Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Constructive Approach to Approximate Linear Periodic Systems

In this note, the problem on approximating a linear periodic system with period N by a periodic model with period M(0<M<N) is revisited. Different from the existing results, the proposed method is based on state-space representations and the approximation performance is evaluated using Hinfin norms. Under this framework, both finite impulse response (FIR) and infinite impulse response (IIR) periodic systems can be efficiently approximated by using a constructive linear matrix inequality approach. Finally, some numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach
Relationship of pain-coping strategies and pain-specific beliefs to pain experience in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To examine whether pain-specific beliefs and coping strategies of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) independently predict their reported pain, while controlling for relevant demographic variables, disease activity, and parent-rated disability. To compare use of pain-coping strategies and pain-related beliefs of a selected subgroup of patients with high pain and low disease activity (high pain group) with the remaining patients. METHODS Children with JIA (n = 56) completed the Pain Coping Questionnaire, a revised version of the Survey of Pain Attitudes, and a 3-week pain diary. The parents completed the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ). Second order principal component analyses were conducted in order to reduce the number of independent variables. Regression analyses of the dependent measure were performed. The use of coping strategies and health beliefs were compared using t-tests for independent samples. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to examine the direct associations between each individual coping and belief scale, and the pain measure. RESULTS Only the CHAQ and the cognitive belief composite factor score made statistically significant contribution to the prediction of pain after controlling for other variables. Significant differences were found between the scores of high pain patients and the rest of the group for the health belief subscale of disability (mean +/- SD 2.0 +/- 0.6 and 1.2 +/- 0.7, respectively), and for the health belief subscale of harm (mean +/- SD 2.7 +/- 0.6 and 1.8 +/- 0.7, respectively). Significant correlations were obtained between the pain measure and the pain-coping subscale of catastrophizing, the pain belief subscales of disability, harm, solicitude (inverse), control, and medical cure. CONCLUSION These results support a model of pain experience in patients with JIA where psychological factors are strongly influential. It may be efficient to focus behavioral interventions on a subgroup of children where the pain experience seems to be in discordance with the disease activity.
Automated Peritoneal Dialysis Symposium: The Role of APD in the Management of Pediatric Patients: A Report of the North American Pediatric Renal Transplant Cooperative Study

In an attempt to delineate the role of automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) in the management of the pediatric patient with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD), the North American Pediatric Renal Transplant Cooperative Study (NAPRTCS) dialysis registry database was queried concerning the incidence and outcome of APD compared to those enrolled who were undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). During the 10‐year period from January 1, 1992 to January 1, 2002, 65% of the 4150 index dialysis patients enrolled in NAPRTCS underwent peritoneal dialysis (PD). APD was the dialysis modality of 69% of those choosing PD, indicating that APD was the primary dialysis modality for children during this time interval. This initial comparison of APD and CAPD from the NAPRTCS dialysis registry database indicated that there was a higher percentage of younger patients choosing APD, the time to transplantation was shorter for the CAPD patient, and the incidence and time to first peritonitis episode was significantly (p = 0.006) better in the APD population. There was no difference in the other parameters evaluated between the APD and CAPD patients. These data indicate the significant role of APD in the management of pediatric patients with ESRD, especially in infants, who frequently require an extended period of dialysis prior to reaching the eligibility criteria for transplantation.
Host-Pathogen Interactions in Campylobacter Infections: the Host Perspective

SUMMARY Campylobacter is a major cause of acute bacterial diarrhea in humans worldwide. This study was aimed at summarizing the current understanding of host mechanisms involved in the defense against Campylobacter by evaluating data available from three sources: (i) epidemiological observations, (ii) observations of patients, and (iii) experimental observations including observations of animal models and human volunteer studies. Analysis of available data clearly indicates that an effective immune system is crucial for the host defense against Campylobacter infection. Innate, cell-mediated, and humoral immune responses are induced during Campylobacter infection, but the relative importance of these mechanisms in conferring protective immunity against reinfection is unclear. Frequent exposure to Campylobacter does lead to the induction of short-term protection against disease but most probably not against colonization. Recent progress in the development of more suitable animal models for studying Campylobacter infection has opened up possibilities to study the importance of innate and adaptive immunity during infection and in protection against reinfection. In addition, advances in genomics and proteomics technologies will enable more detailed molecular studies. Such studies combined with better integration of host and pathogen research driven by epidemiological findings may truly advance our understanding of Campylobacter infection in humans.
Undergraduate medical students’ attitudes towards psychiatry: An international cross-sectional survey between India and Japan

