Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of serum enzyme activities as predictors of passive transfer status in lambs.

OBJECTIVE To determine the associations between serum IgG concentration and serum activities of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and pseudocholinesterase for the potential use of these serum enzymes as predictors of passive transfer status in neonatal lambs. DESIGN Prospective observational study. ANIMALS 47 Sardinian lambs from birth to 2 days old. PROCEDURE Serum enzyme activities were measured by use of commercially available kits and a clinical biochemical analyzer. Serum IgG concentration was determined by single radial immunodiffusion. Associations between serum IgG concentration and the activity of each serum enzyme were established by use of regression analysis. RESULTS A significant correlation was detected between serum IgG concentration and serum GGT activity in 1- and 2-day-old lambs. Minimal correlations were detected between serum IgG concentration and serum alkaline phosphatase activity in 1-day-old lambs and serum pseudocholinesterase activity in 1- and 2-day-old lambs. No significant associations were detected between serum IgG concentration and serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase. A multiple linear regression model was accurate for the estimation of the natural logarithm of serum IgG concentration as a function of the natural logarithm of serum GGT activity and of the age of lambs at the time of sampling (adjusted R2 = 0.89). This model was then used to calculate the serum GGT activity equivalent to various serum IgG concentrations for 1- and 2-day-old lambs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that passive transfer status in neonatal lambs can be successfully predicted by measurement of serum GGT activity but not by measurement of the other enzymes tested.
Is Dwight Right? Can the Maximum Height of the Scapula Be Used for Accurate Sex Estimation? *

Abstract: This paper presents data from a sample of 803 individuals (308 females and 495 males) from the Hamann‐Todd collection testing Dwight’s century‐old assertion that maximum height of the human scapula can be used for sex estimation—males being larger than 170 mm, females falling below 140 mm. The results of this project show Dwight’s method has high accuracy when scapular height falls either above or below the sex specific demarcation points (96.81%), but a vast majority of both males and females fall in between. The overall accuracy of the method is just 29.27%. By empirically demonstrating the limited usefulness of Dwight’s technique, the author hopes the rote republication of this method in introductory texts on the subject will cease, and draw attention to the need for multiple methods of sex estimation as a response to the overlap in both size and shape between males and females.
Quinolones and false-positive urine screening for opiates by immunoassay technology.

CONTEXT Millions of assays are performed each year to monitor for substance abuse in various settings. When common medications cross-react with frequently used testing assays, false-positive results can lead to invalid conclusions. OBJECTIVE To evaluate cross-reactivity of quinolone antimicrobials in common opiate screening assays and to assess the in vivo implications of this phenomenon. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The reactivity of 13 quinolones (levofloxacin, ofloxacin, pefloxacin, enoxacin, moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, trovafloxacin, sparfloxacin, lomefloxacin, ciprofloxacin, clinafloxacin, norfloxacin, and nalidixic acid) was tested in 5 commercial opiate screening assays from September 1998 to March 1999. In 6 healthy volunteers, we confirmed the cross-reactivity of levofloxacin or ofloxacin with these opiate screening assays. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Opiate assay activity (threshold for positive result, 300 ng/mL of morphine). RESULTS Nine of the quinolones caused assay results above the threshold for a positive result in at least 1 of the assays. Four of the assay systems caused false-positive results for at least 1 quinolone. Eleven of the 13 compounds caused some opiate activity by at least 1 assay system. At least 1 compound caused opiate assay activity in all 5 assay systems. Levofloxacin, oflaxacin, and perfloxacin were most likely to lead to a false-positive opiate result. Positive results were obtained in urine from all 6 volunteers. CONCLUSION Greater attention to the cross-reactivity of quinolones with immunoassays for opiates is needed to minimize the potential for invalid test interpretation.
Detection of Iron–Oxide Magnetic Nanoparticles Using Magnetic Tunnel Junction Sensors With Conetic Alloy

