Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Utility of phenomenological models for describing temperature dependence of bacterial growth

We compared three unstructured mathematical models, the master reaction, the square root, and the damage/repair models, for describing the relationship between temperature and the specific growth rates of bacteria. The models were evaluated on the basis of several criteria: applicability, ease of use, simple interpretation of model parameters, problem-free determination of model parameters, statistical evaluation of goodness of fit (chi 2 test), and biological relevance. Best-fit parameters for the master reaction model could be obtained by using two consecutive nonlinear least-square fits. The damage/repair model proved to be unsuited for the data sets considered and was judged markedly overparameterized. The square root model allowed nonproblematical parameter estimation by a nonlinear least-square procedure and, together with the master reaction model, was able to describe the temperature dependence of the specific growth rates of Klebsiella pneumoniae NCIB 418, Escherichia coli NC3, Bacillus sp. strain NCIB 12522, and the thermotolerant coccobacillus strain NA17. The square root and master reaction models were judged to be equally valid and superior to the damage/repair model, even though the square root model is devoid of a conceptual basis.
Dutch GPs warned against new contraceptive pill

Dutch GPs are being advised by their own professional body not to prescribe a new low dose, monophasic oral contraceptive, marketed under the trade name Yasmin, until studies have established whether it is as safe as other contraceptive pills. The new contraceptive, which is a combination of drospirenone (a progestogen) and ethinylestradiol, has been available in several European countries since 2000 and was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration last May. It is licensed for use in the United Kingdom, where it is being launched next week. Last year a 17 year old Dutch girl who had been taking Yasmin died from a …
How to reduce size of a signature-based diagnostic dictionary used for testing of connections

The paper presents a novel method for size reduction of a signature-based diagnostic dictionary that is used in testing of static and delay faults in connections by means of specific Interconnect BIST (IBIST) structure. The IBIST has a form of a ring register R-LFSR which feedback lines constitute connections under test. The previous studies of the authors assumed implementation of a single 2n-bit R-LFSR structure for testing and diagnosis of faults occurring in buses with the width n ≤ 32 bits. As size of the diagnostic dictionary rapidly grows in pace with both the number of connections under test and increase of the fault-multiplicity, it was a significant drawback that hindered examination of very wide buses. This study proposes how to solve this problem by splitting the n-bit bus into b fragments with the width of k bits each. Every fragment is tested by an independent R-LFSR register with its length of 2 k bits. The study assumes faults with the maximum fault-multiplicity rmax = 3 for each k-bit fragment of the bus, where the faults present combinations of stuck-at 0/1, AND /OR shorts of two or three lines and delay faults. The proposed approach has made it possible to significantly reduce size of the signature-based diagnostic dictionary that is necessary to locate and identify the mentioned faults. It was achieved by substantial reduction of the number of signature entries covered by the dictionary as well as by shortening the length of the signatures by b times. Moreover, the newly developed method enables to locate and identify substantial part of faults for the entire bus with the width of n, where the multiplicity of faults can be even as high as b rmax.
Sedative, analgesic and cardiorespiratory effects of romifidine in cats.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the sedative, analgesic, and cardiorespiratory effects of intramascular (IM) romifidine in cats. STUDY DESIGN Prospective, randomized experimental trial. ANIMALS Ten healthy adult cats. METHODS Romifidine (100, 200, and 400 microg kg(-1)) or xylazine (1 mg kg(-1)) was given IM in a cross-over study design. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), hemoglobin saturation, oscillometric arterial pressure, and scores for sedation, muscle relaxation, position, auditory response, and analgesia were determined before and after drug administration. Time to recumbency, duration of recumbency, and time to recover from sedation were determined. Subjective evaluation and cardiorespiratory variables were recorded before and at regular intervals for 60 minutes after drug administration. RESULTS Bradycardia developed in all cats that were given romifidine or xylazine. No other significant differences in physiologic parameters were observed from baseline values or between treatments. Increasing the dose of romifidine did not result in increased sedation or muscle relaxation. Cats given xylazine showed higher sedation and muscle relaxation scores over time. Analgesia scores were significantly higher after administration of romifidine (400 microg kg(-1)) and xylazine (1 mg kg(-1)) than after romifidine at 100 or 200 microg kg(-1). Duration of lateral recumbency was not significantly different between treatments; however, cats took longer to recover after administration of 400 micro g kg(-1) romifidine. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Bradycardia is the most important adverse effect after IM administration of romifidine at doses ranging from 100 to 400 microg kg(-1) or 1 mg kg(-1) of xylazine in cats. The sedative effects of romifidine at 200 microg kg(-1) are comparable to those of 1 mg kg(-1) of xylazine, although muscle relaxation and analgesia were significantly less with romifidine than with xylazine.
Cancer of the urinary bladder in blacks and whites: A case–control study

