Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metabolic syndrome and risk of coronary heart disease in a Pakistani cohort

Objective: To assess the relation of the metabolic insulin resistance syndrome (M-IRS) with coronary heart disease (CHD) in Pakistani patients. Subjects: 200 patients with angiographic disease (CHD(+)) matched with 200 patients with chest pain without occlusive disease (CHD(−)). Design: Prospective case–control study. Setting: Tertiary referral cardiology unit in Pakistan. Results: M-IRS was present in 37% of CHD(+) versus 27% of CHD(−) patients by criteria for white patients or 47% versus 42%, respectively, by Asian criteria (p < 0.001). After adjustment for other risk factors, M-IRS was not a significant predictor for CHD or angiographic disease. Age (p = 0.03), smoking (p < 0.001), diabetes-years (p = 0.003), sialic acid (p = 0.01), and creatinine (p = 0.008) accounted for the excess risk of CHD. Similarly, age (p = 0.005), creatinine (p < 0.001), cigarette pack-years (p = 0.02), diabetes-years (p = 0.003), and sialic acid (p = 0.08) were predictors of greater angiographic disease. M-IRS differed between Pakistani and white patients, as waist circumference correlated weakly (r = −0.03–0.08, p = 0.45–0.52) with triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, or glucose. Sialic acid was the only inflammatory marker associated with M-IRS. Conclusions: Despite strong associations between individual risk factors associated with M-IRS and a univariate association between M-IRS and CHD in native Pakistanis, the principal discriminant risk factors in this group are age, smoking, inflammation, diabetes-years, and impaired renal function. The poor sensitivity of M-IRS for CHD reflects the high underlying prevalence of M-IRS, thus reducing sensitivity, confounding by other urban lifestyle traits, or a lack of association of waist circumference with M-IRS risk factors. The definition of M-IRS may have to be revised to increase its power as a discriminant risk factor for CHD in Pakistani populations.
Discovering favorite views of popular places with iconoid shift

In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm for automatic landmark building discovery in large, unstructured image collections. In contrast to other approaches which aim at a hard clustering, we regard the task as a mode estimation problem. Our algorithm searches for local attractors in the image distribution that have a maximal mutual homography overlap with the images in their neighborhood. Those attractors correspond to central, iconic views of single objects or buildings, which we efficiently extract using a medoid shift search with a novel distance measure. We propose efficient algorithms for performing this search. Most importantly, our approach performs only an efficient local exploration of the matching graph that makes it applicable for large-scale analysis of photo collections. We show experimental results validating our approach on a dataset of 500k images of the inner city of Paris.
Plasma Concentrations of Morphine, Morphine‐3‐Glucuronide, and Morphine‐6‐Glucuronide After Intravenous and Oral Administration to Healthy Volunteers: Relationship to Nonanalgesic Actions

Healthy volunteers were given morphine as an i.v. infusion (10 mg), immediate release (IR) tablets (3 x 10 mg), and as a new controlled release (CR) tablet (30 mg) on separate occasions. Venous blood samples were analyzed for morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Pupil size, salivation, and central nervous system (CNS) effects were evaluated serially. Pharmacokinetic parameters, calculated using a two-compartment model, were in accordance with previous results for i.v. administration of morphine. The absolute bioavailability of morphine in both IR and in CR tablets was, 32%, and the relative bioavailability of the CR tablet versus the IR tablets was 103% (91–115%, 95% confidence interval). Pupil size and unstimulated saliva production were significantly reduced and CNS effects most pronounced following i.v. infusion of morphine, but were only moderately affected after oral administration with IR or CR tablets. Miosis and reduction of salivation were observed at moderate concentrations of morphine and M6G. A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model based on previous studies of receptor binding and potency of morphine and its metabolites was used to assess the concentration-effect relationships. According to this model, M6G was four and eight times more potent than morphine in producing miosis and reduction of saliva production, respectively. The same model indicated that intrinsic activities of M6G and morphine were similar for both effect parameters, whereas M3G was either inactive or even opposed the effects of morphine and M6G.
Isolated mesenteric arteries from pregnant rats show enhanced flow‐mediated relaxation but normal myogenic tone.

