Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum adiponectin levels and mortality after kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Adiponectin (ADPN), an adipose tissue-derived hormone, has protective properties with respect to atherogenesis, inflammation, and energy homeostasis. Its beneficial role has not been consistent in patients with CKD or those undergoing dialysis. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS This study examined the association of plasma ADPN levels in 987 prevalent kidney transplant recipients (mean age ± SD, 51.0±12.8 years; estimated GFR, 52.8±21.9 ml/min per 1.73 m(2); median time since transplant, 78 months) on all-cause mortality and death-censored graft failure. Patients were enrolled between February and August 2007 and were followed for a median of 51 months (interquartile range, 49-53 months). Using Cox proportional hazard models, the association of log-transformed plasma adiponectin was studied, with and without adjustment for demographic variables, baseline GFR, markers of inflammation, and cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS At baseline, patients in the lowest ADPN tertile were significantly more likely to be male; to be smokers; to have a higher baseline GFR, lower systolic BP, and lower HDL cholesterol level; and to have higher body mass index, abdominal circumference, C-reactive protein level, and total cholesterol level. The adjusted hazard ratio for death with elevated plasma ADPN (per natural log) was 1.44, and there was no significant interaction with any relevant cardiovascular risk subgroups (i.e., advanced age; diabetes; or elevated body mass index, waist circumference, C-reactive protein, or Framingham risk score). The hazard for death-censored graft failure was nonsignificant at 1.03. CONCLUSION Elevated ADPN levels are associated with higher risk for death but not allograft failure in prevalent kidney transplant recipients.
Energy conversion in magneto-rheological elastomers

Abstract Magneto-rheological (MR) elastomers contain micro-/nano-sized ferromagnetic particles dispersed in a soft elastomer matrix, and their rheological properties (storage and loss moduli) exhibit a significant dependence on the application of a magnetic field (namely MR effect). Conversely, it is reported in this work that this multiphysics coupling is associated with an inverse effect (i.e. the dependence of the magnetic properties on mechanical strain), denoted as the pseudo-Villari effect. MR elastomers based on soft and hard silicone rubber matrices and carbonyl iron particles were fabricated and characterized. The pseudo-Villari effect was experimentally quantified: a shear strain of 50 % induces magnetic induction field variations up to 10 mT on anisotropic MR elastomer samples, when placed in a 0.2 T applied field, which might theoretically lead to potential energy conversion density in the mJ cm-3 order of magnitude. In case of anisotropic MR elastomers, the absolute variation of stiffness as a function of applied magnetic field is rather independent of matrix properties. Similarly, the pseudo-Villari effect is found to be independent to the stiffness, thus broadening the adaptability of the materials to sensing and energy harvesting target applications. The potential of the pseudo-Villari effect for energy harvesting applications is finally briefly discussed.
The Relation between Standard Finance and Behavior Finance in Portfolio

In Portfolio,standard finance thought that risk and profit are the same changing direction and behavior finance thought risk and profit are the different changing direction.In fact,they are both important tools in helping us design and manage successful investment portfolios.The paper used the degree of confidence to weigh the utilizing of information which is got by investor,and developed the modeling of perceived risk and expected profit.And detailed discussed the mainly factors effecting the perceived risk and expected profit.Then got the boundary condition between MPT and BFT.The harvest of this paper provided a foundation of theory and practice in financial market,exampled for criterion study and demonstration study and has some value.
A novel public key encryption model based on transformed biometrics

In the fuzzy identity-based encryption scheme, a trusted KGC (key generation center) is needed to generate the corresponding private key corresponding to the user's biometric public key. In order to deal with the decentralization problem and the verification problem of the users identity, we propose a public key encryption model based on transformed biometrics. In this model, the user uses the transformed biometrics as his public key and his inherent real biometrics as his private key. In order to protect the user's biometrics information from being leaked, we take some appropriate security measures such as biometric template protection technology and irreversible random conversion technology. These operations are performed locally by the user, and once the public key is generated, the random transformation matrix is deleted or destroyed. The user connects the device serial number in parallel with the modulus N as the input value of the SHA-256 function and uses the output message digest as the public information. The user uses the inner product encryption to complete the encryption process. In this model, the security parameter and the private keys do not require any trusted organization for their generation, and these sensitive information does not need to be transmitted over a public network. The communication parties do not need to know the public key information of the other party in advance. When the user needs to transmit the secret message, the user can query the corresponding public key and related information. We have effectively linked the biological identities with the digital identities. Our thorough analysis shows that the proposed encryption model is both secure and efficient for an encryption algorithm.
Thrombin Is a Pro-Fibrotic Factor for Rat Renal Fibroblasts in vitro

