Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quality of life and calcium channel blockade with nifedipine GITS versus amlodipine in hypertensive patients in Spain. Gastrointestinal Therapeutic System.

OBJECTIVE Compliance with hypertension treatment is affected by treatment-related factors (complexity, side effects), efficacy and compound-specific effects that impact on quality of life. This study examined the differences in quality of life produced by two once-daily calcium channel blockers using different delivery systems: nifedipine gastrointestinal therapeutic system (GITS) and amlodipine. DESIGN This was a double-blind, double-dummy, randomized clinical trial comparing nifedipine GITS (30 mg) and amlodipine (5 mg) for 24 weeks following a placebo run-in. Clinical, laboratory evaluations and quality-of-life data were assessed at screening, baseline randomization and three times during active therapy. SETTING The study was conducted in 13 medical clinics in Spain. PATIENTS The sample comprised 430 screened and 356 randomized patients with mild to moderate hypertension (diastolic blood pressure 95-114 mmHg). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and in health-related quality of life were the main outcome measures. RESULTS There were no significant differences between active treatment groups in the blood pressure changes (systolic blood pressure: nifedipine GITS -15.5 mmHg; amlodipine -15.7 mmHg). Spontaneous adverse events consistent with calcium channel blockage were not different. The nifedipine GITS group improved in all quality-of-life measures except Sexual Symptom Distress and showed a significantly greater improvement than amlodipine in overall Quality of Life (P< 0.05), General Perceived Health (P < 0.026) and its subscale Vitality (P < 0.019). The amlodipine group declined in overall Quality of Life, General Perceived Health, Vitality and Sleep Disturbance, and significantly in Sexual Symptom Distress (P < 0.045). However, this group improved in self-reported Cognitive Functioning (P=0.036), Mental Acuity (P < 0.005) and Detachment/disorientation (P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest compound-specific effects on quality of life that may be due to differences in the delivery system. Nifedipine GITS is short-acting (2 h half-life) and is delivered continuously over a 24 h period, while amlodipine has a half-life of 40 h, which may produce more sustained low-level effects. While a more beneficial profile was observed for nifedipine, amlodipine demonstrated potential positive effects on cognitive functioning.
Ultrasound transducer modeling-general theory and applications to ultrasound reciprocal systems

A tutorial presentation on the theory of reciprocal ultrasound systems is given, and a complete set of modeling equations for one-dimensional multi-layer ultrasound transducers is derived from first principles. The model includes dielectric losses and mechanical losses in the transducer material layers as well as sound absorption in the transmission medium. First, the so-called constitutive relations of a piezoelectric body are derived based on general thermodynamic considerations, assuming that transducer operation takes place under almost isentropic conditions. Second, full attention is given to transducers oscillating in the thickness mode, discarding all other vibration modes. Dynamic transducer equations are determined using Newton's Second Law, Poisson's equation, and the definition of strain applied to a piezoelectric transducer with one or more non-piezoelectric layers on the front surface (multilayer transducer). Boundary conditions include continuity of normal velocity and stress across material interfaces as well as a subsidiary electrical condition over the piezoceramic electrodes. Sound transmission is assumed to take place in a water bath such that the Rayleigh equation can be used to obtain the incoming pressure at the receiver aperture from the acceleration of the opposing transmitter. This allows, e.g., a detailed treatment of receiver signal variations as the receiver moves from the near-field zone to the far-field zone of the transmitter. In the remaining part of the paper, receiver voltage and current signals are obtained by solving the full set of dynamic equations numerically. Special attention is given to transducers consisting of a) a pure piezoceramic layer only, b) a piezoceramic layer and a quarter-wavelength matching layer of polyphenylensulphide (PPS), c) a piezoceramic layer and a half-wavelength matching layer of stainless steel, and d) a piezoceramic layer and a half-wavelength matching layer of stainless steel tuned to resonance by a parallel inductance. Results are also given for receiver incoming pressure and receiver voltage signals when sound reception takes place in the near-field and far-field zones of the transmitter.
Content authentication in enterprises for mobile devices

Most recent work in enterprise security has targeted the area of securing systems and networks from external hackers. We present new security challenges that arise in such networks from a mobile workforce. We argue that future threats to the network will likely come from inside the network; specifically, from legitimate devices and users that roam and reconnect to the enterprise. Fundamentally, most current and past work tackles the issue of authenticating a user or a machine (its hardware) before allowing access to enterprise resources. However, we expect that the critical issue going forward will be to authenticate the content of a device and ensure that the content is in-line with the enterprise's security polices. In this paper, we present a framework for authenticating the contents of devices connecting to an enterprise and also propose a new token-based scheme for indirect content authentication.
Enhancing underwater image by dark channel prior and color correction

