Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Safety assessment for nanotechnology and nanomedicine: concepts of nanotoxicology

Nanotechnology, nanomedicine and nanotoxicology are complementary disciplines aimed at the betterment of human life. However, concerns have been expressed about risks posed by engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), their potential to cause undesirable effects, contaminate the environment and adversely affect susceptible parts of the population. Information about toxicity and biokinetics of nano‐enabled products combined with the knowledge of unintentional human and environmental exposure or intentional delivery for medicinal purposes will be necessary to determine real or perceived risks of nanomaterials. Yet, results of toxicological studies using only extraordinarily high experimental doses have to be interpreted with caution. Key concepts of nanotoxicology are addressed, including significance of dose, dose rate, and biokinetics, which are exemplified by specific findings of ENM toxicity, and by discussing the importance of detailed physico‐chemical characterization of nanoparticles, specifically surface properties. Thorough evaluation of desirable versus adverse effects is required for safe applications of ENMs, and major challenges lie ahead to answer key questions of nanotoxicology. Foremost are assessment of human and environmental exposure, and biokinetics or pharmacokinetics, identification of potential hazards, and biopersistence in cells and subcellular structures to perform meaningful risk assessments. A specific example of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) illustrates the difficulty of extrapolating toxicological results. MWCNT were found to cause asbestos‐like effects of the mesothelium following intracavitary injection of high doses in rodents. The important question of whether inhaled MWCNT will translocate to sensitive mesothelial sites has not been answered yet. Even without being able to perform a quantitative risk assessment for ENMs, due to the lack of sufficient data on exposure, biokinetics and organ toxicity, until we know better it should be made mandatory to prevent exposure by appropriate precautionary measures/regulations and practicing best industrial hygiene to avoid future horror scenarios from environmental or occupational exposures. Similarly, safety assessment for medical applications as key contribution of nanotoxicology to nanomedicine relies heavily on nano‐specific toxicological concepts and findings and on a multidisciplinary collaborative approach involving material scientists, physicians and toxicologists.
Primary Closure Versus Radial Forearm Flap Reconstruction After Hemiglossectomy: Functional Assessment of Swallowing and Speech

The authors compared the postoperative speech and swallowing function of six patients who underwent free radial forearm flap reconstruction after hemiglossectomy with that of six control patients who underwent primary closure of the defect. Clinical speech pathologic evaluations included the Fletcher time-to-time maximum repetition rate of syllables, multiple rhyme test, and overall quality and intelligibility of the patients’ speech. Evaluation of swallowing included the duration of deglutition, bolus volume, and ingestion rate. Speech quality, including intelligibility and articulation, was better in patients with primary closure. However, the bolus volume and ingestion rate in deglutition were better in those with flap reconstruction. These results suggest that the flap adds bulk, thus improving pharyngeal clearance by maintaining the tongue-to-mouth roof contact that is necessary in the swallowing process. The nonfunctional flap, however, hinders articulation by restricting the mobility of the remaining portion of the normal tongue.
Slotted-microstrip antenna with modified ground plane for performance parameters enhancement

This paper presents a compact slotted rectangular microstrip antenna with modified ground plane. Performance advancements with simple modifications of a reference antenna has been carried out in the entire work. The radiating patch and the ground surface has been loaded by two asymmetrical slots and two symmetrical slots respectively. This slight change in antenna shape makes the microstrip antenna more compact. In addition, the directivity, gain, and radiation efficiency have been enhanced significantly. The overall antenna size is 41.3 mm × 48.5 mm × 1.6 mm. The proposed antenna provides 19.8% of the compactness along with 2.9dB of gain enhancement, directivity boost of 2.5dB and radiation efficiency improvement of 25%, approximately. An acceptable relationship is observed between co and cross polarization from achieved patterns which imply the antenna structure as a qualified radiator in terms of polarization purity. A prototype is fabricated with proper characterization. The measured results have a good agreement with simulated results.
Morningness–eveningness questionnaire score and metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

“Morningness” and “Eveningness” represent lifestyle patterns including sleep–wake patterns. Although previous studies described a relationship between the morningness–eveningness trait and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the mechanism underlying this association remains unknown. The study participants comprised 725 Japanese T2DM outpatients free of history of cardiovascular diseases. Various lifestyles were analyzed using self-reported questionnaires, including morningness–eveningness questionnaire (MEQ). The relationships between morningness–eveningness trait and various biochemical parameters were investigated by linear regression analysis and logistic regression analysis. We classified the study patients into three groups, morning type (n = 117), neither type (n = 424) and evening type (n = 184). Subjects of the evening type had high levels of alanine aminotransferase, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose and HbA1c and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level in a model adjusted for age and gender. Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that the evening type was associated with high HbA1c and estimated glomerular filtration rate even after adjustment for other lifestyle factors known to affect metabolic control. The results suggest that T2DM patients with eveningness trait are under inadequate metabolic control independent of other lifestyle factors. Thus, the evening trait of T2DM patients represents an important target for intervention to ensure appropriate metabolic function.
Private Firm Default Probabilities Via Statistical Learning Theory and Utility Maximization

