Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analytical and Clinical Validation of a Point-of-Care Cardiac Troponin T Test with an Improved Detection Limit.

BACKGROUND The point-of-care test Roche CARDIAC POC Troponin T (PoC TnT) is an improved assay which has been developed for the Roche cobas h 232 system. METHODS We performed a multicentre evaluation (four sites) to assess the analytical performance of the PoC TnT assay and to compare it with the central laboratory Elecsys® troponin T high sensitive (lab cTnT-hs) assay. RESULTS The relative mean differences found in method comparisons of PoC TnT vs. lab cTnT-hs ranged from -4.1% to +6.8%. Additionally, there was good concordance between PoC TnT and lab cTnT-hs for the number of samples with troponin T values below the measuring range of 40 ng/L. Lot-to-lot differences of PoC TnT ranged from -8.6% to +4.6%. Within-series coefficients of variation (CV) resulting from 81 ten-fold measurements with patient samples were 9.3%, 11.8%, and 12.9% in the low (40 to < 200 ng/L), medium (200 to < 600 ng/L), and high (600 to 2000 ng/L) measuring range, respectively. Using the system quality control, the mean CV for between-day imprecision was 11.3%. No interference was observed by triglycerides (up to 11.4 mmol/L), bilirubin (up to 376 µmol/L), hemoglobin (up to 0.12 mmol/L), biotin (up to 30 µg/L), rheumatoid factor (up to 200 IU/mL), or with 52 standard or cardiovascular drugs at therapeutic concentrations. There was no influence on the results by varying hematocrit values in a range from 25% to 53%. However, interferences with human anti-mouse antibodies were found. No significant influence on the results was found with PoC TnT by using sample volumes between 135 to 165 µL. High troponin T concentrations up to 500 µg/L did not lead to false low results, indicating no high-concentration hook effect. No cross-reactivity was found between the PoC TnT assay and human skeletal troponin T up to 1000 µg/L (< 0.05%). Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity data of a subpopulation (23 patients) of this study are in agreement with results of another large pre-hospital study. CONCLUSIONS The PoC TnT assay showed good analytical performance with excellent concordance with the calibration and reference laboratory method. It should therefore be suitable for its intended use in point-of-care settings.
A fully-integrated power supply design for wireless implantable biosensors

This paper presents a fully integrated thermoelectric energy harvesting circuit with a new 20mV-input boost converter for biomedical applications. In order to have a fully-integrated system, on-chip inductor and capacitors are used. A charge-pump-like circuit is added to the end of the boost converter to further increase the output voltage and relax the boost converter. The low input voltage requirements allow operation from a thermoelectric generator powered by body heat. Using this approach, a thermoelectric energy harvesting circuit has been designed in a 90nm CMOS technology. According to HSPICE Simulation results, the circuit operates from input voltages as low as 20mV and generates output voltage as high as 1V when connecting to a load ranging from 0 to 10uW. The value of on-chip inductor and capacitors are 10nH and 40pF, respectively.
The impact of erythrocyte age on eryptosis

Mature, circulating erythrocytes undergo senescence, which limits their life span to approximately 120 d. Upon injury, erythrocytes may undergo suicidal erythrocyte death or eryptosis, which may accelerate senescence and shorten their survival. Eryptosis is defined as cell shrinkage and exposure of phosphatidylserine at the cell surface. Triggers of eryptosis include oxidative stress. The present study addresses the impact of erythrocyte age on the relative susceptibility to eryptosis. Erythrocytes were separated into five fractions, based on age‐associated differences in density and volume. Cell membrane scrambling was estimated from binding of annexin V to phosphatidylserine at the erythrocyte surface, the cell volume from forward scatter, and the Ca2+ level from Fluo‐3‐dependent fluorescence. In addition, glutathione (GSH) concentrations were measured by an enzymatic/colourimetric method. After 48 h incubation in Ringer solution, Annexin V binding increased significantly with erythrocyte age. The differences were not accompanied by altered GSH concentrations, but were reversed by addition of the antioxidant N‐acetyl‐l‐cysteine in vitro. Also, N‐acetyl‐l‐cysteine significantly prolonged the half‐life of circulating mouse erythrocytes in vivo. Thus, the susceptibility to eryptosis increases with the age of the erythrocytes, and this effect is at least partially due to enhanced sensitivity to oxidative stress.
Resolution and Electrophysiological Effects of Mexiletine Enantiomers

