Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecularly defined (L)‐lactic acid oligomers and polymers: Synthesis and characterization

The synthesis of (L)-lactide oligomers from dimer to 64mer via an exponential growth strategy is described. By careful selection of orthogonal protective groups, the synthesis were conducted using a t-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) ether as the protective group of the hydroxyl group and benzyl (Bn) ester as the protective group of the carboxylic acid group. The yields of both the deprotection steps and coupling reactions using 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide or 1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride were high (70-100%) and the absence of a requirement for conducting the majority of reactions under an inert atmosphere permitted a robust and efficient synthetic strategy to be developed. This allowed monodisperse dimer, tetramer, octamer, 16mer, 32mer, and 64mer materials to be prepared in gram quantities and fully characterized using mass spectrometry and size exclusion chromatography. Evaluation of the thermal and physical properties using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and small angle X-ray scattering demonstrated a close correlation between the molecular structure of the well-defined Poly(lactide) oligomers and their physical properties.
Case-finding for depression in elderly people: balancing ease of administration with validity in varied treatment settings.

BACKGROUND Little is known about the performance of brief and ultrabrief (1- and 2-question) depression screens in older patients across varied treatment sites. This study (1) assesses their validity in clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes and (2) assesses cut-points for optimal clinical application. METHODS 360 patients aged 60 years and older from 2 urban primary care practices (n = 125), 1 general hospital (n = 150), and 8 nursing homes (n = 85) were assessed using the Yale 1-question screen, the 2-question instrument derived from the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders, and long and short versions of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each screen compared with the criterion standard Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) depression diagnosis and receiver operating characteristic curves generated. RESULTS 9% of patients met DIS criteria for major depression and 7% for subsyndromal depression. Overall, the 10-item CES-D showed the best sensitivity/specificity for major depression in clinics (79%/81%) and hospitals (92%/77%), and the short GDS in nursing homes (86%/82%). Specificity of 1- and 2-question instruments was generally low. Established cut-points generally worked best for the short screens, while modifications were useful for longer versions. CONCLUSIONS Consideration of site of use is important in selecting brief case-finding instruments for late-life depression, with the 10-item CES-D working best in medical settings and the 15-item GDS in nursing homes.
Assessing the metabolic and clinical consequences of early enteral feeding in the malnourished patient.

BACKGROUND It is often thought that enteral feeding should be initiated slowly in those who are severely malnourished. This descriptive study examined the effect of an enteral feeding protocol on the typical metabolic consequences seen in refeeding syndrome. METHODS A retrospective chart review was conducted on 51 patients who had been placed on hospital-wide enteral feeding and electrolyte replacement protocols over a 9-month period to determine whether there were any negative clinical consequences to early feeding. RESULTS Goal feeding rate was achieved within 17.6 +/- 8.7 hours. Forty patients (80%) developed depletions in phosphate, magnesium, or potassium after initiation of enteral feeding, including 93% of those deemed "at risk" and 74% of those "not at risk. " All patients received electrolyte replacement according to protocols, and no patients showed any negative clinical effect. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that malnourished patients at risk for refeeding syndrome can be fed early without observed negative clinical consequences. An electrolyte replacement protocol may be an effective means of minimizing the electrolyte imbalances associated with early feeding. It also demonstrated the significance of applying such protocols to all patients requiring enteral support, as current methods of assessing "risk"for refeeding syndrome may be inadequate.
Dopamine depletion produces augmented behavioral responses to a Mu‐, but not a delta‐opioid receptor agonist in the nucleus accumbens: Lack of a role for receptor upregulation

Microinjection of either m̈ ‐ or ð‐ opioid agonists into the nucleus accumbens produces an increased locomotor activity, and when the dopaminergic innervation of the nucleus accumbens is bilaterally lesioned, the locomotor response to the microinjection of mixed m̈‐ and ð‐opioid is augmented. To determine whether the lesion‐induced augmentation to opioids is specific to m̈‐ or ð‐ opioid receptor activation, dopamine innervation of the nucleus accumbens was lesioned with 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA), and the motor stimulant response to intra‐accumbens microinjection of the selective m̈‐ opioid agonist, Tyr‐D‐Ala‐Gly‐mePhe‐Gly‐OH (DAMGO), was compared to that of the ð‐opioid agonist, [D‐penicillamine2.5]‐enkephalin (DPDPE). The lesions caused a 95% depletion of tissue dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens of the DAMGO‐injected rats compared to sham‐lesioned rats. Horizontal and vertical photocell counts were significantly increased in response to DAMGO in 6‐OHDA‐lesioned compared to the sham‐lesioned rats. This behavioral augmentation was dose dependent and blocked by naloxone. In rats with similar accumbal dopamine depletions (94%), the locomotor response to DPDPE was not enhanced. The augmentation in the behavioral response to DAMGO was not associated with a change in the Bmax or Kd of [125I] DAMGO binding in nucleus accumbens homogenates form lesioned rats. Likewise, using quantitative receptor autoradiography, no difference between 6‐OHDA‐ and sham‐lesioned rats was observed in [125I]DAMGO or [125I]DPDPE binding. Therefore, the augmented behavioral response to opioids in the nucleus accumbens following dopamine depletion relies predominately on ð‐opioid receptor stimulation. However, this augmentation is not mediated by an alteration in the number or affinity of these receptors. © Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Technique to avoid spinal-tap headache.