With the increase of spreading distance, the light energy decays rapidly in water. Simultaneously, the light will reflect and deflect multiple times in its travel path. Underwater image typically suffers from poor visibility, low contrast and color distortion due to light scattering and attenuation. In this paper, we put forward a novel algorithm to restore the image based on dark channel prior. The background light is estimated by combining the dark channel prior with saturation map. Then, the transmission maps of different color channels are obtained based on the ratios of attenuation coefficients to recover underwater image. At last, a color correction is applied to balance the shifted color. The experiments show that the method in this paper obviously improves the poor visual quality of underwater images comparing with the existing techniques.
Drug treatment service utilization and outcomes for Hispanic and white methamphetamine abusers.

OBJECTIVE To examine differences in drug treatment service needs, utilization, satisfaction, and outcomes between Hispanic and white methamphetamine (meth) abusers. DATA SOURCES Intake assessments and follow-up interviews of 128 Hispanic and 371 non-Hispanic white meth abusers admitted during 2000-2001 to 43 drug treatment programs in 13 counties across California. STUDY DESIGN A prospective longitudinal study comparing ethnic differences in problem severity during pre- and posttreatment periods, as well as in services received during treatment. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) was administered at both intake and the 9-month follow-up to assess clients' problem severity in a number of domains. Service utilization and satisfaction were assessed 3 months following treatment admission. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Hispanics were less educated and reported more employment difficulties than whites. Whites were more likely to be treated in residential programs than Hispanics despite similar severity in drug and alcohol use, legal, medical and family/social problems, and psychiatric status. Significantly more whites than Hispanics received psychiatric services, likely because more of them were treated in residential programs. Whites also reported receiving greater numbers of total services and services addressing alcohol and psychiatric problems. While no ethnic differences were found in treatment satisfaction and several other outcomes, Hispanics demonstrated better family and social outcomes than whites. CONCLUSIONS Both Hispanic and white meth abusers improved after treatment, although benefits from treatment can be further enhanced if services underscore different facets of their psychosocial problems.
Hilar control in penetrating chest trauma: a simplified approach to an underutilized maneuver.

BACKGROUND In both urban and military settings, penetrating thoracic injuries remain a significant source of trauma-related mortality, and many patients require resuscitative thoracotomy. Existing literature emphasizes relief of pericardial tamponade and aortic clamp application as the key therapeutic maneuvers. The purpose of this report is to revisit pulmonary hilar clamping and highlight its application for hemorrhage control, air embolism prevention, and other benefits in the setting of massive hemothorax. METHODS Records from an urban, American College of Surgeons verified level I trauma center were evaluated over a six-month period. Patients who underwent early pulmonary hilar clamping were identified. RESULTS Twenty-four patients with trauma presented during the study period required thoracotomy. Of these, three (13%) underwent early pulmonary hilar clamping for massive hemothorax. Trauma mechanism was penetrating in each instance. Injuries included pulmonary lobe destruction, subclavian artery disruption, and internal thoracic artery transection. These cases illustrate the utility of early pulmonary hilar clamping for hemorrhage control, prevention of air embolization, and improved exposure. CONCLUSION To decrease morbidity and mortality at our institution, a method of pulmonary hilar control has evolved using an organized, "hand-over-hand" approach that controls hemorrhage, prevents fatal air embolism, protects against blood spillage into contralateral airways, and facilitates pulmonary surgery. Several features distinguish our approach from those previously reported.
Analysis of ciliary beat frequency and ovum transport ability in the mouse oviduct

The oviduct is important in reproduction where fertilization occurs, and the fertilized eggs are conveyed to the uterus. Multi‐ciliated cells of the oviductal epithelium and muscle contractions are believed to generate this unidirectional flow. Although there are many studies in human oviducts, there are few reports on mouse oviductal ciliary movements where we can dissect underlying genetic programs. To study ciliary movements in the mouse oviduct, we exposed the ovary‐side of the oviduct (infundibulum) longitudinally and recorded the ciliary beatings in a hanging drop preparation. We calculated the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) by automated image analysis and found that the average CBF was 10.9 ± 3.3 and 8.5 ± 2.5 Hz (±standard deviation) during the diestrus and estrus stages, respectively. Mapping of the CBF to multiple locations in the epithelium showed that the cilia beat regularly at a local level, but have a range of frequencies within the entire plane. We also observed ova with cumulus cells were transported to the uterus side by the opened oviduct at the diestrus and estrus stages. These results suggest that the ciliated cells of the infundibulum can generate unidirectional flows and are able to deliver ova by their ciliary activities despite their discordance in beating periodicity.
Control of an LLC Resonant Converter Using Load Feedback Linearization

