Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fermentable Carbohydrate Restriction (Low FODMAP Diet) in Clinical Practice Improves Functional Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background:A significant proportion of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) experience functional-like gastrointestinal symptoms (FGS) even during remission. Research suggests that dietary restriction of fermentable carbohydrates (low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) diet) can improve FGS, albeit in irritable bowel syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the low FODMAP diet delivered in routine clinical practice in patients with IBD and coexisting FGS. Methods:Gastrointestinal symptom scores were compared in consecutive patients with IBD referred for low FODMAP dietary education for symptom management (n = 88). Symptoms were assessed using the Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale, and stool output was assessed using the Bristol Stool Form Scale at both baseline and follow-up (minimum of 6 weeks). Results:There was a significant and large increase in the numbers of patients reporting satisfactory relief of symptoms between baseline (14/88, 16%) and low FODMAP diet (69/88, 78%; P < 0.001). Following dietary intervention, there was also a significant decrease in severity for most symptoms and a reduction in composite symptom score (baseline mean: 1.2, SD: 0.5 versus low FODMAP diet mean: 0.7, SD: 0.5; P < 0.001). Improvements in stool consistency and frequency were observed, including an increase in “normal” stool form (P = 0.002) and “normal” stool frequency (P < 0.001). Conclusions:The low FODMAP diet delivered in routine clinical practice seems effective in improving satisfaction with, and severity of, FGS in IBD. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to definitively establish effectiveness.
Microfluidic frequency tunable three-dimensional printed antenna

This paper investigates the possibility of using 3D printing together with fluidic channels for efficient and low-cost implementation of tunable microwave components. A frequency-tunable antenna is proposed and simulated using CST Microwave Studio (MWS). The design is printed with an acrylic based polymer, blanket metallized with a thin copper layer and fed with a 50Ω Coplanar Waveguide (CPW). Frequency tunability for the proposed antenna is achieved by filling different amounts of Eutectic Gallium-Indium (EGaIn) into meandered and interconnected 3D printed fluidic channels bonded with Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) material. The assembled antenna is characterized by measuring the operating frequency range from 2.6GHz to 8GHz in simulations. Details of the designed reconfigurable antenna simulation results such as return loss and radiation patterns are discussed. The results demonstrate the potential of the antenna as low cost, wideband and reconfigurable alternative which could be used in modern UWB communication and sensor systems.
Distinct Assembly Profiles of HLA-B Molecules

MHC class I polymorphisms are known to influence outcomes in a number of infectious diseases, cancers, and inflammatory diseases. Human MHC class I H chains are encoded by the HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C genes. These genes are highly polymorphic, with the HLA-B locus being the most variable. Each HLA class I protein binds to a distinct set of peptide Ags, which are presented to CD8+ T cells. HLA-disease associations have been shown in some cases to link to the peptide-binding characteristics of individual HLA class I molecules. In this study, we show that polymorphisms at the HLA-B locus profoundly influence the assembly characteristics of HLA-B molecules and the stabilities of their peptide-deficient forms. In particular, dependence on the assembly factor tapasin is highly variable, with frequent occurrence of strongly tapasin-dependent or independent allotypes. Several polymorphic HLA-B residues located near the C-terminal end of the peptide are key determinants of tapasin-independent assembly. In vitro refolded forms of tapasin-independent allotypes assemble more readily with peptides compared to tapasin-dependent allotypes that belong to the same supertype, and, during refolding, reduced aggregation of tapasin-independent allotypes is observed. Paradoxically, in HIV-infected individuals, greater tapasin-independent HLA-B assembly confers more rapid progression to death, consistent with previous findings that some HLA-B allotypes shown to be tapasin independent are associated with rapid progression to multiple AIDS outcomes. Together, these findings demonstrate significant variations in the assembly of HLA-B molecules and indicate influences of HLA-B–folding patterns upon infectious disease outcomes.
Flexible parametric proportional‐hazards and proportional‐odds models for censored survival data, with application to prognostic modelling and estimation of treatment effects

Modelling of censored survival data is almost always done by Cox proportional‐hazards regression. However, use of parametric models for such data may have some advantages. For example, non‐proportional hazards, a potential difficulty with Cox models, may sometimes be handled in a simple way, and visualization of the hazard function is much easier. Extensions of the Weibull and log‐logistic models are proposed in which natural cubic splines are used to smooth the baseline log cumulative hazard and log cumulative odds of failure functions. Further extensions to allow non‐proportional effects of some or all of the covariates are introduced. A hypothesis test of the appropriateness of the scale chosen for covariate effects (such as of treatment) is proposed. The new models are applied to two data sets in cancer. The results throw interesting light on the behaviour of both the hazard function and the hazard ratio over time. The tools described here may be a step towards providing greater insight into the natural history of the disease and into possible underlying causes of clinical events. We illustrate these aspects by using the two examples in cancer. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transfer of C(4) Photosynthetic Characters through Hybridization of Flaveria Species.

