Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Eradication of Helicobacter pylori: triple treatment scheme plus Lactobacillus vs. triple treatment alone].

BACKGROUND We undertook this study to determine the effectiveness of triple treatment associated with Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota against Helicobacter pylori, in comparison with triple conventional treatment without Lactobacillus. METHODS We designed a clinical comparative randomized study that included patients of both sexes infected by Helicobacter pylori. Patients were studied with endoscopy, biopsy and serology. Control group received traditional triple treatment with clarithromycin, amoxicillin and omeprazole, and the active group received the same treatment plus Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota. With the breath test at 8 weeks we determined the eradication of Helicobacter pylori. RESULTS In the active group we included 31 patients. After treatment, in 29 persons (94%) it was possible to eradicate the Helicobacter pylori. On the other hand, the control group was comprised of 33 patients who received only the traditional triple treatment; eradication was achieved in 25 patients (76%). Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in favor of active group treatment. CONCLUSIONS Traditional triple treatment plus Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota is associated with a higher frequency of eradication of Helicobacter pylori than triple treatment alone.
Multifaceted visual analytics for healthcare applications

A vast amount of electronic healthcare information is now available, ranging from online healthcare articles to patient electronic health records. These electronic data sets contain valuable information that can guide the decisions of both clinical professionals and patients. However, the data are often difficult to analyze, in part because they often contain multiple facets of information. For example, patient records have information on demographics, diagnoses, medications, lab results, and symptoms. To address this challenge, we have been exploring interactive visual analysis techniques that help visualize such healthcare information in an intuitive manner and enable the discovery of actionable insights. In this paper, we present a review of three different techniques. First, we describe a visual analytic system named FacetAtlas that helps users navigate a large set of disease-related documents and understand multidimensional relationships for key semantic concepts such as symptoms and treatments. We then present SolarMap, an alternative technique to FacetAtlas that adds visual representations of facet keyword clusters to expose greater information about semantic relationships. Finally, we describe the DICON (Dynamic Icon) visualization tool, which allows users to interactively view and refine similar multidimensional patient clusters.
Building gas markets: US versus EU, market versus market model

The liberalization process of the gas sector has showed that the reasoning to introduce competition in gas industries separates the services in at least two groups: commodities with relatively low transaction costs, and hence suitable to short-term market coordination, and network services which concentrate most of the specificities related to the physical flows. However, the way to coordinate such network services is still under debate. In this view, in USA specific services are coordinated through long term contracts, whereas the EU regulatory frame socializes the costs of the network services. In this paper, we develop a general analysis of the major consequences of this fundamental regulatory choice. In addition, we build on such analysis to explain the differences among the current proposals to design the coming European Internal Market.
Anti-Inflammatory Role of Langerhans Cells and Apoptotic Keratinocytes in Ultraviolet-B–Induced Cutaneous Inflammation

UV radiation, particularly UVB, is the major risk factor for the induction of skin cancer, and it induces skin inflammation and immunosuppression. Although reports documented that Langerhans cells (LCs) play various roles in photobiology, little is known about whether they contribute to UVB-induced cutaneous inflammation. Recently, the anti-inflammatory effect of apoptotic cells was noted. This study focuses on the roles of LCs and apoptotic cells in UVB-induced cutaneous inflammation. We show that LCs are essential for resolution of UVB-induced cutaneous inflammation. Administration of quinolyl-valyl-O-methylaspartyl-[2,6-difluophenoxy]-methyl ketone, a broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor with potent antiapoptotic properties, inhibited the formation of UVB-induced apoptotic cells and aggravated UVB-induced cutaneous inflammation in wild-type mice. In contrast, exacerbation of UVB-induced cutaneous inflammation following quinolyl-valyl-O-methylaspartyl-[2,6-difluophenoxy]-methyl ketone administration was not observed in LC-depleted mice. These results suggest that the interaction between LCs and apoptotic cells is critical for resolution of UVB-induced cutaneous inflammation. Interestingly, UVB-induced apoptotic keratinocytes were increased in LC-depleted mice. In addition, we revealed that UVB-induced apoptotic keratinocytes were phagocytosed by LCs ex vivo and that prolongation of UVB-induced cutaneous inflammation following treatment with Cytochalasin D, an inhibitor of phagocytosis, was partially attenuated in LC-depleted mice. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that the interaction between LCs and apoptotic cells, possibly via LC-mediated phagocytosis of apoptotic keratinocytes, has an essential anti-inflammatory role in the resolution of UVB-induced cutaneous inflammation.
Leading-Edge Vortex Improves Lift in Slow-Flying Bats

