Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Receptor binding studies.

explanation of the geochemical anomalies described at the K/T boundary. I wish to point out that their choice of analytical methods precludes the attainment of their stated objectives and that their data do not support the discarding of the asteroid-impact hypothesis. First, their study encompassed only the < 2-,um fraction of the boundary clays. With the elimination of all components larger than 2 ,um, surely most of the mineralogically exotic materials expected from an asteroid impact will have been missed. If one wishes to distinguish this material from ordinary volcanic ejecta or land-derived detrital components, then one must look at the size fraction in which they would most probably occur (> 2 ,um). Studies of altered volcanic ashes (tonsteins) in coal beds have shown that the nonclay mineral components that characterize these rocks as volcanic in origin are much larger than 2 ,um (2). To ignore this larger-sized component almost eliminates any possibility for determining whether the samples are volcanic or not. Can the clay fraction < 2 ,um be useful at all in determinations of origin? By these investigators' own admission (1), the glassy phase of fine ejecta from an asteroid impact might be altered to a clay mineral such as smectite, which might be difficult to distinguish from the volcanogenic smectite present in the marine boundary sections. Glasses of similar compositions, regardless of origin, would be expected to alter to similar clay minerals on the ocean floor. Clay minerals in the limestone and marl beds enclosing the boundary clays also would be expected to be derived mostly from ubiquitous volcanic glass settling from the water column along with the calcareous component. The Late Cretaceous, after all, was a time of intense volcanism, as pointed out by Rampino and Reynolds (1). Thus, would one expect to find large differences in clay mineralogy between the boundary clays and the surrounding rocks? Second, the method of sedimenting the clay fraction (< 2 ,um) onto glass slides for x-ray diffraction analysis was a poor choice for this study. Gibbs (3) and many other workers since have shown that sedimentation onto glass slides allows size fractionation to occur, masking coarser components with finer-sized clay minerals. Thus, diffraction from the finest clay-sized material of the < 2-,um size fraction will be preferentially enhanced on the x-ray pattern. If any exotic material from the impact event were
Neuropsychological functions among adolescents with persistent, subsyndromal and remitted attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Background Previous studies have reported mixed results on neuropsychological deficits in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and only a few studies have focused on adolescents. There is also a debate about whether the executive function (EF) impairments in ADHD are primary deficits or have some contribution from the underlying non-EF processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the impairments in EF and neuropsychological function with relatively low executive demand (low-EF) in adolescents with childhood diagnosis of ADHD as a function of current ADHD status. Method Psychiatric diagnostic interviews and computerized neuropsychological tests classified into EF and low-EF tasks were completed by 435 adolescents with a childhood diagnosis of ADHD (300 adolescents classified as persistent ADHD, 109 as subsyndromal ADHD and 26 as remitted ADHD based on the current diagnosis) and 263 typically developing (TD) adolescents. Results There were significant EF (spatial working memory, spatial planning and verbal working memory) and low-EF (signal detectability, spatial span and visual recognition memory) impairments in persistent and subsyndromal ADHD. The impairments in EF were independent of low-EF despite significant moderate correlations between any two of these tasks. Adolescents with remitted ADHD showed no deficit in either EF or low-EF. Conclusions This study suggests that adolescents with persistent and subsyndromal ADHD have EF and low-EF impairments that might contribute to ADHD independently.
The Prognostic Value of Early Repolarization with ST‐Segment Elevation by Age and Gender in the Hispanic Population

Early repolarization (ER), once thought to be a benign finding on electrocardiograph (ECG), has recently been associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. As there are limited data in the Hispanic population, we investigated possible associations between automated ECG ER readings and overall mortality, using the classic definition involving J‐point elevation with ST segment elevation.
Validation of New Technology Using Legacy Metrics: Examination of SURF-IA Alerting for Runway Incursion Incidents

