Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increased plasma lipid-poor apolipoprotein A-I in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND Pre-beta 1-HDL participates in a cyclic process involved in the retrieval of cholesterol from peripheral tissues. Although pre-beta 1-HDL can be measured by two-dimensional electrophoresis or crossed immunoelectrophoresis, these methods are time-consuming and require technical expertise. In this study, we separated plasma lipid-poor apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography. METHODS We measured plasma lipid-poor apo A-I in 20 male patients with coronary artery disease [CAD; mean (SD) age, 64.0 (18) years] and 15 male controls [54.7 (17) years] and in 7 female CAD patients [70.3 (7.7) years] and 9 female controls [65.1 (4.7) years]. RESULTS Lipid-poor apo A-I was most stable when stored at -80 degrees C in the presence of aprotinin (final concentration, 50 kIU/L). The lipid-poor apo A-I concentration decreased during incubation at 37 degrees C, and this was not prevented by the addition of 2 mmol/L of the lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) inhibitor 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid). Lipid-poor apo A-I was significantly higher in CAD patients than in controls [38.3 (7.9) mg/L for male CAD patients vs 29.3 (7.3) mg/L for male controls; 43.3 (11) mg/L for female CAD patients vs 27.1 (7.4) mg/L for female controls (P <0.01 for both)]. There were no significant differences in LCAT activity or cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) concentration between patients and controls. Moreover, the plasma lipid-poor apo A-I concentration was not significantly correlated with LCAT or CETP activities. CONCLUSIONS Although the production of lipid-poor apo A-I in plasma is not fully understood, our results indicate that lipid-poor apo A-I could be used as a marker for arteriosclerosis and demonstrate that it is not identical to the pre-beta1-HDL measured by other methods.
Multimodal functional imaging for early response assessment in GIST patients treated with imatinib

Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma, with reported annual incidence of 14 – 20 cases per million [1,2]. Approxi mately half of the patients will relapse within ﬁ ve years despite complete surgical resection [3]. Standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy are not effective, but the majority of patients with locally advanced or metastatic GIST respond to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) imatinib [4], however, are seldomly cured [5]. Approximately 15% of GISTs are prima rily imatinib-resistant and most responders develop secondary resistance to imatinib [5]. Adverse effects of imatinib are dose-dependent and espe-cially patients with large tumour burden and poor general condition are exposed. Early treatment assessment may contribute to a more individualised treatment regime, avoiding ineffective treatment and unnecessary toxicity. Traditionally, computed tomography (CT) and the response evaluation criteria in solid tumours (RECIST) [6] have been used for the assessment of treatment response in GIST patients. Based solely on measurements of tumour size, functional and metabolic responses are not included. When imaged by
Handbook of Cluster Analysis (provisional top level file)

This chapter describes the problem of combining multiple partitionings of a set of objects into a single consolidated clustering without accessing the features or algorithms that determine these partitionings – popularly known as the problem of “consensus clustering”. We illustrate different algorithms for solving the consensus clustering problem. The notion of dissimilarity between a pair of clustering solutions plays a key role in designing any cluster ensemble algorithm and a summary of such dissimilarity measures is also provided. We also cover recent efforts on combining classifier and clustering ensembles, leading to new approaches for semi-supervised learning and transfer learning. Finally, we describe several applications of consensus clustering.
Ecotourism as Environmental Learning

Abstract Commercial ecotourism is a rapidly growing part of the global tourism industry. Although potential negative impacts must be addressed, ecotourism offers a substantial opportunity for environmental learning. However, simply taking visitors to unique sites does not guarantee learning. In the present article, methods to emphasize the learning content of ecotourism, while retaining the entertainment value, are identified. A Smithsonian Institute study trip led by the author is discussed as an example.
Acute effect of topical minoxidil on digital blood flow in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon.

