Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Disability in Systemic Sclerosis — A Longitudinal Observational Study

Objective. To assess disability in systemic sclerosis (SSc) longitudinally and to identify disease-specific determinants, after accounting for informative patient dropout. Methods. We performed a multicenter, longitudinal study of 745 patients with SSc followed in the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group registry. Disability was assessed using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Longitudinal changes in disability were modeled using statistical approaches accounting for various levels of patient dropout. Results. In all the models, disability in SSc worsened over time. The magnitude of the worsening was small when patient dropout was assumed to be completely at random (increase in the HAQ of 0.022, 95% CI 0.002–0.042, per year). After accounting for different levels of informative patient dropout, the increase in the HAQ ranged from 0.039 (95% CI 0.018–0.061) per year to 0.071 (95% CI 0.048–0.094) per year. Thus, using the most conservative of these estimates, this was equivalent to an increase in the HAQ of 0.12 over 3 years. The disease correlates found to be most closely associated with disability were diffuse disease and breathing problems. Conclusion. Our study provides strong evidence that SSc causes increased disability over time, with breathing problems and disease type being the strongest predictors of disability. Statistical modeling accounting for informative patient dropout is necessary to properly assess the outcomes of patients followed longitudinally.
Nitric oxide synthase/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate‐diaphorase in the brainstem trigeminal nuclei after transection of the masseteric nerve in rats

In this study, the responses of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate‐diaphorase (NADPH‐d) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) activities were quantitatively analyzed at different times in both ipsilateral and contralateral sides of trigeminal nuclei, after unilateral trigeminal muscle nerve transection, in Sprague Dawley rats. In the control animals, both NADPH‐d‐ and nNOS‐positive neurons were constitutively distributed in the rostrolateral solitary tract nucleus, dorsomedial part of trigeminal nucleus oralis (Vo/Sn), and superficial layers (VcI/II) of the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (Vc). NADPH‐d‐positive neurons appeared in the trigeminal mesencephalic nucleus ipsilaterally at 5 days (mean ± SEM: 30.5 ± 5.6) and were maintained until 8 weeks (33 ± 10.6) after the denervation. In the trigeminal motor nucleus, NADPH‐d‐positive neurons appeared transiently and bilaterally, peaking at 1 week (663.5 ± 156.2, ipsilateral side; 687.5 ± 118.6, contralateral side) after unilateral denervation of the masseteric nerve. In both Vo/Sn and Vc, the number of NADPH‐d‐positive neurons in the control animals showed a decrease at 3 days but significantly increased from 5 days to 1 week and gradually fell to the control values by 8 weeks after the denervation. There were no significant differences observed between the two sides in either Vo/Sn or Vc. nNOS‐positive neurons were similarly distributed and the numbers of labeled neurons were similar to those of NADPH‐d‐positive neurons after the denervation, although the changes were delayed by approximately 1 week. In conclusion, after unilateral nerve transection, the peak NADPH‐d activity occurs 1 week prior to nNOS activity. J. Neurosci. Res. 66:428–438, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Une approche hybride pour la spécification de système reconfigurable

