Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preparation and evaluation of a novel gastric mucoadhesive sustained-release acyclovir microsphere

Objective: The objective of this study was to prepare a novel gastric mucoadhesive sustained-release acyclovir (AV)-resinate microsphere. Methods: First, AV absorption ratio was quantified in a rat gastrointestinal (GI) tract model. AV-resinate was prepared by bath method and used as cores to prepare microspheres by an emulsion solvent diffusion technique with carbopol 934 as coating material. GI transit test of the prepared microspheres was carried out in rats and beagle dogs, followed by the in vivo bioavailability evaluation of the microspheres in beagle dogs. Results: The AV absorption ratio in different segments of rat's GI track for 3 hours was as following: stomach 9.46 ± 0.62%, duodenum 20.22 ± 1.50%, jejunum 15.7 ± 1.33%, ileum 9.15 ± 1.01%, and colon 4.59 ± 0.48%. These results showed that AV was mainly absorbed in the stomach and upper intestine. The average diameter of the microspheres was 115.3 μm. The microspheres had a drug content of 33.3 ± 0.7% (w/w) and a sustained-release profile for 12 hours in vitro. The mucoadhesive test in rats and beagle dogs showed that most of the microspheres were retained in the stomach 6 hours after oral administration. The in vivo pharmacokinetics test revealed that the microsphere and reference (AV tablets) preparations have no significant difference for Cmax. The tmax has increased from 2.33 hours (reference) to 5 hours (test). Meanwhile, the relative bioavailability of AV microspheres was 145%. Conclusion: A novel AV-resinate microsphere was prepared. The microspheres were proved to be gastric mucoadhesive and sustained-release with higher bioavailability.
Using Hidden Markov Switching-Mixed Normal Distribution Model to Study the Distribution of Chinese Stock Index Returns

Understanding the distribution of financial asset returns is critical for investment and risk management. The traditional assumption of normal distribution does not well describe the skewness and kurtosis of log returns. Most of the currently proposed return distribution models lack the capability to allow time-varying distribution. Thus in this paper, we introduce Markov switching structure into the distribution of Chinese stock index returns, propose the hidden Markov switching-mixed normal distribution(HMS-MND) model, and give the Expectation-Maximization(EM) algorithm for model parameter estimation. The log daily and weekly returns on the major stock indexes of Shanghai stock exchange are used for empirical tests. Parameter estimates as well as likelihood ratio test results show that, the introduction of Markov switching structure could significantly improve the model's fitting capability. It is also shown that HMS-MND model could well describe the statistics of stock index log returns. Therefore, we argue that using hidden Markov switching-mixed normal distribution model to study the distribution of Chinese stock index returns is of practical value.
Communication-efficient decentralized quickest change detection

A significant cost in spectrum sensing using multiple sensors is the communication cost associated with distant transmissions to a fusion center. A new formulation for communication-efficient decentralized change detection is proposed where local sensors are memoryless, receive independent observations, and no feedback from the fusion center. Average detection delay and false alarm probability have been previously used for system design and performance assessment. In this paper, we introduce an additional constraint: the average number of communications between local sensors and the fusion center. This metric is able to reflect both the cost of establishing communication links as well as overall energy consumption over time. The proposed algorithm minimizes detection delay with constraints on both false alarm probability and average number of communications. The optimal choice of thresholds in the algorithm are determined by a combination of sequential detection analysis and constrained optimization. Performance is investigated for different scenarios through both analysis and simulation, where the effects of approximations used are evaluated.
PasBus - A Messaging Mechanism Built on Pastry