OBJECTIVE Raynaud's phenomenon is a relatively common disorder for which highly effective, well tolerated treatment has yet to be developed. Minoxidil, a potent vasodilator which, on a single application to the scalp causes significant local cutaneous vasodilation, was selected for study in primary Raynaud's phenomenon. METHODS Ten subjects were enrolled in a randomized double blind, placebo controlled acute challenge crossover trial. Single applications of topical minoxidil 5% solution and placebo were made to each subject's fingers on 2 separate occasions, and measures of digital skin temperature, systolic blood pressure, and laser Doppler flow were obtained, before and after acute cold challenge. RESULTS Digital skin temperature, systolic blood pressure, and laser Doppler flow both before and after cold challenge were not improved by pretreatment with topical minoxidil 5% solution. CONCLUSION In individuals with primary Raynaud's phenomenon, a single application of minoxidil 5% solution to the fingers is not effective in improving baseline digital blood flow or cold tolerance.
Fetal Testosterone Influences Sexually Dimorphic Gray Matter in the Human Brain

In nonhuman species, testosterone is known to have permanent organizing effects early in life that predict later expression of sex differences in brain and behavior. However, in humans, it is still unknown whether such mechanisms have organizing effects on neural sexual dimorphism. In human males, we show that variation in fetal testosterone (FT) predicts later local gray matter volume of specific brain regions in a direction that is congruent with sexual dimorphism observed in a large independent sample of age-matched males and females from the NIH Pediatric MRI Data Repository. Right temporoparietal junction/posterior superior temporal sulcus (RTPJ/pSTS), planum temporale/parietal operculum (PT/PO), and posterior lateral orbitofrontal cortex (plOFC) had local gray matter volume that was both sexually dimorphic and predicted in a congruent direction by FT. That is, gray matter volume in RTPJ/pSTS was greater for males compared to females and was positively predicted by FT. Conversely, gray matter volume in PT/PO and plOFC was greater in females compared to males and was negatively predicted by FT. Subregions of both amygdala and hypothalamus were also sexually dimorphic in the direction of Male > Female, but were not predicted by FT. However, FT positively predicted gray matter volume of a non-sexually dimorphic subregion of the amygdala. These results bridge a long-standing gap between human and nonhuman species by showing that FT acts as an organizing mechanism for the development of regional sexual dimorphism in the human brain.
3C 254: MERLIN observations of a highly asymmetric quasar

Multifrequency, high-resolution radio observations of the quasar 3C 254 using the Multi-Element Radio-linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) are presented. The quasar has a highly asymmetric radio structure, with the eastern component of the double-lobed structure being much closer to the nucleus and significantly less polarized than the western one. However, the two lobes are more symmetric in their total flux densities. The observations show the detailed structure of the hotspots which are very different on opposite sides of the radio core, reveal no radio jet and suggest that the oppositely directed jets may be intrinsically asymmetric.
H-infinity loopshaping controller design of micro-source inverters to improve the power quality

The introduction of micro grids in distribution networks based on power electronics facilitates the use of renewable energy resources, distributed generation (DG) and storage systems while improving the quality of electric power and reducing losses thus increasing the performance and reliability of the electrical system. The main objective of this paper, is designing H∞ controllers for a control scheme based on decoupled models, which includes an inner current loop and an outer voltage loop for micro-source grid-connected inverter. The robust controller is designed for the grid-forming using structured uncertainties to improve the performance of the system facing parametric uncertainties. The controller is evaluated by simulation to demonstrate the performance of the proposed strategy for the nominal case and perturbed parameters cases.
Content and Rhetorical Status Selection in Instructional Texts

This paper discusses an approach to planning the content of instructional texts. The research is based on a corpus study of 15 French procedural texts ranging from step-by-step device manuals to general artistic procedures. The approach taken starts from an AI task planner building a task representation, from which semantic carriers are selected. The most appropriate RST relations to communicate these carriers are then chosen according to heuristics developed during the corpus analysis.
Compulsive hoarding: a site-security model and associated psychological treatment strategies

