnstone and Roulin, 2003): (1) begging effort invested by the senior sibling should be less sensitive to the junior sibling’s negotiation than vice versa; (2) the junior should invest less effort in sibling negotiation than its senior sibling but a similar amount of effort in begging; and (3) within-brood food allocation should be directly related to begging but only indirectly to sibling negotiation. Two-chick broods were created and vocalization in the absence (negotiation signals directed to siblings) and presence (begging signals directed to parents) of parents was recorded. In support of the first prediction, juniors begged at a low cadence after their senior sibling negotiated intensely, probably because negotiation reflects prospective investment in begging and hence willingness to compete. In contrast, the begging of senior siblings was not sensitive to their junior sibling’s negotiation. In contrast to the second prediction, juniors negotiated and begged more intensely than their senior sibling apparently because they were hungrier rather than younger. In line with the third prediction, juniors monopolized food delivered by their parents when their senior sibling begged at a low level. The begging cadence of both the junior and senior sibling, the junior’s negotiation cadence, the difference in age between the two nest-mates and jostling for position were not associated with the likelihood of monopolizing food. In conclusion, sibling negotiation appears to influence begging behaviour, which, in turn, affects within-brood food allocation. Juniors may negotiate to challenge their senior siblings, and thereby determine whether seniors are less hungry before deciding to beg for food. In contrast, seniors may negotiate to deter juniors from begging.
DNA-mediated transformation of Chlamydomonas reinhardi cells: use of aminoglycoside 3'-phosphotransferase as a selectable marker

Using a modified vector, we developed a method for DNA-mediated transformation of Chlamydomonas reinhardi with increased efficiency. The vector contained the yeast 2 microns origin of replication as a heterologous replicon. The aminoglycoside 3'-phosphotransferase (APH) gene linked to the simian virus 40 early promoter was used as an antibiotic selectable marker. The C. reinhardi transformants were resistant to 12 micrograms of G418 or 150 micrograms of kanamycin per ml. A quick-blot mRNA analysis demonstrated the presence of RNase-sensitive transcripts from the APH gene in the transformants, suggesting that the acquisition of antibiotic resistance was due to the expression of the APH gene. Southern blot analysis revealed the presence of free plasmid DNA in the transformant. The transforming vector was recovered by transforming recipient bacteria with the total DNA extracted from the C. reinhardi transformant.
"Right Time, Right Place" Health Communication on Twitter: Value and Accuracy of Location Information

Background Twitter provides various types of location data, including exact Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates, which could be used for infoveillance and infodemiology (ie, the study and monitoring of online health information), health communication, and interventions. Despite its potential, Twitter location information is not well understood or well documented, limiting its public health utility. Objective The objective of this study was to document and describe the various types of location information available in Twitter. The different types of location data that can be ascertained from Twitter users are described. This information is key to informing future research on the availability, usability, and limitations of such location data. Methods Location data was gathered directly from Twitter using its application programming interface (API). The maximum tweets allowed by Twitter were gathered (1% of the total tweets) over 2 separate weeks in October and November 2011. The final dataset consisted of 23.8 million tweets from 9.5 million unique users. Frequencies for each of the location options were calculated to determine the prevalence of the various location data options by region of the world, time zone, and state within the United States. Data from the US Census Bureau were also compiled to determine population proportions in each state, and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to compare each state’s population with the number of Twitter users who enable the GPS location option. Results The GPS location data could be ascertained for 2.02% of tweets and 2.70% of unique users. Using a simple text-matching approach, 17.13% of user profiles in the 4 continental US time zones were able to be used to determine the user’s city and state. Agreement between GPS data and data from the text-matching approach was high (87.69%). Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the number of Twitter users per state and the 2010 US Census state populations (r ≥ 0.97, P < .001). Conclusions Health researchers exploring ways to use Twitter data for disease surveillance should be aware that the majority of tweets are not currently associated with an identifiable geographic location. Location can be identified for approximately 4 times the number of tweets using a straightforward text-matching process compared to using the GPS location information available in Twitter. Given the strong correlation between both data gathering methods, future research may consider using more qualitative approaches with higher yields, such as text mining, to acquire information about Twitter users’ geographical location.
Galactomannan antigenemia for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in neutropenic patients with hematological disorders.

OBJECTIVES Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is among the most common invasive fungal infections in neutropenic patients with hematological disorders in the authors' institution, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (KCMH), Bangkok, Thailand Previous studies have reported the Aspergillus galactomannan enzyme immunosorbent assay (GMEIA) may be a useful diagnostic tool for IA. The authors evaluated the performance of the GM EIA for the diagnosis and monitoring of the course of IA in KCMH. MATERIAL AND METHOD The authors prospectively performed the study from June 2002 to January 2004 in a consecutive series of adult neutropenic patients with hematological disorders who were at risk for developing IA. During hospitalization, serum galactomannan levels were measured once or twice weekly using the Platellia Aspergillus EIA test kit. The sensitivity and specificity of the GM EIA were calculated according to the proportion of patients with true and false positive and negative tests. RESULTS There were 50 treatment episodes in 44 patients with 5 proven, 12 probable, and 33 possible or no IA. The cutoff GM index of > 0.75 was determined with a sensitivity of 94.1% and a specificity of 78.8%. There was a close relationship between clinical outcome and the kinetics of GM indices. CONCLUSION The GM EIA is a useful diagnostic toolfor the diagnosis and monitoring of the course oflA in the presented institute.
Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 surface exopolysaccharide production is a beneficial trait mediating commensal-host interaction through immune modulation and pathogen protection

Bifidobacteria constitute a substantial proportion of the human gut microbiota. There are currently many bifidobacterial strains with claimed probiotic attributes. The mechanism through which these strains reside within their host and exert benefits to the host is far from fully understood. We have shown in the case of Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 that a cell surface exopolysaccharide (EPS) plays a role in in vivo persistence. Biosynthesis of two possible EPSs is controlled by a bidirectional gene cluster which guides alternate EPS synthesis by means of a reorienting promoter. The presence of EPS impacts on host immune response: the wild type, EPS-positive B. breve UCC2003 efficiently evades the adaptive B-cell host response, while its isogenic, EPS-deficient equivalent elicits a strong adaptive immune response. Functionally, EPS positive strains were more resilient to presence of acid and bile and were responsible for reduced colonization levels of Citrobacter rodentium, a gut pathogen. In conclusion, we have found that EPS is important in host interactions and pathogen protection, the latter indicative of a probiotic ability for the EPS of B. breve UCC2003.