Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing bronchial responsiveness to hypertonic saline using the stepwise protocol of phase two of the international study of asthma and allergies in childhood (ISAAC II)

Measurement of bronchial responsiveness to hypertonic saline was applied in 22 study centers worldwide as part of Phase Two of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC Phase Two). Because the amount of inhaled saline was difficult to standardize during the stepwise protocol with inhalation periods of increasing duration, we evaluated different statistical procedures based on inhalation time in relation to wheeze and current asthma. Data on random samples on 9 to 11‐year‐old children (n = 1,418) from two German centers were analyzed. The following statistical approaches were evaluated: (1) bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) defined dichotomously as a fall in FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 s) ≥15%; (2) PT15: the provocation time causing BHR using survival‐analyses methods; (3) time‐response‐slope (continuous) of the individual FEV1‐courses calculated by a linear model after comparing different mathematical models. The sensitivity and specificity of BHR versus current asthma were 47% and 87%, respectively. Analyses of the provocation time indicated an increased risk (adjusted hazard‐ratio: 4.3; 95% CI: 2.8–6.5) for a fall in FEV1 ≥ 15% among children with current asthma in comparison to those without. The time‐response‐slope differed markedly between children with and without wheeze and current asthma (P < 0.0001). BHR is meaningful and relatively easy to use, but has low sensitivity. Time‐response‐slopes utilize the available information from the stepwise protocol better than BHR and survival‐analysis based on PT15. Response parameters based on inhalation time discriminate well between children with and without asthma and will be compared in the analyses of ISAAC Phase Two data. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007; 42:131–140. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Long-term patency of autogenous saphenous veins vs. PTFE interposition graft for prosthetic hemodialysis access.

OBJECTIVE Prosthetic vascular access is the other choice when the superficial venous system is inadequate to perform a simple radio-cephalic and brachio-cephalic fistula. METHODS This paper reports the outcomes of a prospective cohort study of 54 patients who underwent either saphenous vein (SVI Group, n=29) or PTFE graft (PTFE Group, n=25) interposition surgery for prosthetic hemodialysis access. All patients were evaluated via color Doppler ultrasonography during preoperative course and superficial venous systems of these patients were found inadequate to perform simple radial/brachial artery-cephalic vein anastomosis. Follow-up was performed for every 6-months period. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Log Rank test was used for estimation and comparison of the patency. RESULTS In SVI group access failure was observed in 5 of 29 patients (17.2%). In PTFE group, access failure was observed in 13 of the 25 patients (52%). Primary patency rate was 93% in 12th month and 82% in 24th month in SVI group while it was 88% in 12th month and 56% in 24th month in PTFE group. According to the Kaplan-Meier method, mean time of primary patency was significantly higher in SVI group when compared to PTFE group (33.03±1.32 months vs. 28.16±1.91 months, Log Rank chi-square value: 7.01, df:1, p=0.008). Secondary patency rate was 96% in 12th month and 93% in 24th month for SVI group while 96% in 12th month and 84% in 24th month for PTFE group. According to the Kaplan-Meier method, mean time of secondary patency was significantly higher in SVI group when compared to PTFE group (34.27±0.95 months vs. 31.16±1.40 months, Log Rank chi-square value: 7.33, df:1, p=0.007). CONCLUSION Autologous saphenous vein can be preferably chosen as a prosthetic hemodialysis access graft due its higher primary and secondary patency, lower complication rate and cost when compared with PTFE grafts.
Cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to parotid and cervical lymph nodes

Nonmelanoma skin cancers occur at an epidemic rate in Australia and are increasing in incidence worldwide. In most patients, local treatment is curative. However, a subset of patients will be diagnosed with a high‐risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and are defined as patients at increased risk of developing metastases to regional lymph nodes. Patients with high‐risk SCC may be identified based on primary lesion and patient factors. Most cutaneous SCC arises on the sun‐exposed head and neck. The parotid and upper cervical nodes are common sites for the development of metastases arising from ear, anterior scalp, temple/forehead, or scalp SCC. The mortality and morbidity associated with high‐risk cutaneous SCC is usually a consequence of uncontrolled metastatic nodal disease and, to a lesser extent, distant metastases. Patients with operable nodal disease have traditionally been recommended for surgery. The efficacy of adjuvant radiotherapy has previously been questioned based on weak evidence in the early literature. Recent evidence from larger studies has, however, strengthened the case for adjuvant radiotherapy as a means to improve locoregional control and survival. Despite this, many patients still experience relapse and die. Research aimed at improving outcome such as a randomized trial incorporating the addition of chemotherapy to adjuvant radiotherapy is currently in progress in Australia and New Zealand. Ongoing research also includes the development of a proposed new staging system and investigating the role of molecular factors such as the epidermal growth factor receptor. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2007
Impact of probiotic supplements on microbiome diversity following antibiotic treatment of mice

