Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pulsatile Flow of a Two-Fluid Model for Blood Flow through Arterial Stenosis

Pulsatile flow of a two-fluid model for blood flow through stenosed narrow arteries is studied through a mathematical analysis. Blood is treated as two-phase fluid model with the suspension of all the erythrocytes in the as Herschel-Bulkley fluid and the plasma in the peripheral layer as a Newtonian fluid. Perturbation method is used to solve the system of nonlinear partial differential equations. The expressions for velocity, wall shear stress, plug core radius, flow rate and resistance to flow are obtained. The variations of these flow quantities with stenosis size, yield stress, axial distance, pulsatility and amplitude are analyzed. It is found that pressure drop, plug core radius, wall shear stress and resistance to flow increase as the yield stress or stenosis size increases while all other parameters held constant. It is observed that the percentage of increase in the magnitudes of the wall shear stress and resistance to flow over the uniform diameter tube is considerably very low for the present two-fluid model compared with that of the single-fluid model of the Herschel-Bulkley fluid. Thus, the presence of the peripheral layer helps in the functioning of the diseased arterial system.
Agriculture for Improved Nutrition: The Current Research Landscape

Background Concern about food security and its effect on persistent undernutrition has increased interest in how agriculture could be used to improve nutritional outcomes in developing countries. Yet the evidence base for the impact of agricultural interventions targeted at improved nutrition is currently poor. Objective To map the extent and nature of current and planned research on agriculture for improved nutrition in order to identify gaps where more research might be useful. Methods The research, which was conducted from April to August 2012, involved developing a conceptual framework linking agriculture and nutrition, identifying relevant research projects and programs, devising and populating a “template” with details of the research projects in relation to the conceptual framework, classifying the projects, and conducting a gap analysis. Results The study identified a large number of research projects covering a broad range of themes and topics. There was a strong geographic focus on sub-Saharan Africa, and many studies were explicitly concerned with nutritional impacts on women and children. Although the study revealed a diverse and growing body of research, it also identified research gaps. Few projects consider the entire evidence chain linking agricultural input or practice to nutritional outcomes. There is comparatively little current research on indirect effects of agriculture on nutrition, or the effect of policies or governance, rather than technical interventions. Most research is focused on undernutrition and small farmer households, and few studies target consumers generally, urban populations, or nutrition-related non-communicable diseases. There is very little work on the cost-effectiveness of agricultural interventions. Conclusions On the basis of these findings, we make suggestions for research investment and for broader engagement of researchers and disciplines in developing approaches to design and evaluate agricultural programs for improved nutrition.
Church attendance mediates the association between depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning among older Mexican Americans.

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to examine how the effect of depressive symptoms on cognitive function is modified by church attendance. METHODS We used a sample of 2759 older Mexican Americans. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at baseline, 2, 5, 7, and 11 years of follow-up. Church attendance was dichotomized as frequent attendance (e.g., going to church at least once a month) versus infrequent attendance (e.g., never or several times a year). Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; score >or=16 vs <16). General linear mixed models with time-dependent covariates were used to explore cognitive change at follow-up. RESULTS In unadjusted models, infrequent church attendees had a greater decline in MMSE scores (drop of 0.151 points more each year, standard error [SE] = 0.02, p <.001) compared to frequent church attendees; participants having CES-D scores >or=16 also had greater declines in MMSE scores (drop of 0.132 points more each year, SE = 0.03, p <.001) compared to participants with CES-D score <16 at follow-up. In fully adjusted models, a significant Church attendance x CES-D x Time interaction (p =.001) indicated that, among participants with CES-D scores >or=16, infrequent church attendees had greater decline in MMSE scores (drop of 0.236 points more each year, SE = 0.05, p <.001) compared to frequent church attendees at follow-up. CONCLUSION Church attendance appears to be beneficial for maintaining cognitive function of older persons. Church attendance moderates the impact of clinically relevant depressive symptoms on subsequent cognitive function.
Authors' Reply to "Comments on 'Detection of Distributed Sources Using Sensor Arrays'"

The authors reply to Ramakrishnan and Udpa (IEEE Trans. Signal Process., vol.55, no.6, June 2007) who commented on the original paper by Jin and Friedlander (IEEE Trans. Signal Process., vol.52, no.6, p.1537-48 June 2004)
Surgical experience with cardiac myxomas.