Abstract Undergraduate psychiatric education has an important role in developing psychiatric knowledge, decreasing stigma towards mental illness, and promoting psychiatry as a career choice. The attitudes and beliefs of medical students towards psychiatry have not been well understood, especially in non-western countries. To clarify this aspect, we have conducted a cross-sectional study between India and Japan. This study, conducted at two centres, one each in India and Japan, used a semi-structured questionnaire to evaluate the attitudes and beliefs of third-year medical students towards mental illness and psychiatry; such as emotions experienced dealing with psychiatric patients, aetiology and treatment of psychiatric disorders, and psychiatry as a career choice. A total of 79 medical students from India and 77 from Japan participated in the present study. Significant differences were observed in the emotions experienced by the medical students while dealing with psychiatric patients. Most medical students (> 90%) from both study sites favoured psychiatrists for treatment of psychiatric illness. Psychiatry as a carrier choice was significantly related to the nationality of the medical students. The findings of the current study provide insight in to the attitudes of third-year medical students from India and Japan towards psychiatric patients.
Effectiveness of Automated Quantification of Pulmonary Perfused Blood Volume Using Dual-Energy CTPA for the Severity Assessment of Acute Pulmonary Embolism

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine whether automated quantification of pulmonary perfused blood volume (PBV) in dual-energy computed tomography pulmonary angiography is of diagnostic value in assessing the severity of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Materials and MethodsEthical approval and informed consent were waived by the responsible institutional review board for this retrospective study. Of 224 consecutive patients with dual-energy computed tomography pulmonary angiographic findings positive for acute PE, we excluded 153 patients because of thoracic comorbidities (n = 130), missing data (n = 11), severe artifacts (n = 11), or inadequate enhancement (n = 1). Automated quantification of PBV was performed in the remaining 71 patients (mean [SD] age, 62 [16] years) with acute PE and no cardiopulmonary comorbidities. Perfused blood volume values adjusted for age and sex were correlated with the Qanadli obstruction score, morphological computed tomographic signs of right heart dysfunction, serum levels of troponin, and the necessity for intensive care unit (ICU) admission. ResultsDual-energy computed tomography pulmonary angiography–derived PBV values inversely correlated with the Qanadli score (r = −0.46; P < 0.001), the right and left ventricle (RV/LV) ratio (r = −0.52; P < 0.001), and troponin I (r = −0.45; P = 0.001). The patients with global PBV values lower than 60% were significantly more likely to require admission to an ICU than did the patients with global pulmonary PBV of 60% or higher (47% vs 11%; P = 0.003; positive predictive value, 47%; negative predictive value, 89%). On the univariate analysis, a significant negative correlation was found between the global PBV values and the Qanadli obstruction score (r = −0.46; P < 0.001), the RV/LV diameter ratio (r = −0.52; P < 0.001), and the necessity for ICU admission (r = −0.39; P = 0.001). On the retrospective multivariate regression analysis, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the prediction of ICU admission were 0.75 for the pulmonary PBV, 0.83 for the Qanadli obstruction score, 0.68 for the computed tomographic signs of right heart dysfunction (interventricular septal bowing and/or contrast reflux), and 0.76 for the RV/LV diameter ratio. ConclusionsDual-energy computed tomography pulmonary angiography can be used for an immediate, reader-independent estimation of global pulmonary PBV in acute PE, which inversely correlates with thrombus load, laboratory parameters of PE severity, and the necessity for ICU admission.
α1-Adrenoceptors Mediate Dihydroxyphenylalanine-Induced Activity in 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-Lesioned Macaques