abstract Shifts in microbial populations of the intestinal tract have been associated with a multitude of nutritional, autoimmune, and infectious diseases. The limited diversity following antibiotic treatments creates a window for opportunistic pathogens, diarrhea, and inflammation as the microbiome repopulates. Depending on the antibiotics used, microbial diversity can take weeks to months to recover. To alleviate this loss of diversity in the intestinal microbiota, supplementation with probiotics has become increasingly popular. However, our understanding of the purported health benefits of these probiotic bacteria and their ability to shape the microbiome is significantly lacking. This study examined the impact of probiotics concurrent with antibiotic treatment or during the recovery phase following antibiotic treatment of mice. We found that probiotics did not appear to colonize the intestine themselves or shift the overall diversity of the intestinal microbiota. However, the probiotic supplementation did significantly change the types of bacteria which were present. In particular, during the recovery phase the probiotic caused a suppression of Enterobacteriaceae outgrowth (Shigella and Escherichia) while promoting a blooming of Firmicutes, particularly from the Anaerotruncus genus. These results indicate that probiotics have a significant capacity to remodel the microbiome of an individual recovering from antibiotic therapy.
Paleogeographic and tectonic implications of Jurassic sedimentary and volcanic sequences in the central Mojave block

Sedimentologic, stratigraphic, and geochronologic data from strata of early Mesozoic age in the central Mojave block elucidate the paleogeographic and tectonic evolution of the magmatic arc in the southern U.S. Cordillera. A sequence of calcareous siltstone, volcaniclastic conglomerate, tuff, and quartzose sandstone records the transition from shallow-marine rocks of the Fairview Valley Formation to the subaerial Sidewinder volcanic series. Quartzose sandstones occur below, within, and above the transitional sequence and indicate that texturally mature, craton-derived quartz sand gained access to the arc during the initial stages of volcanism. U-Pb data indicate that explosive volcanism began at 179.5 3.0 Ma and continued until 151 1.3 Ma (Lower Sidewinder volcanic series). A rhyolite dike of the Independence dike swarm (Upper Sidewinder volcanic series) that postdates normal faulting and tilting of the ignimbrites yielded a U-Pb date of 151.9 5.6 Ma. The data define the age of extension and development of the angular unconformity between the Upper and Lower Sidewinder volcanic series at ca. 151 Ma. The data suggest that at least part, and possibly all, of the Fairview Valley Formation is late Early Jurassic in age. We correlate the Fairview Valley Formation with Mesozoic metasedimentary rocks in the Rodman Mountains and Fry Mountains, and at Cave Mountain to the east. Eolian quartz arenites in these sequences suggest a coastal environment coeval with the Navajo Sandstone on the Colorado Plateau. The reinterpretation of the shallow-marine rocks as Jurassic instead of Triassic suggests a period of uplift and erosion or nondeposition extending from the Early Triassic into the Early Jurassic, followed by a return to marine conditions. Shallow-marine conditions persisted until the beginning of arc volcanism in the late Early Jurassic time. Similarities to the early Mesozoic arc of the Sierra Nevada, together with the structural evolution of the region, suggest that the change from high-standing to lowstanding paleogeography reflects a large-scale tectonic control on relative sea level related to a period of intra-arc extension or transtension. Schermer, E.R. , Busby, C.J., and Mattinson, J.M. , 2002, Paleogeographic and tectonic implications of Jurassic sedimentary and volcanic sequences in the central Mojave block, in Glazner, A.F. , Walker, J.D. , and Bartley, J.M. , eds., Geologic Evolution of the Mojave Desert and Southwestern Basin and Range: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of America Memoir 195, p. 93–115. E.R. Schermer, C.J. Busby, and J.M. Mattinson 94
Gnathic osteosarcomas: Review of literature and report of two cases in maxilla

