Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mineral profile of blood plasma of lactating dairy cows.

Each of 20 Holstein cows was assigned randomly to a salt treatment upon calving. The experimental design was a 2 x 2 factorial having age (young versus mature) and salt treatment (plain versus mineralized) as factors. Salt was fed ad libitum. All animals were maintained on a balanced ration of corn silage fed ad libitum and concentrate fed in the barn in a ratio of . 45 kg concentrate per 1.36 kg actual milk production. Concentrations in blood plasma of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, cobalt, bicarbonate, chloride, phosphorus, total serum protein, sulfur, and fluoride were monitored throughout lactation and gestation. Statistical evaluation of weekly means for each treatment group for each element by analysis of variance showed when concentrations were different. Concentrations of calcium and magnesium were higher in younger animals than in mature animals during much of the lactation cycle. Magnesium concentration was higher in cows fed trace-mineralized salt. Concentration of phosphorus was higher in younger animals throughout the lactation cycle. Total serum protein was higher in mature cows throughout lactation, and concentrations of sulfur and fluoride were higher in mature cows through much of the cycle.
Selection of highly efficient small interference RNA (SiRNA) targeting mammalian genes

RNAi is the method of silencing the expression of targeted genes. RNAi applications include gene function analysis and target validation. Designing highly efficient small interference RNA (siRNA) sequence with maximum target specificity for mammalian RNAi is one of important topics in recent years. In this work, a statistical analysis of the information for a large number (3734) of siRNA presented in the database available on the internet is done. This is to improve the design of efficient siRNA molecules. The (3734) siRNAs are classified according to their efficiency to three groups (high efficient, moderate efficient and low efficient). Thirteen properties (positional and thermodynamics) are identified in the high efficient group in the primary statistical study. In the final statistical study, the average weight of each identified property is calculated. A very good linear correlation was found between the average percentage efficiency and the weighted score of siRNA properties. It is found that the most important feature of highly efficient siRNA is the difference in binding energy between the 5’ end and the 3’ end of the anti-sense strand. The (RISC) activation step is a critical step in RNAi process where the efficiency of this process depends on the instability of the 5’ end of the anti-sense strand.
Solution Structure, Conformational Dynamics, and CD4-Induced Activation in Full-Length, Glycosylated, Monomeric HIV gp120

ABSTRACT The gp120 subunit of the HIV Env glycoprotein is responsible for receptor interactions leading to viral entry and is a primary target for neutralizing antibodies. Most structural studies have focused on the heavily truncated, deglycosylated gp120 core, leaving fundamental aspects of the glycoprotein that are responsible for immune evasion and receptor-induced activation unresolved. Here we investigate full-length, glycosylated HIV gp120 in unliganded and CD4-bound forms by using small-angle X-ray scattering to visualize global structural reorganization and hydrogen/deuterium exchange to track changes in local conformational dynamics. The studies revealed unliganded full-length gp120 to be considerably more dynamic, particularly at the CD4 binding site, than suggested by previous studies of the subunit core alone. The large V1/V2 loops, previously unmapped, are positioned to mask the coreceptor binding site in an orientation that recapitulates that observed in the Env trimer. CD4 binding shifts V1/V2 to unmask the coreceptor binding site and triggers profound dynamic changes in gp120 spanning from the binding site to the gp41-interactive face of gp120. These findings provide further insights on the structural basis of Env antigenicity and immunogenicity and of allosteric effects upon receptor binding.
Influence of beliefs about cervical cancer etiology on pap smear use among Latina immigrants