Staying aloft when hovering and flying slowly is demanding. According to quasi–steady-state aerodynamic theory, slow-flying vertebrates should not be able to generate enough lift to remain aloft. Therefore, unsteady aerodynamic mechanisms to enhance lift production have been proposed. Using digital particle image velocimetry, we showed that a small nectar-feeding bat is able to increase lift by as much as 40% using attached leading-edge vortices (LEVs) during slow forward flight, resulting in a maximum lift coefficient of 4.8. The airflow passing over the LEV reattaches behind the LEV smoothly to the wing, despite the exceptionally large local angles of attack and wing camber. Our results show that the use of unsteady aerodynamic mechanisms in flapping flight is not limited to insects but is also used by larger and heavier animals.
Central regulation of food intake in mammals and birds: a review

Appetite regulates by a complex system of central and peripheral signals which interact in order to modulate ingestion response. A number of peptides comprise a complex network that regulates feeding behavior in vertebrates. This review is focused on the main neurotransmitters and peptides that influence feeding responses in mammals and birds. On the basis of literature review, there are several evidences that neurotransmitters have different effects on food intake between mammals and birds. Also, central regulation of food intake regulates via different mechanisms in animals. So, the aim of this review was to investigate comparative food-intake regulation mechanisms in mammals and birds.
A hierarchical push-pull scheme for peer-to-peer live streaming

In this paper, we propose a hierarchical push-pull scheme for peer-to-peer (P2P) live streaming. In our scheme, a control topology is used for membership management, and a multi-source multicast tree for data delivery. The control topology facilitates peers to locate multiple sources for forwarding media content, and the multi-source multicast tree makes the system adaptive to node churn and packet loss. Simulation results show that our proposed method is significantly better than BT-Like systems.
Early expression of angiogenesis factors in acute myocardial ischemia and infarction.

BACKGROUND When the myocardium is deprived of blood, a process of ischemia, infarction, and myocardial remodeling is initiated. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a transcriptional activator of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and is critical for initiating early cellular responses to hypoxia. We investigated the temporal and spatial patterns of expression of the alpha subunit of HIF-1 (HIF-1alpha) and VEGF in specimens of human heart tissue to elucidate the early molecular responses to myocardial hypoxia. METHODS Ventricular-biopsy specimens from 37 patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery were collected. The specimens were examined by microscopy for evidence of ischemia, evolving infarction, or a normal histologic appearance. The specimens were also analyzed with the reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for HIF-1alpha and VEGF messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and by immunohistochemical analysis for the location of the HIF-1alpha and VEGF proteins. RESULTS HIF-1alpha mRNA was detected in myocardial specimens with pathological evidence of acute ischemia (onset, <48 hours before surgery) or early infarction (onset, <24 hours before surgery). In contrast, VEGF transcripts were seen in specimens with evidence of acute ischemia or evolving infarction (onset, 24 to 120 hours before surgery). Patients with normal ventricles or evidence of infarction in the distant past had no detectable levels of either VEGF mRNA or HIF-1alpha mRNA. HIF-1alpha immunoreactivity was detected in the nuclei of myocytes and endothelial cells, whereas VEGF immunoreactivity was found in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells lining capillaries and arterioles. CONCLUSIONS An increase in the level of HIF-1alpha is an early response to myocardial ischemia or infarction. This response defines, at a molecular level, one of the first adaptations of human myocardium to a deprivation of blood. HIF-1alpha is a useful temporal marker of acutely jeopardized myocardium.
Advanced Metasearch Engine Technology

Among the search tools currently on the Web, search engines are the most well known thanks to the popularity of major search engines such as Google and Yahoo! While extremely successful, these major search engines do have serious limitations. This book introduces large-scale metasearch engine technology, which has the potential to overcome the limitations of the major search engines. Essentially, a metasearch engine is a search system that supports unified access to multiple existing search engines by passing the queries it receives to its component search engines and aggregating the returned results into a single ranked list. A large-scale metasearch engine has thousands or more component search engines. While metasearch engines were initially motivated by their ability to combine the search coverage of multiple search engines, there are also other benefits such as the potential to obtain better and fresher results and to reach the Deep Web. The following major components of large-s ale metasearch engines will be discussed in detail in this book: search engine selection, search engine incorporation, and result merging. Highly scalable and automated solutions for these components are emphasized. The authors make a strong case for the viability of the large-scale metasearch engine technology as a competitive technology for Web search. Table of Contents: Introduction / Metasearch Engine Architecture / Search Engine Selection / Search Engine Incorporation / Result Merging / Summary and Future Research
Improved Nearest-Level Modulation for a Modular Multilevel Converter With a Lower Submodule Number

