Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Time and frequency domain analysis of NMR data compared: An application to 1D 1H spectra of lipoproteins

A comparison between a time domain analysis algorithm (VARPRO) and a frequency domain analysis algorithm (FITPLAc) for parameter estimation of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data series is presented. VARPRO analyses the measured MRS signal (free induction decay; FID); FITPLAc analyses the discrete Fourier transform of the FID, the frequency domain magnetic resonance spectrum. A rapid time domain method, used to subtract the dominating water resonance from a 1H MRS FID, without affecting the metabolites of interest, is outlined and applied. Also a new “pseudo‐frequency selective” approach to time domain fitting is introduced. The possibilities of combining the most favorable features of time and frequency domain processing into one single MRS signal processing method are assessed. The 1H MRS signals of ultracentrifuged very low (VLDL), intermediate (IDL), and high (HDL) density lipoprotein fractions from human blood plasma were used for the comparisons. The results from both algorithms were in good agreement.
The import content of Croatian economic sectors and final demand

Abstract Production processes are becoming increasingly fragmented and dispersed for producers in different geographical areas as a result of international integration and trade liberalisation. The aim of this paper is to estimate direct and indirect import content of Croatian industries and final demand and to compare the results with previous studies for European economies. Direct and indirect import content of final demand is estimated by an input-output model. The updated 2013 input-output table based on the bi-proportional adjustment of the rows and columns of the base technology matrix A (RAS method) is applied in order to account for changes in technical coefficients for domestic output and imports after European Union (EU) accession. The highest import content is estimated for sectors applying production technology that requires raw materials which are not available in sufficient quantities domestically, and sectors that produce high-tech or medium high-tech goods. The import content of public and personal services is low. The highest import content of domestic final demand is recorded for exports and gross fixed capital formation. In comparison to other new member-states, the Croatian economy is less internationally integrated and import dependence is more similar to results found for larger self-sufficient economies. Empirical results on the import content of different economic sectors could enhance the effectiveness of macroeconomic policies.
Health Care Needs of Homeless Adults at a Nurse-Managed Clinic

Up to 55% of the homeless population report health problems. They often use the emergency department (ED) to obtain care when the health needs are not urgent. Nurse-managed clinics have the potential to reduce nonurgent ED use and improve the health of the homeless. The purpose of this study was to establish baseline health data on homeless persons prior to attending a nurse-managed clinic.1 This study was a cross-sectional, retrospective health survey of homeless clients at a nurse-managed clinic. A total of 110 participants completed a baseline health survey. Of these, 61% reported that prior to coming to the clinic, they used the ED as a source of health care. The most frequent medical diagnoses reported were substance use disorders, depression, back pain, hypertension, and asthma. Providing care for chronic conditions at a nurse-managed clinic has the potential to improve health and reduce use of the ED.
The algR gene, which regulates mucoidy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, belongs to a class of environmentally responsive genes

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa capsule, composed of polysaccharide alginate, is an important Pseudomonas virulence factor encountered primarily in cystic fibrosis. The regulatory algR gene positively controls transcription of a key alginate biosynthetic gene, algD. The algR gene was subcloned and sequenced by creating a set of nested deletions in M13 bacteriophage. DNA sequence analysis of algR revealed the homology of its gene product with a recently recognized class of environmentally responsive bacterial regulatory genes, including ompR, phoB, sfrA, ntrC, spoOA, dctD, and virG; these transcriptional activators control cellular reactions to osmotic pressure, phosphate limitations, or specific chemical compounds present in the medium or released from wounded host tissue. These findings indicate that novel conditions in lungs affected by cystic fibrosis may be participating in the control of mucoidy.
Occlusal relief changes with molar wear in Pan troglodytes troglodytes and Gorilla gorilla gorilla