Objective To assess Latina immigrants’ beliefs about the role of sexual activities in cervical cancer etiology and the impact of the beliefs on Papanicolaou (Pap) smear use. Previous research has found that Latinas, particularly immigrants, believe that cervical cancer is related to ‘unwise’ sexual activities; however, their beliefs about the nature of the relationship are unclear. Design We conducted semi-structured face-to-face interviews with a non-probability purposive sample of 20 Mexican immigrant women who resided in Orange County, California regarding their beliefs about risk factors for cervical cancer and Pap smear use. We used qualitative content analysis to identify major themes. Three investigators independently reviewed transcripts of the audio-taped interviews to identify themes and came to a consensus about them. Results The women had a mean age of 39 years and had resided in the USA for an average of 16.3 years. We identified several themes. The majority of respondents had limited knowledge about cervical cancer and no knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV); believed that infections caused by physical trauma, certain sexual activities, and poor hygiene caused cervical cancer; believed that they only needed a Pap smear if they developed symptoms of a pelvic infection; and felt that women who engaged in ‘unwise’ sexual behaviors, in particular, should receive regular Pap smear exams. Conclusion The results suggest that culturally related beliefs about the etiology of cervical cancer play a role in the decision to obtain Pap smears for Latina immigrants. The findings may help to explain why researchers have found Latino ethnicity to be an independent predictor of Pap smear use. They also suggest that programs designed to improve cervical cancer screening, particularly among Latina immigrants, should stress the nature of HPV transmission, its role in the etiology of cervical cancer, and the importance of Pap smear screening in the absence of symptoms.
Effect of gradual-increasing aeration mode in an aerobic tank on nutrients’ removal and functional microbial communities

ABSTRACT Different aeration rates and modes in an aerobic tank of an anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic (A2O) process were investigated to reveal their influence on nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiency. Meanwhile, Illumina high-throughput sequencing of partial 16S rRNA gene of bacteria was conducted to monitor the abundance and composition of microbial communities. The results showed that higher aeration rate led to better nutrients’ removal efficiency. The gradual-increasing aeration mode along the wastewater stream enhanced the contaminants’ removal and the system achieved chemical oxygen demand, -N, total nitrogen (TN) removal rates of 72%, 96% and 51%, respectively. However, the gradual-decreasing or uniform aeration modes resulted in inefficient removal of TN, especially the ammonia due to low DO in the end parts of A2O. Microbial community analysis indicated that denitrifying phosphorus-accumulating bacteria Acinetobacter spp. were the most dominant groups under the gradual-increasing aeration mode in all tanks of the A2O bioreactor. Moreover, the members of genera Clostridium, Thauera and Dechloromonas also largely existed in the system. The gradual-increasing aeration mode and cooperation of different groups of bacteria made the system stable and high-performance.
Emergency department visits among recipients of chronic opioid therapy.

BACKGROUND There has been an increase in overdose deaths and emergency department visits (EDVs) involving use of prescription opioids, but the association between opioid prescribing and adverse outcomes is unclear. METHODS Data were obtained from administrative claim records from Arkansas Medicaid and HealthCore commercially insured enrollees, 18 years and older, who used prescription opioids for at least 90 continuous days within a 6-month period between 2000 and 2005 and had no cancer diagnoses. Regression analysis was used to examine risk factors for EDVs and alcohol- or drug-related encounters (ADEs) in the 12 months following 90 days or more of prescribed opioids. RESULTS Headache, back pain, and preexisting substance use disorders were significantly associated with EDVs and ADEs. Mental health disorders were associated with EDVs in HealthCore enrollees and with ADEs in both samples. Opioid dose per day was not consistently associated with EDVs but doubled the risk of ADEs at morphine-equivalent doses over 120 mg/d. Use of short-acting Drug Enforcement Agency Schedule II opioids was associated with EDVs compared with use of non-Schedule II opioids alone (relative risk range, 1.09-1.74). Use of Schedule II long-acting opioids was strongly associated with ADEs (relative risk range, 1.64-4.00). CONCLUSIONS Use of Schedule II opioids, headache, back pain, and substance use disorders are associated with EDVs and ADEs among adults prescribed opioids for 90 days or more. It may be possible to increase the safety of chronic opioid therapy by minimizing the prescription of Schedule II opioids in these higher-risk recipients.
The Social Value of Asymmetric Information Revisited

