Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of amlodipine or ramipril treatment on left ventricular mass and carotid intima-media thickness in nondiabetic hemodialysis patients

Objective: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and atherosclerosis are frequently observed in uremic patients and they have appeared as an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of ramipril and amlodipine on left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in nondiabetic hypertensive hemodialysis patients. Methods: A total of 112 hemodialysis (HD) patients were included in this study. Patients were randomly allocated to receive ramipril or amlodipine for 1 year. Blood pressure (BP) measurements, LVMI, and CIMT were assessed at baseline and 6-month intervals. Biochemical parameters and inflammatory markers were also determined at the initiation and during the study period. Results: Similar BP decrease was observed in treatment groups. During follow-up, LVMI and CIMT progressed likewise in both treatment groups despite BP control. However, subgrouping analyses due to the pattern of left ventricular geometry showed that LVMI in patients with eccentric LVH increased, whereas LVMI decreased in subjects with concentric LVH under antihypertensive treatment. Discussion: BP control with ramipril or amlodipine could not provide adequate protection for development or progression of atherosclerosis and eccentric type of LVH in nondiabetic HD patients.
CMOS low-noise amplifier with VPW matching elements for 60-GHz-band Gbit/s wireless systems

A 90-nm CMOS single-stage low-noise amplifier with vertical planar waveguide (VPW) matching elements for use in millimeter-wave (mmW) transceivers has been developed and tested. The experimental results showed a noise figure of less than 4.1 dB and a gain higher than 10 dB in a frequency range of 57–58 GHz, and an input third-order intercept (IIP3) point greater than 3 dBm. The measured power consumption is 15.2 mW from a 1.5V supply. The proposed design is well suited for multi-gigabit mmW wireless systems.
Attachment Style and Defense Mechanisms in Parents Who Abuse Their Children

Adult attachment style, defense mechanisms, and personal history of abuse was studied in a group of abusive parents. As a group, these parents made unusually high use of the defense of denial; this was especially true of those with a Fearful attachment style. However, the use of Identification was characteristic of those with a Preoccupied attachment style. Further, personal abuse history was related to adult attachment style. Those who reported having been abused as a child were less likely to have a Secure attachment style, and a history of physical or sexual abuse was associated with a Preoccupied style. In general, these findings support the deactivating/hyperactivating defensive theory of Mikulincer et al (Emotion Regulation in Couples and Families: Pathways to Dysfunction and Health. 2006; pp 77–99. Washington (WA): American Psychological Association).
New Method to Improve Mining of Multi-Class Imbalanced Data

Class imbalance is one of the challenging problems for data mining and machine learning techniques. The data in real-world applications often has imbalanced class distribution. That is occur when most examples are belong to a majority class and few example belong to a minority class. In this case, standard classifiers tend to classify all examples as a majority class and completely ignore the minority class. For this problem, researchers proposed a lot of solutions at both data and algorithmic levels. Most efforts concentrate on binary class problems. However, binary class is not the only scenario where the class imbalance problem prevails. In the case of multi-class data sets, it is much more difficult to define the majority and minority classes. Hence, multi class classification in imbalanced data sets remains an important topic of research. In our Book, we proposed new approach based on SOMTE (Synthetic Minority Over-sampling TEchnique) and clustering which is able to deal with imbalanced data problem involving multiple classes. We implemented our approach by using open source machine learning tools: Weka, and RapidMiner.
Diastolic heart failure in the community: clinical profile, natural history, therapy, and impact of proposed diagnostic criteria.

