Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Similarities in the thermodynamics and kinetics of aggregation of disease‐related Aβ(1–40) peptides

Increasing evidence indicates that polypeptide aggregation often involves a nucleation and a growth phase, although the relationship between the factors that determine these two phases has not yet been fully clarified. We present here an analysis of several mutations at different sites of the Aβ(1–40) peptide, including those associated with early onset forms of the Alzheimer's disease, which reveals that the effects of specific amino acid substitutions in the sequence of this peptide are strongly modulated by their structural context. Nevertheless, mutations at different positions perturb in a correlated manner the free energies of aggregation as well as the lag times and growth rates. We show that these observations can be rationalized in terms of the intrinsic propensities for aggregation of the Aβ(1–40) sequence, thus suggesting that, in the case of this peptide, the determinants of the thermodynamics and of the nucleation and growth of the aggregates have a similar physicochemical basis.
A decision rule for identifying children at low risk for brain injuries after blunt head trauma.

STUDY OBJECTIVE Computed tomography (CT) is frequently used in evaluating children with blunt head trauma. Routine use of CT, however, has disadvantages. Therefore, we sought to derive a decision rule for identifying children at low risk for traumatic brain injuries. METHODS We enrolled children with blunt head trauma at a pediatric trauma center in an observational cohort study between July 1998 and September 2001. We evaluated clinical predictors of traumatic brain injury on CT scan and traumatic brain injury requiring acute intervention, defined by a neurosurgical procedure, antiepileptic medications for more than 1 week, persistent neurologic deficits, or hospitalization for at least 2 nights. We performed recursive partitioning to create clinical decision rules. RESULTS Two thousand forty-three children were enrolled, 1,271 (62%) underwent CT, 98 (7.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.3% to 9.3%) had traumatic brain injuries on CT scan, and 105 (5.1%; 95% CI 4.2% to 6.2%) had traumatic brain injuries requiring acute intervention. Abnormal mental status, clinical signs of skull fracture, history of vomiting, scalp hematoma (in children < or =2 years of age), or headache identified 97/98 (99%; 95% CI 94% to 100%) of those with traumatic brain injuries on CT scan and 105/105 (100%; 95% CI 97% to 100%) of those with traumatic brain injuries requiring acute intervention. Of the 304 (24%) children undergoing CT who had none of these predictors, only 1 (0.3%; 95% CI 0% to 1.8%) had traumatic brain injury on CT, and that patient was discharged from the ED without complications. CONCLUSION Important factors for identifying children at low risk for traumatic brain injuries after blunt head trauma included the absence of: abnormal mental status, clinical signs of skull fracture, a history of vomiting, scalp hematoma (in children < or =2 years of age), and headache.
Early Response to Platinum-Based First-Line Chemotherapy in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer May Predict Survival

Introduction: Response rates in the palliative treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, with combination platinum-based chemotherapy, vary from 20% to 40%, leaving a large number with either stable or progressive disease. We examined radiographic response after two courses of platinum-based induction chemotherapy to see whether this is an early predictor of outcome. Methods: In this retrospective study, 320 patients with stage III/IV NSCLC were identified who received 4 or more courses of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy and attained partial response (PR) or stable disease (SD). Results: After two courses, 115 patients attained PR and 205 SD. Cox regression analysis shows that response after two courses of chemotherapy remains an independent significant prognostic factor for survival. The 2-year survival for patients attaining PR after two courses (n = 115) was 23% compared with 11% (n = 205) for those with SD (p = 0.002). Patients who achieve an objective response after two courses also have a better symptomatic response (p = 0.003) and it was significantly longer (p = 0.04). Of the 205 with SD, 51 attained PR with four courses, whereas 154 (48%) remained with SD; there was no difference in survival outcome of these two groups. Conclusions: These data suggest that NSCLC patients who only have SD after two cycles of first-line chemotherapy have poorer survival outcome and less symptomatic benefit than those in PR. Trials looking at change in management at this point are warranted.
New development of inhibitors targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in personalized treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common pathological type of lung cancer, divided into squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Despite better techniques of surgery and improvement in adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy, the median survival of advanced NSCLC is only 8–10 months. With increased understanding of molecular alternations in NSCLC, considerable efforts have focused on the development of personalized molecular-targeted therapies. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway regulates tumor development, growth, and proliferation of NSCLC. Various novel inhibitors targeting this pathway have been identified in preclinical studies or clinical trials. Some genetic alternations may be considered sensitive or resistant biomarkers to these inhibitors. Sometimes, upregulation of RTK and the downstream PI3K pathway or upregulation of the ERK pathway by compensatory feedback reactivation in response to these inhibitors also lead to drug resistance. Therefore, combination therapy of these inhibitors and other targeted inhibitors such as EGFR-TKI or MEK inhibitors according to genetic status and categories of inhibitors is required to enhance the efficacy of these inhibitors. Here, we reviewed the genetic status of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in NSCLC and the novel inhibitors targeting this pathway in preclinical or clinical studies, exploring the possible genetic alternations related to different inhibitors and the means to enhance the antitumor effect in NSCLC.
The Dynamics of Industrial Competition: A North American Perspective

