Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fisher transfer entropy: quantifying the gain in transient sensitivity

We introduce a novel measure, Fisher transfer entropy (FTE), which quantifies a gain in sensitivity to a control parameter of a state transition, in the context of another observable source. The new measure captures both transient and contextual qualities of transfer entropy and the sensitivity characteristics of Fisher information. FTE is exemplified for a ferromagnetic two-dimensional lattice Ising model with Glauber dynamics and is shown to diverge at the critical point.
Histology and Histomorphometric Analysis of the Normal and Atrophic Heel Fat Pad

Light and electron microscopy was used for a histologic examination of normal heel fat pads and atrophic heel fat pads from patients with peripheral neuropathies. Histomorphometric analysis revealed an average 30% smaller mean cell area and 16% smaller mean cell diameters in the atrophic pads compared with the normal heel fat pads. Septal walls in the atrophic fat pads were often fragmented and approximately 75% wider than normal. Perineural fibrosis was also found in the atrophic heel fat pads. The Verhoeff elastic staining technique was used to determine the relative percentage of collagen to elastic tissue within the septae. No significant differences were noted between the normal and atrophic heels. The ultrastructure of the adipocytes from the normal and atrophic heel pads was similar to those found in abdominal subcutaneous fat. Lipid droplets of variable size and density within the center of the adipocyte were surrounded by a thin border of cytoplasm. The interphase between adipocytes contained fine collagen and elastic fibers.
Apolipoprotein A-IV Levels and Phenotype Distribution in NIDDM

OBJECTIVE To determine plasma apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV) levels and phenotype distribution in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients and to analyze the influence of apoA-IV phenotype on lipid profiles in NIDDM. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, HDL2 cholesterol, HDL3 cholesterol, free fatty acid, and apoA-IV levels were measured in 83 NIDDM patients and 100 normal control subjects. The apoA-IV phenotype was determined in each individual. RESULTS In both sexes, NIDDM patients had significantly higher levels of triglycéride and free fatty acid and significantly lower levels of HDL cholesterol and HDL2 cholesterol than control subjects. In men and women, apoA-IV levels were significantly higher in diabetic patients than in control subjects (men: 17.1 ± 7.9 vs. 12.3 ± 3.6 mg/dl, P < 0.001; women: 18.9 ± 9.9 vs. 11.9 ± 3.5 mg/dl, P < 0.001). The multiple regression analysis showed that the apoA-IV level in NIDDM patients was significantly and independently related to log triglyceride (P = 0.0001) and HDL cholesterol (P = 0.01) levels. The apoA-IV phenotype distribution was not significantly different between NIDDM patients and control subjects. In the control subjects, the apoA-IV-1–2 phenotype was associated with significantly higher levels of HDL cholesterol (69 ±12 vs. 56 ± 11 mg/dl, P < 0.01) and of HDL2 cholesterol (36 ± 15 vs. 25 ± 12 mg/dl, P < 0.05) compared with the apoA-IV-1–-1 phenotype; on the other hand, HDL cholesterol and HDL2 cholesterol levels were not different between the two apoA-IV pheno-types in NIDDM patients. CONCLUSIONS Plasma apoA-IV levels are increased in NIDDM patients. This increase in apoA-IV is related mainly to hypertriglyceridemia and, to a lesser extent, to HDL cholesterol level. The apoA-IV phenotype distribution is not different between NIDDM patients and nondiabetic control subjects. The potential protective lipid profile (characterized by increased HDL and HDL2 cholesterol levels) linked with apoA-IV-1–2 phenotype in control subjects is no longer found in NIDDM patients. We suggest that the metabolic state of NIDDM has erased the potential protective lipid profile associated with the apoA-IV-1–2 phenotype.
Indirect consequences of artificial selection on plasticity to light quality in Arabidopsis thaliana

