Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Behavior of Reverse Flow Reactor for Lean Methane Combustion

The stability of reactor operation for catalytic oxidation of lean CH4 has been investigated through modeling and simulation, particularly the influence of switching time and heat extraction on reverse flow reactor (RFR) performance. A mathematical model of the RFR was developed, based on one-dimensional pseudo-homogeneous model for mass and heat balances, incorporating heat loss through the reactor wall. The configuration of the RFR consisted of inert-catalyst-inert, with or without heat extraction that makes it possible to store the energy released by the exothermic reaction of CH4 oxidation. The objective of this study was to investigate the dynamic behavior of the RFR for lean methane oxidation and to find the optimum condition by exploring a stability analysis of the simple reactor. The optimum criteria were defined in terms of CH4 conversion, CH4 slip, and heat accumulation in the RFR. At a switching time of 100 s, the CH4 conversion reached the maximum value, while the CH4 slip attained its minimum value. The RFR could operate autothermally with positive heat accumulation, i.e. 0.02 J/s. The stability of the RFR in terms of heat accumulation was achieved at a switching time of 100 s.
Significance of Endothelin Receptor Subtypes in the Kidneys of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats: Renal and Hemodynamic Effects of Endothelin Receptor Antagonists

Summary: The renal endothelin (ET) system has been implicated in the maintenance of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). However, little is known about the expression and cellular distribution of the ET receptor subtypes in the kidney of SHRs. We therefore analyzed the expression of ET receptor subtypes in the kidneys of 16-week-old SHRs. Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats served as controls. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of the ETA receptor antagonist BQ 123 and the mixed (ETA/ETB) receptor antagonist bosentan on mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), renal blood flow (RBF), and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in conscious, chronically instrumented rats. In SHRs we found overexpres-sion of the ETA in the glomeruli and smooth muscle cells of intrarenal arteries compared to age-matched WKY rats. Furthermore, our study revealed a pronounced upregulation of the ETB in the glomeruli of SHRs. Blockade of ETA and ETB receptors in SHR with bosentan as well as with BQ 123 led to a significant decrease in MAP and a significant increase in RBF, indicating that the ETA receptor plays a major role in the maintenance of high blood pressure and the regulation of RBF in SHRs. The blockade of both ETA and ETB receptors by bosentan has no further effect on MAP reduction or increase in RBF in SHRs compared to ETA blockade by BQ 123. In contrast, combined blockade of ETA and ETB receptors by bosentan significantly decreased GFR in SHRs, whereas no effect on GFR was observed in WKY rats, suggesting that the glomerular ETB overexpression in SHRs is of pathophysiologic relevance.
Plasma phospholipids polyunsaturated fatty acids and plasma homocysteine in Chinese type 2 diabetes patients

The main aim of the present study was to investigate the plasma phospholipids (PL) fatty acids status and its association with plasma Hcy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). One hundred and four T2DM (aged 57.3±13.4 y) and 150 healthy subjects (aged 48.4±8.7 y) were recruited. Plasma Hcy and PL fatty acids were determined by standard methods. Plasma Hcy concentration in T2DM was significantly higher than that in healthy subjects (p<0.001). The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia was significantly higher in T2DM (36.54%) than that in healthy subjects (17.32%) (p=0.012). Plasma PL 20:4n-6 (r=0.303, p=0.012), 22:5n-3 (r=0.312, p=0.01), total PUFA (r=0.303, p=0.012), n-6 PUFA (r=0.261, p=0.032) were significantly positively associated with plasma Hcy concentration in T2DM. While, plasma PL n-3:n-6 PUFA (r=-0.400, p=0.046) was negatively associated with plasma Hcy in T2DM. In healthy subjects, plasma PL 22:6n-3 (r=-0.201, p=0.042) was negatively associated with plasma Hcy. In addition, plasma PL 22:6n-3 (r=0.193, p=0.044) and 22:5n-6 (r=0.234, p=0.038) were significantly negatively associated with plasma vitamin B-12 in healthy subjects. Our results suggested that increased plasma Hcy levels in T2DM associated with low n-3:n-6 ratio intake. We suggest that T2DM increase their long chain n-3 PUFA intake from fish or fish oil while decrease n-6 PUFA intake.
Sustainable change.

