Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anaesthesia for liver transplantation in two infants with an organic acidaemia

Abstract: Liver transplantation is an accepted option of treatment in patients with inborn errors of metabolism limited to or mainly located into hepatocytes who have not responded well to medical treatment. Recurrent metabolic failure and neurological impairment might be an indication for early transplantation in patients with organic acidaemias. We discuss the anaesthetic management and metabolic implications of acidaemia in the first two cases of successfully treated propionic and methylmalonic acidaemia in Italy. A nine and 12 month follow up did not show any further metabolic failure after the procedure, indicating that early liver transplantation improves the quality of life of these patients.
Documents de Treball de l ’ IEB 2016 / 10 INNOVATION STRATEGIES AND FIRM GROWTH

In this work, we explore the relations between sales growth and a set of innovation indicators that capture the different sources, modes and results of the innovative activity undertaken within firms. We exploit a rich panel on innovation activity of Spanish manufacturing firms, reporting detailed CIS-type information continuously over the period 2004-2011. Standard GMMpanel estimates of the average effect of innovation activities reveal significant and positive effect for internal R&D, while no effect is found for external sourcing of knowledge (external R&D, acquisition of embodied and disembodied technologies) as well as for output of innovation (process and product innovation). However, fixed-effects quantile regressions reveal that innovation activities, apart from process innovation and disembodied technical change, display a positive effect on high-growth performance. Finally, we find evidence of super-modularity of the growth function, revealing complementarities of internal R&D with product innovation, and between product and process innovation. JEL Codes: C21, D22, O31, O32
Computer modeling and simulation for undersaturated primary drive recovery mechanism

The focus of this article is to test the capability of a three-dimensional undersaturated numerical reservoir simulator developed for prediction of actual field performance cases. The simulator development employs unconditional stable Crank–Nicolson second order in time approximation discretization scheme and preconditioned conjugate gradient iterative solver for the derived fluid flow equation. Furthermore, formation volume factor as a function of cell pressure is computed at each time step until bubble-point pressure is reached. The reservoir model is then coupled with a horizontal wellbore model in the simulator by placing a well optimally at the center of its drainage volume. The numerical simulation results show that the numerical solutions improve significantly with the addition of grid blocks. Graphical visualization surface and contour map plots show rapid and continuous average reservoir pressure depletion with time for an earliest possible determination and characterization of primary drive mechanisms. The rate of pressure depletion and recovery factor estimation (1.52%) are the two main characteristics used to identify depletion drive or rock and liquid expansion drive as the best-fit prospective drive for the reservoir model. The total cumulative production of 170,000 stock-tank barrels (MSTB) recovered in 1390 days is in agreement with the field data used. Sensitivity analyses with the numerical simulator illustrated the key impact of reservoir parameters on pressure depletion with less computational expensiveness. Finally, material balance incremental (0.995) and cumulative (1.005) error checks validate the simulator robustness within an acceptable tolerance limit.
The Nephrotoxin Ochratoxin A Induces Key Parameters of Chronic Interstitial Nephropathy in Renal Proximal Tubular Cells

