Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Constrained Ordination : Tutorial with R and vegan

Constrained ordination methods include constrained (or canonical) correspondence analysis (CCA), redundancy analysis (RDA) and distancebased redundancy analysis (db-RDA). Constraining means that ordination only shows the community variation that can be explained by external environmental variables or constraints. This document describes the following basic concepts (1) usage of constrained ordination, (2) construction of model formulae, (3) updating of the model and choice of the constraining variables, (4) statistical significance of the overall model, single model terms or axes with permutation tests, and (5) partial ordination where the effects of some variables are removed before main ordination. The document also describes basic R concepts of inspecting data, and indexing, selecting and subsetting data.
A MATLAB-based visualization package for planar arrays of isotropic radiators

This article introduces a simple MATLAB antenna package (ANTEN/spl I.bar/GUI) for the visualization of the radiation patterns, beamforming, and beam-steering capabilities of user-designed planar arrays of isotropic radiators. The package can be used as an educational aid, especially in antennas and propagation lectures.
Homocysteine, B vitamins, and the incidence of dementia and cognitive impairment: results from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging.

BACKGROUND High concentrations of homocysteine have been linked to a greater risk of Alzheimer disease, dementia, and cognitive decline. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the association between homocysteine and 4.5-y combined incidences of dementia and cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND) in a cohort of 1779 Mexican Americans aged 60-101 y. DESIGN Homocysteine, red blood cell (RBC) folate, and plasma vitamin B-12 were measured at baseline. New cases of dementia or CIND were ascertained by neuropsychological and clinical examinations and expert adjudication. We used proportional hazards models to estimate the risk of homocysteine-associated dementia or CIND and the influence of RBC folate and plasma vitamin B-12 on that association. RESULTS High homocysteine concentrations were associated with a greater risk of dementia or CIND: hazard ratio (HR): 2.39; 95% CI: 1.11, 5.16. Plasma vitamin B-12 modified the association between homocysteine and the outcome. The rates of dementia or CIND associated with homocysteine for those in the lowest and highest tertiles of vitamin B-12, respectively, were significantly higher (HR: 1.61, P = 0.04) and lower (HR: 0.94, P = 0.015) than the risk for those in the middle tertile. CONCLUSIONS Homocysteine is an independent risk factor for both dementia and CIND. Higher plasma vitamin B-12 may reduce the risk of homocysteine-associated dementia or CIND.
Multiple human upper bodies detection via deep deformable part model

Upper body detection is a challenging problem in practical application scenarios and shares all the difficulties of object detection. This paper focuses on the problems of multiple upper bodies detection in still images, including the diversity of appearances and a non-rigid human body. We present a new architecture for upper body detection using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). In this architecture, it contains the appearance model and deformable model. The appearance model is built by 8 upper body parts, and the deformable model uses a Relative Mixture Deformable Model (RMDM). RMDM is defined by each pair of connected parts to compute the relative spatial information in the graphical model. This model is compared with the state of the art on the TV Human Interaction (TVHI) dataset. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Renal hypomagnesaemia in human diabetes mellitus: its relation to glucose homeostasis

Abstract. Interrelations between magnesium and glucose metabolism were studied in 215 insulin‐treated diabetic out‐patients aged 7–70 years. All had normal serum creatinine concentrations (below 115 μmol/l) and none had other diseases or received drugs known to interfere with mineral metabolism. A definite hypomagnesaemia (< normal mean —2 SD) and hypermagnesiuria (> normal mean + 2 SD) occurred in 38.6% and 55% of the patients. In the presence of hypermagnesiuria the serum magnesium concentration was inversely correlated to the urinary magnesium excretion rate (R=–0.23, P<0.02). Serum magnesium correlated inversely with both fasting blood glucose (R=—0.32, P<0.001) and the urinary glucose excretion rate (R=–0.22, P<0.005). The urinary magnesium excretion rate correlated directly with the same variables (R= 0.27, P<0.001 and R= 0.58, P<0.001, respectively). These data indicate that the net tubular reabsorption of magnesium is decreased in diabetic patients in presence of hyperglycaemia, leading to hypermagnesiuria and hypomagnesaemia.
Seroprevalence of Infectious Makers on Blood Donors at the Blood Bank of Bertoua Regional Hospital (Cameroon)