To prevent cephalalgia after lumbar punctures certain precautions should be taken. A small needle (no. 18) should be used, and it should be inserted in such a way as to separate rather than cut the dural fibers, most of which run longitudinally. After the needle is removed the patient should be made to lie on his abdomen for three hours before ambulation. No. 18 needles were used and the dural fibers intentionally cut in a test group of 894 patients. They were plauced on their abdomens for three hours. Cephalalgia followed in four, an incidence of less than 0.5%. The same technique was followed in a contratest group of 200 patients except that for three hours after the puncture they were kept supine. The incidence of cephalalgia in this group was 36.5%. It is assumed that assumption of the prone position staggers the punctures in the dura and arachnoid, decreases the potential epidural space, and releases the tension on the dural and arachnoidal tears; this would reduce the loss of spinal fluid. Whatever the explanation, the results were convincing.
Communication channel model simulated using Digital elevation maps and modified deterministic Loo model

Techniques for modeling and simulating channel conditions play an essentially role in understanding network protocol and application behavior. In this paper we will describe two ways of modeling communication channel. It will be method which uses information above real condition of environment in which the transmition take place and use them to compute channelmodel in contrast to methods based on empirical model of channel. Then information from real based simulation will be used to modify empirical model.
Progressive Anatomical Closure of Foramen Ovale in Normal Neonatal Mouse Hearts

In the prenatal heart, right‐to‐left atrial shunting of blood through the foramen ovale is essential for proper circulation. After birth, as the pulmonary circulation is established, the foramen ovale functionally closes as a result of changes in the relative pressure of the two atrial chambers, ensuring the separation of oxygen depleted venous blood in the right atrium from the oxygenated blood entering the left atrium. Little is known regarding the process of anatomical closure of the foramen ovale in the postnatal heart. Genetically engineered mouse models are powerful tools to study heart development and to reveal mechanisms underlying cardiac anomalies, including defects in atrioventricular septation. Using three‐dimensional reconstructions of serial sectioned hearts at early postnatal Days 2–7, we show a progressive reduction in the size of the interatrial communication throughout this period and complete closure by postnatal Day 7. Furthermore we demonstrate that fusion of the septum primum and septum secundum occurs between 4 weeks and 3 months of age. This study provides a standard timeline for morphological closure of the right–left atrial communication and fusion between the atrial septa in normal mouse hearts. Anat Rec, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Assessment of the sentinel lymph node in patients with invasive squamous carcinoma of the vulva

Objective. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and diagnostic validity of the sentinel lymph node technique in detecting inguinal lymph node metastases in patients with invasive squamous cancer of the vulva. Design. Retrospective analysis of the in‐house tumor registry. Setting. Dr. Horst Schmidt Klinik, a tertiary gynecologic oncology unit in Wiesbaden, Germany, June 2000–May 2008. Population. All consecutive operated patients with primary envisaged diagnosis were included. Methods. The sentinel node identification technique was performed and patients were informed accordingly. Patients who consented and were found eligible underwent preoperative lymphscintigraphy on the day before surgery. Main outcome measures. Sentinel node detection in specimen from sentinel lymph node biopsy and from full lymphadenectomy (LNE); sentinel lymph node biopsy as a sole surgical groin procedure in patients with histological negative sentinel node; benefit with respect to side effects for sentinel lymph node biopsy compared to full LNE; complication rates; and recurrences of vulvar cancer. Results. In all, 46 of 59 patients with vulvar malignancy underwent inguinofemoral LNE, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLB) of the groin followed by LNE, or SLB alone. Most patients had been diagnosed in the early stages of the disease. Since no false positive or false negative results were recorded, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the sentinel lymph node were 100%. However, in 6%, a sentinel lymph node could not be detected intraoperatively indicating a feasibility of 94%. Conclusion. The implementation of sentinel lymph node technique for groin staging in squamous cell vulvar cancer seems to provide a feasible and safe technique in tertiary gynecologic oncology.
Language support for service-level agreements for application-service provision

