Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hysterectomy and risk of cardiovascular disease: a population-based cohort study.

AIMS Hysterectomy for benign indications is one of the commonest surgical procedures in women, but the association between the procedure and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is not fully understood. In this population-based cohort study, we studied the effects of hysterectomy, with or without oopherectomy, on the risk of later life CVD. METHODS AND RESULTS Using nationwide healthcare registers, we identified all Swedish women having a hysterectomy on benign indications between 1973 and 2003 (n = 184,441), and non-hysterectomized controls (n = 640,043). Main outcome measure was the first hospitalization or death of incident CVD (coronary heart disease, stroke, or heart failure). Occurrence of CVD was determined by individual linkage to the Inpatient Register. In women below age 50 at study entry, hysterectomy was associated with a significantly increased risk of CVD during follow-up [hazard ratio (HR), 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13-1.23; HR, 2.22, 95% CI, 1.01-4.83; and HR, 1.25, 95% CI, 1.06-1.48; in women without oopherectomy, with oopherectomy before or at study entry, respectively, using women without hysterectomy or oopherectomy as reference]. In women aged 50 or above at study entry, there were no significant associations between hysterectomy and incident CVD. CONCLUSIONS Hysterectomy in women aged 50 years or younger substantially increases the risk for CVD later in life and oopherectomy further adds to the risk of both coronary heart disease and stroke.
Indoor field experiment results on spatial multiplexing MIMO using dual-polarized antennas

This paper describes the performance of MIMO (multiple Input Multiple Output) system using dual-polarized antenna in a IEEE 802.16m. The use of dual-polarized antennas in MIMO systems has emerged as a cost-and space-effective alternative, where two spatially separated uni-polarized antennas can be replaced by a single antenna element employing orthogonal polarizations. Several papers show mainly polarization diversity in multiple antenna system so far. In this paper, we show the simulation results of spatial multiplexing(SM) and space frequency block codes (SFBC) MIMO employing dual-polarized antenna. Also, we measure the PER (packet error rate) of downlink signal in implemented SM and SFBC MIMO system which is employing dual-polarized antenna under the indoor field environment. Dual-polarized antenna system achieved the similar trend PER (packet error rate) curve with uni-polarized one. That means that multiplexing gain is obtained from polarized antennas system having space and cost effective.
Recombinant Turkey Herpesvirus-AI Vaccine Virus Replication in Different Species of Waterfowl

SUMMARY. Waterfowl play a key role in the epidemiology of the H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus; therefore, efficient immunization of domesticated ducks and geese to maximize the impact of other control measures is of great importance. A recombinant (r)HVT-AI, expressing the HA gene of a clade 2.2 H5N1 HPAI strain had been developed and proved to be efficient against different clades of H5N1 HPAI virus in chickens after a single vaccination at 1 day old and could provide long-term immunity. We investigated whether rHVT-AI applied at 1 day old is able to replicate in different species and crossbreeds of ducks and in geese with the aim of collecting data on the possible application of rHVT-AI vaccine in different species of waterfowl for the control of H5N1 HPAI. We tested the possible differences among different waterfowl species, i.e., between geese (Anser anser, domesticated greylag goose), Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata forma domestica), Pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos forma domestica), and mule ducks (Muscovy duck × Pekin duck), in their susceptibility to support the replication of rHVT-AI. Vaccine virus replication was followed by real-time PCR in spleen, bursa, and feather tip samples. Humoral immune response to vaccination was tested using the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and H5-specific commercial ELISA. Significant differences among the different waterfowl species regarding the rate of rHVT-AI replication was detected that were not reflected by the same difference in the immune response to vaccination. Replication of the rHVT-AI vaccine was very limited in Pekin ducks, somewhat better in mule ducks, and the vaccine virus was replicating significantly better in Muscovy ducks and geese, reaching 100% detectability at certain time points after administration at 1 day old. Results indicated that the vaccine virus could establish different levels of persistent infection in these species of waterfowl. No humoral immune response could be detected either by HI test or ELISA during the tested postvaccination period (5 wk).
The Strength‐Duration Curve and Its Importance in Pacing Efficiency: A Study of 325 Pacing Leads in 229 Patients

