Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Antimicrobials of Plant Origin

Infectious diseases account for approximately one-half of all deaths in tropical countries. In industrialized nations, despite the progress made in the understanding of microbiology and their control, incidents of epidemics due to drug resistant microorganisms and the emergence of hitherto unknown disease-causing microbes, pose enormous public health concerns. Historically, plants have provided a good source of antiinfective agents; emetine, quinine, and berberine remain highly effective instruments in the fight against microbial infections. Phytomedicines derived from plants have shown great promise in the treatment of intractable infectious diseases including opportunistic AIDS infections. Plants containing protoberberines and related alkaloids, picralima-type indole alkaloids and garcinia biflavonones used in traditional African system of medicine, have been found to be active against a wide variety of micro-organisms. The profile of known drugs like Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal), Garcinia kola (bitter kola), Polygonum sp. , Aframomum melegueta (grains of paradise) will be used to illustrate the enormous potential of antiinfective agents from higher plants. Newer drugs such as Xylopia aethiopica, Araliopsis tabouensis, Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, Chasmanthera dependens and Nauclea species will be reviewed.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Review of Recent Literature

Background: In the United States, hyperemesis gravidarum is the most common cause of hospitalization during the first half of pregnancy and is second only to preterm labor for hospitalizations in pregnancy overall. In approximately 0.3-3% of pregnancies, hyperemesis gravidarum is prevalent and this percentage varies on account of different diagnostic criteria and ethnic variation in study populations. Despite extensive research in this field, the mechanism of the disease is largely unknown. Although cases of mortality are rare, hyperemesis gravidarum has been associated with both maternal and fetal morbidity. The current mainstay of treatment relies heavily on supportive measures until improvement of symptoms as part of the natural course of hyperemesis gravidarum, which occurs with progression of gestational age. However, studies have reported that severe, refractory disease manifestations have led to serious adverse outcomes and to termination of pregnancies. Summary: Despite extensive research in the field, the pathogenesis of hyperemesis gravidarum remains unknown. Recent literature points to a genetic predisposition in addition to previously studied factors such as infectious, psychiatric, and hormonal contributions. Maternal morbidity is common and includes psychological effects, financial burden, clinical complications from nutritional deficiencies, gastrointestinal trauma, and in rare cases, neurological damage. The effect of hyperemesis gravidarum on neonatal health is still debated in literature with conflicting results regarding outcomes of birth weight and prematurity. Available therapy options remain largely unchanged in the past several decades and focus on parenteral antiemetic medications, electrolyte repletion, and nutritional support. Most studies of therapeutic options do not consist of randomized control studies and cross-study analysis is difficult due to considerable variation of diagnostic criteria. Key Messages: Hyperemesis gravidarum carries a significant burden on maternal health and US health care. Most published research on pathogenesis is observational and suggests multifactorial associations with hyperemesis gravidarum. Precise, strictly defined criteria for clinical diagnosis are likely to benefit meta-analyses of further research studies regarding pathogenesis as well as therapeutic options.
Selected anthropometric variables and aerobic fitness as predictors of cardiovascular disease risk in children

The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio and aerobic fitness as predictors of cardiovascular risk factor clustering in children. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 290 school boys and girls from 6 to 10 years old, randomly selected. Blood was collected after a 12-hour fasting period. Blood pressure, waist circumference (WC), height and weight were evaluated according to international standards. Aerobic fitness (AF) was assessed by the 20-metre shuttle-run test. Clustering was considered when three of these factors were present: high systolic or diastolic blood pressure, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high triglycerides, high plasma glucose, high insulin concentrations and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. A ROC curve identified the cut-off points of body mass index (BMI), WC, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and AF as predictors of risk factor clustering. BMI, WC and WHR resulted in significant areas under the ROC curves, which was not observed for AF. The anthropometric variables were good predictors of cardiovascular risk factor clustering in both sexes, whereas aerobic fitness should not be used to identify cardiovascular risk factor clustering in these children.
Synthesis and simulation of digital systems containing interacting hardware and software components

The authors consider software and interface synchronization schemes that facilitate communication between system components. They present tools to perform synthesis and simulation of a system description into hardware and software components. A program, Poseidon, is described that performs concurrent event-driven simulation of multiple functional modules implemented either as a program or as behavioral or structural hardware models. Input to Poseidon consists of description of interacting functional models with their respective clock cycle times and the interface synchronization scheme chosen by the partitioner. The resulting software component is assumed to be implemented for the DLX machine, a load/store microprocessor. Simulation examples and design of a graphics controller demonstrated the feasibility of mixed system synthesis. <<ETX>>
Function level programs as mathematical objects

