Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incorporating Decision Nodes into Conditional Simple Temporal Networks

A Conditional Simple Temporal Network (CSTN) augments a Simple Temporal Network (STN) to include special time-points, called observation time-points. In a CSTN, the agent executing the network controls the execution of every time-point. However, each observation time-point has a unique propositional letter associated with it and, when the agent executes that time-point, the environment assigns a truth value to the corresponding letter. Thus, the agent observes but, does not control the assignment of truth values. A CSTN is dynamically consistent (DC) if there exists a strategy for executing its time-points such that all relevant constraints will be satisfied no matter which truth values the environment assigns to the propositional letters. Alternatively, in a Labeled Simple Temporal Network (Labeled STN) - also called a Temporal Plan with Choice - the agent executing the network controls the assignment of values to the so-called choice variables. Furthermore, the agent can make those assignments at any time. For this reason, a Labeled STN is equivalent to a Disjunctive Temporal Network. This paper incorporates both of the above extensions by augmenting a CSTN to include not only observation time-points but also decision time-points. A decision time-point is like an observation time-point in that it has an associated propositional letter whose value is determined when the decision time-point is executed. It differs in that the agent - not the environment - selects that value. The resulting network is called a CSTN with Decisions (CSTND). This paper shows that a CSTND generalizes both CSTNs and Labeled STNs, and proves that the problem of determining whether any given CSTND is dynamically consistent is PSPACE-complete. It also presents algorithms that address two sub-classes of CSTNDs: (1) those that contain only decision time-points; and (2) those in which all decisions are made before execution begins.
Menopause effects on verbal memory: findings from a longitudinal community cohort.

CONTEXT Although cognitive complaints are common among menopausal women, it is debatable whether there is an objective decline in cognition with menopause that exceeds what is expected with normal aging. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to determine whether reproductive senescence is associated with an age-independent decline in verbal memory. DESIGN AND SETTING The study was a 14-year, longitudinal, population-based cohort study of women who underwent yearly endocrine, behavioral, and cognitive assessments from pre- to postmenopause. PARTICIPANTS Caucasian and African American premenopausal women (n = 403), who were enrolled in the Penn Ovarian Aging Study, participated in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Buschke Selective Reminding Test (immediate and delayed verbal recall), the digit symbol substitution task, and the symbol copy task were used to measure outcomes. RESULTS A total of 3958 assessments were conducted in this sample of 403 women. In models that were adjusted for age and important cofactors, immediate (P = .03) and delayed (P = .03) recall on the Buschke Selective Reminding Test declined from the pre- to postmenopausal stages. Further evaluation identified a significant decline (P < .002) in delayed recall early in the transition and immediate recall (P = .04) late in the transition. Race was a significant factor in performance on all tasks (all P < .0001) except the delayed verbal recall task (P = .06) in adjusted models. Endocrine measures were significantly associated with cognitive performance in unadjusted models. CONCLUSIONS Certain cognitive domains are sensitive to the physiological changes of reproductive senescence independent of age. The differences in cognitive performance between African American and Caucasian women were not explained by factors examined in this study but are of important public health concern that warrants further investigation.
Banking Market Structure, Institutions, and SMEs’ Access to Finance in Transition Economies: The Case of Ukraine

We investigate the impact of local banking market concentration on small and medium-sized enterprises’ access to finance in Ukraine, as an under-researched case of a country where crime and corruption rates are high. We combine firm-level observations from the EBRD’s BEEPS survey with unique, self-collected data on local banking markets. We take into account the specific context of a transition economy by introducing measures of institutional weakness. Our results show a non-monotonic relationship between banking market concentration and access to finance. Across all firms, some banking market power proves to increase access to finance, but too much concentration has an adverse effect. This is consistent with the theories that stress the importance of asymmetric information. However, for SMEs with higher perceptions of institutional weakness, we find that access to finance improves at both the lowest and highest levels of banking market concentration. We conjecture that such a dual impact might be typical for transition economies.
Reversal of apixaban anticoagulation by four‐factor prothrombin complex concentrates in healthy subjects: a randomized three‐period crossover study

Essentials Prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs) may reverse the effect of factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors. We conducted an open‐label, randomized, placebo‐controlled, three‐period crossover study in 15 subjects. Both PCCs rapidly reversed apixaban‐mediated decreases in mean endogenous thrombin potential. Four‐factor PCC administration had no effect on apixaban pharmacokinetics or anti‐FXa activity.
Does Epstein-Barr Virus Play a Role in Lymphoepithelioma-like Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix?