Compulsive hoarding presents a challenge to researchers and therapists in terms of conceptualization/engagement in treatment/associated intervention outcomes and is generally identified as an unresolved clinical challenge. Although a wide range of factors associated with human compulsive hoarding have relatively recently begun to emerge, subsequent theorizing has tended to ignore the vast amount of extant animal evidence available. This study identifies a key biological theory of hoarding (the security hypothesis) and attempts to apply its assumptions and concepts to human hoarding. As a result, human hoarding is recognized as a possible form of site-secure larder hoarding, which is observed in a huge variety of other species. The manifestations of hoarding are related to secure site behaviours in humans, with the possible prior selective advantage of hoarding expounded with reference to the current maladaptive behaviours associated with creating and maintaining secure sites. A division is identified between the ‘micro’ behavioural maintaining factors of hoarding and the ‘macro’ outcome distress variables. The psychological treatment implications of a secure site conceptualization of compulsive hoarding are identified and detailed in each section, with particular reference to ‘just in case’ hoarding cognitions. The development of the site-security model enables study hypotheses to be set regarding hoarding behaviours, that can be empirically addressed in future research. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Minima controlled recursive averaging noise reduction for multi-aided inertial navigation of ground vehicles

Low-cost inertial measurement units (IMUs) are increasingly becoming commercially available and the use of IMUs in autonomous vehicle applications has increased rapidly in the past decade. IMUs are subject to various errors, such as biases, drifts, nonlinearities, scale factors and noise. The noise is produced by various sources, such as thermal and vibrational disturbances. Noise estimation is critical in accurate inertial navigation systems (INS). The main contribution of this paper is that a noise analysis of the raw accelerations measured by IMUs during signal presence (i.e, an acceleration caused by a specific force) or absence (when the IMU undergoes constant velocity) is carried out to reduce these noise components, which corrupt the inertial data. After noise reduction, multi-aiding information from odometry, a single-axis gyroscope and vehicle constraints is utilized to bound the error growth of the inertial data and produce a reliable outdoor localization system. Experimental results are presented to show the effectiveness of the noise reduction method and the improved accuracy of the multi-aided INS.
Metaphor in the Literature of Organizational Analysis: A Preliminary Taxonomy and a Glimpse at a Humanities-Based Perspective

This paper reviews the writing on metaphor in organizational analysis. It aims to synthesize developments and draw out trends. It argues that the implications of metaphor, as spelt out by poets, philosophers and linguists, do not seem to have been considered as fully as they might have been by many writers in organizational analysis. It explores possible reasons why this might be the case and what this suggests about dominant assumptions in the field. It concludes by looking at some avenues for research that arise from the study of metaphor from a more humanities-based perspective.
ANTAGONISM BY ENDOTHELIN OF CENTRALLY MEDIATED CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF POTASSIUM IN ANAESTHETIZED RATS

1. We have previously demonstrated that cerebroventricular administration of potassium chloride (KCI) solutions produces dose‐dependent reductions in blood pressure and heart rate in anaesthetized rats and that these effects are significantly attenuated by ouabain, a selective inhibitor of the Na+‐pump. These observations suggest an important relationship between Na+, K+‐ATPase activity in the central nervous system (CNS) and neural mechanisms involved in the regulation of cardiovascular function.
Changes in cerebral oxygenation and haemodynamics during postural blood pressure changes in patients with autonomic failure