Background: Generation of thrombin occurs in response to parenchymal injury. Thrombin not only converts plasma fibrinogen into an insoluble fibrin clot, but also potentially augments inflammation through receptor-mediated activity. This study examines whether thrombin may potentially exacerbate fibrosis by upregulating the function of interstitial fibroblasts in vitro. Methods: Fibroblasts were isolated by explant outgrowth culture of rat kidneys. Subcultured cells were grown in DMEM+10% FCS supplemented with 0.1–0.5 U/ml thrombin. Functional parameters examined included kinetics (thymidine incorporation and change in cell number), differentiation (Western blotting for α-smooth muscle actin; αSMA), expression of procollagen α1(I) (Northern blotting) and contraction of collagen I lattices. RT-PCR was used to characterise expression of protease-activated receptors (PAR) previously implicated in thrombin’s cellular effects. Results: Cell population growth was increased 66 ± 41 and 47 ± 41% by 0.1 and 0.5 U/ml thrombin respectively (both p < 0.05 vs. basal). Likewise, 0.5 U/ml thrombin increased corrected procollagen α1(I) expression 2.4-fold (p < 0.05 vs. basal) and exacerbated the ability of fibroblasts to contract collagen matrix (p < 0.05 vs. basal). These effects were not associated with any change in expression of the myofibroblast marker αSMA. Effects on cell number were inhibited by treatment with (D)-Phe-Pro-Arg-chloromethylketone HCl (PPACK) suggesting that functional effects were mediated by serine protease activity. PAR-1 was the only fully functional known thrombin receptor expressed by these cells. Conclusion: Thrombin is a potential unrecognised fibroblast agonist in renal disease. Further studies of thrombin and its receptors may yield valuable insights into the pathogenesis of interstitial fibrosis.
Prasugrel vs clopidogrel in cardiogenic shock patients undergoing primary PCI for acute myocardial infarction

Summary There is limited clinical data comparing different P2Y12-receptor inhibitors in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock. The aim of the ISAR-SHOCK registry was to compare the clinical outcome of patients treated with clopidogrel vs prasugrel in this setting. Patients (n=145) with AMI complicated by cardiogenic shock and undergoing primary PCI in two centres (Deutsches Herzzentrum München and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich) between January 2009 and May 2012 were included in this registry. The use of prasugrel for patients within this registry reflected co-morbidities and platelet function testing results during the acute AMI phase. Early outcome at 30-days was reported with regard to all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis (ST) and bleeding events. With regard to antiplatelet treatment in the 145 cardiogenic shock patients, 50 patients were initially treated or immediately switched to prasugrel while 95 patients were treated with clopidogrel. All-cause mortality was lower in prasugrelvs clopidogrel-treated patients (30 % vs 50.5%, HR: 0.51, 95% CI [0.29–0.92], p=0.025). No significant differences in prasugrel- vs clopidogrel-treated patients were observed for the occurrence of MI (p=0.233), ST (p=0.306) or TIMI major bleedings (p=0.571). Results of the ISAR-SHOCK registry suggest that the use of prasugrel in AMI patients complicated by cardiogenic shock might be associated with a lower mortality risk as compared to clopidogrel therapy without increasing the risk of bleeding. These findings, however, need confirmation from specifically designed randomised studies in this high-risk cohort of patients.
An Evaluation of a Web-Based Diabetes Education Program Designed to Enhance Self-management Among Patients Living With Diabetes

Diabetes is a global public health problem. Maintaining optimal glycemic control is critical for minimizing associated long-term complications and achieving better quality of life. Effective diabetes self-management education is one key component to enhance diabetes clients’ self-management capabilities. The research team established a “Caring for Yourself—Managing Your Diabetes” Web site, which contained 35 video clips about diabetes management. The aim of this study was to evaluate user satisfaction with the Web-based diabetes self-management education program. A convenience sample of 100 diabetes clients (mean age, 61.5 [SD, 10.7] years) was invited to view one of the video clips via a laptop computer. A modified version of the Computer-Aided Learning Evaluation Questionnaire and the End-User Computing Satisfaction Questionnaire was used to evaluate participants’ satisfaction with the program. The results indicate that participants were satisfied with the format, content, and accuracy of the Web-based diabetes education program. Some participants suggested adding different types of exercises that are specific to the needs of client groups and more explanation of diabetes medications. The results of this study support the use of computer-assisted learning as a promising method for delivering diabetes self-management education, which is satisfactory to diabetes clients.
Presence of erythroid and nonerythroid spectrin transcripts in human lens and cerebellum.