Covariation between light quality‐ and photoperiod‐mediated phenotypic plasticity was investigated using Arabidopsis thaliana. Three episodes of artificial selection were imposed on an index that quantified the plastic response to reduced red to far‐red ratios (R : FR), with higher index values indicating greater plasticity. Relative to control lines, two high plasticity (HP) lines showed 1.6‐ and 2.4‐fold increases in the index; low plasticity (LP) lines showed 1.4‐ and 1.1‐fold decreases. A factorial experiment combining high and low R : FR conditions with long and short photoperiods assessed indirect consequences of selection on plasticity. Despite divergent R : FR‐mediated plasticities in HP vs. LP lines, all four lines showed increases in photoperiod‐mediated responses and decreases in mean leaf number. Complex relationships among trait means, plasticities and underlying mechanisms caution against generalizing about the genetic architecture of plastic traits. Partially independent developmental and evolutionary responses to R : FR and photoperiod are somewhat unsurprising, given this species’ cosmopolitan nature.
On the inverse kinematics of redundant manipulators: characterization of the self-motion manifolds

The author takes a global rather than instantaneous look at the inverse kinematics of redundant manipulators. This approach is based on a manifold mapping reformulation of manipulator kinematics. While the kinematic problem has an infinite number of solutions for redundant manipulators, the infinity of solutions can be grouped into a finite and bounded set of disjoint continuous manifolds. Each of these manifolds, termed self-motion manifolds, physically corresponds to a distinct self-motion of the manipulator, and the number, geometry, and characterizations of the self-motion manifolds are investigated. <<ETX>>
The OXICAB trial: cerebral oximetry in adult cardiac surgical patients.

Perioperative thermoregulation encompasses a very broad field in anesthesia and surgery. This review focuses principally on issues surrounding intraoperative temperature management, with particular emphasis on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) temperature issues. The implications of temperature during the postoperative period and its relationship to outcome after cardiac surgery will also be addressed. Temperature in the setting of cardiac surgery has been a major research focus for a number of decades. The judicious use of hypothermia remains a mainstay of perioperative management in the cardiac surgical patient with its putative, though far from definitively proven, global organ protective effects having led to its continued use. Although it has effects on most organ systems, this review will principally focus on the effects of temperature on the brain.
Disinfectant effects of several chemicals against Toxoplasma oocysts.

Disinfectants, alcohols and other chemicals were studied for effect against Toxoplasma oocysts. They included Lomasept and Neo Kurehasol, one of orthoes, as useful disinfectants against chicken coccidial oocysts. Two strains of Toxoplasma oocysts isolated from unwanted cats that had spontaneously been infected with the small type of Isospora bigemina were used in this experiment. Sensitization with 1% Neo Kurehasol for 120 minutes, with 1% Lomasept for 10 or 15 minutes, or with 5% Lomasept for 5 minutes inhibited sporulation of unsporulated oocysts completely. No sporulated Toxoplasma oocysts were exterminated by any ordinary disinfectant even after 48-hour sensitization. It was confirmed that sensitization with Neo Kurehasol or peracetic acid for 48 hours, with ethanol for 24 hours, or with methanol for 12 hours was oocysticidal. Oocysts that had been sensitized with Lomasept at a concentration of 1%, 3% or 5% for 3 hours were completely exterminated. An oocysticidal effect was observed after 30-minute sensitization with 10% ammonia water and 1-hour sensitization with ammonium sulfide. It took 4 days for 10% formalin to exterminate Toxoplasma oocysts.
Early life emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and the development of premenstrual syndrome: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have suggested that violence victimization is prevalent among women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). However, it is unclear whether early life abuse contributes directly to PMS or whether associations are explained by the high prevalence of PMS risk factors including smoking and obesity among women reporting childhood abuse. METHODS We have assessed the relation of early life abuse and the incidence of moderate-to-severe PMS in a study nested within the prospective Nurses' Health Study 2. Participants were aged 27-44 years and free from PMS at baseline, including 1,018 cases developing PMS over 14 years and 2,277 comparison women experiencing minimal menstrual symptoms. History of early life emotional, physical, and sexual abuse was self-reported in 2001. RESULTS After adjustment for obesity, smoking, and other factors, emotional abuse was strongly related to PMS (pTrend<0.0001); women reporting the highest level of emotional abuse had 2.6 times the risk of PMS as those reporting no emotional abuse (95% confidence interval, 1.7-3.9). Women reporting severe childhood physical abuse had an odds ratio of 2.1 (95% confidence interval, 1.5-2.9; pTrend<0.001) compared with those reporting no physical abuse. Sexual abuse was less strongly associated with risk. Adjustment for childhood social support minimally affected findings. CONCLUSIONS Findings from this large prospective study suggest that early life emotional and physical abuse increase the risk of PMS in the middle-to-late reproductive years. The persistence of associations after control for potential confounders and mediators supports the hypothesis that early life abuse is importantly related to PMS.
The O2 allele: questioning the phenotypic definition of an ABO allele

