Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A four-dimensional random motion at finite speed

We consider the random motion of a particle that moves with constant finite speed in the space ℝ 4 and, at Poisson-distributed times, changes its direction with uniform law on the unit four-sphere. For the particle's position, X (t) = (X 1(t), X 2(t), X 3(t), X 4(t)), t > 0, we obtain the explicit forms of the conditional characteristic functions and conditional distributions when the number of changes of directions is fixed. From this we derive the explicit probability law, f( x , t), x ∈ ℝ 4, t ≥ 0, of X (t). We also show that, under the Kac condition on the speed of the motion and the intensity of the switching Poisson process, the density, p( x ,t), of the absolutely continuous component of f( x ,t) tends to the transition density of the four-dimensional Brownian motion with zero drift and infinitesimal variance σ2 = ½.
New Developments in Anti-Anginal Therapy: Roles of Ivabradine, Allopurinol and of Agents Modifying Myocardial Metabolism

Over the last 20 years, it has emerged that, while surgical revascularisation of extensive ischaemic heart disease may have prognostic advantages, the main issues considered regarding individual management are usually those of symptomatic improvement only. The major impetus towards invasive intervention is therefore failure of prophylactic anti-anginal therapy. On the other hand, many patients, especially the elderly, now present the clinical problem of ongoing angina without residual invasive options. There is an ongoing need for more effective anti-anginal therapies. Of the currently available major classes of prophylactic anti-anginal agents, neither nitrates, β-blockers nor calcium antagonists generally produce marked improvements in exercise duration. Three areas of new therapeutic development in anti-anginal therapy are worthy of note. These involve the sinus node inhibitor ivabradine, high dose allopurinol (xanthine oxidase inhibitor) and a new class of “metabolic modulators” represented by perhexiline, trimetazidine and probably ranolazine. The current review addresses the therapeutic potential of these agents. Notably, all of these “new” drugs are potentially suitable for management of angina in the setting of impaired left ventricular systolic function, and they may also be utilized in patients with angina independent of the presence of coronary disease (for example in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). The current evidence for efficacy and potential future development in this area are reviewed.
Effect of revised IOM weight gain guidelines on perinatal outcomes

Objective. We sought to examine perinatal outcomes in women with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m2 comparing those whose weight gain met 2009 IOM guidelines to women meeting 1990 IOM guidelines. Methods. This is a retrospective cohort study utilizing birth records linked to hospital discharge data for all term, singleton infants born to overweight, Missouri residents (2000–2006) with a BMI of 25 kg/m2. We excluded congenital anomalies, mothers with diabetes, hypertension, or previous cesarean delivery. Results. Fourteen thousand nine hundred fifty-five women gained 25–35 lbs (1990 guidelines); 1.6% delivered low birth weight (LBW) infants and 1.1% delivered macrosomic infants. Eight thousand three hundred fifty women gained 15–25 lbs (2009 guidelines); 3.4% delivered LBW infants and 0.6% delivered macrosomic infants. Women who gained 15–25 lbs were 1.99 (95% CI 1.67, 2.38) times more likely to have a LBW infant and 0.59 (95% CI 0.40, 0.76) times less likely to deliver a macrosomic infant. Conclusion. Limiting weight gain in women with a BMI of 25 kg/m2, per the 2009 guidelines, increases the risk of LBW deliveries and decreases the risk of macrosomia but does not reduce associated adverse perinatal outcomes. Further studies should explore the optimal weight gain to reduce these outcomes.
IDENTIFICATION OF TRANSPORT PARAMETERS FOR GALLIUM NITRIDE BASED SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

We present a methodology for the identification of transport parameters for Gallium Nitride (GaN) based semiconductor materials and devices. A Monte Carlo (MC) approach has been employed to investigate the electron transport in GaN and AlGaN, materials that are very important in device applications of high-power, high-frequency electronics. Our model is validated against measured data and compared to published simulation results. It enables to understand effects taking place in th is material system, and it provides inputs for macroscopic modeling of electronic devices. Various MC model parameters and simulation results are compared. A special approach on the piezoelectric scattering mechanism taking care of the hexagonal crystal structure is used.
Effects of nonionic intravenous contrast agents at PET/CT imaging: phantom and canine studies.