1. Introduction 2. Firm turnover: Greenfield entry and closedown exit 3. Entry: exit and the merger process 4. The rise and fall of incumbent 5. Patterns of large and small-firm mobility 6. Plant turnover in Canada and the United States 7. Measures of market structure and the intensity of competition 8. The relationship between mobility and concentration 9. Turnover and productivity growth 10. Merger success 11. Turnover in domestic and foreign enterprises 12. Industry efficiency and firm turnover 13. Firm turnover and profitability 14. Modeling entry 15. Conclusion Appendix A. Measuring firm turnover - methodology Appendix B. Definition of concentration and mobility measures Notes References Author index Subject index.
Dairy Calcium is Related to Changes in Body Composition during a Two-Year Exercise Intervention in Young Women

Objective: Relationships between micronutrients and dairy product intake and changes in body weight and composition over two years were investigated. Design: Two year prospective non-concurrent analysis of the effect of calcium intake on changes in body composition during a two year exercise intervention. Subjects: 54 normal weight young women, 18 to 31 years of age. Measures of Outcome: Mean intakes of nutrients of interest were determined from three-day diet records completed at baseline and every six months for two years. The change in total body weight and body composition (assessed by dual x-ray absorptiometry) from baseline to two years was also determined. Results: Total calcium/kilocalories and vitamin A together predicted (negatively and positively, respectively) changes in body weight (R2 = 0.19) and body fat (R2 = 0.27). Further, there was an interaction of calcium and energy intake in predicting changes in body weight, such that, only at lower energy intakes, calcium intake (not adjusted for energy) predicted changes in body weight. Conclusions: Regardless of exercise group assignment, calcium adjusted for energy intake had a negative relationship and vitamin A intake a positive relationship with two year changes in total body weight and body fat in young women aged 18 to 31 years. Thus, subjects with high calcium intake, corrected by total energy intake, and lower vitamin A intake gained less weight and body fat over two years in this randomized exercise intervention trial.
Investors' reaction to unexpected price innovations: the case of GCC countries

We examine investors' reactions to sharp price changes in seven equity markets of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to uncover patterns of price formation. We compare the price behaviour and volatility of these markets within a 15-day window following the arrival of unexpected sharp price changes. We find that the arrival of sharp price changes significantly increases market volatility in all GCC markets and that subsequent price adjustments mostly exhibit upward corrective patterns. These findings are consistent with the prediction of the uncertain information hypothesis. Faced with unexpected positive and negative price changes, investors react rationally by initially setting equity prices below their fundamental values, with subsequent price trends registering an upward adjustment. These findings suggest that contrarian investment strategy cannot be utilised in these cases to generate abnormal returns in GCC markets.
Human-Animal Governance and University Practice in Canada: A Problematizing Redescription

