Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Direct recursive structures for computing radix-r two-dimensional DCT

In this paper, new recursive structures for computing radix-r two-dimensional discrete cosine transform (2-D DCT) are proposed. Based on the same indices of transform bases, the regular pre-add preprocess is established and the recursive structures for 2-D DCT, which can be realized in a second-order infinite-impulse response (IIR) filter, are derived without involving any transposition procedure. For computation of 2-D DCT, the recursive loops of the proposed structures are less than that of one-dimensional DCT recursive structures, which need data transposition to achieve the so-called row-column approach. With advantages of fewer recursive loops and no transposition, the proposed recursive structures achieve more accurate results than the existed methods. The regular and modular properties are suitable for VLSI implementation.
Failure of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator to Conduct ATP

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a chloride ion channel regulated by protein kinase A and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Loss of CFTR-mediated chloride ion conductance from the apical plasma membrane of epithelial cells is a primary physiological lesion in cystic fibrosis. CFTR has also been suggested to function as an ATP channel, although the size of the ATP anion is much larger than the estimated size of the CFTR pore. ATP was not conducted through CFTR in intact organs, polarized human lung cell lines, stably transfected mammalian cell lines, or planar lipid bilayers reconstituted with CFTR protein. These findings suggest that ATP permeation through the CFTR is unlikely to contribute to the normal function of CFTR or to the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis.
Population Genetics and Linkage Analysis of Loci within the FCT Region of Streptococcus pyogenes

ABSTRACT The FCT regions of Streptococcus pyogenes strains encode a variety of cell wall-anchored surface proteins that bind the extracellular matrix of the human host and/or give rise to pilus-like appendages. Strong linkage is evident between transcription-regulatory loci positioned within the FCT and emm regions and the emm pattern genotype marker for preferred infection of the throat or skin. These findings provide a basis for the hypothesis that FCT region gene products contribute to tissue-specific infection. In an initial series of steps to address this possibility, the FCT regions of 13 strains underwent comparative sequence analysis, the gene content of the FCT region was characterized for 113 strains via PCR, and genetic linkage was assessed. A history of extensive recombination within FCT regions was evident. The emm pattern D-defined skin specialist strains were highly homogenous in their FCT region gene contents, whereas the emm pattern A-C-defined throat specialist strains displayed a greater variety of forms. Most pattern A-C strains harbored prtF1 (75%) but lacked cpa (75%). In contrast, the majority of emm pattern D strains had cpa (92%) but lacked prtF1 (79%). Models based on FCT and emm region genotypes revealed the most parsimonious pathways of evolution. Using niche-determining candidate genes to infer phylogeny, emm pattern E strains—the so-called generalists, which lack a strong tissue site preference—occupied a transition zone separating most throat specialists from skin specialists. Overall, population genetic analysis supports the possibility that the FCT region gives rise to surface proteins that are largely necessary, but not always sufficient, to confer tissue site preference for infection.
The GLU298ASP variant of nitric oxide synthase interacts with asymmetric dimethyl arginine in determining cardiovascular mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease

Objectives Impaired nitric oxide generation and accumulation of the endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), have been identified as strong predictors of cardiovascular outcomes in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We evaluated the role of endothelial NOS (eNOS) gene polymorphisms and its interaction with plasma ADMA in the high cardiovascular complications rate of these patients. Methods The relationship between the Glu298Asp variant of eNOS and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was assessed in a cohort study including 261 ESRD patients that were followed up for an average of 42 months. Results During the follow-up period, 138 patients died, 81 of them (i.e. 59% of total deaths) of cardiovascular causes. On univariate Cox's regression analysis, eNOS genotype tended to be related to all-cause death but failed to reach formal statistical significance (P for trend = 0.11). However, eNOS genotype showed a significant association with cardiovascular mortality in statistical models, including traditional risk factors and factors peculiar to ESRD, and became even stronger when plasma ADMA was forced into the Cox model (P = 0.006). Furthermore, the risk of cardiovascular death was maximum in heterozygotes and homozygotes patients carrying the risk allele and in those having high ADMA levels (hazard ratio = 2.71, 95% confidence interval 1.38–5.35, P = 0.004) compared to those having just one of these two risk factors. Conclusions The T allele of the Glu298Asp polymorphism predicts cardiovascular mortality and interacts with plasma ADMA in determining this outcome in dialysis patients.
Macrophage-Derived Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Exhibits Enhanced Infectivity by Comparison with T-Cell-Derived Virus

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infect and productively replicate in macrophages and T lymphocytes. Here, we show that SIV virions derived from macrophages have higher levels of infectivity than those derived from T cells. The lower infectivity of T-cell-derived viruses is influenced by the quantity or type of mannose residues on the virion. Our results demonstrate that the cellular origin of a virus is a major factor in viral infectivity. Cell-type-specific factors in viral infectivity, and organ-specific or disease stage-specific differences in cellular derivation of virions, can be critical in the pathogenesis of HIV and AIDS.
Recovery from T cell depletion during murine listeriosis and effect on a T-dependent antibody response

