Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Change in Plasma Leptin Level during the Perioperative Period

Objective: To examine the association of plasma leptin level with insulin, which is known as a metabolic regulator of leptin, and various stress-related factors during the perioperative period. Methods: Thirty-one patients undergoing gastrectomy were enrolled and blood samples were obtained preoperatively, intraoperatively, immediately after operation, and on the first and second postoperative days. Results: The plasma leptin level showed a triphasic response. Immediately after operation, the leptin level was the lowest, while the serum cortisol and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels had their peak (phase 1). On the first postoperative day, the leptin level had its peak with the serum cortisol and IL-6 level remaining elevated (phase 2). On the second postoperative day, while the serum cortisol and IL-6 levels still remained elevated, the plasma leptin level fell to the preoperative value (phase 3). The plasma leptin level correlated well with the insulin level at all time points during the study period. Conclusion: Our results suggest a possible role of leptin in harmonizing neuroendocrine and immune responses with energy balance.
CDMA handset power amplifier with a switched output matching circuit for low/high power mode operations

This paper presents a switched output matching circuit for low/high power modes using a novel structure switch. By adjusting the output matching circuit for the power levels, the efficiency at a low-power region is improved significantly without compromising linearity and efficiency at a high-power region. This switched power amplifier provides 13% power-added efficiency (PAE) with adjacent-channel-power-ratio (ACPR) less than -48 dBc at an output power level of 16 dBm and 41% PAE with ACPR less than -43 dBc at 28 dBm.
Node Localization based on Convex Optimization in Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper proposes a Node Localization algorithm using Convex Optimization (which is called NLCO) in Wireless Sensor Networks. NLCO can be used to help localizing a friend or malicious node. NLCO uses an algorithm based on optimization of convex to evaluate the place of malicious node. Simulation results show that NLCO is both secure and robust in an environment without colluding. NLCO can identify more than half of the malicious nodes. Furthermore in an environment with colluding, no more than 15% of malicious nodes can escape from the identification of our methods.
Cost-Sharing under Consumer-Driven Health Care Will Not Reform U.S. Health Care

Various kinds of consumer-driven reforms have been attempted over the last 20 years in an effort to rein in soaring costs of health care in the United States. Most are based on a theory of moral hazard, which holds that patients will over-utilize health care services unless they pay enough for them. Although this theory is a basic premise of conventional health insurance, it has been discredited by actual experience over the years. While ineffective in containing costs, increased cost-sharing as a key element of consumer-driven health care (CDHC) leads to restricted access to care, underuse of necessary care, and lower quality and worse outcomes of care. This paper summarizes the three major problems of U.S. health care urgently requiring reform and shows how cost-sharing fails to meet that goal.
Introduction to a compendium on hypertension.

Hypertension is by far the most common disease that affects human beings, its high prevalence involving both sexes and extending to either industrialized and developing countries.1 Compared with normotensives, individuals with a high blood pressure stand a much greater chance of having during their life a stroke, coronary heart disease, heart or renal failure, and peripheral artery disease,2 with a substantially higher risk also of developing atrial fibrillation,3 deterioration of cognitive function, and dementia.4 The high prevalence and the multifold important contribution of hypertension to cardiovascular and renal risk account for its position as the top contributor to the burden of disease worldwide.5 Despite extensive research the cause or causes of hypertension in a given patient remain in most instances as unclear today as they were decades ago. Yet, the data that have been obtained by basic and clinical studies have provided considerable knowledge of the factors that may be potentially involved as well as of the molecular, humoral, neural, and structural mechanisms through which a blood pressure increase may occur. The aim of this compendium, the first devoted to hypertension by Circulation Research , is to offer clinicians and investigators a critical review of this knowledge, covering a large spectrum of data, that is, from genetic and molecular to integrated pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Rahimi et al6 open the series with a survey of the epidemiology of hypertension. Evidence of the progressive increase in the risk of cardiovascular or renal diseases with the increasing blood pressure values is reviewed together with issues of great current interest …
Research on Promotion of Public Security using Geographic Information System

