Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Doxazosin and congestive heart failure.

Doxazosin remains a commonly used antihypertensive medication, although its use has been tainted by recent findings from the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT). ALLHAT was a large, simple trial, designed in a fashion to closely mimic clinical practice as it occurs in high-risk hypertensive patients aged 55 years or older. Its goals were to determine whether the incidence of the primary outcome--a composite of fatal coronary heart disease and nonfatal myocardial infarction--differed between treatment with a diuretic (chlorthalidone) (12.5-25.0 mg/day) and treatment with each of three other types of antihypertensive drugs-a calcium-channel blocker (amlodipine), an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (lisinopril), and a peripheral alpha-adrenergic blocker (doxazosin) (2-8 mg/day). Doxazosin was recently withdrawn from this trial after an interim analysis showed the secondary end point of combined cardiovascular disease to be 25% greater in patients on doxazosin than in those assigned to treatment with chlorthalidone. This finding was largely driven by congestive heart failure. The practicing clinician should not abandon doxazosin completely because of the ALLHAT findings, although these findings are indisputably important. These results represent an interim analysis and their application to clinical practice needs to occur carefully. A valued member of our therapeutic armamentarium need not be laid entirely to rest; rather, doxazosin should now be viewed as a secondary or tertiary antihypertensive therapy pending a more complete review of the ALLHAT data.
Women and access to ICT: A case study of India

Women account for a sizeable number of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) workforce in India. This paper makes an attempt to find out women’s status in emerging areas of IT in India. This paper firstly tries to find out factors affecting women’s access to ICT education in India. It also tries to find out factors affecting participation in ICT employment. The paper addresses issues regarding IT education availability for all women. Policy recommendations are given regarding women participation in IT sector. Key words: Women, information and communication technologies (ICT), access to ICT, IT workforce.
A review on impedimetric biosensors

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a sensitive technique for the analysis of the interfacial properties related to biorecognition events such as reactions catalyzed by enzymes, biomolecular recognition events of specific binding proteins, lectins, receptors, nucleic acids, whole cells, antibodies or antibody-related substances, occurring at the modified surface. Many studies on impedimetric biosensors are focused on immunosensors and aptasensors. In impedimetric immunosensors, antibodies and antigens are bound each other and thus immunocomplex is formed and the electrode is coated with a blocking layer. As a result of that electron transfer resistance increases. In impedimetric aptasensors, impedance changes following the binding of target sequences, conformational changes, or DNA damages. Impedimetric biosensors allow direct detection of biomolecular recognition events without using enzyme labels. In this paper, impedimetric biosensors are reviewed and the most interesting ones are discussed.
A new algorithm with coordinated node and link mapping for virtual network embedding based on LP relaxation

Network virtualization is an important technique for designing the future Internet architecture. Virtualization can help diversify the Internet by supporting multiple virtual network services and architectures on a shared substrate [1]. Making efficient use of the underlying substrate network resources requires effective algorithms for virtual network embedding (VNE) that maps each virtual network (VN) to specific nodes and links in the substrate network.
Validity and reliability of the Siconolfi Step Test for assessment of physical fitness in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have poor physical fitness as measured by maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2max)), which is associated with disability and fatigue. The purpose of this study was to validate, in this population, the Siconolfi Step Test (SST) developed to predict VO(2max) in healthy individuals. METHODS Thirty patients with well-controlled SLE were tested on a cycle ergometer until volitional exhaustion, and 25 women and 4 men (mean +/- SD age 48 +/- 14 years, weight 71.5 +/- 13.7 kg) fulfilled the criteria for maximal effort. VO(2max) measured during this incremental test was compared with VO(2max) predicted by the SST using Bland and Altman 95% limits of agreement (LOA) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The SST was repeated twice to assess its reliability. RESULTS The ICC between predicted and measured VO(2max) (mean +/- SD 1.67 +/- 0.41 liters/minute versus 1.57 +/- 0.39 liters/minute) was moderately high (0.73, P < 0.001). Bland and Altman analysis revealed a trend for a positive bias (P = 0.083) and 95% LOA of +/-0.58 liters/minute. There was a very high ICC (0.97, P < 0.001) between VO(2max) predicted by the first and second SST (mean +/- SD 1.66 +/- 0.40 liters/minute versus 1.67 +/- 0.41 liters/minute), and no significant bias (P = 0.500). The 95% LOA were +/-0.20 liters/minute. CONCLUSION The results demonstrate that the SST is well tolerated, reasonably valid, and highly reliable in patients with well-controlled SLE. Therefore, this simple, submaximal exercise test might be useful for assessing physical fitness in clinical practice and epidemiologic studies.
Early Intensive Obstetric and Medical Nutrition Care Is Associated with Decreased Prepregnancy Obesity Impact on Perinatal Outcomes

