Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lipoprotein subclass patterns in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared with equally insulin-resistant women without PCOS.

OBJECTIVES Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are more insulin resistant and display an atherogenic lipid profile compared with normal women of similar body mass index (BMI). Insulin resistance (IR) at least partially underlies the dyslipidemia of PCOS, but it is unclear whether PCOS status per se confers additional risk. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Using a case-control design, we compared plasma lipids and lipoprotein subclasses (using polyacrylamide gel tube electrophoresis) in 70 women with PCOS (National Institutes of Health criteria) and 70 normal women pair matched for age, BMI, and IR (homeostasis model assessment-IR, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, and the Avignon Index). Subjects were identified as having a (less atherogenic) type A pattern consisting predominantly of large low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subfractions or a (more atherogenic) non-A pattern consisting predominantly of small-dense LDL subfractions. RESULTS Total, high-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol, or triacylglycerol did not differ between the groups, but very low-density lipoprotein levels (P<0.05) were greater in women with PCOS, whereas a non-A LDL profile was seen in 12.9% compared with 2.9% of controls (P<0.05, chi2). Multiple regression analysis revealed homeostasis model assessment-IR and waist circumference to be independent predictors of very low-density lipoprotein together explaining 40.2% of the overall variance. Logistic regression revealed PCOS status to be the only independent determinant of a non-A LDL pattern (odds ratio 5.48 (95% confidence interval 1.082-27.77; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Compared with women matched for BMI and IR, women with PCOS have potentially important differences in lipid profile with greater very low-density lipoprotein levels and increased rates of a more atherogenic non-A LDL pattern.
Development of a Gene Knockout System in Candida parapsilosis Reveals a Conserved Role for BCR1 in Biofilm Formation

ABSTRACT Candida parapsilosis is an important cause of candidiasis, yet few molecular tools are available. We adapted a recyclable nourseothricin resistance marker gene (SAT1) originally developed for use with C. albicans in order to generate gene knockouts from C. parapsilosis. We first replaced the promoters driving expression of the FLP recombinase and the SAT1 genes with the equivalent sequences from C. parapsilosis. We then used the cassette to generate a homozygous knockout of C. parapsilosis URA3. The ura3 knockouts have altered colony morphologies. We also knocked out both alleles of an ortholog of BCR1, a gene encoding a transcription factor known to be required for biofilm development in C. albicans. We show that C. parapsilosis BCR1 is necessary for biofilm development in C. parapsilosis and for expression of the cell wall protein encoded by RBT1. Our results suggest that there are significant similarities in the regulation of biofilms between the two species, despite the fact that C. parapsilosis does not generate true hyphae and that BCR1 regulates the expression of many hypha-specific adhesins in C. albicans.
Asymmetric Information and Dividend Policy in Emerging Markets: Empirical Evidence from Nigeria

The study investigated the relationship between asymmetric information and dividend policy in Nigeria. To carryout the research work, the researcher employed the unit root test using the augmented Dickey Fuller test, the Johanson cointegration test and then vector error correction model to ascertain the long-run relationship between the variables. Granger causality test was also used. The researcher found supportive evidence for the dividend signaling theory. Thus, there is a positive and significant relationship between dividend policy and asymmetric information. The Granger causality tests at lag 2 suggested that dividend policy has causal impact on information asymmetry without a reverse or feedback effect. That is dividend policy drives or granger causes information asymmetry.
Etanercept Treatment in Sweet’s Syndrome with Inflammatory Arthritis

To the Editor: A 55-year-old Caucasian man initially presented 6 years earlier to an outside facility with a photosensitive rash, arthritis, fatigue, and mild neutrophilia. He had a history of liver cirrhosis, felt to be secondary to previous alcohol consumption. He had several inflammatory papules and plaques on his trunk and forearms that clinically were suggestive of Sweet’s syndrome. A skin biopsy showed a dense, perivascular, neutrophilic infiltrate, which confirmed the diagnosis1. He was prescribed prednisolone and a calcium-vitamin D3 preparation. Standard investigations for an underlying malignancy were undertaken2, with results that were normal. Both his arthritis and his skin disease improved dramatically under steroid treatment, but both flared again once the steroid dose was tapered below 20 mg per day. Over the next 5 years he was followed up by a dermatology service and was maintained on 20–40 mg prednisolone. Concomitant treatment with colchicine, hydroxychloroquine, and chloroquine was ineffective, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs were not tolerated because of gastrointestinal side effects, and liver … Address reprint requests to Dr. Ambrose; E-mail: nambrose2001{at}yahoo.co.uk
Tri-level capacitor-splitting switching scheme with high energy-efficiency for SAR ADCs

