Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of age on glomerular filtration estimates.

BACKGROUND Glomerular filtration decreases progressively with age in adults. Predictive equation should have proper modelling to adequately account for normal senescence. METHODS Corrected 24-h creatinine clearances (CCLs) were measured in a cohort of 773 outpatients from 18 to 90 years old. Multiple linear regression was used to model the effect of age on glomerular filtration. Comparisons were made with the simplified MDRD and the MAYO equations. Impact of the derived equation was tested in a second cohort of 7551 patients with normal serum creatinine. RESULTS While all equations show declining function with age, our results suggest that the GFR reduction is progressive after the age of 30 and continue to decline steadily after the age of 60. This leads to a convex curve in the multiple regression analysis that is best fitted by an equation including the quadratic term (age(2)). In contrast, the MDRD equation produces a faster decrease in early adulthood and a flatter curve after the age of 60 while the MAYO equation produces a more linear effect. MDRD results in the normal range are lower than those estimated by the MAYO equation. These equations, as applied on an independent cohort of 7551 normal outpatients from 18 to 102 years, produce different profile of evolution of GFR with age. CONCLUSIONS Inclusion of a quadratic term for age in the formula estimating GFR results in better modelling of the natural decline of renal function associated with ageing. Furthermore, as GFR steadily declines after the age of 30, a single cut-off value of GFR normality for all ages leads to underdiagnosis of young adults and over diagnosis of elderly individuals. Guidelines should take into account the observed reduction of kidney function with age in normal population for optimal evaluation of eGFR.
Clinical activity of the oral ALK inhibitor PF-02341066 in ALK-positive patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

3 Background: PF-02341066 (PF-1066) is a selective, ATP-competitive, small molecule, orally bioavailable inhibitor of the ALK and MET/HGF receptor tyrosine kinases. EML4-ALK fusion oncogenes have been reported in approximately 4% of NSCLC. Patients with NSCLC harboring an ALK fusion were recruited into an expanded cohort at the recommended phase II dose within the first-in-patient monotherapy trial of PF-1066. METHODS Patients with ALK fusions, as determined by FISH using a break-apart probe to ALK, were enrolled into the expanded cohort irrespective of prior therapy. Treated brain metastases were allowed. PF-1066 was given orally at a dose of 250 mg BID. Responses were determined using RECIST with radiographic studies repeated every 8 weeks. The disease control rate (DCR) was determined based on the frequency of patients with RECIST CR, PR and stable disease at 8 weeks. RESULTS To date, 76 ALK+ NSCLC patients have been treated. The median number of prior treatments was 3 (range, 0-7). Most patients had adenocarcinoma histology and were never or former smokers. Mean plasma Ctrough was 292 ng/mL, which was above the predicted efficacious concentration from preclinical models (120 ng/mL). The median t1/2 was ∼53 hours. To date, 50 patients are evaluable for response; ORR is 64% and DCR 90%. The median progression-free survival is not yet mature. The median duration of treatment is 25.5+ weeks. Radiological responses typically were observed at the first or second restaging CT scan. Gastrointestinal toxicities, including nausea (55%) and vomiting (39%), were the most frequent adverse events. CONCLUSIONS The oral ALK inhibitor, PF-1066, demonstrated a high response rate in patients selected for ALK fusions and was associated with a good safety profile. A phase III study has been initiated. This study supports the concept of molecular selection of NSCLC patients for appropriately designed treatment. [Table: see text].
First demonstration of high performance 2D monolayer transistors on paper substrates

In this work, we realize high performance flexible graphene and MoS2 nanoelectronics on commercially available paper substrates for the first demonstration. Polyimide smoothing layer is employed to reduce peak to peak surface roughness by ∼10x to less than 2 nm, which enables integration of atomically-thin 2D nanomaterials for electronic grade performance on paper substrates. Our studies on two terminal graphene devices yield comprehensive insights into the electro-mechanical performances dependent on paper substrate roughness. Our realization of high performance chemical vapor deposited (CVD) graphene and M0S2 GHz FETs features record 2D cut-offfrequencies and flexibility on paper substrates, which indicates that this soft and ubiquitous substrate can be a strong candidate for future flexible high performance nanoelectronics for Internet of Things and disposable sensors.
Lepton flavor violation in the two Higgs doublet model type III