PURPOSE To investigate the effects of intravenous contrast agents on quantitative values obtained with a combined positron emission tomographic (PET) and computed tomographic (CT) scanner by using several phantoms and a dog. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) was mixed with different concentrations of contrast agent with the same syringe (phantom 1), and the phantom was scanned. After image reconstruction with various attenuation maps, radioactivity concentrations were compared. Then, FDG solutions with (phantom 2) or surrounded by (phantom 3) various concentrations of contrast agent were scanned repeatedly, and radioactivity concentration was compared. Finally, PET and CT with and without contrast agent were performed in a dog. PET images were reconstructed by using different attenuation maps, and radioactivity concentrations were compared. The radioactivity concentration on germanium 68 (68Ge)-based corrected images was regarded as standard, and percentage bias, defined as difference divided by measured activity of 68Ge-based corrected images, was assessed. The relationship between the concentration of contrast agent and the percentage bias was assessed with the Pearson coefficient r, and the significance of correlations was evaluated with the Fisher z test. RESULTS All phantom studies demonstrated that presence of a contrast agent resulted in overestimation of emission data. CT numbers showed a strong positive correlation with the percentage bias in phantoms 2 (r = 0.999) and 3 (r = 0.987); the maximum percentage bias at 1,360 HU reached approximately 45%. These effects were independent of FDG concentration. In a canine model, presence of a contrast agent also increased emission activity, but the percentage bias was less than 15% in the liver and smaller in all other organs except the kidney (26%). CONCLUSION High concentrations of a contrast agent caused considerable overestimation of apparent tracer activity in phantom studies; however, the emission bias was relatively modest in vivo, except in areas with very high contrast agent concentrations.
Public health updates from October 2019 to April 2020

Public health is a very dynamic area, were the policies, guidelines, management is continuously monitored and amended to the current situation. Epidemics and pandemics are now frequent and more widespread due to globalization. In this scenario, being updated in public health related news and changes are must for an effective community medicine practice. Our article concisely presents all the relevant updates from the month of October 2019 to April 2020. This article discusses the timeline of COVID-19 pandemic in this period, Ebola epidemic, new changes in national programs, new amendments in National Policies or Acts, new schemes implemented, and also discusses the yearly themes of international and national days related to public health celebrated during the time frame.
Phase Transitions and Electrocaloric Effect in Ca-Modified Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3–SrTiO3–PbTiO3 Solid Solutions

The electrocaloric effect as a function of Ca concentration is studied in 0.4Na<sub>1/2</sub>Bi<sub>1/2</sub>TiO<sub>3</sub>-(0.4-x)SrTiO<sub>3</sub>-0.2PbTiO<sub>3</sub>-xCaTiO<sub>3</sub>. Weak influence of Ca at low concentrations corresponds to the previously established concentration dependence of phase transition temperature and polarization, whereas the decrease of electrocaloric effect at phase transition at higher concentrations of Ca can be explained by assuming increasing concentration of polar nanoregions. The role of thermal depoling in the case of electric-field-induced phase transition is shown.
Effects of phosphodiestrase type 5 inhibitors in epinephrine-induced arrhythmia in rats: Involvement of lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase downregulation and adiponectin expression

Cardiac arrhythmia is a common cause of mortality, and its progression may be due to abnormal sympathetic nerve activity and catecholamine release. Besides, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) downregulation and adiponectin expression play important roles in promoting coronary artery disease. The study aimed to examine the possible cardioprotective effect of members of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors in epinephrine-induced arrhythmia in rats. Arrhythmia was induced by cumulative boluses of epinephrine (4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 mg/kg) given at 10-min intervals. Rats were randomly allocated into five groups. Group I: Normal control group received only saline. Group II: Rats injected with epinephrine and served as arrhythmia group. Groups III, IV, and V: Rats received daily oral sildenafil (0.5 mg/kg), vardenafil (3 mg/kg), and tadalafil (10 mg/kg), respectively, for 30 days prior to epinephrine injections. Injection of epinephrine to rats decreased heart rate and QTc interval but increased RR interval and duration of arrhythmia. Epinephrine group had lower serum reduced glutathione (GSH) and adiponectin levels and higher serum malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), heart LDH, and CK contents. Histopathological investigations of epinephrine group provoked necrotic changes with strong positive immunoreactivity for caspases-3. While pretreatment of rats with PDE-5 inhibitors improved GSH and adiponectin contents, ameliorated serum MDA and NO levels and heart LDH and CK contents and corrected epinephrine-induced histopathological changes. PDE-5 inhibitors may delay epinephrine-induced arrhythmia through expression of adiponectin and downregulation of heart LDH and CK.
Author ' s personal copy Foreign vs . domestic listing : An entrepreneurial decision ☆

