Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Granulocyte transfusion therapy and amphotericin B: Adverse reactions?

One hundred twenty‐five granulocyte transfusions were given concurrently with amphotericin B to 31 granulocytopenic patients with acute leukemia during a four year period. Twenty‐six patients had culture‐documented, and 5 had presumed fungal infections; pulmonary infiltrates were present in 26 patient courses. Eight patients developed pulmonary deterioration temporally related to therapy with amphotericin, granulocyte transfusions, or both. One event occurred following amphotericin alone. Three additional reactions occurred in alloimmunized patients with antibodies to human leukocyte antigens (HLA) who received random donor granulocytes, which may indicate a potential mechanism for the pulmonary reactions. Two reactions potentially represent an adverse interaction between amphotericin and granulocytes, but these were reversible and were not unlike reactions expected with each modality alone. Our data fail to document a specific detrimental interaction between granulocyte transfusions and amphotericin beyond the reactions associated with each modality, and the data suggest that other clinical factors, particularly infection and alloimmunization, also contribute to pulmonary decompensation. We nevertheless recommend great care and attention be given to administering these modalities in the setting of severely ill patients.
GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY—AN UPCOMING CHALLENGE

The advancing age of man brings its own specific problems to be dealt with. There is a gradually progressive decline in muscular strength, coordination , energy reserves, stress-tolerance, resistance to illness and ability to recover from illness. Joints get fibrosed, bones develop osteoporosis, muscles atrophy, skin becomes wrinkled and loses its elasticity and hair become thinner and grey. Increasing cholestrol deposit in blood vessels narrows vascular lumen with decreased blood supply to the brain resulting in cerebral atrophy and apoplexy. This is reflected in physiological changes viz., reduced memory, inabilitv to learn, lowered ability to integrate new information with old«nd to organize appropriate responses, a decreased flexibility and creativity in problem solving, a somewhat lowered capacity to cope with psychological stress and an increase in time required for various psychomotor tasks. Retirement from work, demise of spouse, reduced income, considerable increase in leisure, changing attitude of younger generation (generation gap) add to the stresses and pose new demands for adjustment for the individual. All this tends to produce anxiety, despair, feelings of uselessness and depression. Although dementia forms the major group of menial illnesses in old age (80%), functional psychoses are no less common. Associated cognitive impairment make. * differentiation between psuedo-dementia of depression and organic dementia more difficult. Physical ailments of old age like myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and neoplasms are associated with their own specific psychiatric problems. It becomes a duty for the psychiatrist to motivate elderly patients to accept modern treatments for their illnesses and to develop a will to live in these desperate patients. This requires special psychothera-peutic skills and techniques. Changing physiology, metabolism and pharmacokinetics with ageing requires greater skill and close monitoring of physiological functions in drug treatment for geropsychiatric problems. Elderly patients thus pose a definite, discrete and different challenge for psychiatrist and require special skills to deal with. Increase in the medical and health facilities, prevention of young deaths due to infection and trauma, new advances in physical modes of treatment for illnesses of young age, increased means of comfort that reduce physical stresses of life and improved quality of nutrition—all together have resulted in an increased life expectancy of Indian population. The proportion of those aged 65 and above in the total population has increased from 3.1% (in 1951) to 3.35% (in 1971). In other words there has been a 63% increase in population aged 65 years and above as compared …
Do the International Monetary and Financial Systems Need More Than Short-Term Cosmetic Reforms?

Abstract: The storm that has rocked our world has opened an interesting debate among economists and policymakers on the need for a new international monetary and financial architecture. In fact, the monetary and financial regime that has been in force since the collapse of Bretton Woods encourages the persistence of unsustainable dynamics that spawn increasingly serious crises, and are unable to impart an acceptable form of macroeconomic discipline to the world’s economy. It became apparent that the global role of a key currency along with the deregulation of financial markets (the neoliberal paradigm) have acted as underlying conditions for the U.S. financial crisis up to the present situation of global financial instability. In this article I point out the inadequacy of the institutional arrangements underlying the international monetary and financial regimes and I outline the relevance to the current debate of Keynes’s original plan, proposed with good reason over seventy years ago, but never came to fruition.
Entrepreneurial Attributes Among Postgraduate Students of a Pakistani University