This paper presents PasBus, an efficient messaging mechanism which aims mainly at unicast message delivery and supports a small-scale multicast. PasBus is built on Pastry, a generic overlay substrate that is self-organizing, fault-tolerable, scalable, and efficient in object location and routing. While Pastry uses a one-dimensional 128 bit NodeID to identify a node in the overlay, PasBus is based on a multi-dimensional address structure. Settling the problem of how to locate a multi-dimensional address in a Pastry overlay, PasBus is able to both utilize the multi-dimensional address structure to implement some particular functions, and possess the features that Pastry has, such as logarithmic routing performance, and easiness to use. Simulations show that with the PasBus mechanism, with tens of thousands of application nodes in the system, messages across the Pastry overlay can be delivered with a low average delay, which proves that it can be used for realtime message delivering. Based on the multi-dimensional address structure, we propose a small-scale multicast mechanism, and show with simulations that this mechanism can distribute multicast messages efficiently within small groups of less than 200 members.
Effects of Guilt, Disbelief, and Assessed Lie-Truth Telling Abilities on Physiological Responses in the Guilty Action Test

This experiment used a mock crime procedure in which 100 participants were randomly assigned to four experimental conditions in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Two guilt conditions (guilty and informed innocents) were crossed with two human interrogation feedback conditions (believed and not believed). The Guilty Action polygraph test was administered several days after the mock crime and the human interrogation. Along with the common dependent polygraph measures (electro dermal, respiration, and cardiovascular measures), self-assessments of the ability to tell lies and to tell the truths convincingly, were gathered. Results showed enhanced responses to the critical items for all three physiological measures. Respiration responses significantly differentiated between guilty and informed innocent participants. No significant guilt effect was obtained for electro dermal and cardiovascular responses. The feedback manipulation failed to affect all three physiological responses. Informed innocent participants who rated low their ability to tell the truth convincingly elicited larger electro dermal responses to critical items than high raters. Guilty participants who rated high their lie telling ability showed larger electro dermal responses to critical items than low raters. Further research on the association between self-assessment of lie and truth telling abilities and physiological responsivity in the Guilty Action Test is recommended.
Effect of thermal cycling and disinfection on microhardness of acrylic resin denture base

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of thermal cycling and disinfection on the microhardness of acrylic resins denture base. Four different brands of acrylic resins were evaluated: Onda Cryl, QC 20, Classico and Lucitone. Each brand of acrylic resin was divided into four groups (n = 7) according to the disinfection method (microwave, Efferdent, 4% chlorhexidine and 1% hypochlorite). Samples were disinfected during 60 days. Before and after disinfection, samples were thermal cycled between 5–55 °C with 30-s dwell times for 1000 cycles. The microhardness was measured using a microhardener, at baseline (B), after first thermal cycling (T1), after disinfection (D) and after second thermal cycling (T2). The microhardness values of all groups reduced over time. QC-20 acrylic resin exhibited the lowest microhardness values. At B and T1 periods, the acrylic resins exhibited statistically greater microhardness values when compared to D and T2 periods. It can be concluded that the microhardness values of the acrylic resins denture base were affected by the thermal cycling and disinfection procedures. However, all microhardness values obtained herein are within acceptable clinical limits for the acrylic resins.
Pichia rarassimilans sp. nov., a novel yeast species isolated from body surface of the ambrosia beetle Platypus quercivorus.

Insects, as well as soil, plants, animals including human beings, fermented foods, freshwater and saline environment, are a rich source of yeasts (Barnett, 2000). In recent years, beetle gut has being brought into the spot light as a poorly explored habitat of yeasts (Boekhout, 2005; Suh et al., 2005). Ambrosia beetles have also been known to have close relevance with ascomycetous (including mitosporic) yeasts which are suspected to play an important role as their food source (Bridges et al., 1984; Francke-Grosmann, 1967; Leufvén and Nehls, 1986; Six, 2003; Whitney, 1971). However, the fungal symbionts of only a small percentage of the ambrosia beetles have been identified (Harrington, 2005). Symbiotic fungi of ambrosia beetles include yeast species (Batra, 1967; Francke-Grosmann, 1967). However, information about the symbiotic ambrosial yeasts of platypodid beetles in Japan is limited. We isolated miscellaneous yeasts in the course of a survey to explore the fungi associated with the ambrosia beetle Platypus quercivorus Murayama sampled in Kyoto, Japan, in 2004. Of them, the yeast strain originally designated as y20 (Isolate no. 10 in Endoh and Futai, 2006) appeared to represent a new species of the genus Pichia, phylogenetically related to Candida ponderosae Kurtzman, and the strain y20 is described in this paper as Pichia rarassimilans sp. nov. The type strain is JCM 14993T (=CBS 10901T). The method of yeast isolation was reported by Endoh and Futai (2006). Morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics were examined according to the methods of Yarrow (1998). The assimilation of nitrogen compounds was tested using solid media while growth tests at various temperatures were performed in YM broth (Difco) using metal block baths. The major ubiquinone type was determined according to Nakase and Suzuki (1985). The DNA base composition was determined by HPLC after enzymatic digestion of DNA to deoxynucleosides as described by Tamaoka and Komagata (1984) using a DNA-GC Kit (Yamasa Shoyu Co., Ltd., Chiba, Japan). The nucleotide sequence of large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) D1/D2 region was determined according to Kurtzman and Robnett (1998). Sequence data were aligned by using the GENETYX-MAC program (Software Development, Tokyo, Japan). The sequence determined in this study was deposited in the DDBJ database as AB363842, and compared with those available in the GenBank database at the DDBJ using the BLASTN program (Altschul et al., 1997). The nuJ. Gen. Appl. Microbiol. , 54, 181‒186 (2008)
Correlation of regional proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic metabolic changes with cognitive deficits in mild Alzheimer disease.