Spectrin is a major protein of the red cell membrane, and is composed of alpha- and beta-subunits. While spectrin was initially thought to be specific for erythrocytes, similar, but nonidentical peptides have recently been identified in other tissues, including lens, suggesting the existence of a spectrin gene family. To study the nature of spectrin-like peptides in the lens, we examined the transcription of erythroid and nonerythroid spectrin in human lens and cerebellum by direct hybridization with known human alpha- and beta-spectrin cDNA (erythroid probes), as well as with a human alpha-fodrin cDNA (nonerythroid probe). Northern blots of poly(A)+ RNA from erythroid, as well as several nonerythroid cells, and the total RNA from lens, showed that the beta-spectrin cDNA probe hybridized to two distinct bands of 8.6 and 7.4 kb mRNA in human lens, and was present in abundance. The erythroid beta-spectrin 11 kb mRNA transcript was also found in the human cerebellum. The beta-spectrin transcripts from these nonerythroid tissues were found to have different sizes compared to the major erythroid 7.8 kb beta-spectrin mRNA. Human lens contained a 7.5 kb transcript of the erythroid alpha-spectrin subunit. In addition, the human lens was found to have a 7.2 kb alpha-fodrin transcript; while the cerebellum had an 8.5 kb alpha-fodrin mRNA, the same size as that found in other nonerythroid tissues. The abundance of erythroid and nonerythroid spectrin transcripts in lens was significantly greater than in any other tissues examined. These data show that the human lens has abundant erythroid alpha- and beta-spectrin transcripts, as well as a unique alpha-fodrin transcript. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Translocation of Apocytochrome c across the Outer Membrane of Mitochondria (*)

Apocytochrome c follows a unique pathway into mitochondria. Import does not require the general protein translocation machinery, protease-sensitive components of the outer membrane, or a membrane potential across the inner membrane. We investigated the membrane binding and translocation steps of the import reaction using purified outer membrane vesicles (OMV) from Neurospora crassa mitochondria. OMV specifically bound, but did not import apocytochrome c. If, however, specific antibodies were enclosed inside OMV, apocytochrome c was accumulated in soluble form in the lumen. Import was reversible, since apocytochrome c became accessible to external protease after release from the antibodies. Thus, OMV are competent of translocating apocytochrome c into their lumen, but lack a binding partner which traps the apoprotein. In intact mitochondria, cytochrome c heme lyase (CCHL), a peripheral protein of the inner membrane, serves such a function by stably associating with apocytochrome c in a complex which is detectable by co-immunoprecipitation. We suggest a model for the import mechanism of apocytochrome c in which the apoprotein specifically associates with and reversibly passes across the outer membrane. Translocation is rendered unidirectional by stable association with CCHL which serves as a “trans side receptor. ” Finally, heme is attached by CCHL and the holoprotein folds into its native structure.
Measurement of Cost Differentials

Introduction The evaluation of education cost differentials across school districts has been an important topic in education finance research for decades (Fowler and Monk, 2001). Interest in this topic has grown in recent years with the emergence of adequacy as the primary standard in school finance litigation and the growth of state accountability systems that focus on student performance. These developments call attention to education cost differentials, which arise when some districts must spend more than others to obtain the same performance. Despite a growing literature on the link between research and policy on this topic, however, existing state aid formulas usually contain ad hoc cost adjustments that fall far short of the across-district cost differences estimated by scholars. The objective of this chapter is to synthesize the research literature on education cost differences across school districts and to discuss the implications of this literature for state education aid formulas. The material in this chapter complements the discussions of equity and adequacy in Chapters III.12 (Baker and Green) and III.13 (Downes and Stiefel). The term “cost” in economics refers to the minimum spending required to produce a given level of output. Applied to education, cost represents the minimum spending required to bring students in a district up to a given performance level. Education costs can be affected by three categories of factors, each of which is outside of school district control: (1) geographic differences in resource prices; (2) district size; and (3) the special needs of some students. In this
Compact laser accelerators for X-ray phase-contrast imaging

Advances in X-ray imaging techniques have been driven by advances in novel X-ray sources. The latest fourth-generation X-ray sources can boast large photon fluxes at unprecedented brightness. However, the large size of these facilities means that these sources are not available for everyday applications. With advances in laser plasma acceleration, electron beams can now be generated at energies comparable to those used in light sources, but in university-sized laboratories. By making use of the strong transverse focusing of plasma accelerators, bright sources of betatron radiation have been produced. Here, we demonstrate phase-contrast imaging of a biological sample for the first time by radiation generated by GeV electron beams produced by a laser accelerator. The work was performed using a greater than 300 TW laser, which allowed the energy of the synchrotron source to be extended to the 10–100 keV range.
Insights into cellular microRNAs and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1)