We consider the Two Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM) of type III which leads to Flavour Changing Neutral Currents (FCNC) at tree level in the leptonic sector. In the framework of this model we can have, in principle, two situations: the case (a) when both doublets acquire a vacuum expectation value different from zero and the case (b) when only one of them is not zero. In addition, we show that we can make two types of rotations for the flavor mixing matrices which generates four types of lagrangians, with the rotation of type I we recover the case (b) from the case (a) in the limit $\tan \beta \to \infty $, and with the rotation of type II we obtain the case (b) from (a) in the limit $\tan \beta \to 0. $Moreover, two of the four possible lagrangians correspond to the models of types I and II plus Flavor Changing (FC) interactions. The analitical expressions of the partial lepton number violating widths $\Gamma (\mu \to eee) $ and $\Gamma (\mu \to e\gamma) $are derived for the cases (a) and (b) and both types of rotations. $ $In all cases these widths go asymptotically to zero in the decoupling limit for all Higgses. We present from our analysis upper bounds for the flavour changing transition $\mu \to e,$ and we show that such bounds are sensitive to the VEV structure and the type of rotation utilized.
Ultrasonically guided percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy for small hepatocellular carcinoma

Background. The authors have used percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) as a new percutaneous local treatment for single unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) measuring 2 cm or less in greatest dimension (small HCC). PMCT was used to attempt a cure of the disease. In this study, the efficacy of this treatment was assessed.
Adaptive Voltage Control of the DC/DC Boost Stage in PV Converters With Small Input Capacitor

In the case of photovoltaic (PV) systems, an adequate PV voltage regulation is fundamental in order to both maximize and limit the power. For this purpose, a large input capacitor has traditionally been used. However, when reducing that capacitor's size, the nonlinearities of the PV array make the performance of the voltage regulation become highly dependent on the operating point. This paper analyzes the nonlinear characteristics of the PV generator and clearly states their effect on the control of the dc/dc boost stage of commercial converters by means of a linearization around the operating point. Then, it proposes an adaptive control, which enables the use of a small input capacitor preserving at the same time the performance of the original system with a large capacitor. Experimental results are carried out for a commercial converter with a 40 μF input capacitor, and a 4 kW PV array. The results corroborate the theoretical analysis; they evidence the problems of the traditional control, and validate the proposed control with such a small capacitor.
Linear time-variant transformations of generalized almost-cyclostationary signals .I. Theory and method

The problem of linear time-variant filtering is addressed in the fraction-of-time (FOT) probability framework. The adopted approach, which is an alternative to the classical stochastic one, provides a statistical characterization of the system in terms of time averages of functions of time rather than ensemble averages of stochastic processes. Thus, it is particularly useful when stochastic systems transform ergodic input signals into nonergodic output signals, as it happens with several channel models encountered in practice. The analysis is carried out with reference to the wide class of the generalized almost-cyclostationary signals, which includes, as,a special case, the class of almost-cyclostationary signals. In this paper, systems are classified as deterministic or random in the FOT probability framework. Moreover, the new concept of expectation in the FOT probability framework of the impulse-response function of a system is introduced. For the linear time-variant systems, the higher order system characterization in the time domain is provided in terms of the system temporal moment function, which is the kernel of the operator that transforms the additive sinewave components contained in the input lag product into the additive sinewave components contained in the output lag product. Moreover, the higher order characterization in the frequency domain is also provided, and input/output relationships are derived in terms of temporal and spectral moment and cumulant functions. Developments and examples of application of the theory introduced here are presented in part II of this two-part paper.
Price and Delivery Logistics Competition in a Supply Chain

We consider a supply chain in which two suppliers compete for supply to a customer. Pricing and delivery-frequency decisions in the system are analyzed by two three-stage noncooperative games with different decision rights designated to the parties involved. The customer first sets the price (or delivery frequency) for each supplier. Then, the suppliers offer the delivery frequencies (or prices) simultaneously and independently. Finally, the customer determines how much demand to allocate to each of the suppliers. We show that delivery frequency, similar to delivery speed in time-based competition, can be a source of competitive advantage. It also allows firms that sell identical products to offer complementary services to the customer because she can lower her inventory with deliveries from more suppliers. In general, higher delivery frequencies lower the value of getting deliveries from the second supplier and therefore intensify price competition. Assuming the cost structures do not change and the suppliers are identical, we show that when the customer controls deliveries, she would strategically increase delivery frequencies to lower prices. The distortion in delivery frequencies is larger and the overall performance of the supply chain is lower when the customer, not the suppliers, controls deliveries. Moreover, the customer is better off under delivery competition, while the suppliers are better off under price competition.
Vaccinations for Adult Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients: Current Recommendations and Protocols