BACKGROUND Cardiac myxomas are the most common benign intracardiac tumours. We studied the clinical presentation of cardiac myxomas and the morbidity, mortality and recurrence rate following surgery at our institution over a 6 year period. METHODS This historical longitudinal study was performed at department of Cardiac Surgery, Armed forces Institute of Cardiology and National Institute of Heart Diseases Rawalpindi, Pakistan between January 2002 and March 2008 a total number of 8506 cardiac operations were performed. Of these 34 patients (19 males, 15 females) underwent complete excision of primary or recurrent intracardiac myxomas. Pre-operative diagnosis was established by echocardiography. All patients underwent operation soon after the diagnosis of a myxoma was made. Complete tumour excision followed by close inspection and copious saline irrigation of the cardiac chambers was done in each case. Of the 32 patients who survived the surgery, 29 patients were followed up at regular intervals for recurrence. The mean follow-up period was 34 months. RESULTS Cardiac myxomas constituted 0.40% of the total cardiac operations at our institution. They most commonly occurred in the fourth decade. The commonest location was the left atrium (LA) (79%) followed by the right atrium (RA) (14%). Only one patient had myxoma in the right ventricle (RV). Patients with LA myxoma simulated mitral stenosis clinically whereas patients with RA and RV myxomas presented with features of right heart failure. A smaller percentage presented with embolic and constitutional symptoms. There were two early deaths. One recurrence was noted at 27 months after surgery. No late deaths were observed in the study. CONCLUSION Cardiac myxomas form a very small percentage of the cardiac cases. A high index of suspicion is essential for diagnosis. Echocardiography is the ideal diagnostic tool as also for follow-up. Immediate surgical treatment is indicated in all patients. Cardiac myxomas can be excised with a low rate of mortality and morbidity.
Determination the Pathogenicity of Citrobacter freundii by Using Three Types of Antigens in Najaf City

Background :This study has been included stool and urine samples were collected from children under six years of ages collected from three hospitals in Al-Najaf city (Al-Sadr Teaching, Al-Hakeem, and Al-Zahra Maternity and Children) , Citrobacter freundii isolated from clinical sample. The Suckling Mice Assay (SMA) and Rabbit ligated ileal loop assay (RIL) have been tested to detect production of heat stable and heat labile enterotoxins by bacteria. Material and Methods: Three types of antigens were prepared : Live Bacteria, Crude Enterotoxin and Partially purified enterotoxin(PPET). LD 50 for crude and PPET were determined by using white mice (20-25) g, which divided into five groups each group consist of five mice. Results LD 50 of bacterial Suspension, crude enterotoxin and PPET in mice was 2.04 × 10 7 cell/mouse, 66.6 μg/mouse and 46.2 μg/mouse respectively. Conclusion : Citrobacter freundii considered as a potential pathogen that isolated from clinical samples . Bioassay administrated the ability of this species to produce heat stable enterotoxin by using SMA, and heat labile enterotoxin by RIL. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate three types of antigens isolated from Citrobacter freundii to determination the pathogencity of this bacteria by LD 50 .
Optimization of parameters for semiempirical methods I. Method

A new method for obtaining optimized parameters for semiempirical methods has been developed and applied to the modified neglect of diatomic overlap (MNDO) method. The method uses derivatives of calculated values for properties with respect to adjustable parameters to obtain the optimized values of parameters. The large increase in speed is a result of using a simple series expression for calculated values of properties rather than employing full semiempirical calculations. With this optimization procedure, the rate‐determining step for parameterizing elements changes from the mechanics of parameterization to the assembling of experimental reference data.
Submesoscale , tidally-induced biogeochemical patterns in the Strait of Gibraltar ”

