Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
2D-Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Contributes to Early Identification of Impaired Left Ventricular Myocardial Function in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background/Aims: Our aim was to investigate left ventricular (LV) physiology and short-axis and long-axis regional LV myocardial function throughout the cardiac cycle with 2D-speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) in patients with chronic kidney disease. Methods: The study population consisted of 40 maintenance hemodialysis patients (hemodialysis group), 20 uremic patients hospitalized for creation of primary arteriovenous fistula (nondialysis group), and a control group of 20 healthy volunteers. LV regional longitudinal, circumferential and radial peak systolic velocity (Vs); early diastolic velocity (Ve); and peak systolic strain (Ε) were measured with 2D-STE. Results: Increased LV wall thickness and a decreased E/A ratio were found in the nondialysis and hemodialysis groups as compared to the control group, but there was no difference between the 2 study groups. Longitudinal Vs and Ve of the LV basal segment and middle segment in hemodialysis group and nondialysis group were all slower than those in the control group, and Vs in the nondialysis group was slower than that of the hemodialysis group. Circumferential and radial Vs and Ve were not different among the 3 groups, except that the radial Vs of LV basal segment was markedly decreased in the nondialysis group. Longitudinal peak systolic strain in the hemodialysis and nondialysis groups were both decreased as compared to the control group. Circumferential and radial peak systolic strain was decreased only in the nondialysis group. Conclusions: 2D-STE may be used to identify early abnormalities in patients with chronic kidney disease who have preserved LV ejection fraction. LV regional function appeared to be better in the hemodialysis group than that in the nondialysis group.
Functional heterogeneity of C-terminal peroxisome targeting signal 1 in PEX5-defective patients.

To investigate mechanisms related to functions of the peroxisome targeting signal (PTS) 1 receptor, Pex5p, we analyzed peroxisome matrix protein import in fibroblasts from three patients with peroxisome biogenesis disorders, all with different mutations in the PEX5 gene. The patients 2-01 (Zellweger syndrome) and 2-05 (neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy) have the reported mutations, R390X and N489K, and patient 2-03 (infantile Refsum disease) has a newly identified mutation, S563W. Fibroblasts from 2-03 (S563W) were detected in both PTS1 and PTS2 imports despite the PEX5 defect, findings in contrast with fibroblasts from 2-05 (N489K) severely defective in PTS1 import and those from 2-01 (R390X) severely defective in both PTS1 and PTS2. The PTS1 receptor in 2-03 is functional for only the C-terminal -SKL sequence (acyl-CoA oxidase) and had little or no function for C-terminal -AKL (D-bifunctional protein and sterol carrier protein 2) and -KANL (catalase) sequences, respectively. After transfection of these mutated PEX5 cDNA into the PEX5-defective CHO mutant, transformants of ZP102 revealed that each mutation was responsible for each dysfunction of the PTS1 import. It seems apparent that -AKL and -KANL are poorer variants of PTS1 and are likely to be more susceptible to effects of mutation of its receptor, Pex5p.
Chinese Older Adults’ Internet Use for Health Information

Technological advancement benefits Internet users with the convenience of social connection and information search. This study aimed at investigating the predictors of Internet use to search for online health information among Chinese older adults. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was applied to examine the predictiveness of perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and attitudes toward Internet use on behavioral intention to search for health information online. Ninety-eight Chinese older adults were recruited from an academic institute for older people and community centers. Frequency of Internet use and physical and psychological health were also assessed. Results showed that perceived ease of use and attitudes significantly predicted behavioral intention of Internet use. The potential influences of traditional Chinese values and beliefs in health were also discussed.
ECG Evaluation of Ventricular Properties: The Importance of Cardiac Cycle Length

