Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Baseline and post‐bronchodilator interrupter resistance and spirometry in asthmatic children

In children unable to perform reliable spirometry, the interrupter resistance (Rint) technique for assessing respiratory resistance is easy to perform. However, few data are available on the possibility to use Rint as a surrogate for spirometry. We aimed at comparing Rint and spirometry at baseline and after bronchodilator administration in a large population of asthmatic children. We collected retrospectively Rint and spirometry results measured in 695 children [median age 7.8 (range 4.8–13.9) years] referred to our lab for routine assessment of asthma disease. Correlations between Rint and spirometry were studied using data expressed as z‐scores. Receiver operator characteristic curves for the baseline Rint value (z‐score) and the bronchodilator effect (percentage predicted value and z‐score) were generated to assess diagnostic performance. At baseline, the relationship between raw values of Rint and FEV1 was not linear. Despite a highly significant inverse correlation between Rint and all of the spirometry indices (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, FEF25–75%; P < 0.0001), Rint could detect baseline obstruction (FEV1 z‐score ≤ −2) with only 42% sensitivity and 95% specificity. Post‐bronchodilator changes in Rint and FEV1 were inversely correlated (rhô = −0.50, P < 0.0001), and Rint (≥35% predicted value decrease) detected FEV1 reversibility (>12% baseline increase) with 70% sensitivity and 69% specificity (AUC = 0.79). Rint measurements fitted a one‐compartment model that explained the relationship between flows and airway resistance. We found that Rint had poor sensitivity to detect baseline obstruction, but fairly good sensitivity and specificity to detect reversibility. However, in order to implement asthma guidelines for children unable to produce reliable spirometry, bronchodilator response measured by Rint should be systematically studied and further assessed in conjunction with clinical outcomes. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2012. 47:987–993. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Thermal Optimization of a Radial Folded Fin Heat Sink for Desktop Computer Applications

The continual development of faster desktop computers being sold at lower prices into the market place has demanded that thermal management engineers develop and optimize thermal management devices that not only perform better, but are at the same or lower cost than previous generations. The ever shrinking form factor has also increased the burden placed on today's thermal management devices. CFD analysis was used to fully optimize, both cost and thermal performance, a radial folded fin heat sink design to solve today's thermal management requirements. Modeling considerations and prototype test verifications are presented in determining the optimal thermal design characteristics, namely, fin density, fin thickness, fin style and core diameter
Risk Attitude in Gambles with Years of Life

According to prospect theory, risk attitude changes depending on whether a prospect is perceived as a gain or a loss relative to a reference or aspiration level. To investigate risk attitude with respect to years of life, the authors elicited utilities at two occasions by the certainty equivalent method from 30 women from the general population. The respondents gave certainty equivalents to gambles with years of life. The gambles were two-outcome gambles with equal probabilities to experience each outcome. A shift from a risk-seeking towards a risk-averse attitude was observed with increasing expected value of the gambles. For each individual, the averaged responses over the two replications were fitted with an s- shaped logistic curve that showed an excellent fit (r2 ≥ 0.97) for all respondents. The aspiration level of survival can be derived from this function and was negatively correlated with age (r = -0.43, p < 0.025). The data are consistent with prospect theory and may explain why patients opt for risky treatments, since most of the respondents were risk-seeking in the short term. Key words: utility assessment; medical decision making; prospect theory; risk attitude; certainty equivalent gambles; aspiration level. (Med Decis Making 1994;14:194- 200)
Quercetin oxidation by horseradish peroxidase: The effect of UV-B irradiation

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP), a highly-investigated member of the peroxidase family has been known, among many other biological activities, to catalyze the oxidation of flavonoids and phenolic substrates overall, including quercetin. On the other hand, quercetin is very well known for its antioxidant activities, which in the case of UV external radiation is exibited partly in a preventive manner since it is an excellent UV-absorber. Therefore the aim of this investigation is to study quercetin oxidation by HRP in phosphate buffer under the conditions of UV-stress, i.e. continuous, prolonged UV-B irradiation. The results show that while UV-B irradiation affects the activity of HRP, and the overal rate of quercetin oxidation by HRP, it probably has very little effect on it for longer UV-B-irradiation periods (>30 min). [Acknowledgements. This work was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia under Project No.TR-34012 and OI-172044]
Partial dopamine agonist therapy of levodopa‐induced dyskinesias