In the last decade, the development of geographical information system (GIS) has provided a powerful insight into research in several academic fields. A look at the electronic library service CiNii reveals that the number of articles is increasing year by year, not only in geography but also in various academic fields, such as public health, pedagogy, and criminology. The present study outlines the functions of GIS, especially mapping, and indicates their manner of utilization for public security. Recently, the public security policy has moved in a direction such that it has begun to concentrate on delivery and planning at the community level and not the prefecture level. GIS constitutes a powerful tool that can support this movement; however, the successful and meaningful use of GIS depends on the data sources. Unfortunately, most of the published data constitute those reported by large administrative areas. If data at the community level are available, the results obtained using GIS could be contributed to policy making. Introduction In the last decade, the development of geographical information system (GIS) has provided a powerful insight into research in many academic fields. It has been difficult to arrive at a consensus definition of GIS; however, simply put, it refers to computer-based systems for the integration and analysis of geographic data (Cromley & McLafferty, 2002). In other words, GIS constitutes powerful tools for the capture, integration, modeling, analysis, and visualization of spatial patterns and processes. Before it become a popular tool in the academic field, GIS was used not only by government organizations for tasks such as determining the supply of commodities such as gas and water but also by commercial organizations for the purpose of market research and planning. In Japan, following the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of January in 1995, the government began to discuss the promotion of GIS. Thus, it was time to commence the systematic promotion of GIS; one of the outcomes of these promotion endeavors was the GIS action program, which was formulated by the government. In addition, as mentioned above, GIS has, over the previous years, emerged as a tool in academic research. A look at the electronic library service CiNii reveals that the number of articles is increasing year by year not only in geography but also in various academic fields, such as public health, pedagogy, and criminology. The one reason for this may be due to improvements in software. For now, we can access it at a convenient price, and easy to use even by beginners. In recent years, some elementary schools have been attempting to spread GIS literacy. The purpose of this study is to provide the functions of GIS, especially mapping, and indicates their relevance in public security. Due to Research on Promotion of Public Security using Geographic Information System Tsuyoshi Hamano, Ryoji Onodera and Yoshikazu Fujisawa
Orientation Discrimination for Bars Defined by Orientation Texture

A texture pattern consisting of short (0.2 deg) lines contained a 5.0 deg × 1.4 deg texture-defined bar. The bar was rendered visible by the difference in orientation (2θ) between the lines inside the bar and outside the bar. Orientation-discrimination threshold for the texture-defined bar was a U-shaped function of 2θ over the range 2θ = 0° to 2θ = 180°. The lowest threshold was at 2θ = 90°, and was 0.57° for both subjects tested. This threshold was little different from the lowest values of threshold for motion-defined bars, disparity-defined bars, and colour-defined gratings reported elsewhere. A luminance-defined bar was created by switching off all texture lines outside the texture-defined bar. Orientation-discrimination threshold fell to a limiting value as the luminance contrast of this bar was progressively increased. The lowest value of orientation discrimination for the luminance-defined bar (0.42° and 0.35° for the two subjects) was not greatly less than the lowest value for the texture-defined bar.
Proteogenomic Analysis of Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 Using Genosuite, an Automated Multi-algorithmic Pipeline*

We present GenoSuite, an integrated proteogenomic pipeline to validate, refine and discover protein coding genes using high-throughput mass spectrometry (MS) data from prokaryotes. To demonstrate the effectiveness of GenoSuite, we analyzed proteomics data of Bradyrhizobium japonicum (USDA110), a model organism to study agriculturally important rhizobium-legume symbiosis. Our analysis confirmed 31% of known genes, refined 49 gene models for their translation initiation site (TIS) and discovered 59 novel protein coding genes. Notably, a novel protein which redefined the boundary of a crucial cytochrome P450 system related operon was discovered, known to be highly expressed in the anaerobic symbiotic bacteroids. A focused analysis on N-terminally acetylated peptides indicated downstream TIS for gene blr0594. Finally, ortho-proteogenomic analysis revealed three novel genes in recently sequenced B. japonicum USDA6T genome. The discovery of large number of missing genes and correction of gene models have expanded the proteomic landscape of B. japonicum and presents an unparalleled utility of proteogenomic analyses and versatility of GenoSuite for annotating prokaryotic genomes including pathogens.
IPv6 Rapid Deployment on IPv4 Infrastructures (6rd)