BACKGROUND Diastolic heart failure (DHF) has been broadly defined as "signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF) with normal/near normal systolic function. " The clinical profile and natural history of the syndrome remain controversial. Furthermore, the frequency with which patients with CHF and normal ejection fraction (EF) fulfill recently proposed standardized diagnostic criteria for DHF is unclear. Our objective was to determine the clinical profile, Doppler echocardiographic features, current management, prognosis, and predictors of outcome of all patients with new onset CHF who had normal EF in Olmsted County, Minnesota, during 1996-1997. The frequency with which patients met recently proposed standardized criteria for diagnosis of DHF was assessed. METHODS Using the resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project, all residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, with a new diagnosis of CHF in 1996-1997, an ejection fraction >45%, and no valve disease (n = 83) were identified. RESULTS Patients were elderly (79 +/- 13 yr), predominantly female (76%), and had hypertension and/or coronary artery disease (85%). New-onset atrial fibrillation, ischemia, and medical comorbidities were frequently present at diagnosis. Although most patients (81%) met criteria for "probable DHF" by recently proposed clinical criteria, only half of patients met European criteria in which evidence of abnormal function/filling is required. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year mortality rates were 29%, 39%, and 60%, respectively. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (P =.0008) and beta-blocker (P =.02) therapy were independently associated with improved survival. CONCLUSION This population-based study provides a comprehensive clinical profile, current management, prognosis, and predictors of outcome of patients with new onset CHF who had normal ejection fraction.
Serum cytokines and growth factor levels in Japanese patients with psoriasis

Background. Although the precise pathomechanism of psoriasis is still unknown, various cytokines and growth factors derived from T cells, dendritic cells or keratinocytes, are critically involved in this disease. There have been several studies determining the serum levels of cytokines in patients with psoriasis, but with conflicting results. The levels of various cytokines and growth factors were measured in the sera of patients with psoriasis and compared with those of healthy controls. The correlation with disease severity was also determined.
Dynamics of the slowing segmentation clock reveal alternating two-segment periodicity

The formation of reiterated somites along the vertebrate body axis is controlled by the segmentation clock, a molecular oscillator expressed within presomitic mesoderm (PSM) cells. Although PSM cells oscillate autonomously, they coordinate with neighboring cells to generate a sweeping wave of cyclic gene expression through the PSM that has a periodicity equal to that of somite formation. The velocity of each wave slows as it moves anteriorly through the PSM, although the dynamics of clock slowing have not been well characterized. Here, we investigate segmentation clock dynamics in the anterior PSM in developing zebrafish embryos using an in vivo clock reporter, her1:her1-venus. The her1:her1-venus reporter has single-cell resolution, allowing us to follow segmentation clock oscillations in individual cells in real-time. By retrospectively tracking oscillations of future somite boundary cells, we find that clock reporter signal increases in anterior PSM cells and that the periodicity of reporter oscillations slows to about ∼1.5 times the periodicity in posterior PSM cells. This gradual slowing of the clock in the anterior PSM creates peaks of clock expression that are separated at a two-segment periodicity both spatially and temporally, a phenomenon we observe in single cells and in tissue-wide analyses. These results differ from previous predictions that clock oscillations stop or are stabilized in the anterior PSM. Instead, PSM cells oscillate until they incorporate into somites. Our findings suggest that the segmentation clock may signal somite formation using a phase gradient with a two-somite periodicity. HIGHLIGHTED ARTICLE: Real-time imaging of clock gene oscillations in zebrafish embryos reveals that the segmentation clock shifts from one- to two-segment periodicity, suggesting an updated model for somite formation.
Magnetic field analytical computation in synchronous reluctance machines considering the iron saturation

This paper deals with an analytical model of REL motor considering the stator slotting effect and the magnetic saturation in the stator and rotor iron paths. It joints the field distribution at the air-gap to a lumped-parameter magnetic network. As an example, 36-slot 4-pole machine is analyzed, considering three flux barriers per pole. Finite element analysis confirms the results achieved by means of the analytical model.
The Effective Application Time to Spray Bacillus Thuringiensis Subspecies Kurstaki for Managing Bagw