An energy-efficient tri-level capacitor-splitting switching algorithm for successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) is proposed. The proposed switching scheme is a combination of the zero-power-consumption switching algorithm and the one-side doublelevel switching technique. By zero-power-consumption switching algorithm, there is no switching power dissipation during the first three bit cycles. Furthermore, only one-side capacitors are switched between two reference voltages (ground and VCM) during the remaining bit conversions, which is more energy-saving than the monotonic switching method. The proposed switching method reduces the switching energy by 50.59% compared to the Sanyal and Sun proposed one.
Net costs of dementia in Sweden – An Incidence Based 10 Year Simulation Study

Aging of the population results in increasing number people suffering from dementia, and this will have a great impact on costs for the society. Because of the long duration of dementia disorders, it is difficult to collect empirical data for the whole survival period of incident cases. Therefore, modeling approaches are frequently used. The purpose of this study was to describe the costs of an incident dementia cohort with progression modeling.
Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Man-Made Objects Using Polarimetric Tomographic SAR

The growing interest in 3-D reconstruction of targets, particularly man-made objects, has made synthetic aperture radar (SAR) tomography a hot topic in recent years. It obtains a 3-D reflectivity map by coherently processing multiple images acquired from slightly different views. This paper investigates the use of polarimetric tomographic SAR to reconstruct 3-D images of man-made objects and proposes a polarimetric 3-D reconstruction technique, based on the multiple-measurement vector compressive sensing (CS) (MMV-CS) model and Tikhonov regularization theory. The main feature of the technique is that of allowing joint reconstruction of polarimetric 3-D reflectivity maps with high resolution. For X-band tomographic SAR, we demonstrate that the phase error induced by an array element error is severe enough to prevent data focusing and propose a phase calibration technique employing prominent scatterers to adapt the proposed technique to practice. To check the plausibility of our algorithms, a ground-based SAR system is introduced, and high-resolution 3-D images obtained by processing the real collected data are presented. As special cases of the new proposed technique, both the Tikhonov regularization and the MMV-CS method reconstruct the targets successfully and give an accurate estimate for the vehicle size. Compared to the Tikhonov regularization method, the MMV-CS technique exhibits much better superresolution power and lower sidelobe level. The advantage of the MMV-CS technique over the single-measurement vector CS technique is also demonstrated, and the phase calibration algorithm is verified.
Comparison of Sufentanil and Fentanyl to Supplement N2O‐Halothane Anesthesia for Total Hip Arthroplasty in Elderly Patients

Sufentanil was compared with fentanyl as a supplement to nitrous oxide-halothane anesthesia in a double-blind study of 30 elderly patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. Comparisons were made with respect to (a) hemodynamic (heart rate and blood pressure) and adrenergic (plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine levels) responses during surgery and recovery; (b) time to extubation after the end of surgery; and (c) postoperative analgesia. No difference was observed between the two groups with respect to demographic data, blood gas tensions, or hemodynamic and adrenergic responses to surgery and recovery. Total doses of opioids used were 0.7 ± 0.3 μg/kg of sufentanil and 6 ± 2.6 μg/kg of fentanyl. Times between end of surgery and extubation were not different (60 ± 54 min in the fentanyl group and 58 ± 52 min in the sufentanil group). The number of patients needing postoperative analgesia did not differ between the two groups, but use of analgesia was significantly delayed in the sufentanil group (168 ± 25 vs 127 ± 29, P < 0.05). This study suggests that in elderly patients sufentanil confers a greater residual analgesia than fentanyl in the immediate postoperative period.
Design and Calibration of an Underwater Stereo-video System for the Monitoring of Marine Fauna Populations

Assessment of age and size structure of marine populations is often used to detect and determine the effect of natural and anthropogenic factors, such as commercial fishing, upon marine communities. A primary tool in the characterisation of population structure is the distribution of the lengths or biomass of a large sample of individual specimens of a particular species. Rather than use relatively unreliable visual estimates by divers, an underwater stereo-video system has been developed to improve the accuracy of the measurement of lengths of highly indicative species such as reef fish. In common with any system used for accurate measurements, the design and calibration of the underwater stereo-video system are of paramount importance to realise the maximum possible accuracy from the system. Aspects of the design of the system, the calibration procedure and algorithm, the determination of the relative orientation of the two cameras, stereo-measurement and stereo-matching, and the tracking of individual specimens are discussed. Also addressed is the stability of the calibrations and relative orientation of the cameras during dives to capture video sequences of marine life.
Measuring protein dynamics in live cells: protocols and practical considerations for fluorescence fluctuation microscopy

