Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Age-specific Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia-associated myocardial damage in children

Objective To measure Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP)-associated myocardial damage in different age groups of children with pneumonia. Methods Children aged 0–14 years with pneumonia and myocardial damage (serum creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB [CK-MB] concentration >25 U/l) were enrolled in the study. The children were classified as Mycoplasma pneumoniae immunoglobulin M positive (M. pneumoniae IgM+) or negative (M. pneumoniae IgM−) based on a serological test. Children were stratified into four age groups in order to analyse age-specific MPP-associated myocardial damage. Results The incidence of fever was significantly higher in children who were M. pneumoniae IgM+ compared with M. pneumoniae IgM− children. The median serum CK-MB concentration was significantly higher in children who were M. pneumoniae IgM+ compared with those who were M. pneumoniae IgM−. Children who were M. pneumoniae IgM+ in the 13–36 months and 72 months–14 years age groups had significantly higher median serum CK-MB concentrations than those who were M. pneumoniae IgM− in the same age group. Conclusions M. pneumoniae infection was associated with greater myocardial damage in children aged 13–36 months and 72 months–14 years. This suggests age-specific immune responses to M. pneumoniae.
Somatodendritic localization and hyperphosphorylation of tau protein in transgenic mice expressing the longest human brain tau isoform.

Microtubule‐associated protein tau is the major constituent of the paired helical filament, the main fibrous component of the neurofibrillary lesions of Alzheimer's disease. Tau is an axonal phosphoprotein in normal adult brain. In Alzheimer's disease brain tau is hyperphosphorylated and is found not only in axons, but also in cell bodies and dendrites of affected nerve cells. We report the production and analysis of transgenic mice that express the longest human brain tau isoform under the control of the human Thy‐1 promoter. As in Alzheimer's disease, transgenic human tau protein was present in nerve cell bodies, axons and dendrites; moreover, it was phosphorylated at sites that are hyperphosphorylated in paired helical filaments. We conclude that transgenic human tau protein showed pre‐tangle changes similar to those that precede the full neurofibrillary pathology in Alzheimer's disease.
Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals: A review

This paper reviews the characteristics of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as their contribution to world development. The paper contends that the SDGs are likely to be achieved given that there is a comprehensive monitoring framework for the goals. The monitoring framework requires countries to produce progress reports that are subsequently reviewed at regional and global forums. The paper further highlights that the implementation of SDGs requires significant resources. Governments in the developing world will therefore have to foster environments that will attract both local and foreign investors with a view to creating viable economies that can support the implementation of the various SDGs. Keywords : Millennium Development Goals, Sustainable Development Goals, development theory, developing countries
Low cost nanoimprinted polymer waveguides

We report here on the use of nanoimprint technology to fabricate low cost planar waveguides in a Polysiloxane polymer system capable of passing the stringent Telcordia environmental and reliability criteria. Low loss buried channel waveguides with core cross sections of 3 times 3 microns and a 2% refractive index contrast were fabricated on bare silicon wafers with a simple and fast four step process using a 100 mm diameter polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp. The waveguides were patterned using an innovative ldquominimum fluid displacementrdquo method which eliminated the residual films often seen either side of rib like features such as the waveguide cores, and which also produced very good dimensional control of the core itself regardless of the uncured spun core layer thickness.
Cooperative data exchange with weighted cost based on d-basis construction

We consider the cooperative data exchange problem, in which nodes are fully connected with each other. Each node initially only has a subset of the K packets making up a file and wants to recover the whole file. Node i can make a broadcast transmission, which incurs cost w and is received by all other nodes. The goal is to minimize the total cost of transmissions that all nodes have to send, which is also called weighted cost. Following the same idea of our previous work [1] which provided a method based on d-Basis construction to solve cooperative data exchange problem without weighted cost, we present a modified method to solve cooperative data exchange problem with weighted cost. We present a polynomial-time deterministic algorithm to compute the minimum weighted cost and determine the rate vector and the packets that should be used to generate each transmission. By leveraging the connection to Maximum Distance Separable codes, the coefficients of linear combinations of the optimal coding scheme can be efficiently generated. Our algorithm has significantly lower complexity than the state of the art. In particular, we prove that the minimum weighted cost function is a convex function of the total number of transmissions for integer rate cases.
Empirical Analysis of the Causal Relationship Between Electricity Consumption and Economic Growth in Nigeria