The mechanisms underlying actions of dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) in Parkinson's disease remain to be fully elucidated. Noradrenaline formed from l-DOPA may stimulate α1-adrenoceptors. We assessed the involvement of α1-adrenoceptors in actions of l-DOPA in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-lesioned macaques. In each animal, the minimal dose of l-DOPA required to alleviate parkinsonian symptoms was defined (12.5–25 mg/kg p.o.). The effects of coadministration of the α1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin ([4-(4-amino-6,7-dimethoxy-quinazolin-2-yl) piperazin-1-yl]-(2-furyl)methanone) on motor activity, parkinsonism, and dyskinesia were assessed. Antiparkinsonian benefit was accompanied by mild dyskinesia. l-DOPA also elicited hyperactivity, i.e., activity greater than that seen in normal animals. Coadministration of prazosin (0.16–0.63 mg/kg p.o.) with l-DOPA did not significantly affect either its antiparkinsonian actions or dyskinesia. However, prazosin significantly and dose-dependently attenuated l-DOPA-induced activity, reducing it to a level equivalent to that of normal animals. More specifically, during periods of pronounced l-DOPA-induced activity, prazosin attenuated the total and duration of activity by 80 and 76%, respectively. These actions of prazosin were expressed in the absence of sedation. Although activation of α1-adrenoceptors plays no major role in the antiparkinsonian and dyskinetic effects of l-DOPA per se, it does contribute to the induction of hyperactivity. α1-Adrenoceptors may be involved in pathological responses to l-DOPA treatment, including the dopamine dysregulation syndrome.
Hematopoietic progenitor cell collection in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in complete cytogenetic remission after imatinib mesylate therapy

The introduction of BCR–ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as imatinib has changed the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). More than 75% of patients achieve complete cytogenetic remission (CCR) after treatment with imatinib, which provides an opportunity to collect minimally involved hematopoietic progenitor stem cell (HPC) products. In order to assess the feasibility of HPC collection in patients with CML, we prospectively enrolled 24 patients who achieved CCR on therapy with imatinib. Two patients could not undergo HPC collection because of coagulopathy. A CD34+ cell yield of ≥2.0 × 106/kg body weight was obtained in 16/22 (73%) patients. Patients who stopped imatinib for at least 3 weeks prior to HPC collection had significantly higher CD34+ cell yields (median: 6.52 × 106/kg body weight) when compared with patients who continued imatinib through the collection (median: 3.74 × 106/kg body weight). Mobilization with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) did not increase the levels of BCR–ABL transcript. With a mean follow-up of 46 months, all patients but one were in CCR. In conclusion, a significant number of CD34+ cells can be safely collected in patients with CML who are on imatinib therapy, but CD34+ cell yields improve when imatinib is temporarily withheld.
Early onset of response with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in obsessive-compulsive disorder: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are recommended as the first-line pharmacologic treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). SSRI response is thought to be delayed in OCD, even more so than in major depression. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the trajectory of treatment response to SSRIs and how this trajectory is modulated by dosage. DATA SOURCES PubMed and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched on May 22, 2013, for randomized, placebo-controlled SSRI trials in OCD with the search terms "serotonin uptake inhibitors" [MeSH] OR "serotonin uptake inhibitors" [Pharmacologic Action] AND "obsessive-compulsive disorder" [MeSH]. There were no language limitations on the search. STUDY SELECTION Randomized, placebo-controlled trials that examined the efficacy of SSRIs in the treatment of adults with OCD and utilized the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) as an outcome were selected. DATA EXTRACTION We extracted weekly symptom data from randomized, placebo-controlled trials of SSRIs for the treatment of adults with OCD in order to characterize the trajectory of pharmacologic response. Our primary outcome was weighted mean difference on the Y-BOCS of SSRI treatment compared to placebo. We used the PROC MIXED procedure in SAS to examine 6 possible models of SSRI response. Interaction terms were utilized to examine the effect of dose, individual agent, and year of publication on SSRI response. RESULTS The meta-analysis included 17 trials of SSRIs including 3,276 subjects. A statistically significant benefit of SSRIs compared to placebo was seen within 2 weeks after the start of treatment (weighted mean difference = -0.91 [95% CI, -0.54 to -1.28], P < .001). A logarithmic response curve, indicating decreasing symptom improvement over time, provided the best fit for the trajectory of OCD symptom improvement. A significantly greater response was associated with using higher doses of SSRIs (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the greatest incremental treatment gains in OCD are seen early on in SSRI treatment. This is consistent with a previous meta-analysis examining time course of SSRI action in major depressive disorder and contrasts with the widely held belief that SSRI response in OCD is delayed.
Biochemical purification and pharmacological inhibition of a mammalian prolyl hydroxylase acting on hypoxia-inducible factor