This research examines the entrepreneurial characteristics among the student of University of Sargodha. The main task was to explore the entrepreneurial characteristics of the graduate students. Two hundred students from different departments returned complete questionnaires.To increase the representation, random sampling was selected. Findings revealed that self-efficacy, efficiency and commitment and entrepreneurial inclinations were the most important factors. The research showed that majority of the students have characteristics to become an entrepreneur and they showed positive response. However demographic factors have a minor impact on entrepreneurial attributes. The entrepreneurial attributes can be increased by offering certain courses which helps in increasing entrepreneurial attributes.
The relationship between apathy and participation in therapeutic activities in nursing home residents with dementia: Evidence for an association and directions for further research

Apathy is one of the most frequent and early symptoms of dementia. Because apathy is characterised by lack of initiative and motivation, it leads to considerable burden being placed on carers to ensure that the person living with dementia has a reasonable quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between apathy and participation in therapeutic activities for older people with dementia living in nursing homes. Ninety residents were recruited into the study, and apathy was measured by nursing home staff using the Apathy Evaluation Scale Clinician version. Staff also compiled data on each resident’s involvement in therapeutic activities. Among this sample, the mean age was 84.8 years, and mean length of stay in the nursing home was 1.8 years. The mean apathy score was 50.4, indicating that on average the residents had a moderate level of apathy. Overall, residents participated in six activities per week and those residents who were involved in the most activities had the lowest levels of apathy. This paper provides evidence that residents involved in therapeutic activities have lower levels of apathy. Further research should be conducted on the direction of causality, whether apathy levels can be changed through participation in therapeutic activities, the relationship between dementia severity and modifiability of apathy, and the intensity of therapeutic activities required to maintain functioning.
Methane Production in Dairy cows-Impact of Feed and Rumen Microbiota

Greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector represent about 14.5% of total emissions related to human activity. Approximately 40% of agricultural sector emissions derive from enteric methane (CH4) production by ruminants, due to their microbial digestion of feed. Level of CH4 production varies according to feed type, feed intake and even among individual animals raised under similar conditions, but the underlying mechanism is not well known. This thesis investigated the effects of feed, feed additives, and rumen microbiota on CH4 production within dairy cows and in a gas in vitro system. Effect of individual cow was stronger than effect of diet for both CH4 production and methanogenic population when two different levels of forage proportions were fed. Dividing Methanobrevibacter species into two groups better explained the variation in CH4 production. The effect of individual was evaluated in cows fed the same diet during mid-lactation. High, low and medium emitters were identified and selected for further studies on rumen microbiota. These revealed that CH4 production was associated with archaeal and bacterial community structure. Differences were observed in volatile fatty acid proportions between communities, but not in fibre digestion or milk production. Tests on feed additives, cashew nut shell extract (CNSE) and glycerol in a gas in vitro system for their ability to reduce CH4 production showed that CNSE reduced CH4 production by 18% and had a strong impact on microbiota, while glycerol increased CH4 production by 12% and had less effect on microbiota compared with the control. Comparison of microbial composition in inoculum from the in vitro control and in inoculum from the donor cow before incubation revealed that the bacterial community was relatively similar, while relative abundance of some species changed for archaeal population. This effect of transfer into another system should be considered when evaluating in vitro data. Evaluation of the in vitro system by comparing predicted and observed CH4 production on 49 test diets showed an overall good relationship, with small root mean square error for prediction (12.3% and 9.5% of observed mean for fixed and mixed models, respectively). However, the in vitro system had limitations in prediction of concentrate proportion.
Saudi Arabian license plate recognition system

A license plate recognition (LPR) system is one kind of intelligent transport systems and is of considerable interest because of its potential applications to areas such as highway electronic toll collection, traffic monitoring system and so on. This paper proposes an automatic license plate recognition system for Saudi Arabian license plates. The system captures the images of the vehicles with a digital camera. An algorithm for the extraction of license plate has been designed and an algorithm for segmentation of characters is proposed. The performance of the system has been investigated on real images of about 610 vehicles captured under various illumination conditions. Recognition of about 95% shows that the system is quite effective.
A dually polarized frequency scanning microstrip array antenna for weather radar applications

