Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MMP‐9 and TIMP‐1 in the cord blood of premature infants developing BPD

We investigated matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP‐1) levels in the cord blood of 29 premature infants who were <30 weeks gestation. One, 8, and 14 infants developed severe, moderate and mild bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), respectively, and 6 did not. MMP‐9 and TIMP‐1 levels in the cord blood were determined by ELISA. MMP‐9/TIMP‐1 ratios in the cord blood of infants who developed severe or moderate BPD (n = 9) were significantly higher than those who developed mild BPD or did not develop BPD (n = 20; P = 0.015). Multivariate linear regressions demonstrated that MMP‐9 levels and MMP‐9/TIMP‐1 ratios in the cord blood of the premature infants correlated with the oxygen supplementation period (r = 0.58, P = 0.003 and r = 0.41, P = 0.030, respectively). The MMP‐9 levels and MMP‐9/TIMP‐1 ratios correlated with the severity of maternal chorioamnionitis (both trend P = 0.006).
Continuous enzymatic transesterification of sesame oil and a fully hydrogenated fat: Effects of reaction conditions on product characteristics

An immobilized lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus (TL IM) was employed to mediate the continuous transesterification of sesame oil and fully hydrogenated soybean oil (FHSBO) in a packed‐bed reactor operating at 70°C. Reactions between sesame oil (rich in LLL (15.97%), LOL (31.56%), and OLO (21.15%) [L = linoleic; O = oleic]) and the fully hydrogenated fat ((73.7% SSS, 26.3% SPS) [S = stearic; P = palmitic]) produced semi‐solid fats. These products are complex mixtures of triacylglycerol (TAG) species whose compositions depend on reaction conditions. The dependence of the steady state product TAG profile on space time was determined for four initial weight ratios of sesame oil to hydrogenated fat (90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40). Except for the trial involving a weight ratio of sesame oil to FHSBO of 60:40, near equilibrium conditions were achieved at space times of 30 min–1 h. The chemical, physical, and functional properties of the product semi‐solid fats were characterized. The predominant TAG species in the quasi‐equilibrium products obtained from the mixture initially containing 90% (w/w) sesame oil and 10% FHSBO were LOL (26.22%) and OLO (21.92%). For transesterification of 80% sesame oil and 20% FHSBO, the major product species were OOP (21.27%), LOL (17.46%), and OLO (13.93%). OOP (24.38%) was the major product for reaction of 70% sesame oil with 30% FHSBO. Appropriate choices of reaction conditions and initial ratios of sesame oil to FHSBO lead to TAG with melting profiles and solid fat contents (SFC) similar to those of a variety of commercial products. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Building and assessing atomic models of proteins from structural templates: Learning and benchmarks

One approach to predict a protein fold from a sequence (a target) is based on structures of related proteins that are used as templates. We present an algorithm that examines a set of candidates for templates, builds from each of the templates an atomically detailed model, and ranks the models. The algorithm performs a hierarchical selection of the best model using a diverse set of signals. After a quick and suboptimal screening of template candidates from the protein data bank, the current method fine‐tunes the selection to a few models. More detailed signals test the compatibility of the sequence and the proposed structures, and are merged to give a global fitness measure using linear programming. This algorithm is a component of the prediction server LOOPP (http://www.loopp.org). Large‐scale training and tests sets were designed and are presented. Recent results of the LOOPP server in CASP8 are discussed. Proteins 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Is participation in HIV vaccine trials a health promoting behaviour?