Ventricular repolarization properties are dependent on cardiac cycle length. The aim of this article is to emphasize the importance of taking into account heart rate influences on QT duration but also on current and future T‐wave morphology parameters. The relationship between QT interval duration and RR interval is a fundamental property of the myocardium that is impaired by the presence of channelopathies such as the LQTS or SQTS, but also by the presence of a cardiomyopathy. Assessing this property is also important when the individual QT/RR relationship is used for individual QT correction in the setting of evaluation of drugs' effect on QT duration. T‐wave descriptors such as the relative weight of the terminal part of the T‐wave, the amplitude of T‐wave apex and Principal Component Analysis parameters are also dependent on heart rate. Assessing ventricular repolarisation ECG parameters at different heart rates avoids the need for difficult rate‐correction and helps to better understand and characterize ventricular repolarisation properties.
The Link between Human Resource Capacity Building and Job Performance

In this paper, the primary objective was to discuss the link between human resource capacity building and job performance by reviewing current literature on the subject. The review considered the aspects of capacity building that deals with the training and empowerment of individual employees in order to improve their job performance. Finding from the review indicated a strong link between human resource capacity building and employee job performance. It is hoped that this indication from the review will provide additional logical motivations for the continuing training and empowerment of employees.
Regulation of ATM / p 53-dependent suppression of myc-induced lymphomas by Wip 1 phosphatase

Vol. 203, No. 13, December 25, 2006 2793–2799 www.jem. org/cgi/doi/10.1084/jem.20061563 2793 The ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase is involved in transducing signals that are implicated in the regulation of cell cycle checkpoints, apoptosis, and DNA repair (1). The ATM-dependent pathway is activated early in the course of human tumorigenesis and serves as an anticancer barrier that helps to delay or prevent cancer (2). In turn, a defi ciency of ATM results in early onset of lymphomas in mice (3), whereas germline mutations in the ATM gene cause ataxia-telangiectasia, a multisystem disorder that is associated with a predisposition to lymphoma and acute leukemia (4). Regulation of the ATM-dependent pathway is complex and involves numerous positive and negative regulators (1). Among the latter, emerging data support a role for ATM phosphatases PP2A and Wip1 in controlling the magnitude and duration of ATM phosphorylation and activity after stress (5, 6). There is increasing evidence that Wip1 phosphatase can function as an oncogene (7, 8). The Wip1 gene, PPM1D, is amplifi ed in 15% of primary human breast cancers, which leads to Wip1 overexpression. Transformation experiments with rodent fi broblasts have shown that the introduction of Wip1 along with Ras, Myc, or ErbB2 results in enhanced colony formation in soft agar (7, 8). A combination of genetic and molecular studies have established that the oncogenic properties of Wip1 may result from its suppression of p53 functions (7, 8). Along this line, almost all Wip1-overexpressing breast tumors were found to have a structurally intact p53 gene, confi rming that Wip1 could functionally inactivate p53 (7). Regulation of several signaling pathways has been proposed by Wip1 phosphatase. Modulation of the p38 MAPK signaling cascade was shown both in vitro and in vivo (9, 10). We found that activation of p38 MAPK could be critical in rendering Wip1-defi cient mice resistant to mammary gland tumors driven by ErbB2 and Ras oncogenes (10). Further studies, however, revealed that in addition to p38 MAPK (11), Wip1 could effi ciently dephosphorylate in vitro the serine residues on p53, H2AX, and Chk2 (6, 12, 13). Likewise, Wip1 phosphatase plays an important role in dephosphorylating ATM both in vitro and in vivo (6).
Prebiotic effect of soluble fibres from modern and old durum-type wheat varieties on Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains.