The role of Epstein-Barr viruses (EBVs) in lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of the uterine cervix is controversial. We aimed to investigate the existence of EBV and human papillomavirus (HPV) in LELC of the cervix. Nine patients of LELC of the cervix, treated at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between 1996 and 2000, with complete clinicopathologic findings and follow-up data were studied. Twenty-five patients with squamous cell carcinoma were recruited as controls. The EBV genome was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and EBV-encoded RNA in situ hybridization from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. HPV genotyping was carried out by SPF1/GP6+ PCR and hybridization with a GeneChip. Type-specific E6 PCR of the 18 most commonly found HPV genotypes in Taiwan was also performed. HPV-16 was found in 3 cases, HPV-18, HPV-31, and HPV-35, and HPV-58 in 1 case each. One case showed positive for both HPV-16 and HPV-58. Low copy number of EBV DNA was found in 9 cases of LELC (1–14.7 copies/μg) and 7 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (3.8–1586 copies/μg) using real-time quantitative PCR Bam H1 W fragment probe, but EBV-encoded RNA-in situ hybridization was negative in tumor cells. Therefore, positive rates for EBV and HPV were 0% and 88.9% (8/9) in LELC of the cervix, respectively. All patients with LELC of the cervix had no evidence of disease for more than 5 years from diagnoses. Our results suggest that EBV is not involved in the carcinogenesis of so-called LELC of the cervix but the EBV sequences might exist in a florid inflammatory stromal component.
Palifermin: a keratinocyte growth factor that reduces oral mucositis after stem cell transplant for haematological malignancies

Mucositis occurs in ≤ 98% of patients undergoing stem cell transplant for haematological malignancies and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Patients with severe mucositis have more pain, more difficulty with daily activities such as talking and eating, and are more likely to have bacteraemia. Palifermin is a keratinocyte growth factor that has been shown to decrease severity and duration of mucositis with a concurrent decrease in patient-reported symptoms and use of narcotics and total parenteral nutrition. Research is ongoing into palifermin’s potential ability to decrease graft-versus-host disease and improve reconstitution of functional T lymphocytes after allogeneic stem cell transplant, to hasten wound healing and to reduce mucositis following external beam radiation therapy in solid tumour patients.
The influence of size and shape of kidney tissue from newborn and mature rats on the uptake of amino acid.

The uptake of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid was studied in kidney cortical tissue of newborn and mature rats in the light of observations that the size and shape of the tissue pieces could influence concentrating ability. It was found that the pattern of differences in uptake by newborn and mature tissue was not altered by differences in the size and shape of tissue pieces. The initial uptake was more rapid in mature tissue but a higher maximum concentration gradient was ultimately achieved by newborn tissue. However, there was a difference in the maximum gradient achieved by newborn tissue depending on the configuration of the pieces of tissue incubated, and it is important, therefore, to know the morphology of the tissue being studied in interpreting the results of incubation studies.
Chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis: effect of LED and laser phototherapy treatment protocols.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Over the last few decades, many studies have focused on the effect of lasers on the management of oral mucositis in oncologic patients treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. However, the effect of light-emitting diode (LED) has been poorly studied, and was not compared with that of laser phototherapy (LPT). For this reason, the aim of the present study was to clinically compare the effect of these two therapies on chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis (CIOM) and pain. METHODS Forty patients with CIOM were divided into two groups: G1, patients treated with LPT; G2, patients treated with LED. The treatment was administered during 10 consecutive days, with exception of weekends. LPT was applied using an InGaAlP laser (660 nm/40 mW/6.6 J cm-(2)/0.24 J per point/0.036 cm(2) of spot size). LED phototherapy was applied using 0.24 J per point/80 mW/630 nm/1 cm(2) of spot size. CIOM was assessed during each session in accordance to the World Health Organization (WHO) score. The patient self-assessed pain was scored on a visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS The mean VAS and WHO scores were significantly smaller in the LED group (p<0.05). However, both groups required the same number of days to reach score zero for mucositis and pain (p>0.05). Moreover, in the group with severe mucositis (score III), there was a lower frequency of patients with complete healing and pain relief, with the exception of analgesia in G2, in which almost all patients were completely relieved from pain. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that LED therapy is more effective than LPT in the treatment of COIM, with the parameters used in the present study.
Purine‐ and Nucleotide‐mediated Relaxation of Rabbit Thoracic Aorta: Common and Different Sites of Action