Pacemaker battery life is dependant on programmable parameters, principally pulse, amplitude and pulse duration. High factory default settings cause excessive current drain. The strength‐duration curve relates pacing threshold to pulse duration. The most energy efficient pacing occurs at chronaxie, a value of pulse duration derived from the curve. Strength‐duration curves were calculated for 325 acutely implanted pacing leads. Chronaxie and rheobase were compared for atrial and ventricular leads. Chronaxie was compared with actual programmed pulse duration. There were 101 atrial and 224 ventricular leads, all passive fixation. The curve fit was good, (mean error ± SD) 0.024 ± 0.06 V for atrial curves and 0.008 ± 0.034 V for ventricular curves. Mean (± SD) atrial and ventricular chronaxies were 0.24 ± 0.07 ms and 0.25 ± 0.07 ms, respectively. A “Z” value of 1.4 indicated that chronaxies might have been from the same population. Mean (± SD) atrial and ventricular rheobases were 0.51 ± 0.2 V and 0.35 ±0.13 V, respectively. A “Z” value of 7.1 (P < 0.001) suggested atrial and ventricular rheobases were from differing populations. AH patients had factory default pulse durations of 0.45 ms or 0.5 ms, exceeding acute chronaxie by a factor of two, thus, demonstrating suboptimal pacing. We conclude that understanding the strength‐duration curve is critical. Sensible programming of other pacing functions optimizes longevity. Battery drain is reduced by programming pulse duration to chronaxie with a doubling of voltage threshold at this point to achieve a safety margin. Further study of chronaxie drift with time is required.
Optimizing playback delay for multiuser video streaming

Playback delay control is an important mechanism to avoid jitter in video streaming systems. This paper introduces a playback delay minimization problem for multiuser video streaming systems providing a jitter-free video streaming service to end users in the system. In particular, a necessary condition on the playback delay for jitter-free streaming is obtained. Then, based on the derived necessary condition, an optimum rate splitting algorithm that splits available rate to all users is proposed. The proposed algorithm is optimum in the sense that it achieves the minimum system delay, which is defined as the maximum of all initial playback delays, while ensuring jitter-free streaming service to all users. Finally, using these results, an expression for the minimum system delay as a function of system parameters such as total rate and playback curves of requested video files is also derived.
Distinct radiation responses after in vitro mtDNA depletion are potentially related to oxidative stress

Several clinically used drugs are mitotoxic causing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variations, and thereby influence cancer treatment response. We hypothesized that radiation responsiveness will be enhanced in cellular models with decreased mtDNA content, attributed to altered reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant capacity. For this purpose BEAS-2B, A549, and 143B cell lines were depleted from their mtDNA (ρ0). Overall survival after irradiation was increased (p<0.001) for BEAS-2B ρ0 cells, while decreased for both tumor ρ0 lines (p<0.05). In agreement, increased residual DNA damage was observed after mtDNA depletion for A549 and 143B cells. Intrinsic radiosensitivity (surviving fraction at 2Gy) was not influenced. We investigated whether ROS levels, oxidative stress and/or antioxidant responses were responsible for altered radiation responses. Baseline ROS formation was similar between BEAS-2B parental and ρ0 cells, while reduced in A549 and 143B ρ0 cells, compared to their parental counterparts. After irradiation, ROS levels significantly increased for all parental cell lines, while levels for ρ0 cells remained unchanged. In order to investigate the presence of oxidative stress upon irradiation reduced glutathione: oxidized glutathione (GSH:GSSG) ratios were determined. Irradiation reduced GSH:GSSG ratios for BEAS-2B parental and 143B ρ0, while for A549 this ratio remained equal. Additionally, changes in antioxidant responses were observed. Our results indicate that mtDNA depletion results in varying radiation responses potentially involving variations in cellular ROS and antioxidant defence mechanisms. We therefore suggest when mitotoxic drugs are combined with radiation, in particular at high dose per fraction, the effect of these drugs on mtDNA copy number should be explored.
Credit creation, monetary policy and the macroeconomy : three empirical studies