In contrary to previous literature, we show in the Grossman-Stiglitz model of noisy rational expectation that the social value of asymmetric information can be improved with more informative prices when being informed is uncertain. Investors always benefit from a privately payoff-relevant information, but they have to pay more to increase the probability of observing the information. In equilibrium, this trade-off can lead to high-risk, high return investments. Consequently the marginal expected utility gain from observing the information is not completely washed out by the cost of information acquisition, which leads to Pareto-optimal equilibrium and improves investors' welfare.
Time Course of Defense Mechanisms in Bovine Endometrium in Response to Lipopolysaccharide1

ABSTRACT Endometritis caused by uterine infection after calving reduces fertility and causes major economic losses to the dairy industry. This study investigated the time course of an inflammatory response in bovine endometrium triggered by exposure to bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Mixed endometrial epithelial and stromal cells (9:1 ratio) were grown to confluence as a model system and treated with an optimized dose of 100 ng/ml LPS in vitro. Gene expression responses were measured using quantitative PCR, and gene products were investigated using assays of culture medium and Western blotting. Of 17 candidate genes tested initially, LPS treatment for 24 h up-regulated mRNA expression of TLR4 signaling (TLR4, CD14), cytokines (IL1B, TNF), chemokines (IL8, CXCL5), antimicrobial peptides (LAP, S100A8, S100A9, S100A12), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP1, MMP13). A 48 h, LPS time course study showed that TNF increased first at 1 h, followed by peak expression of IL1B at 6 h, and those of S100A8, S100A12, and LAP at 12 h. The intracellular S100A8 protein content doubled at 12–24 h but with little excretion into the medium. Regarding prostaglandin biosynthesis, PTGES mRNA was slightly higher after LPS exposure, whereas expression of the PGF synthase AKR1B1 was inhibited. Despite this, LPS treatment stimulated the secretion of both PGE2 and PGF2alpha to a similar extent. These results suggest that the family of S100 Ca2+ binding proteins are released from damaged endometrial cells and may play a major antimicrobial role. Prostaglandin synthesis increased during the uterine infection, but we found no evidence that this was associated with a change in the PGE:PGF ratio.
A Novel Single-Switch Single-Stage Electronic Ballast With High Input Power Factor

This paper proposed high-power-factor electronic ballast for fluorescent lamps. The converter offers a high power factor and a high-frequency supply to the lamp using a single switch. In spite of its simplicity, an excellent performance concerning load and supply is achieved, ensuring a sinusoidal and in phase supply current. The conventional electronic ballast circuit has larger conduction losses because its power factor correction (PFC) power flow path circuit always includes two diode losses from the front-end bridge rectifier and one power switch loss. The PFC power flow path of the proposed circuit has three conduction drops in the current flow paths when the active switch is on and two conduction drops when the active switch is off. Therefore, it can provide lower conduction loss than the conventional one. The design equations are derived from the analyzed results based on fundamental approximation, and then an easy-to-use design tool is provided accordingly under considerations of filament heating and ignition. A prototype circuit designed for one 40-W fluorescent lamps operating at 40-kHz switching frequency and 110-V line voltage is built and tested to verify the analytical predictions
Determining performance characteristics of an NGS‐based HLA typing method for clinical applications

This study presents performance specifications of an in‐house developed human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing assay using next‐generation sequencing (NGS) on the Illumina MiSeq platform. A total of 253 samples, previously characterized for HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C, ‐DRB1 and ‐DQB1 were included in this study, which were typed at high‐resolution using a combination of Sanger sequencing, sequence‐specific primer (SSP) and sequence‐specific oligonucleotide probe (SSOP) technologies and recorded at the two‐field level. Samples were selected with alleles that cover a high percentage of HLA specificities in each of five different race/ethnic groups: European, African‐American, Asian Pacific Islander, Hispanic and Native American. Sequencing data were analyzed by two software programs, Omixon's target and GenDx's NGSengine. A number of metrics including allele balance, sensitivity, specificity, precision, accuracy and remaining ambiguity were assessed. Data analyzed by the two software systems are shown independently. The majority of alleles were identical in the exonic sequences (third field) with both programs for HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C and ‐DQB1 in 97.7% of allele determinations. Among the remaining discrepant genotype calls at least one of the analysis programs agreed with the reference typing. Upon additional manual analysis 100% of the 2530 alleles were concordant with the reference HLA genotypes; the remaining ambiguities did not exceed 0.8%. The results demonstrate the feasibility and significant benefit of HLA typing by NGS as this technology is highly accurate, eliminates virtually all ambiguities, provides complete sequencing information for the length of the HLA gene and forms the basis for utilizing a single methodology for HLA typing in the immunogenetics labs.
COMBINED NEPHROTOXIC EFFECTS OF CYCLOSPORINE AND ENDOTOXIN

