Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Caffeine‐Induced Diuresis and Atrial Natriuretic Peptides

After a single-blind, randomized, cross-over protocol using decaffeinated coffee in a control experiment, the effect of an oral 250-mg caffeine dose on plasma immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide (ANF) was assessed in eight healthy students who had been on a methylxanthine-free diet for 1 week. One to 2 h after caffeine ingestion, both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) increased by 12 mm Hg while heart rate (HR) also tended to increase. An increase in diuresis and in urinary sodium, potassium, and osmol excretion was observed within 1 h. Decaffeinated coffee induced no change in any of these parameters. Plasma epinephrine (EPI) increased gradually from 16.6 ± 3.2 pg/ml (mean ± SEM) to 45.1 ± 7.9 pg/ml within 2 h after caffeine ingestion, but did not change after decaffeinated coffee (p < 0.001). Plasma norepinephrine (NE), renin activity (PRA), aldosterone, and vasopressin remained unchanged. Plasma ANF was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) using an extremely sensitive antiserum (Kd = 10-12 M) after rapid and virtually complete (90–103%) extraction from plasma. In 0.2 ml plasma, the theoretical detection limit is 1.1 fmol/ml. Normal plasma ANF concentrations in supine subjects were 17.9 ± 8.1 fmol/ml (mean ± SD) and 11.0 ± 3.3 fmol/ml in subjects in the upright position. Plasma ANF levels were not affected by coffee drinking. In conclusion, by using a new and sensitive assay for plasma ANF, we did not find that caffeine-induced diuresis is mediated by ANF.
Diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in bone marrow transplant recipients by polymerase chain reaction

A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test targeting Aspergillus spp. large ribosomal subunit genes was evaluated retrospectively on 175 serum samples from 37 bone marrow transplant recipients, 70% of whom received grafts from unrelated donors. Six patients had proven infection, seven had probable infection, and three had possible infection, using the revised EORTC case definitions. These 16 patients were all PCR positive (57 out of 93 samples tested). Two additional patients who did not fulfil current diagnostic criteria, but in whom invasive aspergillosis (IA) was thought clinically probable, were also PCR positive (five out of nine samples). Invasive aspergillosis was unlikely in the remaining 19 patients, four of whom were PCR positive on a single occasion (four out of 70 samples). Three samples were inhibitory to PCR. Sensitivity of PCR in diagnosing patients with IA was 100%, specificity was 79% and positive predictive value was 80%, using the criterion of a single positive result. If two positive results were required, these values were 81%, 100% and 100% respectively. The median duration of infection documented by PCR was 36 days (range 3–248 days) in 17 out of 18 patients (94%) who did not survive. Positive PCR results predated the institution of antifungal therapy in two‐thirds of patients. Four patients became PCR positive during pretransplant conditioning therapy.
Optimal Mean Reversion Trading: Mathematical Analysis and Practical Applications

Optimal Mean Reversion Trading: Mathematical Analysis and Practical Applications provides a systematic study to the practical problem of optimal trading in the presence of mean-reverting price dynamics. It is self-contained and organized in its presentation, and provides rigorous mathematical analysis as well as computational methods for trading ETFs, options, futures on commodities or volatility indices, and credit risk derivatives. This book offers a unique financial engineering approach that combines novel analytical methodologies and applications to a wide array of real-world examples. It extracts the mathematical problems from various trading approaches and scenarios, but also addresses the practical aspects of trading problems, such as model estimation, risk premium, risk constraints, and transaction costs. The explanations in the book are detailed enough to capture the interest of the curious student or researcher, and complete enough to give the necessary background material for further exploration into the subject and related literature. This book will be a useful tool for anyone interested in financial engineering, particularly algorithmic trading and commodity trading, and would like to understand the mathematically optimal strategies in different market environments.
Agro-waste biosorbents: Effect of physico-chemical properties on atrazine and imidacloprid sorption

ABSTRACT Low cost agro-waste biosorbents namely eucalyptus bark (EB), corn cob (CC), bamboo chips (BC), rice straw (RS) and rice husk (RH) were characterized and used to study atrazine and imidacloprid sorption. Adsorption studies suggested that biosorbents greatly varied in their pesticide sorption behaviour. The EB was the best biosorbent to sorb both atrazine and imidacloprid with KF values of 169.9 and 85.71, respectively. The adsorption isotherm were nonlinear in nature with slope (1/n) values <1. The Freundlich constant Correlating atrazine/imidacloprid sorption parameter [KF. (1/n)] with the physicochemical properties of the biosorbents suggested that atrazine adsorption correlated significantly to the aromaticity, polarity, surface area, fractal dimension, lacunarity and relative C-O band intensity parameters of biosorbents. Probably, both physisorption and electrostatic interactions were responsible for the pesticide sorption. The eucalyptus bark can be exploited as low cost adsorbent for the removal of these pesticides as well as a component of on-farm biopurification systems.
A sham-controlled trial of left and right temporal rTMS for the treatment of auditory hallucinations