Patients with autonomic failure suffer severe postural hypotension that may be associated with symptoms of cerebral hypoperfusion. This study utilized near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure changes in cerebral oxygenation and haemodynamics during the head-up tilt table test in 18 patients with autonomic failure and 10 healthy age-matched volunteers. Heart rate, blood pressure (MAP), oxygen saturation, cerebral tissue oxygen index (TOI) and total cerebral haemoglobin concentration [HbT] were measured continuously. In patients with autonomic failure there was a mean (SD) reduction in MAP of 46.7 (26.5) mmHg (p < 0.005) associated with a reduction in TOI of 8.6 (6.2)% (p < 0.005) during the head-up tilt table test. In healthy volunteers mean (SD) MAP rose by 12.3 (8.0) mmHg (p < 0.005) and TOI fell by 2.6 (3.2)% (p < 0.05). There was a mean (SD) reduction in [HbT] of 3.09 (2.82) µmol l−1 (p < 0.005) in patients, equivalent to a decrease in cerebral blood volume of 0.2 (0.18) ml/100 g. There were no changes in [HbT] in the healthy volunteers. Postural hypotension in patients with autonomic failure is associated with a substantial decrease in absolute cerebral oxygenation measured by NIRS and this might reflect a critical reduction in cerebral oxygen delivery.
Modes of inheritance proposed for p53 codon 72

Dear Sir, I have read with interest the recent report by Ding and coworkers on p53 codon 72 effects in susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma. The authors have compiled data from earlier investigations and conclude to a significant risk-lowering effect at codon 72, assuming a ‘dominant’ mode of inheritance. It is noteworthy that all other meta-analyses published on the same subject – including an analysis that appeared a year before the report by Ding et al. – obtain discrepant results, i.e. significant effects under a recessive model. Ever since GregorMendel coined the term of dominant inheritance in 1866, this implies that wildtype homozygous genotypes are contrasted with allele positivity (combining heterozygotes and homozygotes for the variant allele). The report by Ding et al., however, pools subjects homozygous for the variant allele with heterozygous subjects and thus posits recessive rather than dominant inheritance of codon 72. As for the quantitative assessment of risk-lowering effects with regard to ethnicity, more concerns emerge. It appears that Ding and coworkers have misinterpreted data by Anzola et al. who screened for loss of heterozygosity in a subset of samples. Thus, the total number of Caucasian subjects is inflated by counting tissue samples rather than the respective number of participants. Taken together, the conclusion reached is hardly tenable in its present form.
IMPROVEMENT OF CARVEDILOL DISSOLUTION RATE THROUGH FORMATION OF INCLUSION COMPLEX WITH B-CYCLODEXTRIN

Objective: Carvedilol is practically water-insoluble drug which has poor dissolution rate. These properties are associated with slow drug absorption leading to inadequate and unpredictable bioavailability. An inclusion complex is one of several methods to increase solubility and dissolution rate of an active pharmaceutical ingredient in water. The aim of this study is to improve dissolution rate of carvedilol by developing an inclusion complex with β-cyclodextrin. Methods: Preparations of the inclusion complex were performed by kneading, co-precipitation, and freeze drying methods. The variations of molar ratio of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 between carvedilol and β-cyclodextrin were carried out. The amount of carvedilol included in β-cyclodextrin was calculated based on the amount of included carvedilol in binary system and free carvedilol in solution. Evaluations of the inclusion complex were performed by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray difractometry (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, dissolution test was performed on pure carvedilol, physical mixture of carvedilol and β-cyclodextrin and all type of inclusion complexes. The amount of dissolved carvedilol in the medium were determined using UV spectrophotometer at λ = 286 nm. Results: The highest entrapment efficiency of inclusion complexes (89.68%) was obtained by freeze drying method with a molar ratio of 1:3. Infrared spectrum and SEM characterization revealed there are interaction between carvedilol and β-cyclodextrin. Meanwhile XRD evaluation showed a change on the crystalline status of carvedilol in all inclusion complexes. The results of one way ANOVA and LSD statistical test at 95% confidence level showed that the percentage of dissolved carvedilol at 10 th minute and dissolution efficiency of carvedilol after 120 minutes were significantly different on all of those inclusion complexes. However, the obtained inclusion complex by freeze drying method with ratio molar of 1:3 revealed the highest percentage of the dissolved carvedilol within 120 minutes (87.68%). Conclusion: According to the evaluation on complex formation efficiency, characterization of the inclusion complex, percentage of the dissolved drug, and dissolution efficiency, the best formulation of the inclusion complex has been obtained by freeze drying method with molar ratio of 1:3.
Contribution of dps to Acid Stress Tolerance and Oxidative Stress Tolerance in Escherichia coli O157:H7