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a nephrotoxic and cancerogenic mycotoxin. There is epidemiological evidence that OTA exposition leads to cortical interstitial nephropathies in humans. However, virtually no data are available investigating the effect of OTA on renal cortical cells with respect to induction of nephropathy. Thus, we investigated whether OTA is able to induce changes of cellular properties potentially leading to interstitial nephropathy, using proximal tubular cell lines (OK, NRK-52E). OTA decreased cell number and cell protein time and dose dependently. Accordingly we investigated the effect of 100 nM or 1000 nM OTA. The decline of cell number after OTA exposure is due to necrosis and apoptosis, as measured by LDH release or DNA ladder formation and caspase-3 activation, respectively. OTA incubation of proximal tubular cells also resulted in a loss of epithelial tightness as determined by diffusion of FITC labeled inulin. Inflammation, fibrosis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition are described in chronic interstitial renal disease. Therefore, we also investigated the effect of OTA on NFκB activity, collagen secretion and generation of α smooth muscle actin. OTA alone was sufficient to induce the latter parameters in proximal tubular cells. Finally, OTA is a nephrotoxcic substance and elevated activity of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) is described in nephropathies. As we investigated the effect of OTA on activity of ERK, JNK and p38 by ELISA, we found that OTA activates the MAPK measured dose dependently. In summary, OTA induced phenomena typical for chronic interstitial nephropathy, like loss of cells and epithelial tightness, necrosis and apoptosis as well as markers of inflammation, fibrosis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in proximal tubular cells. Thus, we could show for the first time that OTA is able to induce key parameters of nephropathy in proximal tubular cells in culture. Moreover OTA interacts with MAPK and thus may exert its specific toxic actions.
Repeated Game Analysis for Cooperative MAC With Incentive Design for Wireless Networks

Cooperative communications offer appealing potentials to improve quality of service (QoS) for wireless networks. Many existing works on cooperative communications assume that participation in cooperative relaying is unconditional. In practice, however, due to resource consumption, it is vital to provide incentives for selfish cooperating peer nodes. In this paper, we analyze a cooperative medium access control (MAC) protocol with incentive design using a game-theoretic approach. Specifically, our analysis addresses two questions: 1) Can a cooperating agreement be reached between peer nodes, and 2) can cooperating lead to higher utility than not cooperating? We first formulate a one-stage game for the slotted-Aloha-based cooperative MAC protocol, where not cooperating is a Nash equilibrium (NE) strategy, whereas cooperating is not. To exploit cooperation gain, the one-stage game is extended to a two-stage game by incorporating an incentive mechanism that adapts channel access probabilities with tuning factors. Based on the Markov chain analysis of the system states with the repeated two-stage games, we determine valid tuning factors, guaranteeing that cooperating attains an NE and provides expected utility not less than that of the not-cooperating NE. Moreover, a special case with saturated and symmetric assumptions is investigated, and closed-form criteria for the tuning factors are derived. Finally, we compare the derived tuning factors for individual nodes with an optimal choice that is selected from the system perspective to maximize the overall system utility. The numerical results confirm our analytical conclusions and demonstrate that the tuning factors selected according to our derived criteria can achieve high utility that is slightly lower than that of the optimal choice.
Sexual Dysfunction and Sudden Death in Epileptic Male EL Mice: Inheritance and Prevention with the Ketogenic Diet

Summary: Purpose: The EL mouse is an animal model for multifactorial idiopathic epilepsy. Although EL mice have been studied extensively for >45 years, the etiology of male sudden death and its relation to seizures have not been defined. Here we investigated the cause of EL male sudden death and its relation to epilepsy.
Two Scales of Death Anxiety: Their Reliability and Correlation among Kuwaiti Samples

Arabic versions of the Templer Death Anxiety Scale and the Thorson and Powell Revised Death Anxiety Scale were administered to 117 male and 157 female Kuwaiti undergraduates. Cronbach coefficients alpha for the two scales were, respectively, . 79 and . 77. Pearson correlations for scores on the two scales were . 54, . 67, and . 64 for men, women and the combined group, respectively, so reliability and concurrent validity of the scales were adequate for the Kuwaiti sample.
Oral Supplementation Using Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid and Whey Protein Improves Whole Body Fat-Free Mass in Men After Resistance Training

