Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phytoestrogen supplements for the treatment of hot flashes: the Isoflavone Clover Extract (ICE) Study: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT Clinical trials demonstrating increased risk of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer among women randomized to hormone replacement therapy have increased interest in other therapies for menopausal symptoms. Dietary supplements containing isoflavones are widely used as alternatives to hormonal therapies for hot flashes, but there is a paucity of data supporting their efficacy. OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of 2 dietary supplements derived from red clover with placebo in symptomatic menopausal women. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of menopausal women, aged 45 to 60 years, who were experiencing at least 35 hot flashes per week. The study was conducted between November 1999 and March 2001 at 3 US medical centers and included women who were recently postmenopausal (mean [SD], 3.3 [4.5] years since menopause) experiencing 8.1 hot flashes per day. Women were excluded if they were vegetarians, consumed soy products more than once per week, or took medications affecting isoflavone absorption. INTERVENTION After a 2-week placebo run-in, 252 participants were randomly assigned to Promensil (82 mg of total isoflavones per day), Rimostil (57 mg of total isoflavones per day), or an identical placebo, and followed-up for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The primary outcome measure was the change in frequency of hot flashes measured by participant daily diaries. Secondary outcome measures included changes in quality of life and adverse events. RESULTS Of 252 participants, 246 (98%) completed the 12-week protocol. The reductions in mean daily hot flash count at 12 weeks were similar for the Promensil (5.1), Rimostil (5.4), and placebo (5.0) groups. In comparison with the placebo group, participants in the Promensil group (41%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 29%-51%; P =.03), but not in the Rimostil group (34%; 95% CI, 22%-46%; P =.74) reduced hot flashes more rapidly. Quality-of-life improvements and adverse events were comparable in the 3 groups. CONCLUSION Although the study provides some evidence for a biological effect of Promensil, neither supplement had a clinically important effect on hot flashes or other symptoms of menopause.
Phenytoin-Induced Lymphocytic Chemotaxis, Angiogenesis and Accelerated Healing of Decubitus Ulcer in a Patient with Stroke

We studied the effect of topically applied phenytoin on the healing of a decubitus ulcer in the sacral region of an immobile patient with stroke. Another similar, but smaller, ulcer was treated with conventional treatment only and served as a control. The ulcers were measured once a week and biopsies were taken from the margins before, 1 week and 2 weeks after commencing treatment with phenytoin. Clinically, phenytoin substantially accelerated the rate of healing. Microscopic examination of the biopsies showed increased lymphocytic infiltration of the phenytointreated lesion. Anti-CD31 immunohistochemistry revealed dense CD31+ lymphocytic infiltration and increased angiogenesis only in the phenytointreated lesion. Our findings suggest that phenytoin enhances wound healing by stimulating lymphocytic chemotaxis and up-regulation of angiogenesis.
Fault list compaction through static timing analysis for efficient fault injection experiments

With the adoption of deep sub-micron technologies, faults modeled as single event transients (SETS) on combinational gates are becoming an issue, but efficient and accurate techniques for assessing their impact on VLSI designs are still missing. This paper presents a new approach for generating the list of faults to be addressed during fault injection experiments tackling SET effects. By resorting to static timing analysis, the approach is able to prune the set of possible faults and to identify a superset of the ones that may produce effects on the circuit outputs. Experimental results are reported on standard benchmarks assessing the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
N-acetyl cysteine versus allopurinol in the prevention of contrast nephropathy in patients with chronic kidney disease: A randomized controlled trial

Contrast media administration can lead to acute deterioration in renal function particularly in patients with pre-existing chronic kidney disease. This prospective, randomized controlled open-label parallel group study was undertaken at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, from June to December 2015. A total of 95 patients were included, of which 35 received n-acetylcysteine (NAC) + normal saline (NS), 30 patients received allopurinol (ALL) + NS, and 30 patients received placebo. In our study, the overall incidence of CIN was 24%. Incidence of CIN in NAC + NS, ALL + NS, and placebo group were 20%, 16%, and 36%, respectively. The major finding of this study was there was no significant difference between NAC and allopurinol in the prevention of contrast nephropathy. However, only allopurinol was superior to placebo. In our study, hyperuricemia and baseline serum creatinine were the only risk factors associated with CIN.
Enhancing the cell affinity of macroporous poly(L-lactide) cell scaffold by a convenient surface modification method