We estimate real-world private firm default probabilities over a fixed time horizon,conditioned on a vector of explanatory variables, which include financial ratios, economic indicators, and market prices. To estimate our model, we apply a recently developed method from statistical learning theory. This method leads to a model that is particularly appropriate for financial market participants who would use the model to make financial decisions. We compare our model with various benchmark models, with respect to a number of performance measures. In all of these tests, our model outperformed the benchmark models. We also discuss possible reasons for this outperformance. A revised version of this paper appeared in the Journal of Credit Risk, Volume 2/Number 1, Spring 2006.
Delay-Independent Stability of Reset Systems

Reset control systems have potential advantages to overcome fundamental limitations of LTI compensation. However, since a reset compensator may destabilize a stable base LTI system, stability needs to be guaranteed in advance for a proper practical application of reset control. This works extends previous stability results of reset control systems to consider the case of LTI plants with time-delays. Stability independent of the delay criteria are developed both by means of LMIs and in the frequency domain by using the KYP Lemma.
Large-scale analysis of gene expression profiles

The accumulation of DNA microarray data has now made it possible to use gene expression profiles to analyse expression data. A gene expression profile contains the expression data for a given gene over various samples, and can be contrasted with an expression signature, which contains the expression data for a single sample. Gene expression profiles are most revealing when samples are grouped appropriately, either by standard clinical or pathological categories or by categories discovered through cluster analysis techniques. Expression profiles can exist at various levels of abstraction, yielding information across various tissues or across diseases within a particular tissue. Hypothesis tests may be applied to expression profiles on a large scale to identify candidate genes of interest.
An Economic Assessment of the Southern Atlantic Coastal Region’s Stormwater Management Practices

This study explores one of the least studied but most widely used instruments to control stormwater runoff — retention ponds. It is surprising that so little research within the economics literature has examined the efficacy of stormwater retention ponds. We address this gap in the literature by (1) offering a brief review of the existing literature; (2) discussing the nature of retention ponds as an impure public good; (3) extending a theoretical model to explain how stormwater runoff is currently managed; and (4) offering illustrative examples of governmental stormwater management practices in the coastal region of South Carolina. We posit that the current regulatory environment leads to a less than socially optimal level of management including a general lack of compliance enforcement and a misunderstanding of resource ownership. If sea levels continue to rise due to global climate change, then the mismanagement of stormwater runoff can lead to potentially severe adverse effects within coastal watersheds and estuarine ecosystems. We propose a combination of subsidy schemes and more-stringent enforcement actions to invoke a socially optimal provision of stormwater management services.
The Functional Changes of the Perivascular Adipose Tissue in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats and the Effects of Atorvastatin Therapy

The aim of this study was to examine the function of perivascular adiposa tissue (PVAT) on vascular relaxation response in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and the modulatory effects of the atorvastatin therapy on the PVAT functions. We investigated the mechanisms of the perivascular adipocyte-derived relaxation factor (PVRF) by using isolated rat's aortic rings and isometric contraction measurements. We found that contraction of the thoracic aorta induced by phenylephrine was significantly attenuated in the presence of PVAT from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY group) or the spontaneously hypertensive rats treated with atorvastatin (SHR-A group, atorvastatin 50mg/kg/day), whereas this effect was not observed in the thoracic aortic rings from the control SHR (SHR group). Transferring the solution incubated with PVAT-intact thoracic aorta to PVAT-free thoracic aorta, it induced a remarkable relaxation response in the WKY but not in the control SHR. Tetraethylammoniumchloride (TEA) could block the above relaxation. It was also shown that the PVRF function was likely, depending on the extracellular [Ca2+]; the anti-contractile effect of PVAT could be reduced by the inhibitor of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent potassium channels, glibenclamide, and could be reduced by the inhibitor of cyclooxygenase by indomethacin. We thus infer that the PVAT function was distorted in hypertension rats, and the lipid-lowering treatment with atorvastatin could restore the PVAT function. The function of the PVRF may involve the Ca2+-activated potassium channels, the ATP-dependent potassium channels in vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC), and the release of PVRF from PVAT may involve prostaglandins (PGs) and the calcium metabolism. These results provide an insight into the pathological mechanisms of hypertension development, and indicate that the PVAT may be a potential new target for the hypertensive therapy.
High resolution melting analysis for detection of BRAF exon 15 mutations in hairy cell leukaemia and other lymphoid malignancies