Primary neoplasms of the skeleton are rare, accounting for 0.2% of overall human tumor burden. Osteosarcoma (OS) accounts for 15–35% of all primary bone tumors, while gnathic osteosarcomas (GOS) represent 4–8% of all osteosarcomas. GOS shows a predilection for men, a peak incidence of 33 years, and affects the mandible more than the maxilla. We review the scientific literature for a better understanding of the clinical, radiographic, and histopathological features of GOS, along with its etiology, staging, treatment protocol, prognosis, and survival. Evidence from molecular research suggests that it is a differentiation disease that disrupts osteoblasts differentiation from mesenchymal stem cells. The classical radiographic finding of a “sunburst” appearance is appreciated only in 50% of GOS. The universally accepted staging system is not commonly used due to the rarity with which they metastasize to the regional lymph nodes. A number of distinct histopathological subtypes have been described, of which osteoblastic GOS are most common. The treatment protocol is multimodal consisting of preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgery and postoperative chemotherapy, and has a 60-70% five-year survival rate. We present two case reports of osteosarcoma involving the maxillary that were initially misdiagnosed as peripheral giant cell granuloma and osteoma of the maxilla, respectively. These case reports demonstrate the diverse clinical, radiographic, and histopathological features that can be encountered in GOS.
Electromyographic analysis of the trunk in golfers

Golf is a popular sport for both men and women. The trunk is the most common area of injury during the golf swing. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the muscle firing patterns in the trunk during the golf swing. Twenty-three golfers with handicaps of five or below volunteered for this study. Surface elec tromyographic electrodes were placed on the abdomi nal oblique and erector spinae muscles bilaterally. High- speed cinematography was used in conjunction with the electromyographic electrodes. The results demon strated relatively low activity in all muscles during tak eaway (below 30% of maximal muscle test), and rela tively high and constant activity throughout the rest of the swing (above 30% maximal muscle test, with the exception of the contralateral erector spinae during late follow-through, which was 28% maximal muscle test). This high and constant activity demonstrated the im portance of the trunk muscles during a golf swing. These results indicate the need for an effective preven tive and rehabilitative exercise program for the golfer.
Thermal stability of interspecies Neisseria DNA duplexes.

SUMMARY: The thermal stability of interspecies DNA duplexes is markedly increased by raising the incubation temperature. When the DNA reassociation reactions are carried out at 750 in 0.12 M-phosphate buffer the thermal denaturation temperature of the reassociated product is almost identical to that of the native DNA, indicating that only DNA segments of very similar nucleotide sequence are associating. The genus Neisseria very clearly forms three groups based on the relatedness of their DNA to that of N. meningitidis; the ‘pathogenic’ Neisseria which have at least 80% of their nucleotide sequences similar; the ‘non-pathogenic’ Neisseria which share only 8 to 15 %; and N. catarrhalis which shows no relatedness.
Human papillomaviruses and cancer in Uganda

In a case-control study in Uganda, we examined associations between different cancer sites or types in relation to antibodies against human papillomaviruses (HPV)-16, -18 and -45. For each cancer site or type, the control group comprised all other cancers excluding those known, or thought to be associated with HPV infection (cancers of the uterine cervix, penis and eye). Among controls the seroprevalence of antibodies was 11% (68/616) against HPV-16, 5% (29/605) against HPV-18 and 6% (35/605) against HPV-45. Antibodies against HPV-16 were significantly associated with only two cancers: uterine cervix [prevalence of antibodies 27% (51/191); odds ratio (OR) 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–3.1, P=0.01] and penis [prevalence of antibodies 27% (4/15); OR 6.4, 95% CI 1.7–24.3, P=0.01]. For both cancers, the risk increased with increasing anti-HPV-16 antibody titre (Ptrend=0.01 for each). No cancer site or type was significantly associated with antibodies against HPV-18 and -45.
Measuring Customers' Perceptions and Readiness to Accept E-Commerce in Iraq: An Empirical Study