Racial differences in the risk of cancer of the urinary bladder associated with cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption were examined in a study of 1663 cases (1534 whites and 129 blacks) and 4930 controls matched 3:1 by sex, race, and age to the cases. Significant increases in cancer risk associated with cigarette smoking were observed in whites and blacks; however, the dose‐response patterns appeared to differ by race. in whites, statistically significant elevations of threefold and higher were observed in the odds ratios at all smoking levels above 20 pack‐years, whereas in blacks, the corresponding point estimates did not increase significantly until > 60 pack‐years of smoking. Although these risk patterns are compatible with the higher incidence of bladder cancer in white men, the sample of blacks was small, and tests of significance were only suggestive of higher risks for whites at specific amounts of smoking (P < 0.15). Effects of alcohol consumption were inconsistent, and there was no detectable synergism between smoking and drinking. Additional study of race‐specific risk factors and tobacco metabolism will be needed to determine the true nature of the apparent racial differences in the risk of urinary bladder cancer associated with cigarette smoking.
Improved Insulin Sensitivity by Bezafibrate in Rats: Relationship to Fatty Acid Composition of Skeletal-Muscle Triglycerides

We investigated the effect of the lipid-lowering agent, bezafibrate, on insulin sensitivity in a dietary model of insulin resistance. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control group, administered a standard diet; high-fructose group, given a 40% fructose diet; high-fructose plus lard group, given a 40% fructose diet with 7% lard; and bezafibrate group, given a 40% fructose plus 7% lard diet with 10 mg · kg−1 · day−1 of oral bezafibrate. Insulin action was assessed after 2 weeks with a steady-state plasma glucose (SSPG) level. The fatty acid (FA) composition of skeletal-muscle triglycerides was also determined. A higher SSPG level (20.9 ± 0.9 vs. 16.5 ±1.1 mmol/l in the control group, P < 0.05) as well as a higher systolic blood pressure (120 ± 2 vs. 101 ± 2 mmHg, P < 0.01) was observed in the high-fructose plus lard group, but not in the high-fructose group. These changes were prevented by bezafibrate administration. The FA composition of skeletal-muscle triglycerides demonstrated a higher percentage of saturated and monounsaturated FAs (P < 0.01) and a lower percentage of polyunsaturated FAs (P < 0.01) in the highfructose plus lard group versus the control group. These changes were consistent with differences in the dietary intake of FAs. Bezafibrate virtually normalized the FA composition in the high-fructose plus lard group. The ratio of C20:4 to C20:3, an index of ∆5 desaturase activity, was significantly higher in the bezafibrate group versus the high-fructose plus lard group (8.60 ± 0.76 vs. 2.04 ± 0.27, P < 0.01). In conclusion, the dietary FA composition was closely related to insulin resistance in rats fed 40% fructose. Bezafibrate increased ∆5 desaturase activity. Such action may contribute to the improvement of insulin sensitivity.
Endostatin Blocks Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-mediated Signaling via Direct Interaction with KDR/Flk-1*