This paper investigates the relationship between electricity consumption and real GDP growth in Nigeria during a period of thirty six years (1970-2005). The paper adopts Vector Auto Regressive (VAR) and Error Correction Model (ECM) to test the causality between real GDP and electricity consumption. The order of integration of the two variables was determined using Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test which was followed by co-integration and causality test. The result shows that there is unidirectional causality from real GDP to electricity consumption without a feedback effect. This could be attributed to the low level of electricity consumption, engendered by low level of electricity generation, which is too small to cause economic growth. There is need for government to diversify the energy mix to include all the untapped potentials of renewable power options such as small hydro, wind, solar and biomass among others in all the states and local constituencies. Energy wastages should be curtailed through proper efficiency measures and different pricing system. It is also suggested that government should make policies which will create an enabling environment for the private sector to generate electricity from renewable sources in terms of fiscal incentives such as tax rebate, subsidies and low import duties for the imported equipment among others. Furthermore, there is a need to review the 2003 National Energy Policy so as to come up with a sound, robust and technological Research Article British Journal of Economics, Management & Trade, 3(3): 277-295, 2013 278 energy policy that will be able to solve the challenges of the electricity sector. Political commitment through investment in energy infrastructures and capacity building of the citizens in renewable energy technologies are critical towards the improvement of electricity generation, which could then cause electricity consumption to have a significant impact on economic growth in Nigeria.
Modelos univariados de series de tiempo para predecir la inflación de corto plazo

Inflation forecasting plays a central role in the design of monetary policy, especially in institutions that progressively adopt a scheme of inflation targeting, as the Central Bank of Uruguay. This paper constitutes the first step in a research agenda in the field of inflation forecasting, where a battery of univariate time series models of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and its components are assessed, based on its predictive power through different forecasting steps, focusing in the short term. Working with a sample that spans from 1997.03 to 2009.10 and a trimmed sample from 2003.01, direct and indirect forecasts for general CPI and an exclusion indicator are elaborated. Forecasting accuracy is then assessed in the period 2009.11-2010.07, comparing the results between them and two different benchmarks: a naif model, constituted by the random walk; and the median of the inflation expectation survey published by the Central Bank. The main results show that in one step ahead predictions, the best model is the direct model with the trimmed sample (M2), prevailing over indirect projection and both benchmarks. This individual model is only outperformed by the linear combination of the M2 and the median of expectations. However, this choice is not available at the time of spreading the monthly predictions report. In the analysis by components, several models show a good performance, such as exclusion tradables and non-tradables, whereas the main sources of error of the indirect projection are the model of fruits and vegetables and the estimation by expert judgment of the regulated items. The models for the exclusion indicator, either direct or indirect, show a good performance. Finally, the quarterly forecasts issued from monthly univariate models 3, 2 or 1 steps forward show a better performance than the one step ahead prediction of the structural quarterly model. At the present state of work, it is suggested to use the M2 model for the CPI general level and its components.
Cysteine biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae : a new outlook on pathway and regulation

