Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Get Both the Medicine and the Informatics Right

The best medical informatics research is grounded in an understanding of both the medical content area and the informatics techniques. For example, it is not attention to the medical literature alone that makes medical informatics different from information science. The difference comes from the integration of medical knowledge and the strategies or structures needed to formalize or represent it. The paper by Piniewski-Bond et al.1 provides an example of the need for collaboration of informatics experts with application domain experts. It compares two methods for identifying the set of ideas contained in a test set of papers from the published literature. The researchers …
Screen for expanded FMR1 alleles in patients with essential tremor

Fragile X‐associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), a neurodegenerative disorder, was described recently among male carriers of expanded alleles (55–200 CGG repeats; premutation range) of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. Major features of the syndrome include intention tremor, gait ataxia, and parkinsonism in men over 50 years of age. This disorder is believed to be relatively common, possibly affecting 1 in 3,000 men over the age of 50 years in the general population. This raises the possibility that some patients presenting with essential tremor (ET) may harbor expanded FMR1 alleles. We screened 81 ET patients (40 males, 41 females) for expanded FMR1 alleles to determine whether ET is associated with such alleles. None of the ET cases had the premutation genotype. CGG repeat sizes ranged from 5 to 47 repeats within this study population, suggesting that expanded FMR1 alleles are uncommon among patients with ET. Screening of movement disorder patients with other clinical features of FXTAS (e.g., ataxia and parkinsonism) may be more likely to yield expanded FMR1 alleles. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Review of Survey Articles Regarding Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Services/Programs in the United States

Objective: To provide a summary of published survey articles regarding the provision of medication therapy management (MTM) services in the United States. Methods: A literature search was conducted to identify original articles on MTM-related surveys conducted in the United States, involving community and outpatient pharmacists, physicians, patients, or pharmacy students and published by the primary researchers who conducted the study. Search engines used included PubMed, Medline, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA). If MTM was in the keyword list, mesh heading, title, or abstract, the article was reviewed. References from these articles were searched to determine whether other relevant articles were available. Results: A total of 405 articles were initially reviewed; however, only 32 articles met the study requirements. Of the 32 articles, 17 surveyed community/outpatient pharmacists, 3 surveyed pharmacy students, 4 surveyed physicians, and 8 surveyed patients. The survey periods varied across the different studies, with the earliest survey conducted in 2004 and the most recent survey conducted in 2009. The surveys were conducted via the telephone, US mail, interoffice mail, e-mails, Internet/Web sites, hand-delivered questionnaires, and focus groups. Conclusion: Despite the identified barriers to the provision of MTM services, pharmacists reportedly found it professionally rewarding to provide these services. Pharmacists claimed to have adequate clinical knowledge, experience, and access to information required to provide MTM services. Pharmacy students were of the opinion that the provision of MTM services was important to the advancement of the pharmacy profession and in providing patients with a higher level of care. Physicians supported having pharmacists adjust patients’ drug therapy and educate patients on general drug information but not in selecting patients’ drug therapy. Finally, patients suggested that alternative ways need to be explored in describing and marketing MTM services for it to be appealing to them.
A probabilistic distance measure for hidden Markov models

We propose a probabilistic distance measure for measuring the dissimilarity between pairs of hidden Markov models with arbitrary observation densities. The measure is based on the Kullback-Leibler number and is consistent with the reestimation technique for hidden Markov models. Numerical examples that demonstrate the utility of the proposed distance measure are given for hidden Markov models with discrete densities. We also discuss the effects of various parameter deviations in the Markov models on the resulting distance, and study the relationships among parameter estimates (obtained from reestimation), initial guesses of parameter values, and observation duration through the use of the measure.
Speech-language pathologists' opinions on communication disorders and violence.

PURPOSE This study investigated the opinions of speech-languge pathologists (SLPs) regarding their role, education, and training in serving students with communication disorders who have been involved in violence. METHOD A survey consisting 26 items was given to 598 SLPs from eight states representing geographic regions of the United States. RESULTS Participants acknowledged that violence is an increasing concern. They also recognized the valuable role they have in planning prevention programs and serving on multidisciplinary teams. In contrast, SLPs' opinions suggested that they did not feel well trained to deal with violence, nor did, they feel that the communication in violence was understood by SLPs or educators. Comparisons between SLPs from different school and nonschool settings on their education and training and their role in serving this population were not significant. Participants with violence education and training responded significantly more favorably than those without such education and training on planning prevention programs; contributing important information to multidisciplinary teams in planning programs; and the impact of intervention on academics, behavior, and social interactions. Statistically significant findings indicated that both groups disagreed on understanding the role of communication in violence and being trained to provide services. However, findings need to be interpreted cautiously because both groups' means fell within the same categories of agreement/disagreement, and actual differences between groups were small. Quantitative and qualitative findings revealed that education and training are prevalent concerns of SLPs. Their written feedback suggested that SLPs provide critical information as we plan for this population. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Additional education and training are needed in areas such as the role of the SLP in communication and violence, intervention that addresses behavior management, and multicultural issues.
Characterization of T7-specific ribonucleic acid polymerase. IV. Resolution of the major in vitro transcripts by gel electrophoresis.