Most programs written today are “object-level” programs. That is, programs describe how to combine various “objects” (i.e., numbers, symbols, arrays, etc.) to form other objects until the final “result objects” have been formed. New objects are constructed from existing ones by the application of various object-to-object functions such as + or matrix inversion. Conventional, von Neumann programs are object level; “expressions” on the right side of assignment statements are exclusively concerned with building an object that is then to be stored. Lambda calculus based languages, such as LISP and ISWIM [Landin 66], are also, in practice, object level languages, although they have the means to be more.
Leakage Current: Moore's Law Meets Static Power

Off-state leakage is static power, current that leaks through transistors even when they are turned off. The other source of power dissipation in today's microprocessors, dynamic power, arises from the repeated capacitance charge and discharge on the output of the hundreds of millions of gates in today's chips. Until recently, only dynamic power has been a significant source of power consumption, and Moore's law helped control it. However, power consumption has now become a primary microprocessor design constraint; one that researchers in both industry and academia will struggle to overcome in the next few years. Microprocessor design has traditionally focused on dynamic power consumption as a limiting factor in system integration. As feature sizes shrink below 0.1 micron, static power is posing new low-power design challenges.
Mental Health of Canadian Forces Members While on Deployment to Afghanistan

Objective: The deployed environment poses special challenges to the delivery of effective in-theatre mental health care. Our study sought to identify the prevalence and impact of symptoms of mental health problems in Canadian Forces (CF) personnel serving in Task Force Afghanistan; and, to determine the use of, and perceived need for, mental health services in CF personnel while deployed. Methods: Our study consisted of a cross-sectional survey of all 2779 CF personnel deployed to the province of Kandahar, Afghanistan, from February 15, 2010, to March 15,2010. Results: An important minority (8.5%) of the 1572 respondents (response rate = 57%) exceeded civilian criteria for symptoms of acute traumatic stress, major depression, or generalized anxiety. Prevalence of these 3 mental health problems increased with higher combat exposure and location in more isolated posts. A much larger fraction (31 %) reported suffering a stress, emotional, alcohol, or family problem during the deployment. Only a minority of respondents with a mental health problem (26%) were currently interested in getting help. Almost one-half of respondents with a mental health problem perceived occupational dysfunction as a result, though two-thirds of respondents with occupational dysfunction were in the group without the 3 mental health problems assessed. Conclusions: The needs base for psychosocial support extends beyond personnel who meet conventional questionnaire criteria for traumatic stress, depression, or generalized anxiety. Future research is needed to understand what precise problems are driving this larger needs base and what precise supports (clinical or nonclinical) would be most appropriate.
Determining the Optimal Approach to Breast Reconstruction after Partial Mastectomy

Background: Unfortunately, patients who desire repair of contour deformities after partial mastectomy usually present after radiation therapy, which may increase the risk of complications and result in a poor aesthetic outcome. The authors reviewed their experience with repair of partial mastectomy defects to determine the optimal approach to breast reconstruction after partial mastectomy. Methods: Sixty-nine patients who underwent repair of a partial mastectomy defect and received radiation therapy were included in this analysis. The reconstructive techniques were categorized as local tissue rearrangement (LTR), breast reduction, or use of a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap or thoracoepigastric skin flap (hereafter referred to as “flap”). Results: Fifty patients underwent immediate reconstruction before radiation therapy, and 19 underwent delayed reconstruction after radiation therapy. The reconstructive techniques in patients with immediate reconstruction were local tissue rearrangement in 28 percent, breast reduction in 66 percent, and flaps in 6 percent. In patients with delayed reconstruction, 32 percent had local tissue rearrangement, 42 percent had breast reduction, and 26 percent had flaps. The complication rates for immediate and delayed reconstruction were 26 percent and 42 percent, respectively. Overall, and in the setting of immediate reconstruction, the flap technique was associated with a higher complication rate than local tissue rearrangement and breast reduction. However, in the setting of delayed reconstruction, the flap technique was associated with a lower complication rate than the other two techniques. Fifty-seven percent of the immediate reconstructions performed with the local tissue rearrangement or breast reduction technique, but only 33 percent of the immediate reconstructions performed with the flap technique, were associated with an excellent or good aesthetic outcome. Conclusion: Immediate repair of partial mastectomy defects with local tissues results in a lower risk of complications and better aesthetic outcomes than immediate repair of partial mastectomy defects with a latissimus dorsi flap.
Ultralow Phase Noise Microwave Generation From Mode-Locked Er-Fiber Lasers With Subfemtosecond Integrated Timing Jitter