Abstract Health behaviours are individual acts by which people aim to preserve or enhance their health. Theories commonly used to understand health behaviour include the Health Belief Model, the Theories of Reasoned Action and Planned Behaviour, the Transtheoretical Model of Change, Social Cognitive Theory and Problem-Behaviour Theory. Targets for health-promotion interventions include exercise, smoking cessation and condom use. Some behaviours that may contribute to changes in population health, however, are not health behaviours as traditionally understood. For example, participating in an HIV vaccine trial may have the potential to contribute long-term to lowering HIV incidence. To what extent, though, can or should we apply models of health behaviour to HIV vaccine trial participation? This article grapples with the theoretical challenges facing social scientists who conduct research related to HIV vaccine trial participation. We initially consider decision making regarding trial participation from both the participant and investigator perspectives, before considering how these alternate decision-making narratives might impact on the conduct of HIV vaccine trials. We conclude by arguing that social scientists need to move beyond a narrow focus on health promotion theory and to engage in the interrelated scientific activities of theory testing and theory building.
Pharmacodiagnostic evaluation of EGFR expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE To determine epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC), and its possible relationships with clinical findings, histological findings, disease course and prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Surgical specimens of 47 OSCCs were studied immunohistochemically for detection of EGFR using a standardized immunohistochemical detection system (EGFR PharmaDx kit). Statistical analysis was used to investigate possible relationships between EGFR expression and clinical findings, histological findings, cell proliferation (MIB1 labelling index), disease course and patient survival. RESULTS Epidermal growth factor receptor expression was absent or weak in 12 cases (25.5%) and moderate or intense in 35 cases (74.5%). However, EGFR expression did not show statistically significant associations with any of the clinical, histological, biological or prognostic variables considered. CONCLUSION First, despite previous suggestions that EGFR is a useful indicator of biological tumour behaviour, the present results suggest that EGFR is not a useful indicator of prognosis in OSCC. Secondly, the high prevalence of EGFR overexpression suggests that the possibility of anti-EGFR therapy in OSCC merits further investigation.
Psychotherapy, Antidepressants, and Their Combination for Chronic Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review

Objective: Recommendations for treatment of chronic major depressive disorder (cMDD) are mostly based on clinical experiences and on the literature on treatment-resistant depression (TRD) but not on a systematic review of the literature. Method: We conducted a systematic review of 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with 17 comparisons between antidepressants (ADs), psychotherapy, or the combination of both interventions. Results: The best evidence is for the combination of psychotherapy and ADs, and especially for the combination of the cognitive behavourial analysis system of psychotherapy and ADs. Evidence is very weak for both ADs alone and psychotherapy alone. Assessment of TRD was mostly absent in the studies. Conclusion: The best treatment for cMDD is a combination of psychotherapy and ADs. However, there is a lack of well-performed RCTs in both ADs and psychotherapy and their combination for cMDD. Therefore, the conclusions are preliminary. Psychothérapie, antidépresseurs, et leur combinaison pour le trouble dépressif majeur chronique: une revue systématique
A 140 Mb/s to 1.96 Gb/s Referenceless Transceiver With 7.2 $\mu$s Frequency Acquisition Time

This paper presents a design of a wide-range transceiver without an external reference clock. The self-biased and multi-band PLL with self-initialization technique is used for the wide-operating range of 140 Mb/s to 1.96 Gb/s and fast frequency acquisition time of 7.2 μs. A linear phase detector which has no dead-zone problem is proposed for a phase adjustment with a low-jitter performance. The RMS jitter of the recovered clock is 11.4 ps at 70 MHz operation. The overall transceiver consumes 388 mW at 2.5 V supply and occupies 3.41 mm2 in a 0.25-μm 1P5M CMOS technology.
MR Contrast Due to Microscopically Heterogeneous Magnetic Susceptibility: Numerical Simulations and Applications to Cerebral Physiology