We demonstrated the detection of 20-nm iron-oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) using Al2 O3 magnetic tunnel junction sensors (MTJs) with Conetic alloy. Conetic alloy Ni77Fe14Cu5Mo4 was deposited as the MTJ free layer and pinned layer due to its magnetically soft properties. The magnetoresistance (MR) curves of MTJs with Conetic alloy showed tunneling magnetoresistance of 8.0% with small hysteresis and high linearity in the sensing region, after applying an external magnetic field of 14 Oe along the hard axis. The sensitivity of the MTJ sensors with Conetic alloy was determined to be 0.3%/Oe within a linear region at room temperature. The MNPs of three different concentrations were successfully detected by the shifts of the MR loops of the MTJs, and it was observed that the resistance deviations of the MTJ sensors increased with the logarithm of MNP concentrations. The maximum resistance deviation was 0.16 Ω for an MNP concentration of 20.0 mg/mL. MTJ sensors, together with MNPs, are a promising platform for future biosensor applications, and this paper shows that Conetic alloy is feasible for improving the performance of this platform.
Occurrence and Potential Significance of Increased Numbers of T Cells with Fc Receptors in Myeloma 1

It has beeti knowti for some time that B A L B / C mice with plasmacytomas (Yakulis et al. 1972), and humans with myeloma (Lindstrom et al. 1973) frequently develop large numbers of circulating cells that morphologically resemble small lymphocytes but that express the myeloma idiotype on their cell surface. Several mechanisms have been proposed to account for the development of idiotype-bearing lymphocytes (IBL) in myeloma. It has been suggested that the IBL in myeloma are: i) circulating myeloma cells (Holm et al. 1977, Warner & Krueger 1978); ii) T lymphocytes derived from an ancestral cell that also gave rise to the malignant B cell clone (Preud'homme et al 1977); iii) oligoclonal normal lymphocytes that express an idiotype in common with the malignant B cell clone (Preud'homme et al. 1977), or iv) normal B lymphocytes that have
Origin and genetic differentiation of three Native Mexican groups (Purépechas, Triquis and Mayas): Contribution of CODIS-STRs to the history of human populations of Mesoamerica

Background: CODIS-STRs in Native Mexican groups have rarely been analysed for human identification and anthropological purposes. Aim: To analyse the genetic relationships and population structure among three Native Mexican groups from Mesoamerica. Subjects and methods: 531 unrelated Native individuals from Mexico were PCR-typed for 15 and 9 autosomal STRs (Identifiler™ and Profiler™ kits, respectively), including five population samples: Purépechas (Mountain, Valley and Lake), Triquis and Yucatec Mayas. Previously published STR data were included in the analyses. Results: Allele frequencies and statistical parameters of forensic importance were estimated by population. The majority of Native groups were not differentiated pairwise, excepting Triquis and Purépechas, which was attributable to their relative geographic and cultural isolation. Although Mayas, Triquis and Purépechas-Mountain presented the highest number of private alleles, suggesting recurrent gene flow, the elevated differentiation of Triquis indicates a different origin of this gene flow. Interestingly, Huastecos and Mayas were not differentiated, which is in agreement with the archaeological hypothesis that Huastecos represent an ancestral Maya group. Interpopulation variability was greater in Natives than in Mestizos, both significant. Conclusion: Although results suggest that European admixture has increased the similarity between Native Mexican groups, the differentiation and inconsistent clustering by language or geography stresses the importance of serial founder effect and/or genetic drift in showing their present genetic relationships.
New Party or Campaign Bank Account? Explaining the Rise of State Legislative Campaign Committees

State legislative caucus campaign committees have emerged in the 1980s as an important party adaptation in state politics. This study explores the factors associated with the existence of these new party organizations and with their levels of contributions to party candidates. To explain these phenomena, five hypotheses are investigated concerning the strength of state parties, the cost of state campaigns, the level of legislative professionalism, the degree of party competition, and the regulation of campaign contributions in states where these committees have emerged. Legislative professionalism and party competition are associated with the existence of the caucus committees. Legislative professionalization, party competition, and laws restricting campaign contributions are powerful explanations of the level of expenditure of these committees. Leadership stability and spending by the opposing party also help explain the activity of caucus campaign committees.
Premorbid adjustment, phenothiazine treatment, and remission in acute schizophrenics.

