Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronic hepatitis C in patients with sickle cell disease.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody in patients with sickle cell disease and to analyze the nature of chronic liver disease in these patients. METHODS A total of 99 patients attending a comprehensive sickle cell and thalassemia program at the Interfaith Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, participated in the study. Eighty-five patients had sickle cell anemia (ss), eight had sickle C disease (sc), and six had sickle B thalassemia. History of blood transfusion, i.v. drug use, homosexuality, and alcohol abuse was obtained with a questionnaire and chart review. All patients were screened for HCV antibody by a first generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All positive results were confirmed with radioimmunoblot assay II (RIBA II). Patients were also checked for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen. ALT levels were measured, and percutaneous liver biopsies were performed in patients positive for HCV antibody and greater than 1.5 times the normal ALT levels. RESULTS Antibody to HCV was detected in 10/99 patients (10.10%). Seven of 30 patients (23.33%) who received more than 10 U of packed red blood cells were positive for HCV antibody. Only 3/38 (7.9%) patients with less than 10 U of packed red blood cells in the past were positive for HCV antibody. None of the patients who never received blood transfusion were positive for HCV antibody (0/31 or 0%). A total of seven liver biopsies were performed in patients positive for HCV antibody. Two out of seven specimens (28.57%) showed significant liver damage. One revealed cirrhosis, and the other showed chronic active hepatitis. The remainder of liver biopsies (5/7; 71.42%) showed only mild portal inflammation. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of HCV antibody is directly related to the number of blood transfusions in patients with sickle cell disease. Chronic HCV infection could be a major cause of cirrhosis of the liver in these patients.
Investigation and comparsion of wearable bluetooth antennas on different textile substrates

In this paper, two different methods are used for investigation the RF characteristics of three types of textile materials. Goch, Jeans and Leather substrates are studied. A microstrip ring resonator method and DAC (Dielectric Assessment Kit) method are used. Bluetooth antennas are designed and fabricated using these substrates. The results are compared for the two methods. Finally, all antennas are fabricated using folded cupper and measured by Agilent 8719ES VNA.
Les nouvelles propriétés thérapeutiques de la vitamine K

La vitamine K est connue aujourd’hui pour son role indispensable dans la coagulation notamment a travers les Antivitamines K (AVK), anticoagulants les plus prescrits devant les Anticoagulants Oraux Directs (AOD) dans la prevention des thromboses. L’objectif de ce travail etait de faire un etat des lieux des connaissances actuelles sur les nouvelles proteines vitamines K dependantes, et le role de la vitamine K2, plus particulierement dans la prevention des maladies osseuses, des depots calciques arteriels et des maladies cardiovasculaires. En Europe, les references nutritionnelles de la vitamine K ne font pas la distinction entre les vitamines K1 et K2 et l’apport journalier recommande (AJR) de cette vitamine est base uniquement sur les besoins hepatiques pour la synthese des facteurs de coagulation. En outre, des etudes parues ces dernieres annees supposent que les AVK presenteraient de « nouveaux » inconvenients non negligeables causes par une diminution de la vitamine K reduite disponible. Ces etudes ont analyse le lien entre le taux de vitamine K2, le taux de carboxylation de proteines vitamines K dependantes telles que l’osteocalcine, la Proteine Gla de la Matrice (MGP), et la survenue de maladies osseuses, et de la calcification coronarienne. La diminution du risque de maladie cardiovasculaire en relation avec la vitamine K2 et non la vitamine K1, et le fait que la vitamine K2 soit reconnue au Japon comme traitement de l’osteoporose interrogent les scientifiques quant a l’importance de cette vitamine et laissent supposer que l’AJR de celle-ci devrait etre precise a l’appui des nombreux essais cliniques en cours.
Measurements of the atmospheric radiation environment from CREAM and comparisons with models for quiet time and solar particle events

Flight data on neutron fluxes and dose rates obtained over a wide range of latitudes and altitudes are compared with several models of atmospheric radiation for both quiet-time and solar particle events. For quiet-time, general agreement between the models and measurements is within about 25%. Geomagnetic disturbances can increase atmospheric cosmic ray fluxes by up to 10% due to suppression of cut-off rigidities. Solar particle events are more difficult to model but for this solar maximum reasonable agreement has been obtained with a measurement during the event of 15 April 2001. On 20 January 2005 the second largest ground level event in recorded history could have raised atmospheric fluxes at flight altitudes by several hundredfold at high southern latitudes.
Acute interaction of baclofen in combination with alcohol in heavy social drinkers.