Using a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain having the activities of serine O‐acetyl‐transferase (SATase), O‐acetylserine/O‐acetylhomoserine sulphydrylase (OAS/OAH SHLase), cystathionine β‐synthase (β‐CTSase) and cystathionine γ‐lyase (γ‐CTLase), we individually disrupted CYS3(coding for γ‐CTLase) and CYS4 (coding for β‐CTSase). The obtained gene disruptants were cysteine‐dependent and incorporated the radioactivity of 35S‐sulphate into homocysteine but not into cysteine or glutathione. We concluded, therefore, that SATase and OAS/OAH SHLase do not constitute a cysteine biosynthetic pathway and that cysteine is synthesized exclusively through the pathway constituted with β‐CTSase and γ‐CTLase; note that OAS/OAH SHLase supplies homocysteine to this pathway by acting as OAH SHLase. From further investigation upon the cys3‐disruptant, we obtained results consistent with our earlier suggestion that cysteine and OAS play central roles in the regulation of sulphate assimilation. In addition, we found that sulphate transport activity was not induced at all in the cys4‐disruptant, suggesting that CYS4 plays a role in the regulation of sulphate assimilation. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Running Head : SIBLING JEALOUSY 1 Sibling Jealousy as Observed in a Triadic Family Context

The current study investigated firstborn children’s jealous responses as a function of their gender and whether they were more jealous when mothers versus fathers interacted with their infant siblings one month after the birth. Relations with attachment security to mothers and fathers were also examined. Observational and Q-sort data were obtained from 241 two-parent families composed of fathers, mothers, preschool-aged siblings, and one-month old infants. Sibling jealousy was assessed during two triadic interactions, during which one parent was instructed to act affectionately toward the infant, while the other parent and firstborn child observed. Firstborn girls demonstrated more comfort seeking behavior than firstborn boys. Firstborns sought comfort more from their mothers than fathers. Finally, firstborns who were securely attached to their mothers engaged them during the father-infant interaction, and firstborns who were securely attached to their fathers engaged them during the mother-infant interaction. Future research on sibling jealousy is needed, as well as more research on father-firstborn relationships.
Antimigraine drug consumption in Spain (1990–2000)

Objectives– New marketed antimigraine drugs (triptans) are promising in the management of migraine pain. The impact of these new drugs on the overall consumption of the antimigraine drugs merits an analysis. Material and methods– The package units of antimigraine drugs, sold and reimbursed by the Spanish National Health System, are used for estimations. Data are presented as defined daily doses per 10,000 inhabitants/day. Results– During the 1990–2000 period, antimigraine drug utilization as a whole decreased by more than 25%; triptan use increased while ergot alkaloids' declined. Conclusions– The pattern of antimigraine drug utilization in Spain has changed noticeably in accordance with recent recommendations.
Neuroendocrine Profiles in Galanin-Overexpressing and Knockout Mice

The peptide galanin has been implicated in the neuroendocrine regulation of reproduction and energy balance. To gain more insight into the functional significance of galanin in these processes, we studied the phenotype of mice that either overexpress galanin in the brain under the control of the dopamine β-hydroxylase promoter (GALTG) or have a complete absence of galanin expression (GALKO). Both GALTGs and GALKOs had body weights and feeding patterns that were indistinguishable from wild-type (WT) control animals, and both genotypes were reproductively competent. Serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone were significantly higher in GALKOs and slightly lower in GALTGs than in their respective WT controls. Both GALTGs and GALKOs showed a normal response to fasting, but when GALKO mice were treated with leptin during fasting, levels of corticosterone and testosterone were altered compared to WT mice. In addition, GALKOs were more sensitive than WT controls to the effects of chronic leptin treatment on body weight and fat pad mass, whereas GALTGs showed responses to this metabolic challenge that were indistinguishable from their controls. When galanin was administered centrally, GALKOs had lower testosterone and corticosterone levels than did WT mice. These results suggest that the complete loss of galanin leads to significant alterations in neuroendocrine homeostasis, whereas targeted overexpression of galanin in the brain does not interfere with normal neuroendocrine function.
Effect of forage digestibility and type of concentrate on nutrient utilization by lactating dairy cattle