During the infection of mice with Listeria monocytogenes, there is a profound depletion of T (Thy-1+ Ig-) lymphocytes between days 1 and 4, followed by an increase in T cells to three times normal levels by day 9. The recovery of T cell numbers required cell proliferation, being sensitive to vinblastin and cyclophosphamide. Adult thymectomy 6 months before infection had no effect on recovery. The repopulating cells were no more sensitive than normal T cells to hydrocortisone. B lymphocytes (Ig+ cells) and null (Thy-1-Ig-) cells increased from day 1 after the injection of either live or (in contrast to T cells) killed Listeria organisms. Their increase was inhibited by vinblastin and cyclophosphamide. Despite T cell depletion, no depression of the antibody response to the T-dependent antigen, sheep erythrocytes, occurred during infection or when spleen cells were adoptively transferred from infected mice to irradiated recipients.
Inkjet-Printed Multi-Bit Low-Voltage Fuse-Type Write-Once-Read-Many Memory Cell

Low-voltage fuse-type write-once-read-many memories were fabricated using a common material inkjet printer to form both the contact pads and the resistor tracks with the same silver ink and process settings. Based on the dependence of the fusing voltage on the length of the printed resistor track, a new cell structure was proposed to achieve multi-bit memories. The fabricated 2-b memory cell presents excellent long-term storage and operation stabilities, and 16-b memories were achieved using this cell structure with greatly saved contact pad numbers for easier external electrical connections than the conventional design. A system demonstration of using the memories was finally provided to prove the potential of this technology for practical use.
Increasing trends in seroprevalence of human hydatidosis in North India: A hospital-based study

A retrospective analysis of laboratory data of 3290 clinically suspected and/or radiologically confirmed cases of hydatidosis revealed that 495 (15%) were positive for specific antibody response. Casoni's test was positive in 481/1938 (24.82%) patients. A significant increase (P < 0.001) in seropositivity was observed during the last 5 years (23.12%, 1999-2003) as compared with previous years (10.97%, 1984-1998), and a similar increase (P < 0.001) in positive Casoni's test was also observed (33.83%, 1999-2003 versus 21.38%, 1984-1998) during the same time period.
Tobacco education in Cairo, Egypt: is there an effect on adolescent smoking?

Editor,—As cigarette consumption in the US has fallen, and tobacco companies have come under criticism for allegedly targeting youth in their advertising, many companies have focused more on overseas markets to maintain their profits. Egypt, with the highest tobacco consumption in the Arab world, appears to be a lucrative market for cigarette manufacturers. While adult cigarette consumption is declining or stagnant in the US, it is growing in Egypt at a rate of 4–5% a year.1 In the US smoking typically starts during adolescence: 89% of daily smokers …
Increased glycemic variability at the onset and during progression of type 2 diabetes-commentary.

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has been studied extensively in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) but has been less well studied in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and only relatively recently has it been applied to evaluate patients with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and the natural history of prediabetes. This issue of Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics includes two articles that characterize glycemic variability (GV) in cross-sectional studies of patients with prediabetes and of patients with T2DM receiving various forms of therapy in comparison with T1DM. A third article examines the relationship of GV observed using CGM to serum levels of fructosamine and 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5AG) in subjects with very well-controlled diabetes. We shall discuss some of the principal findings, briefly consider pathophysiological mechanisms that might be involved, and discuss some of the methodological issues encountered in the measurement of GV using CGM.
Paraganglioma of seminal vesicle and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma: a case report and literature review

ABSTRACT CONTEXT: Extra-adrenal paragangliomas are rare tumors that have been reported in many locations, including the kidney, urethra, urinary bladder, prostate, spermatic cord, gallbladder, uterus and vagina. CASE REPORT: This report describes, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, a primary paraganglioma of the seminal vesicle occurring in a 61-year-old male. The patient presented persistent arterial hypertension and a previous diagnosis of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma. It was hypothesized that the seminal vesicle tumor could be a metastasis from the chromophobe renal cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical characterization revealed expression of synaptophysin and chromogranin in tumor cell nests and peripheral S100 protein expression in sustentacular cells. Succinate dehydrogenase A and B-related (SDHA and SDHB) expression was present in both tumors. CONCLUSIONS: No genetic alterations to the VHL and SDHB genes were detected in either the tumor tissue or tissues adjacent to the tumor, which led us to rule out a hereditary syndrome that could explain the association between paraganglioma and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma in a patient with arterial hypertension.
Free-ranging Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys Rhinopithecus roxellana: Neophobia, neophilia, or both?

