Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ayurveda–modern medicine interface: A critical appraisal of studies of Ayurvedic medicines to treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

The potential of Ayurvedic philosophy and medicines needs to be recognized and converted into real life treatment paradigm. This article describes a comprehensive therapeutic approach used in Ayurveda and modern medicine to treat arthritis. We present concise summary of various controlled drug trials carried out by us to validate standardized Ayurvedic drugs using modern medicine protocol to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis knees. Several of the latter are published. The trials consistently demonstrate excellent safety of Ayurvedic medicines but often fail to unequivocally show superior efficacy. Some key findings of a recently unpublished trial in OA knees are also presented to show equivalence between Ayurvedic medicine and celecoxib and glucosamine, and we speculate that equivalence trials may be a way forward. The data from the trials also supports the Ayurvedic ‘Rasayana’ concept of immune-modulation and healing. We need to interpret logic of Ayurveda when, adopting modern science tools in drug development and validation and much research is required. Validation of Ayurvedic medicines using the latter approach may lead to an evidence based Ayurveda – Modern Medicine interface. Also, in pursuit of finding better treatment solutions, we ought to step beyond the realm of only drugs and attempt validation of comprehensive specific treatment package as per classical Ayurveda. Finally, validation of a combined (Ayurveda and modern medicine) therapeutic approach with superior efficacy and safety is likely to be a major leap in overcoming some of the current frustrations to treat difficult disorders like arthritis using only modern medicines.
Possible Role of NPP in Long Term Low Carbon Development Strategy – Case Study Croatia

The term low – emission development strategies (LEDS) was developed on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2008. LEDS is used to describe a longterm national economic development plans or strategies that include low emissions and economic growth resistant to climate change. The concept of Low Carbon Development Strategies (LCDS) has been introduced by the Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC as a common but differentiated approach to meet the overall emissions reduction objectives: “All countries shall prepare Low Emission Development Strategies …nationally-driven and represent[ing] the aims and objectives of individual Parties in accordance with national circumstances and capacities” (Cancun Agreement). Low Carbon Development Strategies (LCDS) in this way become an overarching framework to design and achieve Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) reflecting the Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) of all countries. For Long-Term National Strategy and Action Plan for Low-Carbon Development the main objective of this programme is the development of a long-term national strategy and action plan for low-carbon development to enable country to fulfil its commitment to carbon obligations. Low-carbon development strategy will become the fundamental for the development of the energy sector with low rate of carbon, but also for the entire economy. European Union is the leader in the effort to reduce emissions especially in the energy sector – sector with the highest rate of emission. With the goal of reducing emissions, necessary measures are accentuated for energy in the EU Countries, as well as in Croatia. The possibilities for realization of Croatian low-carbon development and particularly possible role and barriers for Nuclear power plants for Low carbon emissions development in the electricity sector until 2050 will be presented in this paper.
Churn Prediction: Does Technology Matter?

The aim of this paper is to identify the most suitable model for churn prediction based on three different techniques. The paper identifies the variables that affect churn in reverence of customer complaints data and provides a comparative analysis of neural networks, regression trees and regression in their capabilities of predicting customer churn. Keywords—Churn, Decision Trees, Neural Networks, Regression.
Membrane Complexes of Syntrophomonas wolfei Involved in Syntrophic Butyrate Degradation and Hydrogen Formation