reconfigurable Mâamoun Bernichi – Fabrice Mourlin LACL Laboratoire d’Algorithmique, Complexité et Logique, Université Paris 12, 94010 Créteil Cedex, France bernichi@gmail.com fabrice.mourlin@wanadoo.fr Résumé La mobilité d’action au sein d’un logiciel est une voie d’évolution pour obtenir un logiciel plus réactif en particulier à son contexte d’exécution. Les travaux de recherche présentés dans ce document explorent cette notion suivant trois aspects. Une première facette est la spécification de la mobilité au travers de langages formels tel que le pi calcul d’ordre supérieur. Les spécifications obtenues représentent des supports d’analyse essentiels. Elles offrent des possibilités de génération d’informations importantes telles que des tests ou du code exécutable. Ainsi, la réalisation ou la mise en œuvre de la mobilité est la deuxième facette de ce travail, où il est davantage question de construction à partir de spécifications formelles. Les implémentations fournies ont alors un objectif essentiel de validation de propriétés. Enfin le dernier aspect abordé porte sur l’architecture des applications à base d’agents mobiles. La définition d’une structure logicielle commune exprime la volonté de réutiliser l’expérience acquise dans des domaines d’intérêt différents. Abstract Mobile agent is a key feature for software development; it is a progressive way to adapt software with its own environment and always leads to an application which is more reactive over time. This document describes the process of mobility through three main aspects. The first one is about specification of mobile actions via formal language such that higher order pi calculus. This kind of specification is one of the bases of formal reasoning. The formal specifications can also be used as input data for test and code generation. The second aspect represents the implementation of mobile agent based on design pattern. The main objective of this stage is to validate properties which were previously defined. Finally, the third aspect describes the application architecture using mobile agents. The aim of this stage is to define a software architecture which is used through all our developments. In order to illustrate this stage, we used three different areas of application: software monitoring, mobile agent server and numerical computing. They all share the main principles, but each item brings its own particularity to the others for the final solution.
Production of stable phenotypes from 9L rat brain tumor multicellular spheroids treated with 1,3‐bis(2‐chloroethyl)‐1‐nitrosourea

During chemotherapy and regrowth of brain tumors, tumor‐cell heterogeneity, and possibly tumor progression, may change as a result of both the selective forces and mutagenic effects of treatment. We have isolated and characterized drug‐response variants of multicellular rat 9L brain‐tumor spheroids exposed to 1,3‐bis(2‐chloroethyl)‐1‐nitrosourea (BCNU). Ten colonies were isolated from spheroids disaggregated immediately after treatment, and 10 colonies were isolated from treated spheroids disaggregated after 1 week in suspension culture. The sensitivity to BCNU was determined by assays of sister chromatid exchange and colony‐forming efficiency in monolayer cultures of each subline after a 1‐hr exposure to graded doses of BCNU. Three classes of response were found: BCNU sensitivity increased, decreased, or was comparable to that of uncloned, parent 9L cells. Resistant phenotypes were predominant (8/10) in sublines from spheroids disaggregated immediately after treatment, whereas hypersensitive phenotypes (4/8) were isolated only from spheroids disaggregated after 1 week of re‐growth. Since subpopulations isolated immediately after treatment do not have the same biological characteristics as those isolated after a period of regrowth, these data suggest that tumor‐cell heterogeneity may be generated by distinct processes at various times during therapy. The predominance of hypersensitive sublines obtained by the regrowth protocol may have resulted from the recovery of cells that would have died if isolated but were instead able to repair the drug‐induced damage when left in contact with neighboring, possibly resistant cells. Two resistant and two hypersensitive sublines were studied further. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Leg heating using far infra-red radiation in patients with chronic heart failure acutely improves the hemodynamics, vascular endothelial function, and oxidative stress.

BACKGROUND Systemic thermal therapy (STT) has been associated with beneficial effects in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The fact, however, that it requires a dedicated as well as spacious facility and trained personnel makes it difficult to practice in the daily care of patients with CHF. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine whether the leg thermal therapy (LTT) has a positive impact similar to that of STT in patients with CHF. Methods and Results Twenty patients with CHF (57 ± 17 years old, left ventricular ejection fraction=30 ± 10%) received LTT (45°C) for 20 minutes. Immediately after the treatment, the core temperature had increased (+0.3 ± 0.3°C) (p<0.01). While the LTT had no significant effects on the heart rate, systolic arterial pressure, and diastolic blood pressure, it increased the cardiac output (mixed venous oxygen saturation; +2 ± 3%) and decrease the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (-2 ± 2 mmHg). The LTT significantly improved the flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) from 4.8 ± 2.6 to 7.1 ± 3.6%, the antioxidative markers, thiol from 4.0 ± 0.7 to 4.5 ± 0.9 μmoL/g, and the marker of oxidative deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage, urine 8-hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine (8OHdG) from 100 to 82 ± 3%, respectively (p<0.05). No patient had any adverse effects associated with LTT. Conclusion LTT acutely improved FMD, and oxidative stress in patients with CHF. Although the long-term effect of LTT remains to be investigated, its practicality which is comparable to that of STT would make it an attractive therapeutic strategy for patients with CHF.
Pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab in Japanese colorectal cancer patients with UGT1A1 gene polymorphisms

