Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tissue distribution of histo‐blood group antigens.

The introduction of immunohistochemical techniques and monoclonal antibodies to specific carbohydrate epitopes has made it possible to study in detail the tissue distribution of histo‐blood group antigens and related carbohydrate structures. The present paper summarizes the available data concerning the histological distribution of histo‐blood group antigens and their precursor structures in normal human tissues. Studies performed have concentrated on carbohydrate antigens related to the ABO, Lewis, and TTn blood group systems, i.e. histo‐blood group antigens carried by type 1, 2, and 3 chain carrier carbohydrate chains. Histo‐blood group antigens are found in most epithelial tissues. Meanwhile, several factors influence the type, the amount, and the histological distribution of histo‐blood group antigens, i.e. the ABO, Lewis, and saliva‐secretor type of the individual, and the cell‐and tissue type. Oligosaccharides with blood‐group specificity are synthesized by the stepwise action of specific gene‐encoded glycosyltransferases. In general, this stepwise synthesis of histo‐blood group antigens correlates with cellular differentiation. The H and the Se genes both encode an α1–2fucosyltransferase, which is responsible for the synthesis of blood group antigen H from precursor disaccharides. A new model for the participation of the Se/H‐gene‐encoded glycosyl transferases in synthesis of terminal histo‐blood group antigens in human tissues is proposed; the type and degree of differentiation rather than the embryologic origin determines whether it is the H or the Se gene‐encoded transferases that influence expression of terminal histo‐blood group antigens in tissues.
The heritability of alcohol use disorders: a meta-analysis of twin and adoption studies

Background. To clarify the role of genetic and environmental risk factors in alcohol use disorders (AUDs), we performed a meta-analysis of twin and adoption studies and explored the impact of sex, assessment method (interview v. hospital/population records), and study design (twin v. adoption study) on heritability estimates. Method. The literature was searched for all unique twin and adoption studies of AUD and identified 12 twin and five adoption studies. The data were then reconstructed and analyzed using ordinal data full information maximum likelihood in the OpenMx program. Heterogeneity was tested with likelihood ratio tests by equating the parameters across studies. Results. There was no evidence for heterogeneity by study design, sex or assessment method. The best-fit estimate of the heritability of AUD was 0.49 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43–0.53], and the proportion of shared environmental variance was 0.10 (95% CI 0.03–0.16). Estimates of unique environmental proportions of variance differed significantly across studies. Conclusions. AUD is approximately 50% heritable. The multiple genetically informative studies of this syndrome have produced consistent results that support the validity of this heritability estimate, especially given the different potential methodological weaknesses of twin and adoption designs, and of assessments of AUD based on personal interviews v. official records. We also found evidence for modest shared environmental effects suggesting that environmental factors also contribute to the familial aggregation of AUDs.
Two cases of high serum clozapine concentrations occurring during inflammation in Chinese patients

Objective Serious infections or inflammations have been associated with serum clozapine concentration increases and sometimes with clozapine toxicity. Method These two cases describe Chinese patients (Case 1: a 57-year-old female nonsmoker with severe dermatitis and Case 2: a 47-year-old male nonsmoker with influenza and secondary infection). Results In both cases, the Drug Interaction Probability Scale established the presence of a probable drug–drug interaction. In both cases, the clozapine and the total clozapine concentration-to-dose ratios followed a temporal pattern (normal–high–normal), consistent with an inhibition of clozapine metabolism during peak inflammation. In the first case, the total clozapine concentration-to-dose ratio (8 with no/low inflammation: median of 3.10 and 2 at peak inflammation: median of 3.90) provided a significant difference (P = 0.044). In the second patient, because of the smaller sample size and reduced statistical power (4 with no infection: a median of 1.59 and 2 at peak infection: 3.46), the increase did not reach significance (P = 0.13). In the first case, the median baseline clozapine concentration-to-dose ratio increased by a factor of 1.45 from 2.00 to a peak of 2.89. To compensate for the inhibition of clozapine metabolism, the dose correction factor was 0.69 (1/1.45) or a decrease in dose of approximately one-third. In the second case, the median baseline clozapine concentration-to-dose ratio increased by a factor of 2.56 from 1.15 to a peak of 2.94. Conclusion This provided a dose correction factor of 0.40 (1/2.56) or approximately half the dose, similar to published cases in Caucasians with serious respiratory infections.
Identification and prevalence of CD8+ T‐cell responses directed against Epstein‐Barr virus‐encoded latent membrane protein 1 and latent membrane protein 2

Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) is associated with several human malignancies that each show different viral gene expression profiles. In malignancies such as Hodgkin's disease and nasopharyngeal carcinoma only Epstein‐Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) and varying levels of latent membrane proteins 1 and 2 (LMP1 and ‐2) are expressed. Since endogenously expressed EBNA1 is protected from CTL recognition, LMP1 and LMP2 are the most likely target antigens for anti‐tumor immunotherapy. Therefore, we sought to identify in a systematic way CD8+ T‐cell responses directed against eptitopes derived from LMP1 and LMP2. Using IFNγ‐ELISPOT assays of interferon‐γ release, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy donors were screened with peptide panels (15 mer overlapping by 10) spanning the LMP1 and LMP2 sequences of the prototype EBV strain B95.8. When positive responses were found, CD4+ or CD8+ T cells were depleted from donor PBMC to determine the origin of the responder population. We detected CD8+ T‐cell responses to LMP1 in 9/50(18%) donors and to LMP2 in 15/28 (54%) donors. In addition to the already described epitopes, 3 new LMP1‐ and 5 new LMP2‐derived CD8+ epitopes were identified. In most donors LMP1‐ and LMP2‐specific CD8+ precursor frequencies were low compared with precursors against immunodominant EBV epitopes from latent (EBNA3A, ‐3B and ‐3C) and lytic cycle antigens. These results demonstrate that CD8+ memory T cell responses to LMP1 and especially to LMP2 do exist in Caucasians, albeit at low levels and could potentially be exploited for therapeutic use. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neutralizing antibodies specific for glycoprotein H of herpes simplex virus permit viral attachment to cells but prevent penetration

Monoclonal antibodies specific for gH of herpes simplex virus were shown previously to neutralize viral infectivity. Results presented here demonstrate that these antibodies (at least three of them) block viral penetration without inhibiting adsorption of virus to cells. Penetration of herpes simplex virus is by fusion of the virion envelope with the plasma membrane of a susceptible cell. Electron microscopy of thin sections of cells exposed to virus revealed that neutralized virus bound to the cell surface but did not fuse with the plasma membrane. Quantitation of virus adsorption by measuring the binding of purified radiolabeled virus to cells revealed that the anti-gH antibodies had little or no effect on adsorption. Monitoring cell and viral protein synthesis after exposure of cells to infectious and neutralized virus gave results consistent with the electron microscopic finding that the anti-gH antibodies blocked viral penetration. On the basis of the results presented here and other information published elsewhere, it is suggested that gH is one of three glycoproteins essential for penetration of herpes simplex virus into cells.
Quantification of cancer risk of each clinical and ultrasonographic suspicious feature of thyroid nodules: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE In order to quantify the risk of malignancy of clinical and ultrasonographic features of thyroid nodules (TNs), we did a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies. METHODS We did a literature search in MEDLINE for studies published from 1st January 1989 until 31st December 2012. Studies were considered eligible if they investigated the association between at least one clinical/ultrasonographic feature and the risk of malignancy, did not have exclusion criteria for the detected nodules, had histologically confirmed the diagnoses of malignancy, and had a univariable analysis available. Two reviewers independently extracted data on study characteristics and outcomes. RESULTS The meta-analysis included 41 studies, for a total of 29678 TN. A higher risk of malignancy expressed in odds ratio (OR) was found for the following: nodule height greater than width (OR: 10.15), absent halo sign (OR: 7.14), microcalcifications (OR: 6.76), irregular margins (OR: 6.12), hypoechogenicity (OR: 5.07), solid nodule structure (OR: 4.69), intranodular vascularization (OR: 3.76), family history of thyroid carcinoma (OR: 2.29), nodule size ≥4 cm (OR: 1.63), single nodule (OR: 1.43), history of head/neck irradiation (OR: 1.29), and male gender (OR: 1.22). Interestingly, meta-regression analysis showed a higher risk of malignancy for hypoechoic nodules in iodine-sufficient than in iodine-deficient geographical areas. CONCLUSIONS The current meta-analysis verified and weighed out each suspicious clinical and ultrasonographic TN feature. The highest risk was found for nodule height greater than width, absent halo sign, and microcalcifications for ultrasonographic features and family history of thyroid carcinoma for clinical features. A meta-analysis-derived grading system of TN malignancy risk, validated on a large prospective cohort, could be a useful tool in TN diagnostic work-up.
A global view of hepatitis C: Physician knowledge, opinions, and perceived barriers to care

Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. Although recent advances in antiviral therapy have led to significant improvements in treatment response rates, only a minority of infected patients are treated. Multiple barriers may impede the delivery of HCV therapy. The aim of this study was to identify perceived barriers to care, knowledge, and opinions among a global sample of HCV treatment providers. An international, multidisciplinary survey of HCV treatment providers was conducted. Each physician responded to a series of 214 questions concerning his or her practice characteristics, opinions regarding the state of HCV care, knowledge regarding HCV treatment, and perception of treatment barriers. A total of 697 physicians from 29 countries completed the survey. Overall, physicians viewed patient‐level barriers as most significant, including fear of side effects and concerns regarding treatment duration and cost. There were distinct regional variations, with Central and Eastern European physicians citing government barriers as most important. In Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa, payer‐level barriers, including lack of treatment coverage, were prominent. Overall, the perception of barriers was strongly associated with physician knowledge, experience, and region of origin, with the fewest barriers reported by Nordic physicians and the most reported by Middle Eastern and African physicians. Globally, physicians demonstrated deficits in basic treatment principles, including the role of viral kinetics and the management of treatment nonresponders. Two thirds of surveyed physicians believed that patients do not have adequate access to providers in their community. Conclusion: Barriers to HCV treatment vary globally, though patient‐level factors are viewed as most significant by treating physicians. Efforts to improve awareness, education, and specialist availability are needed. (HEPATOLOGY 2013;57:1325–1332)
Effect of surgical technique on limb function after surgery for rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in dogs.

OBJECTIVE To determine the outcome and effect of surgical technique on limb function after surgery for rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (RCCL) and injury to the medial meniscus in Labrador Retrievers. STUDY DESIGN Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS 131 Labrador Retrievers with unilateral RCCL and injury to the medial meniscus and 17 clinically normal Labrador Retrievers. PROCEDURE Affected dogs had partial or complete medial meniscectomy and lateral suture stabilization (LSS), intracapsular stabilization (ICS), or tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). Limb function was measured before surgery and 2 and 6 months after surgery. Treated dogs were evaluated to determine the probability that they could be differentiated from clinically normal dogs and tested to determine the likelihood that they achieved improvement. RESULTS No difference was found between LSS or TPLO groups, but dogs treated with ICS had significantly lower ground reaction forces at 2 and 6 months. Compared with clinically normal dogs only, 14.9% of LSS-, 15% of ICS-, and 10.9% of TPLO-treated dogs had normal limb function. Improvement was seen in only 15% of dogs treated via ICS, 34% treated via TPLO, and 40% treated via LSS. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Surgical technique can influence limb function after surgery. Labrador Retrievers treated via LSS, ICS, or TPLO for repair for of RCCL and medial meniscal injury managed with partial or complete meniscectomy infrequently achieve normal function. Results of LSS and TPLO are similar and superior to ICS.
Narcissism and Loneliness

