Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On differential passivity of physical systems

Differential passivity is a property that allows to check with a pointwise criterion that a system is incrementally passive, a property that is relevant to study interconnected systems in the context of regulation, synchronization, and estimation. The paper investigates how restrictive is the property, focusing on a class of open gradient systems encountered in the coenergy modeling framework of physical systems, in particular the Brayton-Moser formalism for nonlinear electrical circuits.
Treatment of the Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip with an Abduction Brace in Children up to 6 Months Old

Introduction. Use of Pavlik harness for the treatment of DDH can be complicated for parents. Any misuse or failure in the adjustments may lead to significant complications. An abduction brace was introduced in our institution, as it was thought to be easier to use. Aim. We assess the results for the treatment of DDH using our abduction brace in children of 0–6 months old and compare these results with data on treatments using the Pavlik harness. Method. Retrospective analysis of patients with DDH from 0 to 6 months old at diagnosis, performed from 2004 to 2009. Outcomes were rates of reduction of the hip and avascular necrosis of the femoral head (AVN). Follow-up was at one year and up to 4 years old. Results. Hip reduction was successful in 28 of 33 patients (85%), with no AVN. Conclusion. Our results in terms of hip reduction rate and AVN rate are similar to those found in literature assessing Pavlik harness use, with a simpler and comfortable treatment procedure.
HIGH - STRENGTH CONCRETE SUBJECTED TO TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION

The behavior of high-strength concrete subjected to multiaxial states of stress was studied. An experimental program was undertaken to quantitatively determine the failure surface for high-strength concrete. Results from this study provide the means to predict the failure condition for high-strength concrete under combined stresses. The experimental program was comprised of testing high-strength concretes at three different compressive strength levels. The three strength levels included concretes with compressive strengths of 6 ksi (42 MPa), 10 ksi (69 MPa), and 15 ksi (103 MPa). The triaxial tests were performed on 4-by-8 in (100-by-200 mm) cylindrical specimens. The confining pressures employed in the experiments ranged from 1,200 psi (8.3 MPa) to 12,000 psi (82 MPa). A series of uniaxial tension and compression tests were also performed to develop the necessary data for establishment of the failure criterion. Empirical relationships were developed for prediction of axial strength as a function of confining pressure. In general, the axial strength of high-strength concrete increases with increased confining pressure. However, in comparison with the normal-strength concrete, the effect of confining pressure on the failure strength of high-strength concrete is less pronounced.
Improvement in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy after Significant Weight Loss: Case Report

A 17-year-old obese boy found to have familial apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy on routine screening was enrolled in a weight loss program on the basis of the hypothesis that significant weight loss would improve his cardiac status. He was followed with serial dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and blood pressure and pulse rate measurements. Within 1 year, he lost 49 kg, with a body mass index reduction from 43.6 to 28.1 kg/m2 and associated reductions in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, mean heart rate, rate pressure product, and echocardiographic indices of left ventricular mass that resulted in a change from the initial geometric finding of eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy to a “normal” left ventricular mass with minimal asymmetric apical left ventricular thickening. Significant weight loss in an obese adolescent with presumed familial apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was associated with striking improvement in cardiac functional indices, which could have profound implications for long-term cardiovascular risk.
Long-term quality of life and clinical outcomes in patients with resistant hypertension treated with renal denervation

Introduction Pharmacological treatment combined with lifestyle modifications is an effective treatment for arterial hypertension. However, there are still patients who do not respond to standard treatments. Patients with pharmacologically resistant hypertension may benefit from renal denervation (RDN). Aim To assess long-term quality of life (QoL) after RDN and effectiveness in reduction of blood pressure (BP) in patients with resistant hypertension. Material and methods From 2011 to 2014, 12 patients with previously diagnosed resistant hypertension, treated by RDN, were included in this study. The QoL was assessed using a standardized Polish version of the Nottingham Health Profile questionnaire (NHP). Results The median age was 54 (IQR: 51–57.5) years. Mean baseline ambulatory pre-procedural systolic/diastolic BP was 188/115 ±29.7/18 mm Hg. The mean values of systolic/diastolic BP measured perioperatively and 3, 6, 12 and 24 months postoperatively were 138/86, 138/85, 146/82, 152/86, and 157/91. All p-values for mean systolic and diastolic BP before versus successive time points after RDN were statistically significant; p-value for all comparisons < 0.05. Improvement of QoL was only observed in two sections of the NHP questionnaire: emotional reaction and sleep disturbance. The analysis of the NHP index of Distress (NHP-D) showed a lower distress level perioperatively and 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after RDN as compared to baseline. The RDN was not associated with any significant adverse events. Conclusions Patients with pharmacologically resistant hypertension treated with RDN achieved significant reduction in BP during 24-month follow-up. Furthermore, a significant improvement in the QoL was observed in those patients.
Confinement of Masonry Columns with Steel and Basalt FRCM Composites