This thesis is composed of three empirical studies examining the relationship between credit creation, monetary policy and macroeconomic activity. It is motivated by the neglect of credit in mainstream macroeconomic theory and empirical work prior to the financial crisis of 2007-08. The first study investigates the relationship between monetary policy and nominal GDP in the United Kingdom over 50 years using a new quarterly dataset. Different theories of the monetary transmission mechanism are tested using the ‘General-to-Specific’ (GETS) method. A long-run cointegrating relationship is found between a real economy credit growth variable and nominal output growth. Changes to short-term interest-rates and broad money growth fall out of the parsimonious model. Vector error correction and vector auto-regression (VAR) analysis finds one- way Granger causality from credit growth to nominal-GDP growth. The second study examines evidence of a ‘credit cycle’ by analyzing the dynamic interlinkages between credit, house prices, monetary policy, and economic activity in nine advanced economies. Credit is decomposed in to ‘productive credit’ (bank lending to non-financial firms and for consumption) and ‘asset market credit’ (lending for domestic mortgages or financial assets). Country-level and panel VAR analysis finds: 1) a secular growth in asset market credit relative to productive credit; 2) productive credit growth has a stronger impact on real-GDP growth than asset-market credit although there is cross-country heterogeneity; (3) property prices strongly influence both credit growth aggregates and the macroeconomy; and (4) interest rates are more weakly linked to the other variables. The third study considers the monetary financing of government expenditure by central- banks as a monetary policy tool. This is pertinent today given historically high private and public debt-to-GDP levels. A literature review finds little support for the standard claim that such activity leads to damaging inflation. A counter-example is presented via an institutional case study of the central bank of Canada during the period 1935-1975 when it monetised on average 25% of government debt to support fiscal expansion and economic growth. Econometric analysis also finds no evidence for a relationship between monetary financing and inflation. The policy implications of the thesis are that: 1) credit growth plays a central role in the monetary policy transmission mechanism; 2) there is evidence of a credit cycle strongly related to house prices in advanced economies which may be strengthening over time; and 3) monetary financing of government deficits should be considered as a policy tool given high private debt levels and private banks’ turn towards asset market credit creation.
The Effects of Knowledge And Technology Variables On Terms of Trade

This paper examines the role of knowledge and technology variables in determining terms of trade in emerging market countries and developed countries. The empirical analysis is used data set of 22 emerging markets and 15 developed countries from 2001 to 2005. The results have showed that: (1) the changes of knowledge and technology variables are more significant in explaining both developed countries’ terms of trade and their net trade; (2) with including non-technological variables, model’s explaining power has increased for emerging markets, whereas it has decreased for developed countries; (3) the effects of knowledge and technology variables on net trade are less important in both countries groups. ÖZET Bu çalışma, yükselen piyasa ülkelerinde ve gelişmiş ülkelerde ticaret hadlerinin belirlenmesinde bilgi ve teknoloji değişkenlerinin rolünü inceler. Ampirik analiz, 2001–2005 yılları arasında 22 yükselen piyasa ve 15 gelişmiş ülkenin veri seti kullanılmıştır. Sonuçlara göre, (1) bilgi ve teknoloji değişkenlerinde değişiklikler, gelişmiş ülkelerin hem dış ticaret hadlerini hem de net dış ticaretlerini açıklamada daha anlamlıdır; (2) teknoloji dışı değişkenlerin ilave edilmesiyle, modelin açıklama gücü yükselen piyasalar için artarken gelişmiş ülkeler için azalmıştır; (3) bilgi ve teknoloji değişkenlerinin dış ticaret üzerindeki etkisi her iki ülke grubunda da az önemlidir. Terms of trade, net trade, knowledge and technology variables. Dış ticaret hadleri, net ticaret, bilgi ve teknoloji değişkenleri. 1 Department of Economics, Dumlupinar University, Kutahya. e-mail: alisen71@mynet.com 2 Department of Economics, Dumlupinar University, Kutahya. e-mail: fcelebi@dumlupinar.edu. tr 3 Department of Economics, Bilecik University, Bilecik. e-mail: haltay16@hotmail.com ŞEN – ÇELEBİOĞLU – ALTAY
Quantitative data analysis methods for bead‐based DNA hybridization assays using generic flow cytometry platforms