Abstract Each year through the practices of Canada's universities, vast numbers of nonhuman animals are caught, bought or bred, narrowly confined, manipulated and killed. These university−animal relations are governed by a state-based regime, the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC). Through the lens of critical public philosophy, I clarify the power that has constituted this governance regime and now sustains it, examining the regime's justifying claims, its practices that authorize universities and scholars as legally compliant and the related effects of its power. The resulting critical redescription reveals fundamental problems with the political legitimacy of CCAC governance and thus with the university−animal relations that it sanctions. Résumé Chaque année, les universités canadiennes capturent, achètent ou élèvent, confinent, manipulent et tuent quantité d'animaux non-humains. Ces relations université-animal sont régies par un programme étatique, le Conseil canadien de protection des animaux (CCPA). À travers le prisme de la philosophie publique critique, je ferai la lumière sur le pouvoir qui a constitué ce régime de gouvernance et le soutient aujourd'hui, les justificatifs de ce régime et son existence qui garantit la légalité des pratiques des universités et des universitaires en vertu du pouvoir qu'il leur confère. La redescription critique qui en résulte révèle certains problèmes fondamentaux quant à la légitimité politique de la gouvernance du CCAC et, ainsi, de la relation université-animal qu'elle sanctionne.
Eosinophils Are a Major Source of Nitric Oxide-Derived Oxidants in Severe Asthma: Characterization of Pathways Available to Eosinophils for Generating Reactive Nitrogen Species4

Eosinophil recruitment and enhanced production of NO are characteristic features of asthma. However, neither the ability of eosinophils to generate NO-derived oxidants nor their role in nitration of targets during asthma is established. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry we demonstrate a 10-fold increase in 3-nitrotyrosine (NO2Y) content, a global marker of protein modification by reactive nitrogen species, in proteins recovered from bronchoalveolar lavage of severe asthmatic patients (480 ± 198 μmol/mol tyrosine; n = 11) compared with nonasthmatic subjects (52.5 ± 40.7 μmol/mol tyrosine; n = 12). Parallel gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage proteins for 3-bromotyrosine (BrY) and 3-chlorotyrosine (ClY), selective markers of eosinophil peroxidase (EPO)- and myeloperoxidase-catalyzed oxidation, respectively, demonstrated a dramatic preferential formation of BrY in asthmatic (1093 ± 457 μmol BrY/mol tyrosine; 161 ± 88 μmol ClY/mol tyrosine; n = 11 each) compared with nonasthmatic subjects (13 ± 14.5 μmol BrY/mol tyrosine; 65 ± 69 μmol ClY/mol tyrosine; n = 12 each). Bronchial tissue from individuals who died of asthma demonstrated the most intense anti-NO2Y immunostaining in epitopes that colocalized with eosinophils. Although eosinophils from normal subjects failed to generate detectable levels of NO, NO2−, NO3−, or NO2Y, tyrosine nitration was promoted by eosinophils activated either in the presence of physiological levels of NO2− or an exogenous NO source. At low, but not high (e.g., >2 μM/min), rates of NO flux, EPO inhibitors and catalase markedly attenuated aromatic nitration. These results identify eosinophils as a major source of oxidants during asthma. They also demonstrate that eosinophils use distinct mechanisms for generating NO-derived oxidants and identify EPO as an enzymatic source of nitrating intermediates in eosinophils.
Vibrational control of a class of nonlinear systems by nonlinear multiplicative vibrations

Vibrational control is a nonclassical control principle which proposes a utilization of zero mean parametric excitation of a dynamical system for control purposes. This paper extends nonlinear vibrational control theory developed in [8,9] to systems controlled by nonlinear multiplicative vibrations. Condition for vibrational stabilizability with respect to a component of a steady-state vector, the choice of stabilizing vibrations and the transient motions are discussed for a certain practically important class of nonlinear vibrationally controlled systems. The application of the results is demonstrated on the example of a catalytic reactor, using a combination of numerical and analytical techniques.
Sleep Disorder and Psychobiological Symptomatology in Male Psychiatric Outpatients and Male Nonpatients