Abstract There are three main alleles in the ABO blood group system, A, B, and O. The former two alleles encode glycosyltransferases resulting in the wild-type A and B phenotypes, whereas the latter allele does not encode a functional enzyme owing to a frameshift polymorphism in the majority of cases. Thus the group O phenotype is the absence of A or B sugars. More than 15 years ago the O2 allele was described; this allele did not feature the usual crippling 261delG polymorphism, which up to that point was the hallmark of an allele encoding group O, but instead had several other nucleotide polymorphisms that reduced or eliminated the activity of its resulting protein. The classification of this type of allele as encoding group O has been called into question of late as some individuals with an O2 allele appear to have a weak A phenotype. Others with the same allele do not demonstrate any A antigens on their RBCs but might be involved in reverse typing discrepancies. Even within the same pedigree these alleles do not necessarily produce a consistent phenotype. This paper will summarize the detailed biochemical and population-based evidence both for and against the O2 allele’s ability to create A antigens or the absence of anti-A in plasma. Immunohematology 2008;24:138–147.
Effects of late-afternoon methylphenidate administration on behavior and sleep in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the effects on behavior and sleep of methylphenidate (MPH) administered at 4 PM to children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODOLOGY Twelve children admitted to a child psychiatric inpatient service with ADHD participated in a double-blind, crossover study in which they received a 4 PM dose of either 15 mg of MPH, 10 mg of MPH, or a placebo in random order for 12 consecutive days. Ratings of behavior, including ADHD symptoms, pertaining to the period from dose administration until sleep onset, were supplied nightly by hospital staff. Sleep latency and sleep adequacy were also assessed for each night. RESULTS MPH resulted in markedly improved behavioral control compared with placebo; there was no difference between 15-mg and 10-mg MPH doses. MPH did not alter sleep latencies observed with the placebo. Children were more often rated as less tired on awakening after nights that they received 10 mg of MPH compared with 15 mg of MPH and the placebo. Weight loss was apparent among 83% of the patients, but dinner intake did not vary with third-dose condition. CONCLUSIONS Morning and noon administration of stimulants to children with ADHD is a near-universal practice, but many clinicians avoid a third, late-afternoon administration for fear of inducing insomnia. This study's findings show that children with ADHD derive substantial symptom reduction from MPH administered in late afternoon, with no untoward effects on sleep. Therefore, three-times-a-day dosing should be considered for those children exhibiting ADHD symptoms in the evening. Adverse effects on sleep latency were not apparent in the sample overall. Nonetheless, monitoring for possible aggravation of sleep problems and weight loss remains sound treatment practice.
Physical basis of cognitive alterations in alzheimer's disease: Synapse loss is the major correlate of cognitive impairment