We administered the partial dopamine agonist terguride under controlled conditions to patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), both as monotherapy and in conjunction with intravenous levodopa. Terguride produced a dose-dependent decrease in levodopa-induced dyskinesias (up to 53%) in seven patients without concomitant worsening of parkinsonism, and had no significant antiparkinsonian effect when administered alone. Partial dopamine agonists may hold some promise in the adjuvant therapy of patients with advanced PD.
Feasibility and Outcome of Endoscopic Staple‐Assisted Esophagodiverticulostomy for Zenker's Diverticulum

Objectives/Hypothesis Endoscopic staple‐assisted esophagodiverticulostomy (ESED) is a newly described method of surgically correcting Zenker's diverticulum. Initial reports on the ease and success of the surgery have been quite enthusiastic, making it seem the procedure of choice. We initiated the procedure in an algorithm of treatment of Zenker's diverticulum, to further explore the feasibility and outcome of this new technique.
Rapid detection of herpes simplex virus in clinical samples by flow cytometry after amplification in tissue culture

Murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and -2, respectively) nuclear antigens were used to identify cells infected with HSV-1 or -2 by indirect immunofluorescence in conjunction with flow cytometry after virus amplification of MRC-5 cell monolayers. The results indicate that MAbs Q1, Q2, and H-640 detect HSV-1- and HSV-2-infected cells, MAb SD-1 detects HSV-2- but not HSV-1-infected cells, and MAb 58-S detects HSV-1- but not HSV-2-infected cells. MAb Q1, which detects HSV-1- as well as HSV-2-infected cells, was used to detect HSV-infected cells after inoculation and overnight (16- to 20-h) incubation of MRC-5 monolayers with clinical samples suspected of containing HSV. In comparing the efficiency of flow cytometry with cytopathic effect (CPE) in tissue culture for detecting HSV in clinical samples, HSV was detected by flow cytometry in 77% of the cases where HSV was detected by CPE in tissue culture. In many cases, flow cytometry detected HSV from 1 to 3 days before HSV was detected by CPE.
Disentangling Contributions of Reproductive Tract Infections to HIV Acquisition in African Women

Objective: To estimate the effects of reproductive tract infections (RTIs) on HIV acquisition among Zimbabwean and Ugandan women. Methods: A multicenter prospective observational cohort study enrolled 4439 HIV-uninfected women aged 18 to 35 attending family planning clinics in Zimbabwe and Uganda. Participants were interviewed, and tested for HIV and RTIs every 3 months for 15 to 24 months. They received HIV risk reduction counseling, male condoms, and treatment for curable RTIs. Results: Despite HIV risk reduction counseling and regular screening and treatment for RTIs, the HIV incidence did not decline during the study. Positive HSV-2 serostatus at baseline (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.69, 95% confidence interval = 2.45–5.55), incident HSV-2 (HR = 5.35, 3.06–9.36), incident Neisseria gonorrhoeae (HR = 5.46, 3.41–8.75), and altered vaginal flora during the study (bacterial vaginosis [BV]: HR = 2.12, 1.50–3.01; and intermediate flora: HR = 2.02, 1.39–2.95) were independently associated with HIV acquisition after controlling for demographic and behavioral covariates and other RTIs (Treponema pallidum, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, and vaginal yeasts). For N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis, T. vaginalis, and vaginal yeasts, the risk of HIV acquisition increased when the infection was identified at the visit before the HIV-detection visit or with the duration of infection. Population attributable risk percent (PAR%) calculations show that HSV-2 contributes most to acquisition of new HIV infections (50.4% for baseline HSV-2 and 7.9% for incident HSV-2), followed by altered vaginal flora (17.2% for bacterial vaginosis and 11.8% for intermediate flora). Conclusions: A substantial proportion of new HIV infections in Zimbabwean and Ugandan women are attributable to RTIs, particularly HSV-2 and altered vaginal flora.
Effect of Logistics, Supply Input, Production and Finance on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Performance in Kaduna State