Syntrophic butyrate metabolism involves the thermodynamically unfavorable production of hydrogen and/or formate from the high potential electron donor, butyryl-CoA. Such redox reactions can occur only with energy input by a process called reverse electron transfer. Previous studies have demonstrated that hydrogen production from butyrate requires the presence of a proton gradient, but the biochemical machinery involved has not been clearly elucidated. In this study, the gene and enzyme systems involved in reverse electron transfer by Syntrophomonas wolfei were investigated using proteomic and gene expression approaches. S. wolfei was grown in co-culture with Methanospirillum hungatei or Dehalococcoides mccartyi under conditions requiring reverse electron transfer and compared to both axenic S. wolfei cultures and co-cultures grown in conditions that do not require reverse electron transfer. Blue native gel analysis of membranes solubilized from syntrophically grown cells revealed the presence of a membrane-bound hydrogenase, Hyd2, which exhibited hydrogenase activity during in gel assays. Bands containing a putative iron-sulfur (FeS) oxidoreductase were detected in membranes of crotonate-grown and butyrate grown S. wolfei cells. The genes for the corresponding hydrogenase subunits, hyd2ABC, were differentially expressed at higher levels during syntrophic butyrate growth when compared to growth on crotonate. The expression of the FeS oxidoreductase gene increased when S. wolfei was grown with M. hungatei. Additional membrane-associated proteins detected included FoF1 ATP synthase subunits and several membrane transporters that may aid syntrophic growth. Furthermore, syntrophic butyrate metabolism can proceed exclusively by interspecies hydrogen transfer, as demonstrated by growth with D. mccartyi, which is unable to use formate. These results argue for the importance of Hyd2 and FeS oxidoreductase in reverse electron transfer during syntrophic butyrate degradation.
Activity-dependent regulation of receptive field properties of cat area 17 by supervised Hebbian learning.

Most algorithms currently used to model synaptic plasticity in self-organizing cortical networks suppose that the change in synaptic efficacy is governed by the same structuring factor, i.e., the temporal correlation of activity between pre- and postsynaptic neurons. Functional predictions generated by such algorithms have been tested electrophysiologically in the visual cortex of anesthetized and paralyzed cats. Supervised learning procedures were applied at the cellular level to change receptive field (RF) properties during the time of recording of an individual functionally identified cell. The protocols were devised as cellular analogs of the plasticity of RF properties, which is normally expressed during a critical period of postnatal development. We summarize here evidence demonstrating that changes in covariance between afferent input and postsynaptic response imposed during extracellular and intracellular conditioning can acutely induce selective long-lasting up- and down-regulations of visual responses. The functional properties that could be modified in 40% of cells submitted to differential pairing protocols include ocular dominance, orientation selectivity and orientation preference, interocular orientation disparity, and the relative dominance of ON and OFF responses. Since changes in RF properties can be induced in the adult as well, our findings also suggest that similar activity-dependent processes may occur during development and during active phases of learning under the supervision of behavioral attention or contextual signals. Such potential for plasticity in primary visual cortical neurons suggests the existence of a hidden connectivity expressing a wider functional competence than the one revealed at the spiking level. In particular, in the spatial domain the sensory synaptic integration field is larger than the classical discharge field. It can be shaped by supervised learning and its subthreshold extent can be unmasked by the pharmacological blockade of intracortical inhibition.
Three dimensional CT angiography for patients with congenital heart disease: Scanning protocol for pediatric patients

The objective of our study was to determine the contrast attenuation level that yields high quality cardiac three‐dimensional (3‐D) images and to predict the contrast injection rate (IR), from body weight, to reach this attenuation level. Enhanced electron beam computerized tomography (EBCT) with 3‐D reconstruction is useful in delineating cardiac anatomy in complex congenital heart disease (CHD). The current experience of using electron beam angiography (EBA) in pediatric CHD is limited. Well‐defined contrast injection protocols, specifically the contrast IR, have not been standardized when compared to those for adults. Establishing the contrast IR is essential in obtaining high quality 3‐D images. We retrospectively analyzed the studies of 115 pediatric patients with CHD. EBA images were divided into group 1 with good quality 3‐D images and group 2 with poor quality. The mean of measured enhancement level, expressed in Hounsfield units (HU), and contrast IR were analyzed in both groups. Spearman correlation was used to examine the relationship between weight and IR. The IR was predicted from weight using simple linear regression analysis. The mean level of enhancement was 344 ± 91 and 174 ± 31 HU for group 1 and group 2, respectively. Group 1 consisted of 103 patients (90%) and the IR strongly correlated with weight (ρ = 0.861, P < 0.01). The IR was estimated from the linear regression equation IR = 0.59 + 0.056 × weight. Necessary contrast enhancement level for quality 3‐D reconstruction should be greater than 250 HU, and the IR can be estimated from patient's weight. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vivo distribution of carbon-11 phenytoin and its major metabolite, and their use in scintigraphic imaging.