We demonstrate ultralow phase noise 10-GHz microwave signal generation from a free-running mode-locked Er-fiber laser with -142- and -157-dBc/Hz single-sideband absolute phase noise at 10- and 100-kHz offset frequencies, respectively. The absolute RMS timing jitter is 1.5 fs when integrated from 1-kHz to 5-GHz (Nyquist frequency) offset frequency. In the 10-kHz to 10-MHz integration bandwidth typically used for microwave generators, the RMS integrated jitter is 0.49 fs. The Er-fiber laser is operated in the stretched-pulse regime at close-to-zero dispersion to minimize the phase noise of extracted microwaves. In order to suppress the excess phase noise in the optical-to-electronic conversion process, we synchronize a low-noise voltage-controlled oscillator to the fiber laser using a fiber Sagnac-loop-based optical-microwave phase detector.
Destination Memory in Mild Alzheimer’s Disease

In order to assess their destination memory, sixteen patients with probable mild Alzheimer Disease (AD), sixteen older adults and 16 young adults were asked to tell facts to pictures. On a subsequent task, they were asked to remember whether they had previously told that fact to that face or not. AD patients showed poorer destination recall than the older adults, and the older adults showed poorer destination recall than the young adults. Our results suggest that destination memory is highly impaired in AD.
Association of endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism with acute coronary syndrome in Koreans

Objective: To examine the effects of two polymorphisms of the endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS) gene, 4a/4b(A:B) located in intron 4 and Glu298Asp(G:T) located in exon 7, on the development of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Methods: 164 patients with ACS and 142 control participants were investigated for genotype and conventional risk factors. Genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Results: Genotype and allele frequencies of the A:B polymorphism in the ACS group (0.15:0.85 for AA+AB:BB, 0.09:0.91 for A:B) differed from those in the control group (0.26:0.74 for AA+AB:BB, 0.15:0.85 for A:B). However, genotype and allele frequencies of the G:T polymorphism in the ACS group (0.22:0.78 for TT+TG:GG, 0.11:0.89 for T:G) were similar to those in the control group (0.17:0.83 for TT+TG:GG, 0.09:0.91 for T:G). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the non-BB (AA+AB) and the non-BB+GG genotypes were significant protective factors against ACS (odds ratios 0.49 and 0.34, 95% confidence intervals 0.26 to 0.93 and 0.14 to 0.83, respectively). In addition, linear association analysis showed that the percentage of ACS patients was significantly lower in the genotype group non-BB+GG than in the genotype group BB+non-GG (39.6% v 62.7%, p = 0.01). Conclusions: The non-BB genotype of the ecNOS 4a/4b gene polymorphism is a protective factor against the development of ACS. The GG genotype of the ecNOS Glu298Asp polymorphism exerts a benefit in addition to the non-BB genotype in the Korean population.
Multiple Doppler shifts compensation and ICI elimination by beamforming in high-mobility OFDM systems

Although OFDM is an effective way to mitigate the multipath spread of the wireless channels by a simple equalization, it is very sensitive to Doppler effect. Doppler spreading due to the mobility of communication terminals destroys the orthogonality among the subcarriers, and results in intercarrier interference, which degrades the system performance. In this paper, we employ array beamforming and interference suppression to compensate multiple Doppler shifts in high-speed OFDM systems. The proposed method uses uniform circular array to separate different paths with unique Doppler shift, and then correct Doppler offsets in different paths respectively. This scheme not only eases channel estimation and equalization but also utilizes the multipath characteristics of wireless channel and provides Doppler diversity gains. Simulation results show that when sufficient elements were used, the proposed scheme can effectively combat the BER error floor in high-mobility scenario and have great performance enhancement over traditional methods.
Decreased Coagulability Has No Clinically Relevant Effect on Atherogenesis: Observations in Individuals With a Hereditary Bleeding Tendency

Background—Hemostasis affects ischemic cardiovascular disease through its role in formation of occluding arterial thrombi. Several studies suggest that hemostasis also might play a role in atherogenesis. We investigated whether individuals with an inherited bleeding tendency are protected against development of atherosclerosis. Methods and Results—A total of 76 individuals with an inherited bleeding tendency (hemophilia and von Willebrand disease) and 142 healthy controls were included in the present study. Early atherosclerotic vessel-wall changes were quantified by measurement of intima-media thickness in the carotid and femoral arteries by B-mode ultrasonography. To validate intima-media thickness measurements, measurements also were performed in 77 individuals with clinically proven atherosclerosis and in 34 healthy, age-matched controls. A large difference in intima-media thickness was found between individuals with proven atherosclerosis and healthy controls, in particular for the femoral artery (difference for carotid artery, 0.16 mm; femoral artery, 0.53 mm). Comparison between patients with a bleeding tendency and healthy controls showed only minimally reduced intima-media in femoral artery in individuals with a bleeding tendency (adjusted difference, −0.078 mm; 95% CI, −0.17 to 0.018 mm). Subgroup analysis revealed that in subjects with moderate to severe hemophilia, vessel walls were thinnest (adjusted difference, −0.10 mm; 95% CI, −0.27 to 0.061 mm). Conclusions—Hypocoagulability caused by hemophilia or von Willebrand disease has at most a limited effect on atherogenesis.
Transgenic glial nuclear factor-kappa B inhibition decreases formalin pain in mice