The BRAF V600E mutation has recently been described in all cases of hairy cell leukaemia (HCL). We have developed and validated a rapid and sensitive high‐resolution melting analysis (HRMA) assay that detects BRAF exon 15 mutations when hairy cells are as low as 5–10% in a sample. All 48 HCL patients were positive for the BRAF V600E mutation, while 114 non‐HCL cases were all V600E negative. Interestingly, we detected a novel BRAF D594N mutation in one patient with multiple myeloma. The HRMA assay offers a useful tool to aid the laboratory diagnosis of HCL.
Metabolic and Inflammatory Changes with Orlistat and Sibutramine Treatment in Obese Malaysian Subjects.

INTRODUCTION Obesity is associated with numerous health problems, particularly metabolic and cardiovascular complications. This study aimed to assess the effects that, nine months of pharmacological intervention with orlistat or sibutramine, on obese Malaysians' body weight and compositions, metabolic profiles and inflammatory marker. METHODS Seventy-six obese subjects were randomly placed into two groups. The first group received three daily 120 mg dosages of orlistat for nine months (n=39), and the second group received a once daily 10 or 15 mg dosage of sibutramine for nine months (n=37). Baseline measurements for weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), body fat percentage (BF), visceral fat (VF), adiponectin, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin, pancreatic B cell secretory capacity (HOMA%B), insulin sensitivity (HOMA%S), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were performed and repeated during the sixth and ninth months of treatment. RESULTS Twenty-four subjects completed the trial in both groups. For both groups, weight, BMI, WC, BF, VF, HOMA-IR and hs-CRP were significantly lower at the end of the nine month intervention. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups for these parameters with nine months treatment. There was a significant decrease in FPG in orlistat group; while fasting insulin and HOMA%B reduced in sibutramine group. For both groups, there were also significant increases in adiponectin levels and HOMA%S at the end of the nine month intervention. CONCLUSION Nine months of treatment with orlistat and sibutramine not only reduced weight but also significantly improved BMI, WC, BF, VF, FPG, adiponectin, fasting insulin, HOMA%B, HOMA%S, HOMA-IR and hs-CRP. These improvements could prove useful in the reduction of metabolic and cardiovascular risks in obese subjects.
Insights into Social Network Theory and Entrepreneurship

Social network theory has long been explored not only as an important resource base to entrepreneurship but also as an underlying force on the development of entrepreneur behavior. Besides the general introduction of social network theory, this paper specifically chose several new angles to look closely into the interaction relationship of social network and entrepreneurship. The insights this paper presents are dynamics of social network followed by venture's social network and its impact on entrepreneurial intentions, opportunity identification, entrepreneurial orientation, new venture's innovative capability. These insights analyses the important issues we encounter in the entrepreneurship practice and entrepreneurship academic research development as well.
Comparison of the Sensitivities of TwoEscherichia coli Genes to In Vivo Variation of Lrp Concentration

ABSTRACT Transcription of the Escherichia coli genesserA and gltBDF depends on the leucine-responsive regulatory protein, Lrp, and is very much decreased in an lrp mutant. By the use of an Lrp-deficient host and the lrp gene cloned under a plasmid-borne arabinose pBAD promoter, we varied the amount of Lrp present in the cell and showed that both genes were transcribed in proportion to the amount of Lrp synthesized. The affinity of serA for Lrp was four to five times greater than the affinity of gltD. Overproduction of Lrp was lethal to the cell.
Economic analysis of medical management applied for left colostomy.

PURPOSE This paper presents an analysis of surgical treatment costs for left colostomy, aiming to calculate a medium cost per procedure and to identify the means to maximize the economic management of this type of surgicale procedure. MATERIALS AND METHOD A retrospective study was conducted on a group of 8 patients hospitalized in the 4th Surgery Department,Emergency University Hospital Bucharest, during the year 2012 for left colic neoplasms with obstruction signs that were operated on with a left colostomy. The followed parameters in the studied group of patients were represented by medical expenses, divided in: preoperative, intra-operative and immediate postoperative (postop. hospitalization). RESULTS Two major types of colostomy were performed: left loop colostomy with intact tumour for 6 patients and left end colostomy and tumour resection (Hartmann's procedure) for 2 patients. The medium cost of this type of surgical intervention was 4396.807 RON, representing 1068.742 euro. Statistic data analysis didn't reveal average costs to vary with the type of procedure. The age of the study subjects was between 49 and 88, with an average of 61 years, without it being possible to establish a correlation between patient age and the level of medical spendings. CONCLUSIONS Reducing the costs involved by left colostomy can be efficiently done by decreasing the number of days of hospitalisation in the following ways: preoperative preparation and assessment of the subject in an outpatient regimen; the accuracy of the surgical procedure with the decrease of early postoperative complications and antibiotherapy- the second major cause of increased postoperative costs.
Secretory Vesicle Budding from the Trans-Golgi Network Is Mediated by Phosphatidic Acid Levels*