ABSTRACT An Escherichia coli O157:H7dps::nptI mutant (FRIK 47991) was generated, and its survival was compared to that of the parent in HCl (synthetic gastric fluid, pH 1.8) and hydrogen peroxide (15 mM) challenges. The survival of the mutant in log phase (5-h culture) was significantly impaired (4-log10-CFU/ml reduction) compared to that of the parent strain (ca. 1.0-log10-CFU/ml reduction) after a standard 3-h acid challenge. Early-stationary-phase cells (12-h culture) of the mutant decreased by ca. 4 log10CFU/ml while the parent strain decreased by approximately 2 log10 CFU/ml. No significant differences in the survival of late-stationary-phase cells (24-h culture) between the parent strain and the mutant were observed, although numbers of the parent strain declined less in the initial 1 h of acid challenge. FRIK 47991 was more sensitive to hydrogen peroxide challenge than was the parent strain, although survival improved in stationary phase. Complementation of the mutant with a functional dps gene restored acid and hydrogen peroxide tolerance to levels equal to or greater than those exhibited by the parent strain. These results demonstrate that decreases in survival were from the absence of Dps or a protein regulated by Dps. The results from this study establish that Dps contributes to acid tolerance in E. coli O157:H7 and confirm the importance of Dps in oxidative stress protection.
VIsion force control in task-oriented grasping and manipulation

In this paper, we present a novel approach for sensor-guided robotic execution of everyday tasks, which is amenable to be integrated in current mobile manipulators and humanoid robots. We consider a robot which is observing simultaneously his hand and the object to manipulate, by using an external camera (i.e. robot head). Task-oriented grasping algorithms are used in order to plan a suitable grasp on the object according to the task to perform. A new vision/force coupling approach [1] is used in order to, first, guide the robot hand towards the grasp position and, second, perform the task taking into account external forces. Experimental results on a real robot are presented which validate our approach.
Fostering extrinsic orientations: Use of reward strategies to motivate children.

The present research examined the hypothesis that subjects prefer controlling strategies, such as reward contingencies, to motivate children over strategies that are less likely to foster an extrinsic motivational orientation. Beliefs about the achievement-related behaviors and personality characteristics of extrinsically and intrinsically oriented children were also investigated to understand the reasons for the adults' apparent preference for extrinsics. To examine these issues, a college-aged and a parent sample were asked to read scenarios describing two elementary schoolchildren who exhibited either an extrinsic orientation toward learning (working to please the teacher) or an intrinsic orientation (approaching learning as an end in itself). The results revealed that, in general, both samples preferred strategies that are more likely to promote an extrinsic orientation than those that are less likely to do so. The data also indicated that the subjects believed that teachers prefer extrinsics to intri.
Shared Resource Access Attributes for High-Level Contention Models

Emerging single-chip heterogeneous multiprocessors feature hundreds of design elements contending for shared resources, making it difficult to isolate performance impacts of individual design changes. This work is the first to parameterize shared resource accesses in the form of access attributes, summarizing the impact of shared resource contention on system performance, analogous to the way RTL parameters summarize more detailed transistor models. The intuition behind access attributes is that much application and architecture dependent contention information is known during detailed cycle-accurate simulations, and would be useful to inform a higher level model. The detailed contention information is sampled from a short cycle-accurate simulation, "training" a high-level statistical regression model of contention. This contention model can then be used in simulation to estimate the impact of shared resource accesses at a high level of abstraction, enabling the designers to explore contention-related performance impacts of design decisions. Using the access attribute-based contention models resulted in speedups of 40X over cycle-accurate simulation, with average simulation errors of less than 1% with 95% confidence intervals of about plusmn3%.