We present here both linear regressions and multivariate analyses correlating three global neuropsychological tests with a number of structural and neurochemical measurements performed on a prospective series of 15 patients with Alzheimer's disease and 9 neuropathologically normal subjects. The statistical data show only weak correlations between psychometric indices and plaques and tangles, but the density of neocortical synapses measured by a new immunocytochemical/densitometric technique reveals very powerful correlations with all three psychological assays. Multivariate analysis by stepwise regression produced a model including midfrontal and inferior parietal synapse density, plus inferior parietal plaque counts with a correlation coefficient of 0.96 for Mattis's Dementia Rating Scale. Plaque density contributed only 26% of that strength.
Cholesterol metabolism in patients with hemodialysis in the presence or absence of coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND Little is known about the interrelationship between the lipid profile, cholesterol metabolism, and coronary risk factors in patients with hemodialysis (HD) in the presence or absence of coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS AND RESULTS Ninety-five patients with HD were selected (HD group). Fifty-eight age-, gender-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched patients who had at least 1 cardiovascular risk factor were selected as a non-HD group. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-HDL-C, and the ratio of LDL-C to HDL-C (L/H) in the HD group were significantly lower than those in the non-HD group. All markers of cholesterol absorption (campesterol/TC, sitosterol/TC, and cholestanol/TC) and the ratio of campesterol to lathosterol in the HD group were significantly higher. In addition, in the HD group, L/H was negatively correlated with lathosterol/TC, campesterol/TC, sitosterol/TC, and cholestanol/TC. Finally, CAD was significantly associated with lathosterol/TC (P=0.028), which was positively associated with BMI in the HD group, whereas CAD was significantly associated only with hypertension (P=0.020) in the non-HD group. CONCLUSIONS HD patients showed lower cholesterol concentrations than non-HD patients, and, as compensation, their cholesterol absorption might be accelerated. However, higher cholesterol synthesis, which was correlated with higher BMI, might be an independent predictor for the presence of CAD in HD patients.
Splenic Ly 6 C ( hi ) monocytes contribute to adverse late post-ischemic left ventricular remodeling in heme oxygenase-1 deficient mice

Heme oxygenase-1 (Hmox1) is a stress-inducible protein crucial in heme catabolism. The end products of its enzymatic activity possess anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties. Cardioprotective effects of Hmox1 were demonstrated in experimental models of myocardial infarction (MI). Nevertheless, its importance in timely resolution of postischemic inflammation remains incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to determine the role of Hmox1 in the monocyte/macrophage-mediated cardiac remodeling in a mouse model of MI. Hmox1 knockout (Hmox1) and wild-type (WT, Hmox1) mice were subjected to a permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Significantly lower incidence of left ventricle (LV) free wall rupture was noted between 3rd and 5th day after MI in Hmox1 mice resulting in their better overall survival. Then, starting from 7th until 21st day post-MI a more potent deterioration of LV function was observed in Hmox1 than in the surviving Hmox1 mice. This was accompanied by higher numbers of Ly6C monocytes in peripheral blood, as well as higher expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and adhesion molecules in the hearts of MI-operated Hmox1 mice. Consequently, a greater post-MI monocyte-derived myocardial macrophage infiltration was noted in Hmox1-deficient individuals. Splenectomy decreased the numbers of circulating inflammatory Ly6C monocytes in blood, reduced the numbers of proinflammatory cardiac macrophages and significantly improved the post-MI LV function in Hmox1 mice. In conclusion, Hmox1 deficiency has divergent consequences in MI. On the one hand, it improves early post-MI survival by decreasing the occurrence of cardiac rupture. Afterwards, however, the hearts of Hmox1-deficient mice undergo adverse late LV remodeling due to overactive and prolonged post-ischemic inflammatory response. We identified spleen as an important source of these cardiovascular complications in Hmox1 mice.
A Comparative Study of Explicit Frequency and Conventional Signal Representations for Speech Recognition