This paper examined the effect of logistics, supply input, production and finance on small and medium enterprises performance in Kaduna State. Questionnaire was distributed using stratified sampling. 174 copies of the questionnaire were used for the analysis with a population of 201 registered owners/manager of SMEs operating within the state. PLS-SEM path modelling were used to process data. Findings reveal that logistics, production as well as finance has significant effect on SMEs performance, while supply input has negative and insignificant effect on performance of SMEs. The study concludes that logistics, production, supply input and finance is important to improve SMEs performance. The study therefore Recommends that the Government pay more attention to the development of the value chain to reorient the SME sector and implement a new strategy based on the principle that SMEs are a business that can provide a reasonable basis for greater wealth, growth employment and improves the capacity of the country to earn foreign currency through small and medium enterprises.
Pannexin1 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism and Platelet Reactivity in a Cohort of Cardiovascular Patients

Abstract Pannexin1 (Panx1), a membrane channel-forming protein permitting the passage of small-sized molecules, such as ATP, is expressed in human platelets. Recently, we showed that inhibiting Panx1 affects collagen-induced platelet aggregation but not aggregation triggered by other agonists. We also found that a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; rs1138800) in the Panx1 gene encoded for a gain-of-function channel (Panx1-400C) and was associated with enhanced collagen-induced platelet reactivity. Here, we assessed the association of this SNP with platelet reactivity in a cohort of 758 stable cardiovascular patients from the ADRIE study treated with aspirin and/or clopidogrel. We found that presence of the Panx1-400C allele was not associated with platelet reactivity in stable cardiovascular patients, irrespective of the platelet aggregation agonist used (collagen, ADP or arachidonic acid) or the anti-platelet drug regimen. Moreover, the Panx1-400A > C SNP did also not affect the re-occurrence of cardiac ischemic events in the same stable cardiovascular patient cohort.
The extent to which earnings are manipulated in the construction sector of the Stock Exchange of Thailand and its exogenous macroeconomic factors

This study aims to investigate the earnings manipulation phenomena in the construction sector of the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Our examination is divided into two stages. In the first stage, we use the M-score model developed by Beneish (1999) to calculate the extent to which earnings are manipulated by Thai construction companies listed in the SET during the past ten years. This will allow us to ascertain the level of earnings management engaged by these firms during several critical periods, e.g., the period before the US subprime mortgage crisis arose, during the crisis period, and the post-crisis period, and in addition, the period before the political crisis leading to an establishment of the military government and the period after. The second stage of our examination deals with potential macroeconomic factors that affect the probability of earnings manipulation revealed by construction companies. These variables include cement materials price index, steel material price index, fixed capital formation, gross domestic product. Our control variables include total accruals to total assets ratio, debt to equity ratio, market capitalization, and return on assets.Our preliminary results reveal that reveals that the level of earnings management in the construction sector of the SET exceeds the benchmark M-score value of -2.22 in the second and third quarters of 2009 (during the subprime crisis). This phenomenon is encouraging especially for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Thailand. It implies that the SEC? s strict reporting regulations have resulted in the level of earnings manipulation in the construction sector of Thailand being low recently. Nevertheless, Thai construction firms have shown an incentive to conduct earnings manipulation activities during the global financial crisis period. Further analysis shows that debt to equity ratio, market capitalization, and steel materials price index are negatively related to the manipulation index at the 95% confidence level. Only the total accruals to total assets ratio is positively related to the manipulation index at the 95% confidence level. On the other hand, return on assets, cement materials price index, gross domestic product, gross domestic fixed capital formation, and the SET index are found to exert no significant influence over the manipulation index.
Sterols and the phytosterol content in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