Researcher: Robert Edward Joslin Title: VALIDATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY USING LEGACY METRICS: EXAMINATION OF SURF-IA ALERTING FOR RUNWAY INCURSION INCIDENTS Institution: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Degree: Doctor of Philosophy in Aviation Year: 2013 New flight deck technology designed to mitigate runway incursions may not be effective in triggering a flight deck alert to avoid high speed surface collisions for runway incursions classified as serious by legacy metrics. This study demonstrated an innovative method of utilizing expert raters and actual high-risk incidents to identify shortcomings of using legacy metrics to measure the effectiveness of new technology designed to mitigate hazardous incidents. Expert raters were used to validate the Enhanced Traffic Situational Awareness on the Airport Surface with Indications and Alerts (SURF-IA) model for providing alerts to pilots to reduce the occurrence of pilot deviation type runway incursion incidents categorized as serious (Category A or B) by the FAA/ICAO Runway Incursion Severity Classification (RISC) model. This study used archival data from Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) incident reports and video reenactments developed by the FAA Office of Runway Safety. Two expert raters reviewed nine pilot deviation type serious runway incursion incidents. The raters applied the baseline minimally compliant implementation of the RTCA/DO 323 SURF-IA model to determine which incidents would have an
The myth of participation in occupational therapy: reconceptualizing a client-centred approach

Abstract Participation is often the comprehensive objective of treatment but also an indication of the extent to which the process of occupational therapy is client-centred. The purpose of this study was to explore levels of participation during occupational therapy among clients in the area of mental health from the occupational therapists' perspectives. Additionally the authors sought to identify factors that might hinder client participation. Postal questionnaires were sent out to 670 Swedish occupational therapists working with persons with mental illness and learning disabilities. The questionnaire required therapists to rate clients' levels of participation during occupational therapy. Findings indicated that the most common level of participation for the clients was interdependent, meaning that problems, goals, and plans were identified jointly and collaboratively with the occupational therapist. However, more than 20% of the clients were described as being dependent. Almost 90% of the occupational therapists rated client participation in therapy to be very important and nearly 70% claimed that client participation in general needed to be increased. Occupational therapists rated the primary barriers to participation as being clients' inability to participate and organizational and financial problems. Implications of these findings for education in client-centred practice approaches are discussed.
Treatment of Antidepressant Poisoning with Resin Hemoperfusion

1 The object of this study was to evaluate hemoperfusion in tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) poisoning. 2 Eight patients with severe TCA-poisoning and one patient with maprotiline poisoning were treated with resin hemoperfusion (HP). All patients were in Grade III or Grade IV coma with a QRS interval of 100 ms or greater. Hemoperfusion was started and continued until a satisfactory clinical response was obtained or for up to a maximum of 4 h. 3 Clearance values and extraction ratios were calculated during HP. The extraction ratio for all drugs was high (0.91-0.98) showing an effective clearance of these drugs from the blood compartment. After termination of HP a rebound effect of blood concentrations was seen in five cases. The total amount of the drug recovered was in no case greater than 3.1% of the estimated amount ingested. 4 It is therefore difficult to ascribe the clinical improvement seen in these patients during HP to the removal of significant amounts of the drug taken.
Ovarian Dynamics in Heliconiine Butterflies: Programmed Senescence versus Eternal Youth

New oocytes are generated throughout long lives in butterflies of the genus Heliconius, which as adults feed on amino acids from pollen. In Dryas julia, a related heliconiine that feeds only on nectar and is relatively short-lived, the original oocyte supply is eventually depleted. Such divergent ovarian dynamics in closely related organisms are significant in terms of both their evolutionary basis and their physiological controls.
Serum Levels of the Th1 Promoter IL-12 and the Th2 Chemokine TARC Are Elevated in Erythema Multiforme and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis and Correlate with Soluble Fas Ligand Expression