Curie quantities (0.3--1.5 Ci) of H11CN were used in the synthesis of C-11-tagged phenytoin (C-11.DPH) and 5-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin (C-11.HPPH), using a modified Bücherer-Bergs reaction. The H11CN was produced from a mixture of 95% nitrogen and 5% hydrogen by a 45-min bombardment with 10-MeV protons at 10 muA. Following i.v. infusions of C-11 DPH (13.7 mg/kg at a rate of 29 mg/min) into the left femoral vein of Rhesus monkeys, DPH shows persistent concentration in the brain and liver fields. Extravascular administration shows significant retention at the site of administration. Intravenous bolus injection of [11C]-HPPH into a Rhesus monkey, at a dose of 6.4 mg/kg, resulted in localization of this compound in the liver, gallbladder, urinary bladder, and intestinal fields. Loss of activity from the liver region, with appearance of this activity in the intestinal field, suggests that [11C]-HPPH is secreted into the intestine via the bile. Further investigation is needed to study the potential of [11C]-DPH as a brain-scanning agent and [11C]-HPPH as a possible cholescintigraphic agent.
Gauging the strength of power frequency fields against membrane electrical noise

The possible physiological effect of power frequency fields (60 Hz in the US, 50 Hz in most other countries) is still a hotly debated issue. These relatively slow fields distribute themselves across cell membranes and a common approach has been to compare the strength of these fields to the strength of the electric noise that the membrane generates itself through Brownian motion. However, there has been disagreement among researchers on how to evaluate the membrane electric noise. In the first part of this article three major models are discussed. In the second part an ab initio modeling of membrane electric fields finds that different manifestations of Brownian noise lead to an electric noise intensity that is many times larger than what conventional estimates have yielded. Finally, the legitimacy of gauging a nonequilibrium external signal against internal equilibrium noise is questioned. Bioelectromagnetics 26:595–609, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Single-phase three-level converter for power factor correction

A single-phase half-bridge switching mode rectifier is presented to draw a sinusoidal line current, to achieve power factor correction and to maintain the dc-link voltage constant. Four active switches with voltage stress of half dc bus voltage are used in the proposed rectifier to generate a unipolar PWM voltage waveform on the ac terminal voltage. There is no clamping diode in the proposed rectifier compared with the neutral point clamped converter to achieve three-level PWM operation. Two control loops are used in the proposed control scheme. In the outer control loop, a proportional integral voltage controller is used to regulate the dc-link voltage. A phase lock loop circuit is adopted to generate a sinusoidal waveform in phase with mains voltage to achieve power factor correction. In the inner control loop, a carrier-based current controller is used to track the line current command. The experimental results are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm.
Approximations for the isoperimetric and spectral profile of graphs and related parameters

The spectral profile of a graph is a natural generalization of the classical notion of its Rayleigh quotient. Roughly speaking, given a graph G, for each 0< δ < 1, the spectral profile Λ<sub>G</sub>(δ) minimizes the Rayleigh quotient (from the variational characterization) of the spectral gap of the Laplacian matrix of G over vectors with support at most δ over a suitable probability measure. Formally, the spectral profile Λ<sub>G</sub> of a graph G is a function Λ<sub>G</sub> : [0,1/2] -> R defined as: Λ<sub>G</sub>(δ) def= min<sub><sub>x∈ R<sup>V</sup>d(supp(x))≤ δ</sub></sub> (∑g<sub>ij</sub> (x<sub>i</sub>-x<sub>j</sub>)<sup>2</sup>)/(∑<sub>i</sub> d<sub>i</sub> x<sub>i</sub><sup>2</sup>) where g<sub>ij</sub> is the weight of the edge (i,j) in the graph, d<sub>i</sub> is the degree of vertex i, and d(\supp(x)) is the fraction of edges incident on vertices within the support of vector x. While the notion of the spectral profile has numerous applications in Markov chain, it is also is closely tied to its isoperimetric profile of a graph. Specifically, the spectral profile is a relaxation for the problem of approximating edge expansion of small sets in graphs. In this work, we obtain an efficient algorithm that yields a log(1/δ)-factor approximation for the value of Λ<sub>G</sub>(δ). By virtue of its connection to edge-expansion, we also obtain an algorithm for the problem of approximating edge expansion of small linear sized sets in a graph. This problem was recently shown to be intimately connected to the Unique Games Conjecture in [18]. Finally, we extend the techniques to obtain approximation algorithms with similar guarantees for restricted eigenvalue problems on diagonally dominant matrices.
Fishtank fitts: a desktop VR testbed for evaluating 3D pointing techniques

