Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinically relevant outcome measures for new therapies of asthma using pharmaceutical and biologic agents

Purpose of reviewTo determine the benefits of new asthma drugs or therapies, they should be assessed with regard to their effects on relevant clinical outcomes. Recent findingsThe most frequently used outcomes have been symptoms, rescue medication needs and pulmonary function tests, although others such as quality of life, exacerbations and impairment of activities have also been identified as important ones. Improvements in our understanding of basic mechanisms of asthma have led to the development of new sets of outcomes including inflammatory markers and a rapidly increasing number of biomarkers, which however require validation, and assessment of their clinical usefulness. Many studies have not only looked at induced sputum cell differentials or FENO to phenotype asthma but also as treatment efficacy markers. Periostin is considered a marker of TH2-induced airway inflammation and a predictor of response to drugs such as anti-IL13 and omalizumab, although at the individual level, such prediction remains imperfect. SummaryThere is a need to develop new markers of activity of the disease, with a prognostic value with regard to the benefits of new treatments.
Effect of Protein Concentration on the Flow of Cerebrospinal Fluid Through Shunt Tubing.

BACKGROUND Protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are commonly thought to be related to sterile shunt malfunction. OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between protein concentration and flow through CSF shunt tubing and a shunt valve. METHODS New and explanted shunt catheters were tested with and without a shunt valve attached at various protein concentrations. The protein concentrations used were 0.5, 2, 5, and 10 g/L. A flask with artificial CSF attached to the proximal end provided flow. The flow was allowed to stabilize over 1 hour, and then the change in pressure between the proximal and distal end of the catheter was measured and recorded. The resistance to flow was calculated for new and explanted catheters for adult shunt systems, as well as with the addition of a programmable siphon control valve. The resistance was examined after the addition of various protein concentrations to a normal CSF solution. RESULTS Both new and explanted catheters exhibited a decrease in the resistance to flow with higher concentrations of protein. CONCLUSION In our laboratory setting, there was decreased resistance of adult CSF shunt catheters with and without a valve as the concentration of protein in the CSF increased. The decrease in the resistance of CSF shunt catheters with the addition of protein to the CSF may be related to the lowering of surface tension. This is the first study to examine the effects of varying protein concentrations across different lengths of shunt tubing for both new and explanted catheters.
The management of applications for reconfigurable computing using an operating system

As the number of system gates available on reconfigurable platforms increase beyond 10 million, the issue of the management of these resources and their sharing among many applications and users will become more of a concern. This paper identifies the fundamental services that must be provided by an operating system for reconfigurable computing and describes a prototype implementation. The paper defines a contract between the application designer and the operating system whereby the application is defined as a task graph whose nodes are pre-placed and routed modules and whose edges define the data flow dependencies between the nodes. After loading by the operating system, the task graph node modules are grouped into partitions that occupy contiguous area on the FPGA surface. The implementation features new versions of algorithms for the allocation of area to tasks, the partitioning of an application to fit selected allocated areas and the placement and routing inside partitions. All the algorithms have small deterministic and bounded run times with near linear time complexity making them suitable to run in between time slices or at the initial loading stage of applications. Tests on the prototype with benchmark examples show that it is a feasible and that fragmentation of the area of the FPGA among many users is manageable.
PREPARATION AND STATISTICAL OPTIMIZATION OF SELF NANOEMULSIFYING TABLETS OF EFAVIRENZ USING 23 FACTORIAL DESIGNS

The objective of the present research was to enhance the solubility of poorly water soluble antiretroviral drug i.e. efavirenz, by self nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) and formulating it as tablets using 2 3 factorial designs. The SNEDDS were prepared using labrafac PG (15%) as oil, Tween 80 (19%) as surfactant and PEG 200 (38%) as co surfactant that yields the globule size of 142.7nm. The liquid SNEDDS were adsorbed onto aerosil which acts as carrier. The SEM of S-SNEDDS appeared as smooth-surfaced particles without any crystalline shape, indicating complete adsorption of SNEDDS. The absence of drug peak in S-SNEDDS thermogram was attributable to presence of drug in molecularly dissolved state in the vicinity of the lipid excipients. The 2 3 factorial designs were employed to optimize the concentration of Micro crystalline cellulose, PVP and sodium starch glycollate. The observed values were in close agreement with the predicted values thereby validating the feasibility of the optimization procedure in developing self nanoemulsifying tablets. The relative bioavailability of the S SNEDDS and pure drug were 388.49% and 95.39%, respectively. This confirms that the solubility of the drug has been increased leading to increase in the bioavailability of efavirenz.
Modeling and generating moving trees from video