Background Several studies have reported reduction of auditory hallucinations (AH) after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to the left temporal cortex. This study explored the effects of rTMS to the left and right temporal cortex. Method Eighteen subjects with schizophrenia and frequent AH were enrolled in a double-blind, cross-over trial of 3 days of active rTMS to the left or right temporal cortex, or sham rTMS to the vertex (control condition), followed by an open treatment phase. The effects on AH were assessed by a blinded rater, using the Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS). Results During the double-blind phase, active temporal rTMS did not result in significantly greater improvement in hallucination scores than sham rTMS to the vertex, apart from a reduction in distress scores. Hallucination scores improved during the open continued treatment phase. Conclusions This study did not demonstrate an advantage for left temporal rTMS compared to right temporal and sham stimulation, over a 3-day stimulation period, but found modest improvement in hallucinations during continued open label treatment.
Endothelial RAGE exacerbates acute postischaemic cardiac inflammation

Summary Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) interact with their receptor RAGE, leading to an inflammatory state. We investigated the role of RAGE in postischaemic leukocyte adhesion after myocardial infarction and its effect on postischaemic myocardial function. Wildtype (WT), ICAM-1-/-, RAGE-/- or ICAM-1/RAGE-/- mice underwent 20 minutes (min) of LAD-occlusion followed by 15 min of reperfusion. We applied in vivo fluorescence microscopy visualising Rhodamine-6G labelled leukocytes. To differentiate between endothelial and leukocyte RAGE, we generated bone marrow chimeric mice. Invasive hemodynamic measurements were performed in mice undergoing 45 min of myocardial ischaemia (via LAD-occlusion) followed by 24 hours of reperfusion. Left-ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) was assessed by insertion of a millar-tip catheter into the left ventricle. In the acute model of myocardial ischaemia, leukocyte retention (WT 68 ± 4 cells/ hpf) was significantly reduced in ICAM-1-/- (40 ± 3 cells/hpf) and RAGE-/- mice (38 ± 4 cells/hpf). ICAM-1/RAGE-/- mice displayed an additive reduction of leukocyte retention (ICAM-1/RAGE-/- 15 ± 3 cells/ hpf). Ly-6G+ neutrophil were predominantly reduced in ICAM-1/RAGE-/- hearts (28%), whereas Ly-6C+ proinflammatory monocytes decreased to a lesser extent (55%). Interestingly, PMN recruitment was not affected in chimeric mice with RAGE deficiency in BM cells (WT mice reconstituted with ICAM-1/RAGE-/- BM: 55 ± 4 cells/hpf) while in mice with global RAGE deficiency (ICAM-1/RAGE-/- mice reconstituted with ICAM-1/RAGE-/- BM) leucocyte retention was significantly reduced (13 ± 1 cells/hpf), similar to non-transplanted ICAM/ RAGE-/- mice. Furthermore, postischaemic LVDP increased in ICAM-1/RAGE-/- animals (98 ± 4 mmHg vs 86 ± 4 mmHg in WT mice). In conclusion, combined deficiency of ICAM-1 and RAGE reduces leukocyte influx into infarcted myocardium and improves LV function during the acute phase after myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion. RAGE represents an additional pro-inflammatory endothelial mediator of ischaemia-reperfusion injury.
Optimal control design for block-ice production process using time of use tariff

This paper presents an application of optimal control design to a block-ice production process using the time of use tariff. The optimal strategy is developed to minimize the electricity cost over a finite-time horizon and is subjected to constraints involving control signals and state variables. Applying the principle of optimality, the control input is calculated by dynamic programming. Various factors have been analyzed with respect to energy consumption and cost. The optimal controller is then compared to the conventional control strategy. The simulation reveals that the proposed control design has a significant advantage over the conventional control strategy.
Trends and Clinical Practice Patterns of Sacral Neuromodulation for Overactive Bladder