Endostatin, a fragment of collagen XVIII, is a potent anti-angiogenic protein, but the molecular mechanism of its action is not yet clear. We examined the effects of endostatin on the biological and biochemical activities of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Endostatin blocked VEGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of KDR/Flk-1 and activation of ERK, p38 MAPK, and p125FAK in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Endostatin also inhibited the binding of VEGF165 to both endothelial cells and purified extracellular domain of KDR/Flk-1. Moreover, the binding of VEGF121 to KDR/Flk-1 and VEGF121-stimulated ERK activation were blocked by endostatin. The direct interaction between endostatin and KDR/Flk-1 was confirmed by affinity chromatography. However, endostatin did not bind to VEGF. Our findings suggest that a direct interaction of endostatin with KDR/Flk-1 may be involved in the inhibitory function of endostatin toward VEGF actions and responsible for its potent anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor activities in vivo.
A 9-Year Follow-up Study of Participants and Nonparticipants in Sigmoidoscopy Screening: Importance of Self-Selection

Background: Self-selection may compromise cost-effectiveness of screening programs. We hypothesized that nonparticipants have generally higher morbidity and mortality than participants. Methods: A Swedish population-based random sample of 1,986 subjects ages 59 to 61 years was invited to sigmoidoscopy screening and followed up for 9 years by means of multiple record linkages to health and population registers. Gender-adjusted cancer incidence rate ratio (IRR) and overall and disease group-specific and mortality rate ratio (MRR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated for nonparticipants relative to participants. Cancer and mortality rates were also estimated relative to the age-matched, gender-matched, and calendar period-matched Swedish population using standardized incidence ratios and standardized mortality ratios. Results: Thirty-nine percent participated. The incidence of colorectal cancer (IRR, 2.2; 95% CI, 0.8-5.9), other gastrointestinal cancer (IRR, 2.7; 95% CI, 0.6-12.8), lung cancer (IRR, 2.2; 95% CI, 0.8-5.9), and smoking-related cancer overall (IRR, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.7-2.5) tended to be increased among nonparticipants relative to participants. Standardized incidence ratios for most of the studied cancers tended to be >1.0 among nonparticipants and <1.0 among participants. Mortality from all causes (MRR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.7-3.4), neoplastic diseases (MRR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.5), gastrointestinal cancer (MRR, 4.7; 95% CI, 1.1-20.7), and circulatory diseases (MRR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2-4.2) was significantly higher among nonparticipants than among participants. Standardized mortality ratio for the studied outcomes tended to be increased among nonparticipants and was generally decreased among participants. Conclusion: Individuals who might benefit most from screening are overrepresented among nonparticipants. This self-selection may attenuate the cost-effectiveness of screening programs on a population level. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(5):1163–8)
Unilateral Gingival Fibromatosis: a case report

The gingival fibromatosis is a slow and progressive benign proliferation, which affects the gingival tissues. It may present a genetic inheritance and association with some syndromes. There are conservative and radical treatments, ranging from hygiene care to bloc resection of the affected bone. This case scenario is a 07 year-old child, who presented a nodular unilateral hyperplastic lesion in the right mandible, with sessile base and approximately 5 cm in its largest diameter. The patient presented difficulty of lip closure and slight swelling in the right area of the face. The tomographic image showed infiltration in buccal and lingual cortical of right mandible and tooth displacement. After lesion removal, the histopathologic diagnosis of fibromatosis was confirmed, with no relapse after 20 months of follow-up.
Types of Social Structure among the Lowland Tribes of South and Central America