Background: No data exist as to Th2 chemokines in erythema multiforme (EM) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). Objective: To evaluate thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) and regulated upon activation, normal T-lymphocyte-expressed and secreted chemokine (RANTES) expression in EM and SJS/TEN and to correlate with the serum levels of the Th1 promoter interleukin (IL)-12 and soluble Fas ligand (sFasL). Materials and Methods: IL-12, sFasL, TARC, MDC and RANTES expression were analyzed by ELISA techniques in 31 untreated EM (n = 24) or SJS/TEN (n = 7) patients and in 28 healthy donors (HD). Results: EM and SJS/TEN exhibited significantly higher levels of TARC, IL-12 and sFasL with respect to HD. TARC upregulation paralleled both the IL-12 (p = 0.0225) and sFasL increase (p = 0.0194). Conclusions: Our results support a role of TARC in the pathophysiology of EM/SJS/TEN and confirm the coexistence of a Th2 response in addition to the predominant Th1 profile.
Differences in age-related fiber atrophy between vastii muscles of active subjects: a multichannel surface EMG study

The aim of the study was to non-invasively determine if vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis obliquus (VM) muscles are equally affected by age-related fiber atrophy. Multichannel surface electromyography was used since it allows to estimate muscle fiber conduction velocity (CV), which has been demonstrated to be related to the size of recruited muscle fibers. Twelve active elderly men (age 69 ± 4 years) and 12 active young men (age 23 ± 2 years) performed isometric knee extension at 30%, 50%, and 70% of maximal voluntary contraction. Electromyographic signals were recorded from VL and VM muscles of the dominant limb using arrays with eight electrodes and CVs were estimated for each contraction. CV estimates showed a different behavior in the two muscles: in VL at 50% and 70% of maximum voluntary contraction they were greater in young than in elderly; whereas such a difference was not observed in VM. This finding suggest that in active elderly VM seems to be less affected by the age-related fibers atrophy than VL. Hence, the common choice of studying VL as a muscle representative of the whole quadriceps could generate misleading findings. Indeed, it seemed that the sarcopenic ageing effects might be heterogeneous within quadriceps muscle.
Human subcutaneous tissue distribution of fluconazole: comparison of microdialysis and suction blister techniques.

AIMS To investigate uptake of fluconazole into the interstitial fluid of human subcutaneous tissue using the microdialysis and suction blister techniques. METHODS A sterile microdialysis probe (CMA/60) was inserted subcutaneously into the upper arm of five healthy volunteers following an overnight fast. Blisters were induced on the lower arm using gentle suction prior to ingestion of a single oral dose of fluconazole (200 mg). Microdialysate, blister fluid and blood were sampled over 8 h. Fluconazole concentrations were determined in each sample using a validated HPLC assay. In vivo recovery of fluconazole from the microdialysis probe was determined in each subject by perfusing the probe with fluconazole solution at the end of the 8 h sampling period. Individual in vivo recovery was used to calculate fluconazole concentrations in subcutaneous interstitial fluid. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was used to predict fluconazole concentrations in human subcutaneous interstitial fluid. RESULTS There was a lag-time (approximately 0.5 h) between detection of fluconazole in microdialysate compared with plasma in each subject. The in vivo recovery of fluconazole from the microdialysis probe ranged from 57.0 to 67.2%. The subcutaneous interstitial fluid concentrations obtained by microdialysis were very similar to the unbound concentrations of fluconazole in plasma with maximum concentration of 4.29 +/- 1.19 microg ml(-1) in subcutaneous interstitial fluid and 3.58 +/- 0.14 microg ml(-1) in plasma. Subcutaneous interstitial fluid-to-plasma partition coefficient (Kp) of fluconazole was 1.16 +/- 0.22 (95% CI 0.96, 1.35). By contrast, fluconazole concentrations in blister fluid were significantly lower (P < 0.05, paired t-test) than unbound plasma concentrations over the first 3 h and maximum concentrations in blister fluid had not been achieved at the end of the sampling period. There was good agreement between fluconazole concentrations derived from microdialysis sampling and those estimated using a blood flow-limited PBPK model. CONCLUSIONS Microdialysis and suction blister techniques did not yield comparable results. It appears that microdialysis is a more appropriate technique for studying the rate of uptake of fluconazole into subcutaneous tissue. PBPK model simulation suggested that the distribution of fluconazole into subcutaneous interstitial fluid is dependent on tissue blood flow.
Evaluation of Employees' Job Satisfaction and Role of Gender Difference: An Empirical Study at Airline Industry in Iran