My thesis is that practical language support can be provided for Service-Level Agreements (SLAs) for Application-Service Provision (ASP), which is better than that provided by pre-existing languages in that: it provides greater assistance in expressing conditions that mitigate the risks inherent in ASP; and disputes related to agreements expressed in this manner may be more easily resolved in so as to respect the original intent of the parties. I support this thesis by establishing requirements for SLAs for ASP based on an account of a typical ASP infrastructure and business model. These identify the particular risks inherent in ASP, permit comparisons between ASP SLA languages, and guide the development of an abstract, extensible, domain-specific language, SLAng. SLAng is defined using a meta-modelling approach that allows a high degree of precision in the specification of its semantics, traceability from SLA to language specification, and the testing of the language and SLAs to ensure they capture the original intent of the parties. SLAng supports the expression of mutually-monitorable SLAs, for which the determination of compliance depends only on events visible to both client and provider of the service. I demonstrate that such SLAs are the most monitorable possible in a typical ASP scenario, given current monitoring technology, and describe an approximately-monitorable constraint on the accuracy of evidence used to administer such SLAs. SLAng is shown to be of practical use in a case study, evaluated against the original requirements, and compared with pre-existing languages. The evaluation of SLAng is enhanced using metrics developed to assist in assessing the contribution of a domain-specific language specification to encoding the meaning of statements in that language.
Chemopreventive Activity of Mediterranean Medicinal Plants

Generally, the use of plants, herbs or other natural products in medicines is since humans inhabited earth. It was “since ever” when humans were trying to find out which plants might be useful to fight several pains and aches, fever, dyspepsia, or wounds. Through the ages, humans learned which plants would cure different illnesses, or might be poisonous and cause even death, and those that could be part of their diet. There are too many examples and references in the pharmaceutical, knowledge that passed from generation to generation. There is ample historical evidence for different usages of herbs by our ancestors. Herbs are the oldest drugs in the world. The initial use was primarily experimental similar to what applied to animals, e.g. against poisonous plants. The first record of the valuable properties of medicinal plants was by the Sumerians (6000 BC), followed by Chinese and Greek. The first book written about herbal plants was by Chinese (4000 BC). However, Greeks were these who spread the use of medicinal plants in West using the knowledge written down by Theophrastus (300 BC). Apollonios wrote about their uses in cosmetology and in religious ceremonies. Hippocrates recommended Pimbinella anisum, of the Umbelliferae family for sneezing and Theophrastus indicated the usefulness of 600 aromatic and medicinal plants in several pathologies. In ancient Rome, Galenus who was the personal physician to Roman emperors and is nowadays considered as “The Father of Pharmacy” was most devoted to aromatherapy. Reports about the uses of essential oils occur even in the Bible, and it was approximately during the 8th century AD when the Arabs improved the methods of extracting the essential oils from natural products and creating novel elixirs and medicines. During the Middle Ages, the essential oils producers were not affected by cholera and plague. During the Renaissance, the use of plants, essential oils, herbs and several other natural products was progressively neglected. The revolution of Chemistry and the synthesis of drugs resulted in almost complete abandonment. However, the impressive results of treating traumas with different botanical products during the two World Wars motivated scientists to further deal the potential of natural products in disease treatment. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), perhaps the most popular painkiller, has a very long history and its medical use stretches back to antiquity. Medicines made from willow and other salicylate-rich plants date back at least to 400 BC. Willow bark extract became recognized for its specific effects on fever, pain and inflammation in the mid-
Adaptive online brain-computer interface for interpretation and visualization of desired reach

Research in this field has the potential to aid patients with motor disabilities, and it represents a novel way to study the brain. For users with severe motor disabilities such as ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), a BCI may provide their only means of communicating with the world. Thus, reducing training time and improving the user's experience are important contributions to the BCI field.We present an adaptive online brain-computer interface (BCI) based on natural reaching motor imagery with feedback of realistic animations of the intended reaching task. We describe a unified approach to BCI design which addresses the complete system simultaneously to improve the overall user experience. In Chapter 2 we show how the proper selection of processing steps and combination of classifiers improves system accuracy. Chapter 3 discusses how realistic animations boost motor-imagery-related brain signals, and Chapter 4 describes classification rates in natural reaching tasks. These findings come together in Chapter 5 where we describe our online system, which improves the user experience by eliminating training sessions, providing a very natural and straightforward mapping between user task and system feedback, and by using an adaptive classifier which can adjust to changes in brain signal over the time.
What is an Exemplary Workplace? Evidence from Cuba