In this paper, we use a unique hand-collected dataset to analyze stock listing as an entrepreneurial decision. By comparing mainland Chinese entrepreneurial firms listed in Hong Kong with the same type of firms opting for a domestic listing on the Shenzhen second board market, we argue that the decision to list on a particular stock exchange is a question of entrepreneurial signaling, and often a trade-off between short-term financial considerations and the entrepreneur's pursuit of long-term benefits. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the risk of hospitalization for acute renal failure.

BACKGROUND Few studies have evaluated the association between use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the risk of idiopathic acute renal failure (ARF) in the general population. METHODS Population-based case-control study among persons in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan who received at least 1 NSAID prescription between January 1, 1982, and December 31, 1986. Health department databases were used for case detection, as the sampling frame for selecting controls (n = 1997), and as the primary source of information on drug use and comorbidity. A total of 306 hospital records were reviewed. Twenty-eight patients who were hospitalized fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for ARF. RESULTS The incidence rate of hospitalization for ARF among the general population not exposed to NSAIDs was 2 per 100000 person-years. Current exposure to NSAIDs, acetylsalicylic acid and other nephrotoxic drugs, male gender, increasing age, cardiovascular comorbidity, and recent hospitalization for disorders other than renal were found to be independent risk factors for ARF. Current NSAID users had an adjusted odds ratio for ARF of 4.1 (95% confidence interval, 1.5-10.8). The risk of ARF was especially high during the first month of use (odds ratio, 8.5). For prescribed dose, we found that users of high daily doses of NSAIDs experienced an odds ratio of 9.8 for ARF. CONCLUSIONS In the general population, hospitalizations for ARF were found to be a rare condition. The 4-fold increase in risk associated with NSAID use was dose-dependent and occurred especially during the first month of therapy. Concurrent comedication with other potentially nephrotoxic agents should be prescribed with care, especially in the elderly.
Arginine vasopressin (AVP) depletion in neurons of the suprachiasmatic nuclei affects the AVP content of the paraventricular neurons and stimulates adrenocorticotrophic hormone release

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) produced in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) plays a role in establishing neuroendocrine rhythms and, in particular, in regulating the corticotrope axis rhythm. It has recently been shown that AVP from SCN inhibits corticosteroid release. In order to investigate the influence of suprachiasmatic AVP on the different peptidergic systems through the hypothalamus, SCN neurons containing AVP were functionally lesioned by using toxins associated with a cytotoxic monoclonal antibody (MAb) raised against AVP. Six days later, the AVP contents and AVP mRNA were measured in different hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic sites. Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) concentration was also measured in plasma. Microinjection of the AVP‐MAb/toxin mixture into SCN brought about a significant decrease in the AVP expression in SCN. This is demonstrated by the decrease in the AVP immunoreactive content (24%, P < 0.01) and the decrease of AVP hybridized mRNA (33%, P < 0.01). This points to the efficiency of the microinjection in decreasing the production of AVP in the injection area. Modifications of the AVP contents in the two subdivisions of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were also observed. AVP contents decreased in the parvocellular subdivision (pPVN); this is coherent with the AVP depletion in SCN since pPVN is the major site of the SCN hypothalamic efferences. AVP content and AVP mRNA increased in the magnocellular subdivision (mPVN); this also confirms the difference in AVP synthesis regulation according to the PVN subdivisions. The microinjection did not modify AVP expression in supraoptic nuclei or oxytocin (OT) immunoreactive content in the main hypothalamic OT containing sites. Plasma ACTH values were double (P < 0.02) the values measured under non‐specific IgG treatment 10 hr after lights on. This probably resulted from the stimulation of the hypothalamo‐pituitary‐adrenal system since corticotrophin‐releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA increased simultaneously by 24% (P < 0.05) in the PVN and the immunoreactive CRH content of the median eminence significantly decreased (26%, P < 0.05). Overall, our data confirm that AVP produced in the SCN inhibits the CRH‐adrenocorticotrope axis in normal conditions, probably because of SCN projections of AVP neurons on the PVN. J. Neurosci. Res. 50:565–574, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Systemic envenomation caused by the wandering spider Phoneutria nigriventer, with quantification of circulating venom