This letter proposes an improved nearest-level modulation (NLM) method to enhance the quality of output voltage of a modular multilevel converter (MMC) with the low amount of submodules, as well as restrain the voltage fluctuation of the submodules. By adding a small offset, which is alternating at the double fundamental frequency to the reference signals, a small phase shift of the step-changing moment between upper and lower arms' voltage emerges. As a result, an odd-level difference between the output voltage of lower arm and that of upper arm occurs, which can increase the level number of output voltage from N + 1 to 2N + 1, where N is the number of submodules per arm. With the proposed method, the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the output voltage is mitigated without increasing the switching frequency of IGBTs or changing the average voltage of submodules' capacitor. In addition, within a special range of power factor angle, the circulating current can be reduced by choosing the proper phase between the fundamental and the double fundamental frequency. Simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness and validity of the proposed NLM scheme.
Optimal Public Procurement Contracts Under a Soft Budget Constraint

This paper presents a model where the central government cannot ensure that regional governments manage risks prudentially, due to soft budget constraint. Competition for project funding induces the regional governments use financial instruments as commitment devices as a signal of prudential risk management. A Public-Private Partnership contract, which delegates the monitoring task to a financial institute, is the most efficient commitment device provided that private financiers have an access to the same monitoring technology the regional governments fail to employ. The optimal capital structure of a PPP contract is a combination of public funds and debt from financial institutes. JEL Classification: D8, L3, H54, H57
DEVELOPMENT OF HEMICELLULOSES BIOREFINERIES FOR INTEGRATION INTO KRAFT PULP MILLS

The development and wide spread acceptance of production facilities for biofuels, biochemicals and biomaterials is an important condition for reducing reliance on limited fossil resources and transitioning towards a global biobased economy. Pulp and paper mills in North America are confronted with high energy prices, high production costs and intense competition from emerging economies and low demand for traditional products. Integrated forest biorefineries (IFBR) have been proposed as a mean to diversify their product streams, increase their revenue and become more sustainable. This is feasible because they have access to forest biomass, an established feedstock supply chain and wood processing experience. In addition, the integration of a biorefinery process that can share existing infrastructure and utilities on the site of pulp mill would significantly lower investment cost and associated risks. Kraft pulping mills are promising receptor processes for a biorefinery because they either possess a prehydrolysis step for extracting hemicelluloses sugars prior to wood pulping or it can be added by retrofit. The extracted hemicelluloses could be subsequently transformed into a wide range of value added products for the receptor mill. To successfully implement hemicelluloses biorefinery, novel processes that are technically and economically feasible are required. It is necessary to identify products that would be profitable, develop processes that are energy efficient and the receptor mill should be able to supply the energy, chemicals and material demands of the biorefinery unit. The objective of this thesis is to develop energy efficient and economically viable hemicelluloses biorefineries for integration into a Kraft pulping process. A dissolving pulp mill was the reference case study. The transformation of hemicellulosic sugars via a chemical and biochemical conversion pathway, with furfural and ethanol as representative products for each pathway was studied. In the first part of this work, the feasibility of concentrating prehydrolysate solution with a reverse osmosis membrane was studied. The concentration step is required to reduce the energy demand of the subsequent conversion processes and the size of process equipments. Reconstituted prehydrolysate solutions containing different concentrations of glucose, xylose acetic acid, syringaldehyde and furfural was used to determine the feasibility of concentrating with a reverse osmosis membrane. The effect of the solution composition and operating conditions (cross flow velocity, temperature and pressure) on the selectivity of the membrane and
The Second Wave: Toward Responsible Inclusion of Pregnant Women in Research

Though much progress has been made on inclusion of non-pregnant women in research, thoughtful discussion about including pregnant women has lagged behind. We outline resulting knowledge gaps and their costs and then highlight four reasons why ethically we are obliged to confront the challenges of including pregnant women in clinical research. These are: the need for effective treatment for women during pregnancy, fetal safety, harm from the reticence to prescribe potentially beneficial medication, and the broader issues of justice and access to benefits of research participation. Going forward requires shifting the burden of justification from inclusion to exclusion and developing an adequate ethical framework that specifies suitable justifications for excluding pregnant women from research.
The V34L polymorphism of factor XIII and peripheral arterial disease.