Recent findings suggest that mammalian microRNAs (miRNAs) may influence viral replication in host cells. Studies on HIV‐1 infection have contributed in part to the development of this notion. Herein, we review, in brief, some of the evidence supportive of an interplay between human miRNAs and HIV‐1 in cells. Several cellular miRNAs potentially act to restrict HIV‐1 replication, and the virus has countermeasures to evade such restriction. J. Cell. Physiol. 216: 327–331, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Difference in Response Reliability Predicted by Spectrotemporal Tuning in the Cochlear Nuclei of Barn Owls

The brainstem auditory pathway is obligatory for all aural information. Brainstem auditory neurons must encode the level and timing of sounds, as well as their time-dependent spectral properties, the fine structure, and envelope, which are essential for sound discrimination. This study focused on envelope coding in the two cochlear nuclei of the barn owl, nucleus angularis (NA) and nucleus magnocellularis (NM). NA and NM receive input from bifurcating auditory nerve fibers and initiate processing pathways specialized in encoding interaural time (ITD) and level (ILD) differences, respectively. We found that NA neurons, although unable to accurately encode stimulus phase, lock more strongly to the stimulus envelope than NM units. The spectrotemporal receptive fields (STRFs) of NA neurons exhibit a pre-excitatory suppressive field. Using multilinear regression analysis and computational modeling, we show that this feature of STRFs can account for enhanced across-trial response reliability, by locking spikes to the stimulus envelope. Our findings indicate a dichotomy in envelope coding between the time and intensity processing pathways as early as at the level of the cochlear nuclei. This allows the ILD processing pathway to encode envelope information with greater fidelity than the ITD processing pathway. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the properties of the STRFs of the neurons can be quantitatively related to spike timing reliability.
The design and simulated performance of a mobile video telephony application for satellite third-generation wireless systems

The design and performance of a low bit-rate video telephony service for mobile third-generation (3G) systems is presented. The ITU-T G.723. 1 speech coding and the ITU-T H.263 video coding recommendations are used, as proposed by the ITU-T H.324 low bit-rate multimedia communications recommendation. The target bit-rate for the H.324 service is 64 kb/s. The design is performed in conjunction with that of a wideband-code division multiple access (W-CDMA) radio transmission technology (RTT) system, proposed by the European Space Agency (ESA) for the satellite component of the ITU IMT-2000 standard. Most of the results could also be applied to the 3G terrestrial systems. The use of concatenated channel coding with convolutional inner coding and Reed-Solomon (RS) outer coding is investigated. Service designs based on equal error protection (EEP) and unequal error protection (UEP) schemes for the audio and video sources are compared. The simulation of the proposed video telephony services shows that significantly more graceful video and audio degradation is obtained with the proposed UEP scheme than with a more straightforward EEP method. The UEP scheme reduces significantly the occurrence of highly annoying audio and video artefacts, allowing satellite-based video telephony services that are compatible with the current Internet-based applications.
Improved bearing and range estimation via high-order subspace based Unitary ESPRIT

Two new algorithms for the passive localization of near-field sources with a uniform linear array (ULA) are presented and compared in this paper. They exploit multiple invariances among certain fourth-order cross-cumulant matrices of non-zero and zero lags, respectively. Both algorithms utilize 2-D Unitary ESPRIT to obtain automatically paired bearing and range estimates. The resulting closed-form subspace-based methods incorporate forward-backward averaging, use efficient real-valued processing of the cumulant data, and outperform previously proposed high-order subspace-based algorithms for the localization of near-field sources. In the limit, the presented schemes also work for far-field sources.
African-American women who always use condoms: attitudes, knowledge about AIDS, and sexual behavior.

Given the alarming increase in the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including AIDS, among African-American women, it is apparent that many people are engaging in sexual intercourse without using condoms. The current study examined the interrelationships among attitudes about condom use, knowledge about AIDS, sexual behavior, and drug use among 121 adult African-American women who varied in their intentions to use condoms: 21 (17%) were classified as Steady Users, 75 (62%) did not use condoms but they had High Intentions to, while 25 (21%) did not use condoms and had Low Intentions to use them. Results indicate that the three groups did not differ in their overall knowledge about AIDS or their attitudes toward using condoms as contraceptives. Significant group differences were noted for other scales that assessed attitudes about condoms. Attitudes about the use of condoms were very similar for the Steady Users and the women in the High Intentions group. However, these two groups were significantly (p < .01) different in their belief that condoms are uncomfortable and interrupt sex. Women with Low Intentions to use condoms had significantly (p < .05) more intense angry reactions regarding the negotiation of condom use and significantly more negative attitudes about the use of condoms than women in the other groups. The three groups were not differentiated by drug use, previous treatment for STDs, or their perceived risk for being exposed to AIDS. The present study is cross-sectional in nature and future research using better methodology is needed to establish causal relationships.