BACKGROUND Wheat grains are a rich source of dietary fibres, particularly in the western human diet. Many of the health effects attributed to dietary fibres are believed to be related to their microbial fermentation in the gut. This study evaluated the ability of two potentially probiotic strains, Lactobacillus plantarum L12 and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum B7003, to ferment soluble dietary fibres (SDFs) from modern and ancient durum-type wheat grains. RESULTS Fibre microbial utilisation was highly variable and dependent on the strain. SDFs from the varieties Svevo and Solex supported the growth of L. plantarum L12 the best, whereas those from the varieties Anco Marzio, Solex and Kamut(®) Khorasan were good carbohydrate substrates for B. pseudocatenulatum B7003. The highest prebiotic activity scores (describing the extent to which prebiotics support selective growth of probiotics) for B7003 were obtained with SDFs from the varieties Solex (0.57), Kamut(®) Khorasan (0.56) and Iride (0.55), whereas for L12 the highest scores were achieved with the varieties Orobel (0.63), Kamut(®) Khorasan (0.56) and Solex (0.53). CONCLUSION The present study has identified some SDFs from durum-type wheat grains as suitable prebiotic substrates for the selective proliferation of B. pseudocatenulatum B7003 and L. plantarum L12 in vitro. The results provide the basis for the potential utilisation of wheat-based prebiotics as a component of synbiotic formulations.
Synthesis and Secretion of Plasma Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein by Human Hepatocarcinoma Cell Line, HepG2

We have examined the synthesis, secretion, and functional and physical characteristics of a llpid transfer protein synthesized by a human hepatocellular carcinoma line. We found that this protein shares Immunochemlcal determinants and many other properties with the llpid transfer protein, LTP-I, which has been purified from human plasma. We conclude that the human liver cell line, HepG2, synthesizes and secretes LTP-I. Thus, hepatocytes may be the source of LTP-I In human plasma.
Towards evidence based diagnosis of voice disorders using phonovibrograms

Clinical diagnosis of voice disorders is based on examination of the oscillating vocal folds during phonation with state-of-the-art endoscopic high-speed cameras. Commonly, the offline analysis is performed in a subjective and time-consuming manner via slow-motion playback. In this study an objective method for overcoming this drawback is presented being based on phonovibrogram (PVG) images. For a set of normal voices and subjects suffering from vocal fold paralysis or functional dysphonia the laryngeal dynamics were captured by specialized phonovibrogram features and classified using a support vector machine (SVM). In case of functional voice disorders a mean classification accuracy of 78.5% was obtained while in vocal fold paralysis a classification accuracy of up to 93% could be obtained. The classification results show that the PVG features hold a lot of promise in supporting diagnosis of voice pathologies even in case of muscle tension dysphonia.
The maintenance energy of bacteria in growing cultures

The variation, with growth rate, of the yield of organism from the substrate used as energy source is attributed to consumption of energy at a constant rate for cell maintenance. From the laws of growth, a simple relation between the maintenance requirement, the growth yield and the growth rate is derived. The relation is shown to be in good agreement with the available data. A distinction is made between ‘observed’ yield and ‘true’ yield of organisms. Values for maintenance energies and ‘true growth yields’ have been calculated from the data.
DYNAMIC COHERENT ACCEPTABILITY INDICES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS TO FINANCE

In this paper, we present a theoretical framework for studying coherent acceptability indices (CAIs) in a dynamic setup. We study dynamic CAIs (DCAIs) and dynamic coherent risk measures (DCRMs), and we establish a duality between them. We derive a representation theorem for DCRMs in terms of a so‐called dynamically consistent sequence of sets of probability measures. Based on these results, we give a specific construction of DCAIs. We also provide examples of DCAIs, both abstract and also some that generalize selected classical financial measures of portfolio performance.
Reliability and validity of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System: An update

A critical endeavor in every health-related field is the continued development of new technologies and instrumentation for improving diagnosis and treatment. For example, the field of neuroimaging has made astonishing advances with procedures such as functional MRI, MR spectroscopy, and MR diffusion tensor imaging. The field of neuropsychology has also recognized the importance of continually striving to develop new, more sensitive clinical measures. At the same time, the development of new tests or procedures does not guarantee that the instruments represent improvements in diagnosis or treatment. For this reason, ongoing studies of reliability and validity of new diagnostic instruments are also an important part of research in all health-related fields.
An X‐ray microanalysis survey of the concentration of elements in the cytoplasm of different mammalian cell types