S TIEWARD'S fourfold classification (Marginal, Tropical Forest, CircumCaribbean, and Andean civilizations) of the Indian cultures of pre-Columbian America south of Mexico stands as a landmark in the ordering of the vast body of descriptive material brought together in the Handbook of South American Indians. It appears to me that in the ordering of this material and in his theoretical and interpretative passages Steward had three major objectives in mind: (1) to classify tribes or other culture-carrying units on the basis of certain typical culture traits; (2) to distinguish broad cultural strata or levels and to indicate the developmental interrelationship of these levels; and (3) to determine, in so far as possible, the concrete historical processes by which these developments have taken place (Steward 1949). With this approach, which is at once taxonomic, developmental, and historical, I am in complete agreement. Steward has gathered the material and has indicated basic approaches, and it remains for others to develop these approaches or to create new ones in order to derive more meaning from the material. In this paper I will attempt not only to describe the major types of social structure under which I believe all sociopolitical units in this area can be listed but will attempt also to account for these types in terms of those cultural elements, environmental factors, and the derivatives which appear to be intimately associated with them. Admittedly this approach is narrow, for large segments of culture content will be omitted.
Alterações ortopédicas ântero-posteriores decorrentes da disjunção maxilar com expansor colado

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, prospectivamente, as possiveis alteracoes ântero-posteriores da maxila e da mandibula, apos a disjuncao maxilar, com expansor colado. A amostra constou de 22 criancas, entre sete e dez anos de idade, que apresentavam reducao da dimensao transversal maxilar. Onze pacientes efetuaram ativacao de 1/4 de volta do parafuso por dia e o restante 4/4 de volta por dia, ate a obtencao de 32/4 de volta, para ambos os grupos. Apos a completa expansao, o expansor colado permaneceu como estabilizador por cinco meses, sendo removido e instalada placa acrilica como contencao, por mais sete meses. As telerradiografias em norma lateral foram obtidas antes da instalacao do aparelho, imediatamente apos a sua remocao e sete meses apos o uso da contencao. Foram avaliadas medidas angulares e lineares. Os resultados permitiram evidenciar que, nao ocorreram alteracoes significativas entre os dois padroes de ativacao. Nao foi evidenciado nenhum efeito sagital esqueletico deleterio permanente, apos a disjuncao maxilar, com o uso de expansor colado. Resumo
A Second Look at Automatic Theory of Mind

In recent work, Kovács, Téglás, and Endress (2010) argued that human adults automatically represented other agents’ beliefs even when those beliefs were completely irrelevant to the task being performed. In a series of 13 experiments, we replicated these previous findings but demonstrated that the effects found arose from artifacts in the experimental paradigm. In particular, the critical findings demonstrating automatic belief computation were driven by inconsistencies in the timing of an attention check, and thus do not provide evidence for automatic theory of mind in adults.
Endothelium‐dependent and ‐independent vasodilation is more attenuated in ischaemic than in non‐ischaemic heart failure

Endothelial dysfunction in chronic heart failure (CHF) contributes to vasoconstriction. Underlying atherosclerosis may increase vascular abnormalities in ischaemic CHF. We aimed to compare flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) and nitroglycerin‐mediated dilation (NMD) of the brachial artery between patients with ischaemic and non‐ischaemic CHF.
The vascular component in neurogenic-arterial thoracic outlet syndrome