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate surgical practice patterns of American urologists treating refractory overactive bladder (OAB) over the past decade. Refractory OAB remains a management challenge to urologists. When multiple medical therapies have failed, treatment options may include sacral neuromodulation (SNM) or surgery such as augmentation cystoplasty (AC). Methods Data on SNM and AC performed between 2003 and 2012 by certifying and recertifying urologists were obtained in the form of annualized case logs from the American Board of Urology (ABU). Associations between surgeon characteristics (type of certification, annual volume, practice type, and location) and these procedures were evaluated. Results Over the past decade, 756 of 6355 urologists certified with the ABU performed SNM or AC for the treatment of refractory OAB. Forty-five (6%) of these surgeons completed fellowships in female urology and 71 surgeons (9%) completed another type of fellowship program. Surgeons recertifying with ABU performed 76% of all SNM procedures. Although SNM and AC have increased from 64 to 2086 between 2003 and 2012, however, this is mainly driven by the increase of SNM from 48 to 2068 cases. Rates of AC have remained stable with 14 to 38 cases reported annually. However, they have declined relative to the total, from 25% in 2003 to less than 1% in 2012. Conclusions Sacral neuromodulation has increased dramatically over the past decade in surgeons certified with the ABU. This is in contrast to AC, which while remaining stable in number of procedures.
The regulation of energy generating metabolic pathways by p53

The function of p53 as a tumor suppressor remains undisputed. p53 has a central role in cellular stress responses as well as affecting cancer development and progression. The word “central”, however, is becoming increasingly more of an understatement as the list of p53-regulated pathways and processes is ever expanding. Although much focus continues to center on p53-mediated signaling cascades that control cell growth arrest and/or apoptosis, recent work has begun to define a role for p53 in the regulation of metabolic pathways typically thought of as essential for maintaining life. With the first potential link between p53 and glycolysis reported nearly ten years ago, the topic has gained a renewed interest. Recent studies now demonstrate the ability of p53 to regulate the expression of several novel genes including PGM (phosphoglycerate mutase), TIGAR (TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator) and, SCO2 (synthesis of cytochrome c oxidase 2), each intimately linked to the processes of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. With this discovery, yet another novel means by which p53 carries out its tumor suppressor function is brought into light.
Slaving: Solvent fluctuations dominate protein dynamics and functions

Protein motions are essential for function. Comparing protein processes with the dielectric fluctuations of the surrounding solvent shows that they fall into two classes: nonslaved and slaved. Nonslaved processes are independent of the solvent motions; their rates are determined by the protein conformation and vibrational dynamics. Slaved processes are tightly coupled to the solvent; their rates have approximately the same temperature dependence as the rate of the solvent fluctuations, but they are smaller. Because the temperature dependence is determined by the activation enthalpy, we propose that the solvent is responsible for the activation enthalpy, whereas the protein and the hydration shell control the activation entropy through the energy landscape. Bond formation is the prototype of nonslaved processes; opening and closing of channels are quintessential slaved motions. The prevalence of slaved motions highlights the importance of the environment in cells and membranes for the function of proteins.
Asset Bubbles, Financial Crises, and the Responses from the Public, Politicians, and Regulators

Although we tend to be of the opinion that the current financial crisis is worse than anything else we have seen, a review of historic cases tells us that this may perhaps not be as true as we think. This paper explores the responses from public, politics, and regulators against the backdrop of a number of historic crisis and finds that perhaps not much changes.
Locating Biologically Active Compounds in Medium-Sized Heterogeneous Datasets by Topological Autocorrelation Vectors: Dopamine and Benzodiazepine Agonists

Electronic properties located on the atoms of a molecule such as partial atomic charges as well as electronegativity and polarizability values are encoded by an autocorrelation vector accounting for the constitution of a molecule. This encoding procedure is able to distinguish between compounds being dopamine agonists and those being benzodiazepine receptor agonists even after projection into a two-dimensional self-organizing network. The two types of compounds can still be distinguished if they are buried in a dataset of 8323 compounds of a chemical supplier catalog comprising a wide structural variety. The maps obtained by this sequence of events, calculation of empirical physicochemical effects, encoding in a topological autocorrelation vector, and projection by a self-organizing neural network, can thus be used for searching for structural similarity, and, in particular, for finding new lead structures with biological activity.
Consequences of Delayed, Unfinished, or Missed Nursing Care During Labor and Birth

&NA; The purpose of this study was to examine the concept of delayed, unfinished, or missed nursing care when patient census and acuity exceed nurse staffing resources with nurses who care for women during labor and birth. Focus groups were held during which labor nurses were asked about aspects of nursing care that may be regularly delayed, unfinished, or completely missed during labor and birth, including possible reasons and potential consequences. Seventy-one labor nurses participated in 11 focus groups in 6 hospitals. Nurses focused on support and encouragement as aspects of care that they felt are essential but often not able to be performed when the unit is busy. Nurses seemed to assume technical features of care as a “given” in the background and not always noticed unless missed. They voiced concerns about risks to maternal and fetal well-being when they were short-staffed. Potential outcomes were discussed including cesarean birth, depressed infants at birth, hemorrhage, and negative effects on patient satisfaction, successful breast-feeding, and the overall patient experience. Conclusion: When essential aspects of nursing care are delayed, unfinished, or completely missed, there are potentially negative implications for numerous patient outcomes and patient safety is at risk.
On Binocular Alternation