The product of the von Hippel–Lindau gene, pVHL, targets the α subunits of the heterodimeric transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) for polyubiquitination in the presence of oxygen. The binding of pVHL to HIF is governed by the enzymatic hydroxylation of conserved prolyl residues within peptidic motifs present in the HIFα family members. By using a biochemical purification strategy, we have identified a human homolog of Caenorhabditis elegans Egl9 as a HIF prolyl hydroxylase. In addition, we studied the activity of a structurally diverse collection of low molecular weight inhibitors of procollagen prolyl 4-hydroxylase as potential inhibitors of the HIF hydroxylase. A model compound of this series stabilized HIF in a variety of cells, leading to the increased production of its downstream target, vascular endothelial growth factor.
Institutions as the Main Determinant in Economic Growth

The studies on human capital and technological progress have given incredible insights on how countries in the world differ from one another. Yet there are more than those two reasons to account for differences among countries. There is a third reason why a country would differ in terms of its economic development progress, namely institutional factors. Hence developing institutional indices would give a deeper explanation than a mere theory. On the other hand, we can corroborate the institutional index with the general theory that low-quality institutions will impact an economy negatively. This study seeks to broaden the understanding of causes of economic growth by incorporating institutional index into a semi-endogenous growth model and finds a relationship between that index with human capital and technological progress
Diffusional anisotropy of the human brain assessed with diffusion-weighted MR: relation with normal brain development and aging.

PURPOSE To analyze diffusional anisotropy in frontal and occipital white matter of human brain quantitatively as a function of age by using diffusion-weighted MR imaging. METHODS Ten neonates (< 1 month), 13 infants (1-10 months), 9 children (1-11 years), and 16 adults (20-79 years) were examined. After taking axial spin-echo images of the brain, diffusion-sensitive gradients were added parallel or perpendicular to the orientation of nerve fibers. The apparent diffusion coefficient parallel to the nerve fibers (0) and that perpendicular to the fibers (90) were computed. The anisotropic ratio (90/0) was calculated as a function of age. RESULTS Anisotropic ratios of frontal white matter were significantly larger in neonates as compared with infants, children, or adults. The ratios showed rapid decrease until 6 months and thereafter were identical in all subjects. In the occipital lobe, the ratios were also greater in neonates, but the differences from other age groups were not so prominent as in the frontal lobe. Comparing anisotropic ratios between frontal and occipital lobes, a significant difference was observed only in neonates. CONCLUSIONS Diffusion-weighted images demonstrated that the myelination process starts earlier in the occipital lobe than in the frontal lobe. The changes of diffusional anisotropy in white matter are completed within 6 months after birth. Diffusion-weighted imaging provides earlier detection of brain myelination compared with the conventional T1- and T2-weighted images.
Role of phospholipases A2 in growth‐dependent changes in prostaglandin release from 3T6 fibroblasts