We present a probabilistic approach for the automatic production of tree models with convincing 3D appearance and motion. The only input is a video of a moving tree that provides us an initial dynamic tree model, which is used to generate new individual trees of the same type. Our approach combines global and local constraints to construct a dynamic 3D tree model from a 2D skeleton. Our modeling takes into account factors such as the shape of branches, the overall shape of the tree, and physically plausible motion. Furthermore, we provide a generative model that creates multiple trees in 3D, given a single example model. This means that users no longer have to make each tree individually, or specify rules to make new trees. Results with different species are presented and compared to both reference input data and state of the art alternatives.
The distance-similarity metaphor in region-display spatializations

Region-display spatializations represent documents metaphorically as points within regions. Semantic interrelatedness is expressed by some combination of interpoint distance and region membership. In two experiments, the authors investigate judgments of document similarity as a function of these variables. Distance matters, but region membership largely determines judged similarity; hue further modifies it. Spatial metaphors are a popular approach to visualizing information in such forms as information worlds, information spaces, and cyberspaces
MRI of “diffusion” in the human brain: New results using a modified CE‐FAST sequence

“Diffusion‐weighted” MRI in the normal human brain and in a patient with a cerebral metastasis is demonstrated. The method employed was a modified CE‐FAST sequence with imaging times of only 6‐10 s using a conventional 1.5‐T whole‐body MRI system (Siemens Magnetom). As with previous phantom and animal studies, the use of strong gradients together with macroscopic motions in vivo causes unavoidable artifacts in diffusion‐weighted images of the human brain. While these artifacts are shown to be considerably reduced by averaging of 8‐16 images, the resulting diffusion contrast is compromised by unknown signal losses due to motion. © 1989 Academic press, Inc.
The Role of Ciliate Protozoa in the Rumen

First described in 1843, Rumen protozoa with their striking appearance were assumed to be important for the welfare of their host. However, despite contributing up to 50% of the bio-mass in the rumen, the role of protozoa in rumen microbial ecosystem remains unclear. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rDNA libraries generated from the rumen of cattle, sheep, and goats has revealed an unexpected diversity of ciliated protozoa although variation in gene copy number between species makes it difficult to obtain absolute quantification. Despite repeated attempts it has proven impossible to maintain rumen protozoa in axenic culture. Thus it has been difficult to establish conclusively a role of ciliate protozoa in rumen fiber degradation. The development of techniques to clone and express ciliate genes in λ phage, together with bioinformatic indices to confirm the ciliate origin of the genes has allowed the isolation and characterization of fibrolytic genes from rumen protozoa. Elimination of the ciliate protozoa increases microbial protein supply by up to 30% and reduces methane production by up to 11%. Our recent findings suggest that holotrich protozoa play a disproportionate role in supporting methanogenesis whilst the small Entodinium are responsible for much of the bacterial protein turnover. As yet no method to control protozoa in the rumen that is safe and practically applicable has been developed, however a range of plant extract capable of controlling if not completely eliminating rumen protozoa have been described.
A cognitive psychology-based approach for 3-D shape retrieval

In this paper, we incorporate a set of principles originated from cognitive psychology into the design of 3-D shape analysis and retrieval algorithms. Based on the "visual salience-guided mesh decomposition" we previously proposed, a 3-D mesh-based shape is first broken up into parts such that human visual perception on parts can be appropriately mimicked. Next, the decomposed parts are individually analyzed and quantified according to the properties of visual salience. To establish the indices of 3-D meshes for shape matching, spherical parameterization is adopted to map the decomposed parts onto the surface of a unit sphere. In this way, the dissimilarity degree between the query acquired from users and a model in database can be calculated. The experimental results have shown that the matching performance of the proposed scheme is indeed efficient and powerful.
Familiarization Indexes in Sessions of 1-RM Tests in Adult Women

Soares-Caldeira, LF, Ritti-Dias, RM, Okuno, NM, Cyrino, ES, Gurjão, ALD, and Ploutz-Snyder, LL. Familiarization indexes in sessions of 1-RM tests in adult women. J Strength Cond Res 23(7): 2039-2045, 2009-The objective of this study was to evaluate the familiarization to the 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) test in adult women with previous experience in resistance training and to compare the statistical methods to analyze familiarization. Twenty-seven women, with previous experience in resistance training but detrained for 6 months, participated in the study (21.6 ± 2.5 years; 59.1 ± 6.7 kg; 1.65 ± 0.04 m; 21.8 ± 2.4 kg/m2). The 1-RM test was used to verify the strength levels in 3 exercises: bench press, squat, and arm curl. Five 1-RM tests sessions were performed in distinct days. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland-Altman plotting procedures were used to compare the 1-RM load between the familiarization sessions. The significance assumed was p < 0.05. All exercises presented good ICC between 1-RM familiarization sessions (0.97-0.98). However, there were significant increases in 1-RM load among the 5 sessions of 1-RM tests in the bench press (+5.7%), squat (+5.4%), and arm curl (+11.1%). In addition, there were different responses according to the statistical analyses used (ANOVA, higher 1-RM strength, and Bland-Altman plotting). The results of the present study suggest that familiarization sessions are important for an accurate assessment of 1-RM load even in subjects with previous experience in resistance training.
Eliminating extraneous solutions in curve and surface operations