Bead‐based assays are in demand for rapid genomic and proteomic assays for both research and clinical purposes. Standard quantitative procedures addressing raw data quality and analysis are required to ensure the data are consistent and reproducible across laboratories independent of flow platform. Quantitative procedures have been introduced spanning raw histogram analysis through to absolute target quantitation. These included models developed to estimate the absolute number of sample molecules bound per bead (Langmuir isotherm), relative quantitative comparisons (two‐sided t‐tests), and statistical analyses investigating the quality of raw fluorescence data. The absolute target quantitation method revealed a concentration range (below probe saturation) of Cy5‐labeled synthetic cytokeratin 19 (K19) RNA of c.a. 1 × 104 to 500 × 104 molecules/bead, with a binding constant of c.a. 1.6 nM. Raw hybridization frequency histograms were observed to be highly reproducible across 10 triplex assay replicates and only three assay replicates were required to distinguish overlapping peaks representing small sequence mismatches. This study provides a quantitative scheme for determining the absolute target concentration in nucleic acid hybridization reactions and the equilibrium binding constants for individual probe/target pairs. It is envisaged that such studies will form the basis of standard analytical procedures for bead‐based cytometry assays to ensure reproducibility in inter‐ and intra‐platform comparisons of data between laboratories. © 2008 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
CT-guided radiofrequency ablation: a potential complementary therapy for patients with unresectable primary lung cancer--a preliminary report of 33 patients.

OBJECTIVE We report our preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness, safety, technical feasibility, and complications of palliative CT-guided radiofrequency ablation of unresectable primary pulmonary malignancies. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Thirty-three patients (26 men and seven women; age range, 44-75 years; mean age, 66 years) with unresectable malignant lung neoplasms underwent 35 CT-guided tumor ablation sessions. Follow-up CT was performed 6 months (29 cases) and 1 year (10 cases) after treatment. In 19 patients, these findings were correlated with cytohistopathologic assessment obtained with CT-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy or core biopsy at 6-month follow-up. Size and CT appearance of the treated lesions were correlated with cytohistologic features and clinical scores. RESULTS Thirty-five technically successful radiofrequency ablation treatments were performed. The only complications in the periprocedural period were three cases of minor pneumothorax, five cases of sputum cruentum, and three asymptomatic pleural effusions. Contrast-enhanced CT performed at 6-month follow-up showed four cases of complete and 13 cases of partial lesion ablation, 11 cases of stabilized lesion size, and one case of increased lesion size. Contrast-enhanced CT performed at 1-year follow-up showed unchanged lesion size in six cases and reduction in four cases. Six-month cytohistologic examinations showed total coagulation necrosis in seven lesions and partial necrosis in 12. Clinical improvement in pretreatment symptoms was observed in 12 of 29 patients seen at 6-month follow-up. Eight patients died within 1 year of treatment of non-procedure-related causes. CONCLUSION Our experience suggests that radiofrequency ablation can be used successfully in unresectable lung cancer as an alternative or complementary treatment to radio- or chemotherapy. Larger studies are necessary to fully evaluate its potential combination with other treatment techniques.
Molecular dynamic simulations of nanomechanic chaperone peptide and effects of in silico His mutations on nanostructured function