IPv6 rapid deployment (6rd) builds upon mechanisms of 6to4 (RFC3056) to enable a service provider to rapidly deploy IPv6 unicast service to its existing IPv4 sites. Like 6to4, it utilizes stateless IPv6 in IPv4 encapsulation in order to transit IPv4-only network infrastructure. Unlike 6to4, 6rd allows a service provider to use one of its own IP prefixes rather than the fixed 6to4 prefix. A service provider has used this mechanism for its own "rapid deployment" of IPv6 (five weeks from first exposure to "opt-in" deployment for 1,500,000 residential sites).
MR findings in primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) are immunoglobulins of the lgG and lgM groups with activity against negatively charged phospholipids. Common manifestations of APLA in­ clude the presence of lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies, and false-positive Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VORL) and rapid plasma reagin (RPR) tests [1 , 2]. APLA has been associated with an increased frequency of venous and arterial thromboses, recurrent fetal loss, throm­ bocytopenia, cardiac valve lesions, livedo reticularis and other skin lesions, and a variety of neurologic syndromes [1 - 9). The disease has been reported most frequently in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupuslike dis­ ease , but also in other clinical entities , including infections, neoplasms, hematologic disorders, AIDS , primary immuno­ deficiency, collagenosis, and following treatment with certain drugs (especially in those associated with drug-induced SLE) [1 ' 2). Recently, a new subgroup of patients who have idiopathic APLA has been described. The diagnostic criteria of this primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) include a history of venous and{or arterial thrombotic occlusions, recurrent fetal loss or thrombocytopenia, and the presence of lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibodies, or both, in the ab­ sence of SLE or any other cause of APLA [1 , 2). To make the diagnosis, at least one clinical feature and one positive laboratory test should be present on two different occasions separated by a 2-month interval [2]. We report the MR findings in a case of PAPS clinically resembling multiple scle­ rosis .
Stereoacuity Development: 6 Months to 5 Years. A New Tool for Testing and Screening

A new tool to measure changes in random dot stereoacuity development from 6 months to 5 years of age was developed and tested. Either a forced choice or operant preferential looking (PL) paradigm with a happy face target was successfully used to test 136 children. Results indicate that stereoacuity measurements continue to develop through the first years of life. Although children below 24 months of age can be expected to have stereo thresholds in the range of 300 sec arc, there is a transition at approximately 24 months of age after which stereoacuity approaches adult levels. The sensitivity of this test in detecting binocular vision problems was 80%. These results provide guidelines for the assessment of stereoacuity in young children and also provide a new tool for the early detection of binocular vision anomalies.
Filter ensemble regularized common spatial pattern for EEG classification

Common Spatial Pattern (CSP) is one of the most effective feature extraction algorithm for Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI). Despite its advantages of wide versatility and high efficiency, CSP is shown to be non-robust to noise and prone to over fitting when training sample number is limited. In order to overcome these problems, Regularized Common Spatial Pattern (RCSP) is further proposed. RCSP regularized covariance matrix estimation by two parameters, which reduces the estimation difference and improves the stationarity under small sample condition. However, RCSP does not make full use of the frequency information. In this paper, we presents a filter ensemble technique for RCSP (FERCSP) to further extract frequency information and aggregate all the RCSPs efficiently to get an ensemble-based solution. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated on data set IVa of BCI Competition III against other five RCSPbased algorithms. The experimental results show that FERCSP significantly outperforms those of the existing methods in classification accuracy. The FERCSP outperforms the CSP algorithm and R-CSP-A algorithm in all five subjects with an average improvement of 6% in accuracy.
Loperamide oxide in acute diarrhoea: a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial

Background: Loperamide is an established treatment of acute diarrhoea with only rare adverse reactions. The pro‐drug loperamide oxide is converted to loperamide by anaerobic bacteria in the lower alimentary tract. With the use of loperamide oxide, it was expected to obtain similar antidiarrhoeal efficacy as with loperamide, but with a lower dose and a lower plasma concentration. The incidence of adverse reactions might be reduced with the use of loperamide oxide. Methods: Loperamide oxide (0.5 and 1 mg capsules) was compared with placebo in a double‐blind treatment of acute diarrhoea of 242 patients. Relief of diarrhoea was significantly more rapid for either dose of loperamide oxide than for placebo. Both the investigators’and the patients’global assessment of the treatment significantly favoured the loperamide oxide 1 mg capsule, but not 0.5 mg, over placebo. Adverse experiences were less frequent in the drug‐treated than in the placebo‐treated group.
Differential Transcriptional Control of Monoterpene, Sesquiterpene, and Diterpene Synthase Genes in Response to Wounding

Grand fir (Abies grandis Lindl.) has been developed as a model system for the study of wound-induced oleoresinosis in conifers as a response to insect attack. Oleoresin is a roughly equal mixture of turpentine (85% monoterpenes [C10] and 15% sesquiterpenes [C15]) and rosin (diterpene [C20] resin acids) that acts to seal wounds and is toxic to both invading insects and their pathogenic fungal symbionts. The dynamic regulation of wound-induced oleoresin formation was studied over 29 d at the enzyme level by in vitro assay of the three classes of synthases directly responsible for the formation of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes from the corresponding C10 ,C 15, and C20 prenyl diphosphate precursors, and at the gene level by RNA-blot hybridization using terpene synthase class-directed DNA probes. In overall appearance, the shapes of the time-course curves for all classes of synthase activities are similar, suggesting coordinate formation of all of the terpenoid types. However, closer inspection indicates that the monoterpene synthases arise earlier, as shown by an abbreviated time course over 6 to 48 h. RNA-blot analyses indicated that the genes for all three classes of enzymes are transcriptionally activated in response to wounding, with the monoterpene synthases up-regulated first (transcripts detectable 2 h after wounding), in agreement with the results of cell-free assays of monoterpene synthase activity, followed by the coordinately regulated sesquiterpene synthases and diterpene synthases (transcription beginning on d 3‐4). The differential timing in the production of oleoresin components of this defense response is consistent with the immediate formation of monoterpenes to act as insect toxins and their later generation at solvent levels for the mobilization of resin acids responsible for wound sealing.
Research, public policymaking, and knowledge‐translation processes: Canadian efforts to build bridges

&NA; Public policymakers must contend with a particular set of institutional arrangements that govern what can be done to address any given issue, pressure from a variety of interest groups about what they would like to see done to address any given issue, and a range of ideas (including research evidence) about how best to address any given issue. Rarely do processes exist that can get optimally packaged high‐quality and high‐relevance research evidence into the hands of public policymakers when they most need it, which is often in hours and days, not months and years. In Canada, a variety of efforts have been undertaken to address the factors that have been found to increase the prospects for research use, including the production of systematic reviews that meet the shorter term (but not urgent) needs of public policymakers and encouraging partnerships between researchers and policymakers that allow for their interaction around the tasks of asking and answering relevant questions. Much less progress has been made in making available research evidence to inform the urgent needs of public policymakers and in addressing attitudinal barriers and capacity limitations. In the future, knowledge‐translation processes, particularly push efforts and efforts to facilitate user pull, should be undertaken on a sufficiently large scale and with a sufficiently rigorous evaluation so that robust conclusions can be drawn about their effectiveness.
Video analysis of host–parasite interactions in nests of Darwin’s finches