The research described here centers on how a narcissistic intrusion during early childhood may develop into narcissistic difficulties which manifest themselves, later in life, in feelings of loneliness. The results from a study of elderly women in Stockholm, Sweden, indicated that loneliness in old age is greater among an intruded group in comparison to those whose parental influence was not intrusive. The feelings of loneliness are even more severe if the mother was a housewife. There was also a relationship between social position and loneliness, but only for those women whose family orientation was not intrusive and whose mothers were housewives. The results encourage further study of the etiological contributions of parental influence during childhood on later experience of loneliness.
Synthesis of large multideterminant peptide immunogens using a poly-proline beta-turn helix motif.

We report the synthesis and characterization of a novel secondary structural motif, the poly-proline beta-turn helix. This motif is found in the proline-rich immunogenic domains of feline retroviruses, mucins and many proline-rich tandem repeat-containing surface proteins. We describe the synthetic methodology to directly synthesize natural and engineered immunogens of up to 100+ amino acids. Using manual solid-phase peptide synthesis modified for optimal efficiency, we directly synthesized 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.25 tandem repeats corresponding to 20, 40, 60, 80, 105 amino acids of the human mucin muc-1, the complete 60 amino acid proline-rich neutralization domain of feline leukemia virus, and 70 and 72 amino acids of two very hydrophobic engineered tandem repeat proteins. High pressure liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry results indicate that the desired peptide can be synthesized up to 92% pure. The secondary structures of these peptides were studied using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The CD spectra revealed a characteristic intense negative band at 198 nm. A melting of structure could be demonstrated with increasing temperature as measured by decreasing molar ellipticity at 198 nm. The intensity of the molar ellipticity at 198 nm, as compared to the molar ellipticity of random coil, non-proline-containing peptides, led to the conclusion that the large, intense negative band at 198 nm is diagnostic of the poly-proline beta-turn helix. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Low-memory GEMM-based convolution algorithms for deep neural networks

Deep neural networks (DNNs) require very large amounts of computation both for training and for inference when deployed in the field. A common approach to implementing DNNs is to recast the most computationally expensive operations as general matrix multiplication (GEMM). However, as we demonstrate in this paper, there are a great many different ways to express DNN convolution operations using GEMM. Although different approaches all perform the same number of operations, the size of temporary data structures differs significantly. Convolution of an input matrix with dimensions $C \times H \times W$, requires $O(K^2CHW)$ additional space using the classical im2col approach. More recently memory-efficient approaches requiring just $O(KCHW)$ auxiliary space have been proposed. We present two novel GEMM-based algorithms that require just $O(MHW)$ and $O(KW)$ additional space respectively, where $M$ is the number of channels in the result of the convolution. These algorithms dramatically reduce the space overhead of DNN convolution, making it much more suitable for memory-limited embedded systems. Experimental evaluation shows that our low-memory algorithms are just as fast as the best patch-building approaches despite requiring just a fraction of the amount of additional memory. Our low-memory algorithms have excellent data locality which gives them a further edge over patch-building algorithms when multiple cores are used. As a result, our low memory algorithms often outperform the best patch-building algorithms using multiple threads.
Mixed Models Analysis of Radar Residuals Data

Mixed models provide a novel approach to the analysis of radar tracking residuals by considering randomness from different sources. Through properly considering randomness, mixed models can provide greater power to determine the statistical significance of various parameters needed for radar calibration. This paper applies a mixed models approach to the analysis of radar tracking residuals from calibration satellites observed by the Cobra Dane radar and finds a time dependent bias in the azimuth residuals.
Empirical research on consumers' post-transaction general trust in B2C E-business

Based on service quality theory and relevant literatures, this study establishes a research model of consumers' post-transaction general trust in B2C e-business. The empirical research finds that: at the post-purchase stage, familiarity, perceived safety, product quality and especially service quality significantly positively affects consumers' general trust in web-vendor; nevertheless, the effect of propensity to trust, website reputation, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness on consumers' general trust isn't significant; consumers' general trust not only directly affects their satisfaction with web-vendors, but also indirectly influences the satisfaction by the mediation of the extent of website use.
Evaluation of adaptive fuzzy controllers: a real-world experiment