Abstract— Resolution of mexiletine enantiomers from the racemic mixture has been achieved by fractional crystallization through the formation of diastereoisomeric p‐toluoyl tartrate salts. Following three crystallization steps in methanol, R‐(–)‐ and S‐(+)‐mexiletine were resolved with an optical purity > 98 % (yield ∼ 30%) and their hydrochloride salts formed. Incremental doses of mexiletine enantiomers were administered to dogs with experimentally‐induced arrhythmias to investigate the stereoselective antiarrhythmic and electrophysiological effects of these compounds. Using up to three extrastimuli, programmed electrical stimulation was performed in conscious animals 7–30 days after coronary ligation. R‐(–)‐Mexiletine prevented ventricular tachycardia in 3/6 dogs (2 after 0·5 mg kg−1, 1 after 8 mg kg−1); two animals died after 1 and 8 mg kg−1, respectively; one remained unchanged even at the highest dosage (16 mg kg−1). S‐(+)‐Mexiletine prevented ventricular tachycardia in only one dog (after 1 mg kg−1); two died after 4 and 8 mg kg−1, respectively; 2/5 remained unchanged even after the administration of 16 mg kg−1. No significant changes in any electrocardiographic intervals (PR, QRS, QTc) or refractory periods were induced by mexiletine enantiomers at any doses used (0·5–16·0 mg kg−1). These results suggest that R‐(–)‐mexiletine possesses greater antiarrhythmic properties than the opposite enantiomer.
Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the patterns of retinal input to neurons in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat

In the visual system of the cat the projection from the retina to the lateral geniculate nucleus has been studied extensively. However, the patterns of synaptic contacts made by individual axons onto individual cells have not been described. In this study these patterns have been examined for class 1 cells (Guillery: J. Comp. Neurol. 128:21, '66). Retinogeniculate axons and lateral geniculate neurons are labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) via injections into the optic tracts and optic radiations, respectively. Sections are then processed for combined light and electron microscopic analysis. They are examined with the light microscope to identify labeled lateral geniculate neurons that appear to be contacted by labeled retinal axons. These cells and axons are then analyzed by a computerized microscope system, and sites of apparent synaptic contact are recorded. This light microscopic analysis indicates that individual class 1 cells are contacted by many retinogeniculate axons (> 10) and that each of these axons contacts many lateral geniculate neurons (> 20). Some axons make numerous contacts that are concentrated onto a few dendrites, while others make only a few contacts, which are spread over several dendrites. In all cases, the majority of contacts are on the dendritic shafts of relatively thick secondary and tertiary dendrites. Electron microscopic analysis confirms that most of the contacts identified with the light mciroscope are synaptic. It also reveals that labeled and unlabeled retinal axons can innervate the same dendritic segment. Finally, one cell was studied that had its soma and most of its dendrites in lamina A1 but some of its dendrites extended into lamina A. This cell received input from retinal axons in both layers, thus suggesting that it may have been binocularly excitable. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dichotomy for Holant* Problems with Domain Size 3

Holant problems are a general framework to study the algorithmic complexity of counting problems. Both counting constraint satisfaction problems and graph homomorphisms are special cases. All previous results of Holant problems are over the Boolean domain. In this paper, we give the first dichotomy theorem for Holant problems for domain size greater than two. We discover unexpected tractable families of counting problems, by giving new polynomial time algorithms. This paper also initiates holographic reductions in domains of size greater than two. This is our main algorithmic technique, and is used for both tractable families and hardness reductions. The dichotomy theorem is the following: For any complex-valued symmetric function F with arity 3 on domain size 3, we give an explicit criterion on F, such that if F satisfies the criterion then the problem Holant*(F) is computable in polynomial time, otherwise Holant*(F) is #P-hard.
A high performance electroporation chip integrating multi-well plate and annular interdigital microelectrodes