This study was conducted to determine the suitable time to apply the Bacillus thuringiensis sub species kurstaki against the larvae of the Metisa plana oil palm. The aim of this study is to search for the most economical method for using the B. thuringiensis sub species kurstaki. Owing to that matter, the larvae was sprayed at three different times, 0800, 1200, and1600, with 0.68ml of the B. thuringiensis sub species kurstaki product Dipel ES®/200 ml of water, under fully netted, rain sheltered conditions. Results showed the effectiveness of the B. thuringiensis sub species kurstaki in the control of bagworm, with more than 90% larvae mortality in three days after treatment. However there are no significant different in mortality rate and duration killing time for M. plana larvae on these three application times.
UPTAKE OF l‐HISTIDINE, l‐PROLINE, l‐ORNITHINE, l‐LYSINE AND l‐METHIONINE BY BRAIN TISSUE IN VITRO:

BRAIN tissue slices (NEAME, 1961~) and sarcoma RD3 tissue (WISEMAN and GHADIALLY, 1955) have been found to take up L-histidine in vitro to a similar extent (NEAME, 1961~). Brain tissue has also been shown to take up L-histidine to a considerably greater extent than other normal tissues (NEAME, 1962). Experiments have been carried out to determine to what extent brain tissue resembles sarcoma tissue as opposed to other normal tissues in respect of uptake of amino acids. Using experimental conditions similar to those used by WISEMAN and GHADIALLY (1955) for investigating the uptake ofcertain amino acids by sarcoma RD3, uptake of the same amino acids by brain has been investigated in vitro, and the results compared with the figures given by WISEMAN and GHADIALLY. The uptake of the amino acids by a number of other normal tissues has also been investigated under similar conditions for comparison. With regard to L-histidine, L-proline and L-ornithine, the uptake by brain was found to be similar to the uptake by sarcoma tissue. Both tissues, however, took up these amino acids to a considerably greater extent than did the other tissues investigated. The uptake of L-lysine and L-methionine by sarcoma tissue was greater than that by brain; the uptake by both sarcoma and brain was greater than that by the remaining tissues. A preliminary report of the findings has already been published elsewhere (NEAME, 1961b). METHODS Experimental procedure. Wistar rats weighing between 190 and 210 g were used. Experiments in vitro were carried out on brain slices (using all brain tissue anterior to the posterior borders of the cerebral hemispheres), spleen slices, kidney cortex slices, testis and intestinal mucosa, suspended in Krebs’ bicarbonate saline which contained the amino acid under investigation. The technique used was that described elsewhere (NEAME, 1962) apart from certain alterations made so as to conform as nearly as possible to the experimental details given by WISEMAN and GHADIALLY (1955). The alterations were as follows: (i) Incubation period 1.5 hr. (ii) Rate of shaking of flask in Warburg bath 56 oscillations/min, amplitude 8 cm (WISEMAN and GHADIALLY, 1955, used 80 oscillations/min, amplitude 4 cm). (iii) Suspended tissue centrifuged at 1700 r.p.m. (approx. 450 g) for 10 min, using conditions previously described (NEAME, 1961~). Amino acid solutions. The amino acids (L-form) were of A grade, obtained from the California Corporation for Biochemical Research, Los Angeles. Histidine, ornithine and lysine were used as the * Present address.
Oncology Nurses' Responses to Patient-Initiated Humor

The purpose of this study was to investigate potential predictors (patient variables) that would result in oncology nurses' recognition of and response to patient-initiated humor (PIH). Participants included 47 nurses of an 80-member Oncology Nursing Society chapter (57% response rate), which yielded 232 usable vignettes. Previously collected qualitative data of patient-nurse conversations were used to construct simulated vignettes using a factorial survey design. Five randomly generated vignettes containing 14 independent patient variables with different levels were used to examine nurses' identification of PIH. The unit of analysis in factorial survey is the vignette. Multiple regression and analysis of variance were used to analyze variables in each vignette. Two of 14 variables were significant: "verbal" (actual words the patient spoke) and "intonation" (inflection, pitch, or manner of speech). A 2×2 factorial analysis of variance using verbal and intonation variables revealed that oncology nurses' recognition of and response to PIH were primarily predicted by patients' verbal words. This study distinguishes PIH as a patient-initiated behavior rather than nurse-driven interventions and is a new venue for research in patient-nurse interactions. Results demonstrate the central role of patient-centered communication to inform clinical practice about patient preferences, individualized integration/participation in their care, and a knowledge base of patient-centered behaviors for outcomes of personal importance.
Determination of ruthenium contents in terrestrial minerals by isotope dilution mass spectrometry after preconcentration via distillation