Several stable adaptive fuzzy control schemes based on feedback linearization and Lyapunov synthesis were proposed in the literature. However, most of such controllers have been only tested on relatively simple simulations examples, in which the effects of noise, uncertainties, computational times and other fundamental problems related to hardware implementation are neglected. In this paper, we study and compare direct and indirect adaptive control schemes by means of an experimental benchmark (two coupled DC machines). For the indirect schemes, we consider both the standard adaptive laws based on tracking error and composite adaptive laws based on tracking and prediction error. The goal of this work is to gain insight in the benefits and drawbacks of the different variants of adaptive fuzzy controllers and to evaluate their potential for practical applications
Mild traumatic brain injury in the United States, 1998–2000

Primary objective: To determine the incidence and epidemiology of emergency department (ED)-attended mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in the US. Research design: Secondary analysis of ED visits for mTBI in the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for 1998–2000. Methods and procedures: MTBI defined by International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes for ‘skull fracture’, ‘concussion’, ‘intracranial injury of unspecified nature’ and ‘head injury, unspecified’. Main outcome and results: The average incidence of mTBI was 503.1/100 000, with peaks among males (590/100 000), American Indians/Alaska Natives (1,026/100 000) and those <5 years of age (1,115.2/100 000). MTBI incidence was highest in the Midwest region (578.4/10 000) and in non-urban areas (530.9/100 000) of the US. Bicycles and sports accounted for 26.4% of mTBI in the 5–14 age group. Conclusions: The national burden of mTBI is significant and the incidence higher than that reported by others. Possible explanations are discussed. Bicycle and sports-related injuries are an important and highly preventable cause of mTBI underscoring the need to promote prevention programmes on a national level.
Components of the Illness Flexibility Model as Explanations of Socioeconomic Differences in Sickness Absence

The authors studied the social gradient in sickness absence in relation to components of the illness flexibility model, which highlights conditions affecting whether people attend work when they are ill. The conditions studied were: adjustment latitude, attendance requirements at work, stimulating work, and health. The population sample was part of a panel originating in 1994 when 15,154 inhabitants of Stockholm County were randomly selected to receive a questionnaire covering, among other things, health and psychosocial conditions. New questionnaires were sent to the respondents in 1998 and 2002. This article analyzes the 2002 data, for 1,634 women and 1,063 men. These respondents had reported being employed or on leave of absence. In this sample, a social difference was found in sickness absence of 31 days or more per year. For manual workers, women had an odds ratio (OR) of 2.8 and men an OR of 3.4 for such absence compared with nonmanual workers of both sexes in high socioeconomic positions. All single potential confounders decreased these ORs. Adding all characteristics decreased the OR by 78 percent for women and 67 percent for men. The results indicate that the social gradient in sickness absence is due to differences in health and in working conditions when one is ill.
Impact of Long-Term Immunosuppressive Therapy on Psychosocial and Physical Well Being in Liver Transplant Recipients

To achieve the fullest potential of transplantation, continuing concern for the recipients' quality of life must be a part of the process. Database records of patients who are currently alive and received transplants between 1982 and 1991 were retrospectively analyzed. Recipients were contacted and asked to answer a quality-of-life questionnaire. Of 105 liver transplant recipients, 51 died within 10 years after transplantation; 47 were contacted. Posttransplant complications included hypertension (64%), posttransplant diabetes mellitus (17%), osteopenia (40%), osteoporosis (26%), and heart disease (17%). Most recipients reported all aspects of their life to be average, if not better than their age-matched peers. Although most recipients complained about side effects of immunosuppressive agents, they were all happy to be alive and agreed that their quality of life showed an impressive favorable change to a level exceeding that of the general population. These results suggest that liver transplantation not only improved survival but also quality of life.