Inthisstudy,themacroporouspoly(L-lactide)(PLLA)cellscaffoldwasmodifiedforenhancingits cell affinity by an improved surface-treating medium, a mixture of aqueous 0.25M NaOH/ethanol. Ethanol was applied as a co-treating medium to wet the polylactone and assist the hydroxide nucleophilic attack on the ester bond. Low concentration of NaOH could be applied, severe bulk degradation could be avoided and the residual alkali was easy to remove. Treating time could also be shortened. After treatment under optimal conditions, the surface hydrophilicity and surface energy of PLLA were improved significantly and the surface roughness was also changed. Modification of the spherulite structure on PLLA surface was observed with the treating time using a computer-assisted image analysis system (CAIAS). The results of gel permeation chromatography measurements indicated that only the outer layer of the PLLA was modified and the bulk properties were not altered. Mouse 3T3 fibroblasts culture results indicated that the improved surface-treating medium was effective and convenient for enhancing the cell affinity of PLLA cell scaffold.  2003 Society of Chemical Industry
Plasma Creatinine

The non-specificity of reactions for creatinine is a well-recognized drawback in most methods for its determination. The Jaffe colour reaction which forms the basis of most procedures is given by numerous substances other than creatinine, over 30 being listed by Hunter (1928). They include, apart from substances related to creatinine, acetone, aceto-acetic acid, and pyruvic acid. Various methods of estimating true creatinine as opposed to the total Jaffe-positive chromagen have been proposed. Miller and Dubos (1937), using suspensions of a creatininase-producing bacterium, carried out the Jaffe reaction on plasma filtrates before and after incubation with a suspension of the organism, and thus calculated the true creatinine by difference. According to this technique, the true plasma creatinine constituted 80-100% of the total chromagen. Methods employing adsorption on Lloyd's reagent have also been claimed to give true creatinine values. This substance is a hydrated aluminium silicate. In acid solution it adsorbs creatinine which can subsequently be eluted by alkali. Recently Kogtir and 8onka (1952) published a method for creatinine determination based on the observation that pyruvic acid is a Jaff&-positive substance which can be oxidized by ceric sulphate without destroying creatinine. Normal values found by this method were from 0.3 to 0.6 mg. / 100 ml. with a mean of 0.48 mg. /100 ml. A series of determinations with ceric sulphate showed a reduction of 60% on a parallel series without ceric sulphate treatment. In our hands normal plasmas (11) treated with ceric sulphate by this method gave a range of 0.77 to 1.21 mg. /100 ml. , with a mean of 0.97 mg. /100 ml. This was a reduction of 16% on the values obtained on the same plasmas without ceric sulphate treatment. This reduction was significant but was not of the magnitude found by Kostiir and gonka. We have also investigated the adsorption procedure with Lloyd's reagent (Fuller's earth) of Haugen and Blegen (1953) as modified by Owen, Iggo, Scandrett, and Stewart (1954), who found good agreement between the Lloyd's adsorption method and the specific enzymatic method. It was considered that another approach to checking its specificity would be to investigate the Lloyd's adsorbed material chromatographically. This method has given results which are lower than those obtained with the ceric sulphate method; and chromatograms of the eluates from the Lloyd's adsorption have shown only one Jaff-positive spot, identical with that for creatinine. We conclude that the Lloyd's procedure is, in fact, specific for creatinine in plasma.
The Effect of Bank Credit and the Trade Patterns of Colombian Exporters