1. The mechanisms of vascular adaptation to pregnancy remain to be fully elucidated. In this study we have compared flow‐induced dilatation and myogenic responses in fifth generation mesenteric arteries from late pregnant and non‐pregnant Wistar rats. 2. Myogenic tone, assessed as the difference between internal diameter (i.d.) in the presence and absence of external calcium, at each of six transmural pressure steps (40‐90 mmHg) was no different in arteries from pregnant and non‐pregnant animals (90 mmHg; pregnant animals, 20.5 +/‐ 3.2% change in i.d., n = 13; non‐pregnant animals, 14.4 +/‐ 4.4% change in i.d., n = 13; n.s.). 3. Flow‐induced dilatation was significantly increased in arteries from pregnant animals when compared with that in non‐pregnant animals (pregnant, 11.2 +/‐ 3.7% increase in i.d., n = 12; non‐pregnant, 1.2 +/‐ 1.0%, n = 8; P < 0.02; at the maximal flow rate of 1.46 microliters s‐1). 4. Flow‐induced dilatation was significantly reduced in arteries from pregnant rats after incubation with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N omega‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (11.2 +/‐ 3.7% increase in i.d. vs. 0.8 +/‐ 1.5% with L‐NAME, n = 12, at a flow rate of 1.46 microliters s‐1; P < 0.02), but not altered in non‐pregnant rats (1.2 +/‐ 1.0% vs. 1.4 +/‐ 1.5% with L‐NAME, n = 8; n.s.). This was also reflected in a greater response to shear stress in the arteries from pregnant animals. 5. We conclude that myogenic tone is not significantly different in pregnant and non‐pregnant resistance sized mesenteric arteries of Wistar rats. However, flow‐induced dilatation, mediated by nitric oxide release, may play a major role in lowering vascular resistance during pregnancy.
Oncologic and Functional Outcomes of Surgical and Nonsurgical Treatment of Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Supraglottic Larynx.

IMPORTANCE Nonsurgical treatment of advanced supraglottic laryngeal cancer is widely used as part of a larynx preservation protocol. However, recent studies have suggested that nonsurgical treatment may be associated with inferior survival. Furthermore, it is not clear whether preservation of the larynx provides superior voice or swallowing function in the long term. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that surgical treatment of advanced-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx is associated with superior overall survival (OS), freedom from recurrence (FFR), and noninferior voice and swallowing function. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Retrospective medical record review of patients treated for stage III or IV squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx between January 1990 and June 2013 at a tertiary referral center: 97 patients underwent surgical treatment and 138, nonsurgical treatment. Exclusion criteria included prior definitive treatment for laryngeal cancer or evidence of distant metastatic disease at presentation. The median follow-up for all 235 patients was 63 months. INTERVENTIONS Surgical or nonsurgical therapy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Freedom from recurrence (FFR), OS, larynx preservation, voice graded from 1 to 5, and swallowing graded from 1 to 6 using our voice and swallowing function scales. RESULTS Surgical treatment was associated with superior FFR (5-year FFR: 75% vs 55%; P = .006) but not OS (5-year OS: 52% vs 52%; P = .61). The larynx was preserved in 83% of patients in the nonsurgical group vs 42% of patients in the surgical group (P < .001). Voice function was superior in the nonsurgical group at all time points through 5 years after treatment (mean voice score, 3.8 vs 2.6; P < .001). Swallowing function was comparable between surgical and nonsurgical groups. Multivariable analysis revealed that advanced age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.43 per 10-year increment; 95% CI, 1.19-1.72) and clinical N stage (HR, 1.17 per 1-level increment; 95% CI, 1.05-1.30) were associated with worse OS, while treatment with chemotherapy was associated with superior OS (HR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.41-0.92). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Compared with surgical treatment, nonsurgical treatment as part of a larynx preservation protocol is associated with a higher likelihood of recurrence but has similar OS and should continue to be viewed as a viable alternative for the treatment of advanced supraglottic laryngeal cancer.
Color Enhancement in Endoscopic Images Using Adaptive Sigmoid Function and Space Variant Color Reproduction