Background/Aims: To compare the gestational weight gain and adverse perinatal outcomes in urban Mexican women with prepregnancy overweight or obesity, under an early intensive obstetric and nutrition program versus women with prepregnancy normal weight. Methods: A cohort of 546 pregnant women with prepregnancy normal weight (n = 201, NW), overweight (n = 171, OW) or obesity (n = 174, OB), ≤13 weeks of gestation and a singleton pregnancy. OW and OB groups were under early intensive obstetric and nutritional care and NW group was under routine prenatal care. Miscarriage, hypertensive disorders, premature rupture of membranes, preterm birth, stillbirth, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and large- or small-for-gestational-age newborns, were compared between groups. Results: Weight gain was smaller in OB than in OW or NW (mean ± SD): 6.1 ± 4.4, 9.5 ± 5.1, 10.3 ± 5.4 kg, respectively (p < 0.001). OB women had the highest frequency of GDM (p < 0.001), lack of spontaneous labor (p < 0.001) and preeclampsia (p < 0.001), but no other between-group differences existed. Conclusion: Early intensive medical-nutrition prenatal care and adequate gestational weight gain may contribute to decreasing most maternal and newborn adverse outcomes associated with prepregnancy overweight or obesity.
Investigating the numerical effects of ascertainment bias in linkage analysis: Development of methods and preliminary results

It is general practice to have nonsingle ascertainment of pedigrees for linkage studies, along with intrafamilial sampling that is dependent on who among the related individuals was initially ascertained (Proband dependent or PD sampling). Vieland and Hodge [1995; 1996] have shown that under these conditions, the likelihood used in calculating the lod score is not strictly correct and can produce asymptotically biased estimates of the recombination fraction, θ. However they speculated that this bias would be small in most applications. This paper presents preliminary work aimed at quantifying the numerical magnitude of the bias introduced by PD sampling and nonsingle ascertainment in linkage analysis. We considered five generating models where we varied the ascertainment procedure, intrafamilial sampling scheme, and the sample size, for each model. In this limited initial set of simulations, asymptotic bias θˇ in appears to be trivial, while PD sampling procedures can increase the efficiency of θˇ. These preliminary results support the view that the advantages of unsystematic ascertainment may offset any small estimation bias that may arise. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Emerging Dialogue Between Psychoanalysis and Neuroscience: Neuroimaging Perspectives

Current progress in the cognitive neurosciences is highly relevant to the development of psychoanalytic theory and practice. Neuroscience is today becoming mature enough to provide empirical biological approaches for the investigation of psychoanalytic models and observations. The current state of functional neuroimaging techniques is reviewed, selected paradigms and findings relevant to psychotherapy research are presented, and ways to pursue the dialogue between psychoanalysts and neuroscientists are discussed, as are some related obstacles and pitfalls. The emerging dialogue between psychoanalysts and neuroscientists may help not only to reestablish a solid position of psychodynamic theory and treatment in contemporary medicine, but also to bridge the division between “psychological” and “somatic” treatments, and gain important insights into the mind-brain relationship.
Robust tracking of dexterous continuum robots: Fusing FBG shape sensing and stereo vision