In this paper we use manufacturing data on Colombian exports and bank financing to estimate the credit elasticity of exports. The data allows us to construct a supply side instrumental variable for the credit of manufacturers that we use to address a possible reverse causality problem. We find that access to credit produces a significant increase in the revenue of exporters, explained by the positive effect of credit on the trade margins. Likewise, we find that across manufacturers, the impact of credit on the margins varies by firm size. Medium-sized manufacturers use credit to increase their market reach, market penetration and product mix. The largest manufacturers use credit to increase their market reach, while the smallest manufacturers use it to expand their product mix.
Three quasars from a survey of strong 25-μm emitters

We have carried out a spectroscopic survey of 750 sources that are strong 25-μm emitters from the IRAS Faint Source data base. Many of these sources are previously unknown active galactic nuclei including new IRAS quasars, three of which we describe here: F21382−2659, Z06367−6845 and Z05558−5008. They are all radio and X-ray quiet, and compared to the known IRAS quasars they have similar 25-μm luminosities, L(25 μm), but lower values of L(25 μm)/L(B). Their F(25 μm)/F(60 μm) IRAS colours lie in the range 0.33 to 1.08, indicating the presence of relatively warm dust, presumably in a dusty torus surrounding the central source, and with temperatures similar to those of the known IRAS quasars. The quasar with the warmest dust, F21382−2659, exhibits broad (full width at half-maximum ~4000 km s^(−1)) asymmetric Balmer lines with Hγ having an opposite asymmetry to the other broad lines; also Hβ (only) is double-peaked. Fe ii is very weak in F21382−2659 but strong in the other two quasars, and the anticorrelation between Fe ii and [O iii] holds as anticipated. Two of the quasars are unpolarized: although F21382−2659 is optically polarized (2.1 per cent at 4950 A), we argue that this provides little insight into the orientation of its dust torus relative to the line of sight.
Photo-bleaching of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii after dark-anoxic incubation

In aerobes, anoxia impairs mitochondrial energy generation as well as biosynthesis and degradation of essential cell components. In a recent analysis we have shown that the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii responds to anaerobiosis in the dark by significant changes of the transcriptome, which, in summary, were directed at saving and economizing energy. Several of the transcriptional changes were related to photosynthesis and were accompanied by reduced amounts of chlorophylls and plastid lipids as well as lowered photosystem 2 quantum yields. A further noticeable pattern was a transcriptional upregulation of various genes encoding O2 dependent enzymes of central biosynthetic pathways. However, cells do not divide in dark-anoxia, indicating that C. reinhardtii cannot compensate for the lack of O2 and light. Upon return to aeration and light, cultures show severe photo-bleaching, which might be a stress reaction, but also part of an acclimation process or its disturbance.
Matching blood vessel patterns with the generalised EM algorithm

Describes an algorithm for registering retinal angiograms. The idea is to exploit the network structure of the blood vessel patterns to improve the recovery of the affine registration parameters. The framework for our study is provided by the generalised EM algorithm. There are two novel features of the algorithm. Firstly, in the expectation step of the algorithm we update the probabilities of correspondence matching using contextual constraints provided by the network structure of the blood-vessel pattern in the angiograms. The second novel idea is to recover affine transformation parameters by applying the Gustafson fuzzy clustering procedure to the expected log-likelihood function.
Resource scheduling algorithms for LTE using weights

A smartphone without Internet is obsolete in today's world. With multitude of applications hosted in the personal handheld devices, the need of high speed Internet access has increased manifold. On one hand, in order to meet these demands, LTE-A (a.k.a. 4G) started a new era of improved network capacity as well as higher bandwidth availability to each user, while on the other hand the resource allocation for users has emerged as an active research area. Parameters such as number of users, channel conditions, type of traffic class and so on play an important role while designing a scheduling algorithm. In this paper, LTE resource scheduling algorithms from the literature are presented with their pros and cons and Inverse Weighted Fair Queuing (IWFQ) as well as Proportional Fair Inverse Weighted Fair Queuing (PFIWF) algorithms are proposed. Also, simulation results are shown to outperform the existing algorithms and finally, fair distribution of radio resources and the overall system throughput by effectively using the radio frequency spectrum is outlined.
CIRRHOSIS IN THE ALCOHOLIC AND ITS RELATION TO THE VOLUME OF ALCOHOL ABUSE

