Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elevated pancreatic enzymes in inflammatory bowel disease are associated with extensive disease

OBJECTIVE:Our aim was to perform a cross-sectional study to estimate the prevalence of elevated pancreatic enzymes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and to correlate the enzyme activities with clinical, endoscopic, and histological findings.METHODS:Two hundred thirty-seven patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including a subgroup with known hepatobiliary disease, were studied cross-sectionally. Serum and urinary pancreatic enzymes were prospectively sampled and compared to endoscopic and histological findings obtained previously.RESULTS:Hyperamylasemia was found in 11% and hyperlipasemia in 7% of the total study group. The corresponding prevalences in patients with Crohn's disease were 17% and 9%, those in ulcerative colitis 9% and 7%, and those in indeterminate colitis 10% and 5%, respectively. High levels of serum amylase and pancreatic isoamylase were associated with extensive colonic disease (p < 0.005) and high histological activity (p < 0.05). Amylase, but not lipase, was significantly elevated in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Smokers showed higher urinary amylase levels than non- and ex-smokers. The use of medication had no influence on the enzyme levels.CONCLUSIONS:Pancreatic enzymes are elevated in a significant proportion of patients with IBD, and the enzyme increase is associated with a more extensive and active disease, and in some cases with primary sclerosing cholangitis.
Lung cancer and cigarette use: Cognitive factors, protection motivation and past behaviour

Objective. To assess relationships between health cognitions and protection motivation regarding cigarette use and lung cancer. Design. Cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Variables were intentions (i.e., motivation) perceptions of susceptibility to and severity of lung cancer, the benefits or effectiveness of not smoking in reducing the risk of lung cancer, barriers to not smoking, past smoking behaviour, and demographic factors (age, gender). Method. Two-hundred and seventy-five men and women (aged 18-66 years) were administered and returned the questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyse the data. Results. Past cigarette use predicted stronger intention to smoke, accounting for 70% of the variance. Perceptions of susceptibility and barriers increased the variance explained, but only marginally. Greater perceived likelihood of contracting lung cancer and stronger perceived barriers to not smoking predicted higher motivation to smoke. Conclusions. Results provide limited support for the role of health cognitions in intended cigarette use, and justify the incorporation of past risk behaviour in social cognition models applied to cigarette use.
The Reliability of Ratio Scores

EDUCATIONAL measurements often give rise to jJquotients or ratios obtained when one score is divided by another. The intelligence quotient, achievement quotient, and per cent accuracy scores are examples. For the effective interpretation of such a measure, it is important that an appropriate estimate of its reliability be obtained. While a formula for the reliability of ratios has been presented by Holzinger, this, like other approaches, has limitations which apparently have not previously been discussed. The present article is intended to summarize the procedures which may be applied to ratio scores and to indicate the conditions under which each is appropriate. Ratio scores appear to be particularly important in dealing with certain new-type tests such as those now being published by the Progressive Education Association. In Test 1.41, Social Problems,’ for example, the student is presented with a description of a social problem, asked to state which of several solutions he favors, and then to check, from a long list, which reasons he would advance to support his decision. Since the student may check as many reasons as he wishes, there is in practice a wide range of &dquo;Total Reasons&dquo; among students. One important datum is the extent to which the student checks reasons which are inconsistent with his conclusion
Extending twin support vector machine classifier for multi-category classification problems

Twin support vector machine classifier TWSVM was proposed by Jayadeva et al., which was used for binary classification problems. TWSVM not only overcomes the difficulties in handling the problem of exemplar unbalance in binary classification problems, but also it is four times faster in training a classifier than classical support vector machines. This paper proposes one-versus-all twin support vector machine classifiers OVA-TWSVM for multi-category classification problems by utilizing the strengths of TWSVM. OVA-TWSVM extends TWSVM to solve k-category classification problems by developing k TWSVM where in the ith TWSVM, we only solve the Quadratic Programming Problems QPPs for the ith class, and get the ith nonparallel hyperplane corresponding to the ith class data. OVA-TWSVM uses the well known one-versus-all OVA approach to construct a corresponding twin support vector machine classifier. We analyze the efficiency of the OVA-TWSVM theoretically, and perform experiments to test its efficiency on both synthetic data sets and several benchmark data sets from the UCI machine learning repository. Both the theoretical analysis and experimental results demonstrate that OVA-TWSVM can outperform the traditional OVA-SVMs classifier. Further experimental comparisons with other multiclass classifiers demonstrated that comparable performance could be achieved.
Isoniazid Mediates the CYP2B6*6 Genotype-Dependent Interaction between Efavirenz and Antituberculosis Drug Therapy through Mechanism-Based Inactivation of CYP2A6