Tidal forcing and its fortnightly variation are known to be one of the main regulating agents of physical and biogeochemical signatures in the Strait of Gibraltar and surrounding areas. Samples obtained during spring and neap tides in the region were analyzed to determine the influence of this tidal variation on the submesoscale distribution of water masses and biological elements. During spring tides, strong and intermittent mixing processes between Mediterranean and Atlantic waters occur in the vicinity of the Camarinal Sill together with an eastward advection of those mixed-waters into the Alboran Sea. Furthermore, the intense suction of surface coastal waters into the main channel of the strait was detected as chlorophyll patches in the Alboran Sea during spring tides. In contrast, the most characteristic phenomenon during neap tides was the arrival of pulses of relatively nutrient-rich North Atlantic Central Waters to the surface regions of the Alboran Sea. In addition, traces of the suction of coastal waters were observed for the first time during neap tides. Therefore, our results show that submesoscale processes are crucial in the dynamics of the Strait of Gibraltar, and they must be considered for the correct description of the biogeochemical features of Alboran Sea, especially during an inactive period of the coastal upwelling.
Phospholipase A activity associated with the growth of Rickettsia prowazekii in L929 cells

Cultured L929 cells infected with Rickettsia prowazekii had a greatly increased rate of hydrolysis of fatty acid from the oleic acid-radiolabeled phospholipids of the host cell membranes. The incorporation of fatty acid into phospholipid in an infected cell was only moderately inhibited relative to a mock-infected cell. Thus, even if the release of fatty acid from phospholipid represented a steady state between hydrolysis and resynthesis of phospholipids, the increase in release of fatty acid was due principally to increased phospholipase A activity. The increased rate of hydrolysis did not occur only late in the rickettsial infection; this activity began early in infection and continued throughout the course of infection. The addition of tetracycline or chloramphenicol (antibiotics which inhibit rickettsial protein synthesis) to the infected cells caused a rapid and total abatement of this increased rate of phospholipid hydrolysis. In contrast, high concentrations of penicillin affected the morphology of the intracellular rickettsiae, but did not inhibit the phospholipase activity. This phospholipase A activity clearly damages the host cell during the rickettsial infection and may represent the activity by which R. prowazekii escapes from the host cell.
Cochlear origin of hearing loss in MELAS syndrome

There have been few studies investigating the mechanism and nature of the hearing loss that occurs in the mitochondrial disorders. We studied 18 patients with the MELAS A3243G point mutation from four different kindreds. Pure tone audiometry, speech discrimination testing, acoustic reflexes, tympanometry, and brain stem auditory evoked responses were performed to localize the site of pathology in the auditory pathways. In 12 patients, we performed electrocochleography and otoacoustic emissions to assess cochlear involvement. Neuroimaging and promontory nerve stimulation were performed to exclude retrocochlear pathology. Audiological testing confirmed sensorineural hearing loss in 14 of the 18 patients studied; hearing loss was usually gradual in onset, was symmetrical, and initially affected the higher frequencies. In some patients, there were features that distinguished the hearing loss from presbyacusis, including a young age at onset, asymmetrical involvement, stepwise progression, and partial recovery. We treated one patient who had profound bilateral hearing loss with cochlear implantion; this restored good functional hearing. Hearing loss in MELAS syndrome appears to be due to dysfunction of the cochlea, probably resultiong from metabolic failure of the stria vascularis and outer hair cells. Cochlear implantation is a therapeutic option worth considering in those patients who become deaf.
Correlates of Pedometer-Assessed Physical Activity in Cypriot Elementary School Children.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to examine the association between pedometer-assessed physical activity and a number of individual, social, and environmental correlates among Cypriot elementary school children. METHODS School children in grades 5 and 6 (N = 104) and their parents (N = 70) wore pedometers for five consecutive weekdays and completed questionnaires assessing potential correlates of steps/d. RESULTS A hierarchical regression analysis indicated that gender, weekly frequency of sports club attendance, and hours playing outside accounted for 32% of the variance in steps/d. In addition, children with a body-mass index (BMI) above the 85th percentile (based on age and gender) scored significantly lower steps/d than children with a BMI below the 85th percentile. CONCLUSIONS This study suggested that correlates of steps/d in children are similar to the findings of other studies using different measures of physical activity behavior.
Labyrinthine Pattern Formation in Magnetic Fluids