Modern endoscopes play an important role in diagnosing various gastrointestinal (GI) tract related diseases. The improved visual quality of endoscopic images can provide better diagnosis. This paper presents an efficient color image enhancement method for endoscopic images. It is achieved in two stages: image enhancement at gray level followed by space variant chrominance mapping color reproduction. Image enhancement is achieved by performing adaptive sigmoid function and uniform distribution of sigmoid pixels. Secondly, a space variant chrominance mapping color reproduction is used to generate new chrominance components. The proposed method is used on low contrast color white light images (WLI) to enhance and highlight the vascular and mucosa structures of the GI tract. The method is also used to colorize grayscale narrow band images (NBI) and video frames. The focus value and color enhancement factor show that the enhancement level in the processed image is greatly increased compared to the original endoscopic image. The overall contrast level of the processed image is higher than the original image. The color similarity test has proved that the proposed method does not add any additional color which is not present in the original image. The algorithm has low complexity with an execution speed faster than other related methods.
Predicting the Type of Hearing Loss Using Click Auditory Brainstem Response in Babies Referred From Newborn Hearing Screening

Objectives: This study examined the ability of click auditory brainstem response (ABR) undertaken below the age of 6 months (from expected date of delivery) to differentiate between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), using the latency of wave V measured 20 dB above threshold. Design: Subjects were recruited if they had an ABR threshold of ≥ 40 dB nHL and ⩽ 70 dB nHL in one or both ears measured below the age of 6 months and they had also attended follow-up appointments for behavioral assessment of their hearing in which the type of hearing loss had been confirmed. Forty-five children (84 ears) with SNHL, 82 children (141 ears) with temporary conductive hearing loss (TCHL), and 5 children (10 ears) with permanent conductive hearing loss (PCHL) were recruited. The differences between mean wave V latencies measured 20 dB above ABR threshold were examined using the independent t-test for the groups of cases with SNHL, TCHL, and PCHL. Signal-detection theory was used to examine the relationship between sensitivity and specificity when the latency of wave V 20 dB above threshold was used to identify the presence of SNHL. Receiver operating characteristics were generated and the coordinates of the curve examined for the best compromise between sensitivity and false-alarm rate. The specificity, positive predictive value, and probability of missing a true case were determined for the most promising criteria. Results: There were significant differences between the two groups with SNHL and TCHL. The mean latency of wave V 20 dB above threshold was 1 msec shorter in those with SNHL compared with those with TCHL. There were significant differences between children with PCHL and SNHL but no difference between those with PCHL and TCHL. When a criterion of < 7.6 msec was chosen to predict the presence of SNHL the test sensitivity was 0.98, test specificity 0.71, and positive predictive value was 0.66. Nine out of 10 of those with a latency 20 dB above threshold of < 7.0 msec had an SNHL. Conclusions: The latency of wave V 20 dB above threshold measured using click ABR is a useful indicator of the type of hearing loss in babies referred from newborn hearing screening.
Applications of ultrafast multidimensional electronic spectroscopy to the study of plant light harvesting systems and colloidal quantum dots