In this work, we studied transgenic glial fibrillary acidic protein-IκB&agr;-dn mice that selectively inactivate the classical nuclear factor κB pathway by overexpressing the inhibitory protein of κB&agr; in astrocytes, under the control of glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter. We sought to determine if glial nuclear factor κB inhibition decreases formalin pain. Formalin testing was carried out on 25–35 g littermate adult male wild-type and transgenic C57Bl/6 mice. Formalin increased spinal cord c-Fos expression and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunostaining in both wild-type and transgenic mice. Transgenic glial fibrillary acidic protein-inhibitory protein of κB&agr;-dn mice had lower duration of formalin-induced paw-licking behavior. These data support a role of glial nuclear factor κB inhibition in reducing pain after peripheral nerve inflammation.
Pyrazinoic Acid and Its n-Propyl Ester Inhibit Fatty Acid Synthase Type I in Replicating Tubercle Bacilli

ABSTRACT The activity of different analogs of pyrazinamide on Mycobacterium tuberculosis fatty acid synthase type I (FASI) in replicating bacilli was studied. Palmitic acid biosynthesis was diminished by 96% in bacilli treated with n-propyl pyrazinoate, 94% in bacilli treated with 5-chloro-pyrazinamide, and 97% in bacilli treated with pyrazinoic acid, the pharmacologically active agent of pyrazinamide. We conclude that the minimal structure of pyrazine ring with an acyl group is sufficient for FASI inhibition and antimycobacterial activity.
Physiotherapist observation of head and neck alignment

Objective: To determine the reliability of physiotherapists' visual observation of head and neck alignment. Design: An interrater reliability study with an evaluation of concurrent validity using a gold standard. Setting: Physiotherapy Research Laboratory, Princess Alexandra Hospital. Participants: Three physiotherapist raters, one male model exhibiting 53 test positions. Main outcome measures: Assessment of head and neck alignment required rating the direction of deviation (in each of the three planes of movement), and the magnitude of deviation. Results: All three assessors were correct across all domains of direction and magnitude of deviation for only 10 of the 53 test positions. There was a mean of 2 total errors (out of a possible 12) per position. The more planes of deviation involved in a position, the more total errors there were. Most errors were made in the axial rotation (transverse) plane. Where a lateral flexion (coronal) plane of deviation was involved, there were more total errors; however, this plane itself had the fewest number of errors. Positions with a combination of both lateral flexion and axial rotation deviations were often mistaken for a flexion/extension (sagittal plane) deviation. Fewer errors were recorded for positions of 10-degree deviation compared to 5-degree deviations. Conclusions: Visual assessment of head and neck alignment by physiotherapists is of questionable validity for identifying deviations in the order of 5 degrees from neutral. For deviations of 10 degrees in a single plane visual, observation is comparable to other clinically available tools.
Mid-Pliocene global climate simulation with MRI-CGCM2.3: set-up and initial results of PlioMIP Experiments 1 and 2

Abstract. The mid-Pliocene (3.3 to 3.0 million yr ago), a globally warm period before the Quaternary, is recently attracting attention as a new target for paleoclimate modelling and data-model synthesis. This paper reports set-ups and results of experiments proposed in Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project (PlioMIP) using a global climate model, MRI-CGCM2.3. We conducted pre-industrial and mid-Pliocene runs by using the coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model (AOGCM) and its atmospheric component (AGCM) for the PlioMIP Experiments 2 and 1, respectively. In addition, we conducted two types of integrations in AOGCM simulation, with and without flux adjustments on sea surface. General characteristics of differences in the simulated mid-Pliocene climate relative to the pre-industrial in the three integrations are compared. In addition, patterns of predicted mid-Pliocene biomes resulting from the three climate simulations are compared in this study. Generally, difference of simulated surface climate between AGCM and AOGCM is larger than that between the two AOGCM runs, with and without flux adjustments. The simulated climate shows different pattern between AGCM and AOGCM particularly over low latitude oceans, subtropical land regions and high latitude oceans. The AOGCM simulations do not reproduce wetter environment in the subtropics relative to the present-day, which is suggested by terrestrial proxy data. The differences between the two types of AOGCM runs are small over the land, but evident over the ocean particularly in the North Atlantic and polar regions.