Through the use of acid digestion and a modified distillation procedure the Ru contents in various terrestrial minerals have been determined via the stable isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) method, with isotopic analysis carried out via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and negative thermal ionization mass spectrometry (N-TIMS). The uncertainties in the concentrations ranged from 2.1% to 6.0% (2σ) for ppb and ppm samples concentrations, which is comparable and in some cases better than previous work using NiS fire assay and ICP-MS (Shirai et al., 2003). However, uncertainties for ppt samples were in around 20%, due to low count rates during analysis. Results from three different mineral species show the effectiveness of this chemical dissolution and separation procedure for samples of varying Ru concentrations, ranging from ppm down to ppt levels, and varying geological matrices, from sulphides to silicates. Ru abundances measured showed results consistent with the siderophile nature of Ru, and reinforces the similarity in melt chemistry between Ru and Os.
Positive airway pressure device compliance of the patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate factors affecting the usage of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). MATERIAL AND METHODS This study included 47 patients with OSAS who were suggested to use CPAP device at home and expected to use the device for at least 6 months. The compliance of CPAP device was determined by 2 different methods. In subjective evaluation, total time for usage of the device was recorded according to patients' declaration. In objective evaluation, total time of usage was recorded from the counter on device and it was divided into the number of days passed from the beginning of the treatment and at least 4 h of usage in a day was accepted as an effective usage. Data of compliant and non-compliant patients were compared in order to determine the factors affecting CPAP treatment. RESULTS Ten patients were female, 37 of them were male and mean age was 52.98 ± 20.4 years. Mean Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) was 54.4 ± 20, mean oxygen saturation (SO2) was 87.3 ± 4.6 and mean CPAP pressure was 7.4 ± 1.9 in the whole study population. The compliance of CPAP treatment was found to be 48.9% according to objective evaluation whereas it was 80.9% according to subjective evaluation. Five of 8 patients (62.5%) who did not use the device stated the problems about the device mentioning the mask as a reason for their non-compliance. Treatment compliance was better in the patients with high Epworth sleepiness scale (16.5 ± 5.5 vs. 11.8 ± 4.1, p < 0.05). Epworth sleepiness scale of the patients who were compliant to the treatment was significantly decreased after the treatment both in subjective and objective evaluation. Treatment compliance wasn't different between male and female patients, however it was significantly lower in active smokers compared to non-smokers and ex-smokers. CONCLUSIONS It was concluded that the most important factor associated with compliance to CPAP treatment in the patients with OSAS was Epworth sleepiness scale while mask related side effects might be a reason of treatment withdrawal and all these issues should be addressed carefully in order to increase compliance.
Sex‐specific outcomes following revascularization with zotarolimus‐eluting stents: Comparison of angiographic and late‐term clinical results

Objectives: We examined angiographic and late‐term clinical outcomes according to sex in recent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) trials involving zotarolimus‐eluting stents (ZES). Background. Differences in outcome between men and women undergoing PCI have been inconsistently described with bare metal and first‐generation drug‐eluting stents. Methods. Clinical and angiographic outcomes among ZES‐treated patients were evaluated by sex using propensity score modeling in a patient‐level systematic overview of six trials and were also compared to patients receiving bare metal stents (BMS). Results. Among 2,132 patients, 608 were female (28.5%). Compared to men, women were older and more frequently had diabetes, hypertension, and a smaller reference vessel diameter (P < 0.05 for all). For both sexes, the relative reductions in 8‐month angiographic binary restenosis and late lumen loss were statistically significant and of similar extent with ZES compared to BMS. By 2 years, treatment with ZES resulted in significantly lower target vessel revascularization (TVR) and target vessel failure (TVF; 10.0% vs. 21.5%, P = 0.0003) among women that paralleled risk reductions for men. However, among ZES‐treated patients, 2‐year rates of TVR (8.2% vs. 10.4%, P = 0.005) and TVF (9.9% vs. 12.8%, P = 0.004) were significantly lower among women, although rates of death and myocardial infarction were similar. Conclusions. Despite greater baseline clinical and angiographic risk than men, women undergoing PCI with ZES compared to BMS experienced significant reductions in angiographic restenosis and repeat revascularization yet similar safety. Among all patients treated with ZES, late‐term safety and efficacy outcomes are similar, if not lower, among women compared to men. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ocular aquaporin-4 reverses up-regulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein in mice retina following elevated intraocular pressure