Background Oral gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) supplementation increases growth hormone (GH) serum levels and protein synthesis. Therefore, post-exercise supplementation using GABA and protein may help enhance training-induced muscle hypertrophy. We evaluated whether GABA with whey protein enhanced muscular hypertrophy in men after progressive resistance training. Methods Twenty-one healthy men (26 - 48 years) were randomized to receive whey protein (WP; 10 g) or whey protein + GABA (WP + GABA; 10 g + 100 mg) daily for 12 weeks. Both groups performed resistance training twice per week (three sets of 12 repetitions at 60% of maximal strength; leg press, leg extension, leg curl, chest press, and pull down). Body composition was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results In the WP + GABA group, resting plasma GH concentrations were significantly elevated at 4 and 8 weeks, compared to baseline. However, resting plasma GH concentrations in the WP group were only significantly elevated at 8 weeks. After 12 weeks, the WP + GABA group exhibited significantly greater increase in whole body fat-free mass than the WP group. Conclusions The GABA and whey protein combination was more effective for increasing whole body fat-free mass; daily GABA supplementation may help enhance exercise-induced muscle hypertrophy.
Antiretroviral treatment during pregnancy

Objective: Virologic failure of HIV-positive patients is of special concern during pregnancy. We compared virologic failure and the frequency of treatment changes in pregnant and non-pregnant women of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study. Methods: Using data on 372 pregnancies in 324 women we describe antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy. Pregnant women on HAART at conception (n = 131) were matched to 228 non-pregnant women (interindividual comparison) and to a time period of equal length before and after pregnancy (intraindividual comparison). Women starting HAART during pregnancy (n = 145) were compared with 578 non-pregnant women starting HAART. Findings: The median age at conception was 31 years, 16% (n = 50) were infected through injecting drug use and the median CD4 cell count was 489 cells/μl. In the majority of pregnancies (n = 220, 59%), women had started ART before conception. When ART was started during pregnancy (n = 145, 39%), it was mainly during the second trimester (n = 100, 69%). Two thirds (n = 26) of 35 women starting in the third trimester were diagnosed with HIV during pregnancy. The risk of virologic failure tended to be lower in pregnant than in non-pregnant women [adjusted odds ratio 0.52 (95% confidence interval 0.25–1.09, P = 0.08)], but was similar in the intraindividual comparison (adjusted odds ratio 1.04, 95% confidence interval 0.48–2.28). Women starting HAART during pregnancy changed the treatment less often than non-pregnant women. Conclusion: Despite the physiological changes occurring during pregnancy, HIV infected pregnant women are not at higher risk of virologic failure.
Chromatic thresholds in sparse random graphs

The chromatic threshold δχ(H,p) of a graph H with respect to the random graph G(n, p) is the infimum over d > 0 such that the following holds with high probability: the family of H‐free graphs G⊂G(n,p) with minimum degree δ(G)≥dpn has bounded chromatic number. The study of δχ(H):=δχ(H,1) was initiated in 1973 by Erdős and Simonovits. Recently δχ(H) was determined for all graphs H. It is known that δχ(H,p)=δχ(H) for all fixed p∈(0,1) , but that typically δχ(H,p)≠δχ(H) if p=o(1)
Investments in respiratory infectious disease research 1997–2010: a systematic analysis of UK funding

Objectives Respiratory infections are responsible for a large global burden of disease. We assessed the public and philanthropic investments awarded to UK institutions for respiratory infectious disease research to identify areas of underinvestment. We aimed to identify projects and categorise them by pathogen, disease and position along the research and development value chain. Setting The UK. Participants Institutions that host and carry out infectious disease research. Primary and secondary outcome measures The total amount spent and number of studies with a focus on several different respiratory pathogens or diseases, and to correlate these against the global burden of disease; also the total amount spent and number of studies relating to the type of science, the predominant funder in each category and the mean and median award size. Results We identified 6165 infectious disease studies with a total investment of £2·6 billion. Respiratory research received £419 million (16.1%) across 1192 (19.3%) studies. The Wellcome Trust provided greatest investment (£135.2 million; 32.3%). Tuberculosis received £155 million (37.1%), influenza £80 million (19.1%) and pneumonia £27.8 million (6.6%). Despite high burden, there was relatively little investment in vaccine-preventable diseases including diphtheria (£0.1 million, 0.03%), measles (£5.0 million, 1.2%) and drug-resistant tuberculosis. There were 802 preclinical studies (67.3%) receiving £273 million (65.2%), while implementation research received £81 million (19.3%) across 274 studies (23%). There were comparatively few phase I–IV trials or product development studies. Global health research received £68.3 million (16.3%). Relative investment was strongly correlated with 2010 disease burden. Conclusions The UK predominantly funds preclinical science. Tuberculosis is the most studied respiratory disease. The high global burden of pneumonia-related disease warrants greater investment than it has historically received. Other priority areas include antimicrobial resistance (particularly within tuberculosis), economics and proactive investments for emerging infectious threats.
The Influence of Perceptions of the Campus Environment and Health Perception on Stress of Nursing College Students