BACKGROUND Factor XIII catalyzes crosslinking of fibrin in the last steps of the coagulation process. A common polymorphism in the gene for factor XIII A subunit (F13A1 V34L) has been associated with a decreased risk for coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and deep venous thrombosis. METHODS To analyze the role of this polymorphism in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) we performed a case-control study including 873 patients with documented PAD and a total of 523 controls without vascular disease. The F13A1 genotype was determined by an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Genotype distribution and allele frequencies were not significantly different between patients (VV: 51.9%; VL: 40.7%; LL: 7.4%) and controls (VV: 54.7%; VL: 39.2%; LL: 6.1%). Mean age at onset of the disease was significantly higher in LL homozygous subjects than in VV homozygous subjects (67.3 versus 64.1 years, p=0.017). Heterozygous subjects had an intermediate age at onset (65.1 years), suggesting a gene-dose effect. The association of the L34 variant with onset of PAD remained significant after adjustment for other risk factors. The effect was stronger in men than in women. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the F13A1 V34L polymorphism was not associated with the presence of PAD in our study, but may be linked to a later onset of the disease.
The Effect of Globalization and WTO on Small Enterprises in Developing Countries: Strengthening Systemic Thinking and Regional Innovation System

Globalisation and WTO have adversely influenced small enterprises, especially in the developing countries. The promotion and protection of such enterprises by the public policy of providing reservation and subsidy etc have lost their relevance. It has raised questions relating to survival and competitiveness of small enterprises. The paper argues that there is a need for systemic thinking and a holistic view of the whole situation. An analysis of small enterprises in a regional context will be helpful to understand their problems and providing solutions. The paper first presents the concept of systemic thinking and regional innovation systems. Then, case of the evolution of knitwear industry in Ludhiana district of India from an agglomeration of firms to Apparel Park is discussed. The case study demonstrates the role of systemic thinking and development of clusters in context of regional innovation system. Finally, concluding observations are presented.
Power of anisotropic exchange interactions: Universality and efficient codes for quantum computing

We study the quantum computational power of a generic class of anisotropic solid-state Hamiltonians. A universal set of encoded logic operations are found, which do away with difficult-to-implement single-qubit gates in anumber of quantum-computer proposals, e.g., quantum dots and donor atom spins with anisotropic exchange coupling, quantum Hall systems, and electrons floating on helium. We show how to make the corresponding Hamiltonians universal by encoding one qubit into two physical qubits, and by controlling nearest-neighbor interactions.
Direct versus indirect channels

Purpose – This article aims to investigate whether intermediaries reduce loss aversion in the context of a high‐involvement non‐frequently purchased hedonic product (tourism packages). Design/methodology/approach – The study incorporates the reference‐dependent model into a multinomial logit model with random parameters, which controls for heterogeneity and allows representation of different correlation patterns between non‐independent alternatives.Findings – Differentiated loss aversion is found: consumers buying high‐involvement non‐frequently purchased hedonic products are less loss averse when using an intermediary than when dealing with each provider separately and booking their services independently. This result can be taken as identifying consumer‐based added value provided by the intermediaries.Practical implications – Knowing the effect of an increase in their prices is crucial for tourism collective brands (e.g. “sun and sea”, “inland”, “green destinations”, “World Heritage destinations”). This .
Harmonic optimization in single DC source multi-level inverters using RBF neural networks

This paper presents a comparison between heuristic based and exact solution methods to find optimized harmonics for single DC source multilevel inverters. The methods have the benefit of high rate of convergence and precision compared to other conventional optimization methods. The proposed technique can be applied to single DC source multilevel inverters with any number of levels. The goal of optimization is to eliminate some low order harmonics and to maintain the fundamental component at the desired value. As a case study, the method is implemented and tested on a 15 level inverter. Simulation results show the effectiveness and flexibility of the proposed method.
Determinants of Responses to Underwater Employee Stock Options: Evidence from Traditional Repricings, 6&1 Exchanges and Makeup Grants

While firms claim that 6&1 exchanges and makeup grants help realign incentives and retain employees, critics argue that these responses provide opportunities for managerial rent extraction. Moreover, scholars challenge that these alternative responses are chosen to avoid the expense associated with traditional repricings or to substitute for cash. I test these competing explanations by comparing 6&1 exchange firms with traditional repricing firms, and makeup grant firms with traditional repricing firms. Results indicate that 6&1 exchange firms have a greater need to realign employee incentive and makeup grant firms have a greater need to retain employees. I also find that firms having higher financial reporting concerns are more likely to choose 6&1 exchanges or makeup grants over traditional repricings. Also, firms with stronger governance structures choose 6&1 exchanges and firms with less dividend constraints choose makeup grants. Overall, these findings suggest that economic reasons drive alternative responses to underwater stock options.