SUMMARY Recipients of solid-organ transplantation are at risk of severe infections due to their life-long immunosuppression. Despite emerging evidence that vaccinations are safe and effective among immunosuppressed patients, most vaccines are still underutilized in these patients. The efficacy, safety, and protocols of several vaccines in this patient population are poorly understood. Timing of vaccination appears to be critical because response to vaccinations is decreased in patients with end-stage organ disease and in the first 6 months after transplantation. For these reasons, the primary immunizations should be given before transplantation, as early as possible during the course of disease. Vaccination strategy should include vaccination of household contacts and health care workers at transplant centers unless contraindicated. No conclusive data are available on the use of immunoadjuvants and screening for protective titers. Most vaccines appear to be safe in solid-organ transplantation recipients, but live vaccines should be avoided until further studies are available. The risk of rejection appears minimal. Recommended vaccines include pneumovax, hepatitis A and B, influenza, and tetanus-diphtheria. We outline specific protocols and recommendations in this particular patient population. Specific contraindications exist for other vaccines, such as yellow fever, oral polio vaccine, bacillus Calmette-Guerin, and vaccinia. We conclude that solid-organ recipients will benefit from consistent immunization practices. Further studies are recommended to improve established protocols in this patient population.
pH-Responsive Host–Guest Complexation in Pillar[6]arene-Containing Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Films

A water-soluble, anionic pillar[6]arene derivative (WP6) is applied as monomeric building block for the layer-by-layer self-assembly of thin polyelectrolyte multilayer films, and its pH-dependent host–guest properties are employed for the reversible binding and release of a methylviologen guest molecule. The alternating assembly of anionic WP6 and cationic diazo resin (DAR) is monitored in-situ by a dissipative quartz crystal microbalance (QCM-D). In solution, the formation of a stoichiometric inclusion complex of WP6 and cationic methylviologen (MV) as guest molecule is investigated by isothermal titration calorimetry and UV-vis spectroscopy, respectively, and attributed to electrostatic interactions as primary driving force of the host–guest complexation. Exposure of WP6-containing multilayers to MV solution reveals a significant decrease of the resonance frequency, confirming MV binding. Subsequent release is achieved by pH lowering, decreasing the host–guest interactions. The dissociation of the host–guest complex, release of the guest from the film, as well as full reversibility of the binding event are identified by QCM-D. In addition, UV-vis data quantify the surface coverage of the guest molecule in the film after loading and release, respectively. These findings establish the pH-responsiveness of WP6 as a novel external stimulus for the reversible guest molecule recognition in thin films.
Frequency of staphylococcal lysozyme production tested by plate method

Lysozyme production is a frequent property of staphylococcal strains isolated from various sources; all 503 tested strains of Staphylococcus aureus and 13 out of 35 strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis produced an enzyme lysing Micrococcus lysodeikticus as tested by a modified plate method. Lysozyme production by staphylococci is more frequent than the production of free coagulase, clumping factor, staphylokinase, Tween 80 lipase, and HgCl2 resistance.
Electro-acupuncture to prevent prolonged postoperative ileus: a randomized clinical trial.

AIM To examine whether acupuncture can prevent prolonged postoperative ileus (PPOI) after intraperitoneal surgery for colon cancer. METHODS Ninety patients were recruited from the Fudan University Cancer Hospital, Shanghai, China. After surgery, patients were randomized to receive acupuncture (once daily, starting on postoperative day 1, for up to six consecutive days) or usual care. PPOI was defined as an inability to pass flatus or have a bowel movement by 96 h after surgery. The main outcomes were time to first flatus, time to first bowel movement, and electrogastroenterography. Secondary outcomes were quality of life (QOL) measures, including pain, nausea, insomnia, abdominal distension/fullness, and sense of well-being. RESULTS No significant differences in PPOI on day 4 (P = 0.71) or QOL measures were found between the groups. There were also no group differences when the data were analyzed by examining those whose PPOI had resolved by day 5 (P = 0.69) or day 6 (P = 0.88). No adverse events related to acupuncture were reported. CONCLUSION Acupuncture did not prevent PPOI and was not useful for treating PPOI once it had developed in this population.
On congruences on -regular semigroups