The rehabilitation of existing masonry elements by means of jacketing of columns using composite materials is becoming a remarkable technique in several applications that aim to increase the strength of existing masonry buildings. Fiber reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composites are a newly developed strengthening system that consist of high-strength fibers embedded in a cementitious grout and externally bonded to the substrate. High resistance to fire and high temperatures, ease of handling during application, and vapor permeability with the substrate are some of the characteristics that make FRCMs a promising alternative to traditional organic composites such as fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. This work presents the results of an experimental study carried out to understand the behavior of masonry columns with a square cross-section confined by steel and basalt fiber sheets embedded in a mortar matrix subjected to monotonic concentric compressive load. The effectiveness of the confinement is studied in terms of load-bearing capacity with respect to unconfined columns. The effect of corner radius for columns confined with basalt fibers is investigated.
Integrating Immune Checkpoint Blockade with Anti-Neo/Mutated Antigens Reactivity to Increase the Clinical Outcome of Immunotherapy

Antibodies to immune checkpoints have entered the clinical arena and have been shown to provide a clinical benefit for metastatic melanoma and, possibly, for other tumors as well. In this review paper we summarize this therapeutic activity and underline the functional mechanisms that may be involved. Among them, we discuss the so far neglected role of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) deriving from tumor somatic mutations and summarize the results of recent trials showing the immunogenic strength of such TAAs which can be specifically targeted by T cells activated by immune checkpoint antibodies. Finally we discuss new immunotherapy approaches that involve the combination of self/shared- or neo-TAAs-based vaccines and immune checkpoint blockade antibodies, to increase the clinical response of metastatic melanoma patients.
Growth hormone receptor deficiency in Ecuador.

Department of Pediatrics (A.R.), University of Florida College of Medicine, Children’s Medical Services Center, Gainesville Florida 32608; Instituto Endocrinologia, Metabolismo y Reproduccion (J.G-A.), Quito, Ecuador; Department of Pediatrics (R.G.R.), Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland Oregon 97201-3098; and Department of Genetics and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (U.F.), Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California 94305-5323
Malaysia English Reflects Unity

The main aims of this qualitative study are to identify and categorise the types of lexical borrowings from the three main Malaysian languages which are the Malay language, Chinese dialects and Indian languages used by 203 ESL teachers, to what extent these lexical borrowings are used and for what reasons. This study has identified a new category known as prefixation and collected 483 lexical items over a period of one year that is, from December 2011 to November 2012. The findings of this study show that the ESL teachers mainly use the lexical items from the Malay language more frequently as it is the official language and has a prestigious placing. Since unity in diversity is encouraged, 1Malaysia English will further unite the Malaysians and thus accept the 1Malaysia concept with a more open and positive mind.
Distribution of cholecystokinin, calcitonin gene‐related peptide, neuropeptide Y, and galanin in the primary gustatory nuclei of the goldfish

Cholecystokinin (CCK), neuropeptide Y (NPY), calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP), and galanin all are known to have central effects on food intake. Immunocytochemistry was used to examine the presence of these substances within the primary gustatory nuclei of the goldfish, including the vagal lobe, which is a large, laminated structure composed of discrete sensory, fiber, and motor layers. The vagal lobes receive primary afferent input from the gustatory portion of the vagus nerve and contain reflex circuitry involved in the ingestion or rejection of potential food items. Immunohistochemistry indicates a heavy concentration of CCK‐, CGRP‐, NPY‐, and galanin‐immunoreactive fibers in the capsular fiber layer as well as in deeper sensory layers of the vagal lobe. CGRP immunoreactivity throughout the sensory layers and capsular immunoreactivity for CCK are greatly reduced 1–2 weeks following vagus nerve transection, indicating that the majority of these fibers are primary sensory afferents. In contrast, NPY and galanin immunoreactivity in the capsular fiber layer and reactivity for CCK, NPY, and galanin in the deeper sensory and fiber layers are relatively unaffected by vagus transection. CCK‐, NPY‐, and galanin‐immunoreactive fibers and puncta also were present in the motor layers, as were CGRP‐immunoreactive motor somata. CCK‐immunoreactive cell bodies are present in layer III and layer VII/VIII of the vagal lobe and in the superficial granular layer of the lateral subnucleus of the commissural nucleus of Cajal, which is caudally contiguous with the vagal lobe. J. Comp. Neurol. 450:103–114, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus Elicit Differential Innate Immune Responses following Intramammary Infection