We study exact representations for offset curves and surfaces, for equal-distance curves and surfaces, and for fixed- and variable-radius blending surfaces. The representations are systems of nonlinear equations that define the curves and surfaces as natural projections from a higher-dimensional space into 3-space. We show that the systems derived by naively translating the geometric constraints defining the curves and surfaces can entail degeneracies that result in additional solutions that have no geometric significance. We characterize these extraneous solution points geometrically, and then augment the systems with auxiliary equations of a uniform structure that exclude all extraneous solutions. Thereby, we arrive at representations that capture the geometric intent of the curve and surface definitions precisely.
The Perron-Frobenius theorem for homogeneous, monotone functions

If A is a nonnegative matrix whose associated directed graph is strongly connected, the Perron-Frobenius theorem asserts that A has an eigenvector in the positive cone, (R + ) n . We associate a directed graph to any homogeneous, monotone function, f: (R + ) n → (R + ) n , and show that if the graph is strongly connected, then f has a (nonlinear) eigenvector in (R + ) n . Several results in the literature emerge as corollaries. Our methods show that the Perron-Frobenius theorem is really about the boundedness of invariant subsets in the Hilbert projective metric. They lead to further existence results and open problems.
Differential regulation of mTORC1 by leucine and glutamine

Getting specific about amino acid sensing The protein kinase complex mTORC1 regulates growth and metabolism, and its activity is controlled in response to the abundance of cellular amino acids. Jewell et al. report that control of mTORC1 in response to glutamine does not require the Rag guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) implicated in the sensing of other amino acids such as leucine (see the Perspective by Abraham). For sensing of glutamine, another GTPase, Arf1, was required. Distinct mechanisms thus appear to couple various amino acids to signaling by the mTORC1 complex. Science, this issue p. 194; see also p. 128 Distinct mechanisms sense amino acids leucine and glutamine at the lysosome. [Also see Perspective by Abraham] The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) integrates environmental and intracellular signals to regulate cell growth. Amino acids stimulate mTORC1 activation at the lysosome in a manner thought to be dependent on the Rag small guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases), the Ragulator complex, and the vacuolar H+–adenosine triphosphatase (v-ATPase). We report that leucine and glutamine stimulate mTORC1 by Rag GTPase-dependent and -independent mechanisms, respectively. Glutamine promoted mTORC1 translocation to the lysosome in RagA and RagB knockout cells and required the v-ATPase but not the Ragulator. Furthermore, we identified the adenosine diphosphate ribosylation factor–1 GTPase to be required for mTORC1 activation and lysosomal localization by glutamine. Our results uncover a signaling cascade to mTORC1 activation independent of the Rag GTPases and suggest that mTORC1 is differentially regulated by specific amino acids.
Social productivity and depressive symptoms in early old age–results from the GAZEL study

Objectives: We test associations of frequency of performing three types of socially productive activities (voluntary work, informal help and caring for a person) with depressive symptoms in older people. Are depressive symptoms negatively associated with frequency in all three types or rather in those activities that are characterized by a high degree of autonomy and perceived control? Methods: Data on social activities and frequency of performance were collected in the frame of the annual follow-up of the French GAZEL cohort study in 2005. Depressive symptoms were measured by the CES-D scale. Perceived control was assessed by two items of a quality of life measure (CASP-19). Total of 14477 respondents aged 52–66 years completed a standardized questionnaire. Linear regression models were calculated adjusting for important confounders including self-rated health assessed during the previous year. Results: In activities characterized by high autonomy (in particular voluntary work) a negative association of frequency with depressive symptoms was observed, whereas the reverse effect was found in the type of activity with low autonomy (care for a person). Perceived control mediated in part the association of frequency of activity with depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Being often socially productive in early old age may contribute to well-being to the extent that autonomy and perceived control are given.
THE EFFECT OF CHRONIC MORPHINE TREATMENT ON EXCITATORY JUNCTION POTENTIALS IN THE MOUSE VAS DEFERENS