This study presents experimental evidence that cyclosporine (CsA) potentiates the nephrotoxicity of endotoxin. This study was motivated by clinical observations in 4 cyclosporine (CsA)-treated renal allograft recipients who developed severe, and sometimes irreversible, nephrotoxicity after infections. CsA or vehicle was administered intramuscularly to rabbits for 5 days, and subsequently both groups of animals received one dose of endotoxin intravenously. Compared with controls, CsA-treated animals demonstrated significantly higher elevations of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine 24 hr after endotoxin. By contrast, both groups of animals developed similar degrees of thrombocytopenia. Histologic evaluation of kidney tissues 24 hr after endotoxin revealed significantly greater tubular toxicity and a higher glomerular polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration in CsA-treated animals. Semiquantitative scores of tubular damage correlated directly with the mean number of PMN/glomeruli in both groups of animals. Immunofluorescent microscopy of kidney tissues was negative for fibrinogen and for complement deposition in both CsA and control groups. We conclude that CsA enhances endotoxin nephrotoxicity in rabbits. This effect does not appear to be mediated by activation of coagulation factors. However, a role for PMN is suggested. CsA should be used with caution in patients with deteriorating renal function who are suspected of having severe bacterial infections.
User-Base Stations Association in Multi-Tenant Base Station Networks

Multi-tenant BS (MBS) is a new architecture to improve network capacity in which a single BS is tenanted to multiple operators. MBS allows multiple tenants to transmit from a single BS by using their own spectrum resources, resulting in a closer proximity to UEs. In this paper, we propose a UEs to MBSs association scheme, executed in the centralised controller of wireless networks. Each UE can be associated with more than one MBS. We first formulate an optimisation problem that maximises the spectral efficiency of a MBS network with UEs to MBSs associations as its optimisation variables. To solve it, we develop an optimisation solver based on a pursuit learning technique where we model each optimisation variable as a learning automaton. The automata system is executed at the centralised controller where each automaton computes the UE to MBS association in parallel. This results in an extremely low computational complexity and high scalability as compared to other existing schemes. Furthermore, simulation results show that the MBS network has significantly higher spectral efficiency when compared to a single tenant BS network.
Altered Pathway Routing in a Class ofSalmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Mutants Defective in Aminoimidazole Ribonucleotide Synthetase

ABSTRACT In Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, purine nucleotides and thiamine are synthesized by a branched pathway. The last known common intermediate, aminoimidazole ribonucleotide (AIR), is formed from formylglycinamidine ribonucleotide (FGAM) and ATP by AIR synthetase, encoded by the purI gene in S. enterica. Reduced flux through the first five steps of de novo purine synthesis results in a requirement for purines but not necessarily thiamine. To examine the relationship between the purine and thiamine biosynthetic pathways, purI mutants were made (J. L. Zilles and D. M. Downs, Genetics 143:37–44, 1996). Unexpectedly, some mutantpurI alleles (R35C/E57G and K31N/A50G/L218R) allowed growth on minimal medium but resulted in thiamine auxotrophy when exogenous purines were supplied. To explain the biochemical basis for this phenotype, the R35C/E57G mutant PurI protein was purified and characterized kinetically. The Km of the mutant enzyme for FGAM was unchanged relative to the wild-type enzyme, but theVmax was decreased 2.5-fold. TheKm for ATP of the mutant enzyme was 13-fold increased. Genetic analysis determined that reduced flux through the purine pathway prevented PurI activity in the mutant strain, andpurR null mutations suppressed this defect. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that an increased FGAM concentration has the ability to compensate for the lower affinity of the mutant PurI protein for ATP.
Mutations in the thrombomodulin and endothelial protein C receptor genes in women with late fetal loss