Previous reports of the influence of UGT1A1 gene polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of irinotecan metabolism have not assessed Asian patients treated with FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab for advanced and recurrent colorectal cancer. Twenty‐one Japanese colorectal cancer patients received intravenous FOLFIRI (bolus irinotecan, folinic acid, and fluorouracil followed by 46‐hour fluorouracil infusion) followed by bevacizumab (5 mg/kg) in Cycle 1. In Cycle 2, patients received bevacizumab followed by FOLFIRI. The regimen was in 2‐week cycles. The area under‐the‐curves ratio (AUC0–last) (Cycle 2/Cycle 1) was determined from plasma concentrations of irinotecan and metabolites (SN‐38, SN‐38G). Safety, efficacy, and drug–drug interactions were analyzed. Median observation period was 7.8 months; median number of cycles 15. Drug–drug interactions were evaluated in eight patients without irinotecan dose reduction. Mean AUC0–last ratios (with/without bevacizumab) of irinotecan, SN‐38, and SN‐38G were 0.959, 0.927, and 0.931 respectively. Response rate was 65%; median progression‐free survival 16.4 months. Response occurred in four patients with, and nine without, UGT1A1 polymorphism. No significant differences occurred between efficacy, safety, or polymorphism status. This cohort showed no differences in safety or efficacy compared to previous reports. Bevacizumab did not affect the pharmacokinetics of irinotecan and its metabolites, irrespective of UGT1A1 polymorphism status.
The Vascular Biology of S-Nitrosothiols, Nitrosated Derivatives of Thiols

Nitric oxide (NO) is a simple heterodiatomic molecule with a broad range of biologic actions. In the cardiovascular system NO serves as an endothelium-dependent vasodilator, an antithrombotic agent, an antiproliferative molecule, and a regulator of cardiac contractility. Owing to its reactivity under physiologic conditions, accumulating data suggest that NO forms derivatives with several classes of biologic compounds. One group of biochemical functionalities that serves this role is that of thiols, which can form thionitrites or S-nitrosothiols with NO. In this paper we will examine the effects of the biologically known and the chemically produced S-nitrosothiols on the cardiovascular system in order to understand better what role these compounds may play in physiologic and pathologic states.
Axonal myelin increase in the callosal genu in depression but not schizophrenia

Background Abnormalities in the anterior inter-hemispheric connectivity have previously been implicated in major depressive disorder. Disruptions in fractional anisotropy in the callosum and fornix have been reported in schizophrenia and major depressive disorder. Oligodendrocyte density and overall size of the callosum and fornix show no alteration in either illness, suggesting that gross morphology is unchanged but more subtle organizational disruption may exist within these brain regions in mood and affective disorders. Method Using high-resolution oil-immersion microscopy we examined the cross-sectional area of the nerve fibre and the axonal myelin sheath, and using standard high-resolution light microscopy we measured the density of myelinated axons. These measurements were made in the genu of the corpus callosum and the medial body of the fornix at its most dorsal point. Measures were taken in the sagittal plane in the callosal genu and in the coronal plane at the most dorsal part of the fornix body. Results Cases of major depressive disorder had significantly greater mean myelin cross-sectional area (p = 0.017) and myelin thickness (p = 0.004) per axon in the genu than in control or schizophrenia groups. There was no significant change in the density of myelinated axons, and no changes observed in the fornix. Conclusion The results suggest a clear increase of myelin in the axons of the callosal genu in MDD, although this type of neuropathological study is unable to clarify whether this is caused by changes during life or has a developmental origin.
Molecular Imaging of Vulnerable Coronary Plaque: A Pathophysiologic Perspective