Abstract The major in vitro RNA transcripts synthesized by T7 RNA polymerase with T7 and T3 DNA templates have been resolved by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. Six discrete size classes of T7 RNAs are found, designated I to VI. The apparent molecular weights, estimated from their electrophoretic mobilities, span a broad range, from 2 x 105 to 5 x 106. At least two minor RNA species, with molecular weights greater than 5 x 106, are also detected. The six major T7 RNA species are synthesized in approximately equimolar amounts, with the exception of species III, which is made in about twice this amount. It is likely that species III is a mixture of two RNAs ("IIIa" and "IIIb") transcribed from separate regions of the T7 genome. Hence, the six major T7 RNA species are tentatively identified with seven late transcription units on the phage chromosome, which are read with equal efficiences. The six (or seven) transcription products are initiated independently with guanosine triphosphate at the 5' terminus, and are elongated at a rate of 230 nucleotides per s under standard in vitro conditions. When T7 RNA polymerase is used to transcribe T3 DNA, a single RNA transcript is found, with a molecular weight similar to that of T7 RNA species III. This suggests an explanation for the reduced rate of T3 RNA synthesis by T7 RNA polymerase in vitro, and implies that T3 promoter sites read by the T3 RNA polymerase are heterogeneous in nature.
Chemokines in Atherosclerosis: Proceedings Resumed

Chemokines play important roles in atherosclerotic vascular disease. Expressed by not only cells of the vessel wall but also emigrated leukocytes, chemokines were initially discovered to direct leukocytes to sites of inflammation. However, chemokines can also exert multiple functions beyond cell recruitment. Here, we discuss novel and recently emerging aspects of chemokines and their involvement in atherosclerosis. While reviewing newly identified roles of chemokines and their receptors in monocyte and neutrophil recruitment during atherogenesis and atheroregression, we also revisit homeostatic functions of chemokines, including their roles in cell homeostasis and foam cell formation. The functional diversity of chemokines in atherosclerosis warrants a clear-cut mechanistic dissection and stage-specific assessment to better appreciate the full scope of their actions in vascular inflammation and to identify pathways that harbor the potential for a therapeutic targeting of chemokines in atherosclerosis.
Characterization of Vibrio cholerae bacteriophage K139 and use of a novel mini‐transposon to identify a phage‐encoded virulence factor

Temperate bacteriophage K139 was isolated from a Vibrio cholerae O139 isolate and characterized in this study. The phage genome consists of a 35 kbp, double‐stranded, linear DNA molecule that circularizes and integrates into the chromosome in a site‐specific manner. DNA sequences that cross‐hybridize with K139 phage DNA are present in all strains of V. cholerae serogroup O1 of the classical biotype examined and in some strains of the El Tor biotype. Phage K139 produces plaques on El Tor O1 strains that do not carry the K139‐related sequences but does not plaque on O139 strains that lack detectable phage DNA. This results suggests that O139 strains arose in part by horizontal gene transfer of the O139 antigen genes into an El Tor O1 strain that harboured a K139 prophage. Consistent with this interpretation, the morphology of K139 phage particles is identical to that displayed by the widely distributed family of O1 phages referred to as ‘kappa’. In order to test whether K139 phage is involved in lysogenic conversion of V. cholerae, we constructed a novel mini‐transposon, Tn10d‐bla, which was designed to produce β‐lactamase fusions to phage‐encoded, exported proteins. All Tn 10d‐bla insertions obtained were closely linked to one location on the K139 phage genome. DNA sequence determination of the fusion joints revealed an open reading frame (ORF1), encoding a gene product of 137 amino acids with a typical N‐terminal hydrophobic signal sequence. ORF1 was designated the glo gene (G protein‐like ORF) because its amino acid sequence shows similarity to eukaryotic Gs(α) protein (34.5% identity over an 81‐amino‐acid overlap) and its C‐terminus displays the consensus motif (CAAX) which is found in many small eukaryotic GTP‐binding proteins. LD50 assays with isogenic Glo+ and Glo− K139 lysogens suggest that glo encodes a secreted virulence determinant of V. cholerae
Human resource management practices and organizational commitment in four- and five-star hotels in Egypt