We calculate the effects of subvoxel variations in magnetic susceptibility on MR image intensity for spin‐echo (SE) and gradient‐echo (GE) experiments for a range of microscopic physical parameters. The model used neglects the overlap of gradients from one magnetic inclusion to the next, and so is valid for low volume fractions and weak perturbations of the magnetic field. Transverse relaxation is predicted to deviate significantly from linear exponential decay in both SE and GE at a particle radius of 2.5 μm. Calculated changes in transverse relaxation rates for SE and GE increase linearly with volume fraction of high‐susceptibility regions of 5 μm diameter, but increase with about the 3/2 power of volume fraction of regions with 15 μm spacing between centers. This sensitivity to the actual size and spacing of magnetized regions may allow them to be measured on the basis of contrast, without being resolved in images. GE and SE decay rates are approximately twice as sensitive to long cylinders of 5 μm diameter than to spheres of the same size, for diffusion constants of 2.5 μm2/ms. Calculated changes in transverse decay rates increase with approximately the square of field and susceptibility variation for 5‐μm spheres and a diffusion constant of 2.5 μm2/ms. This exponent is smaller for cylindrical magnetized regions of the same size, and also depends on the diffusion constant. We discuss possible applications of our theoretical results to the analysis of the effects of high‐susceptibility contrast agents in brain. Experimental data from the literature are compared with calculated signal changes according to the model. The monotonic dependence of decay rates on the volume of distribution of the contrast agent suggests that cerebral blood volume and flow could be measured using MR contrast. © 1991 Academic Press, Inc.
An Upper Bound for Accuracy of Prediction Using GBLUP

This study aims at characterizing the asymptotic behavior of genomic prediction R2 as the size of the reference population increases for common or rare QTL alleles through simulations. Haplotypes derived from whole-genome sequence of 85 Caucasian individuals from the 1,000 Genomes Project were used to simulate random mating in a population of 10,000 individuals for at least 100 generations to create the LD structure in humans for a large number of individuals. To reduce computational demands, only SNPs within a 0.1M region of each of the first 5 chromosomes were used in simulations, and therefore, the total genome length simulated was 0.5M. When the genome length is 30M, to get the same genomic prediction R2 as with a 0.5M genome would require a reference population 60 fold larger. Three scenarios were considered varying in minor allele frequency distributions of markers and QTL, for h2 = 0.8 resembling height in humans. Total number of markers was 4,200 and QTL were 70 for each scenario. In this study, we considered the prediction accuracy in terms of an estimability problem, and thereby provided an upper bound for reliability of prediction, and thus, for prediction R2. Genomic prediction methods GBLUP, BayesB and BayesC were compared. Our results imply that for human height variable selection methods BayesB and BayesC applied to a 30M genome have no advantage over GBLUP when the size of reference population was small (<6,000 individuals), but are superior as more individuals are included in the reference population. All methods become asymptotically equivalent in terms of prediction R2, which approaches genomic heritability when the size of the reference population reaches 480,000 individuals.
Association between sleep quality and physical fitness in female young adults.

AIM Sleep quality and physical fitness are critical for young adults' growth and health. However, no study has examined the association between sleep quality and physical fitness in young adults. METHODS A total of 291 female college students (mean age: 19.3+/-0.6 years; mean height: 160.3+/-5.2 cm; mean weight: 52.2+/-9.8 kg), in the northern part of Taiwan, volunteered as subjects. For sleep quality evaluation, a valid Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used. For physical fitness testing, a battery of field-based health-related fitness tests was conducted by well-trained instructors. Data was analyzed using independent t-tests and the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. RESULTS Subjects with poor sleep quality (P) (PSQI score >5) were more likely to have lower levels of muscular endurance, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness. Significant correlations were also found between the global PSQI score and physical fitness performances in female young adults. CONCLUSION This study confirmed the high prevalence of P among young adults. Education materials should try to prevent young adults from developing poor sleep patterns and inactive lifestyles. Moreover, subjects with P should take better care of health problems from cardiovascular disease and musculoskeletal injury.
Extraction of TV highlights using multimedia features

The amount of digital multimedia content available to consumers is growing due to the digital capturing devices such as digital cameras and camcorders. With this increase in content, it becomes important for people to be able to browse and search for content in a timely manner. To enable efficient content-based video browsing, extracted descriptions and annotations are needed to represent the content. We present algorithms for the automatic extraction of highlights in video using audio, text and visual features. These extracted descriptions can be used for selective browsing of sports videos. We also present the experimental results for the proposed algorithms on several hours of sports programs.
Structural alterations in adult rat carotid bodies exposed to hyperbaric oxygenation.