Electroporation, in which electric pulses are applied to create transient pores in the cell membrane, is widely used to introduce biologically active molecules into cells. Here we report a novel electroporation chip with great performance and good compatibility with the standard multi-well plate used in biological research. We demonstrated a prototype chip integrating with a 12-well plate and successfully electroporated both adherent and supernatant cells. Using the standard expression cell line HEK-293 and expression vector pEGFP-C3, we realized excellent cell viability (80%) and transfection rate (90%), both much higher than those in previously reported methods.
Secretion of human epidermal growth factor (EGF) in autotrophic culture by a recombinant hydrogen-utilizing bacterium, Pseudomonas pseudoflava, carrying broad-host-range EGF secretion vector pKSEGF2

We constructed the broad-host-range human epidermal growth factor (EGF) secretion plasmid pKSEGF2 by inserting the Escherichia coli tac promoter, the signal sequence of Pseudomonas stutzeri amylase, and the synthesized EGF gene into the broad-host-range vector pKT230. E. coli JM109 carrying pKSEGF2 secreted EGF into the periplasm and the culture medium under the control of the tac promoter. Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1161 carrying pKSEGF2 and Pseudomonas putida AC10 carrying pKSEGF2 secreted EGF into the culture medium constitutively. Four hydrogen-utilizing bacteria, Pseudomonas pseudoflava, Alcaligenes eutrophus, Alcaligenes paradoxus, and Paracoccus denitrificans, were transconjugated with pKSEGF2 from eight hydrogen-utilizing bacteria tested. In these transconjugated hydrogen-utilizing bacteria, P. pseudoflava carrying pKSEGF2 grew autotrophically and secreted EGF, confirmed by Western blot (immunoblot) analysis, into the culture medium constitutively.
Classification of Knowledge Representations using an Ontology-based Approach

One of the primary research challenges in the knowledge representation domain relates to the process of formalization of document contents using dependent metadata and in particular how the classifiers are derived. Most approaches to determining appropriate classifiers are limited and only take account of the explicit, word-based information in the document. The research described in this paper explores the potential classifier enrichment through incorporation of implicit information derived from the complex relationships (Semantic Associations) in domain ontologies with the addition of information presented in documents for unsupervised document classification. The paper introduces a novel conceptual framework for representation of knowledge sources, where each knowledge source is semantically represented (within its domain of use) by a Semantic Vector (SV), which is enriched using the classical vector space model approach extended with ontological support, employing ontology concepts and their relations in the enrichment process. The test domain for the assessment of the approach is Building and Construction, using an appropriate available Ontology. Preliminary results were collected using a clustering algorithm for document classification, which indicates that the proposed approach does improve the precision and recall of classifications. Future work and open issues are also discussed.
A Parallel-Coupled Microstrip Bandpass Filter With Suppression of Both the 2nd and the 3rd Harmonic Responses

This paper presents a parallel-coupled microstrip bandpass filter with simultaneous suppression of both the 2nd and the 3rd harmonic passband responses. Half-wave open-ended resonators are used to provide transmission zeros for the 2nd and the 3rd harmonics so that the spurious passbands at the 2nd and the 3rd harmonic frequencies are reduced. In addition to placing the resonators, the filter is bent twice by 90 degrees to achieve more compact size and higher suppression of the 3rd harmonic passband. This method can be applied to the conventional parallel-coupled microstrip bandpass filter without any significant change of the conventional filter design
Participatory Video-Assisted Evaluation of Truck Drivers’ Work Outside Cab: Deliveries in Two Types of Transport