Abstract— The mechanisms of the relaxant effect of purines and pyrimidines in New Zealand rabbit isolated aorta were investigated at endothelial and smooth muscle cell levels. Endothelium‐mediated relaxation by ATP was only partially inhibited by the P2‐purinoceptor antagonist suramin (0·1 Mm). The pyrimidine UTP produced vasodilation by acting at the endothelial level and relaxation was not antagonized by suramin (0·1 Mm). This effect was not mediated by P2 purinoceptors, indicating that UTP, like ATP to a certain extent, produces relaxation via an endothelium nucleotide (N) pyrimidinoceptor. ATP, ADP, AMP, adenosine, 5′‐N‐ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) and inosine were all active as relaxants on smooth muscle. The NECA relaxant effect was not antagonized by P1‐purinoceptor antagonists 3,7‐dimethyl‐1‐propargylxanthine (50 μm) or 1,3‐dipropyl‐8‐(2‐amino‐4‐chlorophenyl)xanthine (5 μm), excluding a P1‐mediated effect. P2‐related activity was excluded because adenosine‐mediated relaxation was not antagonized by suramin (0·1 Mm). UTP was ineffective as a relaxant at smooth muscle level, thus excluding the presence of muscular nucleotide (N) pyrimidinoceptor and suggesting a P3 purinoceptor. The rank order of potency of this muscle purinoceptor was NECA > adenosine > ATP ≅ ADP ≅ AMP ≅ inosine.
The relationship between the nature of the cell wall and the Gram stain.

SUMMARY: None of the classes of major chemical constituents of the walls of bacteria and yeasts is exclusive to organisms which give a Gram-positive reaction. Walls of Gram-positive bacteria are richer in mucopeptide than are those of Gram-negative bacteria. The latter are characterized by high lipid contents. Yeast walls are rich in polysaccharide complexes. There appears to be a broad correlation between the Gram reaction and the decreased leakage of 32P compounds from labelled cells on exposure to increasing ethanol concentrations in the range 50--100% (v/v) ethanol. The data on the release of 32P compounds are in accord with the cell-wall ‘permeability’ mechanism for the Gram reaction and imply quantitative rather than all or none differences in Gram behaviour. Mechanical rupture of the cell wall or digestion of the wall with lysozyme rendered organisms which had been previously Gram stained in suspension by the technique of Wensinck & Boeve (1957), susceptible to decolorization with 96% (v/v) ethanol in water.
Therapeutic Discovery Antitumor Activity of the Hsp 90 Inhibitor IPI-504 in HER 2-Positive Trastuzumab-Resistant Breast Cancer

Hsp90 facilitates the maturation and stability of numerous oncoproteins, including HER2. The aim of this study was to assess the antitumor activity of the Hsp90 inhibitor IPI-504 in trastuzumab-resistant, HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells. Therapy with trastuzumab, IPI-504, and the combination of trastuzumab and IPI-504 was evaluated in trastuzumab-sensitive and trastuzumab-resistant cells. Inhibition of protein targets, cell proliferation, and tumor growth was assessed in vitro and in xenograft models. IPI-504 inhibited proliferation of both trastuzumab-sensitive and trastuzumab-resistant cells. Administration of IPI-504 markedly reduced total levels of HER2 and Akt, as well as phosphorylated Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), to an equal extent in trastuzumab-sensitive and trastuzumab-resistant cells. IPI-504, used as single agent or in combination with trastuzumab, also inhibited in vivo the growth of both trastuzumab-sensitive and -resistant tumor xenografts. As a mechanism for the observed antitumor activity, IPI-504 resulted in a marked decrease in the levels of HER2, Akt, p-Akt, and p-MAPK in trastuzumab-resistant xenografts as early as 12 hours after a single dose of IPI-504. IPI-504–mediated Hsp90 inhibition may represent a novel therapeutic approach in trastuzumab refractory HER2-positive breast cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 10(5); 1–8. 2011 AACR.
Digital Joint Reconstruction with Osteotendinous Joint Allograft: Experimental Study in Rats