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are among the most prevalent species of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, respectively, that induce clinical mastitis. The innate immune system comprises the immediate host defense mechanisms to protect against infection and contributes to the initial detection of and proinflammatory response to infectious pathogens. The objective of the present study was to characterize the different innate immune responses to experimental intramammary infection with E. coli and S. aureus during clinical mastitis. The cytokine response and changes in the levels of soluble CD14 (sCD14) and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), two proteins that contribute to host recognition of bacterial cell wall products, were studied. Intramammary infection with either E. coli or S. aureus elicited systemic changes, including decreased milk output, a febrile response, and induction of the acute-phase synthesis of LBP. Infection with either bacterium resulted in increased levels of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), gamma interferon, IL-12, sCD14, and LBP in milk. High levels of the complement cleavage product C5a and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were detected at several time points following E. coli infection, whereas S. aureus infection elicited a slight but detectable increase in these mediators at a single time point. Increases in IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor alpha were observed only in quarters infected with E. coli. Together, these data demonstrate the variability of the host innate immune response to E. coli and S. aureus and suggest that the limited cytokine response to S. aureus may contribute to the well-known ability of the bacterium to establish chronic intramammary infection.
Weyl-Heisenberg Frames and Riesz Bases in L2(Rd).

Abstract : We study Weyl-Heisenberg (= Gabor) expansions for either L2(Rd) or a subspace of it. These are expansions in terms of the spanning set, involving K and L are some discrete lattices in Rd, P, in L2(Rd), is finite, E is the translation operator, and M is a modulation operator. Such sets X are known as WH systems. The analysis of the 'basis' properties of WH systems (e.g. being a frame or a Riesz basis) is our central topic, with the fiberization-decomposition techniques of shift-invariant systems, developed in a previous paper of us, being the main tool. Of particular interest is the notion of the adjoint of a WH set, and the duality principle which characterizes a WH (tight) frame in term of the stability (orthonormality) of its adjoint. The actions of passing to the adjoint and passing to the dual system commute, hence the dual WH frame can be computed via the dual basis of the adjoint. Estimates for the underlying frame/basis bounds are obtained by two different methods. The Gramian analysis applies to all WH systems, albeit provides estimates that might be quite crude. This approach is invoked to show how, under only mild conditions on X, a frame can be obtained by oversampling a Bessel sequence. Finally, finer estimates of the frame bounds, based on the Zak transform, are obtained for a large collection of WH systems.
Are pregnant women prioritized for bed nets? An assessment using survey data from 10 African countries

Women of reproductive age are generally more likely to sleep under an insecticide-treated net (ITN) than other household members. Universal coverage increases ITN use by all family members, including pregnant women. However, BCC efforts are needed to achieve desired levels of bed net use, which is especially important for pregnant women. Women of reproductive age are generally more likely to sleep under an insecticide-treated net (ITN) than other household members. Universal coverage increases ITN use by all family members, including pregnant women. However, BCC efforts are needed to achieve desired levels of bed net use, which is especially important for pregnant women. Background: Malaria in pregnancy is a major public health concern, contributing to roughly 11% of neonatal deaths and to 25% of all maternal deaths in some parts of the world. The World Health Organization has recommended priority interventions for malaria during pregnancy, including use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), but net distribution has shifted recently to a universal coverage paradigm rather than one targeting vulnerable populations. Methods: To determine whether and to what extent pregnant women are prioritized within the household for ITN use, we assessed national survey data from 2009–2013 in 10 African countries. Proportion of pregnant women who slept under an ITN the previous night and 95% confidence intervals were calculated and compared between countries. Within-country logistic regression examined whether pregnancy was significantly associated with ITN use the previous night compared with other risk groups, and the predicted probability of net use for each risk group was calculated holding other covariates constant. Results: A median 58% of households reported owning at least 1 ITN. On average, across all 10 countries, 35% of pregnant women in households with at least 1 ITN used a net. Households with universal coverage (at least 1 ITN per 2 people) had higher levels of net use among all family members; for example, 79% of pregnant women, on average, used a net in such households. In all countries, the predicted probability of ITN use by pregnant women was significantly higher than the probability of net use by most other household members except non-pregnant women of reproductive age. Conclusion: These findings suggest that both pregnant women and non-pregnant women of reproductive age are being prioritized within the household for net use. However, behavior change communication strategies are needed to achieve ITN use goals for pregnant women.
Off-pump or on-pump coronary-artery bypass grafting.