Most research on primate tooth form–function relationships has focused on unworn teeth. This study presents a morphological comparison of variably worn lower second molars (M2s) of lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla; n=47) and common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes; n=54) using dental topographic analysis. High‐resolution replicas of occlusal surfaces were prepared and scanned in 3D by laser scanning. The resulting elevation data were used to create a geographic information system (GIS) for each tooth. Occlusal relief, defined as the ratio of 3D surface area to 2D planometric area of the occlusal table, was calculated and compared between wear stages, taxa, and sexes. The results failed to show a difference in occlusal relief between males and females of a given taxon, but did evince differences between wear stages and between taxa. A lack of significant interaction between wear stage and taxon factors suggests that differences in occlusal relief between chimpanzees and gorillas are maintained throughout the wear sequence. These results add to a growing body of information on how molar teeth change with wear, and how differences between primate species are maintained at comparable points throughout the wear sequence. Such studies provide new insights into form–function relationships, which will allow us to infer certain aspects of diet in fossils with worn teeth. Am. J. Primatol. 60:31–41, 2003.
Severe hyponatremia due to hypopituitarism with adrenal insufficiency: report on 28 cases.

OBJECTIVE Severe hyponatremia due to hypopituitarism and adrenal insufficiency can be life-threatening, and treatment with glucocorticoids is very effective once the diagnosis of the underlying disorder has been made. In our experience, the diagnosis of hypopituitarism in hyponatremic patients is often overlooked. METHODS In a retrospective study we screened the files of 185 patients with severe hyponatremia (<130 mmol/l) that had been seen in one endocrinological unit of a university hospital between 1981 and 2001 in order to describe the clinical spectrum of patients with hyponatremia and hypopituitarism including secondary adrenal insufficiency. RESULTS In 139 cases it was possible to clearly ascribe the patients to the pathophysiological groups of (i) primary sodium deficiency, (ii) edematous disorders, and (iii) normovolemic disorders including the "syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone" (SIADH). Twenty-eight patients with severe "normovolemic hyponatremia" (serum sodium: 116+/-7 mmol/l, mean+/-s.d.) had hypopituitarism and secondary adrenal insufficiency as shown by basal cortisol measurements and dynamic tests of adrenal function. In 25 cases of this group hypopituitarism (mostly due to empty sella, Sheehan's syndrome and pituitary tumors) had not been recognized previously, and in 12 cases recurrent hyponatremia during previous hospital admissions (up to four times) could be documented. The mean age of these patients (21 women, seven men) was 68 Years. The most frequently occurring clinical signs were missing or scanty pubic and axillary hair, pale and doughy skin, and small testicles in the men. Frequent symptoms like nausea and vomiting, confusion, disorientation, somnolence or coma were similar to those in 91 patients with SIADH. Basal serum cortisol levels in the acutely ill state ranged from 20 to 439 nmol/l (mean+/-s.d.: 157+/-123), while in 30 other severely hyponatremic patients it ranged from 274 to 1732 nmol/l (732+/-351 nmol/l). In most patients with hyponatremic hypopituitarism, plasma antidiuretic hormone levels were inappropriately high, probably due to a failure of endogenous cortisol to suppress the hormone in a stressful situation. All patients recovered after low-dose hydrocortisone substitution. Most patients had other pituitary hormone deficiencies and were appropriately substituted subsequently. CONCLUSIONS Hypopituitarism including secondary adrenal insufficiency seems to be a frequently overlooked cause of severe hyponatremia. A high level of suspicion is the best way to recognize the underlying disorder. Treatment with hydrocortisone is very effective.
Effect of oral administration of arabic gum on cisplatin‐induced nephrotoxicity in rats