ABSTRACT Efavirenz is commonly used to treat patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis. Previous clinical studies have observed paradoxically elevated efavirenz plasma concentrations in patients with the CYP2B6*6/*6 genotype (but not the CYP2B6*1/*1 genotype) during coadministration with the commonly used four-drug antituberculosis therapy. This study sought to elucidate the mechanism underlying this genotype-dependent drug-drug interaction. In vitro studies were conducted to determine whether one or more of the antituberculosis drugs (rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, or ethambutol) potently inhibit efavirenz 8-hydroxylation by CYP2B6 or efavirenz 7-hydroxylation by CYP2A6, the main mechanisms of efavirenz clearance. Time- and concentration-dependent kinetics of inhibition by the antituberculosis drugs were determined using genotyped human liver microsomes (HLMs) and recombinant CYP2A6, CYP2B6.1, and CYP2B6.6 enzymes. Although none of the antituberculosis drugs evaluated at up to 10 times clinical plasma concentrations were found to inhibit efavirenz 8-hydroxylation by HLMs, both rifampin (apparent inhibition constant [Ki] = 368 μM) and pyrazinamide (Ki = 637 μM) showed relatively weak inhibition of efavirenz 7-hydroxylation. Importantly, isoniazid demonstrated potent time-dependent inhibition of efavirenz 7-hydroxylation in both HLMs (inhibitor concentration required for half-maximal inactivation [KI] = 30 μM; maximal rate constant of inactivation [kinact] = 0.023 min−1) and recombinant CYP2A6 (KI = 15 μM; kinact = 0.024 min−1) and also formed a metabolite intermediate complex consistent with mechanism-based inhibition. Selective inhibition of the CYP2B6.6 allozyme could not be demonstrated for any of the antituberculosis drugs using either recombinant enzymes or CYP2B6*6 genotype HLMs. In conclusion, the results of this study identify isoniazid as the most likely perpetrator of this clinically important drug-drug interaction through mechanism-based inactivation of CYP2A6.
PDK1/Akt/PDE4D axis identified as a target for asthma remedy synergistic with β2AR agonists by a natural agent arctigenin

Asthma is a heterogenetic disorder characterized by chronic inflammation with variable airflow obstruction and airway hyper‐responsiveness. As the most potent and popular bronchodilators, β2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR) agonists bind to the β2ARs that are coupled via a stimulatory G protein to adenylyl cyclase, thereby improving cAMP accumulation and resulting in airway smooth muscle relaxation. We previously demonstrated arctigenin had a synergistic function with the β2AR agonist, but the target for this remained elusive.
Does the Role a Pet Played before Disposition, and How the Pet is Lost Influence Pet Owner’s Future Pet Adoption Decision?

The purpose of the paper is to explore how the role a pet played before disposition and how the owner lost his/her pet affect the pet owner’s next pet adoption decision. Results from Pearson chi-square tests of independence show no significant relationship between how the respondent viewed his/her pet before relationship ended and the length of time he/she waited before adopting another pet. However, a significant relationship was found between how the pet owner lost his/her pet and the length of time he/she waited before adopting another pet. Respondents who said they lost their pet voluntarily were more likely to wait longer before adopting another pet than those who said they lost their pet involuntarily. Moreover, the results confirm that respondents who viewed their pet as a child, before end of relationship, were more likely to hold funeral rituals than those who viewed their pet as a friend, a family or household member. Finally, those pet owners who lost their pets and decided to adopt another pet are likely to choose a pet of the same species but different breed. Implications to theory and practice are discussed.
A new location technique for the active office

Configuration of the computing and communications systems found at home and in the workplace is a complex task that currently requires the attention of the user. Researchers have begun to examine computers that would autonomously change their functionality based on observations of who or what was around them. By determining their context, using input from sensor systems distributed throughout the environment, computing devices could personalize themselves to their current user, adapt their behaviour according to their location, or react to their surroundings. The authors present a novel sensor system, suitable for large-scale deployment in indoor environments, which allows the locations of people and equipment to be accurately determined. We also describe some of the context-aware applications that might make use of this fine-grained location information.
Combinatory Categorial Grammar

In this paper we will introduce Combinatory Categorial Grammars and explain the polynomial time parsing algorithm for such grammars as defined by K. Vijay-Shanker and David Weir. We will describe the recognition algorithm via an inference system that resembles the CKY algorithm, and then briefly discuss an efficient representation for
Convex optimisation for partial volume estimation in compressive quantitative MRI

Based on the recently proposed compressive sensing framework for quantitative MRI, a new approach for partial volume reconstruction is developed in this abstract. We first formulate a convex optimisation problem for the recovery of a sparse matrix of coefficients in a dictionary of measured temporal fingerprints associated with specific combinations of quantitative parameters of interest. Each column of the sought matrix represents a voxel in the volume under investigation and the sparsity of this column represents the number of active dictionary elements or partial volumes. In a second step, we employ the weighted k-means algorithm to cluster the recovered coefficient matrix in parameter space and obtain the quantitative parameter maps. The proposed approach was validated through simulations, and its performance is competitive when compared to a state of the art algorithm.
Complex Query Processing on Web Graph: a Social Network Perspective

A social network represents a social community as a directed graph. Communication on the Web has given rise to social network formation like, Web Community, Referral System etc. An earlier effort has proposed a data model for such Web-based social network. Present paper discusses the relevant index structures for processing queries on a social network schema based upon the proposed data model. The paper has also provided evaluation of the structural operators proposed in the data model and discussed their efficacy with query examples.
Value of left atrial strain: a highly promising field of investigation.