A quasi two-dimensional drop of a magnetic fluid (ferrofluid) in a magnetic field is one example of the many systems, including amphiphilic monolayers, thin magnetic films, and type I superconductors, that form labyrinthine patterns. The formation of the ferrofluid labyrinth was examined both experimentally and theoretically. Labyrinth formation was found to be sensitively dependent on initial conditions, indicative of a space of configurations having a vast number of local energy minima. Certain geometric characteristics of the labyrinths suggest that these multiple minima have nearly equivalent energies. Kinetic effects on pattern selection were found in studies of fingering in the presence of timedependent magnetic fields. The dynamics of this pattern formation was studied within a simple model that yields shape evolutions in qualitative agreement with experiment.
Planned wedge size compared to achieved advancement in dogs undergoing the modified Maquet procedure

Summary Objectives: To evaluate the patellar ligament to tibial plateau angle (PL-TPA) and amount of achieved advancement in dogs that underwent the modified Maquet procedure; compare wedge sizes recommended using two different planning techniques (Orthomed and modified tibial tuberosity advancement); and evaluate anatomical factors that predict the wedge size required to obtain a 90° PL-TPA. Methods: Pre- and postoperative radio-graphs of dogs that had a modified Maquet procedure performed were evaluated for the following: calculated wedge size using two different planning techniques, the actual wedge size used, the achieved tibial tuberosity advancement, and the changes in PL-TPA. Anatomical measurements of the tibia were evaluated and correlated with the actual wedge size. Results: Of the 38 modified Maquet procedures identified, 53% (n = 20) had a PLTPA of 90° ± 5°. Actual achieved advancement of the tibial tuberosity was 30% less than the wedge size used. Changes in PL-TPA and tibial width persisted at eight weeks postoperatively without loss of advancement. The two planning techniques did not result in a significantly different selection of wedge size. Clinical relevance: Current planning techniques for the modified Maquet procedure result in under-advancement of the tibial tuberosity. Both measurement techniques evaluated do not result in appropriate advancement.
Organization of diencephalic projections from the medullary subnucleus reticularis dorsalis and the adjacent cuneate nucleus: A retrograde and anterograde tracer study in the rat

The distribution and organization of diencephalic projections from the subnucleus reticularis dorsalis (SRD) and the neighbouring cuneate nucleus (Cu) were studied in the rat by using microinjections of Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin in SRD and Cu and wheat germ agglutinin‐apo horseradish peroxidase‐gold in some selected thalamic areas. As previously reported, the efferent projections from the Cu were essentially contralateral and terminated mainly in the ventroposterolateral thalamic nucleus. Less dense terminals from the Cu were also observed in the posterior thalamic group, the ventral aspect of the zona incerta and the caudal and dorsal portion of the reuniens area. Retrograde tracer injections in the medial ventroposterolateral thalamic nucleus labeled numerous cells in the contralateral Cu, with a smaller number in the gracile nucleus. From the SRD, terminals were observed in the lateral aspect of the ventromedial thalamic nucleus, the lateral parafascicular area and, to a lesser extent, in the ventral aspect of the zona incerta and the core of the reuniens area. Retrograde tracer injections in the lateral part of the ventromedial thalamic nucleus labeled cells in the caudal medulla, many of which were located in the dorsal‐most aspect of the SRD throughout its caudo‐rostral extent. The existence of SRD‐thalamic connections reinforces the idea that the caudal reticular formation is an important nociceptive relay to the thalamus. Our data shed new light on old hypotheses suggesting that, in addition to spino‐thalamic pathways, spino‐reticulo‐thalamic pathways may play an important role in distributing pain signals to the forebrain. J. Comp. Neurol. 390:133–160, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Human CD4+CD25+ T cells derived from the majority of atopic donors are able to suppress TH1 and TH2 cytokine production.