Transfer of C(4) photosynthetic traits was studied through hybridization of Flaveria trinervia (Spreng.) Mohr (C(4)) and Flaveria brownii A.M. Powell (C(4)-like) with Flaveria linearis Lag. (C(3)-C(4)) and the C(3) species Flaveria pringlei Gandoger (C(3)). Fertility was low, based on irregular chromosome pairing and low pollen stainability, except in F. brownii x F. linearis which had bivalent pairing and 76% stainable pollen. Hybrids had apparent photosynthesis values of 71 to 148% of the midparental means, while the CO(2) compensation concentration was similar to the C(4) or C(4)-like parent, except in hybrids having the C(3) species F. pringlei as a parent. Inhibition of apparent photosynthesis by O(2), and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and NADP-malic enzyme activities and subunit levels in the hybrids were closer to the C(3) or C(3)-C(4) parent. The species F. brownii and F. trinervia were equal in their capacity to transfer reduced O(2) inhibition of AP and CO(2) compensation concentration values to hybrids with F. linearis (C(3)-C(4)), although hybrids with F. trinervia had higher PEPC activity. The O(2) inhibition of AP was correlated with the logarithm of activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (r = -0.95) and NADP-malic enzyme (r = -0.87). These results confirm that C(4) traits can be transferred by hybridization of C(3)-C(4) and C(4) or C(4)-like species, with a higher degree of C(4) photosynthesis than exists in C(3)-C(4) species, and at least in F. brownii x F. linearis, fertile progeny are obtained.
Inactivation of Trypanosoma cruzi Trypomastigote Forms in Blood Components with a Psoralen and Ultraviolet A Light

Inactivation of the blood‐borne parasite Trypanosoma cruzi by UVA and 4′‐aminomethyl‐4,5′,8‐trimethylpsor‐alen (AMT) was studied in the blood components fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and platelet concentrate (PC). The AMT was utilized at a concentration of 50 μg/mL and the inactivation procedure included the flavonoid rutin (at 0.35 mM), a quencher of type I and type II photo‐reactants, which we have previously found to maintain platelet integrity during this treatment regimen. Within both FFP and PC, complete inactivation of the infective form of T. cruzi, the trypomastigote, was achieved at a UVA (320–400 nm radiation) fluence of 4.2 J/cm2. We note that while the infectivity of the parasite is eliminated at 4.2 J/cmZ the trypomastigote motility continues for at least 16 h post‐treatment and is inhibited only after much higher light doses. Isolation of total DNA from the parasite cells after treatment in the presence of 3H‐AMT indicated that at the lethal UVA fluence about 0.5 AMT adducts per kilobase pairs occurred. These results suggest that this psoralen plus UVA methodology, which shows promise in enhancing the viral safety of PC, may in addition eliminate bloodborne T. cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease.
Myocardial injury in HIV‐associated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) has been associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. With the high prevalence of HIV in sub‐Saharan Africa, HIV‐associated TTP is the most common form of this disease seen in the South African population. Several case reports describe myocardial infarction in HIV‐negative TTP patients. The case of the first HIV‐positive patient who presented with clinical signs and symptoms of TTP and myocardial injury is reported in this study. A patient with fragmentation haemolysis and thrombocytopenia presented with angina. Risk factors for ischaemic heart disease were absent. An electrocardiogram (EKG) revealed ST‐segment elevation and a significantly raised Troponin T level. The patient's HIV test was positive and a diagnosis of myocardial injury with HIV‐associated TTP was made. The patient was treated with plasma infusion and steroid therapy. Due to poor response, the therapy was changed to plasma exchange. The patient recovered fully and subsequent coronary angiography revealed normal coronary vessels. Treatment of myocardial infarction in TTP is controversial, but the treatment cornerstone should remain plasma infusion or plasma exchange. As patients are often young and do not have the classical risk factors of ischaemic heart disease, a high level of suspicion and routine exclusion of myocardial ischaemia in these patients are advised.
The Frank–Starling mechanism in vertebrate cardiac myocytes