In a double-blind design, length of hospital stay, changes in psychiatric symptoms, ward behavior, and posthospitalization treatment recommendations were examined as a function of good or poor premorbid status and medication or placebo treatment in a sample of men with acute schizophrenia. There were few initial differences in psychiatric symptoms or in ward functioning between the premorbid groups. Nevertheless, the good premorbid patients showed more rapid remission of symptoms and, hence, earlier discharge. Of the patients who were discharged early, more of the good premorbid patients fell in the placebo group in sharp contrast to the discharged poor premorbid patients, who were predominantly in the medication group. This trend toward more rapid improvement among patients with a good premorbid history in the absence of phenothiazines was supported by data indicating they required less posthospitalization medication.
The prevalence of violence against women and some related factors in Sanandaj city (Iran) in 2015

Background and aim Violence against women is considered as one of the social problems of all countries in the world. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of violence against married women referring to health centers, and determining its related factors in Sanandaj, Iran, in 2015. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 700 married women referred to health centers in Sanandaj, Iran in 2015. A researcher made questionnaire was used to collect data. To perform sampling, the city was divided into 5 regions and from each region, one health center was selected randomly. Data were analyzed by SPSS 18 and using descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-test, chi-square test and ANOVA. Significance level of . 05 was considered. Results The results of this study showed that all women in the study had been subjected to violence at least once. In 11.7% of cases, the violence was moderate and severe. A total of 9.6% had been subjected to physical violence, 42.2% to verbal and psychological violence, 52.4% to sexual violence and 53.4% to economic violence. It was a statistically significant correlation between violence and following variables; education (p=0.0001), occupation (p=0.0001), history of domestic violence in family (p=0.0001), and having a boy in the family (p=0.0001). There was no statistically significant relationship between the number of girls in the family and violence against women (p=0.19). Conclusion Although Physical violence against women has decreased, other forms of violence including; verbal, sexual and economic were used against women. It seems that the problem of violence against women would not be solved without improving women’s socio-economic status.
Understanding pregnancy-related attitudes and behaviors: a mixed-methods study of homeless youth.

CONTEXT Pregnancy rates are substantially higher among homeless youth than in the general population of youth, yet little is known about homeless adolescents' and young adults' pregnancy-related attitudes and behaviors. METHODS Pregnancy-related attitudes and behaviors were examined among two samples of sexually active homeless 13-24-year-olds in Los Angeles County. Data from 37 semistructured interviews conducted in March-April 2011 were analyzed using standard qualitative methods. Data from a structured survey with 277 respondents, conducted between October 2008 and August 2009, were analyzed primarily using regression modeling. RESULTS More than half of interview respondents held ambivalent attitudes toward pregnancy, and ambivalent youth reported less contraceptive use than others. The interviews identified several potential influences on pregnancy attitudes: barriers associated with homelessness, readiness to settle down, desire to achieve goals, belief that a child would create something positive in life, and family and partners. In the survey, having positive attitudes toward pregnancy was positively associated with duration of homelessness (odds ratio, 1.6), contact with relatives (1.1) and relationship commitment (1.8); it was negatively associated with frequency of drinking (0.9). Relationship commitment was positively associated with nonuse of an effective contraceptive method at last sex (1.5). CONCLUSIONS Effective and accessible pregnancy prevention and family planning programs for homeless youth are needed. Youths' ambivalence toward pregnancy and feelings of relationship commitment warrant attention as possible areas for programs to address.
Epidemiology of diabetes and related mortality: early screening, socioecological determinants, and the value of prevention