We studied the responsiveness of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus roxellana, an arboreal Old World monkey, to the presence of novel stimuli associated with familiar food. We also determined differences in responses by age and sex. Results showed that monkeys exhibited neophilia and neophobia simultaneously when facing novel stimuli. Age affected the response to novel stimuli significantly, with immature individuals responding to novel stimuli most frequently and infants least frequently. No significant differences were observed for sex, although females were more responsive to the novel object than were males. Our results support the "readiness to eat" hypothesis that the presence of a novel object can increase latencies to consume familiar food (Current Zoology 59 (3): 311−316, 2013).
The Computing Skills expected of Business Graduates: A New Zealand Study

A survey of employers in New Zealand was undertaken to test the expectation that new graduate employees will possess a good level of computing skills given they have completed a university qualification. We are now in a time where a series of generic skills are required of any graduate entering the workforce. These generic type skills include good communication skills, problem solving abilities and the often not asked for but assumed computer literacy. There is evidence from the literature to suggest that these assumptions are not exclusive to New Zealand. Results indicate that employers are finding they have to lower their expectations to fit with the computing skills university graduates are bringing to the workforce. This gap in skills is seen by some as handicapping the ability for employers to recruit suitable graduates.
The Impact of Macroeconomic Indicators on Agricultural Trade Balance of Iran

Problem statement: One of the main targets of Iran’s economic development plans in agricultural sector during the recent years was to augment agricultural exports and establish a positive trade balance in this sector. In this research the impact of macroeconomic indicators of Iran and its 20 trading partners on Iran’s agricultural trade balance had been investigated. Approach: The ARDL approach was applied during the period of (1960-2005). Results: The domestic real income had the highest effect on the agricultural trade balance relative to other indicators both in the short-and longrun period. On the other hand, domestic money supply and foreign real income had the lowest effect in long-run and short-run respectively. In addition, real exchange rate had the positive impact on trade balance indicating that the depreciation will improve trade balance. But this is not a robust political instrument for establishing long-run equilibrium. Finally, the ECM results implied the fairly high speed of adjustment to equilibrium. Conclusion: The policies that tend to increase domestic income should be planned in such a way that the increased purchasing power of people will be directed to domestic goods rather than foreign goods.
A Review about the Effect of Life style Modification on Diabetes and Quality of Life

The aim of this review is to examine diabetes and quality of life improvements through modifying life style. The data was collected by reviewing published articles from PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, and Google open access publications. The review identified prevention strategies can reduce the risk and complications of diabetes. Life style modification in relation to obesity, eating habit, and physical exercise can play a major role in the prevention of diabetes. Nowadays, there has been progress in the development of behavioural strategies to modify these life style habits and it is not easy to accept for long term basis. If people maintain a balanced diet and physical exercise this can have real and potential benefits for their prevention and control of complications from chronic diseases particularly for cardiovascular risk and diabetes. Healthy life style may best be achieved through public private partnerships involving government, partners organizations, health services providers, community and people living with diabetes. Effective strategies to reduce the incidence of diabetes globally and assist in managing the disease are urgently required.
Independent and Combined Effects of Ethanol Self-Administration and Nicotine Treatment on Hepatic CYP2E1 in African Green Monkeys

Cytochrome P450 2E1 metabolizes ethanol and also bioactivates many toxins and procarcinogens. Elevated levels of hepatic CYP2E1 are associated with an increased susceptibility to chemical toxicity and carcinogenesis. This study investigated the induction of hepatic CYP2E1 by ethanol and nicotine, alone and in combination, in a nonhuman primate model. Monkeys that self-administered ethanol and that received subcutaneous injections of nicotine (0.5 mg/kg b.i.d.), alone and in combination, were compared with control animals (four groups, n = 10/group). Chlorzoxazone (CZN) was used as a probe drug to phenotype in vivo CYP2E1 activity before and after chronic ethanol and/or nicotine exposure. CYP2E1 protein levels and in vitro chlorzoxazone metabolism were assessed in liver microsomes. Average daily ethanol consumption was ≈3.0 g/kg (blood ethanol levels ≈24 mM) and was unaffected by nicotine treatment. Ethanol self-administration and nicotine treatment, alone and in combination, significantly increased in vivo CZN disposition compared with that in control animals. The effect of ethanol was only observed at higher levels of intake. Ethanol and nicotine increased CYP2E1 protein levels and in vitro CZN metabolism, with combined exposure to both drugs resulting in the greatest increase. The effect of ethanol was also dependent on level of intake. Chronic exposure to ethanol and nicotine induced hepatic CYP2E1 activity and protein levels, particularly when both drugs were used in combination and when ethanol intake was high. These results have important implications for public health, given the association between elevated CYP2E1 and disease, and the large proportion of individuals who are exposed to ethanol and nicotine, often in combination.
Health Beliefs and Early Detection among Chinese Women