It has been recently postulated from our laboratory that Arabic gum (AG) offers a protective effect in the kidney of rats against nephrotoxicity induced by gentamicin via inhibiting lipid peroxidation. It has also recently shown a powerful antioxidant effect through scavenging superoxide anions. In this study we utilized a rat model of cisplatin (CP)‐induced nephrotoxicity to determine its peak time following (1, 2, 5, and 7 days) of a single CP (7.5 mg/kg, i.p.) injection. Also, a possible protective effect of cotreatment with AG (7.5 g/kg/day p.o.) on CP‐induced nephrotoxicity was investigated. Biochemical as well as histological assessments were carried out. CP‐induced nephrotoxicity was manifested by significant elevations of the functional parameters blood urea, serum creatinine, and kidney/body weight ratio. Maximum toxic effects of CP were observed 5 days after its injection, while it started after day 1 in the biochemical parameters, such as glutathione depletion in the kidney tissue with concomitant increases in lipid peroxides and platinum content. Additionally, severe necrosis and desquamation of tubular epithelial cells in renal cortex as well as interstitial nephritis were observed after 5 days in CP‐treated animals. Five days after AG cotreatment with CP did not protect the kidney from the damaging effects of CP. However, it significantly reduced CP‐induced lipid peroxidation. These findings suggest that lipid peroxidation is not the main cause of CP‐induced nephrotoxicity but it is rather more dependent on other factors such as platinum disposition in renal interstitial tubules. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 17:146–153, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.10072
Differential Regulation of Human NK Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity by the Tyrosine Kinase Itk1

NK cells are effector lymphocytes that can recognize and eliminate virally infected and transformed cells. NK cells express distinct activating receptors, including an ITAM-containing FcR complex that recognizes Ab-coated targets, and the DNAX-activating protein of 10 kDa-containing NKG2D receptor complex that recognizes stress-induced ligands. The regulatory role of specific tyrosine kinases in these pathways is incompletely understood. In this study, we show that, in activated human NK cells, the tyrosine kinase IL-2-inducible T cell kinase (Itk), differentially regulates distinct NK-activating receptors. Enhanced expression of Itk leads to increases in calcium mobilization, granule release, and cytotoxicity upon stimulation of the ITAM-containing FcR, suggesting that Itk positively regulates FcR-initiated cytotoxicity. In contrast, enhanced Itk expression decreases cytotoxicity and granule release downstream of the DNAX-activating protein of 10 kDa-containing NKG2D receptor, suggesting that Itk is involved in a pathway of negative regulation of NKG2D-initiated granule-mediated killing. Using a kinase mutant, we show that the catalytic activity of Itk is required for both the positive and negative regulation of these pathways. Complementary experiments where Itk expression was suppressed also showed differential regulation of the two pathways. These findings suggest that Itk plays a complex role in regulating the functions initiated by distinct NK cell-activating receptors. Moreover, understanding how these pathways may be differentially regulated has relevance in the setting of autoimmune diseases and antitumor immune responses where NK cells play key regulatory roles.
The consequences of restricting rights to land: understanding the impact of state-land tenure policies in Sri Lanka

Abstract Land tenure can be defined as the mode by which real property is held or owned, or the set of relationships among people concerning land. Understanding land-tenure systems has been key to achieving sustainable development because the terms of these arrangements structure the connection that people have with their lands, influencing what they do with it and how they treat it. Using a two-stage mixed-method design based on scenarios drawn from Sri Lanka, this article demonstrates that affecting control over land tenure and land rights do not always lead to predictable outcomes. Policy interventions often lead to the creation of new and unintended categories of relations between people and the land that run counter to original intentions. The research also demonstrates that relationships to land cannot be adequately captured by looking at legal rights, but rather requires identifying how people perceive or interpret them.
A New Theory of Demand-Restricted Growth

Mainstream growth theory is dominated by variations of the neoclassical approach. Growth is explained fully by elements of the supply side. In this paper we examine the general mechanism of technology growth and capital accumulation. However, instead of following a fully supply-side driven neoclassical approach we suggest a hybrid approach that allows for growth restrictions induced by demand-side elements. We obtain a demand-restricted growth by suggesting an unconventional equilibrium concept in a stochastic environment. We define macroeconomic equilibrium as stationary no-expectation-error equilibrium. This equilibrium concept relates to the Nash idea of individual stationary behavior as long as expectations prove to be realized. No rigidities are introduced. Even if potential growth is generated by technical change and capital accumulation, the level of the path and the growth rate are restricted by effective earnings. Both can be stable below the neoclassical potential growth. The growth rate in the demand restricted regime is semi-endogenous and determined by entrepreneurial conditions and activities. However, the growth process mutates to the neoclassical process if effective earnings are sufficient and the earnings ratio turns to one. As a result, the demand side cannot generate growth, but the demand side can permanently restrict growth which could have been generated by the supply side. Our hybrid model could help to bridge a gap between Keynesian and neoclassical ideas of economic growth.
Bar breakage mechanism and prognosis in an induction motor