Background: Fresh or frozen nonvascularized osteotendinous joint allografts (OTJA) have not been used previously, clinically or experimentally, for metacarpophalangeal joint reconstruction. Therefore, we evaluated the viability of OTJA for metatarsophalangeal joint (MTJ) reconstruction in rats. Methods: In the experimental group of 12 Lewis rats, we reconstructed the MTJ of the third digit of the hindlimb with a fresh, nonvascularized OTJA obtained from the same digit from 12 donor rats. In the control group of 6 Lewis rats, an autologous composite osteotendinous graft of the MTJ of the same digit was obtained and repositioned in situ as an auto-transplant. Weight, pain, edema, dehiscence, and wound infection were evaluated every 24 hours for 30 days postoperatively. At the end of 30 days, we evaluated digit position, flexion and extension, passive mobility, radiological bone healing, and histological grades of rejection. Results: We found no statistically different changes in weight, edema, pain, digit position, or radiological bone healing in either group. No wound dehiscence or infection was seen in any of the rats. Ten degrees of flexion and extension mobility were lost in the control group; the experimental group lost up to 30 degrees (P = 0.009). Histologically, 9 of the experimental group rats (9/12, 75%) showed rejection reactions compared with none of the controls (0%) (P = 0.009). Conclusions: Fresh nonvascularized OTJA caused an immune reaction without exposure of the graft, but with bone resorption. However, the rats maintained digital form and alignment with decreased passive flexion and extension of 10–30 degrees.
Hookworm Infection in South American Fur Seal (Arctocephalus australis) Pups

Tissues of South American fur seal pups naturally infected with hookworms (Uncinaria sp) were examined. Hookworm infection was found in nearly all pups examined (132/140, 94%), and hookworm enteritis with secondary bacteremia was considered the cause of death in 46 (35%) pups. Common findings in these pups included severe hemorrhagic enteritis and numerous (mean intensity = 761.8) hookworms in the jejunum. Hookworms were recovered from the abdominal cavity in 12 of 55 pups (22%) examined through peritoneal wash; these pups had an average of 1343.3 intestinal hookworms and marked fibrinohemorrhagic peritonitis. In all pups that died as a consequence of hookworm infection, the intestinal villi were short, blunt, and fused, and there were variable numbers of free and intrahistiocytic gram-negative bacteria in submucosal hookworm feeding tracks, mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, blood vessels, and liver sinusoids. Pups that died of causes unrelated to the hookworm infection (trauma) had hookworm feeding tracks confined to the apical portions of the mucosa, and moderate to marked catarrhal eosinophilic enteritis. The number of hookworms was negatively correlated with intestinal villous length and number of leukocytes in the intestine. Pups with hookworm peritoneal penetration had nematodes with little or no blood in the hookworm intestine, suggesting that lack of food for the nematode could be associated with peritoneal penetration. Findings suggest that the initial burden of larval infection, the level of the host tissue response, or a combination determine the number of nematodes in the intestine, the severity of hookworm tissue damage, and pup mortality.
Nutrient Management Regulation and Farm Level Profitability: the Case of Ontario Dairy Farms