BACKGROUND There is growing evidence that gamma-amino butyric acid-B receptor agonists may be effective in the treatment of alcohol abuse or dependence. The primary goal of this study was to determine the safety of baclofen in combination with alcohol consumption in heavy drinkers. In addition, the effects of baclofen alone, and in combination with alcohol, on subjective effects, cognitive performance effects, as well as alcohol craving, were assessed. METHODS Eighteen non-treatment-seeking heavy social drinkers (mean of 28 drinks per week), who did not meet the criteria for alcohol dependence participated. All individuals were tested using a double-blind double-dummy design with six 2-day inpatient phases. Baclofen (0, 40, and 80 mg) was administered 2.5 hours before alcohol (1.5 g/l body water or approximately 0.75 g/kg) or placebo beverages, given in 4 divided doses every 20 minutes. RESULTS Baclofen, either alone or in combination with alcohol, produced only modest increases in heart rate and blood pressure and no adverse effects were reported. Baclofen did not increase positive subjective effects (e.g., Stimulant effects, Drug Liking) but did increase sedation and impair performance. Even though both baclofen and alcohol impaired performance, for the most part performance was not impaired to a greater extent when baclofen was combined with alcohol. Among this population of nondependent drinkers, baclofen did not alter alcohol craving or alcohol-induced positive subjective effects. CONCLUSIONS Baclofen alone has minimal abuse liability in heavy social drinkers, and baclofen is relatively well tolerated and safe when given in combination with intoxicating doses of alcohol.
State complexity of cyclic shift

The cyclic shift of a language L, defined as SHIFT(L) = {vu | uv ∈ L}, is an operation known to preserve both regularity and context-freeness. Its descriptional complexity has been addressed in Maslov's pioneering paper on the state complexity of regular language operations [Soviet Math. Dokl. 11 (1970) 1373-1375], where a high lower bound for partial DFAs using a growing alphabet was given. We improve this result by using a fixed 4-letter alphabet, obtaining a lower bound (n - 1)! 2 (n-1)(n-2) , which shows that the state complexity of cyclic shift is 2 n2+n log n-o(n) for alphabets with at least 4 letters. For 2- and 3-letter alphabets, we prove 2 ⊖(n2) state complexity. We also establish a tight 2n 2 + 1 lower bound for the nondeterministic state complexity of this operation using a binary alphabet.
A hybrid algorithm and its re-configurable architecture for MIMO detector

It has been demonstrated that MIMO detectors using sphere decoding (SD) and K-best tree search both can exhibit close to optimum error rate performance. Sphere decoding using depth first search has less average complexity than K-best tree search, but the complexity varies greatly among different symbols, thus creating problems for systems implementation requiring constant throughput. In this work, we propose a hybrid algorithm that uses both sphere decoding and K-best tree search to provide better performance with invariable throughput. The corresponding re-configurable architecture is also designed to implement the hybrid algorithm. From the experimental results, it is shown that a 25% enhancement in throughput is obtained compared with the previous block-based fixed throughput SD detector.
The effect of social and ambient factors on impulse purchasing behavior in social commerce

ABSTRACT Social commerce is an exciting new business model in the e-commerce world. Because it is a relatively new concept, the strategies that achieve the best market performance remain unclear. To better understand consumer purchasing behavior and develop corresponding strategies, special characteristics of social commerce need to be considered. This study uses the stimulus-organism-response framework to examine the effect of social presence and ambient factors from the impulse purchasing perspective in a social commerce context. Experimental data were collected from 300 social commerce users related to nine social commerce deals, and hypothesis testing was performed using a partial least squares model. First, the results of our study indicate that social presence in a social commerce site replicates the presence of consumers in the retail environment and makes consumers feel like shopping together, which leads to higher impulse purchasing behavior. Second, this study identifies music tempo as a potentially important ambient factor in the success of a social commerce site. Third, this study finds a very interesting phenomenon that the scarcity of a deal can have a negative effect as a moderator between music tempo and pleasure. The findings of this study suggest that a pleasant and entertaining experience is necessary and a social aspect needs to be incorporated for better performance in social commerce sites.
Family settings and children's adjustment: differential adjustment within and across families

Background Children in stepfamilies and single-parent families exhibit elevated levels of behavioural and emotional problems compared with children in intact (biological) families, but there is variation within and across these family types. Aims To examine the sources of variation in children's behavioural and emotional problems across diverse family settings. Method Levels of behavioural and emotional problems in children from diverse stepfamilies and single-parent families were compared with children living with both biological parents. Psychosocial risks were measured at the individual child and family levels. Results Behavioural and emotional problems were elevated in children in stepmother/complex stepfamilies and single-parent families, but not in simple stepfather families, relative to ‘biological’ families. Psychopathology associated with family type was explained by compromised quality of the parent–child relationship, parental depression and socio-economic adversity. Sibling similarity in behavioural and emotional problems was most pronounced in high-risk family settings. Conclusions Family type is a proxy for exposure to psychosocial risks; the extent of family-wide influence on children's development may be strongest in high-stress settings.
Identification of a Dominant Negative Inhibitor of Human Zinc Finger Antiviral Protein Reveals a Functional Endogenous Pool and Critical Homotypic Interactions

