Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Systematic review of SGLT2 receptor inhibitors in dual or triple therapy in type 2 diabetes

Background Despite the number of medications for type 2 diabetes, many people with the condition do not achieve good glycaemic control. Some existing glucose-lowering agents have adverse effects such as weight gain or hypoglycaemia. Type 2 diabetes tends to be a progressive disease, and most patients require treatment with combinations of glucose-lowering agents. The sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) receptor inhibitors are a new class of glucose-lowering agents. Objective To assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of the SGLT2 receptor inhibitors in dual or triple therapy in type 2 diabetes. Data sources MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library (all sections); Science Citation Index; trial registries; conference abstracts; drug regulatory authorities; bibliographies of retrieved papers. Inclusion criteria Randomised controlled trials of SGLT2 receptor inhibitors compared with placebo or active comparator in type 2 diabetes in dual or combination therapy. Methods Systematic review. Quality assessment used the Cochrane risk of bias score. Results Seven trials, published in full, assessed dapagliflozin and one assessed canagliflozin. Trial quality appeared good. Dapagliflozin 10 mg reduced HbA1c by −0.54% (weighted mean differences (WMD), 95% CI −0.67 to −0.40) compared to placebo, but there was no difference compared to glipizide. Canagliflozin reduced HbA1c slightly more than sitagliptin (up to −0.21% vs sitagliptin). Both dapagliflozin and canagliflozin led to weight loss (dapagliflozin WMD −1.81 kg (95% CI −2.04 to −1.57), canagliflozin up to −2.3 kg compared to placebo). Limitations Long-term trial extensions suggested that effects were maintained over time. Data on canagliflozin are currently available from only one paper. Costs of the drugs are not known so cost-effectiveness cannot be assessed. More data on safety are needed, with the Food and Drug Administration having concerns about breast and bladder cancers. Conclusions Dapagliflozin appears effective in reducing HbA1c and weight in type 2 diabetes, although more safety data are needed.
kin Temperature Monitoring Reduces the Risk for iabetic Foot Ulceration in High-risk Patients

URPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of home temperature monitoring to reduce the incidence of foot lcers in high-risk patients with diabetes. ETHODS: In this physician-blinded, 18-month randomized controlled trial, 225 subjects with diabetes t high risk for ulceration were assigned to standard therapy (Standard Therapy Group) or dermal hermometry (Dermal Thermometry Group) groups. Both groups received therapeutic footwear, diabetic oot education, regular foot care, and performed a structured foot inspection daily. Dermal Thermometry roup subjects used an infrared skin thermometer to measure temperatures on 6 foot sites twice daily. emperature differences 4°F between left and right corresponding sites triggered patients to contact the tudy nurse and reduce activity until temperatures normalized. ESULTS: A total of 8.4% (n 19) subjects ulcerated over the study period. Subjects were one third as ikely to ulcerate in the Dermal Thermometry Group compared with the Standard Therapy Group (12.2% s 4.7%, odds ratio 3.0, 95% confidence interval, 1.0 to 8.5, P .038). Proportional hazards regression nalysis suggested that thermometry intervention was associated with a significantly longer time to lceration (P .04), adjusted for elevated foot ulcer classification (International Working Group Risk actor 3), age, and minority status. Patients that ulcerated had a temperature difference that was 4.8 times reater at the site of ulceration in the week before ulceration than did a random 7 consecutive-day sample f 50 other subjects that did not ulcerate (3.50 1.0 vs 0.74 0.05, P .001). ONCLUSIONS: High temperature gradients between feet may predict the onset of neuropathic lceration and self-monitoring may reduce the risk of ulceration. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights eserved.
Central respiratory modulation of barosensitive neurones in rat caudal ventrolateral medulla

The sympathetic nerves that maintain blood pressure are modulated by the central respiratory generator. Neurones in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) that drive this sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) also display central respiratory drive (CRD)‐related activity, suggesting integration of respiratory and cardiovascular regulatory systems within the brainstem. Whether CRD‐related activity in the RVLM is due to direct inputs from central respiratory neurones or modulation of cardiovascular‐related neurones that influence the RVLM is not known. The caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM) contains GABAergic neurones that tonically inhibit presympathetic RVLM neurones and are essential for the production of numerous cardiovascular reflexes. The present study sought to determine whether cardiovascular‐related GABAergic neurones in the CVLM display CRD‐related activity. The firing patterns of individual barosensitive CVLM neurones were examined in relation to phrenic nerve activity in chloralose‐anaesthetized, ventilated, neuromuscularly blocked, vagotomized rats. Histograms of phrenic‐triggered CVLM neuronal activity showed that all baro‐activated CVLM neurones displayed one of four patterns of CRD‐related activity: (i) inspiratory peak (n= 15), (ii) inspiratory depression (n= 15), (iii) inspiratory peak with postinspiratory depression (n= 10), and (iv) postinspiratory peak (n= 9). A subset of each type of CVLM neurone was identified as GABAergic by individually filling the recorded neurone with biotinamide and observing expression of GAD67 mRNA by in situ hybridization (n= 10). These data suggest that the activity of GABAergic neurones in the CVLM is regulated by cardiovascular and respiratory inputs, and baro‐activated GABAergic CVLM neurones may contribute to CRD‐related modulation of presympathetic RVLM neurones and SNA.
Bouc–Wen-Type Models with Stiffness Degradation: Thermodynamic Analysis and Applications