Phospholipid metabolism plays a central role in regulating vesicular traffic in the secretory pathway. In mammalian cells, activation of a Golgi-associated phospholipase D activity by ADP-ribosylation factor results in hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidic acid (PA). This reaction has been proposed to stimulate nascent secretory vesicle budding from the trans-Golgi network. It is unclear whether PA itself or diacylglycerol (DAG), a metabolite implicated in yeast secretory vesicle formation, regulates budding. To distinguish between these possibilities we have used a permeabilized cell system supplemented with phospholipid-modifying enzymes that generate either DAG or PA. The data demonstrate that in mammalian cells accumulation of PA rather than DAG is a key step in regulating budding of secretory vesicles from the trans-Golgi network.
Knee arthroplasty: a cross‐sectional study assessing energy expenditure and activity

Background: What has been missing from current assessment tools post knee arthroplasty is a means by which a patient's mobility and activity levels can be objectively measured over time in a real world setting. The Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity (Minisun, Fresno, USA) (IDEEA) is one such device that meets these criteria. It quantifies activity by measuring energy expenditure and records the type of activity performed. The purposes of this study were to (i) determine if there were differences in energy expenditure in different groups of patients at various time points pre‐ and post‐surgery and (ii) determine the correlations between energy expenditure and each of the subjective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Oxford and Tegner scoring systems.
Escherichia coli resistant to fluoroquinolones in patients with cancer and neutropenia.

To the Editor: Fluoroquinolones have been shown to decrease the frequency of gram-negative infections in patients with neutropenia1,2. Although fluoroquinolone-resistant mutations seem to occur at low rates in Enterobacteriaceae,3 overuse of these antibiotics may result in the emergence of resistant organisms4. We report the occurrence of fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli bacteremia in patients with cancer and neutropenia. In trials performed between 1983 and 1993 by the International Antimicrobial Therapy Cooperative Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, the proportion of patients with cancer and neutropenia who received prophylaxis with fluoroquinolones increased from 1.4 percent .
A novel quasi-diphone inventory approach to Text-To-Speech synthesis

The paper presents a novel approach to concatenative text-to-speech synthesis. The system uses a unique optimized mixed-rank inventory, based on a modification of the classical diphone concept. A new unit type is introduced in our work, dubbed the quasi-diphone unit. A set of these units is designed to cover all the critical transitions between phones and at the same time to be compatible with phone-length units for concatenation purposes. This allows for inventory optimization in respect to its size and quality of the generated speech. The system includes elementary pitch, duration and amplitude modeling implemented with the standard PSOLA algorithm. Presented results show that it was possible to achieve full intelligibility and reasonable naturalness whilst maintaining a rather small inventory. The system was specially developed for the synthesis of Macedonian, and is the first HQ TTS system for this language. Using the developed standardized interface between the modules, the system is also applicable to any of the worldpsilas languages.
Off-resonance irradiation effect in steady-state NMR saturation transfer.

The off-resonance irradiation effect (spill-over effect), occurring in steady-state NMR saturation-transfer experiments, is studied theoretically and experimentally for a two-spin system in chemical exchange, when a contralateral irradiation is applied to record the reference spectrum. The relevant parameter chosen for this study is the saturation-transfer ratio. It is defined as the ratio between the value of one exchanging magnetization, obtained when saturating the other, and that of the same magnetization measured when applying a contralateral irradiation. The theoretical study is carried out via a model based on the Bloch equations modified for chemical exchange and expressed in a doubly tilted single rotating frame. The saturation-transfer ratio is expressed as a function of the saturating RF field magnitude. It is shown that the RF field applied off-resonance during the acquisition of the reference spectrum does not correct the experimental saturation-transfer ratio for the spill-over effect. In fact, the saturation-transfer ratio increases with the magnitude of this field. This result is qualitatively explained by the consequence of the effective magnetic fields' relative orientations upon the amount of exchanged magnetization. The validity of the theoretical description is tested experimentally with a solution of N,N-dimethylacetamide in which chemical exchange arises from internal hindered rotation. An experimental protocol is proposed to detect spill-over and correct it when necessary. The way to describe spill-over theoretically when more than two spins interact by chemical exchange and/or dipolar coupling is also given.