CONTEXT The staging of Alzheimer disease (AD) dementia could be improved by a neurometabolic analysis using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. OBJECTIVE To examine the correlation between regional cerebral metabolic alterations measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and neuropsychological dysfunctions in patients with early AD. DESIGN A case-control study. SETTING University hospital neurology clinic and radiology department. PARTICIPANTS A cohort of 14 patients with mild AD and 14 control subjects paired for age and sex. INTERVENTIONS Single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic brain examination (60 minutes) and a comprehensive battery of psychometric tests (2 hours). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Metabolite ratios relative to unsuppressed water were calculated for magnetic resonance spectroscopic metabolites (N-acetylaspartate, choline, creatine-phosphocreatine, and myo-inositol) in the medial temporal lobes (MTLs), parietotemporal cortices (PTCs), and frontal cortices of both hemispheres. Correlations were examined between metabolic changes in an area and psychometric scores of its known regional function: MTL and verbal memory, PTC and language and visuoconstructional abilities, and frontal cortices and executive functions. RESULTS A significant reduction of N-acetylaspartate/water (H2O) in the left MTL and of choline/H2O in both MTLs, as well as a significant increase of myo-inositol/H2O in the right PTC were observed. Metabolic alterations in the left MTL were correlated with a loss of verbal memory, in the left PTC with language impairment, and in the right PTC with a loss of visuoconstructional abilities in the group with AD. CONCLUSION These findings are consistent with regional distribution of neuropathologic changes and cognitive symptoms characterizing early phases of AD, and with the pattern of lateralization of normal brain function.
Development and target following of vision-based autonomous robotic fish

SUMMARY A novel ostraciiform swimming, vision-based autonomous robotic fish is developed in this paper. Its feasibility and capability are shown by implementing a dynamic target following task in a swimming pool. Inspired by boxfish that is highly stable and fairly maneuverable, the robotic fish is designed and constructed by locating multiple propulsors peripherally around a rigid body. Swimming locomotion of the robotic fish is achieved through harmonic oscillations of the tail and pectoral fins. The forces and moments acting on the fins and body are analyzed and the governing motion equations are derived. Through coordinating the movements of the propulsors, several typical swimming patters are empirical designed and realized. A digital camera is integrated in the robotic fish, and the visual information is processed with the embedded microcontroller. To treat the degradation of underwater image, a continuously adaptive mean shift (Camshift) algorithm is modified to keep visual lock on the moving target. A fuzzy logic controller is designed for motion regulation of a hybrid swimming pattern, which employs synchronized pectoral fins for thrust generation and tail fin for steering. A simple target following task is designed via an autonomous robotic fish swimming after a manually controlled robotic fish with fixed distance. The swimming performance of the robotic fish is tested and the effectiveness of the proposed target following method is verified experimentally.
What Is the Cost of Quality for Diabetes Care?