Electronic Commerce (e-commerce) assists organizations to conduct business electronically. This innovation has proved to be one of many significant operational and strategic tools that bring various benefits to business. Many developed countries have actively applied e-commerce successfully since long time ago. In fact e-commerce has become an integral part in many western organizations. However, developing countries, such as IRAQ, are still lagging behind in e-commerce adoption. It is observed that there is a lack of systematic research in e-commerce in the Arabic countries in general, and in Iraq in specific. The purpose of this empirical research is to investigate the perceptions of a sample of Iraqi citizens about e-commerce, and their readiness to do transactions by this mean. The analysis conducted in this work reveals that perceived privacy is the most important variable to the sample surveyed. The study has also identified many barriers (such as e-payment, technological, legal, cultural, trust, etc.) which still impede the adoption of e-commerce in Iraq. The results of this research have many practical implications for policy makers regarding the diffusion and the regulation of e-commerce in Iraq.
Breast self-examination: do religious beliefs matter? A descriptive study.

BACKGROUND A descriptive study was conducted in Tehran, Iran, to investigate the beliefs of Muslim women and their practices regarding screening modalities of breast cancer. METHODS A questionnaire was specially designed and validated to collect data and was completed by 410 Muslim women. RESULTS A vast majority of women (90 per cent) said that breast self-examination is not against their religious beliefs. With regard to clinical breast examination, although 58 per cent preferred to be examined by a female physician, 47 per cent said that clinical breast examination by a male physician is not against their Islamic beliefs. However, only 6 per cent of respondents performed breast self-examination on a regular basis (monthly). CONCLUSIONS The study findings suggest that most Muslim women do not perceive breast self-examination as being against their Islamic beliefs and that they believe clinical breast examination by a male physician does not interfere with their religious beliefs.
The ACRModel : AMultivariate Dynamic Mixture Autoregression Å

This paper proposes and analyses the autoregressive conditional root (ACR) time-series model. This multivariate dynamic mixture autoregression allows for non-stationary epochs. It proves to be an appealing alternative to existing nonlinear models, e.g. the threshold autoregressive or Markov switching class of models, which are commonly used to describe nonlinear dynamics as implied by arbitrage in presence of transaction costs. Simple conditions on the parameters of the ACR process and its innovations are shown to imply geometric ergodicity, stationarity and existence of moments. Furthermore, consistency and asymptotic normality of the maximum likelihood estimators are established. An application to real exchange rate data illustrates the analysis.
Effects of itraconazole and diltiazem on the pharmacokinetics of fexofenadine, a substrate of P-glycoprotein.

AIMS Fexofenadine is a substrate of several drug transporters including P-glycoprotein. Our objective was to evaluate the possible effects of two P-glycoprotein inhibitors, itraconazole and diltiazem, on the pharmacokinetics of fexofenadine, a putative probe of P-glycoprotein activity in vivo, and compare the inhibitory effect between the two in healthy volunteers. METHODS In a randomized three-phase crossover study, eight healthy volunteers were given oral doses of 100 mg itraconazole twice daily, 100 mg diltiazem twice daily or a placebo capsule twice daily (control) for 5 days. On the morning of day 5 each subject was given 120 mg fexofenadine, and plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of fexofenadine were measured up to 48 h after dosing. RESULTS Itraconazole pretreatment significantly increased mean (+/-SD) peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of fexofenadine from 699 (+/-366) ng ml-1 to 1346 (+/-561) ng ml-1 (95% CI of differences 253, 1040; P<0.005) and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve [AUC0,infinity] from 4133 (+/-1776) ng ml-1 h to 11287 (+/-4552) ng ml-1 h (95% CI 3731, 10575; P<0.0001). Elimination half-life and renal clearance in the itraconazole phase were not altered significantly compared with those in the control phase. In contrast, diltiazem pretreatment did not affect Cmax (704+/-316 ng ml-1, 95% CI -145, 155), AUC0, infinity (4433+/-1565 ng ml-1 h, 95% CI -1353, 754), or other pharmacokinetic parameters of fexofenadine. CONCLUSIONS Although some drug transporters other than P-glycoprotein are thought to play an important role in fexofenadine pharmacokinetics, itraconazole pretreatment increased fexofenadine exposure, probably due to the reduced first-pass effect by inhibiting the P-glycoprotein activity. As diltiazem pretreatment did not alter fexofenadine pharmacokinetics, therapeutic doses of diltiazem are unlikely to affect the P-glycoprotein activity in vivo.
MEAN CURVATURE MOTION OF NON-PARAMETRIC HYPERSURFACES WITH CONTACT ANGLE CONDITION