Let S be a regular semigroup and let p be a congruence relation on S. The kernel of p, in notation ker p, is the union of the idempotent eclasses. The trace of p, in notation trp, is the restriction of p to the set of idempotents of S. The pair (kerp, trp) is said to be the congruence pair associated with p. Congruence pairs can be characterized abstractly, and it turns out that a congruence is uniquely determined by its associated congruence pair. The triple ((p V £)/£, ker p, (p V R)/R) is said to be the congruence triple associated with p. Congruence triples can be characterized abstractly and again a congruence relation is uniquely determined by its associated triple. The consideration of the parameters which appear in the above-mentioned representations of congruence relations gives insight into the structure of the congruence lattice of S. For congruence relations p and 0, put pTz 0 [pTrr 0, pTo] if andonlyifpV: =0V: [pvR =0VR,trp=tr0]. ThenTz, Tr and T are complete congruences on the congruence lattice of S and T = Tl n T. Introduction and summary. After it was realized by Wagner that a congruence on an inverse semigroup S is uniquely determined by its idempotent classes, Preston provided an abstract characterization of such a family of subsets of S called the kernel normal system (see [2, Chapter 10]). This approach was the only usable means for handling congruences on inverse semigroups for two decades. A new approach to the problem of describing congruences on inverse semigroups was sparked by the work of Scheiblich [13] who described congruences in terms of kernels and traces. A systematic exposition of the achievements of this approach can be found in [10, Chapter III]. It was recognized by Feigenbaum [3] that every congruence p on a regular semigroup S is uniquely determined by its kernel, kerp, equal to elements tequivalent to idempotents, and its trace, trp, equal to the restriction of p to the set E(S) of idempotents of S. In the case of an inverse semigroup S, kerp and trp, as well as their mutual relationship, can be described abstractly by means of simple conditions on a subset of S and an equivalence on E(S) (see [10, Chapter III]). Following in the footsteps of Scheiblich, for orthordox and arbitrary regular semigroups, Feigenbaum [3] and lYotter [14] adopted the following approach: trp is characterized abstractly and to each such trp all matching kernels are described. This unbalances the symmetry of the kernel-trace approach by giving preference to the trace. Hence a balanced view relative to the kernel and the trace is evidently called for. The unqualified success of the kernel-trace approach for inverse semigroups, including its diverse ramifications, gave a certain hope that this may also turn out to be the case for regular semigroups. Judging by the complexity of regular semigroups and the attempts made for both orthodox and general regular semigroups, Received by the editors November 2, 1984. 1980 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 20M10; Secondary 08A30. (a)1986 American Mathematical Society 0002-9947/86 $1.00 + $. 25 per page
Another battle of the sexes: the consequences of sexual asymmetry in mating costs and predation risk in the guppy, Poecilia reticulata

The risk of predation and cost or benefit of a mating attempt are rarely the same for both sexes. An excellent example is provided by the guppy, Poecilia reticulata, a species that has a promiscuous mating system in which female choice plays an important role. Males engage almost continuously in courtship behaviour but, as females are sexually receptive for short periods only, most male displays are ignored and sneaky mating attempts avoided. Experiments on guppies from wild Trinidad populations reveal that females appear to perceive themselves to be at a greater risk of predation and devote more time to anti-predator behaviour, for example, schooling when threatened. Inspections of the predator are also mainly initiated and led by female guppies. Males exploit this behavioural switch by increasing their sneaky mating attempts. A game theoretical analysis is used to explore the sexual asymmetry in mating cost and predation risk. Together these approaches show that there is no intersexual cooperation during predator inspection behaviour in this species, and may explain the paradoxical increase in mating activity by male guppies under threat.
National health accounts: Lessons from the U.S. experience

The national health accounts (NHA) are the framework within which type of services and sources of funding for health care expenditures are measured. NHA, devised to portray the structure of health care delivery and financing in the United States, provide essential information necessary for the formulation of public health policy and for international comparison. In this article, the authors describe the importance of the NHA nationally and internationally, and provide a blueprint of the definitions, sources, and methods used to create this system of NHA in the United States.
Terceira idade: aptidão física de praticantes de hidroginástica

O processo de envelhecimento ainda e pouco conhecido, porem o desgaste do organismo com o passar dos anos e inevitavel deixando-nos mais suscetiveis a doencas. A pratica de exercicios fisicos e essencial em todas as fases de nossa vida e sera ainda mais importante na terceira idade onde ha uma perda de aptidao fisica e consequentemente de saude. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o efeito da pratica da hidroginastica sobre as variaveis da aptidao fisica (equilibrio estatico, agilidade e flexibilidade) em mulheres na terceira idade, apos 20 sessoes de exercicios. A amostra foi composta por 15 mulheres da terceira idade praticantes de hidroginastica. Como instrumentos de coleta de dados desta pesquisa foram utilizado os seguintes testes: "sentar e alcancar" - para avaliar flexibilidade, "vai e vem" - para avaliar agilidade e "stork stand" - para avaliar equilibrio estatico. Para analise dos dados foi utilizado um teste "t" de Student para amostras dependentes para verificar se existem diferencas significativas entre pre e pos-testes. Desta forma destacamos os seguintes resultados: quanto as variaveis flexibilidade e equilibrio estatico houveram melhoras significativas apos as sessoes de hidroginastica. A variavel agilidade tambem apresentou melhoras, porem nao estatisticamente significativas