We present a desktop or "fish tank" virtual reality system for evaluating 3D selection techniques. Motivated by the successful application of Fitts' law to 2D pointing evaluation, the system provides a testbed for consistent evaluation of 3D point-selection techniques. The primary design consideration of the system was to enable direct and fair comparison between 2D and 3D pointing techniques. To this end, the system presents a 3D version of the ISO 9241-9 pointing task. Targets can be displayed stereoscopically, with head-coupled viewing, and at varying depths. The system also supports various input devices, including the mouse as well as 3D trackers in direct touch and remote pointing modes.
Integration of Orthogonal Signaling by the Notch and Dpp Pathways in Drosophila

The transcription factor Suppressor of Hairless and its coactivator, the Notch intracellular domain, are polyglutamine (pQ)-rich factors that target enhancer elements and interact with other locally bound pQ-rich factors. To understand the functional repertoire of such enhancers, we identify conserved regulatory belts with binding sites for the pQ-rich effectors of both Notch and BMP/Dpp signaling, and the pQ-deficient tissue selectors Apterous (Ap), Scalloped (Sd), and Vestigial (Vg). We find that the densest such binding site cluster in the genome is located in the BMP-inducible nab locus, a homolog of the vertebrate transcriptional cofactors NAB1/NAB2. We report three major findings. First, we find that this nab regulatory belt is a novel enhancer driving dorsal wing margin expression in regions of peak phosphorylated Mad in wing imaginal discs. Second, we show that Ap is developmentally required to license the nab dorsal wing margin enhancer (DWME) to read out Notch and Dpp signaling in the dorsal compartment. Third, we find that the nab DWME is embedded in a complex of intronic enhancers, including a wing quadrant enhancer, a proximal wing disc enhancer, and a larval brain enhancer. This enhancer complex coordinates global nab expression via both tissue-specific activation and interenhancer silencing. We suggest that DWME integration of BMP signaling maintains nab expression in proliferating margin descendants that have divided away from Notch–Delta boundary signaling. As such, uniform expression of genes like nab and vestigial in proliferating compartments would typically require both boundary and nonboundary lineage-specific enhancers.
Baseline CD4+ T lymphocyte cell counts, hepatitis B and C viruses seropositivity in adults with Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Background Ekiti State of Nigeria is known to have the lowest prevalence of HIV in Nigeria. University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Ado Ekiti was recently upgraded to serve as one of the three centres for HIV/AIDS referral, diagnosis and treatment in Ekiti State. We evaluated the baseline immunologic and biochemical parameters of patients presenting at the ART clinic of University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State. Methods All HIV seropositive patients not yet on antiretroviral therapy, who presented at the ART Clinic within the study period had at the first visit to the clinic, their blood sample taken for CD4 cell counts estimation, HBsAg and anti- HCV screening, ALT, AST as well as hemoglobin estimation as part of the routine workup to assess their disease health status and need for antiretroviral therapy. Statistical significance was taken as p< 0.05. Results A total of 273 patients comprising 79 (28.9%) males and 194 (71.1%) females were included in the study (F:M = 2.46: 1). The mean age of the study population was 36.21± 10.20 years with mean age of males (39.52 ± 9.95years) significantly higher than females (34.88 ± 10.02; p=0.001). The overall prevalence of HBsAg in the study population was 6.6% with a sex specific prevalence of 8.1% and 6% for males and females, respectively. No statistically significance difference in the mean serum alanine transaminase, serum aspartate transaminase, hemoglobin and CD4+ T- Lymphocytes cell count of those who had HBsAg negative status compared to those who had HBsAg positive status. Two (0.7%) of the patients had positive serum anti HCV antibodies. The CD4+ T- Lymphocytes cell count ranged between 5 – 1050 cells/µl with a mean of 286.19 ± 233.31 cells/µl. The majority of patients (71.8%) had a CD4+ T- Lymphocytes cell count < 350 cells/µl. Conclusion At the time of presentation, majority of our patients had a CD4+ T- Lymphocytes cell count less than 350 cells/µl consistent with significant immune-suppression. More sustained and vigorous awareness campaigns still need to be done in Ekiti State to diagnose this disease early. There is also a need to accelerate the integration of hepatitis B virus screening and treatment programme into HIV/AIDS programme because of the morbidity and mortality implication of HBV and HIV co-infection.
Diabetic Macular Edema