The incidence of arterial compression in patients diagnosed with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome is not accurately known. In a consecutive series of 148 patients diagnosed with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome, a standard objective method of Doppler ultrasound examination was implemented, with standard manoeuvres for the arm involved. These standards for assessing the incidence of true subclavian artery compression were previously reported. It was found that 75 patients (51%) had definite arterial occlusion. The potential for even venous compression was examined in this type of patient, and 11 patients (8%) were found to have vascular compression of the subclavian vein when performing the manoeuvres. The present study is possibly the first to use a standard objective method to evaluate the vascular component in patients with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome.
Preoperative Infliximab Therapy Does Not Increase Morbidity and Mortality After Laparoscopic Resection for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND: The impact of infliximab on the postoperative course of patients with IBD is under debate. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of infliximab on perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic resection for IBD. DESIGN: This study is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected, institutional review board-approved database. SETTING, PATIENTS, INTERVENTIONS: Patients undergoing laparoscopic resection on preoperative infliximab (infliximab group) were compared with patients who did not receive infliximab (noninfliximab group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The short-term and long-term morbidity and mortality rates were assessed. RESULTS: Elective laparoscopic resection for IBD was performed on 518 patients from January 2004 through June 2011; 142 patients were treated with infliximab preoperatively. Both groups had similar demographics, type and severity of IBD, comorbidities, and type of surgery. A significantly higher number of patients in the infliximab group had been on aggressive medical therapy to control symptoms of IBD during the month preceding surgery, including steroids (73.9 vs 58.8%, p = 0.002) and immunosuppressors (32.4 vs 20.5%, p = 0.006). Operative time and blood loss were similar (p = 0.50 and p = 0.34). Intraoperative complication rate was 2.1% in both groups. No significant differences were observed in terms of the conversion rate to laparotomy (6.3% vs 9.3%, p = 0.36), overall 30-day postoperative morbidity (p = 0.93), or mortality (p = 0.61). The rates of anastomotic leak (2.1% vs 1.3%, p = 0.81), infections (12% vs 11.2%, p = 0.92), and thrombotic complications (3.5% vs 5.6%, p = 0.46) were similar. Subgroup analyses confirmed similar rates of overall, infectious, and thrombotic complications regardless of whether patients had ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. LIMITATIONS: This study is subject to the limitations of a retrospective design. CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab is not associated with increased rates of postoperative complications after laparoscopic resection.
The development of a tool to measure service user satisfaction with in-patient forensic services: The Forensic Satisfaction Scale

Background: Service-user satisfaction helps determine the quality of services. No valid measure of service-user satisfaction in forensic mental health settings has been developed. Aims: To develop and validate a scale designed to measure satisfaction with forensic mental health services. Method: Participants were from three forensic mental health units. Items generated from focus groups were developed into a self-report scale and factor analysed. This was administered with a non-forensic satisfaction self-report scale, the Verona Service Satisfaction Scale (VSSS) and assessed for internal consistency and validity. Results: A 60-item scale was produced comprising seven subscales recording moderate to high levels of internal consistency and concurrent validity with the VSSS. Conclusions: The scale is a promising instrument for assessing service-user satisfaction with forensic mental health in-patient services.
Debt Covenants and Cross-Sectional Equity Returns

This paper investigates the impact of debt covenant protection on the cross section of equity returns with a firm-level covenant index and four subindices. We find that firms with weaker covenant protection (lower covenant index levels) earn significantly higher risk-adjusted equity returns than do those firms with greater covenant protection. These results are stronger for covenant indices that are related to investments, subsequent financing, and event risk. The difference between high and low covenant index stocks is more pronounced when agency problems between shareholders and debtholders are more severe, suggesting that the covenant effect arises from an inability to control shareholder risk taking. This paper was accepted by Wei Jiang, finance.
Ethnicity and prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia

Ethnicity has been described as a prognostic factor in breast cancer and in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia but not in adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We reviewed the records of 225 consecutive AML patients who were diagnosed and treated between 1983 and 1995. Data were collected concerning demographic factors, presenting clinical features, and treatment protocols. We categorized ethnicity as follows: European Jews, non‐European Jews, and Arabs. We assessed the role of ethnicity controlling for other known prognostic factors on treatment outcome and survival in this population. Older age, high leukocyte count at diagnosis, and high‐risk chromosomal aberrations were significantly associated with overall survival in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis high leukocyte count and high‐risk chromosomal aberrations exerted an independent negative effect on survival. European origin was associated with longer event‐free survival in univariate analysis (P = 0.024) and longer overall (P < 0.01) and event‐free (P < 0.01) survival but not with a higher remission rate in multivariate analysis. For AML patients who achieved remission after induction chemotherapy and survived its complications, European origin is an independent favorable prognostic factor for long‐term remission and survival in Israel. These findings may reflect better socioeconomic status, social support, increased compliance with treatment protocols, or better psychological coping mechanisms with malignancy. Am. J. Hematol. 72:127–134, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.