The performance of a dual-polarization frequency scanning array antenna, operating in the frequency band of 2.7 - 3.0 GHz, for weather measurement applications is demonstrated. The dual polarization capability, high isolation, and low sidelobe requirements makes the antenna design cumbersome and challenging. In order to achieve these requirements, differential feed strategy in designing a single layer frequency scanning array is used. The antenna is fabricated and the measurement results are provided.
Opinion Choice Model in Public Meeting by Using Evolutionary Game Theory

環境 アセスメン ト法の制定や地方 自治体 における 取 り組みに見 られるように,公 共事業 における住民 参加の機会が増加 してお り,今 後その傾向はます ま す強 くなると考 えられる. ま た,住 民参加の内容 に ついて も,従 来は事業 に反対する住民 と事業者の間 で合意形成 を図ることが一般であったのに対 し,昨 今では住民 間で合意形成 を図 る場合が見 られる. 合 意形成 を図る場 としては討論会などの様 々な形式が 欧米で活用 されてお り,そ れ らを我が 国の住民間で の合意形成 に導入することが考 えられる. そ の際に は,我 が国 と欧米諸国との文化,国 民性の差異 に留 意 して導入 を検討する必要がある. 我が国にお いて住民 間での合意形成 を図る場合, 他人 との調和 を美徳 とする国民性1)に 注意す る必要 がある. す なわち,合 意形成 の場に参加 している住 民が場の雰囲気 を察知 して 「自分の真意 を発言せず に他人の意見 に追随 した方が よい」 と判断 し,真 意 とは異なった意見 を述べ ることがあろ う. 多 くの住 民が この考 え方 に基づいて意見 を発言 した結果,合 意形成において集約 された意見は必ず しも住民 の真 意 を反映 した もの とはならない可能性が生 じる. そ こで,住 民が真意 を発言 しうる環境 をつ くることが 合意形成の上で まず重要 とな り,そ のための方策 を 合意形成の場 の運営者(以 後,「 運営主体」 と呼ぶ) が講 じてい く必 要がある. ど の方策が有効であるか を評価するためには,場 の雰囲気の形成及び雰囲気 の下で住民が どのような発言 を行い うるかについて 基礎的 な理解が必要 となるが,こ れ らに関す る研究 は これ まで十分 になされていない. 上 田ら2)は,他 住民の意見 に追随 して住民が意見 を発言す る状況 を モデル化 しているが,そ こでは何故その ような発言 が生 じうるかについては扱 っていない.
The effect of off‐resonance radio frequency pulse saturation on fMRI contrast

This paper describes the use of off‐resonance saturation to further manipulate the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) contrast of fMRI. A customized narrow bandwidth radiofrequency pulse, applied with a range of frequency offsets prior to selection of each slice, was designed and incorporated into a gradient echo EPI sequence. This application takes advantage of the resonance frequency and linewidth differences between the oxygenated and deoxygenated state of blood in human brain during task activation and rest, and is capable of creating an enhancement in the contrast of the BOLD effect. Because of a possible contribution to the signal change from cerebro‐spinal fluid, which has a much narrower linewidth and smaller frequency shift compared with the brain tissue, data were also collected using a nulling inversion pulse. The inversion pulse was applied before the off‐resonance pulse and data acquisition to eliminate the CSF signal. Functional areas are thus more localized to the brain tissue. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Investigation of Oxidative Stress Parameters in Patients with Lipoid Proteinosis