&NA; Sleep disturbance was studied in relation to psychiatric and physical symptoms for 214 male psychiatric outpatients and 248 male nonpatients. Our self‐report instrument required that subjects describe the frequency of symptoms precisely on a five‐point scale from “every day” to “not at all. ” Percentages are based on the numbers of subjects reporting a symptom as occurring “every day” or “several times a week. ” More patients reported sleep disturbance symptoms (75%) than nonpatients (25%) (P < 0.001). Sleep loss symptoms were reported by 63% of patients and 20% of nonpatients. Twelve percent of patients and 6% of nonpatients reported trouble with excessive sleep problems. Sleep disturbance was not strongly related to specific diagnoses. Fewer schizophrenics (21%) than other patients (50%) reported trouble “falling asleep” (P < 0.02). Finally, for both patients and controls, disturbed sleepers reported more psychiatric and physical symptoms than undisturbed sleepers (P < 0.001). It is suggested that sleep disturbance might be a useful clinical clue to previously unsuspected psychiatric and physical illness.
Fapy.dG instructs Klenow exo(-) to misincorporate deoxyadenosine.

The effects of Fapy.dG (N-(2-deoxy-alpha,beta-d-erythropentofuranosyl)-N-(2,6-diamino-4-hydroxy-5-formamidopyrimidine)) on the activity of Klenow exo- have been determined by using oligonucleotide substrates containing the lesion at a defined site. Fapy.dG inhibits primer polymerization at two positions: nucleotide incorporation opposite the lesion and extension one nucleotide past the lesion. Klenow exo- is inhibited less by Fapy.dG than by its analogue, MeFapy.dG. Fapy.dG instructs the polymerase to misincorporate deoxyadenosine opposite itself 20 times more frequently than does dG. Extension of the primer containing the Fapy.dG:dA base pair is only slightly less efficient than when dC is opposite the lesion. Overall, Fapy.dG increases the probability that Klenow exo- will make a mistake during replication approximately 80-million fold compared to a template containing the native nucleotide, dG.
The Art of Dressing Selection: A Consensus Statement on Skin Tears and Best Practice

PURPOSE: To provide information about product selection for the management of skin tears. TARGET AUDIENCE: This continuing education activity is intended for physicians and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care. OBJECTIVES: After participating in this educational activity, the participant should be better able to: 1. Explain skin tear (ST) risk factors and assessment guidelines. 2. Identify best practice treatments for STs, including the appropriate dressings for each ST type. ABSTRACT To aid healthcare professionals in product selection specific for skin tears, the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel conducted a systematic literature review and 3-phase Delphi consensus with a panel of international reviewers to provide the best available evidence for product selection related to the treatment of skin tears.
Are chiropractic tests for the lumbo-pelvic spine reliable and valid? A systematic critical literature review.

OBJECTIVE To systematically review the peer-reviewed literature about the reliability and validity of chiropractic tests used to determine the need for spinal manipulative therapy of the lumbo-pelvic spine, taking into account the quality of the studies. DATA SOURCES The CHIROLARS database was searched for the years 1976 to 1995 with the following index terms: "chiropractic tests," "chiropractic adjusting technique," "motion palpation," "movement palpation," "leg length," "applied kinesiology," and "sacrooccipital technique. " In addition, a manual search was performed at the libraries of the Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics, Odense, Denmark, and the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic, Bournemouth, United Kingdom. STUDY SELECTION Studies pertaining to intraexaminer reliability, interexaminer reliability, and/or validity of chiropractic evaluation of the lumbo-pelvic spine were included. DATA EXTRACTION Data quality were assessed independently by the two reviewers, with a quality score based on predefined methodologic criteria. Results of the studies were then evaluated in relation to quality. DATA SYNTHESIS None of the tests studied had been sufficiently evaluated in relation to reliability and validity. Only tests for palpation for pain had consistently acceptable results. Motion palpation of the lumbar spine might be valid but showed poor reliability, whereas motion palpation of the sacroiliac joints seemed to be slightly reliable but was not shown to be valid. Measures of leg-length inequality seemed to correlate with radiographic measurements but consensus on method and interpretation is lacking. For the sacrooccipital technique, some evidence favors the validity of the arm-fossa test but the rest of the test regimen remains poorly documented. Documentation of applied kinesiology was not available. Palpation for muscle tension, palpation for misalignment, and visual inspection were either undocumented, unreliable, or not valid. CONCLUSION The detection of the manipulative lesion in the lumbo-pelvic spine depends on valid and reliable tests. Because such tests have not been established, the presence of the manipulative lesion remains hypothetical. Great effort is needed to develop, establish, and enforce valid and reliable test procedures.
Fast fingerprint feature extraction based on modified Haar-like patterns using support vector machine