In the first of a series of four reports, the author outlines the driving factors behind radical changes that took place in care delivery at Leicester Royal Infirmary. Future reports will focus on the nurses' role in change programmes, the importance of education in successful change and examples of process change in gynaecology and endoscopy.
Efficacy and safety of voriconazole in immunocompromised patients: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background: Voriconazole is a second-generation triazole. It has excellent bioavailability and broad antifungal spectrum; thus, it is an attractive option for patients at high risk of invasive fungal infections (IFIs). Comparing efficacy and safety of voriconazole with other antifungals in prophylaxis or treatment of IFIs would be useful to draw conclusions regarding prevention and therapeutics of these infections. Aim: To assess efficacy and safety of voriconazole compared with other options as prophylaxis or treatment of IFIs in haematology-oncology patients. Materials and methods: A literature search was performed in MEDLINE database using the search term ‘voriconazole’ and completed with manual search. Study selection: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing voriconazole with other antifungal agents or placebo. Data extraction: Seven studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Results: Five studies compared voriconazole to another comparator as prophylaxis of IFIs and two as treatment. Pooled results showed that voriconazole was more effective than the comparator (RR = 1.17; 95%CI = 1.01–1.34), but heterogeneity was significant (Q test 32.7; p = .00001). Sub-analysis according to prophylaxis showed RR = 1.17; 95%CI = 1.00–1.37; while as treatment, RR = 1.23; 95%CI = 0.68–2.22. Risk of adverse events was not different from that observed for the comparator (RR = 1.06, 95%CI = 0.66–1.72) though significant heterogeneity was detected (p < .01). Conclusions: Voriconazole was as effective and safe as comparators, probably better as prophylaxis than as treatment, but limitations due to variability in the sample size of studies, differences in the age of patients, and heterogeneity between studies’ outcome measures indicate the need for further research.
Characterization of Malassezia species by means of phenotypic characteristics and detection of electrophoretic karyotypes by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE)

A total of 220 isolates of the genus Malassezia obtained from affected skin of animals and humans were included in this study. The isolates were examined for their belonging to the known species Malassezia pachydermatis, Malassezia sympodialis, Malassezia furfur, Malassezia obtusa, Malassezia restricta, Malassezia globosa and Malassezia slooffiae by means of phenotypic and biochemical characteristics as well as their ability to assimilate polyethylen(20)‐sorbitan‐esters (Tween 20, 40, 60, 80). The electrophoretic karyotypes of all isolates were studied by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis. Of the 220 Malassezia isolates examined, 217 were identified as M. pachydermatis and three were classified as M. sympodialis. Moreover, the proof of limited lipid‐dependence of M. pachydermatis indicated that the commonly used criterion ‘lipid‐independence’ is not sufficient to differentiate this species from the other known Malassezia species.
Resonant Pumping of Er-Doped Fiber Amplifiers for Improved Laser Efficiency in Free-Space Optical Communications

The research described in this publication was carried out by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. © 2012. All rights reserved. abstract. — An efficient laser transmitter design is proposed using resonant pumping of an erbium-doped fiber amplifier for a free-space optical communications source. Preliminary results are compared with fiber models to understand the influence of various design parameters in order to optimize the power conversion efficiency. An overall efficiency of greater than 20 percent should be realizable based on current designs with optimized pump sources.
Shedding of polyomavirus in the saliva of immunocompetent individuals