Amac: Bu calismadaki amacimiz, total antioksidan seviye (TAS), ferrik iyon indirgeyici antioksidan guc (FRAP) ve toplam serbest sulfhidril gruplari (Total-SH) gibi antioksidan parametreler ile total oksidan seviye (TOS), ileri oksidasyon protein urunleri (AOPP), oksidatif stres indeksi (OSI) ve lipid hidroperoksit (LOOH) gibi oksidasyon parametrelerini olcerek Lipoid Proteinozlu (LP) hastalarda oksidatif stresin rolunu arastirmaktir. Materyal ve Metod: Bu prospektif vaka kontrol calismasina klinik, radyolojik ve histopatolojik olarak tani konulan 14 LP hastasi ve cinsiyet, yas ve vucut kitle indeksi benzer 14 saglikli gonullu katilimci dahil edildi. Serum TAS, TOS, AOPP, FRAP, LOOH ve Total-SH seviyeleri spektrofotometrik olarak olculdu ve OSI degeri hesaplandi. Bulgular: LP'li hastalarda serum TAS, FRAP ve Total –SH (p< 0,001; her biri icin) seviyeleri daha yuksek bulunurken OSI, AOPP ve LOOH duzeyleri daha dusuk (sirasiyla, p= 0,001, p= 0,018 ve p= 0,047) bulundu. LP hastalarinda serum TOS seviyeleri kontrol grubuna gore daha yuksekti, ancak bu yukseklik istatistiksel olarak anlamli degildi (p= 0,081). Yapilan ROC analizinde TAS, FRAP, Total-SH ve OSI seviyelerinin LP hastaligini guclu bir duyarlilik ve yuksek bir ozgulluk ile ongordugunu gosterdi. Sonuc: LP hastaliginin tanisinda, antioksidan parametrelerindeki azalma ve oksidan parametrelerindeki artmanin yardimci laboratuvar testleri olarak kullanilabilecegini gostermektedir.
The contribution of the NMDA receptor glycine site to rhythm generation during fictive swimming in Xenopus laevis tadpoles

The presence of the N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor glycine‐binding site and its role in locomotor activity have been examined using fictive swimming in stage 42 Xenopus laevis frog tadpoles as a simple model system. The specific NMDA/glycine site blocker L‐689560 (0.1–20 µm) impaired swimming rhythm generation and abolished NMDA‐induced locomotor‐like ventral root activity. d‐serine (50 µm), an agonist at the NMDA/glycine site, increased the duration of skin stimulus‐induced fictive swimming episodes, and produced slow modulations of burst frequency and amplitude. These effects of d‐serine were reversed by L‐689560. In some animals, d‐serine also induced an alternative intense, non‐locomotory form of rhythmic motor output termed struggling. Glycine (100 µm), another endogenous agonist at this site, triggered similar effects to d‐serine, but only when applied in the presence of strychnine. Manipulations of endogenous glycine levels using sarcosine or ALX 5407 (inhibitors of the glycine re‐uptake protein, GlyT1b), produced similar effects to glycine site agonists, including increased episode durations, and modulations in cycle period and burst amplitude. Sarcosine and ALX 5407 also induced struggling. In summary, these experiments support the hypothesis that NMDA receptors in the swimming network of Xenopus laevis tadpoles possess glycine‐binding sites, not all of which are fully occupied under normal circumstances. Altering the strength of the NMDA receptor‐mediated component of the synaptic drive for swimming by increasing or decreasing occupancy of this site potently influences the locomotor pattern.
Evidence of Rational Bubble in Indonesia Stock Market

The present value model is a popular and reasonable model used to assessing the stock price in accordance with the rational expectations. In fact, that we see that stocks overvalued may become more overvalued. We argue that investor has another aspect when valuing a stock price. Furthermore, we believe it is called bubble. The specification of stock price included bubble satisfied the Euler Equation. Thus, it is called rational bubble.This study employs co-integration between stock price and dividend as present-value model in the equilibrium relationship. This study used Indonesian quarterly data in period of 1999-2008. By Engle-Granger and Johansen co-integration tests we find that stock price and dividend are not co-integrated, in favor of the evidence of rational bubble in Indonesian stock market. The result gives us some explanation that the fundamental approach is not sufficient to describe all stock price movements. Thus, one may revisited his investment decisions beyond the fundamentals.
The Effect of Disability and Gender on Returns to the Investment in Education: A Case from Metro Manilla of the Philippines

In this paper, we investigate the effect of gender on returns to the investment in education for men and women with disabilities in Metro Manila of the Philippines. By using a unique dataset of persons with hearing, physical and visual impairments, we employ three methodological strategies on earning functions, including continuous and discontinuous functions and quantile regression to reveal the effects of gender within disabilities. Our estimation suggests that women with disabilities face several disadvantages in the labor markets of the Philippines where gender equality in general is observed for women without disabilities. After controlling for a sample selection to account for endogenous labor participation, as well as endogeneity of schooling decisions, the estimated rate of returns to education is very high, ranging from 24.9 to 38.4%. However, when classifying each disability dummy variable for each gender, the effect of double disadvantage (gender and disability) is observable. Additionally, checking the possibility of nonlinear schooling returns, we also find that the effect of disability for women is more severe than for their male counterparts. From these findings, we cannot reject the possibility that obtaining a diploma serves signaling as their ability level for women with disabilities.
Ectopic expression of retinoic acid early inducible-1 gene (RAE-1) permits natural killer cell-mediated rejection of a MHC class I-bearing tumor in vivo