In this paper, Haar-like patterns and a classification machine were employed for fingerprint feature extraction. Although the Gabor filter has high accuracy for feature extraction under a wide angle representation range, the full range of the filter is not required. Moreover, fingerprints have clear direction field representation. Due to these two key factors, this paper uses modified Haar-like patterns to create near-circular patterns for acceptable feature detection. A support vector machine classifier is used to detect features. In a performance comparison that used 15 general Haar-like patterns as a benchmark, the proposed algorithm was able to reduce the average computation required by approximately 50% without sacrificing accuracy. Thus, the proposed method is suitable for real-world applications.
Discontinuation of Vasopressin Before Norepinephrine in the Recovery Phase of Septic Shock

Background: Guidance for the discontinuation of vasopressors in the recovery phase of septic shock is limited. Norepinephrine is more easily titrated; however, septic shock is a vasopressin deficient state, which exogenous vasopressin endeavors to resolve. Discontinuation of vasopressin before norepinephrine may result in clinically significant hypotension. Methods: This retrospective, cohort study compared discontinuation of norepinephrine and vasopressin in medically, critically ill patients in the recovery phase of septic shock from May 2014 to June 2016. Difference in clinically significant hypotension after norepinephrine or vasopressin discontinuation was evaluated with χ2 test. Linear regression was performed, examining the effect of agent discontinuation on clinically significant hypotension. Baseline variables were examined for a bivariate relationship with clinically significant hypotension; those with P < . 2 were included in the model. Results: Vasopressin was discontinued first or last in 62 and 92 patients, respectively. Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores at 72 hours (7.9 vs 7.6, P = .679) were similar. In unadjusted analysis, when vasopressin was discontinued first, more clinically significant hypotension developed (10.9% vs 67.8%, P < .001). There was no difference in intensive care unit (174 vs 216 hours, P = .178) or hospital duration (470 vs 473 hours, P = .977). In adjusted analyses, discontinuing vasopressin first was associated with increased clinically significant hypotension (odds ratio [OR]: 13.837, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.403-56.250, P < .001) but not in-hospital (OR: 0.659, 95% CI: 0.204-2.137, P = .488) or 28-day mortality (OR: 0.215, 95% CI: 0.037-1.246, P = .086). Conclusion: Adult patients receiving norepinephrine and vasopressin in the resolving phase of septic shock may be less likely to develop clinically significant hypotension if vasopressin is the final vasopressor discontinued.
Sow development, reproductive performance and longevity

Selection of a gilt for breeding is the first step in the chain of events that ultimately determines her lifetime of productivity. Unfortunately, selection for improved production attributes can be accompanied by increased sow culling rates (Tholen et al., 1996) and elevated mortality levels in piglets (Knol, 2001), which compromises productivity as well as welfare and profitability. On the sow side, this phenomenon is generally thought to be a consequence of selection altering the balance between nutrient partitioning for maintenance versus productivity, combined with suboptimal nutrition (Ball et al., 2008) to meet requirements of genetically superior sows. However, it is not well known how attributes at selection (individual phenotype) and genetic potential (EBV) are associated with subsequent body development of the sow, particularly since maternal development occurs concurrently (in competition) with reproduction. This has shifted some research emphasis to investigating traits like lactation intake, whereas sow development prior to lactation is ongoing throughout reproductive cycles (Figure 1).