The purpose of this research is to suggest the promotive directions of Quality Circle activity. Since 1975, variety of organizations in Korea have widely the implemented Quality Circle activities for their management systems. Today, Companies are facing the harsh realities of a competitive environment. This is no time for revolutionary change. Instead, Companies are instituting revolutionary change meant to have impact within a very short time frame. The Worker's Quality Circle activity is, essentially, a trouble shooting oriented voluntary small group within their working place to improve the surroundings creatively. The industries have enthusiastically used Quality Circle activities and were influenced from them. The Quality Circle activities can be regarded as a kind of Knowledge Management where new knowledge is created and knowledge is shared in the economy. However, the academics were less interested in this subject, as a result, there were no systematic guidances for Quality Circle activities. Also, the government was less interested in these activities, as a result, there were no systematic policy making for Quality Circle activities. Thus, in this research, the promotive directions for Quality Circle activities were suggested which were based on the results of survey Questionnaires presented to promoters of the domestic companies. As a results of this research, to maximize the effect of TQM(Total Quality Management) in the nationwide, Quality Circle activity as a bottom-up management should be more expanded and revitalized.
Neonatal repetitive needle pricking: Plasticity of the spinal nociceptive circuit and extended postoperative pain in later life

Repetitive exposure of neonates to noxious events is inherent to their health status monitoring in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Altered basal nociception in the absence of an injury in later life has been demonstrated in ex‐NICU children, but the impact on pain hypersensitivity following an injury in later life is unknown. Also, underlying mechanisms for such long‐term changes are relatively unknown. The objective of this study is to investigate acute and long‐term effects of neonatal repetitive painful skin‐breaking procedures on nociception and to investigate plasticity of the nociceptive circuit. The repetitive needle prick animal model was used in which neonatal rats received four needle pricks into the left hind paw per day during the first postnatal week and control animals received nonpainful tactile stimuli. Repetitive needle pricking during the first week of life induced acute hypersensitivity to mechanical stimuli. At the age of 8 weeks, increased duration of postoperative hypersensitivity to mechanical stimuli after ipsilateral hind paw incision was shown in needle prick animals. Basal nociception from 3 to 8 weeks of age was unaffected by neonatal repetitive needle pricking. Increased calcitonin gene‐related peptide expression was observed in the ipsilateral and contralateral lumbar spinal cord but not in the hind paw of needle prick animals at the age of 8 weeks. Innervation of tactile Aβ‐fibers in the spinal cord was not affected. Ourresults indicate both acute and long‐term effects of repetitive neonatal skin breaking procedures on nociception and long‐term plasticity of spinal but not peripheral innervation of nociceptive afferents. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2013
Cytokine profiles in HIV seropositive patients with tuberculous meningitis

Numerous seroprevalence studies have shown a high rate of co-infection with hepatitis C among HIV-1 infected patients, ranging from 98% in haemophiliacs, 80% among injecting drug users, to 3–15% in homosexual/bisexual men.1 Although it is estimated that there are 200 000–400 000 people infected with hepatitis C (HCV) in the United Kingdom,2 the number of coinfected individuals is unknown. Data have shown that HIV increases the rate of HCV progression,1 and there is also some evidence suggesting that HCV worsens HIV progression, although this is more controversial.3 There is a growing recognition of the significant impact of co-infection on the management of HIV disease. Hepatitis morbidity and mortality among coinfected patients has increased fivefold in recent years.4 Furthermore the presence of HCV increases the frequency of hepatotoxicity with antiretroviral therapy, and may also impact on the choice …
Fibonacci numbers and resolutions of domino ideals