LLC resonant converter is a nonlinear system, limiting the use of typical linear control methods. This paper proposed a new nonlinear control strategy, using load feedback linearization for an LLC resonant converter. Compared with the conventional PI controllers, the proposed feedback linearized control strategy can achieve better performance with elimination of the nonlinear characteristics. The LLC resonant converter's dynamic model is built based on fundamental harmonic approximation using extended describing function. By assuming the dynamics of resonant network is much faster than the output voltage and controller, the LLC resonant converter's model is simplified from seven-order state equations to two-order ones. Then, the feedback linearized control strategy is presented. A double loop PI controller is designed to regulate the modulation voltage. The switching frequency can be calculated as a function of the load, input voltage, and modulation voltage. Finally, a 200 W laboratory prototype is built to verify the proposed control scheme. The settling time of the LLC resonant converter is reduced from 38.8 to 20.4 ms under the positive load step using the proposed controller. Experimental results prove the superiority of the proposed feedback linearized controller over the conventional PI controller.
Large-scale, multicentre, quantitative MRI study of brain and cord damage in primary progressive multiple sclerosis

Although the mechanisms underlying the accumulation of disability in primary progressive (PP) multiple sclerosis (MS) are still unclear, a major role seems to be played by `occult' tissue damage. We investigated whether conventional and magnetization transfer (MT) MRI may provide complementary information for the assessment of PPMS severity. Conventional and MT MRI scans from 226 PPMS patients and 84 healthy controls were collected for centralized analysis. The expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score was rated at the time of MRI acquisition. T2 lesion volume, normalized brain volume (NBV) and cervical cord cross-sectional area (CSA) were measured. Magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) histograms from whole brain tissue, normal-appearing white matter and grey matter (NAGM) were also obtained. Mean NBV, CSA and MTR histogram-derived metrics showed significant inter-centre heterogeneity. After correcting for the acquisition centre, pooled average MTR and histogram peak height values were different between PPMS patients and controls for all tissue classes (P-values between 0.03 and 0.0001). More severe brain and cord atrophy and MT MRI-detectable NAGM damage were found in patients who required walking aids than in those who did not (P-values: 0.03, 0.001 and 0.016). A composite score of NBV, CSA, whole brain and NAGM MTR histogram peak height z-scores was correlated with patients' EDSS (r = 0.37, P 0.001). Magnetization transfer MRI might provide information complementary to that given by conventional MRI when assessing PPMS severity. Sequence-related variability of measurements makes the standardization of MT MRI acquisition essential for the design of multicentre studies. Multiple Sclerosis 2008; 14: 455—464. http://msj.sagepub. com
Induction of anti-AKR/gross virus cytolytic T lymphocytes in AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b congenic mice: age-dependent conversion to a nonresponder phenotype.

Previously, we reported that the generation of cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific for syngeneic tumors induced by AKR/Gross leukemia viruses was under multi-gene control. Thus, although carrying the required immune response gene(s) encoded by the H-2b haplotype and characteristic of responder strains such as C57BL/6, AKR.H-2b congenic mice failed to mount antiviral CTL responses. Young adult AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b "doubly congenic" mice, however, were able to generate specific anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL activity. These results demonstrated that the positive effect of MHC-encoded immune response gene control could be overcome by the action of the Fv-1n allele. The responder status of the B6.Fv-1n congenic, however, indicated that this Fv-1n-mediated inhibition was dependent on the interaction of Fv-1n with another gene(s) encoded by the AKR background. The results of experiments performed with AKXL recombinant inbred mice further suggested that a single additional genetic locus, encoding the Akv-1 provirus, was necessary along with Fv-1n to cause inhibition of antiviral CTL generation. Here we show that the responsiveness of AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice is dependent on their age. Thus, with moderate aging these doubly congenic mice converted to a nonresponder status with respect to anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL production: 85% of mice less than or equal to 9 wk of age responded compared with 0% of mice greater than 9 wk old. As with nonresponder AKR.H-2b mice, an inverse correlation was observed between CTL responsiveness and the expression of CTL-defined viral antigens by normal cells. Namely, spleen cells from young AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice showed little or no expression of such viral antigens, whereas with moderate aging there was a steady increase in their display. These results are discussed with reference to possible mechanisms of unresponsiveness of AKR.H-2b vs moderately aged AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice, and with respect to the utility of this system as a model for naturally occurring retrovirus infections and the interactions of retroviruses with the immune system.
Structural and electrical studies of mixed metal/ceramic composite dielectric thin films