Late fetal loss can be associated with placental insufficiency and coagulation defects. Thrombomodulin (TM) and the endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) are glycoprotein receptors expressed mainly on the endothelial surface of blood vessels and also in the placenta; they both play a key physiological role in the protein C anticoagulant pathway. Defects in these proteins might play an important role in the pathogenesis of late fetal loss. We performed a case–control study in 95 women with unexplained late fetal loss (> 20 weeks), to elucidate whether TM or EPCR gene mutations were associated with an increased risk for this complication of pregnancy. The control group comprised 236 women who gave birth to at least one healthy baby and had no history of late fetal death or obstetrical complications. The entire TM and EPCR genes, including the promoter region, were screened. In total, five mutations were identified in the TM gene in 95 patients and three in 236 control subjects, and two mutations were identified in the EPCR gene in 95 patients and one in 236 control subjects. The relative risk for late fetal loss when having a mutation in the TM or EPCR gene was estimated by an odds ratio of 4·0 (95% CI 1·1–14·9). In conclusion, identified mutations in the TM and EPCR genes of women with unexplained fetal loss are more prevalent compared with women with no obstetrical complications.
Ultrasound-guided transbronchial biopsy of solitary pulmonary nodules less than 20 mm

Transbronchial biopsy of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) is usually performed under fluoroscopic guidance, but success varies widely. Endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) may increase the likelihood of success. The ability of EBUS-guided transbronchial biopsy to sample SPNs of <20 mm in diameter was assessed. All patients seen between June 2004 and August 2007 in whom computed tomography identified a SPN of <20 mm underwent bronchoscopic general anaesthesia or moderate sedation for a radial EBUS-guided examination. If a typical ultrasonographic picture of solid tissue could be identified, specimens were taken through a catheter with forceps. If the node was not detected within 20 min, the procedure was terminated. Of 100 nodules detected in 100 consecutive patients, 67 (mean diameter 15 mm) were visualised using EBUS and biopsy specimens taken. A diagnosis was established for 46 (46%) patients. If the lesion was visualised by EBUS, the diagnostic success was 69% (46 out of 67). The 33 patients whose nodules could not be sampled underwent surgical biopsy. Pneumothorax occurred in three patients. For SPNs of <20 mm that can be detected using ultrasound, EBUS-guided transbronchial biopsy is safe and effective.
The future of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid therapy

Purpose of review This article focuses on the potential role by which a complex mixture of omega-3 fatty acids (OM3-FAs) may beneficially modify cardiovascular risk by modifying the cholesterol composition of atherogenic lipoproteins. This hypothesis is being tested in the STRENGTH trial, which is enrolling 13 000 patients on statins at high cardiovascular risk with hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) treated with an OM3-carboxylic acid. Recent findings Complex mixtures of OM3-FAs containing predominately eicosapentanoic acid and docosahexanoic acid in combination with statins lowers non-HDL by reducing triglyceride-rich lipoprotein cholesterol (TRL-C) while shifting small LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) to large LDL-C. Recent genomic and epidemiological studies have implicated TRL-C and small LDL-C as causal for cardiovascular disease. Therefore OM3-FAs containing both eicosapentanoic acid and docosahexanoic acid in combination with statins may beneficially modify the high residual risk for patients with hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-C. Summary Although outcome trials are underway, subgroup analyses of data from previous randomized controlled trials are suggestive of a reduction in coronary artery disease and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease event rates with triglyceride and TRL-C lowering therapies, particularly if accompanied by low HDL-C. Although the limitations of such data are acknowledged, clinicians must make treatment decisions while awaiting more definitive results from well-designed large-scale randomized controlled trials.