Diaz-Caneja (1928) made some prescient observations about binocular rivalry. Being in French, however, his paper remained largely unknown to the broader research community. His findings are similar to those reported very recently by contemporary researchers who had independently observed similar phenomena. Using concentric circles and parallel lines as stimuli, Diaz-Caneja presented half of each form to opposite eyes to provoke binocular rivalry. He observed periods in the ensuing binocular alternations in which rivalry occurred between the good Gestalt forms, despite the fact that they were distributed between the eyes. He proposed that each half of a good form generates synchronised oscillations in the visual system, and that this synchronisation enables the dichoptically viewed halves of the one form to be perceived as a whole.
Life Cycle Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emission Analysis for a Water Resource Recovery Facility in India

This paper quantifies life cycle energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) in India versus water quality improvements achieved from infrastructure investments. A first such analysis is conducted using operating data for a WRRF, which employs upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors and oxidation. On‐site operations energy use, process GHG emissions, and embodied energy in infrastructure were quantified. The analysis showed energy use and GHG emissions of 0.2 watt‐hours (Wh) and 0.3 gram carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents per liter (gCO2e/L) wastewater treated, and 1.3 Wh and 2.1 gCO2e/gBOD removed, achieving 81% biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and 99% fecal coliform removal annually. Process emissions of WRRFs contributed 44% of life cycle GHG emissions, similar in magnitude to those from electricity (46%), whereas infrastructure contributed 10%. Average WRRF‐associated GHG emissions (0.9gCO2e/L) were lower than those expected if untreated wastewater was released to the river. Investments made by WRRFs in developing world cities improve water quality and may mitigate overall GHG emissions.
Screening mammography: value in women 35-39 years old.

OBJECTIVE The value of screening mammography for detecting early breast cancer in younger women is not widely recognized. We review the results of screening mammography and of breast biopsies performed on the basis of mammographic findings in women 35-39 years old to determine the detection rate for breast cancer and the stage of breast cancers detected at mammographic screening in this age group. MATERIALS AND METHODS Computer-tabulated results of mammography in women 35-39 years old who participated in a mobile mammographic screening program during the 36-month period from January 1989 to December 1991 were retrospectively reviewed with a standardized data collection form. Pathology reports from biopsies recommended on the basis of screening mammograms or follow-up examinations (coned views/sonograms) also were reviewed. Data were compared with results of mammographic screenings and pathologic findings at biopsy in women 40-49 years old who participated in this screening program during the same period. RESULTS A total of 5105 screening mammograms were obtained in women 35-39 years old. Of these, 4654 (91%) showed no abnormalities. Biopsy was recommended in 36 (< 1%). Eight biopsies showed carcinoma, intraductal in five and stage I infiltrating ductal in three. Mammograms showed calcifications in all cancers detected; two infiltrating cancers also had an associated mass. The number of breast cancers detected was 1.6 per 1000 screenings, comparable to our rate of 1.4 cancers per 1000 screenings in women 40-49 years old. Because the number of cancers detected was small, the 95% confidence interval for the ratio of detection rates was wide, ranging from 2.56:1 to 1:2.29. CONCLUSION Early stage tumors in women 35-39 years old can be detected on mammograms. The breast cancer detection rate in women 35-39 years old was comparable to that for women in their forties in our population; however, our data do not exclude a more than twofold difference in detection rates between these two groups. These data should be considered in determining the value of mammographic screening in women 35-39 years old.
Localization of zinc in the outer retina of carp: A light‐ and electron‐microscopic study

Many lines of evidence suggest that zinc may play an important neuromodulatory role in the central nervous system, including the retina. In this work, localization of zinc in the outer retina of carp was studied, using the silver amplification method, by light and electron microscopy. Reaction products (silver grains) were widely distributed throughout the retina, including photoreceptors, the outer and inner nuclear layers (ONL and INL), the ganglion cell layer (GCL), as well as in both outer and inner plexiform layers (OPL and IPL). Generally, staining for zinc was stronger in the outer retina than in the inner retina, and grains were aggregated with the greatest density in the OPL and the outer limiting membrane (OLM). Silver precipitates were also detected in the inner segments, axons, but not outer segments of photoreceptors. At the ultrastructural level, zinc was localized to myoid regions, mitochondria in the inner segments, internuclear space and nuclei of photoreceptors. In addition, silver grains were found in the terminals of photoreceptors, cone pedicles, and rod spherules, as well as in some processes in the OPL, which might be dendrites of horizontal cells. The presence of zinc in the terminals of photoreceptors suggests that zinc might be released from photoreceptor terminals and play modulatory roles in the outer retina. Synapse 62:352–357, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.