UNLABELLED Inhibition of carotid body (CB) function is the main mechanism involved in the attenuation of respiratory drive observed during hyperoxia. However, only a few studies at 5.0 atmospheres absolutes (ATA) have analyzed carotid body structure or function in hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO2) situations. We hypothesized that rats will present CB structural alterations when exposed to different lower hyperbaric oxygen doses enough to alter their chemosensory response to hypoxia. METHODS Twenty-one adult male Wistar rats, divided into three groups, were maintained in room air or exposed to O2 at 2.4 or 3.0 ATA for six hours. Histological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical analyses for neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and F2-isoprostane were performed in the excised CBs. RESULTS Histological analyses revealed signs of intracellular edema in animals exposed to both conditions, but this was more marked in the 3.0 ATA group, which showed ultrastructural alterations at the mitochondrial level. There was a significant increase in the volume density of intraglomic-congested capillaries in the 3.0 ATA group associated with an arteriolar vasoconstriction. In the 2.4 ATA group, there was a relative increase of glomic light cells and a decrease of glomic progenitor cells. Additionally, there was a stronger immunoreactivity for F2-isoprostane in the 3.0 ATA O2-exposed carotid bodies. The glomic cells stained positive for nNOS, but no difference was observed between the groups. Our results show that high O2 exposures may induce structural alterations in glomic cells with signs of lipid peroxidation. We further suggest that deviation of blood flow toward intraglomic capillaries occurs in hyperbaric hyperoxia.
A soil moisture and temperature network for SMOS validation in Western Denmark

The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity Mission (SMOS) acquires surface soil moisture data of global coverage every three days. Product validation for a range of climate and environmental conditions across continents is a crucial step. For this purpose, a soil moisture and soil temperature sensor network was established in the Skjern River Catchment, Denmark. The objectives of this article are to describe a method to implement a network suited for SMOS validation, and to present sample data collected by the network to verify the approach. The design phase included (1) selection of a single SMOS pixel (44 × 44 km), which is representative of the land surface conditions of the catchment and with minimal impact from open water (2) arrangement of three network clusters along the precipitation gradient, and (3) distribution of the stations according to respective fractions of classes representing the prevailing environmental conditions. Overall, measured moisture and temperature patterns could be related to the respective land cover and soil conditions. Texture-dependency of the 0–5 cm soil moisture measurements was demonstrated. Regional differences in 0–5 cm soil moisture, temperature and precipitation between the north-east and south-west were found to be small. A first comparison between the 0–5 cm network averages and the SMOS soil moisture (level 2) product is in range with worldwide validation results, showing comparable trends for SMOS retrieved soil moisture ( R 2 of 0.49) as well as initial soil moisture and temperature from ECMWF used in the retrieval algorithm ( R 2 of 0.67 and 0.97, respectively). While retrieved/initial SMOS soil moisture indicate significant under-/overestimation of the network data (biases of −0.092/0.057 m 3 m −3 ), the initial temperature is in good agreement (bias of −0.2 °C). Based on these findings, the network performs according to expectations and proves to be well-suited for its purpose. The discrepancies between network and SMOS soil moisture will be subject of subsequent studies.
Autoregulation of blood flow in the rat kidney.

We present evidence showing that renal blood flow (RBF) in the anesthetized nondiuretic rat can be measured reliably and accurately using a noncannulating flow transducer and an electromagnetic flowmeter. In vitro calibration yielded a linear relationship (r=0.998) between flowmeter output voltage and blood flow rates from 0.2 to 10.3 ml/min. Excellent agreement was observed between simultaneous determinations of RBF by the flowmeter and the PAH clearance technique. Glomerular filtration rate and RBF for a kidney with a flow transducer around its renal artery did not differ significantly from corresponding values for the undisturbed contralateral kidney. The relationship of mean RBF with steady-state variations in perfusion pressure was evaluated in 13 nondiuretic rats. RBF averaged 6 ml/min.g kidney wt at arterial pressures (AP) above 100 mmHg. A high degree of autoregulatory efficiency was observed when mean AP varied between 105 and 145 mmHg. Over this pressure range RBF changed only 3% as changes in intrarenal vascular resistance and AP were directly related (r=0.994). Below 95-105 mmHg RBF decreased in a curvilinear fashion with the concavity toward the pressure axis.
Sugar, People and Politics in Zimbabwe’s Lowveld