Little is known about the knowledge and practices regarding early detection of cancer for Chinese women either living in their homelands or worldwide. The purpose of this exploratory study is to describe how cultural beliefs and understandings may influence participation in early detection programs for the increasing numbers of Chinese women who live in the United States. The Health Belief Model (HBM) emerged as a usefulframeworkfor categorizing data obtained in Mandarin from a qualitative study of married, educated Chinese women (n = 23; mean age 30.4 years) who attended a university clinic. Cultural beliefs about modesty, husband's involvement, self-care, relationship between health and body functions, and use of preventive health behaviors in the absence of illness influenced women's participation and supported the HBM. Early detection was not a clear concept for these women: 80% believed performing monthly breast self-examinations and 70% believed receiving annual Papanicolaou smears would prevent cancer
Teratocarcinosarcoma of the nasal cavity Report of a case showing favorable prognosis

We report a very rare case of teratocarcinosarcoma of the nasal cavity showing a favorable prognosis. The patient was a 66‐year‐old man with a mass completely obstructing the right nasal cavity. Subsequently, extirpation of the mass and Denker‐Watsuji operation were performed, and the patient was treated with a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Neither recurrence nor distant metastasis was observed during follow‐up lasting 30 months. Histologic examination of the resected mass revealed several tissue elements including columnar and squamous epithelia with atypia, smooth muscle cells with rare mitotic activity, and neuroectodermal tissue. The glandular epithelium and smooth muscle cells were reminiscent of a primitive intestinal organoid structure, suggestive of tera‐tomatous tumorigenesis. Our case and a review of the literature indicate that the absence of invasiveness to the stroma or surrounding tissue is closely related to a favorable prognosis.
Intergenerational transmission of skills during childhood and optimal public policy

We characterize the optimal tax policy and quality of day care services in an OLG model in which child care arrangements chosen by parents of different skill types affect the probability that children become high-skilled adults in a type-specific way. With respect to previous contributions, optimal tax formulas incorporate type-specific Pigouvian terms which correct for the intergenerational externality in human capital accumulation. The optimal quality of day care services is determined by equating the total private marginal benefits of a quality increase to its marginal cost, adjusted for the presence of three additional terms capturing respectively the budgetary impact of a change in demand for day care services, the intergenerational externality in human capital accumulation, and the self-selection constraint.
Dinámica e impacto de los parasitoides autóctonos de "Phyllocnistis citrella" stainton, en la Comunidad Valenciana

RESUMEN Durante la segunda mitad de 1996, se estudio las poblaciones de los parasitoides autoctonos de Phyllocnistiscitrella, en seis huertos de la Comunidad Valenciana con baja presion insecticida. Las especies identificadas y suabundancia fueron: Pnigalio pectinicornis (55,27 p. 100), Cirrospilus proximo a lyncus + C. pictus (41,60 p. 100), C. vittatus (2,47 p. 100), Sympiesis gregori (0,61 p. 100), y Chysocharis pentheus (0,05 p. 100), observandose unaumento en la importancia del genero Cirrospilus respecto a anos anteriores. Aparecio parasitismo en todas lasparcelas muestreadas, entre el 5 p. 100 y el 60 p. 100, presentandose los mayores valores en aquellas parcelasdonde la brotacion fue mas regular. No fue posible establecer ninguna relacion entre estos porcentajes y la abun-dancia de formas parasitables del minador. Ello podria atribuirse a la escasa especificidad de los parasitoides,todos ellos oportunistas. Tambien se aprecio una fluctuacion en la proporcion de sexos de P. pectinicomis
Metabolic role of fibroblast growth factor 21 in liver, adipose and nervous system tissues

The hepatokine fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a novel polypeptide ligand, which is involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, and contributes significantly to lowering body weight and enhancing insulin sensitivity. A large number of pre-clinical and clinical results demonstrate that FGF21 is a potential drug target for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the present review, the tissue specific actions and molecular mechanisms of FGF21 are discussed with a focus on the liver, adipose tissue and nervous system, as well as investigating the outcomes of clinical trials of FGF21, with the aim of interpreting and delineating the complexity physiology of FGF21.
The role of leadership in learning culture and patient safety

Patient safety improvement through management has been a prime issue since 2000, when the Institute of Medicine reported that preventable mismanagement was responsible for the majority of medical errors. Learning culture, interdisciplinary action teams, and punitive culture have been discussed as viable ways to address these errors. While these individual factors have been found to be significant, we have yet to understand the interactions of these elements. The role of leadership, which has been overlooked, is critical to facilitate or constrain these elements. The interactions of these three elements and the role of leadership were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Our finding revealed the three elements were closely knitted, and leadership roles had considerable impact in nurturing learning culture and constraining punitive culture, which in turn enhanced patient safety