In this paper, a thermodynamic analysis of Bouc–Wen models endowed with both strength and stiffness degradation is provided. This analysis is based on the relationship between the flow rules of these models and those of the endochronic plasticity theory with damage, discussed in a companion paper. Using the theoretical framework of that extended endochronic theory, it is shown that an elastic Bouc–Wen model with damage, i.e., without plastic strains, can be formulated. Moreover, a proper definition of the dissipated energy of these Bouc–Wen models with degradation is given and some thermodynamic constraints on the parameters defining the models behavior are emphasized and discussed. In particular, some properties of the energetic linear stiffness degradation rule as well as the so-called pivot rule, well known in the seismic engineering field, are illustrated and commented upon. An improved energetic stiffness degradation rule and a new stiffness degradation rule are proposed.
Evaluating the Quality of Technology-Mediated Learning Services

Technology-mediated Learning Services (TMLS) play an increasingly important role in the learning services industry. Despite the fact that the importance of a holistic evaluation of TMLS quality has been highlighted in the literature to derive transferable research results on multiple dimensions, it has not yet been examined. To address this gap, we first synthesize the existing insights on structure, recipients’ predisposition, process and results quality of TMLS and develop a comprehensive approach to measure TMLS quality. Afterwards, we develop our research model and examine the importance of the different constructs of TMLS quality. We rely on findings in the body of literature, a focus group workshop and a card-sorting exercise to develop our TMLS quality model. Thereafter, we collect data from 163 participants of TMLS software-training to empirically evaluate our scale and research model. Our core results are a TMLS quality model, including a newly developed TMLS process dimension.
A Lyapunov Analysis of FISTA with Local Linear Convergence for Sparse Optimization

We conduct a Lyapunov analysis of the Fast Iterative Shrinkage-Thresholding Al- gorithm (FISTA) and show that it achieves local linear convergence for sparse ('1-regularized) opti- mization, even when the objective is not strictly convex. We use an appropriate multi-step potential function to determine conditions on the parameters which imply weak convergence of the iterates to a minimizer in a real Hilbert space (ordinary convergence in R n ). The Lyapunov analysis applies to a modied version of the momentum sequence proposed by Beck and Teboulle ( Siam J. Img. Sci., 2009), for which convergence of the iterates is unknown. For sparse optimization, we prove nite convergence to the optimal support and sign, and de- termine the local linear convergence rate which holds thereafter. This result holds for a broad range of parameter choices including the classical ones due to Beck and Teboulle and recent suggestions due to Chambolle and Dossal. Our results show that even though these choices have excellent global properties, they are not optimal for sparse optimization in terms of the local (i.e. asymptotic) conver- gence rate. We determine the locally optimal parameter choice. Finally we propose a method which inherits the excellent global properties of Beck and Teboulle's choice and the asymptotic optimality of the locally optimal choice.
Seven-level single-leg flying capacitor converter voltage balancing dynamics analysis

Time domain approach based on stitching analytical solutions for consecutive switching subintervals is applied to analysis of seven-level single-leg flying capacitor converter natural voltage balancing dynamics for Phase Shifted PWM. Expressions for voltage balancing dynamics frequencies and time constants reveal dependences on load parameters, carrier frequency, and voltage command. The root cause of poor (zero) natural voltage balancing damping phenomenon in odd-level single converters with Phase Shifted PWM is explained by analyzing specific switching topologies. The remedy may be modulation strategies that use different from classic Phase Shifted PWM switching states and provide faster natural balancing dynamics without compromising optimal voltage quality of nearest level switching, minimal integral switching loss and uniform switching loss sharing between converter switches. In particular, the amount of employed zero voltage switching states must be increased.
A Small Nonerythropoietic Helix B Surface Peptide Based upon Erythropoietin Structure Is Cardioprotective against Ischemic Myocardial Damage