Increasing the quality of care and reducing cost growth are core objectives of numerous private- and public-sector performance improvement initiatives. Using a unique panel data set for a commercially insured population and multivariate regression analysis, this study examines the relationship between medical care spending and diabetes-related quality measures, including provider-initiated processes of care and patient-dependent quality activities. Empirical evidence generated from this analysis of the relationship between a comprehensive set of diabetes quality measures and diabetes-related spending does not lend support for the assumption that high-quality preventive and primary care combined with effective patient self-management can lead to lower costs in the near term. Finally, we find no relationship between adjusted spending and intermediate clinical outcomes (e.g., HbA1c level) measured at the clinic level.
EVALUATION OF STOOL ANTIGEN DETECTION FOR DIAGNOSIS OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION IN ADULTS

Abstract Objective: The aims of this study were to evaluate the performance of Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test in the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. Method: The study included 63 out patients attending the ULB-Lothier Clinic between January 1 and July 31, 2002. They underwent an upper endoscopy, as well as biopsies for histological examination and for culture of H. pylori. Stool samples of these patients were collected either the day of the endoscopy or within 24 hours and tested for H. pylori antigen (HpSA Test) Results: The mean age of study patients included 29 men and 34 women was 51(± :16) years. H. pylori infection was detected in 29 cases (46 %) by culture and histology, and in 31 cases (49.2 %) by detection of the antigen in the feces. In 27 patients, all methods were positive whereas 5 in they provided discrepant results. Compared to the reference methods (culture and histology), the HpSA test had a sensitivity of 96.5% and a specificity of 91.2%. PPV of 90.3% and NPV of 96.8%. Conclusion: The good correlation found between the results of the HpSA test and the methods based on endoscopy supports its use as an alternative to invasive methods of diagnosis of H. pylori infection and therapeutic follow-up.
Induction of mild hypothermia in cardiac arrest survivors presenting with cardiogenic shock syndrome

Background: Induction of mild hypothermia (MH) in patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest improves their outcome. However, benefits and risks of MH in patients who remain in cardiogenic shock after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) are unclear. We analysed all cardiac arrest survivors who were treated with MH in our intensive coronary care unit (CCU) and compared the outcome of patients with cardiogenic shock syndrome (CSS) with those who were circulatory stable.
Effect of carbohydrate ingestion on the glycemic response of type 1 diabetic adolescents during exercise.

Ingestion of a drink containing sufficient carbohydrates can result in avoidance of exercise-induced hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetic individuals. In a previous study (1), we analyzed the effect of ingesting a drink with 6% carbohydrate (0.636 g/kg) on blood glucose concentration in type 1 diabetic adolescents during 60 min of moderate exercise and after 30 min of recovery. At the end of the trial, blood glucose concentration was reduced by 21 mg/dl. Drink concentrations of >6% carbohydrate may help to prevent blood glucose reduction during exercise in type 1 diabetic subjects. However, the increased osmolality of high-carbohydrate drinks may cause gastrointestinal distress (2). This study aimed to determine whether carbohydrate solutions (8 and 10%) could prevent exercise blood glucose drops and to examine the gastrointestinal symptoms in type 1 diabetic adolescents. Sixteen subjects (10 males and 6 females, age 16.1 ± 0.6 years, weight 62.8 ± 9.8 kg, height 168.3 ± 13.6 cm) volunteered to participate in the study and provided written informed consent. The mean duration of the condition was 7.3 ± 0.01 years, HbA1c was 6.8 ± 3.3%, and there were no chronic complications. Subjects were taking intermediate-acting or ultralong-acting insulin. The ethical committee of Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre approved the study. Both drinks were prepared by adding glucose and fructose to a solution with 4% sucrose and 2% …
Application of a RE-AIM framework to assess the impact of the Southwest American Indian Collaborative Network