The present study was aimed at optimizing the transfusion security of the patients, we determined the seroprevalence of transferable infections by the blood transfusion notably the HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and the syphilis among the blood donors at the blood bank of regional hospital of Bertoua to reduce meaningfully their impact in hospitable environment. We performed a prospective transversal survey on 429 Blood donors from the 1st January 2013 to 1st January 2014. We included 371 men (86.48%) and 38 women (13.52%). During this survey, we noted that, the most large part of blood donation was given by family members of patients with a seroprevalence of 58.04% compared to volunteers donors (23.78%) and remunerated donors (18.18%). The infections seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Syphilis has been estimated to 5.13%, 6.76%, 4.2% and 0.46% respectively. These results showed that it was necessary to put an accent on the pre-donation stages; cross-examination of the blood donor (research of information able to annul the blood donation), verification of the biological parameters (blood type rhesus, the hemoglobin rate and research of the infectious makers) to reduce the residual risks of these infections by the blood transfusion.
Facial Features of Non-player Creatures Can Influence Moral Decisions in Video Games

With the development of increasingly sophisticated computer graphics, there is a continuous growth of the variety and originality of virtual characters used in movies and games. So far, however, their design has mostly been led by the artist’s preferences, not by perceptual studies. In this article, we explored how effective non-player character design can be used to influence gameplay. In particular, we focused on abstract virtual characters with few facial features. In experiment 1, we sought to find rules for how to use a character’s facial features to elicit the perception of certain personality traits, using prior findings for human face perception as a basis. In experiment 2, we then tested how perceived personality traits of a non-player character could influence a player’s moral decisions in a video game. We found that the appearance of the character interacting with the subject modulated aggressive behavior towards a non-present individual. Our results provide us with a better understanding of the perception of abstract virtual characters, their employment in video games, as well as giving us some insights about the factors underlying aggressive behavior in video games.
Differentiation of H9c2 cardiomyoblasts: The role of adenylate cyclase system

The adenylate cyclase (AC)/cAMP/cAMP‐dependent protein kinase pathway controls many biological phenomena. The molecular mechanisms by which cAMP induces alternative commitment towards differentiation or proliferation are not still completely known. The differentiation of myoblast cell lines into myocytes/myotubes represents a well‐established model of skeletal muscle differentiation. We analyzed the AC/cAMP pathway during terminal differentiation of H9c2 myoblasts. When cultured in low‐serum containing medium, H9c2 myoblasts exit the cell cycle and differentiate into myocytes/myotubes. A key step of this process is the expression of myogenin, an essential transcription factor for the terminal differentiation into myocytes. During this phenomenon we observed a decrease in both cAMP levels and AC activity, which suggests a functional negative role of cAMP on the differentiation process of H9c2 cells. 8‐Br‐cAMP and other cAMP‐elevating agents, such as forskolin, IBMX, and isoproterenol, negatively affected skeletal muscle differentiation of H9c2 myoblasts. Both AC activity down‐regulation and intracellular cAMP reduction were accompanied by significant variations in the levels of membrane proteins belonging to the AC system (AC catalytic subunit, Gαi−1, Gαs). The functional relationship between intracellular cAMP content and protein levels of AC system is discussed. J. Cell. Physiol. 198: 408–416, 2004© 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Functional and oncologic outcomes comparing interfascial and intrafascial nerve sparing in robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomies.

INTRODUCTION The impact of intrafascial versus interfascial nerve sparing during radical prostatectomy on oncologic and postoperative outcome is still controversial. This manuscript compares the outcomes of intrafascial versus interfascial techniques of nerve sparing used during robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALRP) at our institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS Of the 171 patients who underwent RALRP at our institution from January 2006 through December 2007, the charts of 147 patients who underwent bilateral nerve sparing procedure were reviewed retrospectively. During the study period, the preferred technique of nerve sparing at our institution changed from the conventional interfascial approach to athermal intrafascial robotic (AIR) approach. The rates of positive surgical margins (+SMs), continence, and potency were measured. RESULTS Perioperative characteristics and complication rates were similar between the two groups. Continence rates at 1, 3, and 6 months increased from 27.3%, 68.8%, and 93.5%, respectively, after the interfascial procedure to 68.6%, 84.3%, and 92.9% after the AIR procedure. Potency rates at 3, 6, and 9 months in the interfascial group were 16.7%, 43.8%, and 66.7%, respectively, whereas in the AIR group they improved to 24.2%, 81.8%, and 90.9%. The rates of +SMs in pT2 disease were 5.88% in the interfascial group and 7.55% in the AIR group (not significant), whereas in pT3, +SMs were 22.2% in the interfascial group and 41.18% in the AIR group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION AIR technique greatly improved potency rate and shortened the time to return of continence following RALRP. This improved outcome, though, was achieved at the price of higher +SM rates in patients with pT3 disease.
Heat loss caused by cooling the feet.