In recent years several methods have been proposed in order to detect broken bars in the cage of induction motors, yielding the necessity of testing their performance in different conditions and their thresholds in assessing incipient cage damage. This paper presents the first results of a fatigue test designed to produce in the most natural way the breakage of a bar in order to determine the effectiveness of different motor current signature analysis. The high accuracy of the transient methods based on the study of the startup current, allows proposing some physical models of the breakage with the aim of establishing the remaining life of the induction motor, once the incipient defect has been detected.
Estimation of Glomerular Filteration Rate (GFR)

In day to day clinical practice an estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is required for various reasons viz, a) assessment of renal function. b) severity of renal disease c) calculation of proper drug dosage and d) appraisal of renal involvement in systemic diseases. Various methods of estimating GFR are briefly described below: I. Clearance Methods:- The concept of renal clearance was introduced as a way of expressing the relation between the excretion per unit time and the concentration in the plasma which is obviously an index of kidneys ability to clear the blood of any substance (1). Measurements of GFR are traditionally based on the renal clearance of a marker in plasma, expressed as the volume of plasma completely cleared of the marker per unit time. If the marker has no extrarenal elimination, tubular reabsorption or secretion then the clearance is given by the formula. GFR = UV/P, where U = Urinary Concentration of the substance V = Urine flow rate (urinary volume) P = Average plasma concentration The ideal marker should be endogenous, freely filtered by glomerulus, neither reabsorbed nor secreted by the renal tubule and eliminated only by the kidney. Such a marker is not yet identified. Various markers used to measure GFR include exogenous (inulin, iothalamate) or endogenous (urea, creatinine) substances.
Moderate dose insulin promotes function of endothelial progenitor cells

EPCs (endothelial progenitor cells) regenerate the vascular endothelial cells and keep the integrity of the vascular endothelium and thus may retard the onset of atherosclerosis. Steady state levels of EPCs in the circulation were found to be correlated with cardiovascular event risks. Given the close relationship between insulin and the cardiovascular system, we tested the long‐term effects of moderate‐dose insulin treatment on bone marrow‐derived EPCs. Rat bone marrow EPCs were exposed to various levels of insulin under normal (5 mmol/l) or high (40 mmol/l) glucose conditions for 7 days. Insulin at levels near the physiological range (0.1, 1 nmol/l) up‐regulated EPCs proliferation, stimulated NO (nitric oxide) production and reduced EPC senescence and ROS (reactive oxygen species) generation under both normal‐ and high‐glucose conditions. Glucose exerted deleterious effects on EPCs contrary to insulin. Western blot analysis suggested concomitant decrease of Akt phosphorylation and eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) expression by high‐glucose treatment and increase with insulin administration. Thus, insulin promoted several activities of EPCs, which suggested a potential endothelial protective role of insulin. Akt/eNOS pathway may be involved in the modulation of EPCs function by glucose and insulin.
Spin-it

Spinning tops and yo-yos have long fascinated cultures around the world with their unexpected, graceful motions that seemingly elude gravity. Yet, due to the exceeding difficulty of creating stably spinning objects of asymmetric shape in a manual trial-and-error process, there has been little departure from rotationally symmetric designs. With modern 3D printing technologies, however, we can manufacture shapes of almost unbounded complexity at the press of a button, shifting this design complexity toward computation. In this article, we describe an algorithm to generate designs for spinning objects by optimizing their mass distribution: as input, the user provides a solid 3D model and a desired axis of rotation. Our approach then modifies the interior mass distribution such that the principal directions of the moment of inertia align with the target rotation frame. To create voids inside the model, we represent its volume with an adaptive multiresolution voxelization and optimize the discrete voxel fill values using a continuous, nonlinear formulation. We further optimize for rotational stability by maximizing the dominant principal moment. Our method is well-suited for a variety of 3D printed models, ranging from characters to abstract shapes. We demonstrate tops and yo-yos that spin surprisingly stably despite their asymmetric appearance.
Improved Axillary Staging of Breast Cancer with Sentinel Lymphadenectomy