At first sight, it is puzzling to find that cirrhosis of the liver apparently develops only in a minor proportion of heavy drinkers and alcoholics, which seems to contradict the well-established association’ between alcoholism and cirrhosis. A statistic based on IOseries of autopsy records (TABLE 1) shows that the incidence of cirrhosis in alcoholics ranged from as low as 2.4% to a maximum figure of about 28%. This statistic is a partly corrected extension of original data from Jolliffe and Jellinek,54 who calculated an average incidence of only 8% as against an estimated 1.2% in the general nonalcoholic population. Varying diagnostic standards in a number of these older autopsy series may have contributed to an underrepresentation. The modified statistic presented here yields a higher average incidence, of 18%, which is largely due to the inclusion of Wilen’s selected sample. This sample is outstanding in that it takes account of the potential length of drinking history and of minimum levels of daily alcohol intake. In more recent series where liver biopsies were performed during life (TABLE 2), the incidence of cirrhosis among defined alcoholics, though definitely, higher, still reaches only 30%, which is close to Wilen’s percentage. According to crosssectional studies of this kind, it can be safely assumed that cirrhosis will develop only in roughly 4 to # of those who heavily indulge in alcohol abuse during a lengthy period of their lives. In my own series of 320 biopsy cases, wellestablished cirrhosis was seen in 12%. This proportion, however, seems to contrast strikingly with the high incidence of alcoholism in cirrhosis of the liver in all those regions of the world where the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages is an integral part of social and economic life (TABLE 3). For North and South America the average incidence of alcoholism in cirrhosis is now 66%, for Europe 42%. A small number of series from Asia, where alcohol consumption is low or nonexistent, shows an average incidence of only 1 1 % (TABLE 4). A calculation based on 80 clinical and autopsy series comprising a total of 20,000 cases shows that in the Western World an alcohol etiology in cirrhosis of the liver is found in 50% of the cases (TABLE 5). Even in the United Kingdom, where, owing to high taxes imposed on alcoholic beverages since 1 914,128*133 an alcohol etiology had previously played a laudably minor role, alcohol is now of about equal importance with other causeslZ6 or in some areas even the predominant one. ’J2*53 If one endeavors to resolve this apparent discrepancy and to study the association between alcohol abuse and cirrhosis, 3 essential points should be kept in mind : (1) Ethanol is an ambivalent molecule that possesses a metabolic and a pharmacologic side. An intake per time unit up to a certain magnitude can effectively be dealt with by several metabolic degradation systems. However, an intake that exceeds the capacity of these systems will result in an elevation of the blood alcohol level, bringing out the pharmacologic or toxic properties of this central nervous
Inverse dynamic modelling of jumping in the red-legged running frog, Kassina maculata

ABSTRACT Although the red-legged running frog, Kassina maculata, is secondarily a walker/runner, it retains the capacity for multiple locomotor modes, including jumping at a wide range of angles (nearly 70 deg). Using simultaneous hind limb kinematics and single-foot ground reaction forces, we performed inverse dynamics analyses to calculate moment arms and torques about the hind limb joints during jumping at different angles in K. maculata. We show that forward thrust is generated primarily at the hip and ankle, while body elevation is primarily driven by the ankle. Steeper jumps are achieved by increased thrust at the hip and ankle and greater downward rotation of the distal limb segments. Because of its proximity to the GRF vector, knee posture appears to be important in controlling torque directions about this joint and, potentially, torque magnitudes at more distal joints. Other factors correlated with higher jump angles include increased body angle in the preparatory phase, faster joint openings and increased joint excursion, higher ventrally directed force, and greater acceleration and velocity. Finally, we demonstrate that jumping performance in K. maculata does not appear to be compromised by presumed adaptation to walking/running. Our results provide new insights into how frogs engage in a wide range of locomotor behaviours and the multi-functionality of anuran limbs. Summary: Experimental data and inverse dynamic modelling demonstrate how forward thrust and elevation are produced in the frog hind limb, allowing frogs to jump at a wide range of angles.
TAX RATES AND ADOPTION OF IFRS ON FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT in ASEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY COUNTRIES