The success in preventing or delaying the incidence of type 2 diabetes and subsequent complications depends on the early detection of undiagnosed cases and identifying individuals at high-risk. However, early detection of type 2 diabetes is seldom feasible because the symptoms show up late, and screening the entire population is very costly. Those individuals that are prone to developing type 2 diabetes and those with undiagnosed diabetes need to be targeted for screening. Thus, it is imperative to design assessment mechanisms that help to identify individuals at high-risk based on simple, non-invasive, inexpensive, and routine clinical measurements and questionnaires. In this paper, I build a model that helps to predict type 2 diabetes with readily available, inexpensive, and non-invasive information. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data is analyzed to build this risk model. A nonparametric regression method, Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS), is used to allow for interactions and non-linearity in the model. A risk prediction model using the MARS approach achieved a performance level of 87% accuracy with area under receiver operating character (AUROC) of 0.86, which is higher than similar models based on invasive and noninvasive measurements. Moreover, the measurements and information needed for this model may be obtained in settings such as community-based chronic disease prevention programs and workplace well-being programs. Therefore, this risk prediction model can be translated into a usable risk-scoring tool in community chronic prevention and employee wellness programs.
Fiber Optic Fabry–Perot Optofluidic Sensor With a Focused Ion Beam Ablated Microslot For Fast Refractive Index and Magnetic Field Measurement

A compact fiber-optic Fabry–Perot interferometric sensor with an embedded microfluidic channel for static magnetic field measurement is proposed and implemented. Fabrication of the Fabry–Perot structure involved cascading two silica capillary tubes with different inner diameters, followed by milling of a microslot directly on the sidewall of the large inner diameter silica capillary tube, by focused ion beam micromachining. The microslot, together with the hollow structure of the small inner diameter silica capillary tubes forms an open Fabry–Perot cavity to function as a microfluidic channel. The microslot was found to improve the response time of the Fabry–Perot sensor to changes in refractive index (RI) of the cavity. Magnetic fluid was introduced in the Fabry–Perot cavity, thereby, enabling implementation of an optofluidics system for magnetic field measurement. The sensing scheme is based on the magnetic field strength induced RI change of the magnetic fluid which in turn modulates the interference spectrum of the sensor. Wavelength shifts were monitored real time for the continuous measurement of magnetic field strength. The sensor calibration curves with respect to magnetic field were plotted and the sensor exhibits a relative high magnetic field sensitivity of ∼418.7 pm/Oe relative to the dip wavelength around 1590 nm.
Low-complexity QRD-based detection scheme for full rate QOSTBC with four-transmit antenna

A new low-complexity Maximum Likelihood (ML) based detection scheme is presented in this paper for full-rate Quasi Orthogonal Space Time Block Code (QOSTBC) in Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) systems with four-transmit antenna. The proposed detection scheme is developed by using both lower and upper triangular versions of QR decomposition of channel matrix, without need of utilizing interference cancellation (IC) method. Simulation results show that the symbol error rate performance of the new proposed detection scheme is the same as that of the QRD-IC-based detection method but with less complexity.
The Nuclear Factor κB Subunits RelA/p65 and c-Rel Potentiate but Are Not Required for Ras-Induced Cellular Transformation

Extensive data indicate that oncoproteins, such as oncogenic H-Ras, initiate signal transduction cascades that ultimately lead to the activation of specific transcription factors. We and others have previously demonstrated that Ras activates the inherent transcriptional activation function of the transcription factor nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). Supportive of the importance of NF-κB in transformation, Ras-induced cellular transformation can be suppressed by expression of IκBα, an inhibitor of NF-κB, or by dominant-negative forms of the upstream activator IκB kinase (IKK). However, conclusive evidence for a requirement for NF-κB subunits in oncogenic transformation has not been reported. Furthermore, there is little understanding of the gene targets controlled by NF-κB that might support oncogenic conversion. The data presented here demonstrate that, although both p65 and c-Rel enhance the frequency of Ras-induced cellular transformation, these NF-κB subunits are not essential for Ras to transform spontaneously immortalized murine fibroblasts. Microarray analysis identified a set of genes induced by Ras that is dependent on NF-κB for their expression and that likely play contributory roles in promoting Ras-induced oncogenic transformation.
Crowdsourcing a Normative Natural Language Dataset: A Comparison of Amazon Mechanical Turk and In-Lab Data Collection