SUMMARY The Frank–Starling law of the heart applies to all classes of vertebrates. It describes how stretch of cardiac muscle, up to an optimum length, increases contractility thereby linking cardiac ejection to cardiac filling. The cellular mechanisms underlying the Frank–Starling response include an increase in myofilament sensitivity for Ca2+, decreased myofilament lattice spacing and increased thin filament cooperativity. Stretching of mammalian, amphibian and fish cardiac myocytes reveal that the functional peak of the sarcomere length (SL)–tension relationship occurs at longer SL in the non-mammalian classes. These findings correlate with in vivo cardiac function as non-mammalian vertebrates, such as fish, vary stroke volume to a relatively larger extent than mammals. Thus, it seems the length-dependent properties of individual myocytes are modified to accommodate differences in organ function, and the high extensibility of certain hearts is matched by the extensibility of their myocytes. Reasons for the differences between classes are still to be elucidated, however, the structure of mammalian ventricular myocytes, with larger widths and higher levels of passive stiffness than those from other vertebrate classes may be implicated.
The Importance of Knowing “What Goes with What”: Reinterpreting the Evidence on Policy Attitude Stability

What share of citizens hold meaningful views about public policy? Despite decades of scholarship, researchers have failed to reach a consensus. Researchers agree that policy opinions in surveys are unstable but disagree about whether that instability is real or just measurement error. In this article, we revisit this debate with a concept neglected in the literature: knowledge of which issue positions “go together” ideologically—or what Philip Converse called knowledge of “what goes with what. ” Using surveys spanning decades in the United States and the United Kingdom, we find that individuals hold stable views primarily when they possess this knowledge and agree with their party. These results imply that observed opinion instability arises not primarily from measurement error but from instability in the opinions themselves. We find many US citizens lack knowledge of “what goes with what” and that only about 20%–40% hold stable views on many policy issues.
Survival and prognostic factors of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is relatively rare and represents one of the most aggressive tumours with poor prognosis, despite therapy. The aim of the study was to analyse demographic and clinical characteristics of ATC patients, and to identify survival rates and prognostic factors. METHODS In a retrospective study (1995-2005) ATC was found in 150 patients treated at our institution. Survival was calculated by Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank test. Potential prognostic factors affecting survival were compared by Cox univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS Mean survival time was 56 weeks; median survival time was 16 weeks and 1 and 5-year survival were 17% and 8%. More than 10% died during the first month and 50% died up to the fourth month. Multivariate analysis showed that age, goitre and surgery were independent prognostic factors of survival in all ATC patients. Among operated patients, the extent of tumour resection, distant metastasis and multicentricity were independent prognostic risk factors of survival. Postoperative radiotherapy was a protective factor. CONCLUSIONS There is still no successful treatment of ATC that can guarantee long term survival. Younger patients with pre-existing goitre, who undergo complete resection of unilocular early stage ATC without distant metastasis and with postoperative external radiotherapy, stand a better chance of long-term survival.
Adaptive Coding for Wireless Spread-Spectrum Communication Systems

Protocols for adapting the rate of an error-control code in direct-sequence or frequency-hop spread-spectrum packet radio networks are evaluated for static channels and channels with time-varying parameters that are modeled as finite-state Markov chains. The performance of our protocols is compared with the performance of an ideal protocol that has perfect channel-state information and employs a set of capacity-achieving codes of the same rates as the codes available to our protocols. The statistics used by our protocols for adaptation are derived from the demodulator and decoder in the receiving radio, and they are provided to the transmitting radio by a few bits that are included in each acknowledgment packet
Vorapaxar in the secondary prevention of atherothrombosis

Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin, a platelet cyclooxygenase-1 inhibitor and P2Y12 receptor blockers, remains the major drug strategy to prevent ischemic event occurrence in patients with acute coronary syndromes and in patients undergoing coronary stenting, but there some limitations that can be overcome by targeting novel targets. Unlike direct thrombin inhibitors that bind directly to thrombin, targeting the platelet thrombin receptor, protease activated receptor (PAR)-1, may offer a better choice for the attenuation of atherosclerosis progression, thrombus-mediated ischemic events and restenosis without interfering with primary hemostasis. Vorapaxar – a synthetic analogue of himbacine, is a high affinity and highly selective PAR-1 antagonist that can effectively inhibit thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. In the TRACER trial, the addition of vorapaxar to standard therapy in patients with non-stent thrombosis-elevation- acute coronary syndromes did not significantly reduce the primary composite end point occurrence of cardiovascular (CV) death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, hospitalization for ischemia, or urgent revascularization, but significantly increased the GUSTO moderate and severe bleeding (p < 0.001) and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). In the TRA 2°P-TIMI 50 trial, in patients with a history of MI and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) (67% of the total population), the end point of CV death, MI, or stroke was significantly (20%) reduced with vorapaxar whereas GUSTO moderate or severe bleeding was increased (1.5-fold), but not ICH or fatal bleeding and the net clinical outcome favoring the vorapaxar therapy. Based on these favorable results, the FDA approved vorapaxar for the reduction of thrombotic cardiovascular events in patients with prior MI or with PAD for long term therapy. A careful patient selection is needed to balance efficacy versus safety. At this time, patients with high risk for recurrent ischemic event occurrence such as patients with diabetes mellitus and previous MI can be safely treated with vorapaxar for long-term therapy.
Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide Inhibits Collagen-Induced Arthritis: An Experimental Immunomodulatory Therapy1