Research aim : This study aimed to get empirical evidence of the effect of tax rates and the adoption of IFRS to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The study also attempts to identify whether a country needs to adopt IFRS fully, convergence IFRS or not using IFRS able to increase FDI. Otherwise to detect Tax rates from Asean Economic Community Countries can affected FDI. Design / Methodology / Approach: This study uses a quantitative descriptive approach. The sample consisted of 54 observations of each variable that consists of information 9 countries of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) during the years 2011 to 2016. The proposed model was tested using multiple regression analysis through partial t test, as well as simultaneous test F. Research findings: The results showed the tax rate in a country negatively affect FDI and the adoption of IFRS by a country has a positive effect on FDI, while simultaneously tax rates and the adoption of IFRS have a significant effect on FDI. Contributions theoretical / Originality : This study extends the theoretical concept of tax rates and the level of IFRS adoption, even though previous research has been done before in developing countries, and there is no research that focuses on AEC countries. Previous research used a simple score of 2 to 3 score levels in AECsuring the level of IFRS adoption in each sample country so that it was not able to accurately AECsure the level of IFRS adoption in each country. This Research is using five (5) levels of scores taken from the IASB namely full adoption, adapted, pieceAECl, referenced, and not adoption at all. Practicioner / Policy Implication: The result will be useful to policy makers as an authoritative Tax and Accounting Bodies in AEC Countries as an input to identify factors which can increase Foreign Direct Investment. Research Limitation/Implication : This Study used data from 2011 to 2016, however, others factors could be used with FDI in future researches.
Sustainability Marketing Communications Based on Consumer Values and Principles

Consumers are willing to buy more from companies that share their values and principles. Increasingly and rapidly consumer values are shifting towards sustainable development. This rapid shift in values has created the need for marketing communications to become anchored in appropriate sustainable marketing principles. So, it follows that appropriate sustainability marketing creates higher and longer value-based relationships with consumers. The article analyses consumer values and principles related to sustainability and its linkage with integrated marketing communications. Even though the marketing of sustainability is a heavily covered topic by scholars, it is still perceived as an alternative or “niche” solution for certain consumer segments. Considering this information, the aim of this article is to uncover the mainstream consumer values and principles and identify how they are reflected in the mainstream brands’ marketing communications. The study is based on the analysis of general and special literature, scientific papers and periodicals published by Lithuanian and foreign scholars. The retail food sector was chosen for the study due to its significant contribution to the economy. Content analysis of the sector’s integrated marketing communications was conducted. Yet the analysis of food retailers operating in Lithuania shows that consumer values and principles are only partially reflected. The biggest gap is that no brand appears to position itself as a market leader in sustainability or focuses on sustainability development within the organization. This gap shows opportunities as well as lack of commitment from the industry. KEYWORDS: consumer values, integrated marketing communications, sustainability marketing, sustainable development. JEL CODE: D90. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.15181/rfds.v26i3. 1807
Regulating Cryptocurrencies: Assessing Market Reactions

Cryptocurrencies are often thought to operate out of the reach of national regulation, but in fact their valuations, transaction volumes and user bases react substantially to news about regulatory actions. The impact depends on the specific regulatory category to which the news relates: events related to general bans on cryptocurrencies or to their treatment under securities law have the greatest adverse effect, followed by news on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism, and on restricting the interoperability of cryptocurrencies with regulated markets. News pointing to the establishment of specific legal frameworks tailored to cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings coincides with strong market gains. These results suggest that cryptocurrency markets rely on regulated financial institutions to operate and that these markets are segmented across jurisdictions, bringing cryptocurrencies within reach of national regulation.