Robust and efficient tracking of continuum robots is important for improving patient safety during space-confined minimally invasive surgery, however, it has been a particularly challenging task for researchers. In this paper, we present a novel tracking scheme by fusing fiber Bragg grating (FBG) shape sensing and stereo vision to estimate the position of continuum robots. Previous visual tracking easily suffers from the lack of robustness and leads to failure, while the FBG shape sensor can only reconstruct the local shape with integral cumulative error. The proposed fusion is anticipated to compensate for their shortcomings and improve the tracking accuracy. To verify its effectiveness, the robots' centerline is recognized by morphology operation and reconstructed by stereo matching algorithm. The shape obtained by FBG sensor is transformed into distal tip position with respect to the camera coordinate system through previously calibrated registration matrices. An experimental platform was set up and repeated tracking experiments were carried out. The accuracy estimated by averaging the absolute positioning errors between shape sensing and stereo vision is 0.67±0.65 mm, 0.41±0.25 mm, 0.72±0.43 mm for x, y and z, respectively. Results indicate that the proposed fusion is feasible and can be used for closed-loop control of continuum robots.
Comparative Studies of Strains Ictero No. I and RGA as the Type Strain of Leptospira interrogans: Agglutinin Absorption Test, Protein and Antigen Profiles, and Enzyme Activities

Strain Ictero No. I, the first isolate of Leptospira, isolated by Inada and Ido in 1914, was found to be sufficiently qualified to be the type strain of Leptospira interrogans rather than strain RGA. In an agglutinin absorption test, anti‐Ictero No. I serum was not absorbed completely with strain RGA, and 25% of the homologous titer remained unabsorbed, while anti‐RGA serum was completely absorbed with strain Ictero No. I. Thus, strain Ictero No. I was not serologically identical with strain RGA, and the two strains were considered to be different serovars. A protein band with a molecular weight of approximately 33,000 daltons was detected in strain Ictero No. I but not in strain RGA by SDS‐PAGE. By Western blotting, this protein band was detectable with anti‐Ictero No. I serum but not with anti‐RGA serum. The presence of the 33K protein in strain Ictero No. I, but not in strain RGA, was confirmed by radioimmunoprecipitation using [125I]‐labeled antigens, indicating that the protein antigen was surface‐exposed. Only 8 of the 89 enzymes activities were different between strains Ictero No. I and RGA (line Sapporo). From the above results, we propose that strain Ictero No. I should be designated as the type strain of L. interrogans instead of strain RGA.
Flex-rigid architecture for active millimeter-wave antenna arrays

A flex-rigid assembly is proposed for densely packed active antenna arrays. The multilayer compound bases on Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) and common RF substrates. The integration of the RF components as well as thermal and mechanical aspects are addressed. A complete 4×4 Ka-Band array providing polarization multiplex is demonstrated. Far-field measurements of the antenna elements are discussed.
The role of spirituality and Africana womanism in the self-management of chronic conditions among older

Background: Many older African Americans perceive “spirituality” as an important resource in helping with the self-management process of their chronic conditions. Research designs congruent with theoretical frameworks of African Americans are important. However, many researchers remain unfamiliar with Africana womanist thought or are unsure as to how this framework can be used to inform specific aspects of self-management practices. Methods: The purpose of this exploratory study is to explain an Africana womanist epistemologic framework that can undergird the development of self-management intervention designs aimed at assisting older African Americans. Data from a sample of 46 African Americans were collected from semi-structured interviews and examined via thematic analysis.
TLR4-mediated induction of TLR2 signaling is critical in the pathogenesis and resolution of otitis media

Otitis media is the most prevalent childhood disease in developed countries. The involvement of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in otitis media pathophysiology has been implicated by studies in cell lines and association studies of TLR gene polymorphisms. However, precise functions of TLRs in the etiology of otitis media in vivo have not been examined. We investigated the inflammatory response to nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae using a model of otitis media in wild-type, TLR2— /— and TLR4—/ — mice by gene microarray, qPCR, immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis and histopathology. Toll-like receptor-2— /— and TLR4— /— mice exhibited a more profound, persistent inflammation with impaired bacterial clearance compared to controls. While wild-type mice induced tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF) after non-typeable H. influenzae challenge, TLR2—/— and TLR4—/— mice lack TNF induction in the early phase of otitis media. Moreover, lack of TLR2 resulted in a late increase in IL-10 expression and prolonged failure to clear bacteria. Toll-like receptor-4—/— mice showed impaired early bacterial clearance and loss of TLR2 induction in early otitis media. Our results demonstrate that both TLR2 and TLR4 signalling are critical to the regulation of infection in non-typeable H. influenzae-induced otitis media. Toll-like receptor-4 signalling appears to induce TLR2 expression, and TLR2 activation is critical for bacterial clearance and timely resolution of otitis media.
Validity and reliability of smartphone applications for clinical assessment of the neuromusculoskeletal system