Atherothrombotic events in coronary arteries are most often due to rupture of unstable plaque resulting in myocardial infarction. Radiolabeled molecular imaging tracers directed toward cellular targets that are unique to unstable plaque can serve as a powerful tool for identifying high-risk patients and for assessing the potential of new therapeutic approaches. Two commonly available radiopharmaceuticals—18F-FDG and 18F-NaF—have been used in clinical research for imaging coronary artery plaque, and ongoing clinical studies are testing whether there is an association between 18F-NaF uptake and future atherothrombotic events. Other, less available, tracers that target macrophages, endothelial cells, and apoptotic cells have also been tested in small groups of patients. Adoption of molecular imaging of coronary plaque into clinical practice will depend on overcoming major hurdles, ultimately including evidence that the detection of unstable plaque can change patient management and improve outcomes.
Efficient Hybrid Solar Cells Based on Meso-Superstructured Organometal Halide Perovskites

Perovskite Photovoltaics For many types of low-cost solar cells, including those using dye-sensitized titania, performance is limited by low open-circuit voltages. Lee et al. (p. 643, published online 4 October; see the Perspective by Norris and Aydil) have developed a solid-state cell in which structured films of titania or alumina nanoparticles are solution coated with a lead-halide perovskite layer that acts as the absorber and n-type photoactive layer. These particles are coated with a spirobifluorene organic-hole conductor in a solar cell with transparent oxide and metal contacts. For the alumina particles, power conversion efficiencies of up to 10.9% were obtained. Mesostructured alumina acts as an insulating scaffold for the assembly of very thin films of n- and p-type semiconductors. The energy costs associated with separating tightly bound excitons (photoinduced electron-hole pairs) and extracting free charges from highly disordered low-mobility networks represent fundamental losses for many low-cost photovoltaic technologies. We report a low-cost, solution-processable solar cell, based on a highly crystalline perovskite absorber with intense visible to near-infrared absorptivity, that has a power conversion efficiency of 10.9% in a single-junction device under simulated full sunlight. This “meso-superstructured solar cell” exhibits exceptionally few fundamental energy losses; it can generate open-circuit photovoltages of more than 1.1 volts, despite the relatively narrow absorber band gap of 1.55 electron volts. The functionality arises from the use of mesoporous alumina as an inert scaffold that structures the absorber and forces electrons to reside in and be transported through the perovskite.
Local volume inversion and corner effects in triangular gate-all-around MOSFETs

We report on the fabrication and measurement of triangular gate-all-around (GAA) and tri-gate devices. On the small triangular cross-section devices we observe a significant enhancement of the extracted carrier mobility (up to ~1000cm2/Vs). We assign this effect to enhanced conduction in the sharp corners of our device, and local volume inversion. The new concept of local volume inversion is supported by a boosting of experimental gm in the subthreshold region. Furthermore, we have carried out 3D numerical simulations, which support these findings
Modeling Dynamic Spatial Correlations of Geographically Distributed Wind Farms and Constructing Ellipsoidal Uncertainty Sets for Optimization-Based Generation Scheduling

The correlation information is very important for system operations with geographically distributed wind farms, and necessary for optimization-based generation scheduling methods such as the robust optimization (RO). The purpose of this paper is to provide the dynamic spatial correlations between the geographically distributed wind farms and apply them to model the ellipsoidal uncertainty sets for the robust unit commitment model. A stochastic dynamic system is established for the distributed wind farms based on a mesoscale numerical weather prediction (NWP) model, wind speed downscaling, and wind power curve models. By combining the observed wind generation measurements, a dynamic backtracking framework based on the extended Kalman filter is applied to predict the wind generation and the dynamic spatial correlations for the wind farms. In case studies, the new method is tested on actual wind farms and compared with the Gaussian copula method. The testing results validate the effectiveness of the new method. It is shown that the new method can provide more favorable interval forecasts for the aggregate wind generation than the Gaussian copula method in the entire forecast horizon, and by using the predicted spatial correlations, we can obtain more accurate ellipsoidal uncertainty sets than the Gaussian copula method and the frequently used budget uncertainty set (BUS).
The Importance of considering single Testing When Two Tests Are Available