Management researchers and practitioners have developed a marked interest for the notion of “good companies to work for”, “exemplary workplaces”, “meaningful work”, “virtuous organization”, “truly healthy organizations” or “authentizotic organizations”. We complement the previous studies, conducted in the context of capitalistic economies, with an analysis of the representation of the “exemplary organization” in the context of a communist country, Cuba. An inductive study with 39 managers suggests that some elements of the exemplary workplace profile are heavily influenced by the local conditions (e.g., transportation system), whereas others may be viewed as probably general (social contribution). We also conclude that the balance between material conditions and social issues is a major determinant of how people evaluate the “exemplarity” of their organization.
Emotional Intelligence and Interpersonal Relations

Abstract In 7 studies, the authors examined the link between emotional intelligence and interpersonal relations. In Studies 1 and 2, the participants with higher scores for emotional intelligence had higher scores for empathic perspective taking and self-monitoring in social situations. In Study 3, the participants with higher scores for emotional intelligence had higher scores for social skills. In Study 4, the participants with higher scores for emotional intelligence displayed more cooperative responses toward partners. In Study 5, the participants with higher scores for emotional intelligence had higher scores for close and affectionate relationships. In Study 6, the participants' scores for marital satisfaction were higher when they rated their marital partners higher for emotional intelligence. In Study 7, the participants anticipated greater satisfaction in relationships with partners described as having emotional intelligence.
Characterization of BK channel splice variants using membrane potential dyes

Background and purpose: Large conductance calcium‐ and voltage‐activated potassium (BK) channels are encoded by a single gene that displays extensive pre‐mRNA splicing. Here we exploited a membrane potential assay to investigate the sensitivity of different BK splice variants to elevations in intracellular free calcium and their inhibition by the BK channel blocker paxilline.
Solution to short term hydrothermal scheduling problem for a power system area including limited energy supply thermal units by using modified subgradient algorithm based on feasible values

In this paper, the modified subgradient algorithm based on feasible values (F-MSG) is applied to a short term hydrothermal coordination problem for a power system including limited energy supply thermal units. In the proposed method, all the constraints such as units' power generation limits, transmission line capacities, bus voltage magnitude limits, hydraulic units' minimum and maximum reservoir volume limits and hydraulic units' starting and final reservoir water volumes are added into the optimization model. Actual transmission losses are inserted into the optimization model as equality constraints via load flow equations. It is also assumed that limited energy supply thermal units are fueled under take-or-pay agreement. The proposed method is tested on 16 bus test system which includes three normal thermal plants, two limited energy supply thermal plants and four serial-parallel hydraulically coupled hydro plants and better results are obtained in terms of optimal fuel cost values.
Transcriptional regulation by hypoxia inducible factors

Abstract The cellular response to oxygen deprivation is governed largely by a family of transcription factors known as Hypoxia Inducible Factors (HIFs). This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which HIFs regulate the transcriptional apparatus to enable the cellular and organismal response to hypoxia. We discuss here how the various HIF polypeptides, their posttranslational modifications, binding partners and transcriptional cofactors affect RNA polymerase II activity to drive context-dependent transcriptional programs during hypoxia.
Structural Models of Cortical Networks with Long-Range Connectivity

Most current studies of neuronal activity dynamics in cortex are based on network models with completely random wiring. Such models are chosen for mathematical convenience, rather than biological grounds, and additionally reflect the notorious lack of knowledge about the neuroanatomical microstructure. Here, we describe some families of new, more realistic network models and explore some of their properties. Specifically, we consider spatially embedded networks and impose specific distance-dependent connectivity profiles. Each of these network models can cover the range from purely local to completely random connectivity, controlled by a single parameter. Stochastic graph theory is then used to describe and analyze the structure and the topology of these networks.
Spread Spectrum-Coded OFDM Chirp Waveform Diversity Design

This paper proposes an approach to design multiple-input multiple-output radar waveforms that are orthogonal on both the transmitter and receiver. The proposed method jointly utilizes the direct sequence spread spectrum coding and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) chirp signaling techniques. We name it spread spectrum-coded OFDM chirp waveform diversity design. The performance of the designed waveforms is analyzed by examining the ambiguity function and correlation function. The influences of the spread spectrum code choice and the OFDM chirp parameters are also investigated. It is verified that the proposed design scheme can ensure these waveforms stay orthogonal on the receiver and have large time-bandwidth product which is beneficial to separate closely spaced targets.