The aim of this study was to identify risks and ergonomics discomfort during work of local and short haul delivery truck drivers outside a cab. The study used a video- and computer-based method (VIDAR). VIDAR is a participatory method identifying demanding work situations and their potential risks. The drivers’ work was videoed and analysed by subjects and ergonomists. Delivery truck drivers should not be perceived as one group with equal risks because there were significant differences between the 2 types of transportation and specific types of risks. VIDAR produces visual material for risk management processes. VIDAR as a participatory approach stimulates active discussion about work-related risks and discomfort, and about possibilities for improvement. VIDAR may be also applied to work which comprises different working environments.
Cognitive dysfunction and functional disability in alcohol-dependent adults with or without a comorbid affective disorder

Introduction. Little is known about the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and functional disability in alcohol dependence with comorbid affective disorders. We investigated the neuropsychology of alcohol dependence in detoxified adults with and without affective comorbidity and examined the factors associated with prolonged functional disability. Methods. From a total of 42 participants (age range = 18–44 years), 12 out of 21 alcohol-dependent participants had a comorbid affective disorder, 12 had an affective disorder only, and 9 were healthy controls. Participants completed a semi-structured clinical interview, questionnaires and comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. Results. Following detoxification (median = 35 days; M = 41.2 days, SD = 17.9), visual learning and memory functioning was worse in alcohol-dependent individuals. Comorbid affective disorders did not appear to exacerbate cognitive dysfunction. Psychiatric comorbidity and current depressive symptoms were predictive of poorer functional disability. Furthermore, learning and memory, and response inhibition, contributed significantly and independently to predicting functional disability over and above clinical and demographic factors. Conclusions. Psychiatric comorbidity does not appear to be associated with more pronounced neuropsychological dysfunction in alcohol dependence. Conversely, both comorbid affective disorders and cognitive factors were critical in determining the functional outcomes of alcohol-dependent adults recently undergoing medically supervised inpatient detoxification.
Basic Confocal Microscopy

This unit introduces the reader to the basic principles of confocal microscopy and the design and capabilities of current confocal microscopes. The advantages and disadvantages of confocal microscopy compared to other techniques for fluorescence imaging are described. There are also practical guidelines for sample preparation and optimization of imaging parameters, as well as examples of some of the applications of confocal microscopy. Curr. Protoc. Neurosci. 56:2.2. 1‐2.2. 18. © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
La cultura política del ciudadano y la comunicación política en TV, en la transición política del plebiscito chileno (octubre 1988)

Los objetos de estudio en las Ciencias Sociales son inasequibles a traves de una metodologia experimental; es decir, no se pueden recrear en laboratorio las condiciones materiales que canonicamente mejor puedan representar los parametros formales de una hipotesis previamente formulada. Como se sabe, la observacion, en Ciencias Sociales, aspira entonces a colectar datos que, si bien se destinan a representar canonicamente los parametros de una teoria, no se reproducen en situaciones experimentales, sino en situaciones historicas; o sea, en situaciones solo convencionalmente acotadas para un espacio geografico y un tiempo historico, y referidas a algun aspecto o manifestacion de la actividad comunitaria de una pobla-
Isolation of a novel compound (MIMO2) from the methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves: protective effects against vanadium-induced cytotoxity

Abstract Moringa oleifera is reported to be a miracle plant, with positive effects on practically every system in the animal body. The methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves was fractionated using liquid–liquid fractionation, column chromatography and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Bioassay guided fractionation using Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) was used to determine the fraction with the highest antioxidative power. Chemical structure was elucidated with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. FRAP showed that the pure compound, butyl p-hydroxyphenyl-acetate (MIMO2) exhibited an antioxidant activity higher than TEMPOL (positive control). Vanadium is a metal, which as a salt has been shown to be a neurotoxicant; and was therefore used to assess the efficacy of MIMO2 in this experiment. HT22 (immortalized mouse hippocampal) cells were used for cell culture. The Comet assay showed a statistically significant reduction (p < .05) in DNA damage when 0.25 and 0.5 μM MIMO2 as well as 0.1 and 0.2 mg of the methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves (MO) were used in combination with 200 μM vanadium (sodium metavanadate). Analogously, a reduced formation of superoxide was observed using dihydroethidium (2,7-Diamino-10-ethyl-9-phenyl-9,10-dihydrophenanthridine—DHE) stain after 0.5 μM MIMO2 and 0.063 mg MO were used in combination with vanadium 100 μM. MIMO2 and MO gave a statistically significant (p < .05) protective effect against vanadium toxicity on neuronal cells. Further assays may need to be performed to assess the extent of protection that MIMO2 may offer, and also to better understand its mechanisms of action.
A new method for strictness analysis on non-flat domains