This dissertation focuses on the development of ultrafast multidimensional electronic spectroscopy using a pump probe geometry and its application in discerning the energy transfer mechanics and band structure analysis on plant light-harvesting systems and colloidal quantum dots. In green plants, the first step of light absorbing processes is carried out and implemented by the light-harvesting complex II (LHCII). The trimeric and aggregated LHCII exhibit the unquenched and quenched excitonic states of Chlorophyll (Chl), respectively. Two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES) ,which allows direct observation of correlation of excitation and emission energy polls, enables the mapping of the pathways and dynamics from Chl b to Chl a to give insights into the mechanism of non-photochemical quenching that protects the system away from photodamage. Long-lived intermediate Chl a states are present in trimers, while in aggregates, the population decay of these excited states is significantly accelerated, suggesting that, overall, the energy transfer within the LHCII complexes is faster in the aggregated state. In addition, 2DES experiments under conditions free from singlet-singlet annihilation and anisotropic decay are done in the following study. The energy transfer between the different domains within the Chl a manifold is investigated and found to proceed on time scales ranging from hundreds of femtoseconds to five picoseconds, before reaching equilibration. The bidirectional (uphill and downhill) energy transfer of the equilibration process between excited states are clearly observed in experiments. Furthermore, exciton equilibration and excitation trapping in intact Photosystem I (PSI) complexes as well as core complexes isolated from Pisum sativum are studied.
Neural Correlates of Overcoming Interference from Instructed and Implemented Stimulus–Response Associations

One of the major evolutionary advances of human primates in the motor domain is their ability to use verbal instructions to guide their behavior. Despite this fundamental role of verbal information for our behavioral regulation, the functional and neural mechanisms underlying the transformation of verbal instructions into efficient behavior are still poorly understood. To gain deeper insights into the motor representation of verbal instructions, we investigated the neural circuits involved in overcoming interference from stimulus– response (S-R) mappings that are merely instructed and S-R mappings that are implemented. Implemented and instructed S-R mappings revealed a partly overlapping pattern of fronto-parietal brain activity when compared with a neutral condition. However, the direct contrast revealed a clear difference with stronger activation for the implemented condition in the ACC, bilateral inferior parietal cortex, the cerebellum and the precentral sulcus. This indicates that instructed S-R mappings share some properties with implemented S-R mappings but that they are lacking the motor-related properties of implemented mappings.
History and evolution of antibiotic resistance in coagulase-negative staphylococci: Susceptibility profiles of new anti-staphylococcal agents

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are a heterogenous group of Gram-positive cocci that are widespread commensals among mammalia. Unlike their coagulase-positive counterpart, Staphylococcus aureus, CNS produce few virulence patterns and normally refrain from invading tissue. Yet, not only can CNS cause infections in normal host tissue, but modern medicine has also seen their rise as opportunists that display adherence to medical device materials to produce a protective biofilm. CNS have historically been more resistant to antimicrobials, including the β-lactam antibiotics, than S. aureus and some hospitals reveal rates of oxacillin resistance in CNS approaching 90%. Cross resistance to non-β-lactam agents has been a recurrent theme over the past 40 years in the CNS. Thus, there has been a pressing need for newer antimicrobial agents with good antistaphylococcal activity. Those new agents tend to have excellent antistaphylococcal activity include daptomycin, linezolid, oritavancin, telavancin, tigecycline, dalbavancin, new quinolones, and ceftibiprole, several of which have unique mechanisms of action. The MIC90 for these new compounds typically ranges from 0.5–4 μg/mL. Staphylococcal biofilm formation is quite common in CNS infections and markedly increases the MIC for most older antimicrobials. Several of the newer agents offer some promise of penetration of biofilm to inhibit or kill adherent staphylococci. CNS will likely remain a major cause of infections in the modern age, evolve further antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, and require development of newer antimicrobials for curative therapy.
Mucor griseocyanus lipase: production, characterization and study of some catalytic properties of the immobilised enzyme.