This purpose of this study is to determine level of employees’ job satisfaction and to investigate effect of gender on employees’ job satisfaction. Important factors that have an impact on job satisfaction are supervision, relationship with co-workers, present pay, nature of work, and opportunities for promotion. Data for this study was collected from employees of three private airline companies in Iran. Descriptive analysis performed to determine level of employees’ job satisfaction. In addition, independent-sample t-test was utilized to empirically test relationship between employees’ job satisfaction and their gender. Findings suggest that employees are moderately satisfied with their job and there is no significant difference between male and female employees’ job satisfaction.
A programmable System-on-Chip based digital pulse processing for high resolution X-ray spectroscopy

It is described the global architecture of a digital pulse processing system for high resolution X-Ray spectroscopy based on single photon detection and photon energy measurement. The core of the system is implemented in a modern hybrid device (Xilinx Zynq) that integrates an FPGA fabric along with a dual core 32-bits processor (ARM Cortex). It is also described the adopted strategy to deal with high input photon rates while preserving a good energy resolution. The digital performance of the system is ultimate determined by few key functional blocks including two finite impulse response filters and an algorithmic state machine. It is presented a numerical procedure to optimize the digital filters according to different constrains and goals, and it is described the analysis of experimental data to obtain the necessary information for the optimization of the system.
Proton pump inhibitors do not induce change in bone mineral density in a long-term observational study

Commentary on: Targownik LE, Leslie WD, Davison KS, et al. the CaMos Research Group. The relationship between proton pump inhibitor use and longitudinal change in bone mineral density: a population-based from the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos). Am J Gastroenterol 2012; 107: 1361– 9. [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3] Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most widely prescribed drug classes worldwide. However recent studies have raised concerns about side effects associated with their long-term use. One major concern related to their use is the development of hip and vertebral fractures, although the relationship remains highly controversial. The mechanism through which PPIs could increase fracture risk is not established, although the speculation is that osteoporosis could develop via PPI-induced alterations in calcium metabolism. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PPI use and decline in bone mineral density (BMD) over time. This study used data from the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos), which consisted of a population-based stratified random sample of the … [1]: {openurl}? query=rft.jtitle%253DThe%2BAmerican%2Bjournal%2Bof%2Bgastroenterology%26rft.stitle%253DAm%2BJ%2BGastroenterol%26rft.aulast%253DTargownik%26rft.auinit1%253DL. %2BE. %26rft.volume%253D107%26rft.issue%253D9%26rft.spage%253D1361%26rft.epage%253D1369%26rft.atitle%253DThe%2Brelationship%2Bbetween%2Bproton%2Bpump%2Binhibitor%2Buse%2Band%2Blongitudinal%2Bchange%2Bin%2Bbone%2Bmineral%2Bdensity%253A%2Ba%2Bpopulation-based%2Bfrom%2Bthe%2BCanadian%2BMulticentre%2BOsteoporosis%2BStudy%2B%2528CaMos%2529. %26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1038%252Fajg.2012. 200%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F22777336%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=10.1038/ajg.2012. 200&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=22777336&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F18%2F5%2F192.atom
Dynamic modulation of ANO1/TMEM16A HCO3− permeability by Ca2+/calmodulin