In 1986, Kärre and colleagues reported that natural killer (NK) cells rejected an MHC class I-deficient tumor cell line (RMA-S) but they did not reject the same cell line if it expressed MHC class I (RMA). Based on this observation, they proposed the concept that NK cells provide immune surveillance for “missing self,” e.g., they eliminate cells that have lost class I MHC antigens. This seminal observation predicted the existence of inhibitory NK cell receptors for MHC class I. Here, we present evidence that NK cells are able to reject tumors expressing MHC class I if the tumor expresses a ligand for NKG2D. Mock-transfected RMA cells resulted in tumor formation. In contrast, when RMA cells were transfected with the retinoic acid early inducible gene-1 γ or δ (RAE-1), ligands for the activating receptor NKG2D, the tumors were rejected. The tumor rejection was mediated by NK cells, and not by CD1-restricted NK1.1+ T cells. No T cell-mediated immunological memory against the parental tumor was generated in the animals that had rejected the RAE-1 transfected tumors, which succumbed to rechallenge with the parental RMA tumor. Therefore, NK cells are able to reject a tumor expressing RAE-1 molecules, despite expression of self MHC class I on the tumor, demonstrating the potential for NK cells to participate in immunity against class I-bearing malignancies.
Relationship of effective arterial elastance to demographic and arterial characteristics in normotensive and hypertensive adults

Objectives: To evaluate demographic and vascular correlates of the effective arterial elastance noninvasively in normotensive and hypertensive adults. Methods: In 202 subjects carotid ultrasonography and external arterial tonometry were simultaneously performed; carotid cross-sectional area, absolute and relative wall thicknesses, Peterson's and Young's elastic moduli and p', a pressure-dependent index of arterial stiffness, were calculated. The impact of reflected waves on central pressure waveforms was evaluated by the 'augmentation index' (the relative increment in systolic pressure caused by the late-systolic peak). Left ventricular mass and relative wall thickness were assessed echocardiographically. The effective arterial elastance was estimated by dividing the pressure at the dicrotic notch by the Doppler-determined stroke index. Results: The effective arterial elastance was higher in women among normotensives but similar between sexes among hypertensive subjects. It was correlated to age, mean blood pressure, body mass index and measures of arterial function, including Peterson's and Young's elastic moduli and p', and to the augmentation index. It was also related to absolute and relative carotid wall thicknesses, lumen diameter and indexed cross-sectional area. Age, P' and carotid cross-sectional area independently predicted effective arterial elastance in multiple regression analysis. Conclusions: Effective arterial elastance is related to demographic and arterial structural and functional characteristics. Increases in effective arterial elastance resulting from altered arterial structure and function may play a role in inducing left ventricular adaptative modifications. Journal of Hypertension
Comparative evaluation of the effects of multiple autoclaving on cyclic fatigue resistance of three different rotary Ni-Ti instruments: An in vitro study

Aims: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate comparatively the effects of multiple autoclaving on surface topography and cyclic fatigue of three different rotary nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) instruments. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one files each of Twisted Files (TF), Revo-S, and RaCe were used in this study. They were grouped as group 1-TF, group 2-Revo-S, and group 3-RaCe. All the files were autoclaved and subjected for scanning electron microscopic analysis and cyclic fatigue analysis. Results: Data were subjected to statistical analysis using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc Tukey's Kramer multiple comparison test. TF exhibited the highest cyclic fatigue resistance followed by Revo-S and RaCe. Scanning electron photomicrographs showed no obvious surface changes in the files after three autoclaving cycles. Conclusions: Within the limitation of this study, it can be concluded that Twisted Files was the most fatigue resistant compared to Revo-S and RaCe, and multiple autoclaving cycles did not have any significant alterations in the cyclic fatigue resistance of rotary Ni-Ti files.