Sterols are natural, organic compounds with a molecular nucleus of 17 carbon atoms and a characteristic threedimensional arrangement of four rings. From the chemical point of view sterols are steroid alcohols and their name is derived from Greek stereos, which mean solid with ending —ol, which is the suffix for alcohols. As essential constituents of cell membranes, they are widely distributed in all eukaryotic organisms. Playing a structural role in cellular membranes, they present a significant part of the organism membrane biomass, while their functional role is evident through the participation in the control of membrane-associated metabolic processes, such as: regulations of membrane permeability and fluidity, signal transduction events and the activity of membrane-boun d enzymes. Sterols are the precursors of steroid hormones and bile acids in humans, brassinosteroids - phytohormones in plants and, as the recent identifications of sterol mutants have shown, they are involved in important growth and developmental processes in living organisms. In recent years increased interest in phytosterols lies in their potential to reduce plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, decreasing coronary mortality and therefore acting as naturally preventive dietary product. In the last decades, more than 40 different sterols were well identified in different cultivars. These sterols are called phytosterols and they are predominantly present in oilseed plants. The phytosterol content range between 1.41-15.57 gr/ kg oil and this depends to plant species. Oilseed rape is one of the most important oil seed crop in the world. phytosterol content in new oilseed rape varieties rang between 5.13 and 9.79 gr/kg oil.
Rates of convergence of Gaussian quadrature for singular integrands

The authors obtain the rates of convergence (or divergence) of Gaussian quadrature on functions with an algebraic or logarithmic singularity inside, or at an endpoint of, the interval of integration. A typical result is the following: For a bounded smooth weight function on [-1,1], the error in n-point Gaussian quadrature of f(x) = Ix y1-1 is O(n-2+28) if y = +1 and O(n' +) if y E (-1,1), provided we avoid the singularity. If we ignore the singularityy, the error is O(n1 '23(log n)8(loglog n)8t(1+) for almost all choices of y. These assertions are sharp with respect to order.
Clinico-histopathological correlation of leprosy: A retrospective study of skin biopsy specimens in Chitwan Medical College

Aim Aim of this study was to fi nd out cases of leprosy diagnosed in skin biopsy specimen and to study clinicohistopathological correlation in diagnosis of leprosy. Background Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae. There are various clinico-pathological forms of leprosy depending on the immune status of the host. Diagnosis of leprosy can be done by clinical, microbiological and histopathological examination. Histopathological examination is considered as important for confi rmatory diagnosis, for assessment of regression of the disease in patient under treatment and also for research purposes. Number of skin lesions in patients, Ridley and Jopling (RJ) classifi cation and bacilliary index in histological sample all can be correlated for proper classifi cation and treatment of leprosy cases. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included cases of leprosy diagnosed in skin biopsy specimen in the Department of Pathology of Chitwan Medical College from April 2009 to March 2014. Clinical diagnosis was correlated with that of histopathological diagnosis. Results In this study, male to female ratio was 1.4:1. Mean age of patients was 32.66 years. Most common lesion was hypopigmented macule (68%). On the basis of RJ scale, maximum cases (41%) were classifi ed as borderline tuberculoid leprosy (BT) and least number (3.7%) as leprosy, and polar lepromatous leprosy. Maximum clinico-histopathological correlation was seen in borderline lepromatous leprosy (87.5%) followed by BT (68.1%). Fite ferraco stain was done in only 27 cases. It was 0-2 in tuberculoid spectrum and >2 in lepromatous spectrum. Conclusion Combining clinical, histopathological and microbiological diagnosis of leprosy is important for proper treatment of the patient and prevention of complications.
Effect of light activation on resin-modified glass ionomer shear bond strength.