Introduction. Bites by Phoneutria spp. spiders are common in Brazil, although only 0.5–1% result in severe envenomation, with most of these occurring in children. Cases of systemic envenomation in adults are very unusual, and no serum venom levels have been previously quantified in these cases. Case report. A 52-year-old man was bitten on the neck by an adult female Phoneutria nigriventer. Immediately after the bite, there was intense local pain followed by blurred vision, profuse sweating, tremors, and an episode of vomiting; 1–2 h post bite the patient showed agitation and a blood pressure of 200/130 mmHg, and was given captopril and meperidine. Upon admission to our service 4 h post bite (time zero – T0), his blood pressure was 130/80 mmHg with a heart rate of 150 beats/min, mild tachypnea, agitation, cold extremities, profuse sweating, generalized tremors, and priapism. The patient was treated with antivenom, local anesthetic, and fluid replacement. Most of the systemic manifestations disappeared within 1 h after antivenom. Laboratory blood analyses at T0, T1, T6, T24, and T48 detected circulating venom by ELISA only at T0, before antivenom infusion (47.5 ng/mL; cut-off, 17.1 ng/mL); his serum blood sugar was 163 mg/dL at T0. The patient was discharged on the second day with a normal arterial blood pressure and a follow-up evaluation revealed no sequelae. Conclusion. This is the first report of confirmed moderate/severe envenoming in an adult caused by P. nigriventer with the quantification of circulating venom.
Advanced Method of Island Detection in Network Using Matrix and Vector

This paper proposes an advanced method of island detection in power system network. We utilize the features of sparse matrix and vector for network topology. To detect islands, this method uses the column-wise search with the sparse matrix and classifies islands with vector. This algorithm is very fast and correct to detect islands. Also, it can be easy and simple to implement the program for topology processing. Contingency analysis program of KEMS (Korean Energy Management System), based on the algorithm presented, is currently under development at Power21 Corp. The KEMS including contingency analysis program will replace the existing EMS of KPX (Korea Power eXchange) in the near future. Keywords-Network topology, contingency analysis, system island, sparse matrix, column-wise search, island classification
Effects of Prostaglandin E1, Melatonin, and Oxytetracycline on Lipid Peroxidation, Antioxidant Defense System, Paraoxonase (PON1) Activities, and Homocysteine Levels in an Animal Model of Spinal Cord Injury