The principal role of the left atrium (LA) is to modulate left ventricular filling and cardiovascular performance by functioning as (i) a reservoir for pulmonary venous return during ventricular systole, (ii) a conduit for pulmonary venous return during early ventricular diastole, and (iii) a booster pump that augments ventricular filling during late ventricular diastole. The interplay between these atrial functions and ventricular performance throughout the cardiac cycle is crucial in many pathophysiological conditions.1,2 However, in clinical practice, we do not really assess all of the components of LA function. In fact, quantiﬁcation of LA function remains challenging. Calculating ejection fraction or atrial ejection force has occasionally been proposed as methods for quantifying LA function, but they are neither routinely used nor recommended in the literature.3 Standard recommendations in the literature propose using LA volume calculated from trans-thoracic 2D echocardiography orthogonal views.3,4 LA size correlates with both LA and left ventricular (LV) function and is a strong predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and death.5 The antero-posterior diameter, calculated with M-mode or 2D echocardiography, is no longer considered to adequately represent the true LA size. For these reasons, the ASE/EACVI joined paper3 …
Effects of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin on Resistance Artery Endothelial Function in Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease

Background Recent studies have raised concern about the safety of erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents because of evidence of increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. In the present study, we investigated the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) on endothelial function of gluteal subcutaneous resistance arteries isolated from 17 stage 4 patients (estimated glomerular filtration rate 21.9±7.4 mL/min per 1.73 m2) aged 63±13 years. Methods and Results Arteries were mounted on a pressurized myograph. EPO impaired endothelium‐dependent relaxation in a concentration‐dependent manner. The maximal response to acetylcholine with EPO at 1, 10, and 20 IU/mL was reduced by 12%, 34%, and 43%, respectively, compared with the absence of EPO (P<0.001). EPO‐induced endothelial dysfunction was significantly associated with carotid stiffness and history of cardiovascular events. EPO had no effect on norepinephrine‐induced vasoconstriction or sodium nitroprusside–induced relaxation. ABT‐627, an endothelin type A receptor antagonist, and tempol, a superoxide dismutase mimetic, partially reversed the altered endothelial function in the presence of EPO (P<0.01). Increased expression of endothelin‐1 was found in the vessel wall after incubation with EPO. Conclusions EPO alters endothelial function of resistance arteries in CKD patients via a mechanism involving in part oxidative stress and signaling through an endothelin type A receptor. EPO‐induced endothelial dysfunction could contribute to deleterious effects of EPO described in large interventional trials.
Cumulative Communality Cluster Analysis

3. Grouping into clusters those variables that order the subjects similarly. Each cluster refers to a general property of the objects, i.e., one which may be measured by a composite score of the variables in the cluster. The grouping is performed in such a way that the resulting clusters, k’ in number, should be sufficient to account for the similarities (intercorrelations) among the n variables.
The Effectiveness of Rehabilitation with Persistently Violent Male Prisoners

In 1990, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice instituted a specialty aggression treatment program called the Program for the Aggressive Mentally Ill Offender (PAMIO). It has beds for 458 violent male offenders and offers multidisciplinary medical and behavioral treatment. This study examined the effectiveness of this treatment program by comparing the annual rates of disciplinary offenses (e.g., staff assaults, inmate assaults, and good time lost) of 66 offenders prior to and following treatment. Paired t tests showed a significant decrease after PAMIO treatment in the annual rates of total disciplinaries, staff assaults, inmate assaults, and good time lost. This improvement appeared to be directly related to treatment effects.
Clinical consequences of IL-1 genotype on early implant failures in patients under periodontal maintenance.