ObjectiveThe authors evaluated the effect of intraoperative lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymphadenectomy (SLND) on the axillary staging of patients with carcinoma of the breast. Summary Background DataThe accurate staging of patients with breast cancer is essential to guide management and determine prognosis. The authors previously reported the feasibility and accuracy of SLND in breast carcinoma. Sentinel lymphadenectomy identifies the first (“sentinel”) axillary lymph node draining the site of a primary tumor; because this node is the most likely site of axillary metastasis, histopathologic examination of the sentinel node correlates well with examination of the entire axillary contents. The current study compares SLND with standard axillary lymphadenectomy (ALND) for the staging of breast carcinoma. MethodsThe incidence of axillary node metastasis and micrometastasis in SLND and ALND specimens from patients undergoing operative treatment of a primary breast carcinoma was compared prospectively. Multiple sections of each sentinel lymph node in SLND specimens were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and by immunohistochemical techniques using antibodies to cytokeratin. One or two sections of each nonsentinel lymph node in ALND specimens were examined by routine H&E staining. ResultsOne hundred thirty-four patients underwent ALND (ALND group), and 162 underwent successful SLND followed by completion ALND (SLND group). Both groups were similar with respect to age (median, 55 and 54 years, respectively), palpable primary tumors (54.5% and 59.3%, respectively), palpable axillary nodes (5.2% and 7.4%, respectively), size of primary tumor (median, 1.5 cm in each group), and total number of axillary lymph nodes examined (median, 19 and 21, respectively). The number of patients with axillary metastasis was 39 (29.1%) in the ALND group and 68 (42.0%) in the SLND group (p < 0.03). Of these, 4 of 39 (10.3%) ALND patients (3.0% of all ALND patients) and 26 of 68 (38.2%) SLND patients (16.0% of all SLND patients) had micrometastasis (≤2 mm), a highly significant difference (p < 0.0005)
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting during Acute Coronary Syndrome: Outcomes and Comparison of Off-Pump to Conventional Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting at a Veteran Affairs Hospital

Objective The management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has evolved dramatically over the last 50 years. Currently, management includes a multidisciplinary approach potentially including catheter-based therapy, surgery, or purely medical management. Where surgical therapy is indicated, data regarding long-term outcomes are limited. In particular, little data exist regarding on-pump (conventional coronary artery bypass grafting, cCABG) versus off-pump (OPCABG) outcomes for this group. Methods A retrospective review of prospectively collected data was undertaken. Patients undergoing isolated CABG from January 2000 to December 2011 with ACS were identified (n = 271); non-ACS patients (n = 854) were established as a control. Data were analyzed with a χ2 or a t test, where appropriate. Survival was compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards model. Results Thirty-day mortality between the ACS and the control groups was similar; however, long-term mortality was worse for the ACS group (P = 0.032; median follow-up, 5.5 years). Length of stay and composite morbidity were higher in the ACS group (P < 0.01). Subgroup analysis of ACS patients (OPCABG vs cCABG) demonstrated worse preoperative comorbidities in the OPCABG group, but similar 30-day and long-term mortality. However, the cCABG group had higher rates of reoperation (P = 0.034) and longer length of stay (P = 0.017) and operative time (P < 0.0001). Cox proportional hazards model was applied. Risk factors for the non-ACS cohort included age, diabetes, OPCABG, and ACS (P < 0.05). Among the ACS cohort, only age remained a statistically significant factor (P < 0.0001). Conclusions ACS appears to negatively impact long-term, but not short-term, mortality. Within the ACS group, OPCABG compares favorably to cCABG in the long-term and also improves short-term morbidity.