ABSTRACT Previous studies have shown that human resource management practices affect hotel performance by influencing employees' commitment to their organization. Organizational commitment, in turn, influences workforce turnover, organizational citizenship behavior, and job performance. This study analyzed the relationship between human resource management practices and organizational commitment in 257 employees in nine four- and five-star hotels in Cairo and Alexandria, using partial least squares structural equation modeling to test models predicting organizational commitment. Hiring, training and development, performance appraisals, remuneration, and communication were all positively and significantly related to affective commitment, but only communication affected continuance commitment.
Insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes patients failing oral agents: cost‐effectiveness of biphasic insulin aspart 70/30 vs. insulin glargine in the US *

Objectives: To project the long‐term clinical and economic outcomes of treatment with biphasic insulin aspart 30 (BIAsp 70/30, 30% soluble and 70% protaminated insulin aspart) vs. insulin glargine in insulin‐naïve type 2 diabetes patients failing to achieve glycemic control with oral antidiabetic agents alone (OADs).
The Role of Haptic Feedback for the Integration of Intentions in Shared Task Execution

Recent developments strive for realizing robotic systems that not only interact, but closely collaborate with humans in performing everyday manipulation tasks. Successful collaboration requires the integration of the individual partner's intentions into a shared action plan, which may involve continuous negotiation of intentions. We focus on collaboration in a kinesthetic task, i.e., joint object manipulation. Here, ways must be found to integrate individual motion and force inputs from the members of the human-robot team, in order to achieve the joint task goal. Before guidelines on how robots should act in this process can be formulated, clarification on whether humans use the haptic channel for communicating their intentions is needed. This paper investigates this question in an experimental setup involving two collaborating humans. We consider physical effort as well as performance as indicators of successful intention integration. Our results strongly suggest that intention integration is enhanced via the haptic channel, i.e., that haptic communication takes place, especially in the case of shared decision situations. This provides a motivation for future investigations to model the process of intention integration itself in order to realize successful haptic human-robot collaboration.
Metabolic syndrome: genetic insights into disease pathogenesis

Purpose of review Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of interrelated and heritable metabolic traits, which collectively impart unsurpassed risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Considerable work has been done to understand the underlying disease mechanisms by elucidating its genetic cause. Recent findings Genome-wide association studies have been widely utilized albeit with modest success in identifying variants that are associated with more than two metabolic traits. Another limitation of this approach is the inherent small effect of the common variants, a major barrier for dissecting their cognate pathways. Modest advances in this venue have been also made by genetic studies of kindreds at the extreme ends of quantitative distributions. These efforts have led to the discovery of a number of disease genes with large effects that underlie the association of diverse traits of this syndrome. Summary Substantial progress has been made over the last decade in identification of genetic risk factors associated with the various traits of MetS. The heterogeneity and multifactorial heritability of MetS, however, has been a challenge toward understanding the factors underlying the association of these traits. Genetic investigations of outlier kindreds or homogenous populations with high prevalence for the disease can potentially improve our knowledge of the disease pathophysiology.
N‐Acetyl‐Aspartyl‐Glutamate: Regional Levels in Rat Brain and the Effects of Brain Lesions as Determined by a New HPLC Method

Abstract: An isocratic HPLC method to measure endogenous N‐acetyl‐aspartyl‐glutamate (NAAG) and N‐acetyl‐aspartate (NAA) is described. After removal of primary amines by passage of tissue extracts over AG‐50 resin, the eluate was subject to HPLC anion‐exchange analysis and eluted with phosphate buffer with absorbance monitored at 214 nm. The retention time for NAA was 5.6 min and for NAAG 11.4 min with a limit sensitivity of 0.1 nmol. The levels of NAA and NAAG were measured in 16 regions of rat brain and in heart and liver. NAAG was undetectable in heart and liver and exhibited 10‐fold variation in concentration among brain regions; the highest levels were found in spinal cord. In contrast, low concentrations of NAA were detectable in heart and liver, and the regional distribution of NAA in brain varied only twofold. The regional distribution of NAA and NAAG correlated poorly. To assess the neuronal localization of these two compounds, the effects of selective brain lesions on their levels were examined. Decortication caused a 28% decrease in NAAG levels in the ipsi‐lateral striatum while NAA decreased 38%. Kainate lesion of the striatum resulted in a 31% decrease in NAAG in the ipsilateral striatum, whereas NAA fell by 58%. Kainate lesion of the hippocampus resulted in significant decrements in NAAG and NAA in the hippocampus and septum. Transection of the spinal cord at midthorax resulted in a 51% decrease in NAAG levels immediately caudal and a 40% decrease immediately rostral to the lesion; however, NAA decreased only 30% in these areas. These results are consistent with a neuronal localization of NAAG in brain. Combined with the fact that NAAG interacts with a subpopulation of glutamate receptors, these results suggest that NAAG may serve as an excitatory neurotransmitter.
Long Work Hours, Part-Time Work, and Trends in the Gender Gap in Pay, the Motherhood Wage Penalty, and the Fatherhood Wage Premium