BACKGROUND Implant failure and biologic complications such as periimplantitis are not completely avoidable. Are there any genetic and microbiologic parameters that could be used to identify patients at risk for implant failure, preferably prior to treatment? This would result in improvement of the diagnostics, treatment decision, and risk assessment. PURPOSE The aims of this retrospective study were to describe (1) the absolute failure rate of Brånemark System implants (Nobel Biocare AB, Göteborg, Sweden) consecutively installed over a 10-year period in partially edentulous patients treated for periodontal disease prior to implant treatment and under regular professional maintenance, (2) the rate of interleukin-1 (IL-1) polymorphism in those patients who experienced at least one implant failure during the first year of function, and (3) the prevalence of periodontal pathogens in dental and periimplant sites with and without signs of inflammation. MATERIAL AND METHODS Of 766 patients, 81 encountered at least one implant failure; 22 patients were clinically examined and were tested genetically for IL-1 genotypes. The presence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella nigrescens was analyzed. RESULTS The absolute implant survival rate for the whole population was 95.32%; 10.57% of the patients encountered an implant loss. Implant loss in the examined group (n = 22) was 32 of 106 (30.1%); 10 (45%) of the 22 patients were smokers, and 6 (27%) of the 22 patients were IL-1 genotype positive. Patients positive for IL-1 genotype were not more prone to implant loss; however, a significant synergistic effect with smoking was demonstrated. Between patients who were IL-1 genotype positive and those who were IL-1 genotype negative, the differences in regard to bleeding on probing or periodontal pathogens did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION The overall implant failure rate in a population treated and maintained for periodontal disease is similar to that of healthy subjects. A synergistic effect found between smoking and a positive IL-1 genotype resulted in a significantly higher implant loss. This indicates that further research with a larger patient group should focus on multifactorial analysis for adequate risk assessment.
No Human – No Cry?

Zusammenfassung Die Argumentation für eine zunehmende Automation der Fahraufgabe wird häufig von dem Argument begleitet, dass damit der Mensch/Fahrer als Ursache für Unfälle aus dem System getilgt werden könnte. Allerdings wird hierbei erstens übersehen, dass Unfälle seltene und multikausal verursachte Ereignisse sind. Der Mensch stellt also nicht den Alleinverursacher, sondern in vielen Fällen sogar die letzte sehr wichtige Sicherheitskomponente im System. In jeder Hinsicht ist daher eine objektive Betrachtung der Fehlerverteilungen und der statistischen Zusammenhänge der Unfallentstehung sinnvoll.
In vivo imaging of therapy response to a novel Pan-HER antibody mixture using FDG and FLT positron emission tomography

Purpose Overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family and their ligands plays an important role in many cancers. Targeting multiple members of the HER family simultaneously may increase the therapeutic efficacy. Here, we report the ability to image the therapeutic response obtained by targeting HER family members individually or simultaneously using the novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) mixture Pan-HER. Experimental design and results Mice with subcutaneous BxPC-3 pancreatic adenocarcinomas were divided into five groups receiving vehicle or mAb mixtures directed against either EGFR (HER1), HER2, HER3 or all three receptors combined by Pan-HER. Small animal positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with 2′-deoxy-2′-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) and 3′-deoxy-3′-[18F]fluorothymidine (FLT) was performed at baseline and at day 1 or 2 after initiation of therapy. Changes in tumor uptake of tracers were quantified and compared to reduction in tumor size. Imaging results were further validated by immunohistochemistry and qPCR. Mean FDG and FLT uptake in the Pan-HER treated group decreased by 19±4.3% and 24±3.1%, respectively. The early change in FDG and FLT uptake correlated with tumor growth at day 23 relative to day 0. Ex vivo molecular analyses of markers associated with the mechanisms of FDG and FLT uptake confirmed the in vivo imaging results. Conclusions Taken together, the study supports the use of FDG and FLT as imaging biomarkers of early response to Pan-HER therapy. FDG and FLT PET/CT imaging should be considered as imaging biomarkers in clinical evaluation of the Pan-HER mAb mixture.
Novel method to leukoreduce murine blood for transfusion: how to reduce animal usage

Basic research on the pathomechanisms of transfusion‐related adverse events depends on murine transfusion models, in which leukoreduction (LR) is a prevalent standard. The commonly used neonatal LR filter (LRF) is associated with considerable animal numbers. A more efficient method would help support the guiding principles of “replacement, reduction, refinement” (3Rs).
Design and Implementation of a Real-Time Smart Home Automation System Based on Arduino Microcontroller Kit and LabVIEW Platform

In this paper a design and implementation concept for a realtime smart home automation system based on Arduino microcontroller board and LabVIEW platform has been presented. The proposed automation system consists of two main hardware components: personal computer (PC) as a home main server including the LabVIEW platform management and the Arduino microcontroller board. Some appliances and sensors are connected to the microcontroller board. The home appliances can be monitored, controlled, and accessed automatically in response to any signals came from related sensors or by the system user. The architecture of the proposed system and processes flow charts have been developed. To evaluate the reliability and the effectiveness of the proposed system, a hardware realization for three operational home appliances: temperature management, light energy saving, and security camera based on an ultrasonic distance detection sensor has been developed. The proposed system is shown to be a simple, cost effective and flexible that making it a suitable and a good candidate for the smart home future.