describes the evolution of graph(u(·, t)) by its mean curvature in the direction of the unit normal with prescribed contact angle (given by cos−1 φ) at boundary. This problem has been studied by G. Huisken [3] for φ ≡ 0, that is, the surfaces have vertical contact angle at the boundary, and by Altschuler and Wu [1] for the case that n = 2 and Ω is strictly convex. The main result of [3] states that for φ = 0 the solution of (1.1)-(1.2) remains smooth and bounded, and asymptotically converges to a constant function. For n = 2, Altschuler and Wu prove that if Ω is strictly convex and |Dφ| < minκ(∂Ω), the curvature of ∂Ω, then the solution either converges to a minimal surface (when ∫
The identification and chemical coding of cholinergic neurons in the small and large intestine of the mouse

The recent availability of antisera to the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) that demonstrate peripheral cholinergic neurons has made possible the anatomical identification of cholinergic neurons in the enteric nervous system. In this study, we localised cholinergic neurons in the mouse small and large intestine and identified which substances are found colocalised in the cholinergic neurons.
Hilbert-Shaped Magnetic Waveguided Metamaterials for Electromagnetic Coupling Reduction of Microstrip Antenna Array

A novel single-negative magnetic waveguided metamaterial (MTM) is initially proposed based on the Hilbert-shaped complementary electric inductive-capacitive resonator. The MTM element is highly compact due to the Hilbert space-filling curves which considerably enhance the current path in the ground, and exhibits a bandgap attributing to the negative permeability in the vicinity of magnetic resonance. Taking the advantage of these two features, a microstrip antenna array is then designed, fabricated, and measured by embedding a 5×1 array of the well-engineered MTM elements between two closely spaced (λo/8.08) H-plane coupled rectangular patches. Both numerical and experimental results indicate a mutual coupling reduction of more than 9.7 dB. The proposed prescription with electrically small dimensions and high decoupling efficiency opens an avenue to new types of antennas with super performances.
Manipulation of ruminal fermentation with organic acids: a review.

The dicarboxylic acids aspartate, fumarate, and malate stimulate lactate utilization by the predominant ruminal bacterium, Selenomonas ruminantium. Malate stimulates lactate uptake by S. ruminantium more than does aspartate or fumarate, and it seems that malate and sodium are involved in stimulating lactate utilization by this bacterium. Based on the ability of S. ruminantium to grow on malate in the presence of extracellular hydrogen and produce succinate, malate may be acting as an electron sink for hydrogen in the succinate-propionate pathway used by S. ruminantium. Incorporation of DL-malate into soluble starch and cracked corn fermentations with mixed ruminal microorganisms changed final pH, CH4, and VFA in a manner analogous to ionophore effects. When compared with either dicarboxylic acids or monensin alone, dicarboxylic acid plus monensin addition to cracked corn incubations stimulated the mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation to produce more propionate, less lactate, and increased final pH. Reduced lactate concentrations in dicarboxylic acid- and monensin-treated incubations most likely represents an additive effect of decreased lactate production by monensin-sensitive bacteria (i.e., Streptococcus bovis) and increased lactate utilization by the monensin-resistant S. ruminantium. The inclusion of malate as a feed additive into the diets of ruminants is currently not economically feasible; however, forages rich in organic acids might serve as vehicles for providing malate to ruminants. When five alfalfa varieties and three bermudagrass hay varieties were surveyed for malate content, the concentration of malate in both plant species declined as maturity increased. However, after 42 d of maturity, the concentration of malate in both forages ranged between 1.9 and 4.5% of the DM. These results suggest that the incorporation of forage varieties that are high in malate may include malate economically into the diet and reduce losses associated with ruminal acidosis.