Previously, we reported a growth‐dependent change in prostaglandin production as a consequence of a marked growth‐dependent alteration in arachidonic acid (AA) mobilization from phospholipids. Our present results show that fetal calf serum (FCS) and 4β‐phorbol‐12‐myristate acetate (PMA) caused an enhancement of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity in the membrane fraction of non‐confluent cells allowing PLA2 access to its substrate and the release of AA. Western blot analysis has shown that FCS and PMA increased secreted PLA2 (sPLA2) expression in non‐confluent 3T6 fibroblast cultures. Moreover, FCS and PMA induced dithiothreitol‐sensitive and bromoenol lactone‐sensitive PLA2 activities in cytosol and membrane fraction. However, these stimuli did not modify significantly the PLA2 activity in both fractions when 3T6 fibroblasts reached a high cell density. This could be associated with the impairment of AA mobilization in these cell culture conditions. On the other hand, we observed that FCS and PMA induced the same prostaglandin H synthase‐2 induction in non‐confluent and confluent culture conditions. Moreover, the prostaglandin E2 levels reached in cell culture supernatants were independent of the degree of confluence when AA was added exogenously. These results suggest that the changes of intracellular distribution of PLA2 activity of sPLA2 and iPLA2 stimulated by exogenous stimuli may be controlled by cell density conditions which constitute an important mechanism in the regulation of prostaglandin release. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Distribution and Ca2+ signalling of fibroblast‐like (PDGFRα+) cells in the murine gastric fundus

• A new class of interstitial cells, PDGFRα+ cells, is distributed densely in the proximal stomachs of mice. • PDGFRα+ cells express the molecular apparatus necessary for transduction of inputs from enteric inhibitory motor neurons. • PDGFRα+ cells generate spontaneous Ca2+ transients and display dynamic Ca2+ oscillations in response to purines. • Purinergic responses are mediated by P2Y1 receptors and by Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores. • Ca2+ release in PDGFRα+ cells is the likely means by which purinergic neurotransmitters activate Ca2+‐activated K+ channels (SK) and hyperpolarization in GI muscles to elicit inhibitory motor responses. • Spontaneous Ca2+ transients may be a means of regulating basal excitability of fundus muscles and release of purines from motor neurons may contribute to the control of pressure during filling in the proximal stomach.
The distribution of neocortical projection neurons in the locus coeruleus

The present study was conducted to examine the spatial organization of locus coeruleus (LC) neurons that project to rat cerebral cortex. Long‐Evans hooded rats received unilateral pressure injections of horseradish peroxi‐dase (HRP) in either frontal (n = 6) or sensorimotor (n = 11) or occipital (n = 7) cortex to determine the intranuclear location of LC neurons which project to specific neocortical regions. Coronal and sagittal sections (40–100 μm) through the LC were examined by light microscopy after carrying out the tetramethyl benzidine reaction and staining with neutral red. The locations of retrogradely labeled cells were recorded on a three‐dimensional biological coordinate system maintained by a computer linked to the light microscope. LC neurons labeled from cerebrocortical injections of HRP were primarily located in the ipsilateral and to a lesser extent (fewer than 5% of total labeled cells) in the contralateral nucleus. Coeruleocortical projection neurons were concentrated in the caudal three‐fifths of the dorsal division of the ipsilateral LC. Within this portion of the nucleus, HRP‐filled neurons were distributed so that individual groups of cells projecting to occipital or sensorimotor or frontal cortex were coarsely aligned in a dorsal to ventral array, respectively. Moreover, in the sagittal plane of the nucleus the pattern of labeling was spatially graded so that the subset of neurons projecting to the occipital cortex was displaced more caudally in the LC than the groups of cells sending axons to sensorimotor or frontal cortex. Only the frontal area of the cortex received a projection from both dorsal and ventral divisions of the ipsilateral LC. Computer‐assisted analysis of the data further suggested that neocortical projection neurons in the dorsal LC are loosely organized into two groups which run rostrocaudally through the core of the caudal nucleus. The zone of labeling resulting from injections confined to the neocortical gray matter overlapped with but was not coextensive with that observed following injections into the caudate, hippocampus, and cerebellum. These results suggest that partially overlapping subsets of LC cells might independently influence separate populations of neurons within noradrenergic terminal fields of the neocortex.