1 Intracellular recordings were made from smooth muscle cells of vasa deferentia in vitro. Vasa from two groups of mice were studied; the first were naive and the second had been chronically pretreated with morphine for 3 days. The vasa from morphine‐pretreated mice were maintained in Krebs solution containing normorphine (300 nm). 2 The resting membrane potentials of the smooth muscle cells were the same in both groups of mice. 3 The excitatory junction potentials (e.j.ps) evoked by stimulation of the intramural nerves were depressed by normorphine in both groups of mice. The EC50 for this action of normorphine was 560 nm for the naive group and 6.6 μm for the morphine‐pretreated group. 4 The EC50 for adenosine in depressing e.j.p. amplitude was the same in the two groups. 5 Naloxone did not change the resting membrane potential in cells from either group of mice. In morphine‐pretreated mice, naloxone caused a marked increase in the amplitude of the evoked e.j.p. 6 The EC50 for noradrenaline in causing a contractile response of the isolated vas deferens was the same in both groups of mice. 7 The results indicate that changes in postsynaptic sensitivity to transmitter do not occur following morphine pretreatment.
Prognosis of Multifocal Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

This study was to investigate the clinical features and therapeutic outcomes of multifocal papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). A total of 2,418 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients had undergone thyroidectomy in one medical center between 1977 and 2010. There were 483 (20.0%) diagnosed with multifocal PTC. The percentage of multifocal PTC was higher in PTMC patients (22.0%) than in non-PTMC patients (19.5%). Demographic and clinical characteristics of PTMC and multifocal PTC in PTC patients were traced. Multifocal PTC patients presented with smaller tumors at an older age, and a higher percentage underwent total or complete thyroidectomy. These patients also showed a higher incidence of postoperative disease progression than did unifocal PTC patients. Comparison of 483 patients with multifocal PTMC and non-PTMC tumors showed a higher incidence of postoperative disease progression in patients with non-PTMC; otherwise, there was no statistical difference in disease-specific and total mortality between these two groups. In conclusion, the incidence of multifocal PTMC was not lower than that of non-PTMC, and postoperative therapies were necessary for both multifocal PTMC and non-PTMC patients.
Evaluation of the organisation and delivery of patient-centred acute nursing care

Abstract The key driver for this study arose from two serious untoward incidents that occurred in a large district general hospital in the United Kingdom. Following investigation of both these events the Director of Nursing in post at that time believed that poor organisation and delivery of care may have been a contributory factor. This paper reports the findings on one phase of a multi-phase study and focuses upon the perceptions and experiences of the hospital staff around the organisation and delivery of patient-centred acute nursing care. Although we saw little evidence of multi-disciplinary approaches to care, it was evident that the issue which had the biggest impact upon both the organisation and delivery of care was staffing levels.
Mutations in the 16S rRNA Genes of Helicobacter pylori Mediate Resistance to Tetracycline

ABSTRACT Low-cost and rescue treatments for Helicobacter pylori infections involve combinations of several drugs including tetracycline. Resistance to tetracycline has recently emerged in H. pylori. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of two tetracycline-resistant clinical isolates (MIC = 64 μg/ml) were determined and compared to the consensus H. pylori 16S rRNA sequence. One isolate had four nucleotide substitutions, and the other had four substitutions and two deletions. Natural transformation with the 16S rRNA genes from the resistant organisms conferred tetracycline resistance on susceptible strains. 16S rRNA genes containing the individual mutations were constructed and tested for the ability to confer resistance. Only the 16S rRNA gene containing the triple mutation, AGA965-967TTC, was able to confer tetracycline resistance on H. pylori 26695. The MICs of tetracycline for the transformed strains were equivalent to those for the original clinical isolates. The two original isolates were also metronidazole resistant, but this trait was not linked to the tetracycline resistance phenotype. Serial passage of several H. pylori strains on increasing concentrations of tetracycline yielded mutants with only a very modest increase in tetracycline resistance to a MIC of 4 to 8 μg/ml. These mutants all had a deletion of G942 in the 16S rRNA genes. The mutations in the 16S rRNA are clearly responsible for tetracycline resistance in H. pylori.
Delay evaluation of 90nm CMOS multi-context FPGA with shift-register-type temporal communication module for large-scale circuit emulation

For large-scale circuit emulation with using a multi-context FPGA (MC-FPGA), a circuit is divided into multiple sub-circuits, each sub-circuit is assigned to a context. , and the MC-FPGA sequentially executes all the contexts one by one. So, the total execution delay is the sum of the delays of the contexts. It is, therefore, said that the total execution delay of the MC-FPGA increases proportional to the number of contexts used. However, in this paper, we show that the total execution delay remains constant if a shift-register-type temporal communication module (SRTCM) is used instead of D-flipflop (D-FF) to implement sequential circuits. The SR-TCM is used not only for signal communication of sequential circuit like D-FF, but also for signal communication from preceding context to succeeding contexts. In order to quantify the delay, a MC-FPGA named flexible processor (FP), which contains the SR-TCM, have been designed and fabricated in 90 nm CMOS process technology. From the measurement results, the total execution delay of the FP was kept constant regardless of the number of contexts used.