This paper considers a class of monomial ideals, called domino ideals, whose generating sets correspond to the sets of domino tilings of a $2\times n$ tableau. The multi-graded Betti numbers are shown to be in one-to-one correspondence with equivalence classes of sets of tilings. It is well-known that the number of domino tilings of a $2\times n$ tableau is given by a Fibonacci number. Using the bijection, this relationship is further expanded to show the relationship between the Fibonacci numbers and the graded Betti numbers of the corresponding domino ideal.
Testability and the Refutation and Corroboration of Cladistic Hypotheses

Both refutationist and verificationist philosophies and practices are becoming increasingly evident in phylogenetic inference. Refutation and verification are fundamentally different epistemologies, and it seems unlikely that they can continue to coexist as the basis for inferring species history. The refutationist nature of cladistics is explored in terms of Popperian testability, in order to understand better the alternatives and to predict the outcome of the expected revolution. Testability concerns the logical relationship between a hypothesis (h, such as a cladogram), evidence (e, such as synapomorphy), and background knowledge (b). Of particular importance is the direct relationship between the logical improbability ofhand its potential to be tested, because foreto corroborateh,eshould be improbable givenbalone. Simplicity and boldness, amount of empirical content, and logical improbability all refer to the potential to be tested. Thathmust be testable by severe tests is the same as saying that those tests have greater probability of failing, given onlyb. Descent with modification is sufficient as background knowledge (b) in phylogenetic inference, and such a minimal assumption explains the generality of cladistics. Also of interest to the refutationist position is total evidence. In terms of testability, a statement describing the results of multiple tests is less probable than a statement describing only some of the tests, the multiple test result being more improbable, and accordingly more severe, than its component tests. All other cladistic principles and practices considered in this review are also understandable in terms of Popperian testability, refutation and corroboration. These include minimizing ad hoc hypotheses of homoplasy and minimizing explanatory power, and choosing tentatively among cladograms according to their degree of corroboration (support). Differential character weighting is determined to be unacceptable in terms of testability. Also, testability does not provide a basis for assessing the accuracy of hypotheses, but then that is of no consequence to cladists, because they are not preoccupied with knowing the absolute truth, unlike verificationists.
Alcohol consumption and out-patient services utilization by abstainers and drinkers.

AIMS Previous studies have found that abstainers utilize out-patient health services more than alcohol consumers. The aim of this study was to investigate this relationship further by including several confounding variables and effect modifiers. It was hypothesized that abstainers utilize more health services because they have less social resources, practice more risky health behaviours, have poorer self-reported health and suffer more from chronic diseases. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS Cross-sectional health survey of a random sample of adults aged 20-64 in Pomerania, Germany. The response rate was 68.8%. Alcohol consumption was assessed using a quantity-frequency measure and categorized into past-year abstainers, low-risk, medium-risk and high-risk drinkers. Confounders and effect modifiers included socio-demographic and health-related variables. FINDINGS Abstainers had a 43% higher rate (rate ratio = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.24, 1.63) of physician visits compared to low-risk drinkers, adjusting for age and gender. Medium-risk and high-risk drinkers did not differ from low-risk drinkers in terms of out-patient visits. Further regression adjustment for socio-economic covariates, self-reported health status and chronic diseases suggested that abstainers used more out-patient services because they were more ill than drinkers. The effect of mental health status and the number of chronic diseases on out-patient visits was greater for abstainers than drinkers. CONCLUSIONS The relation between alcohol consumption and out-patient services is explained partly by poorer health among the abstainers. Further research is needed to affirm these results, such as transferring this evidence to the utilization of in-patient health services.