Background Crowdsourcing has become a valuable method for collecting medical research data. This approach, recruiting through open calls on the Web, is particularly useful for assembling large normative datasets. However, it is not known how natural language datasets collected over the Web differ from those collected under controlled laboratory conditions. Objective To compare the natural language responses obtained from a crowdsourced sample of participants with responses collected in a conventional laboratory setting from participants recruited according to specific age and gender criteria. Methods We collected natural language descriptions of 200 half-minute movie clips, from Amazon Mechanical Turk workers (crowdsourced) and 60 participants recruited from the community (lab-sourced). Crowdsourced participants responded to as many clips as they wanted and typed their responses, whereas lab-sourced participants gave spoken responses to 40 clips, and their responses were transcribed. The content of the responses was evaluated using a take-one-out procedure, which compared responses to other responses to the same clip and to other clips, with a comparison of the average number of shared words. Results In contrast to the 13 months of recruiting that was required to collect normative data from 60 lab-sourced participants (with specific demographic characteristics), only 34 days were needed to collect normative data from 99 crowdsourced participants (contributing a median of 22 responses). The majority of crowdsourced workers were female, and the median age was 35 years, lower than the lab-sourced median of 62 years but similar to the median age of the US population. The responses contributed by the crowdsourced participants were longer on average, that is, 33 words compared to 28 words (P<.001), and they used a less varied vocabulary. However, there was strong similarity in the words used to describe a particular clip between the two datasets, as a cross-dataset count of shared words showed (P<.001). Within both datasets, responses contained substantial relevant content, with more words in common with responses to the same clip than to other clips (P<.001). There was evidence that responses from female and older crowdsourced participants had more shared words (P=.004 and .01 respectively), whereas younger participants had higher numbers of shared words in the lab-sourced population (P=.01). Conclusions Crowdsourcing is an effective approach to quickly and economically collect a large reliable dataset of normative natural language responses.
Leisure-time physical activity patterns by weight control status: 1999-2002 NHANES.

INTRODUCTION Regular physical activity reduces the risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. Physical activity is associated inversely with overweight and obesity prevalence, thus potentially assisting in weight control efforts. PURPOSE The purpose of this paper is to examine the variability of physical activity levels and their patterns by self-reported weight control status in a nationally representative sample. METHODS Four years of data from the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used to examine leisure-time physical activity patterns (regular, irregular, inactive) and the prevalence of weight control practices (trying to lose, trying to maintain, not trying to lose or maintain) among U.S. adults (N = 9496). RESULTS The prevalence of regular physical activity was 32.6% among people trying to lose weight, 37.9% among people trying to maintain weight, and 21.8% among those not trying to lose or maintain weight. Those trying to lose weight were almost three times as likely to be regularly active (vs inactive), and those trying to maintain weight were over three times more likely to be regularly active (vs inactive) than those not trying to lose or maintain weight. The most commonly reported activities among those trying to lose weight were walking (38.3%), yard work (14.5%), biking (12.5%), and running (11.6%). CONCLUSIONS Despite the importance of physical activity, fewer than half the people trying to lose or maintain weight were regularly active during leisure-time. People trying to lose or maintain weight had a higher likelihood of being regularly active than those not trying to lose or maintain weight. Walking was the most common type of physical activity among all weight control groups. Health promotion efforts should promote increased levels of physical activity among all adults.