ABSTRACT The zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP) is a host factor with potent antiviral activity when overexpressed in cells. ZAP blocks replication of the prototype alphavirus Sindbis virus (SINV) at a step at or before translation of the incoming viral genome. The mechanism of ZAP anti-SINV activity and the determinants of its antiviral function, however, have not been defined. Here, we have identified a dominant negative inhibitor of human ZAP. Rat ZAP with a cysteine-to-arginine mutation at position 88 (rZAPC88R), previously reported as a nonfunctional form of ZAP, increases SINV growth in cells. These results led us to discover a previously undetectable pool of endogenous functional ZAP within human cells. Investigation of the mechanism of dominant negative inhibition, combined with a comprehensive mutational analysis of the antiviral factor, revealed that homotypic associations are required for ZAP function in limiting SINV propagation.
Paracellular pathway remodeling enhances sodium secretion by teleost fish in hypersaline environments

ABSTRACT In vertebrate salt-secreting epithelia, Na+ moves passively down an electrochemical gradient via a paracellular pathway. We assessed how this pathway is modified to allow Na+ secretion in hypersaline environments. Mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus) acclimated to hypersaline [2× seawater (2SW), 64‰] for 30 days developed invasive projections of accessory cells with an increased area of tight junctions, detected by punctate distribution of CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) immunofluorescence and transmission electron miscroscopy of the opercular epithelia, which form a gill-like tissue rich in ionocytes. Distribution of CFTR was not explained by membrane raft organization, because chlorpromazine (50 μmol l−1) and filipin (1.5 μmol l−1) did not affect opercular epithelia electrophysiology. Isolated opercular epithelia bathed in SW on the mucosal side had a transepithelial potential (Vt) of +40.1±0.9 mV (N=24), sufficient for passive Na+ secretion (Nernst equilibrium voltage≡ENa=+24.11 mV). Opercular epithelia from fish acclimated to 2SW and bathed in 2SW had higher Vt of +45.1±1.2 mV (N=24), sufficient for passive Na+ secretion (ENa=+40.74 mV), but with diminished net driving force. Bumetanide block of Cl− secretion reduced Vt by 45% and 29% in SW and 2SW, respectively, a decrease in the driving force for Na+ extrusion. Estimates of shunt conductance from epithelial conductance (Gt) versus short-circuit current (Isc) plots (extrapolation to zero Isc) suggested a reduction in total epithelial shunt conductance in 2SW-acclimated fish. In contrast, the morphological elaboration of tight junctions, leading to an increase in accessory-cell–ionocyte contact points, suggests an increase in local paracellular conductance, compensating for the diminished net driving force for Na+ and allowing salt secretion, even in extreme salinities. Summary: In fish gills, secretion of NaCl into hypersaline environments requires restructuring of the specialized Na+-permeable paracellular pathway and an increase in conductance of the epithelium.
Adaptive parameter estimation using parallel Kalman filtering for spread spectrum code and Doppler tracking

We present a new digital direct-sequence (DS) receiver with joint estimation of code delay, multipath gains and Doppler shift. A parameter estimator consisting of a parallel bank of extended Kalman filters (EKF's) extracts estimates of the timing, τ and the multipath coefficients, f l distorting the received signal. A «detected» estimate of the Doppler shift, υ r distorting the received signal is also provided by the estimator. We compute the bit error rate that results when a RAKE matched filter uses the estimated parameters to detect the DPSK encoded binary data in the received signal. The bit-error rate (BER) is evaluated, and successful performance of the proposed receiver in the presence of Doppler shift distortion is observed in many cases
Infections in the female genital tract.

Anaerobic organisms are the predominant etiologic agents in female genital tract infections. This article describes the conditions necessary for anaerobic growth, cites the diseases in which these organisms play a role, and outlines therapy for anaerobic genital infections. As interest in anaerobic bacteria has increased and culture techniques have improved, the number and variety of species of organisms has grown. Infections generally consist of several anaerobic species with 1 or more aerobic species. It is unclear whether additional organisms such as mycoplasma species or chlamydia impact on the establishment of genital tract infections, and whether multiple anaerobic organisms are needed to establish and maintain infection. For clinical infection to develop, an alteration in either host resistance or numbers of bacteria present must occur. Infections are usually associated with a compromised host whose defense mechanisms have been altered by natural causes or medical interventions such as trauma, surgery, irradiation, steroid treatment, immunosuppressive agents, cytotoxic agents, and certain antibiotics. Infections are classified as either hospital-acquired or community-acquired. The latter category includes pelvic inflammatory disease, pelvic thrombophlebitis, septic abortion, and premature rupture of the membranes. Hospital-acquired infections include postcesarean section endometritis, postoperative pelvic infections, wound infections, hospital-terminated pregnancy, septic thrombophlebitis, and pelvic abscess. Most diseases caused by anaerobic bacteria are characterized by tissue necrosis and abscess formation and an indolent or chronic course. Therapy options include supportive therapy with fluids and blood, administration of antibiotics, and surgical drainage. Initial therapy with full supportive endeavors and full-dose antimicrobial therapy is preferable to planned sequential antibiotic management. In vitro activity against anaerobes and aerobic organisms, tissue penetration, and toxicity should be considered in selecting antimicrobial agents. High-dose single agent chemotherapy is effective in early infections, whereas late infections require double or triple therapy.
Contributions of Individual σB-Dependent General Stress Genes to Oxidative Stress Resistance of Bacillus subtilis