Abstract Parasites place their hosts under strong selection for adaptive traits that increase parasite resistance. The initial impact of invasive parasites has rarely been observed and can be particularly strong on naïve hosts with limited prior exposure to parasites. Philornis downsi is an introduced fly to the Galapagos Islands whose parasitic larvae cause high mortality in nestlings of Darwin's finches. We used a within-nest camera system and nest monitoring data to examine this new host–parasite interaction in the wild. Many P. downsi flies entered finch nests with incubated eggs or nestlings but only when parent finches were not present. Parasitic P. downsi larvae were observed to emerge from the nest base at night to feed both internally and externally on nestlings. Adult and nestling Darwin’s finches exhibit grooming and avoidance behaviours in the presence of P. downsi parasites. Specifically, in nests with high parasite intensity, nestlings increased self-preening behaviour, ate larvae and stood on top of one another. Female finches probed into their nestling’s nares (first instar larvae reside in the nares) and probed into the nest base (second and third larvae reside in the nest base during the day). These findings shed light on the emergence of anti-parasite behaviour as well as host–parasite relationships after recent parasitism in a naïve host.
Influence of glucose infusions on luteinizing hormone secretion in the energy-restricted, primiparous, lactating sow.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the influence of glucose infusion during lactation on LH secretion in the energy-restricted sow. Ten primiparous Landrace x Yorkshire sows (152 kg postfarrowing) were fed a low-energy (6.5 Mcal of ME/d), high-lysine (45 g/d), corn-soybean meal diet throughout lactation. On d 18 of lactation, sows received a continuous infusion (1 L/12 h) of glucose (50% dextrose solution) or . 9% saline from 1200 to 2400. Blood samples were drawn every 15 min for an 18-h period on d 18 to evaluate concentrations of plasma glucose, serum insulin, and serum LH before (600 to 1200) and during (1215 to 2400) the infusions. The glucose infusion immediately increased (P less than .001) plasma glucose and serum insulin relative to preinfusion levels. Glucose and insulin concentrations in sows receiving the glucose infusion were higher (P less than .001) throughout the infusion period relative to concentrations in sows receiving a saline infusion. Glucose infusions had no influence on LH pulsatility during the 12-h infusion period. In contrast to the response observed in the nutrient-restricted gilt, these results indicate that glucose infusions do not result in an immediate increase in pulsatile LH secretion in the energy-restricted, lactating sow.
Seasonal patterns of gametogenesis in a North Atlantic brooding asteroid, Leptasterias tenera.

The reproductive system of Leptasterias tenera, a five-rayed, North Atlantic sea star, was studied throughout an annual cycle. In general, the gross anatomy and histological structure of the gonads were comparable to descriptions for other species of Leptasterias (L. hexactis, L. pusilla, L. groenlandica). Gametogenesis in L. tenera followed the characteristic pattern of brooding Leptasterias, but certain specific variations were noted.In L. tenera, spermatogenesis was completed prior to shedding, whereas in L. pusilla, differentiation of spermatocytes continued for at least 14 days after sperm release. Relict sperm remaining in the testis following shedding in both species were ultimately removed by phagocytic action of amoeboid lymphocytes. Two types of lymphocytes, amoeboid lymphocytes and petaloid cells, were present in the haemal sinus of male L. tenera.In the female reproductive cycle of L. tenera, developing oocytes remained close to the basal germinal membrane and haemal sinus throughout the entir.
A sensitive method for determination of cholesterol growth using model solutions of supersaturated bile.

We describe a novel, facile, and highly reproducible spectrophotometric technique to measure a cholesterol crystal growth curve. This method permits a quantitative estimate of the potency or comparative abundance of a given kinetic effector substance. In addition to several internal validation procedures, data are provided that support the usefulness of the technique in the assay of substances with either known promoting activity, i.e., human mucin glycoprotein, or those with known inhibitory activity, i.e., human apolipoprotein A-I.