Abstract Krishnan, S. , and Rao, P. V. S. , A Comparative Study of Explicit Frequency and Conventional Signal Representations for Speech Recognition,Digital Signal Processing6(1996), 249–264. The performance of a speech recognition system depends to a large extent on the signal representation strategy. It is therefore important to evaluate various signal representations, with a view to comparing their relative performance on speech recognition tasks. Various comparative studies have been reported earlier in the literature in this respect. However, these studies are limited to comparing some subsets of representations on different kinds of recognition tasks. In this sense, they preclude a fair comparison of the representations on the same task. In contrast, we attempt here a systematic and fairly comprehensive comparison of signal representations along various dimensions (frequency and amplitude scales, speaker normalization, and two statistical classifiers) on a standard (TIMIT) speech database. This study shows that the line spectrum pair frequency representation augmented with spectral amplitudes yields the best recognition performance.
Predictive value of broncho-alveolar lavage fluid Gram's stain in the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND Quantitative broncho-alveolar lavage (qBAL) is increasingly being used for diagnosing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The current study prospectively evaluates the accuracy of broncho-alveolar lavage fluid Gram's stain (GS) in predicting both the presence of VAP and the class of causative microorganism in patients suspected of VAP. METHODS Patients suspected of VAP in a trauma or surgical intensive care unit underwent bronchoscopic qBAL with GS. Presence and class of organisms seen on GS were correlated respectively with the presence of VAP, as diagnosed by qBAL, and class of causative microorganism. VAP was defined as qBAL >10(5) colony forming units/mL. All data were gathered prospectively. RESULTS During a 28-month study period, 229 patients underwent 309 qBALs for suspected VAP. Seventy-one (23%) specimens were positive for VAP (qBAL>10(5) CFU/mL). Fifty-four specimens (77%) had one causative microorganism, 13 (18%) had two, 3 (4%) had three, and 1 (1%) demonstrated four microorganisms giving a total of 93 VAPs. Forty-one (62%) of 66 specimens showing moderate or many microorganisms on GS were positive for VAP. However, 7 (4%) of 167 specimens showing none and 23 (30%) of 76 showing few microorganisms on GS were also positive for VAP. Of the 64 qBAL specimens positive for VAP and where the GS showed microorganisms, 6 (23%) of 26 showing only G+ microorganisms on GS had G- VAP (G- alone, 4; G+ and G-, 2), and 1 (8%) of 12 showing G- microorganisms only had G+ and G- VAP. Of the seven qBAL specimens positive for VAP where the GS did not show microorganisms, one had G+ and six had G- VAP. With the threshold of positivity of GS at more than none, the sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of GS for the presence of VAP were 90%, 67%, 45%, and 96% respectively. CONCLUSIONS Broncho-alveolar lavage fluid GS is poor in predicting the presence of VAP and predicting the class of causative microorganism. Using GS to determine necessity of and to select class of antimicrobial therapy will result in delayed or inappropriate VAP therapy or both.
Metaidoioplasty: An Alternative Phalloplasty Technique in Transsexuals

&NA; The various techniques for phalloplasty in female‐to‐male transsexuals produce results that are more or less acceptable, both aesthetically and functionally. However, all these techniques will lead to extensive scarring of the donor area. Metaidoioplasty uses the clitoris, overdeveloped by hormonal treatment, to construct a microphallus in a way comparable to the correction of chordae and lengthening of urethra in male pseudohermaphrodites and in cases of severe hypospadias. It will not leave any scars outside the genital area. My experience in 32 female‐to‐male transsexuals is presented. At best, metaidoioplasty will provide a small phallus hardly, if at all, capable of sexual penetration. Still, I consider it to be a method of choice in cases where the clitoris seems large enough to provide a phallus that will satisfy the patient. (Plast. Reronstr. Surg. 97: 161, 1996.)
Capital Market Cointegration of Old and New Eu Member States

Abstract The author investigates the degree of capital market cointegration of old and new EU member states, and examines whether, and to what extent, the global financial crisis had an effect on it. Capital markets are completely integrated if assets of equal risk have identical expected returns, irrespective of the location of the capital market. Therefore the risk that the investor agrees to take in the integrated international market is the result of common factors and it is not possible to diversify the risk. The degree of financial integration of capital markets can be determined by analyzing the movement of market indices. In this paper the multivariate VAR(5) econometric models were set up and tested in order to analyze the multilateral integration of selected capital markets of developed European countries (Britain and Germany) and selected - new EU member states (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Hungary). Input data of the model are daily stock market indices (FTSE, DAX, BUX, SAX, PX and SBI20) for the time period January 2001 to October 2009. The study was conducted in three stages: In the first stage each series index was tested for the presence of unit roots, in order to determine whether the time series was stationary or not (to do this, ADF and Phillips - Perron tests were used). In the second stage multivariate VAR(5) models were set up, to which the Johansen method for determining cointegration was applied. In the third stage of the research process, the dynamics of the integration of underlying capital markets was determined by calculating the relevant trace value and dividing it by the critical λ value.