The nanoscale peptide YSGVCHTDLHAWHGDWPLPVK exhibits molecular chaperone activity and prevents protein aggregation under chemical and/or thermal stress. Here, His mutations of this peptide and their impact on chaperone activity were evaluated using theoretical techniques. Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations with simulated annealing (SA) of different mutant nanopeptides were employed to determine the contribution of the scaffolding His residues (H45, H49, H52), when mutated to Pro, on chaperone action in vitro. The in silico mutations of His residues to Pro (H45P, H49P, H52P) revealed loss of secondary ordered strand structure. However, a small part of the strand conformation was formed in the middle region of the native chaperone peptide. The His‐to‐Pro mutations resulted in decreased gyration radius (Rg) values and surface accessibility of the mutant peptides under the simulation times. The invariant dihedral angle (ϕ) values and the disrupting effects of the Pro residues indicated the coil conformation of mutant peptides. The failure of the chaperone‐like action in the Pro mutant peptides was consistent with their decreased effective accessible surfaces. The high variation of Φ value for His residues in native chaperone peptide leads to high flexibility, such as a minichaperone acting as a nanomachine at the molecular level. Our findings demonstrate that the peptide strand conformation motif with high flexibility at nanoscale is critical for chaperone activity. Copyright © 2008 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The implementation gaps for the knowledge management system

Purpose – This paper proposes a fully holistic framework of the “Knowledge Management Gap” to demonstrate the management gaps that might occur when implementing the knowledge management system. Design/methodology/approach – The relevant literature is reviewed, and then the concept structure proposed.Findings – This study identifies reasons for knowledge gaps and demonstrates several fundamental approaches to avoid them. Furthermore, corrective actions are proposed to enhance the success of the implementation of the knowledge management systems.Research limitations/implications – This study tries to explore the factors associated with knowledge management gaps. This research is an exploratory study, so the results are only propositions; hence an empirical survey should be carried out in the future.Practical implications – This framework is expected to provide a convenient way to audit the knowledge management gaps, and thus enterprises can make corrections and adjustments accordingly to greatly enhance the.
Dexmedetomidine increases the cocaine seizure threshold in rats.

BACKGROUND Central alpha adrenoceptors have been demonstrated to play an important role in the control of seizure activity; moreover, alpha adrenoceptors have been linked to electroencephalogram changes associated with cocaine. The purpose of this study was to determine if dexmedetomidine, a highly selective alpha -adrenoceptor agonist, alters the threshold for cocaine-induced seizure activity in rats. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats received a cocaine infusion (1.25 mg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) followed 15 min later by the coinfusion of either dexmedetomidine (20-microg/kg intravenous bolus followed by an infusion of 1 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1), CD group, n = 8) or an equal volume of saline (CS group, n = 8). Dexmedetomidine or saline were coinfused with cocaine until the onset of cocaine-induced seizures. Dopamine concentrations in the nucleus accumbens were measured by microdialysis paired with chromatography. To determine if changes in extracellular dopamine were related to the seizures, dopamine (1 microm) was continuously delivered to the nucleus accumbens in a separate group (DACD group, n = 6) retrograde microdialysis. These rats then received an intravenous cocaine infusion followed by dexmedetomidine in the same manner as the CD group. RESULTS Dexmedetomidine significantly increased the dose of cocaine necessary to produce seizures. Seizures occurred at 25.0 +/- 7.7 and 49.3 +/- 14.8 min in CS and CD, respectively (P < 0.001). The ratio of the percent increase in accumbal dopamine to the cocaine dose at the onset of seizure activity was significantly lower in CD, 39.9 +/- 16.5, compared to CS, 82.2 +/- 46.5 (P = 0.04). Intraaccumbal administration of dopamine prevented the effects of dexmedetomidine on the cocaine seizure threshold. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that dexmedetomidine increases the cocaine-induced seizure threshold possibly a mechanism related to the attenuation of the extracellular dopaminergic neurotransmitter response to cocaine.
Cerebral blood oxygenation in rat brain during hypoxic hypoxia. Quantitative MRI of effective transverse relaxation rates

Oxygenation‐sensitive MRI of respiratory challenges in the brain of experimental animals will considerably benefit from a quantitative relationship between cerebral blood oxygenation and MRI parameters. Here, a multi‐echo gradient‐echo MRI technique was used to determine effective transverse relaxation rates R 2* = 1/T 2* of rat brain in vivo during short periods of hypoxia and interleaved normoxic phases. The differential contribution ΔR 2* observed during hypoxia was found to increase linearly with arterial blood deoxygenation for mild to moderate conditions. Severe deoxygenation resulted in a plateau most likely due to enhanced cerebral blood flow.