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic, autoimmune, and inflammatory disorder that affects the synovial lining of the joints. We describe the beneficial effects of the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in the collagen-induced arthritis experimental murine model being proposed as a novel therapeutic approach in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. PACAP greatly decreases arthritis frequency and severity in the studied mice by improving clinical symptoms, ameliorating joint damage, and blocking both the inflammatory and autoimmune mediators which are the main keys of the pathogenesis of this disease. With this study, PACAP emerges as a promising candidate for the treatment of a pathology with a high world incidence but currently no effective treatment.
Utilizing international design competitions for enhancing 21st century engineering skills: The experience of shell Eco-Marathon

Nurturing design skills in students is in the heart of all engineering curricula. While academic courses and capstone activities inject the design process in students, involvement in practical design activities is believed to have higher impact on student preparation for engineering professions. Capitalizing on this fact, this paper aims to study the impact of Shell Echo-Marathon (SEM), an international engineering design competition, on engineering student learning at Qatar University (QU). The paper elaborates on the involvement of QU students in the competition and the experience accumulated over the years. In addition, impact measure methodology of the empirical investigation is highlighted together with the process of instruments development. This is followed by details on the investigation findings. The paper concludes the existence of positive impact of SEM on 21st century engineering competencies development, as well as, a shift in perceptions, confidence, and attitudes of engineering profession, engineering nature, and personal skills.
Fecal Calprotectin as a Correlative Marker in Clinical Severity of Infectious Diarrhea and Usefulness in Evaluating Bacterial or Viral Pathogens in Children

Background: Calprotectin is a marker associated with intestinal inflammation. The aim of this study is to explore the diagnostic value of fecal calprotectin in predicting bacterial/viral diarrhea and the application of fecal calprotectin in the clinical course of infectious diarrhea. Methods: Patients ages from 3 months to 10 years with infectious diarrhea were enrolled, and from each patient, 2 to 3 stool samples were collected. Fecal calprotectin levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared by pathogen and disease activity. A univariate linear regression was used to determine the correlation between fecal calprotectin and the clinical parameters, and generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used for the time course analyses. Results: The data include 451 evaluations for 153 individuals across 3 different time points. The fecal calprotectin level was higher in patients with Salmonella infection (median with range 765 [252–1246] &mgr;g/g) or Campylobacter infection (689 [307–1046] &mgr;g/g) compared with patients with rotavirus infection (89 [11–426] &mgr;g/g), norovirus infection (93 [25–405] &mgr;g/g), or adenovirus infection (95 [65–224] &mgr;g/g). Fecal calprotectin concentrations were elevated in patients with severe (843 [284–1246] &mgr;g/g) or moderate (402 [71–995] &mgr;g/g) disease activity compared with those with mild (87 [11–438] &mgr;g/g) disease activity (P < 0.05). GEE analysis suggests that fecal calprotectin is correlated with clinical severity (eg, Vesikari score) and may provide information for disease management. Conclusions: Fecal calprotectin levels increased during bacterial infection and as disease severity increased, and its levels on the initial evaluation and follow-up visit are correlated with clinical severity. Fecal calprotectin may be a useful marker for application in children during infectious diarrhea.
Integration of GDP and FDI in Economies at Different Stages of Growth

The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between FDI and GDP for countries representing developed, developing and underdeveloped economies around the world. The countries identified for the purpose are Bhutan, Ethiopia, India, Brazil, USA and UK. Johansen cointegration test reveals that long-run equilibrium relationship between the two variables exists for Ethiopia, India and UK only. The VEC model shows no related short-run causality for any of these three countries. The study has implications in terms of policy decisions. Using FDI to boost GDP growth rate in the short-run is not an effective option for any country under the study. Since the vector error correction (VEC) model suggests that the two variables have a statistically significant adjustment mechanism for India, the study concludes that India can use FDI to leverage her long-term GDP. No evidence of link between the state of development of economy and integration of FDI and GDP is found by the study.