OBJECTIVE Recent studies confirmed that resin-modified glass ionomers (RMGIs) set on the basis of two competing mechanisms, an acid-base reaction and a light-activated resin polymerization. This study evaluated the effect of the setting mechanism on bond strength by measuring the shear bond strength of three RMGIs to dentin with and without light activation. METHODS Sixty human molars were ground to midcoronal dentin and randomly divided into six even groups: 1) Ketac Nano (KN), 2) KN without light cure (woLC), 3) Fuji Filling LC (FF), 4) FF woLC, 5) Fuji II LC (FII), and 6) FII woLC. The dentin surfaces of the specimens were conditioned/primed according to the manufacturers' instructions. A 1.54-mm diameter plastic tube was filled with RMGI material and affixed to the dentin surface. Groups 1, 3, and 5 were light cured for 20 seconds, and groups 2, 4, and 6 were immediately placed in a damp dark box with no light curing at 37°C for 24 hours. Shear bond strength testing was performed in an Instron device at 1 mm/min. Data were analyzed with a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey/Kramer test (α=0.05). RESULTS Mean ± standard deviation shear bond strength values (MPa) are: 7.1 ± 4.2 (KN), 11.7 ± 3.9 (FF), 10.2 ± 3.2 (FF woLC), 12.5 ± 5.1 (FII), and 0.3 ± 0.4 (FII woLC). Two KN, all KN woLC, and seven FII woLC specimens debonded before testing. Tukey/Kramer analysis revealed no significant differences in bond strength between the three light-cured RMGIs. KN and FII showed significantly lower bond strength without light cure, but no significant difference was observed between FF and FF woLC. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study strongly suggest that light activation is necessary to obtain optimal bond strength between RMGI and dentin. FF may contain components that chemically activate resin polymerization. Clinically, KN and FII need to be light cured after placement of these RMGIs.
Early basic magmatism in the evolution of Archaean high-grade gneiss terrains: an example from the Lewisian of NW Scotland

Abstract Amphibolite blocks from an Archaean (2.9 Ga) trondhjemite-agmatite complex in the Lewisian at Gruinard Bay have a varied trace element and REE content. Whilst some of the variability is attributable to element mobility during high-grade metamorphism and subsequent trondhjemite magmatism, it is for the main part considered to be a primary feature of the amphibolites. The observed trace element and REE chemistry is best explained in terms of source region heterogeneity and suggests a melting regime comparable with that beneath certain types of mid-ocean ridge. There are geochemical similarities between the amphibolites and the Lewisian layered gabbro-ultramafic complexes, and the two may represent the derivative liquid and associated cumulates respectively from a common parent magma. Thus there is a parallel between the processes which generated some Archaean amphibolites and layered gabbro complexes and those operating beneath modern ocean ridges. Hornblendite and amphibolite pods enclosed within tonalitic gneiss, also found as blocks in the agmatite complex, are geochemically distinct from the main group of amphibolites and are probably of calc-alkaline parentage.
Mutational Analysis of a Bifunctional Ferrisiderophore Receptor and Signal-Transducing Protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ABSTRACT The FpvA protein of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1 mediates uptake of a siderophore, ferripyoverdine. It is also a component of a signal transduction pathway that controls production of an exotoxin, a protease, pyoverdine, and FpvA itself. The purpose of the research described here was to dissect these different functions of FpvA. Signaling involves an N-terminal domain of FpvA, and it was shown that this domain is probably located in the periplasm, as expected. Short peptides were inserted at 36 sites within FpvA by linker insertion mutagenesis. The effects of these mutations on the presence of FpvA in the outer membrane, on FpvA-mediated uptake of ferripyoverdine, and on pyoverdine synthesis and gene expression were determined. Five of the mutations resulted in the absence of FpvA from the outer membrane of the bacteria. All of the remaining mutations eliminated either the transport or signaling function of FpvA and most affected both functions. Three mutations prevented transport of ferripyoverdine but had no effect on the signal transduction pathway showing that transport of ferripyoverdine is not required for the trans-membrane signaling process. Conversely, eight mutations affected pyoverdine-mediated signaling but had no effect on transport of ferripyoverdine. These data show that insertions throughout FpvA resulted in loss of function and that signaling and transport are separate and discrete functions of FpvA.
TOPOLOGICAL GROUPS WITH ROHLIN PROPERTIES

In his classical paper [28] P. R. Halmos shows that weak mixing is generic in the measure preserving transformations. Later, in his book [29], he gave a more streamlined proof of this fact based on a fundamental lemma due to V. A. Rohlin. For this reason the name of Rohlin has been attached to a variety of results, old and new, relating to the density of conjugacy classes in topological groups. In this paper we will survey some of the new developments in this area.