The authors address the problem of strictness analysis, particularly in the case of non-flat domains, i.e., lazily evaluated lists. Their approach to this problem is novel in that it is based on an abstract domain of very general necessity patterns which allow the requirements that a function has for the components of the data structures which form its arguments, to be modeled in great detail. The necessity patterns also allow the generation of finite abstract domains in a systematic way that can be easily customized for the application. The authors refer to the analysis using necessity patterns as a necessity analysis. This is essentially a form of backwards analysis but carried out in a different framework. <<ETX>>
Correlation of neonatal intensive care unit performance across multiple measures of quality of care.

OBJECTIVES To examine whether high performance on one measure of quality is associated with high performance on others and to develop a data-driven explanatory model of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) performance. DESIGN We conducted a cross-sectional data analysis of a statewide perinatal care database. Risk-adjusted NICU ranks were computed for each of 8 measures of quality selected based on expert input. Correlations across measures were tested using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine whether underlying factors were driving the correlations. SETTING Twenty-two regional NICUs in California. PATIENTS In total, 5445 very low-birth-weight infants cared for between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2007. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES Pneumothorax, growth velocity, health care-associated infection, antenatal corticosteroid use, hypothermia during the first hour of life, chronic lung disease, mortality in the NICU, and discharge on any human breast milk. RESULTS The NICUs varied substantially in their clinical performance across measures of quality. Of 28 unit-level correlations, 6 were significant (ρ < .05). Correlations between pairs of measures of quality of care were strong (ρ ≥ .5) for 1 pair, moderate (range, ρ ≥ .3 to ρ < .5) for 8 pairs, weak (range, ρ ≥ .1 to ρ < .3) for 5 pairs, and negligible (ρ < .1) for 14 pairs. Exploratory factor analysis revealed 4 underlying factors of quality in this sample. Pneumothorax, mortality in the NICU, and antenatal corticosteroid use loaded on factor 1; growth velocity and health care-associated infection loaded on factor 2; chronic lung disease loaded on factor 3; and discharge on any human breast milk loaded on factor 4. CONCLUSION In this sample, the ability of individual measures of quality to explain overall quality of neonatal intensive care was modest.
Specificity from the synapsis of DNA elements by the Sfi I endonuclease.

The synapsis of DNA sites is a prerequisite for the reactions of many proteins that act at specific DNA sequences. The requirement for synapsis was investigated by analysing the reactions of Sfi I, a tetrameric restriction enzyme that cleaves DNA only after interacting with two recognition sites. In the presence of Mg2+, oligonucleotide duplexes with the cognate recognition sequence were cleaved rapidly, with cooperative kinetics, while non-cognate duplexes were not cleaved. In the absence of Mg2+, the primary complex formed by Sfi I with cognate DNA contained two duplexes synapsed by the tetramer: a secondary complex containing one duplex was seen only at elevated Sfi I concentrations. In contrast, the principal complex with non-cognate DNA contained one duplex bound to Sfi I. Pairs of non-cognate duplexes, or one cognate and one non-cognate duplex, generally failed to form synaptic complexes. On adding Mg2+to complexes with cognate DNA, cleavage occurred much more rapidly in the synaptic complex than in the secondary complex. DNA synapsis thus acts to enhance the specificity of Sfi I for its recognition sequence, by demanding two cognate sites for a catalytically active complex and by excluding non-cognate sites from the synaptic complex.