Anoctamin 1 (ANO1)/transmembrane protein 16A (TMEM16A) is a calcium-activated anion channel that may play a role in HCO3− secretion in epithelial cells. Here, we report that the anion selectivity of ANO1 is dynamically regulated by the Ca2+/calmodulin complex. Whole-cell current measurements in HEK 293T cells indicated that ANO1 becomes highly permeable to HCO3− at high [Ca2+]i. Interestingly, this result was not observed in excised patches, indicating the involvement of cytosolic factors in this process. Further studies revealed that the direct association between ANO1 and calmodulin at high [Ca2+]i is responsible for changes in anion permeability. Calmodulin physically interacted with ANO1 in a [Ca2+]i-dependent manner, and addition of recombinant calmodulin to the cytosolic side of excised patches reversibly increased PHCO3/PCl. In addition, the high [Ca2+]i-induced increase in HCO3− permeability was reproduced in mouse submandibular gland acinar cells, in which ANO1 plays a critical role in fluid secretion. These results indicate that the HCO3− permeability of ANO1 can be dynamically modulated and that ANO1 may play an important role in cellular HCO3− transport, especially in transepithelial HCO3− secretion.
Autonomic blood pressure control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Introduction: Increased daytime blood pressure and reduced nocturnal dipping can already be found in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. We hypothesized that impaired baroreflex sensitivity can cause this abnormal blood pressure behavior in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, reflecting an early stage of diabetic autonomic neuropathy.
A single blind, clinical trial to investigate the effects of a single session extracorporeal shock wave therapy on wrist flexor spasticity after stroke.

BACKGROUND Spasticity is a common, serious symptom after stroke. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been suggested for the treatment of muscle spasticity. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of ESWT on post stroke wrist flexor spasticity. METHODS Fifteen patients with poststroke wrist flexor spasticity (12 male and 3 female with a mean age of 54 years) were enrolled. Patients received 1 sham ESWT followed by 1 active ESWT 1 week later. The outcome measures were the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS), the Hmax/Mmax ratio, and the Brunnstrom motor recovery stage. RESULTS The sham ESWT had not effects on the outcome measures. After active ESW, the MMAS scores of spasticity and the Hmax/Mmax ratio improved. The improvements were maintained 5 weeks after active ESWT. No significant improvements were observed for the motor recovery after sham or active ESWT. CONCLUSIONS In adult patients after stroke, a single session of active ESWT resulted in significant improvement in the wrist flexor spasticity and alpha motor neuron excitability.
Abnormalities of Pregnancy as a Function of Anxiety and Life Stress

&NA; Various psychosocial factors, particularly anxiety, have been found to correlate with medical abnormalities in pregnancy. But measures of anxiety have often been obtained late in pregnancy and have rarely been examined in conjunction with life stress. Therefore, this study measured states of anxiety and magnitude of life change surrounding the pregnancies of 118 low income clinic patients. Results indicated that anxiety around the first trimester was related to abnormalities of pregnancy, parturition and infant status. Life stress during the second and third trimesters was similarly associated with the same measure of abnormalities. Anxiety and life stress were found to independently contribute to abnormalities of pregnancy and are critical at different times. Evidence did not suggest that either anxiety or life stress before conception influences the course and outcome of pregnancy.
Weekly Low-Dose Paclitaxel as Maintenance Treatment in Patients With Advanced Ovarian Cancer Who Had Microscopic Residual Disease at Second-Look Surgery After 6 Cycles of Paclitaxel/Platinum-Based Chemotherapy: Results of an Open Noncomparative Phase 2 Multicenter Italian Study (After-6 Protocol 2)

The aim of this paper was to assess whether weekly intravenous 60-mg/m2 paclitaxel for 21 weeks is feasible and effective as maintenance treatment in 64 patients with advanced ovarian cancer who had microscopic residual disease after 6 cycles of paclitaxel/platinum-based chemotherapy. Forty-eight patients completed the planned cycles of weekly paclitaxel. The worst toxicities were grade 2 leukopenia in 22.4% of the patients, grade 2 neutropenia in 25.9%, grade 2 sensorial neurotoxicity in 20.7%, and grade 2 motor neurotoxicity in 6.9%. Seventeen patients underwent a third-look surgery that showed a pathological complete response in 6 (35.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 17.3%-59.0%) cases. The 3-year progression-free survival rate was 18% (95% CI, 9.6%-33.8%), and the 3-year overall survival rate was 64% (95% CI, 52.0%-78.0%). Weekly low-dose paclitaxel is a feasible and well-tolerated maintenance treatment.