The effect of cooling the feet to alleviate heat strain was examined. Subjects, wearing chemical protective clothing, immersed their feet in water at temperatures of 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 degrees C after sitting for 120 min at 35 degrees C. Heat lost via the feet ranged from 151 +/- 15 to 55 +/- 5 W, being greater in the colder water. In a second experiment, subjects wearing chemical protective clothing and specially designed water-cooled socks walked on a treadmill at 5 km.h-1 and 2.5% grade for 90 min at 35 degrees C. Four conditions were examined: no cooling, cooling throughout the walk, cooling during the last 60 min, and cooling during the first 30 min. Rectal and skin temperatures and heart rates were monitored. Cooling for the first 30 min had little effect on the measured parameters, however, when core temperatures rose to over 37.5 degrees C, cooling during the last 60 min significantly attenuated the increase in body temperatures and heart rates. We conclude that this method could be used to alleviate heat strain.
Living donor liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: the impact of neo-adjuvant treatments on the long term results.

BACKGROUND/AIMS LDLT may represent a valid therapeutic option allowing several advantages for patients affected by HCC and waiting for liver transplantation (LT). However, some reports show a worse long term survival and disease free survival among patients treated by LDLT for HCC than deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) recipients. METHODOLOGY Among 1145 LT patients, 63 received LDLT. From January 2000 to December 2008, 179 patients underwent LT due to HCC, 30 (16.7%) received LDLT and 154 (86.0%) received DDLT. Patients were selected based on the Milan criteria. TACE, radiofrequency ablation, percutaneous alcoholization, or liver resection were applied as downstaging procedures, while on the waiting list. RESULTS Overall 3- and 5-year survival rate was 77.3% and 68.7% vs. 82.8% and 76.7%, respectively for LDLT and DDLT recipient with not significant differences. Moreover, 3- and 5- years of recurrence free survival rate was 95.5% (LDLT) vs. 90.5% and 89.4% (DDLT) and resulted not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS LDLT guarantees same long term results than DDLT if the selection criteria of candidates are analogues. Milan criteria remains a valid candidate selection tool to obtain optimal long term results in LDLT. An aggressive downstaging policy seems to improve the long-term results in LDLT, thus LRT may be considered useful to prevent tumor progression waiting for transplantation as well as a neoadjuvant therapy for HCC. A literature detailed meta-analysis could definitely clarify if LDLT is an independent risk factor for HCC recurrence.
Slow Solvent Relaxation Dynamics of Nanometer Sized Reverse Micellar Systems Through Tryptophan Metabolite, Kynurenine

Exploration of environmental dynamics using intrinsic biological probe tryptophan is very important; however, it suffers from various difficulties. An alternative probe, kynurenine (KN), has been found to be an efficient probe for the ultrafast dynamics in the biological environment ( Goswami et al., [2010 ] J. Phys. Chem. B., 114, 15236–15243). In the present study, we have investigated the efficacy of KN for the exploration of relatively slower dynamics of biologically relevant environments. A detailed investigation involving UV–Vis, steady‐state/time‐resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) studies on KN compared to a well‐known solvation probe, H33258, a DNA‐minor groove binder in a model nonionic reverse micelle reveals that ultrafast internal conversion associated with the hydrogen‐bonding dynamics masks KN to become a dynamical reporter of the immediate environments of the probe.
Effect of smoking on uric acid and other metabolic markers throughout normal pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES Smoking, pregnancy, and preeclampsia are all associated with changes in markers of the metabolic syndrome. Several markers are increased in all three conditions. However, smoking is negatively associated with preeclampsia, and therefore some markers would be expected to behave differently in smokers during pregnancy. We compared several metabolic markers of the metabolic syndrome in healthy primigravid smokers and nonsmokers over normal pregnancy to explore mechanisms for the reduced risk of preeclampsia in smokers. STUDY DESIGN Plasma was obtained from 63 women throughout pregnancy who delivered at term. Smoking status was determined by urinary cotinine concentrations measured by HPLC. Uric acid, creatinine, free fatty acids, triglycerides, and total cholesterol were measured with diagnostic kits. Data were analyzed by repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS The smoking groups were not different by delivery gestational age, maternal age, body mass index, or race. Uric acid, cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations increased during pregnancy (significant for time, P < 0.0001). Mean uric acid and creatinine concentrations were different by smoking status (P < 0.001 and P = 0.046). Nonsmokers had the lowest concentrations of uric acid, and women who quit smoking had the highest concentrations. Uric acid concentrations remained significantly different controlling for serum creatinine CONCLUSIONS Women have changes in markers of the metabolic syndrome during pregnancy, and uric acid is further influenced by smoking. The difference in uric acid concentrations by smoking status may be secondary to increased production through the xanthine oxidase pathway but is not simply a result of altered glomerular function because the association persists after controlling for creatinine.
Vitamin status and intake as primary determinants of homocysteinemia in an elderly population.