Summary The aim of this work is to study the production of extracellular lipase by Mucor griseocyanus 55.1. 1 strain on different substrates in order to select the ideal one for lipase synthesis. The carbon sources used were: olive oil, glycerol, coconut oil, sunflower oil, glucose, starch and sucrose. The obtained results indicate that the synthesis of the enzyme was possible in the presence of all substrates. Lipase activities in the range of 0.04 to 0.1 IU/mL were obtained. It was found that the most suitable carbon source for the production of the enzyme was a combination of coconut oil and sucrose at 0.5 and 1.5 % (m/V), respectively, and the level of activity reached under this condition was 0.113 IU/mL. The optimum pH and temperature for enzymatic extract activities were identified in a pH range of 4 to 6 and at a temperature of 60 °C. Enzymatic extract was stable for a period o f5hi nneutral and weakly acidic media (pH=6) at moderate temperatures between 20 and 40 °C. Studies on the catalytic properties (stereoselectivity and enantioselectivity) of the immobilized lipase using the esters of methyl phenyl glycinic and (R,S)-methyl mandelic acid showed excellent properties of the enzyme compared to commercial lipases tested. M. griseocyanus lipase exhibited a greater stereoselectivity towards the R-isomer of methyl phenyl glycinic acid ester. However, with the esters of methyl mandelic acid, the enzyme showed a certain preference toward the S-isomer and it was hydrolysed 20 times faster than the R-isomer.
Default priors for Gaussian processes

Motivated by the statistical evaluation of complex computer models, we deal with the issue of objective prior specification for the parameters of Gaussian processes. In particular, we derive the Jeffreys-rule, independence Jeffreys and reference priors for this situation, and prove that the resulting posterior distributions are proper under a quite general set of conditions. A proper flat prior strategy, based on maximum likelihood estimates, is also considered, and all priors are then compared on the grounds of the frequentist properties of the ensuing Bayesian procedures. Computational issues are also addressed in the paper, and we illustrate the proposed solutions by means of an example taken from the field of complex computer model validation.
Leucocyte counts in the diagnosis and prognosis of acute appendicitis in children

Preoperative total and differential leucocyte counts were made in 225 children with acute appendicitis, 50 children with a normal appendix and 100 children with acute abdominal pain which resolved without any therapy. When adjusted to age, neutrophilia in 96 per cent, 30 per cent and 32 per cent and leucocytosis in 41·8 per cent, 4 per cent and 3 per cent was noted in the respective groups, the levels being significantly higher in the acute appendicitis group than in the other two groups. Among children with appendicitis, infections were observed in 62·8 per cent of the group with leucocytosis and in 13·7 per cent of the group with a normal leucocyte count; the difference is statistically significant. It is suggested that in acute appendicitis neutrophilia supports the diagnosis and leucocytosis indicates the prognosis. The rate of infection increases as the total leucocyte count rises above the upper normal limit. The difference of opinions on the significance of leucocyte counts in acute appendicitis is discussed.
Oesophageal transport of solid dosage forms depends on body position, swallowing volume and pharyngeal propulsion velocity

Knowledge about transit of solid dosage forms (SDF) in the gastrointestinal tract is incomplete. Detection of magnetically marked capsules (MMC) via superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) allows monitoring of oesophageal transport of SDF with high tempospatial resolution. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of body position, volume at swallowing, and oesophageal motility on orogastric transport of SDF. In 360 measurements we determined tempospatial characteristics of orogastric transit of SDFs by a SQUID device in six volunteers. They swallowed MMCs with various amounts of water in upright and supine position with and without simultaneous oesophageal manometry. Orogastric transit time, oesophageal transport velocity and rate of oesophageal retention of SDF depend on swallowing volume and body position at all experimental conditions. At 50 mL water bolus and in upright position, the retention rate depends on the pharyngeal propulsion velocity, and the transport velocity of MMCs in the oesophageal body are faster than the propulsive oesophageal contractions. Body position, swallowing volume and pharyngeal propulsion velocity markedly influence the oesophageal transport of SDF. They should be taken in upright body position with at least 50 mL of water to minimize entrapment in the oesophagus.