When considering two dichotomous tests in combination for reaching a treatment decision, the choice between single and multiple testing depends, in part, on the pretest probability of disease. The authors show that two tests are never preferred to a single test for all disease probabilities, regardless of whether the two tests are performed in parallel or in series. Key words: decision analytic model; tests with dichotomous outcomes; parallel testing; series testing. (Med Decis Making 7:212-219, 1987)
Effect of Yashtimadhu ( Glycyrrhiza Glabra ) on Intelligence and Memory Function in Male Adolescents

The study was undertaken with an aim to evaluate the effect of Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza Glabra ) oral supplementation on the mental intelligence and memory function of the male students. For this purpose tablets were formulated from the crude powder prepared from roots and subjected to dose standardization process. The 1 tablet BID (two times in a day) was found to be suitable without any side effects. With this dose the final study was conducted in 123 male students. Students were divided into two group, treatment (1 tablet BID) and placebo control (received starch powder) for the period of 60 days. Each group was further subdivided into two, based on low and high intelligence percentage in order to avoid biasness. Evaluation of improvement among these students was judge by using parameters such as NVIT (Non Verbal Intelligence Test) and memory test score before the start of treatment and end of treatment period and scored them accordingly into poor, moderate, good and, very good and expressed in percentage. The overall NVIT results indicate that oral consumption of Yashtimadhu tablets BID improves the intelligence level among the student when compared to students who received placebo treatment. In both classes mild memory improvement with Yashtimadhu treatment was observed as compared to control students. The improvement was observed in NVIT as compared to memory was quite higher. The present study concludes that Yashtimadhu consumption improves the general intelligence rather than STM (short term memory).
Protein complexation with acrylic polyampholytes

The interaction of dilute mixtures of proteins and ABC triblock methacrylic polyampholytes at different values of pH was investigated turbidimetrically. The onset of interaction was manifested by large changes in turbidity at certain critical pHs which lie close to the isoelectric points of the two interacting components. Protein precipitation yields in protein‐polyampholyte binary mixtures followed the corresponding turbidity profiles and varied from 10% to 90%. The synthetic polyampholytes self‐aggregate around their isoelectric point. The kinetics of precipitation of one of the same polymer with soybean trypsin inhibitor were studied, with turbidity‐based characteristic times (exponential fit) of 2–3 min. The kinetics of precipitation of the protein‐polymer mixture are slower than that of pure polymer because a small, but steady, long‐term increase in turbidity is observed in the former case. The pH‐dependence of the turbidity of binary mixtures of one protein and one synthetic polyampholyte, as well as a tertiary mixture of two proteins and one polyampholyte, were measured 30 min after the pH adjustment. The observations in these experiments along with the measured protein precipitation yields in the binary mixtures and the polyampholyte self‐aggregation can be used for polymer removal and recycling. The latter constitutes a significant advantage over the use of homopolyelectrolytes which cannot easily be recycled. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Game Model Analysis on the Policy of Unbundled Network Elements

On September 28th, 2008, MIIT released Urgent Notice on the Co-construction and Sharing of Telecommunications Infrastructure which referred to the policy of Unbundled Network Elements (UNEs). This article introduced the unbundling policy and mainly analyzed strategies of the stakeholders by two game models, a modified Cournot duopoly model for the UNEs price regulation and a bids game model with incomplete information on the policy of UNEs. Based on the first one, we suggest that (1) the regulator should mandate the unbundling policy to improve the social welfare; (2) the network elements should be subdivided first, and be treated differently. In the second model, we tried to set forth a simple liner strategy and give out some suggestions for all the players in this model. Keywords-Unbundled Network Elements, game theory, strategy, regulation