Electron probe energy dispersive X‐ray microanalysis was performed on freeze‐dried tissue sections. The dry weight concentration of elements (mmole/kg dry weight) was measured in the cytoplasm of several cell types from adult mice and rats. This comparative investigation showed: (1) That the energy dispersive X‐ray spectrum of element concentration from the cytoplasm of a specific cell type allows one to distinguish this specific cell type from other cell types with considerable accuracy. (2) That there is a relationship between the concentration of the various elements and the ultrastructural features of the cytoplasmic regions being analyzed. For example, areas rich in ribosomes are also rich in P, K and Mg. (3) These data support the idea that K is directly involved in the control of protein synthesis. The catalog of element concentrations in the cytoplasm of 13 cell types from both mice and rats should be of value to others who seek to answer various questions about these cell types.
Responsiveness of clinical measures in children with oligoarticular juvenile chronic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To compare the relative responsiveness of outcome measures in children with oligoarticular course juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA). METHODS Twenty-six consecutive children with JCA and < or =4 joints involved were assessed at admission and after 3 months of followup. Outcome measures included physician and parent global assessments, functional ability as measured by the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ), articular variables, and laboratory indicators of systemic inflammation. Responsiveness was calculated with the standardized response median, the effect size, and the Guyatt method. RESULTS The physician global assessment of disease activity, the active joint count, the global articular severity score, and the number and score of swollen joints proved consistently more responsive with either responsiveness measure used. The parent global assessment of the child's well being, the scores of joints with pain/tenderness and limited range of motion, and the number of joints with limited range of motion showed intermediate responsiveness. The CHAQ, morning stiffness, and laboratory indicators of systemic inflammation were the least responsive measures. CONCLUSION The subjective estimation of disease activity by the physician and the articular variables were the more responsive outcome measures in children with oligoarticular JCA. The assessment of functional ability as measured by the CHAQ showed a poor sensitivity to clinical change in this subset of patients with JCA.
Visian Toric ICL Implantation after Intracorneal Ring Segments Implantation and Corneal Collagen Crosslinking in Keratoconus

Purpose To evaluate the safety and clinical outcome of Visian toric implantable collamer lens (TICL) implantation for the treatment of residual refractive errors 6 months after sequential intracorneal ring segments (ICRS) and corneal collagen UVA crosslinking (CXL) in stable keratoconus. Methods This retrospective study examined the results of a 3-step ICRS-CXL-TICL in 11 eyes of 7 patients with moderate to severe keratoconus. The 2 procedures (ICRS-CXL) were performed sequentially at an interval of 4 weeks and TICL implantation was performed at least 6 months after CXL. Data were collected preoperatively, at the 6-month follow-up visit after sequential ICRS-CXL, and at the 6-month follow-up visit after TICL implantation. Results The ICRS-CXL induced a significant decrease in keratometry, increase in visual acuity, and decrease in refraction. At 6-month follow-up after ICRS-CXL, mean Kflat was 45.19 ± 3.98 D vs 48.51 ± 4.26 D preoperatively (p = 0.022) and mean Ksteep was 50.41 ± 4.32 D vs 54.24 ± 4.96 D preoperatively (p = 0.032). Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCVA) significantly improved from 1.47 ± 0.38 logMAR before ICRS-CXL to 0.27 ± 0.20 logMAR 6 months after (p = 0.002). Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) significantly improved from 0.50 ± 0.22 logMAR to 0.29 ± 0.23 logMAR (p = 0.001). At 6 months post TICL implantation, UCVA improved significantly to 0.27 ± 0.20 logMAR and the CDVA was 0.19 ± 0.11 logMAR. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. Conclusions Toric ICL implantation after sequential ICRS implantation and CXL is an effective and safe option for correcting high residual refractive error and improving visual acuity in patients with moderate to severe keratoconus.
Uniportal versus three-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Whether or not uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is beneficial for spontaneous pneumothorax remains inconclusive. This meta-analysis aimed to summarize the available evidence to assess the feasibility and advantages of uniportal VATS for the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax compared with three-port VATS. METHODS Eligible publications were identified by searching the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data databases and CQVIP. Odds ratios (OR) and standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to compare dichotomous and continuous variables, respectively. RESULTS This meta-analysis was based on 17 studies and included a total of 988 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. No death was reported during the perioperative period. Compared with three-port VATS groups, there was a statistically significant difference in uniportal VATS groups regarding postoperative hospital stay (SMD= -0.58; 95% CI: -1.04 to -0.12; P=0.01), paresthesia (OR=0.13; 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.24; P<0.00001), visual analogue pain score (VAS) at 24 hours (h) (SMD= -0.87; 95% CI: -1.07 to -0.68; P<0.00001), VAS at 72 h (SMD= -0.49; 95% CI: -0.68 to -0.30; P<0.00001), and patients satisfaction scale (PSS) at 24 h (SMD= -0.81; 95% CI: -1.21 to -0.41; P<0.0001), PSS at 48 h (SMD= -0.69; 95% CI: -1.08 to -0.29; P=0.0007). However there was no statistically significant difference on the recurrence (OR=0.79; 95% CI: 0.42 to 1.46; P=0.45), operative time (SMD= -0.23; 95% CI: -0.21 to 0.67; P=0.31), length of postoperative drainage (SMD= -0.17; 95% CI: -0.40 to -0.07; P=0.16), VAS at 48 h (SMD= -0.40; 95% CI: -1.47 to 0.67; P=0.46), and PSS at 72 h (SMD= -0.13; 95% CI: -0.52 to -0.25; P=0.50). CONCLUSIONS The results for mortality, recurrence, operative time, and length of postoperative drainage were similar between uniportal and three-port VATS. Uniportal VATS resulted in reduction in postoperative pain and paresthesia as well as an improvement in patients' satisfaction. This meta-analysis indicated that using uniportal VATS to treat spontaneous pneumothorax was safe and feasible, and it may be a better alternative procedure because of its advantage in reducing postoperative pain and paresthesia.
Lophirones B and C Attenuate Acetaminophen‐Induced Liver Damage in Mice: Studies on Hepatic, Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Biomarkers