Abstract. Quantitative analysis of protein complex stoichiometries and mobilities are critical for elucidating the mechanisms that regulate cellular pathways. Fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy (FFS) techniques can measure protein dynamics, such as diffusion coefficients and formation of complexes, with extraordinary precision and sensitivity. Complete calibration and characterization of the microscope instrument is necessary in order to avoid artifacts during data acquisition and to capitalize on the full capabilities of FFS techniques. We provide an overview of the theory behind FFS techniques, discuss calibration procedures, provide protocols, and give practical considerations for performing FFS experiments. One important parameter recovered from FFS measurements is the relative molecular brightness that can correlate with oligomerization. Three methods for measuring molecular brightness (fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, photon-counting histogram, and number and brightness analysis) recover similar values when measuring samples under ideal conditions in vitro. However, examples are given illustrating that these different methods used for calculating molecular brightness of fluorescent molecules in cells are not always equivalent. Methods relying on spot measurements are more prone to bleaching and movement artifacts that can lead to underestimation of brightness values. We advocate for the use of multiple FFS techniques to study molecular brightnesses to overcome and compliment limitations of individual techniques.
Utilization of Home Telemonitoring in Patients 75 Years of Age and Over with Complex Heart Failure

We conducted a chart review on all patients who had received home telemonitoring after an admission for heart failure at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. During a 5 year period (2005–2009) a total of 645 patients had home monitoring. A total of 594 patients met the inclusion criteria for the study and were divided into two groups: Group 1 (<75 years of age) contained 350 patients and Group 2 (≥75 years of age) contained 244 patients. There was no significant difference between the groups in the mean duration of follow-up by the telemonitoring team: it was 126.5 days in Group 1 and 125.4 days in Group 2 (P = 0.89). There were no significant differences between the groups in the number of times that titration of diuretic medications occurred, the number of times that titration of cardiac medications occurred, the number of interventions for abnormal vital signs or the number of times that patients were called by the telemonitoring staff. Emergency room visits, hospitalizations and the number of deaths were also not different between two groups. Thus in the telemonitoring programme, the pattern of usage by older patients was similar to that of the younger ones. Based on the present study, the elderly do not require more resources nor do they require them for longer.
Managerial Structure and Performance-Induced Trading

We propose a new channel through which teamwork improves mutual fund activity: by offsetting individual manager overconfidence, teams mitigate excessive performance-induced trading (PIT). The predictions of our theoretical model are confirmed in the data. Team-managed funds trade less after good performance than single-managed funds and this differential increases with team size. Moreover, changes from single-to team-management correspond to lower PIT. Our results cannot be explained by alternative explanations, including manager experience, fund governance, gender, and fund flows. Overconfident trading by single-managed funds results in lower next-period returns compared to team-managed funds. Our findings indicate that team-management reduces uninformed overconfident trading.
Physical activity, sports participation, and suicidal behavior among college students.

PURPOSE To evaluate the relationship between physical activity, sports participation, and suicidal behavior among college students (N = 4,728). METHODS Data from the 1995 National College Health Risk Behavior Survey were analyzed. Students were classified as engaging in frequent vigorous activity 6-7 d.wk-1, vigorous activity 3-5 d.wk-1, moderate activity, low activity, or no activity. Sports participation was dichotomized into "yes" or "no" participation. Suicidal behavior was defined as thoughts about, plans for, or attempts at suicide during the 12 months before completing the survey. Data were stratified by sex and multivariable logistic regression modeling, calculated odds ratios (ORs) (adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, Body Mass Index/weight perception, cigarette smoking, episodic heavy alcohol use, drug use, and either activity level or sport participation) for suicidal behavior as associated with physical activity and sports participation. RESULTS Adjusted ORs show that men in the "low activity" group were at almost half the odds (adjusted OR = 0.54; P < 0.015) of reporting suicidal behavior than men in the "not active" group. Women who engaged in moderate or frequent vigorous activity were at greater odds of reporting suicidal behavior compared with inactive women; OR = 1.76 (P < 0.035) and 1.99 (P < 0.034) respectively. Sports participation was protective against suicidal behavior. Adjusted ORs show that men who did not participate in sports were 2.5 times (P < 0.0003) more likely to report suicidal behavior than men who were sports participants. Women not participating in sports had 1.67 times the odds of reporting suicidal behavior than women sports participants (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Associations were found between sports participation/selected patterns of physical activity and suicidal behavior. Causal factors mediating the relationships need to be identified.
Brain gray and white matter volume loss accelerates with aging in chronic alcoholics: a quantitative MRI study.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to study in vivo the brains of 49 patients with chronic alcoholism, 3 to 4 weeks post-withdrawal, and 43 normal healthy controls, all right-handed male veterans between the ages of 23 and 70 years. MRI scans were analyzed using a semi-automated procedure, which allowed the subcortical regions to be segmented into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain tissue and the cortical regions to be segmented into CSF, gray matter, and white matter. An age regression model was used to examine the effects of alcohol on brain structure, over and above that expected from the normal aging process. The alcoholics exhibited decreased tissue and increased CSF after correcting for aging. In the cortex, there was significant loss of both gray matter and white matter volume. In this sample of alcoholics, no particular cortical region was preferentially affected or spared. Furthermore, brain tissue volume loss increased with advanced age in the alcoholics. In this group of alcoholics there was no relationship between length of illness and age, i.e., the younger alcoholics had as heavy alcohol use histories as did the older alcoholics. Thus, the increased brain tissue loss with advanced age is interpreted as evidence for age-related increase in brain vulnerability to chronic alcohol abuse.
Referral of patients with pulmonary hypertension diagnoses to tertiary pulmonary hypertension centers: the multicenter RePHerral study.