Strong cardioprotective properties of erythropoietin (EPO) reported over the last 10 years have been difficult to translate to clinical applications for ischemic cardioprotection owing to undesirable parallel activation of erythropoiesis and thrombogenesis. A pyroglutamate helix B surface peptide (pHBP), recently engineered to include only a part of the EPO molecule that does not bind to EPO receptor and thus, is not erythropoietic, retains tissue protective properties of EPO. Here we compared the ability of pHBP and EPO to protect cardiac myocytes from oxidative stress in vitro and cardiac tissue from ischemic damage in vivo. HBP, similar to EPO, increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) threshold for induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition by 40%. In an experimental model of myocardial infarction induced by permanent ligation of a coronary artery in rats, a single bolus injection of 60 µg/kg of pHBP immediately after coronary ligation, similar to EPO, reduced apoptosis in the myocardial area at risk, examined 24 h later, by 80% and inflammation by 34%. Myocardial infarction (MI) measured 24 h after coronary ligation was similarly reduced by 50% in both pHBP- and EPO-treated rats. Two wks after surgery, left ventricular remodeling (ventricular dilation) and functional decline (fall in ejection fraction) assessed by echocardiography were significantly and similarly attenuated in pHBP- and EPO-treated rats, and MI size was reduced by 25%. The effect was retained during the 6-wk follow-up. A single bolus injection of pHBP immediately after coronary ligation was effective in reduction of MI size in a dose as low as 1 µg/kg, but was ineffective at a 60 µg/kg dose if administered 24 h after MI induction. We conclude that pHBP is equally cardioprotective with EPO and deserves further consideration as a safer alternative to rhEPO in the search for therapeutic options to reduce myocardial damage following blockade of the coronary circulation.
Psychiatric contraindications to pregnancy, with reference to therapeutic abortion and sterilization.

Pregnancy and parturition are not considered the basic causes of associated mental disorders, but as precipitating stresses. Pregnancy and parturition are thought to involve conflicts relating to dependency needs, homosexuality and hostility toward the child and husband. The incidence of psychoses related to pregnancy and childbirth appears to be declining. Therapeutic abortion and/or sterilization are indicated when continuance of pregnancy or future pregnancies would be likely to precipitate severe mental disease. Among the important factors to be weighed in considering a recommendation for abortion or sterilization are: the pattern of previous psychotic reactions (severity, duration, reversibility, relation to pregnancy), the physical constitution of the patient, the religious and other personal beliefs of the patient and her family, the desire for parenthood, and the number of living children.A physician would do well to consult the laws of his state with regard to abortion and to call upon suitable consultation in approved hospitals as safeguards against subsequent legal complications. The legal situation regarding sterilization appears to be less complex.
Journalists and the Stock Market

We use exogenous scheduling of Wall Street Journal columnists to identify a causal relation between financial reporting and stock market performance. To measure the media's unconditional effect, we add columnist fixed effects to a daily regression of excess Dow Jones Industrial Average returns. Relative to standard control variables, these fixed effects increase the R-super-2 by about 35%, indicating each columnist's average persistent "bullishness" or "bearishness. " To measure the media's conditional effect, we interact columnist fixed effects with lagged returns. This increases explanatory power by yet another one-third, and identifies amplification or attenuation of prevailing sentiment as a tool used by financial journalists. The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for Financial Studies. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. , Oxford University Press.
Object tracking based on evidential dynamic occupancy grids in urban environments

Occupancy grid mapping approaches, especially those that additionally estimate the dynamics, enable a robust and consistent modeling of the local environment in a cell-level representation. But a scene understanding of surrounding traffic participants requires a generalized object-level representation. This work presents an object tracking approach based on dynamic occupancy grids. The association of occupied grid cells with existing object tracks is solved individually on the cell-level without clustering or forming object hypotheses. New object tracks are extracted using a clustering strategy and a velocity variance analysis of neighboring occupied cells to reduce false positives. In order to improve the estimates of the position and size, an object boundary extraction is presented that takes the surrounding free space of the selected box representation into account. Experimental results with real sensor data show the effectiveness of the proposed object tracking approach in challenging urban scenarios with dense traffic.
Mining performance specifications

Functional testing is widespread and supported by a multitude of tools, including tools to mine functional specifications. In contrast, non-functional attributes like performance are often less well understood and tested. While many profiling tools are available to gather raw performance data, interpreting this raw data requires expert knowledge and a thorough understanding of the underlying software and hardware infrastructure. In this work we present an approach that mines performance specifications from running systems autonomously. The tool creates performance models during runtime. The mined models are analyzed further to create compact and comprehensive performance assertions. The resulting assertions can be used as an evidence-based performance specification for performance regression testing, performance monitoring, or as a foundation for more formal performance specifications.
Site-specific differences in the association between plantar tactile perception and mobility function in older adults