Purpose: Changes in the expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) have been reported in various diseases. However, such changes and mechanisms remain unclear and need to be evaluated for the retinal injury. This study was performed to examine the expression changes in AQP4 and investigate the effect of AQP4 on activation of retinal glial cells following the elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Materials and methods: The elevated IOP model was established by episcleral veins cauterization. Rebound tonometer was used to measure the IOP. Male wild-type moues (WT) and AQP4 knockdown moues (AQP4-/-) divided into different groups after episcleral veins cauterization according to the time of establishing models (1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to evaluate the changes of retinal pathology. The expressions of AQP4 and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) in WT and AQP4-/moues following the elevated IOP were observed by immunofluorescence staining assay. Results: Our results found that the expression of AQP4 was significantly increased in WT moues following the elevation of IOP after 7, 14 and 28 days. HE staining showed that WT and AQP4-/moues retina began thickening at 3 days after elevation of IOP, and the retinal ganglion cells were edema at 7 days after elevation of IOP. However, the retinal injury induced by elevation of IOP in AQP4-/moues was significant attenuate which compared with that of WT moues. Since 1 day after elevation of IOP, the expression of GFAP was remarkably increased both in WT and AQP4-/moues and the peak of WT moues was more obvious than that of AQP4-/moues. Conclusions: The enhancement of AQP4 expression is associated with elevation in IOP and induces retinal injury by up-regulation of GFAP in retinal glial cells, suggesting that AQP4 may be a new target for treatment of glaucoma.
Low spatial resolution computed tomography underestimates lung overinflation resulting from positive pressure ventilation*

Objective:In acute lung injury, lung overinflation resulting from mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) can be assessed using lung computed tomography. The goal of this study was to compare lung overinflation measured on low and high spatial resolution computed tomography sections. Design:Lung overinflation was measured on thick (10-mm) and thin (1.5-mm) computed tomography sections obtained at zero end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP) and PEEP 10 cm H2O using a software including a color-coding system. Setting:A 20-bed surgical intensive care unit of a university hospital. Patients:Thirty mechanically ventilated patients with acute lung injury. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:Overinflated lung volume was measured as the end-expiratory volume of lung regions with computed tomography attenuations <−900 Hounsfield units. Lung overinflation, expressed in percentage of the total lung volume, was significantly underestimated by thick computed tomography sections compared with thin computed tomography sections (0.4 ± 1.6% vs. 3.0 ± 4.0% in ZEEP and 1.9 ± 4% vs. 6.8 ± 7.3% in PEEP, p < .01). In patients with a diffuse loss of aeration, the overinflated lung volumes of thick and thin computed tomography sections were, respectively, 0.6 ± 0.8 mL vs. 16 ± 10 mL in ZEEP (p < .01) and 8 ± 9 mL vs. 73 ± 62 mL in PEEP (p < .05). In patients with a focal loss of aeration, this underestimation was more pronounced: 18 ± 56 mL vs. 127 ± 140 mL in ZEEP (p < .01) and 85 ± 161 mL vs. 322 ± 292 mL in PEEP (p < .01). Conclusions:In patients with acute lung injury, an accurate computed tomography estimation of lung overinflation resulting from positive pressure mechanical ventilation requires high spatial resolution computed tomography sections, particularly when the lung morphology shows a focal loss of aeration.