The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the frequency of BKV, JCV, WUV, and KIV in the saliva of healthy individuals. Samples were analyzed for the presence of polyomaviruses (BKV, JCV, WUV, and KIV) DNA by real‐time PCR. Of the 291 samples tested, 71 (24.3%) were positive for at least one of the screened polyomaviruses. Specifically, 12.7% (37/291) were positive for WUV, 7.2% (21/291) positive for BKV, 2.4% (7/291) positive for KIV, and 0.3% (1/291) positive for JCV. BKV and WUV co‐infections were detected in 1.7% (5/291) of individuals. No other co‐infection combinations were found. The mean number of DNA copies was high, particularly for WUV and BKV, indicating active replication of these viruses. Polyomavirus detection was higher among individuals 15–19 years of age (46.0%; 23/50) and ≥50 years of age (33.3%; 9/27). However, the detection rate in the first group was almost 1.7× greater than the latter. WUV infections were more frequent in individuals between the ages of 15 and 19 years and the incidence decreased with age. By contrast, BKV excretion peaked and persisted during the third decade of life and KIV infections were detected more commonly in subjects ≥50 years old. These findings reinforced the previous hypotheses that saliva may be a route for BKV transmission, and that the oral cavity could be a site of virus replication. These data also demonstrated that JCV, WUV, and KIV may be transmitted in a similar fashion. J. Med. Virol. 85:144–148, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Outcomes of an underserved Hispanic population with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin in a government-sponsored clinic.

OBJECTIVE Treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) with interferon-based therapy has been shown to be less effective in Hispanics when compared to other populations. A pilot clinic was established at the University of Puerto Rico for the treatment of HCV in the government-insured population. The aim of this study was to describe the outcomes and treatment response to pegylated interferon and ribavirin in treatment-naive patients enrolled at this government-sponsored clinic. METHODS A retrospective analysis was undertaken to investigate the treatment outcomes with weight based peg-interferon-alpha-2b and ribavirin in patients with chronic HCV enrolled in the pilot clinic during 2003-2005. Descriptive statistics were reported. Continuous variables were summarized as means and standard deviations. Frequency distributions and percents were used for categorical variables. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA. RESULTS A total of 155 patients (105 males and 50 females) with mean age of 42 years started treatment; 79 (51%) patients had HCV genotype 1. Completion of treatment was achieved by 59 patients (38.1%), of whom end of treatment response (ETR) was observed in 30 (50.9%), representing 19.4% of the intention-to-treat population (ITT). Sustained viral response (SVR) was achieved in 17 (28.8%) patients who completed treatment, resulting in 11% (17/155) SVR by ITT. The only significant predictor of SVR was treatment onset within 5 years of the diagnosis of HCV (p = 0.026). Although no association was found between HCV genotype and SVR (p = 0.192), those patients with HCV genotypes 2 and 3 were more likely to complete treatment (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION SVR to pegylated interferon and ribavirin seems to be lower than expected in our population. The high rate of incomplete treatment surpasses previously reported rates in U.S. Latinos and Caucasians. Further studies should explore reasons for lower response and higher treatment discontinuation in our population.
Pregnancy and delivery outcomes following a pathological second trimester triple test screening result and a normal karyotype

Objective: To investigate whether obstetrical complications are increased in pregnancies with a normal karyotype and an abnormal triple test (TT) (≥1:380 or more) where all analytes were within the normal range. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of women who underwent a TT and delivered in a tertiary medical center, was conducted. Patients were divided into a study group (pregnancies with abnormal TT) and a control group (normal TT). In both groups, the analyte concentrations were within the normal range and the karyotype was normal. Demographic and clinical characteristics, antenatal factors, gestational complications and perinatal outcomes were compared between the groups. Results: An abnormal TT result in the presence of normal analytes and a normal karyotype, had no impact on obstetrical complications. A direct association between elevated values of hCG within the normal range (0–2.0 MoM) and pathological TT was noticed (OR = 2.6, p < 0.01). On the other hand, an inverse correlation between elevation in AFP (0–2.0 MoM) and uE3 was found (OR < 0.01, p < 0.01; OR < 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusions: An abnormal TT result in the presence of normal analytes and a normal karyotype, had no influence on rate of obstetrical complications.
In Trauma, Conventional ROTEM and TEG Results Are Not Interchangeable But Are Similar in Clinical Applicability.