Study Design. Investigation of the effects of prostaglandin E1, melatonin, and oxytetracycline on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant and paraoxonase activities, and homocysteine levels in an experimental model of spinal cord injury. Objectives. To determine the antioxidant efficacy of prostaglandin E1, melatonin, and oxytetracycline and whether paraoxonase and homocysteine can be used as monitoring parameters in the acute oxidative stress of spinal cord injury. Summary of Background Data. Melatonin has been found useful in spinal cord injury in previous studies. No study exists investigating the effects of melatonin, prostaglandin E1, and oxytetracycline as well as the response type of paraoxonase enzyme and homocysteine levels in the acute oxidative stress of spinal cord injury. Methods. Sixty-three male albino Wistar rats were anesthetized with 400 mg/kg chloral hydrate and divided into 5 groups. The G1 (n = 7) control group provided the baseline levels. G2–G5 underwent T3–T6 total laminectomies and spinal cord injuries by clip compression at the T4–T5 levels. Medications were applied to G3–G5 right after clip compression. Hence, G2 constituted laminectomy + injury, G3 laminectomy + injury + prostaglandin E1; G4 laminectomy + injury + melatonin, and G5 laminectomy + injury + oxytetracycline groups. Animals were decapitated either the first or fourth hour after injury. Spinal cord tissue and blood malonyldialdehyde and plasma homocysteine levels, plasma glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, paraoxonase activities were assayed. The SPSS 9.0 program was used for statistical analysis and graphics. Intergroup comparisons were made by Bonferroni corrected Mann Whitney U test (P < 0.025) and intragroups comparisons by Wilcoxon Rank test (P < 0.03). Results. In injury groups, plasma homocysteine levels decreased and paraoxonase activities increased as erythrocyte superoxide dismutase levels and plasma glutathione peroxidase activities decreased in parallel to increases of tissue and blood malonyldialdehyde levels. These alterations were relatively suppressed by prostaglandin E1, melatonin, and oxytetracycline administrations in varying degrees. Melatonin was the most powerful agent, particularly at the fourth hour. Oxytetracycline was also effective, both at the first and fourth hour. Prostaglandin E1 was effective in comparison to injury group, but not as much as melatonin and oxytetracycline. Conclusions. Melatonin and oxytetracycline are effective in preventing lipid peroxidation in spinal cord injury. Paraoxonase and homocysteine can be used in monitoring the antioxidant defense system as well as superoxide dismutase and plasma glutathione peroxidase, both in injury and medicated groups.
Screening of antioxidant activity of lichens Parmotrema reticulatum and Usnea sp. from Darjeeling hills, India

–Till date many plants have been screened for their antioxidant activity. Oxidative stress can lead to the production of free radicals which may cause many degenerative diseases. These free radicals can be eliminated with the help of antioxidants which may be of a natural origin. The aim of this study was to examine the antioxidant activity of two common lichens namely Parmotrema reticulatum and Usnea sp from Darjeeling hills. The antioxidant assay of different concentration of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of lichens was determined with respect to five parameters i. e. , DPPH radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity, reducing power ability, flavonoid and phenolic content. The DPPH radical scavenging ranged from 10% to 31.5% for methanol extracts of Parmotrema reticulatum and Usnea sp respectively and for reducing power measured values of absorbance varied from 0.376 to 0.514. In addition, total phenolic content of the extracts were high and total flavonoids content was moderate. Tested lichen species were found to possess considerable antioxidant activities and could be evaluated as good natural sources of antioxidants. Keywords––Antioxidants, Parmotrema reticulatum, Usnea sp. , Darjeeling.
Twenty‐four‐hour and conventional blood pressure components and risk of preterm delivery or neonatal complications in gestational hypertension

Gestational hypertension is a recognized risk factor for the development of complications during pregnancy. The present study retrospectively assessed the respective values of blood pressure components derived from conventional and 24‐h recordings (ABPM) as predictors of premature delivery in women with gestational hypertension based on office readings from 26th week of gestation onwards. Blood pressures were measured conventionally and over 24 h. Standard medical and obstetric history, and standard laboratory work‐up were taken into account. The mean (± standard deviation, SD) age of 123 women was 29 ± 6 years. Current pregnancy was, on average, the second. The conventional systolic (SBP)/diastolic (DBP) blood pressure averaged 140 ± 19/92 ± 14 mmHg, and pulse pressure (PP) and mean arterial pressure (MBP) averaged 48 ± 10 and 108 ± 15 mmHg. The corresponding values derived from ABPM were 135 ± 16/90 ± 11, 47 ± 9 and 105 ± 12 mmHg. The 24‐h blood pressures had better prognostic value than the conventional blood pressures. The 24‐h SBP predicted risk of premature delivery and was inversely related to the duration of pregnancy and birth weight. After the exclusion of 41 women with white‐coat hypertension, the highest predictive value was associated with PP. PP wider by 1SD was associated with 66% higher risk of premature delivery, and was associated with shortening of pregnancy by 2 weeks and 400 g lower birth weight, even after adjustment for SBP. In conclusion, ABPM is superior to conventional blood pressure measurements in predicting adverse outcome of pregnancy. Twenty‐four‐hour PP, of all classic indices, seems to be most closely related to increase of that risk.