OBJECTIVE To describe the distribution of plasma homocysteine concentrations in an elderly population and to analyze the relationship between homocysteine level and intake of vitamins and serum levels of vitamins that serve as coenzymes in homocysteine metabolism. DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis of homocysteine levels and vitamin blood levels and intake in elderly participants in the Framingham Study. SETTING Population-based cohort in Framingham, Mass. PARTICIPANTS A total of 1160 adult survivors, aged 67 to 96 years, from the original Framingham Heart Study cohort. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Plasma homocysteine concentration correlated with plasma folate, vitamin B12, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP), and oral intakes of these vitamins, and the contribution of these vitamins to the prevalence of elevated homocysteine in the population. RESULTS Homocysteine levels were positively correlated with age after controlling for vitamin concentrations. After controlling for age, sex, and levels of other vitamins, homocysteine exhibited a strong inverse association with plasma folate. When subjects were grouped by deciles of plasma folate, mean homocysteine was significantly higher in the lowest two folate deciles (15.6 and 13.7 mumol/L, respectively) than in the highest decile (11.0 mumol/L). Homocysteine demonstrated weaker, inverse associations with plasma vitamin B12 and PLP. Similar inverse associations were demonstrated between homocysteine and intakes of folate and vitamin B6, but not vitamin B12. Prevalence of high homocysteine (> 14 mumol/L) was 29.3% in this cohort, and was greatest among subjects with low folate status. Inadequate plasma concentrations of one or more B vitamins appear to contribute to 67% of the cases of high homocysteine. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate a strong association between homocysteine concentration and folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 status, as well as age. It is possible that a substantial majority of the cases of high homocysteine in this older population can be attributed to vitamin status.
An International Multispecialty Validation Study of the IgG4‐Related Disease Responder Index

IgG4‐related disease (IgG4‐RD) can cause fibroinflammatory lesions in nearly any organ, leading to organ dysfunction and failure. The IgG4‐RD Responder Index (RI) was developed to help investigators assess the efficacy of treatment in a structured manner. The aim of this study was to validate the RI in a multinational investigation.
Tenofovir Therapy for Lamivudine Resistance Following Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND Resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains develop in 30% of liver transplant recipients treated with lamivudine within 2 years from the time of transplantation. OBJECTIVE To assess safety and outcomes of tenofovir salvage therapy for patients with lamivudine resistance in a retrospective cohort of liver-transplanted patients. METHODS Medical records were retrospectively evaluated for patients who received tenofovir. Data collected included demographics, HBV serologic information prior to and during tenofovir therapy, drug-related complications, and creatinine clearance. Criteria for lamivudine resistance included elevation of liver chemistries along with reappearance of hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis Be antigen, and/or HBV DNA. RESULTS Sixteen patients showed resistance to lamivudine at 10–85 months (median 26) following liver transplantation. Tenofovir 300 mg/day orally was added in 8 patients 1–66 months after the development of viral lamivudine resistance and continued for 14–26 months (median 19.3). All 8 patients experienced HBV DNA viral suppression, with 7 currently nondetectable. No adverse events were reported, and creatinine clearance was not impaired. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that tenofovir safely and markedly decreases replication of lamivudine-resistant HBV variants after liver transplantation and is another potential option for the treatment of HBV lamivudine resistance.
Vitrification of Human Germinal Vesicle Oocytes: before or after In Vitro Maturation?

Background The use of immature oocytes derived from stimulated cycles could be of great importance, particularly for urgent fertility preservation cases. The current study aimed to determine whether in vitro maturation (IVM) was more successful before or after vitrification of these oocytes. Materials and Methods This prospective study was performed in a private in vitro fertilization (IVF) center. We collected 318 germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes from 104 stimulated oocyte donation cycles. Oocytes were divided into two groups according to whether vitrification was applied at the GV stage (group 1) or in vitro matured to the metaphase II (MII) stage and then vitrified (group 2). In the control group (group 3), oocytes were in vitro matured without vitrification. In all three groups, we assessed survival rate after warming, maturation rate, and MII-spindle/chromosome configurations. The chi-square test was used to compare rates between the three groups. Statistical significance was defined at P<0.05 and we used Bonferroni criterion to assess statistical significance regarding the various pairs of groups. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 17.0 was used to perform statistical analysis. Results There was no significant difference in the survival rate after vitrification and warming of GV (93.5%) and MII oocytes (90.8%). A significantly higher maturation rate occurred when IVM was performed before vitrification (82.9%) compared to after vitrification (51%). There was no significant difference in the incidence of normal spindle/ chromosome configurations among warmed oocytes matured in vitro before (50.0%) or after (41.2%) vitrification. However, a higher incidence of normal spindle/chromosome configurations existed in the in vitro matured oocytes which were not subjected to vitrification (fresh oocytes, 77.9%). Conclusion In stimulated cycles, vitrification of in vitro matured MII oocytes rather than GV oocytes seems to be more efficient. This approach needs to be verified in nonstimulated fertility preservation cases.