We assess how changes in the social organization and compensation of work hours over the last three decades are associated with changes in wage differentials among mothers, fathers, childless women, and childless men. We find that large differences between gender and parental status groups in long work hours (fifty or more per week), coupled with sharply rising hourly wages for long work hours, contributed to rising gender gaps in wages (especially among parents), motherhood wage penalties, and fatherhood wage premiums. Changes in the representation of these groups in part-time work, by contrast, is associated with a decline in the gender gap in wages among parents and in the motherhood wage penalty, but an increase in the fatherhood wage premium. These findings offer important clues into why gender and family wage differentials still persist.
Velocity-saturated characteristics of short-channel MOSFETs

A theory is developed for the I-V characteristics of metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) when the channel fields are sufficiently high to cause appreciable saturation of the carrier drift velocity. The full velocity-field curve for bulk silicon is used with the base value adjusted to account for surface scattering effects. Use of this form gave the best fit to experimental data. Using some simple expansions to reduce the rather complex integral produces a useful analytic result, which gives a continuous description from the square law results for long-channel devices throughout the whole range of velocity-saturated operation in short-channel devices. For the first time the electron temperature has been introduced as the parameter, which increases the channel charge at pinch-off, decreases the saturation voltage, and increases the channel field at the pinch-off point as the current (and hence bias voltages) is increased. The effects of series resistance and surface roughness scattering are incorporated into the analytic formulation. We compare the results with experimental submicron devices and find excellent agreement.
Test–Retest Reliability of Robotic Assessment Measures for the Evaluation of Upper Limb Recovery

Rehabilitation robots have built-in technology and sensors that allow accurate measurement of movement kinematics and kinetics, which can be used to derive measures related to upper limb performance and highlight changes in motor behavior due to rehabilitation. This study aimed to assess the test-retest reliability of some robot-measured parameters by analyzing their intra-session and inter-session (day-by-day) variability. The study was carried out in two groups: 31 patients after stroke and 15 healthy subjects. Both groups practiced two different motor tasks consisting of point-to-point reaching movements in the shape of two geometrical figures that were selected for the assessment of global and directional (eight directions of the workspace) test-retest reliability. The reliability of six parameters measuring movement velocity, accuracy, efficiency and smoothness was assessed intra-session and inter-session by the ICC, SEM, and CV. Healthy subjects exhibited very high ICC values ( > 0.85) and low SEM for all parameters. Patients had high ICC values and low SEM but their global reliability was generally lower compared to healthy subjects. In addition, their inter-session reliability showed very high ICC values ( > 0.91) and low SEM for all parameters. Direction analysis showed that in some parameters the reliability was generally high but not homogeneous in all directions. In addition, some directions showed systematic error. This study demonstrates that robot-measured parameters are reliable and can be considered ideal candidates for use in combination with impairment and functional clinical scales to evaluate motor improvement during robot-assisted neurorehabilitation.
Long-term treatment with vagus nerve stimulation in patients with refractory epilepsy. The Vagus Nerve Stimulation Study Group E01-E05.

OBJECTIVE To perform an open-label, long-term efficacy and safety/tolerability study of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) of 454 patients with refractory epilepsy. METHODS Subjects were enrolled from five clinical trials of VNS between 1988 and 1995 after undergoing an implantation of a pulse generator in the chest and a left cervical vagus nerve-stimulating lead coil. Patients were assessed at 6-month intervals until device approval. Seizure frequencies, medication treatment, and adverse events (AEs) were recorded and entered into a database. RESULTS A total of 454 patients were implanted, and 440 patients yielded assessable data. A > or =50% seizure reduction postimplantation occurred in 36.8% of patients at 1 year, in 43.2% at 2 years, and in 42.7% at 3 years. Median seizure reductions compared with baseline were 35% at 1 year, 44.3% at 2 years, and 44.1% at 3 years. Most common AEs postimplantation at 1 year were hoarseness (28%) and paraesthesias (12%), at 2 years were hoarseness (19.8%) and headache (4.5%), and at 3 years was shortness of breath (3.2%). Continuation rates were 96.7% at 1 year, 84.7% at 2 years, and 72.1% at 3 years. CONCLUSION Long-term, open-label vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) provided seizure reduction similar to or greater than acute studies, for median reductions and for those reaching a > or =50% seizure reduction. VNS remained safe and well tolerated, with nearly three-quarters of the patients choosing to continue therapy.