Diabetic macular edema (DME), one the most prevalent causes of visual loss in industrialized countries, may be diagnosed at any stage of diabetic retinopathy. The diagnosis, treatment, and follow up of DME have become straightforward with recent developments in fundus imaging, such as optical coherence tomography. Laser photocoagulation, intravitreal injections, and pars plana vitrectomy surgery are the current treatment modalities; however, the positive effects of currently available intravitreally injected agents are temporary. At this point, further treatment choices are needed for a permanent effect. Sources of data selection: The articles published between 1985-2015 years on major databases were searched and most appropriate 40 papers were used to write this review article.
Changes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in German Primary Care Prior to (2006) and After (2010, 2014) Launch of New Drugs

Aims: The aim was to analyze the changes in a German type 2 diabetes population prior to (2006) and after (2010, 2014) launch of new drugs. Methods: Patients with T2DM in 2006, 2010, and 2014 were recruited for the study. Demographic data included age, gender, and health insurance type (private/statutory). Drug prescription, mean costs per patient, HbA1c levels, macrovascular complications, and time before first insulin prescription were analyzed. Results: In all, 64 098, 77 219, and 85 004 T2DM patients were included for 2006, 2010, and 2014, respectively. The mean age (65.9-66.9 years), proportion of men (50.8%-53.8%), and proportion of patients with private health insurance (6.6%-7.2%) differed significantly for each of the 3 years. There was a 1.25-fold increase in the total costs per patient, linked with an increase in the costs associated with the use of new drugs and a decrease in those associated with the use of old drugs, respectively. HbA1c levels were slightly better regulated in 2014 than in 2006 and 2010. The share of macrovascular complications decreased significantly over time, dropping from 27.4% in 2006 to 24.6% in 2014. The mean duration before first insulin treatment increased from 1225 days in 2006 to 1406 days in 2014. Conclusions: The new drugs analyzed in this study had positive effects on HbA1c levels, macrovascular complications, and mean time before first insulin treatment.
The Effect of Bacterial, Viral and Fungal Infection on Mast Cell Reactivity in the Allergic Setting

Mast cells are well known for their role in allergic inflammation where, upon aggregation of the high-affinity immunoglobulin E receptor, they release mediators such as histamine that cause classical allergic symptoms. Mast cells are located in almost all tissues and are especially numerous in organs that interface with the environment. Given this strategic location and the more recent notion that they are endowed with receptors that recognize endogenous and exogenous danger signals such as pathogens, it is not surprising that they function as important cells in immune surveillance. When mast cells are activated by pathogens they modulate innate and adaptive immune responses. In allergy, infections might cause exacerbation of the allergic reaction by affecting the reactivity of mast cells. With new developments within the field of mast cell biology, we will better understand how mast cells execute their effector functions. This knowledge will also help to improve the management of allergic diseases.