BACKGROUND Recently, it has been established that CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells with regulatory capacity are present in human peripheral blood, inhibiting allogeneic proliferation and cytokine production of preactivated CD4(+)CD25(-) respond-er T cells. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to analyze in an allergen-specific setting whether such regulatory CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells also exist and function normally in atopic individuals, especially concerning the inhibition of T(H)2 cytokines. METHODS For this purpose, CD4(+)CD25(-) or CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells from donors allergic to grass or birch pollen (mainly with rhinitis) or from healthy nonatopic donors were stimulated in the presence of autologous, mature, monocyte-derived, allergen-pulsed dendritic cells, and the preactivated CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells were added to CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells during restimulation. RESULTS CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells from the nonatopic donors and from the majority of the patients investigated proliferated poorly, produced fewer cytokines, and inhibited the proliferation and T(H)1 (IFN-gamma) and T(H)2 (IL-4 and IL-5) cytokine production of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells but not IL-10 production. The suppression of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells by CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells was at least partially antigen unspecific and not reversible with anti-IL-10, anti-transforming growth factor beta, or anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 mAb but was reversible with IL-2. In some atopic patients preactivated CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells reproducibly showed strong proliferative responses, produced higher amounts of IL-4 and IL-10 than CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells, and suppressed only the IFN-gamma production of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells. CONCLUSION These data indicate that regulatory CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells are present and functional in most atopic patients with allergic rhinitis and are able to inhibit T(H)1, as well as T(H)2, cytokine production.
Exponential dichotomy of difference equations in lp-phase spaces on the half-line

For a sequence of bounded linear operators on a Banach space X, we investigate the characterization of exponential dichotomy of the difference equations vn+1 = Anvn. We characterize the exponential dichotomy of difference equations in terms of the existence of solutions to the equations vn+1 = Anvn + fn in lp spaces (1 ≤ p < ∞). Then we apply the results to study the robustness of exponential dichotomy of difference equations.
A Mathematical Model for the Prediction of Solute Kinetics, Osmolarity and Fluid Volume Changes during Hemodiafiltration with On-Line Regeneration of Ultrafiltrate (HFR)

Hemodiafiltration with on-line regeneration of ultrafiltrate (HFR) is a technique indicated for the treatment of dialysis patients affected by inflammatory syndrome and malnutrition. In the present work, a mathematical model, which describes intradialytic fluid and solute kinetics during standard diffusive dialysis, has been adapted to analyze solutes and fluid dynamics during HFR. The model is an improved version of our previous ones, and represents a good compromise between simplicity and reliability. It considers the intradialytic kinetics of sodium, potassium and urea, and two body fluid compartments: intracellular and extracellular. Moreover, the model includes simple equations to predict the intradialytic time pattern of osmolarity. The model has been experimentally validated by using 9 HFR sessions on 9 patients (one per each patient), comparing the time course of plasma solutes and osmolarity measured every 30 minutes during HFR, with those predicted by the model. Predictions are performed a priori, i.e., without any parameter adjustment, but just starting from knowledge of a few quantities (plasma sodium, potassium, urea, osmolarity and body weight) at the beginning of the session. The average deviations between model and real data (sodium: 1.9 mEq/L; potassium: 0.32 mEq/L; urea: 1.04 mmol/L; osmolarity: 5.02 mosm/L) are of the same order as measurement errors and similar to those obtained using our previous models in standard and profiled hemodialysis. Moreover, the prediction on sodium concentration only scarcely worsens (from 1.9 to 2.02 mEq/L) if default values are used for the initial value of other solutes in blood (i.e., if the algorithm uses only initial body weight and initial sodium concentration in plasma). The results confirm the good predictive capacity of the model in HFR, and suggest its possible innovative use to optimize sodium balance in HFR, from knowledge of only the sodium concentration in the ultrafiltrate. (Int J Artif Organs 2006; 29: 1031–41)