To the Editor: In the CABG Off or On Pump Revascularization Study (CORONARY) described by Lamy et al. (March 28 issue),1 the investigators used the approach of an expertise-based, randomized, controlled trial.2 The qualified surgeons were those with more than 2 years of experience after residency training who had completed more than 100 cases of the specific technique. Lamy and colleagues also emphasized that “trainees were not allowed to be the primary surgeon. ” But the authors do not specify who harvested saphenous-vein grafts. In many centers, trainees are the primary surgeons for this procedure. Graft harvesting is an important part of the coronaryartery bypass grafting (CABG) operation. One study showed that rates of vein-graft failure were higher among patients with poor-quality grafts, and vein-graft failure was associated with repeat revascularization.3 Xiaoning Sun, M.D. Chunsheng Wang, M.D. Zhongshan Hospital Shanghai, China wang.chunsheng@zs-hospital.sh. cn No potential conflict of interest relevant to this letter was reported.
Effect of Corporate Governance Structure on the Financial Performance of Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)-Listed Mining Firms

There have been many corporate collapses and financial crises in recent years linked to a lack of effective corporate governance. The South African King IV Code of Corporate Governance recommends that corporate governing bodies should be comprised of an appropriate balance of knowledge, diversity, and independence for discharging their duties objectively and more efficiently. This study examines the effect of corporate governance structures on firm financial performance. The secondary data of selected Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index-listed mining firms’ sustainability reports, and integrated annual financial statements are used. Using panel data analysis of the random effects model, we determined the relationship between board independence and board size and the return on equity (ROE) for the period 2010–2015. Results indicate a weak negative correlation between ROE and board size, and a weak, but positive, correlation between ROE and board independence. Additionally, there is a positive, but weak, correlation between ROE and sales growth, but a negative and weak relationship between ROE and firm size. The study suggests that effective corporate governance through a small effective board and monitoring by an independent board result in increased firm financial performance. We recommend that South African companies see compliance with the recommendations of the King IV Code on Corporate Governance not as a liability, but an ethical investment that may likely yield financial benefit in the long-term. Although complying with corporate governance principles does not necessarily translate into a significant economic benefit, firms should, however, continue to adopt corporate governance for ethical reasons to meet stakeholder’s social and environmental needs for sustainable development.
Adaptation of the Beck Hopelessness Scale as a suicide risk screening tool among Nigerian patients with schizophrenia

Abstract Objectives: We examined the adaptation of the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) as a subjective suicide risk assessment tool in detecting Nigerian patients with schizophrenia who are at a high risk of suicide. Methods: Schizophrenia patients (211) completed the BHS in addition to a sociodemographic questionnaire. They were objectively interviewed with the suicidality module of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) as the ‘gold standard’, against which the criterion validity of the BHS was examined. Results: The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve of the 20-item BHS scale at a total cut-off score of 9 (sensitivity 0.889, specificity 0.916) against the patients’ MINI Suicidality Module risk categorisation had an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.96 (95% CI: 0.928–0.987), while, the four-item BHS scale demonstrated a ROC curve with an AUC of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.868–0.966) at a cut-off score of 1 (sensitivity 1.000, specificity 0.832). Conclusions: The BHS has proven to be valid in terms of its sensitivity and specificity in the identification of the high suicidal risk Nigerian schizophrenia outpatients.
Curcumin improves sclerosing cholangitis in Mdr2−/− mice by inhibition of cholangiocyte inflammatory response and portal myofibroblast proliferation

Background and aim Chronic cholangiopathies have limited therapeutic options and represent an important indication for liver transplantation. Curcumin, the yellow pigment of the spice turmeric, has pleiotropic actions and attenuates hepatic damage in animal models of chemically-induced liver injury. Whether curcumin has beneficial effects in cholangiopathies is unknown. Methods Potential anticholestatic, anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic mechanisms of curcumin were explored in vivo in Mdr2−/− mice as a murine model of chronic cholangiopathy; as well as in vitro in a cholangiocyte cell line (HuCCT1) and portal myofibroblasts (MFBs) isolated from Mdr2−/− mice. Results Liver damage, cholestasis and fibrosis were reduced in Mdr2−/− mice after curcumin feeding. Moreover, curcumin inhibited cholangiocyte proliferation and expression of activation marker vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in Mdr2−/− mice. Curcumin—similar to PPARγ synthetic agonist troglitazone—directly inhibited TNF-α-induced inflammatory activation of cholangiocytes in vitro, whereas these beneficial effects of curcumin were largely blocked by a PPARγ synthetic antagonist. In addition, curcumin blocked proliferation and activation of portal MFBs by inhibiting ERK1/2 phosphorylation, thus contributing to reduced fibrogenesis. Conclusions These results show that curcumin may have multiple targets in liver including activation of PPARγ in cholangiocytes and inhibition of ERK1/2 signalling in MFBs, thereby modulating several central cellular events in a mouse model of cholangiopathy. Targeting these pathways may be a promising therapeutic approach to cholangiopathies.