IMPORTANCE Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a fatal disease. Although the prognosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has improved with targeted therapies, the outcome is dependent on early detection and an accurate diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To determine the accuracy of PH diagnoses in patients referred to PH centers and the frequency of PAH-specific medication use despite an uncertain or incorrect diagnosis. DESIGN Multicenter, descriptive, cross-sectional study. During a 10-month period in 2010 and 2011, data on newly referred patients were collected and entered into a secure Internet database. SETTING Three large tertiary PH centers. PARTICIPANTS One hundred forty consecutive patients newly referred to PH centers were invited to participate, and all consented to do so. RESULTS Of 140 patients referred with a mean age of 56 years, 95 (68%) were referred by cardiologists or pulmonologists and 86 (61%) had disease classified as World Health Organization functional class III or IV. Fifty-six of the prereferral diagnoses (40%) were PAH, 42 (30%) unknown, and 22 (16%) PH secondary to lung disease or hypoxia. Of the 98 patients who received a definitive diagnosis before referral, 32 (33%) received a misdiagnosis. Fifty-nine patients underwent catheterization of the right and/or left side of the heart for the first time at the tertiary center. Of the 38 patients who underwent catheterization of the right side alone, 14 (37%) received a different diagnosis after undergoing the procedure; of the 21 patients who underwent catheterization of both sides of the heart, 11 (52%) received a different diagnosis after undergoing the procedures. Forty-two patients (30%) had started receiving PAH-specific medications before referral, with 24 of the prescriptions (57%) contrary to published guidelines. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Patients referred to PH centers for diagnosis and treatment are often referred late (with functional class III or IV disease), receive misdiagnoses, and are inappropriately prescribed medications. A reevaluation of educational efforts is required to improve awareness and the care and outcome of patients diagnosed as having PH.
Emergence of Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infection Among Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease

Objective. To evaluate the frequency of infections due to community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) strains among our patients with end-stage renal disease. Design. Prospective observational clinical and laboratory study of patients in 2005. Molecular features of isolates recovered from these patients were compared with those of isolates recovered in 2000 from patients with end-stage renal disease. Setting. A 600-bed urban academic medical center. Patients. Thirty-two patients with end-stage renal disease and MRSA infection at the time of hospitalization from 2005 were evaluated. For comparison, laboratory analysis was performed for 17 MRSA isolates recovered from patients with end-stage renal disease in 2000. Results. The patients from 2005 were more likely than the patients from 2000 to have infection with strains that carried the staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) mec type IV complex (50% vs 11.8%; relative risk, 4.25 [95% confidence interval, 1.17-25.98]; P = .012) and the Panton-Valentine leukocidin toxin genes (25% vs 0%; P = .038). Eight patients from 2005 were infected with a strain that is identical to MRSA clone USA300 in terms of molecular type and presence of SCCmec type IV and Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes. Among the patients from 2005, those infected with SCCmec type IV strains (ie, CA-MRSA strains) and those infected with SCCmec type II strains (ie, healthcare-associated MRSA [HA-MRSA] strains) were similar with respect to demographic characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes. Conclusions. We documented an increased proportion of infections with CA-MRSA strains, including clone USA300, among our population of patients undergoing dialysis. Patients infected with CA-MRSA strains and HA-MRSA strains were similar with respect to presenting illness and outcomes.
Spinal meningiomas: prognosis and recovery factors in 22 cases with severe motor deficits

ABSTRACT— The 22 cases of spinal meningioma with severe motor deficit operated on during a 34‐year span are reviewed. The motor deficit is graded according to a modified version of the scale proposed by Levy et al. in 1982, their grade IV being split into grade IV (toe movements and muscular concentrations) and grade V (paraplegia). All 10 grade IV patients were able to walk normally within a year of surgical treatment while only 50% of the grade V patients (12 cases) recovered, and then not completely. The preoperative duration of the motor deficit and age under 60 influenced the speed of recovery in the grade IV patients and the possibility of recovery in the grade V cases. We consider that the dual mechanism of mechanical and ischemic trauma played an important part in the speed and possibility of recovery in the patients reviewed.