ABSTRACT The general stress regulon of Bacillus subtilis comprises approximately 200 genes and is under the control of the alternative sigma factor σB. The activation of σB occurs in response to multiple physical stress stimuli as well as energy starvation conditions. The expression of the general stress proteins provides growing and stationary nonsporulating vegetative cells with nonspecific and broad stress resistance. A previous comprehensive phenotype screening analysis of 94 general stress gene mutants in response to severe growth-inhibiting stress stimuli, including ethanol, NaCl, heat, and cold, indicated that secondary oxidative stress may be a common component of severe physical stress. Here we tested the individual contributions of the same set of 94 mutants to the development of resistance against exposure to the superoxide-generating agent paraquat and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In fact, 62 mutants displayed significantly decreased survival rates in response to paraquat and/or H2O2 stress compared to the wild type at a confidence level of an α value of ≤0.01. Thus, we were able to assign 47 general stress genes to survival against superoxide, 6 genes to protection from H2O2 stress, and 9 genes to the survival against both. Furthermore, we show that a considerable overlap exists between the phenotype clusters previously assumed to be involved in oxidative stress management and the actual group of oxidative-stress-sensitive mutants. Our data provide information that many general stress proteins with still unknown functions are implicated in oxidative stress resistance and further support the notion that different severe physical stress stimuli elicit a common secondary oxidative stress.
Semiconductor optical single-photon detectors

Avalanche Photodiodes (APDs) connected with quenching circuits can be used for single photon detection. This semiconductor photon detector has a better performance than photomultiplier. The principles and applications of APDs are presented. Features, performance of different commercial devices are introduced and compared. Recent research progress based on the improvement of quenching circuits are introduced.
Role of OmpA in the Multidrug Resistance Phenotype of Acinetobacter baumannii

ABSTRACT Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a nosocomial pathogen with an increased prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains. The role of the outer membrane protein A (OmpA) in antimicrobial resistance remains poorly understood. In this report, disruption of the ompA gene led to decreased MICs of chloramphenicol, aztreonam, and nalidixic acid. We have characterized, for the first time, the contribution of OmpA in the antimicrobial resistance phenotype of A. baumannii.
New guidelines to evaluate the response to treatment in solid tumors

Anticancer cytotoxic agents go through a process by which their antitumor activity-on the basis of the amount of tumor shrinkage they could generate-has been investigated. In the late 1970s, the International Union Against Cancer and the World Health Organization introduced specific criteria for the codification of tumor response evaluation. In 1994, several organizations involved in clinical research combined forces to tackle the review of these criteria on the basis of the experience and knowledge acquired since then. After several years of intensive discussions, a new set of guidelines is ready that will supersede the former criteria. In parallel to this initiative, one of the participating groups developed a model by which response rates could be derived from unidimensional measurement of tumor lesions instead of the usual bidimensional approach. This new concept has been largely validated by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Group and integrated into the present guidelines. This special article also provides some philosophic background to clarify the various purposes of response evaluation. It proposes a model by which a combined assessment of all existing lesions, characterized by target lesions (to be measured) and nontarget lesions, is used to extrapolate an overall response to treatment. Methods of assessing tumor lesions are better codified, briefly within the guidelines and in more detail in Appendix I. All other aspects of response evaluation have been discussed, reviewed, and amended whenever appropriate.
Design of MEMS based XOR and AND gates for rad-hard and very low power LSI mechanical processors

Design and calculations for a novel MEMS based logic gate (XOR and AND) is presented. Applications include computational circuits that require low operational power consumption (leakage current & power &#60;10−9 A, &#60;1µW), low operational voltage (∼2V), and harsh environment (radiation hard and high temperatures) operations. The device relies on an innovative Si3N4/PolySi cross-bridge platform with patterned metal (W) contacts to form single device logic gates. These functional structures reduce device count (6–14 for a single logic gate in the preceding configuration) leading to denser circuits, improved reliability, better speed and fabication yield. We examine Si3N4, PolySi, and W as bridge materials and the resulting gate speed and transition voltages. XOR and AND gates are specifically discussed.