BACKGROUND There is growing interest in viscoelastic hemostatic assays rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and thromboelastography (TEG) for trauma. Despite shared features, it is unknown whether their results are interchangeable and whether one is clinically superior in predicting mortality, blood transfusion, and diagnosing early trauma coagulopathy. METHODS We conducted a prospective observational study comparing equivalent ROTEM and TEG parameters. Severely injured patients expected to receive massive transfusion were included. Assays were performed simultaneously on admission and repeated over subsequent 12 hours. International normalized ratio ≥1.2 or fibrinogen <1 g/L defined coagulopathy. TEG used kaolin as coagulation initiator and ROTEM used tissue factor (conventional). Spearman nonparametric analysis and Bland-Altman difference mean plot revealed parameter association. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves measured predictive values. RESULTS 33 patients (74 ROTEM, 74 TEG) were included; 79% were male, mean Injury Severity Score was 23.5 ± 14, admission international normalized ratio was 1.33 ± 0.4, and 63.4% received blood transfusions. Overall, parameter agreement fell outside acceptable limits, with weak or no association. Clinically, ROTEM maximum clot firmness and TEG maximum amplitude showed reasonable predictive accuracy for mortality, strong accuracy for any or massive blood transfusion, reasonable for plasma transfusion and similar poor predictive accuracy for diagnosing coagulopathy. CONCLUSIONS ROTEM and TEG results are not interchangeable, arguably due to different coagulation triggers. Assays had similar clinical performance.
On the instability of arbitrary biorthogonal wavelet packets

Starting from a multiresolution analysis and the corresponding orthonormal wavelet basis, Coifman and Meyer have constructed wavelet packets, a library from which many different orthonormal bases can be picked. This paper proves that when the same procedure is applied to biorthogonal wavelet bases, not all the resulting wavelet packets lead to Riesz bases for $L^2 (\mathbb{R})$.
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Early-Stage Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: When and Why Is It Appropriate Therapy?

Author's disclosures of potential conflicts of interest are found at the end of this article. L ung cancer, the second most frequently diagnosed malignancy for men and women in the United States, will account for an estimated 221,200 newly diagnosed cases and 158,040 deaths in 2015 (Siegel, Miller, & Jemal, 2015). The preferred treatment for early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), often defined as stage I or stage II, is surgi-The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate without treatment is 20%. The OS rate for total lobectomy is 30% to 50% for patients with stage II NSCLC and 60% to 70% for patients with stage I NSCLC (Guckenberger et al. 25% of patients with lung cancer do not have surgery, either by choice or because of their comorbidities (Ishi-kura, 2012). The treatment options then include surveillance, chemo-therapy, radiation therapy, or an ab-lative procedure. Surgical excision is considered the standard of care for patients with early if possible, is preferred over subtotal lobectomy (also called wedge resec-tion) due to the likelihood of disease recurrence (Fernando & Timmer-man, 2012; Kelsey & Salama, 2013). Studies have shown that sublobar re-section has a local recurrence that is three times higher than that of lobec-tomy (Senan et al., 2013). However, it is estimated that 20% to 40% of patients diagnosed with stage I or stage II NSCLC who do not have surgery, either by necessity or choice (Allibhai et al., 2013; Senan et al., 2013). The number of patients diagnosed with early-stage NSCLC is expected to rise, as low
Is call auction efficient for better price discovery