Lophirones B and C are chalcone dimers with proven chemopreventive activity. This study evaluates the hepatoprotective effect lophirones B and C in acetaminophen‐induced hepatic damage in mice using biomarkers of hepatocellular indices, oxidative stress, proinflammatory factors and lipid peroxidation. Oral administrations of lophirones B and C significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated acetaminophen‐mediated alterations in serum alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin and total bilirubin. Similarly, acetaminophen‐mediated decrease in activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose 6‐ phosphate dehydrogenase were significantly attenuated in the liver of mice. Increased levels of conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl and fragmented DNA were significantly lowered by lophirones B and C. Levels of tumour necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐6 and 8 were significantly lowered in serum of acetaminophen treated mice by the chalcone dimers. Overall, results of this study show that lophirones B and C halted acetaminophen‐mediated hepatotoxicity.
What Drives the Cross-Section of Credit Spreads?: A Variance Decomposition Approach

I decompose the cross-sectional variation of the credit spreads for corporate bonds into changing expected returns and changing expectation of credit losses with a model-free method. Using a log-linearized pricing identity and a vector autoregression applied to micro-level data from 1973 to 2011, I find that the expected credit loss component and the excess return component each explains about half of the variance of the credit spreads. Unlike the market-level findings in Gilchrist and Zakrajsek (2012), at the firm level, the expected credit loss is volatile and affects the firms' investment decision more than the expected excess returns.
A set of algorithms linking NLMS and block RLS algorithms

A set of block processing algorithms that contains as extremal cases the normalized least mean squares (NLMS) and the block recursive least squares (BRLS) algorithms is described. These algorithms use small block lengths, thus allowing easy implementation and small input-output delay. It is shown that these algorithms require a smaller number of arithmetic operations than the classical LMS algorithm, while converging much faster. A precise evaluation of the arithmetic complexity is provided, and the adaptive behavior of the algorithm is analyzed. A simulation shows that the tracking characteristics of the new algorithm compared with the NLMS algorithm are also improved. Another simulation shows that, even in the case where noise is added to the reference signal, the proposed algorithm allows a faster convergence and a lower residual error than the NLMS algorithm. <<ETX>>