Cerium oxide (Rare earth oxide ceramic) films were coated on ITO glass slides where CeO2 was obtained by a simplified sol-gel method. The layer of molten NiO (Metal oxide) was physiosorped on ceria. The synthesis parameters like molarity of the precipitating agent and annealing temperature of the as prepared films were optimized. The X-ray diffraction was used for the confirmation of the phase, crystal structure and determination of crystallite sizes. The morphology of annealed films was studied using atomic force microscopy. The ac electrical measurements were done using LCR meter at room temperature and in frequency range 1 kHz to 3 MHz. The ac conductivity, dielectric constant and dielectric loss were determined using the electrical data.
The International Growth Standard for Children and Adolescents Project: Environmental Influences on Preadolescent and Adolescent Growth in Weight and Height

This review has two aims. The first is to identify important environmental influences on the growth of children aged 1 to 9 years and of adolescents, defined as those aged 10 to 19 years. The second is to identify possible environmentally based criteria for the selection of individuals and populations for data collection in the development of an international growth reference for these age ranges. There are many common environmental influences on the growth of children between the ages of 1 and 19 years; the examination and description of these forms the main body of this review. Subsequently, environmental factors influencing adolescent growth only are considered. In both cases, possible selection criteria are put forward. The most important inclusion criteria for both preadolescence and adolescence are good nutrition, lack of infection, and socioeconomic status that does not constrain growth. Additionally, low birthweight, catch-up growth, breastfeeding, and early adiposity rebound have impacts on growth and/or body composition into puberty. Exclusion of children born at low birth and/or experiencing catch-up growth could be most realistically operationalized if populations in which secular trends in growth were either completed or minimal were selected. Although an effect of hypoxia on child and adolescent growth, independent of nutrition, is small at most, many high-altitude populations have high prevalances of low birthweight and should be excluded on this basis. Since all populations are exposed to pollutants, contaminants, and toxicants in varying degrees, they cannot be realistically excluded from the sample frame. However, it may be desirable to exclude populations that are habitually exposed to extremely high levels of environmental pollution, including air pollution, and those living in close proximity to toxic waste. It is impossible to exclude populations and individuals on the basis of their exposure to aflatoxin contamination of food. However, exclusion on the basis of low socioeconomic status or poverty may well act as a proxy for this. There are a small number of populations that show extreme patterns of growth in body size and proportion in preadolescence and adolescence, and these should be excluded from the sample frame.
Biophysical limits on athermal effects of RF and microwave radiation

Using biophysical criteria, I show that continuous radiofrequency (RF) and microwave radiation with intensity less than 10 mW/cm2 are unlikely to affect physiology significantly through athermal mechanisms. Biological systems are fundamentally noisy on the molecular scale as a consequence of thermal agitation and are noisy macroscopically as a consequence of physiological functions and animal behavior. If electromagnetic fields are to significantly affect physiology, their direct physical effect must be greater than that from the ubiquitous endogenous noise. Using that criterion, I show that none of a set of interactions of weak fields, which I argue is nearly complete on dimensional grounds, can affect biology on the molecular scale. Moreover, I conclude that such weak fields are quite unlikely to generate significant effects in their interactions with larger biological elements such as cells. In the course of that analysis, I examine important special examples of electromagnetic interactions: “direct” interactions where biology is modified simply by the motion of charged elements generated by the electric field; resonance interactions; the effects of electrostrictive forces and induced dipole moments; and modifications of radical pair recombination probabilities. In each case, I show that it is unlikely that low intensity fields can generate significant physiological consequences. Bioelectromagnetics 24:39–48, 2003. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pro-inflammatory biomakers in depression: Treatment with venlafaxine

High levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers have been reported in depression. In the present study, five pro-inflammatory biomarkers were measured in the blood of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Biomarker levels were compared to age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. Patients with MDD had significantly higher baseline levels of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα, P=0.04), interleukin-1β (IL1β, P=0.03), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1; P=0.02) compared to controls. There were no differences between groups in levels of cell determinant-40 ligand (CD40L) and C-reactive protein (CRP). A subset of the MDD patients consented to undergo treatment with venlafaxine (an SNRI: at lower doses a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; at higher doses also a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) for 8 weeks. By week 8, all treatment completers had responded therapeutically. However, levels of TNFα, IL1β, and MCP-1 remained elevated. A concave quadratic equation described the associations between plasma venlafaxine concentrations and IL1β (P=0.03), TNFα (P=0.09), and MCP-1 (P=0.02), suggesting that these biomarkers may have become selectively lowered in the serotonergic dose range of venlafaxine. This is the first report of venlafaxine's possible effect on pro-inflammatory biomarkers.