ABSTRACT Introduction: Clinicians increasingly use smartphone medical applications. There is no evidence to support the validity and reliability of applications used to assess the neuromusculoskeletal system. The aim of this study was to systematically review the quality of studies as well as the validity and reliability of using a smartphone as a clinical assessment tool for the neuromusculoskeletal system. Areas covered: PubMed, CINAHL and Embase were searched. A manual search was also conducted. Additionally, forward snowballing of relevant articles was performed in Scopus and Web of Science. Two reviewers independently selected the articles, extracted the data using a standardized form and assessed the articles quality based on a scoring system Expert commentary: Thirty-four articles were found eligible and were categorized into four groups: Range of Motion (ROM), posture and deformity, tremors and reflexes, and gait and mobility. Only the ROM category supported the validity and reliability of using smartphone applications as assessment tools. Regarding quality assessment scores, the articles in ROM and posture and deformity categories ranged from poor to good quality, whereas those in the tremors and reflexes and gait and mobility categories had poor quality.
Fine‐needle aspiration diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma using current WHO classification—Re‐evaluation of cases from 1999–2004 with new proposals

With the advent of modern therapy, the differences in prognoses and treatment regimens among different subtypes of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) have largely vanished. Stage and the presence of systemic symptoms are much more important than histologic subtypes as predictive factors. The current (2001) WHO classification markedly de‐emphasizes spatial relationships as critical to the diagnosis of lymphoma and emphasizes cell morphology, immunophenotype, genetic features, and clinical information to define the disease states. This classification, thus, greatly enhances the capability of fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) to accurately diagnose HL. We searched all the FNA cases in our institute in years 1999 through 2004 and found 42 cases, for which 13 were primarily diagnosed (31.0%), 2 were recurrent (4.8%), 5 were highly suspicious (11.9%), and 22 were suspicious (52.3%) for HL. On follow‐up tissue biopsy, all the primarily diagnosed, recurrent, and highly suspicious cases were confirmed to be HL (100% agreement). For the 22 suspicious cases, 13 were HL (59.1%), 5 were other lymphomas (22.8%), 1 was lymphoma unclassifiable (4.5%), and 3 were reactive processes (13.6%). The effect of immunostains on the diagnosis of HL was examined, and its importance was emphasized. Analysis of demographic data and the distribution of HL subtypes demonstrate that the study sample is representative of the general HL patient population.
Recruitment of Mcm10 to Sites of Replication Initiation Requires Direct Binding to the Minichromosome Maintenance (MCM) Complex*

Mcm10 is required for the initiation of eukaryotic DNA replication and contributes in some unknown way to the activation of the Cdc45-MCM-GINS (CMG) helicase. How Mcm10 is localized to sites of replication initiation is unclear, as current models indicate that direct binding to minichromosome maintenance (MCM) plays a role, but the details and functional importance of this interaction have not been determined. Here, we show that purified Mcm10 can bind both DNA-bound double hexamers and soluble single hexamers of MCM. The binding of Mcm10 to MCM requires the Mcm10 C terminus. Moreover, the binding site for Mcm10 on MCM includes the Mcm2 and Mcm6 subunits and overlaps that for the loading factor Cdt1. Whether Mcm10 recruitment to replication origins depends on CMG helicase assembly has been unclear. We show that Mcm10 recruitment occurs via two modes: low affinity recruitment in the absence of CMG assembly (“G1-like”) and high affinity recruitment when CMG assembly takes place (“S-phase-like”). Mcm10 that cannot bind directly to MCM is defective in both modes of recruitment and is unable to support DNA replication. These findings indicate that Mcm10 is localized to replication initiation sites by directly binding MCM through the Mcm10 C terminus.
Stimulation of Cellular Thymidine Kinases by Human Cytomegalovirus