Summary Six lactating dairy cows were used in a three period, part balanced changeover design experiment to investigate the effects of forage digestibility and concentrate composition on the efficiency of nutrient utilization in lactating dairy cows. Six treatments comprising three forage regimens and two concentrate types (starch υ. fibre) were examined in a 3 × 2 factorial design. The three forage regimens were high digestibility grass silage offered ad lib. (HA) or restricted to 6·5 kg dry matter/d (HR) and a low digestibility grass silage offered ad lib. (LA). Within each forage regimen animals were offered 10 kg·d of supplements containing either high-starch or high-fibre concentrations. Experimental periods lasted 28 d with a 10 d recording period, during which animal performance, ration digestibility and nitrogen and energy utilization were measured. Respiratory exchange measurements were made over a 72 h period using indirect open-circuit calorimetry. Throughout the experiment, there were no significant forage × concentrate interactions in any of the intake, production or nutrient utilization results. Milk yield was significantly influenced by forage regimen (24·1, 21·7 and 21·9 kg/d for HA, HR and LA respectively) and concentrate type (21·6 and 23·5 kg/d for high-starch and high-fibre respectively). Concentrate type also significantly influenced milk protein concentration (32·8 and 30·9 g/kg for high-starch and high-fibre respectively). Forage regimen significantly influenced the efficiency of utilization of metabolizable energy (ME) for milk production (κ1) with values of 0·62, 0·64 and 0·59 for HA, HR and LA respectively. Concentrate type had no significant effect on ME intake, heat production or κ1, although animals receiving the high-fibre concentrates synthesized proportionately 0·11 more milk energy per unit of available energy (ME intake – heat production) than those receiving the high-starch concentrates. Interpolation of the values obtained with the two high digestibility forage regimens indicated that at similar ME intakes there was a trend towards a higher κ1 with the diet based on high digestibility silage, and this was in line with the higher metabolizability of the overall diet with this silage.
Blood–brain barrier changes and cell invasion differ between therapeutic immune clearance of neurotrophic virus and CNS autoimmunity

CNS tissues are protected from circulating cells and factors by the blood–brain barrier (BBB), a specialization of the neurovasculature. Outcomes of the loss of BBB integrity and cell infiltration into CNS tissues can differ vastly. For example, elevated BBB permeability is closely associated with the development of neurological disease in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) but not during clearance of the attenuated rabies virus CVS-F3 from the CNS tissues. To probe whether differences in the nature of BBB permeability changes may contribute to the pathogenesis of acute neuroinflammatory disease, we compared the characteristics of BBB permeability changes in mice with EAE and in mice clearing CVS-F3. BBB permeability changes are largely restricted to the cerebellum and spinal cord in both models but differ in the extent of leakage of markers of different size and in the nature of cell accumulation in the CNS tissues. The accumulation in the CNS tissues of CD4 T cells expressing mRNAs specific for IFN-γ and IL-17 is common to both, but iNOS-positive cells invade into the CNS parenchyma only in EAE. Mice that have been immunized with myelin basic protein (MBP) and infected exhibit the features of EAE. Treatment with the peroxynitrite-dependent radical scavenger urate inhibits the invasion of iNOS-positive cells into the CNS tissues and the development of clinical signs of EAE without preventing the loss of BBB integrity in immunized/infected animals. These findings indicate that BBB permeability changes can occur in the absence of neuropathology provided that cell invasion is restricted.
Placement-position search technique for packing various objects with robot manipulator