The expansion of outgrower areas linked to large lowveld sugar estates has been an important component of Zimbabwe’s land reform since 2000. This has involved the transfer of nearly 16,000 ha to over 800 resettlement farmers on irrigated ‘A2’ plots of around 20 ha each. These farmers now produce around a quarter of the sugar output linked to the Triangle and Hippo Valley mills. Tongaat Hulett, a large South African conglomerate, is the dominant shareholder in Zimbabwe’s sugar industry, and its Zimbabwe operation represents a crucial part of the overall multi-million-dollar business. The new outgrowers are a mix of former civil servants, sugar industry professionals and business people, with some politicians and security service personnel also with land. Through a detailed analysis over 12 years of the changing fortunes of a group of new outgrowers linked to Hippo Valley estate, the paper explores the patterns of production, employment and wider livelihood contexts of outgrowers and their workers. In particular the paper examines the tensions and conflicts that have arisen, particularly between the new outgrowers and the estate. The paper in turn explores the implications for sugar politics in Zimbabwe’s Lowveld. The new outgrowers were drawn from a range of previous occupations and, compared to land reform beneficiaries in nearby dryland smallholder areas, were richer, better educated and more well-connected politically. The paper asks how this new group negotiated a relationship with a large-scale South African capitalist enterprise, and with what outcomes. More broadly, the paper examines how outgrowers, the state and capital brokered a politically and economically acceptable post-land reform deal, suiting all parties. Based on the longitudinal case study insights, the paper concludes with an assessment of whether Zimbabwe’s very particular sugar outgrower model of land reform will work, and if it does, for whom.
Delivering Vitamin A Supplements to Children Aged 6 to 59 Months: Comparing Delivery Through Mass Campaign and Through Routine Health Services in Ethiopia

Background: The delivery of vitamin A supplements in Ethiopia has been shifting from Child Health Days (campaigns) to routine delivery via the community health services. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the cost and effectiveness of these 2 delivery methods. No previous studies have done this. Methods: A mixed method approach was used. Quantitative data on costs were collected from interviews with key staff and coverage data from health facility records. Qualitative data on the 2 modalities were collected from key informants and community members from purposefully sampled communities using the 2 modalities. Results: Communities appreciated the provision of vitamin A supplements to their under 5-year-old children. The small drop in coverage that occurred as a result of the change in modality can be attributed to normal changes that occur with any system change. Advantages of campaigns included greater ease of mobilization and better coverage of older children from more remote communities. Advantages of routine delivery included not omitting children who happened to miss the 1 day per round that supplementation occurred and not disrupting the availability of other health services for the 5 to 6 days each campaign requires. The cost of routine delivery is not easy to measure nor is the cost of disruption to normal services entailed by campaigns. Conclusion: Cost-effectiveness likely depends more on effectiveness than on cost. Overall, the routine approach can achieve good coverage and is sustainable in the long run, as long as the transition is well planned and implemented.
Suppression of self-excited oscillation for common package of Si-IGBT and SiC-MOS

We propose a method to design a module structure avoiding the risk of self-excited (SE) oscillation. By simplifying both the semiconductor device and lumped circuit model, oscillatory conditions can be extracted analytically. Results show good agreement with T-CAD simulation and measurement results of test modules. The method is applied to the design of next generation common package, which has realized very low system inductance. SE oscillation can be prevented for latest generation Si-IGBTs having very small feedback capacitance and SiC-MOS having high output capacitance mounted in the same common package design.