In response to a Request for Proposals from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) along with health care partners from the Phoenix Indian medical Center (PIMC) and academic partners from the Arizona Cancer Center (ACC) at the University of Arizona (UA), and the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) established a Community Network Program entitled the Southwest American Indian Collaborative Network (SAICN). The ultimate goal of the SAICN project was to "eliminate cancer health disparities by closing the gap between the health needs of the community and cancer prevention and control made possible by a responsive health delivery and research system. " At the close of the 5-year funding period for the SAICN project, a RE-AIM framework provided an important evaluative tool for identifying areas of potential long- term impact.
Roles of integrins and fibronectin in the entry of Streptococcus pyogenes into cells via protein F1

Entry of group A streptococcus (GAS) into cells has been suggested as an important trait in GAS pathogenicity. Protein F1, a fibronectin (Fn) binding protein, mediates GAS adherence to cells and the extracellular matrix, and efficient cell internalization. We demonstrate that the cellular receptors responsible for protein F1‐mediated internalization of GAS are integrins capable of Fn binding. In HeLa cells, bacterial entry is blocked by anti‐β1 integrin monoclonal antibody. In the mouse cell line GD25, a β1 null mutant, the αvβ3 integrin promotes GAS entry. Internalization of these cells by GAS is blocked by a peptide that specifically binds to αvβ3 integrin. In both cell lines, entry of GAS requires the occupancy of protein F1 by Fn. Neither the 29 kDa nor the 70 kDa N‐terminal fragments or the 120 kDa cell‐binding fragment of Fn promote bacterial entry. Fn‐coated beads are taken up efficiently by HeLa cells. Both the entry of GAS via protein F1 and the uptake of Fn‐coated beads are blocked by anti‐β1 antibody but are unaffected by a large excess of soluble Fn. Internalization of HeLa cells by bacteria bearing increasing amounts of prebound Fn to protein F1 reveals a sigmoidal ultrasensitive curve. These suggest that the ability of particles to interact via Fn with multiple integrin sites plays a central role in their ability to enter cells.
The Positively Charged COOH-terminal Glycosaminoglycan-binding CXCL9(74–103) Peptide Inhibits CXCL8-induced Neutrophil Extravasation and Monosodium Urate Crystal-induced Gout in Mice*

Background: Chemokines, such as CXCL8 and CXCL9, drive leukocyte migration to an inflammation site. Results: CXCL9(74–103), derived from CXCL9, lacks leukocyte-attracting activity but competes with CXCL8 for GAG binding and inhibits neutrophil migration in two murine acute inflammation models. Conclusion: Through inhibition of chemokine-GAG interaction, CXCL9(74–103) blocks neutrophil migration. Significance: CXCL9(74–103) may be a lead molecule for development of anti-inflammatory agents. The ELR−CXC chemokine CXCL9 is characterized by a long, highly positively charged COOH-terminal region, absent in most other chemokines. Several natural leukocyte- and fibroblast-derived COOH-terminally truncated CXCL9 forms missing up to 30 amino acids were identified. To investigate the role of the COOH-terminal region of CXCL9, several COOH-terminal peptides were chemically synthesized. These peptides display high affinity for glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and compete with functional intact chemokines for GAG binding, the longest peptide (CXCL9(74–103)) being the most potent. The COOH-terminal peptide CXCL9(74–103) does not signal through or act as an antagonist for CXCR3, the G protein-coupled CXCL9 receptor, and does not influence neutrophil chemotactic activity of CXCL8 in vitro. Based on the GAG binding data, an anti-inflammatory role for CXCL9(74–103) was further evidenced in vivo. Simultaneous intravenous injection of CXCL9(74–103) with CXCL8 injection in the joint diminished CXCL8-induced neutrophil extravasation. Analogously, monosodium urate crystal-induced neutrophil migration to the tibiofemural articulation, a murine model of gout, is highly reduced by intravenous injection of CXCL9(74–103). These data show that chemokine-derived peptides with high affinity for GAGs may be used as anti-inflammatory peptides; by competing with active chemokines for binding and immobilization on GAGs, these peptides may lower chemokine presentation on the endothelium and disrupt the generation of a chemokine gradient, thereby preventing a chemokine from properly performing its chemotactic function. The CXCL9 peptide may serve as a lead molecule for further development of inhibitors of inflammation based on interference with chemokine-GAG interactions.