The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) implemented call auction trading mechanism on18 October 2010 in its opening session for better opening price discovery. Excess volatility is observed at the opening due to uncertainty surrounding the fundamental value following the overnight non- trading hours. Therefore, the objective of call auction during a pre-open session is to minimize the market price fluctuations which subsequently leading to better price-discovery. GARCH (1, 1) model, after accounting for the impact of overnight information, noise and previous day? s closing market, found that the unconditional volatility at the opening, in 16 out 26 stocks, is reduced following the introduction of pre-open call auction session. In absence of spread in call auction market Lee (2008), the lower volatility could be attributed to higher depth in terms of more outstanding orders at the best bid and ask price, given the strong endogeneity amongst spread, depth and volatility. Consequently it is the depth in call market which could lower the price volatility for better price discovery.
Test-Retest Reliability and Standard Error of Measurement for the Test of Variables of Attention (T.O.V.A.) With Healthy School-Age Children

Test-retest reliability of the Test of Variables of Attention (T.O.V.A.) was investigated in two studies using two different time intervals: 90 min and 1 week (2 days). To investigate the 90-min reliability, 31 school-age children (M = 10 years, SD = 2.66) were administered the T.O. V.A. then read ministered the test 90 min afterward. Significant reliability coefficients were obtained across omission (.70), commission (.78), response time (.84), and response time variability (.87). For the second study, a different sample of 33 school-age children (M = 10.01 years, SD = 2.59) were administered the test then read ministered the test 1 week later. Significant reliability coefficients were obtained for omission (.86), commission (.74), response time (.79), and response time variability (.87). Standard error of measurement statistics were calculated using the obtained coefficients. Commission scores were significantly higher on second trials for each retest interval.
Cholestatic Liver Injury Associated with Whey Protein and Creatine Supplements

We present a case of acute cholestatic liver injury associated with the combination of whey protein and creatine supplements. The difficulty of diagnosing drug-induced liver injury is emphasized. The patient is a healthy, 27-year-old man who presented with painless jaundice. He had no occupational exposures to solvents, was not taking prescription medications, and did not use recreational drugs or alcohol. He was an enthusiastic weight-lifter and had been taking creatine for 8 to 9 months and whey protein supplements for 4 weeks prior to the development of symptoms. Laboratory tests revealed elevated total bilirubin (54.7 mg/dL) and alkaline phosphatase (436 U/L), minimally elevated transaminases, and a creatinine of 3.1 mg/dL. Serologic work-up was negative for viral hepatitis and autoimmune liver disease, and Wilson's disease was ruled out. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatogram was unremarkable, but a liver biopsy showed marked cholestasis with ductular proliferation. He had dramatic clinical improvement with intravenous fluids and discontinuation of the nutritional supplements. In patients with acute liver injury, clinicians should inquire about dietary supplement usage and consider immediate discontinuation of all unnecessary products. We describe a case of profound jaundice related to a commonly used and reportedly safe combination of such supplements.
Spectral Tuning of Shortwave‐sensitive Visual Pigments in Vertebrates †

Of the four classes of vertebrate cone visual pigments, the shortwave‐sensitive SWS1 class shows some of the largest shifts in λmax, with values ranging in different species from 390–435 nm in the violet region of the spectrum to <360 nm in the ultraviolet. Phylogenetic evidence indicates that the ancestral pigment most probably had a λmax in the UV and that shifts between violet and UV have occurred many times during evolution. In violet‐sensitive (VS) pigments, the Schiff base is protonated whereas in UV‐sensitive (UVS) pigments, it is almost certainly unprotonated. The generation of VS pigments in amphibia, birds and mammals from ancestral UVS pigments must involve therefore the stabilization of protonation. Similarly, stabilization must be lost in the evolution of avian UVS pigments from a VS ancestral pigment. The key residues in the opsin protein for these shifts are at sites 86 and 90, both adjacent to the Schiff base and the counterion at Glu113. In this review, the various molecular mechanisms for the UV and violet shifts in the different vertebrate groups are presented and the changes in the opsin protein that are responsible for the spectral shifts are discussed in the context of the structural model of bovine rhodopsin.