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT REGULATION AND FARM LEVELL PROFITABILITY: THE CASE OF ONTARIO DAIRY FARMS Xin Xie University of Guelph Co-advisors: Professor Getu Hailu Professor Brady Deaton The purpose of this study is to estimate the effect of Ontario’s Nutrient Management Act (NMA) on farm level profitability of dairy sector. NMA came into force in 2003 and sets standards for the storage and handling of nutrients for regulating farms that fit certain criteria to reduce the risk of nutrients entering surface water or groundwater, especially for farms with herd size that can produce Nutrient Units above a certain level (i.e. 300 Nutrient Units). While the Act may affect its regulated farms by incorporating additional compliance costs, it may not have the same effect on unregulated farms. Increase in the weighted-average production costs of all farms may lead to elevated milk price within a national cost of production (COP) pricing formula for dairy industry. A theoretical framework that describes the pathway by which farms’ economic performance can be affected by NMA is developed in this study. To empirically test whether NMA has effect on farm level profitability, a RE model is estimated by using the unbalanced panel data from Ontario Dairy Farm Accounting Project (ODFAP) from year 2000 to 2010. The empirical results of this study indicate that NMA may not have statistically significant effect on the profitability of regulated farms with no less than 300 Nutrient Units (NUs). A discussion is further developed to take into consideration factors that may affect this empirical results.
Effect of Coenzyme Q10 on Oxidative Stress, Glycemic Control and Inflammation in Diabetic Neuropathy: A Double Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE This 12-week randomized placebo controlled clinical trial investigated the effect of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on diabetic neuropathy, oxidative stress, blood glucose and lipid profile of patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS Diabetic patients with neuropathic signs (n = 70) were randomly assigned to CoQ10 (200 mg/d) or placebo for 12 weeks. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis and neuropathy tests before and after the trial. RESULTS There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of mean fasting blood glucose, HbA1c and the lipid profile after the trial. The mean insulin sensitivity and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) concentration significantly increased in the Q10 group compared to the placebo after the trial (P < 0.05). C-reactive protein (hsCRP) significantly decreased in the intervention group compared to placebo after the trial (P < 0.05). In the control group, insulin sensitivity decreased and HOMA-IR increased, which revealed a significant difference between groups after the trial. Neuropathic symptoms and electromyography measurements did not differ between two groups after the trial. CONCLUSIONS According to the present study, CoQ10, when given at a dose of 200 mg/d for 12 weeks to a group of neuropathic diabetic patients, did not improve the neuropathy signs compared to placebo, although it had some beneficial effects on TAC and hsCRP and probably a protective effect on insulin resistance.
The strain index and TLV for HAL: risk of lateral epicondylitis in a prospective cohort.

BACKGROUND This study's objective was to quantify exposure-response relationships between job physical exposure (JPE) and incidence of lateral epicondylitis (LE). METHODS A cohort of 536 workers was enrolled from 10 manufacturing facilities and followed monthly for 6 years to ascertain changes in JPE and health status. JPE was individually measured and quantified using the Strain Index (SI) and TLV for HAL. Worker demographics, medical history, psychosocial factors, and current musculoskeletal disorders were obtained. RESULTS Fifty-six workers developed LE. In multivariate models JPE, age, family problems, and swimming were associated with increased risk of LE. SI showed an exposure-response relationship with maximum hazard ratio (HR) of 4.5(P = 0.04). TLV for HAL showed a non-statistically significant trend for increased risk of LE (P = 0.19). CONCLUSION JPE is associated with increased risk of LE. The SI and TLV for HAL are useful metrics for estimating JPE.
‘Micro‐managers’ of hepatic lipid metabolism and NAFLD

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is tightly associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. As the defining feature of NAFLD, hepatic steatosis develops as a consequence of metabolic dysregulation of de novo lipogenesis, fatty acid uptake, fatty acid oxidation, and triglycerides (TG) export. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of endogenous small noncoding RNAs, play critical roles in various biological processes through regulating gene expression at post‐transcriptional level. A growing body of evidence suggests that miRNAs not only maintain hepatic TG homeostasis under physiological condition, but also participate in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. In this review, we focus on the current knowledge of the hepatic miRNAs associated with the development of liver steatosis and the regulatory mechanisms involved, which might be helpful to further understand the nature of NAFLD and provide a sound scientific basis for the drug development. WIREs RNA 2015, 6:581–593. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1295