Introduction: Impaired somatosensation is common in older adults and contributes to age-related loss of mobility function. However, little is known about whether somatosensation at different sites on the plantar surface of the foot are differentially related to mobility function. Such a finding may have important implications for clinical care of older adults and other at-risk populations, such as for optimizing interventions (e.g., footwear for augmenting somatosensory feedback) and for improving the efficiency of clinical assessment. Materials and Methods: Tactile perception was evaluated with a 10 g monofilament at four sites on the plantar surface of each foot: great toe (GT), first metatarsal head (MT1), heel (H) and fifth metatarsal head (MT5). Mobility function was assessed with the Berg Balance Scale and walking speed. Results: Sixty-one older adults participated. Tactile perception was significantly positively associated with Berg Balance Score (adjusted r = 0.30 − 0.75; p = 0.03 − < 0.001), with the strongest association found at the site of the MT1. Only at this site was tactile perception found to be significantly associated with usual walking speed (adjusted r = 0.51; p < 0.001) and maximal walking speed (adjusted r = 0.38, p = 0.004). Clinically mild somatosensory impairment at MT1, but not at other sites, was found to yield substantial deficits in both Berg Balance Score and walking speed. Discussion: The present findings indicate that tactile perception at MT1 is more closely linked to mobility function than is tactile perception at GT, MT5 or H. These findings warrant further research to examine whether interventions (e.g., textured insoles) and assessments that preferentially or exclusively focus on the site of MT1 may be more effective for optimizing clinical care.
Transcriptome of the Female Synganglion of the Black-Legged Tick Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) with Comparison between Illumina and 454 Systems

Illumina and 454 pyrosequencing were used to characterize genes from the synganglion of female Ixodes scapularis. GO term searching success for biological processes was similar for samples sequenced by both methods. However, for molecular processes, it was more successful for the Illumina samples than for 454 samples. Functional assignments of transcripts predicting neuropeptides, neuropeptide receptors, neurotransmitter receptors and other genes of interest was done, supported by strong e-values (<−6), and high consensus sequence alignments. Transcripts predicting 15 putative neuropeptide prepropeptides ((allatostatin, allatotropin, bursicon α, corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), CRF-binding protein, eclosion hormone, FMRFamide, glycoprotein A, insulin-like peptide, ion transport peptide, myoinhibitory peptide, inotocin ( = neurophysin-oxytocin), Neuropeptide F, sulfakinin and SIFamide)) and transcripts predicting receptors for 14 neuropeptides (allatostatin, calcitonin, cardioacceleratory peptide, corazonin, CRF, eclosion hormone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone/AKH-like, insulin-like peptide, neuropeptide F, proctolin, pyrokinin, SIFamide, sulfakinin and tachykinin) are reported. Similar to Dermacentor variabilis, we found transcripts matching pro-protein convertase, essential for converting neuropeptide hormones to their mature form. Additionally, transcripts predicting 6 neurotransmitter/neuromodulator receptors (acetylcholine, GABA, dopamine, glutamate, octopamine and serotonin) and 3 neurotransmitter transporters (GABA transporter, noradrenalin-norepinephrine transporter and Na+-neurotransmitter/symporter) are described. Further, we found transcripts predicting genes for pheromone odorant receptor, gustatory receptor, novel GPCR messages, ecdysone nuclear receptor, JH esterase binding protein, steroidogenic activating protein, chitin synthase, chitinase, and other genes of interest. Also found were transcripts predicting genes for spermatogenesis-associated protein, major sperm protein, spermidine oxidase and spermidine synthase, genes not normally expressed in the female CNS of other invertebrates. The diversity of messages predicting important genes identified in this study offers a valuable resource useful for understanding how the tick synganglion regulates important physiological functions.
Anger attacks in depression

Anger, hostility and irritability are frequently observed among patients with unipolar depressive disorders. Approximately one‐third of depressed outpatients present with “anger attacks,” sudden spells of anger accompanied by symptoms of autonomic activation such as tachycardia, sweating, hot flashes, and tightness of the chest. Depressed patients with anger attacks are significantly more anxious and hostile and they are more likely to meet criteria for avoidant, dependent, borderline, narcissistic, and antisocial personality disorders than depressed patients without anger attacks. Several studies suggest that antidepressant treatment of anger attacks in depression is safe and effective. Anger attacks disappear in 53–71% of depressed outpatients treated with antidepressants such as fluoxetine, sertraline, and imipramine. In addition, the rate of emergence of anger attacks after treatment with fluoxetine (6–7%) is no different from the rates observed after treatment with sertraline (8%) and imipramine (10%), and lower than the rate with placebo (20%). Finally, since the central serotonergic neurotransmitter system is known to be involved in the modulation of aggressive behavior in animals and humans, one can hypothesize that antidepressants which affect this system may be particularly effective in depressed patients with anger attacks. Depression and Anxiety, Volume 8, Supplement 1:59–63, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.