Thymidine kinase (TK) activity in WI-38 and MRC-5 human fibroblasts was analyzed by discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (disc-PAGE) and discontinuous glycerol gradient electrophoresis (disc-GEP) after subculture or human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. Two peaks of TK activity with different relative fraction-of-migration (Rf) values were resolved by disc-PAGE or disc-GEP in extracts from log-phase and infected cells. Growing WI-38 cells expressed a slowly migrating (Rf = 0.14 PAGE, Rf = 0.4 GEP) peak of TK activity, which was partially inhibited by 1.0 mM dCTP, but which retained little activity at pH 4.5. Growing MRC cells also displayed a slowly migrating peak (Rf = 0.10 PAGE) with similar properties. Both cell types expressed a faster-migrating TK activity (Rf = 0.45 PAGE, Rf = 0.7 GEP) in the growing and resting state that was strongly inhibited by 1 mM dCTP but retained 50% activity at pH 4.5. When either cell type was infected with HCMV, there was a rapid and high-level stimulation of the slowly migrating form of TK and a slight stimulation of the faster-migrating form. Two strains of HCMV (AD169 and Town) failed to produce an electrophoretically distinct virus TK in either cell type after infection. TK enzymes were partially purified by disc-GEP from extracts of log-phase WI-38 or AD169-infected WI-38 cells. Characterization of these enzymes with respect to phosphate donor specificity, pH optima, thermostability, and salt inhibition showed the HCMV-stimulated TKs to be of cellular origin.
Preparation and evaluation of self‐microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) containing atorvastatin

Atorvastatin is insoluble in aqueous solution and the bioavailability after oral administration is low. Self‐microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) containing atorvastatin have been successfully prepared to improve its bioavailability. SMEDDS is a mixture of lipid, surfactant, and cosurfactant, which are emulsified in aqueous medium under gentle digestive motility in the gastrointestinal tract. Pseudo‐ternary phase diagrams composed of various excipients were plotted. Droplet size, zeta‐potential and long‐term physical stability of the formulations were investigated. The release of atorvastatin from SMEDDS capsules was studied using the dialysis bag method in 0.1 m HCl and phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), compared with the release of atorvastatin from a conventional tablet. A pharmacokinetic study was performed in 6 beagle dogs after oral administration of 6 mg kg−1 atorvastatin. The bioavailability of atorvastatin SMEDDS capsules was significantly increased compared with that of the conventional tablet. SMEDDS capsules consisting of Labrafil, propylene glycol and Cremophor RH40 provided the greatest bioavailability. Our studies indicate that the use of SMEDDS for the delivery of atorvastatin can improve its bioavailability.
Boundaries of Dachsous Cadherin activity modulate the Hippo signaling pathway to induce cell proliferation

The conserved Hippo tumor suppressor pathway is a key signaling pathway that controls organ size in Drosophila. To date a signal transduction cascade from the Cadherin Fat at the plasma membrane into the nucleus has been discovered. However, how the Hippo pathway is regulated by extracellular signals is poorly understood. Fat not only regulates growth but also planar cell polarity, for which it interacts with the Dachsous (Ds) Cadherin, and Four-jointed (Fj), a transmembrane kinase that modulates the interaction between Ds and Fat. Ds and Fj are expressed in gradients and manipulation of their expression causes abnormal growth. However, how Ds and Fj regulate growth and whether they act through the Hippo pathway is not known. Here, we report that Ds and Fj regulate Hippo signaling to control growth. Interestingly, we found that Ds/Fj regulate the Hippo pathway through a remarkable logic. Induction of Hippo target genes is not proportional to the amount of Ds or Fj presented to a cell, as would be expected if Ds and Fj acted as traditional ligands. Rather, Hippo target genes are up-regulated when neighboring cells express different amounts of Ds or Fj. Consistent with a model that differences in Ds/Fj levels between cells regulate the Hippo pathway, we found that artificial Ds/Fj boundaries induce extra cell proliferation, whereas flattening the endogenous Ds and Fj gradients results in growth defects. The Ds/Fj signaling system thus defines a cell-to-cell signaling mechanism that regulates the Hippo pathway, thereby contributing to the control of organ size.