In this study, a placement-position search technique for robot-executable, space-efficient packing of various objects with a robot manipulator has been developed. The technique is used to enable placing objects in order from the corner of a container, fulfilling the following conditions: (A) the corner is within the reach of a robot manipulator, and (B) the robot manipulator does not collide with surrounding obstacles when it moves an object to the corner. The technique is as follows: a robot manipulator holding an object alternates between motions in a straight line and random reflections from a surface of either a container or already-packed objects in a simulation of robot movement. The motions and reflections are under physical constraints such as the reach of the robot manipulator and collisions between the robot and surrounding obstacles. The technique was evaluated with numerical examples based on the CAD data of an actual industrial-robot-manipulator using five types of objects, and the robot-packable corner for each object was determined. We therefore concluded that the technique is essential for the packing of various objects with a robot manipulator. The technique is expected to be used for packing with a robot manipulator in warehouses and factories.
A randomized multicenter trial of paricalcitol versus calcitriol for secondary hyperparathyroidism in stages 3-4 CKD.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Calcitriol is used to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with CKD. Paricalcitol is less calcemic and phosphatemic in preclinical studies and in some trials in dialysis patients, but head-to-head comparisons in nondialysis patients are lacking. A large meta-analysis of trials concluded that these agents did not consistently reduce parathyroid hormone (PTH) and increased the risk of hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. Therefore, the objective of this multicenter trial was to compare the rate of hypercalcemia between calcitriol and paricalcitol, while suppressing PTH 40%-60%. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Patients with stages 3-4 CKD (n=110) with a PTH level >120 pg/ml were recruited and randomized to 0.25 μg/d of calcitriol or 1 μg/d of paricalcitol between April 2009 and July 2011. Subsequent dose adjustments were by protocol to achieve 40%-60% PTH suppression below baseline. The primary endpoint was the rate of confirmed hypercalcemia of >10.5 mg/dl between groups. RESULTS Forty-five patients in each group completed the 24 weeks of treatment. Both agents suppressed PTH effectively (-52% with paricalcitol and -46% with calcitriol; P=0.17), although the paricalcitol group reached a 40% reduction in PTH sooner at a median 8 weeks (interquartile range [IQR], 4, 12) versus 12 weeks (IQR, 8, 18; P=0.02) and had a lower pill burden of 240 (IQR, 180, 298) versus 292 (IQR, 231, 405; P=0.01). Confirmed hypercalcemia was very low in both groups (three with paricalcitol and one with calcitriol) and was not significantly different (P=0.36). Both groups had small increases in calcium and phosphorus levels (0.3-0.4 mg/dl in each electrolyte) and significant decreases in alkaline phosphatase, a marker of high bone turnover, with no significant differences between groups. CONCLUSIONS These results show that both calcitriol and paricalcitol achieved sustained PTH and alkaline phosphatase suppression in stages 3-4 CKD, with small effects on serum calcium and phosphorus and a low incidence of hypercalcemia.
Laboratory measurement of the absorption coefficient of riboflavin for ultraviolet light (365 nm).

PURPOSE Corneal cross-linking (CXL) is an increasingly used treatment technique for stabilizing the cornea in keratoconus. Cross-linking (polymerization) between collagen fibrils is induced by riboflavin (vitamin B2) and ultraviolet light (365 nm). Although reported to reach a constant value at higher riboflavin concentrations, the Lambert-Beer law predicts a linear increase in the absorption coefficient. This work was carried out to determine absorption behavior at different riboflavin concentrations and to further investigate the purported plateau absorption coefficient value of riboflavin and to identify possible bleaching effects. METHODS The Lambert-Beer law was used to calculate the absorption coefficient at various riboflavin concentrations. The following investigated concentrations of riboflavin solutions were prepared using a mixture of 0.5% riboflavin and 20% Dextran T500 dissolved in 0.9% sodium chloride solution: 0%, 0.02%, 0.03%, 0.04%, 0.05%, 0.06%, 0.08%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, and 0.5%, and were investigated with and without aperture plate implementation. An additional test series measured the transmitted power at selected riboflavin concentrations over time. RESULTS In diluted solutions, a linear correlation exists between the absorption coefficient and riboflavin concentration. The absorption coefficient reaches a plateau, but this occurs at a higher riboflavin concentration (0.1%) than previously reported (just above 0.04%). Transmitted light power increases over time, indicating a bleaching effect of riboflavin. CONCLUSIONS The riboflavin concentration can be effectively varied as a treatment parameter in a considerably broader range than previously thought.