Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous Coronary Interventional Treatment for Coronary Artery Disease and the Role of Antiplaplatelets Therapy: A Review of the Literature

Uses of balloon catheters or BMS for the treatment of coronary artery lesions shows good short-term results but long-term follow up revealed restenosis in up to 20%-30% of patients. Thus new improvements to balloons and stents are always necessary to achieve the best results from percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Drug-eluting stents (DES) improved the principles of bare metal stents (BMS) by local drug release to inhibit neointimal growth. DES reduced the incidence of in-stent restenosis. These benefits and lower costs compared to surgical treatment make the DES an attractive alternative for the treatment of coronary artery disease. Different components of DES which include the polymers, drugs and the stents underwent progressive evolution, and these led to development of new generations of DES with variable types of drugs and polymers to fully absorbable stents. The concern of stent thrombosis still an issue and dual antiplatlets therapy (DAPT) is mandatory for variable time ranging from one month to one year. This article discusses the main available clinical trials in the developments of BMS, DES and the comparison between both with a prospective look at future technologies in the field, in addition to reviewing the current guideline in the uses of DAPT after PCI.
Emerging drugs for prostate cancer

Prostate cancer mortality usually occurs as a result of castrate resistant disease. Many approaches are currently being evaluated to improve the treatment of this condition. These include drugs that induce androgen deprivation, that is, LHRH antagonists; more active or less toxic chemotherapy agents; immunologic approaches, including passive and active immunization; drugs that target the androgen receptor and/or androgen synthesis; drugs that target specific pathways, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, angiogenesis inhibitors, endothelin antagonists and matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors; and antioxidants and cell cycle inhibitors. Many of these agents seem promising. The rationale, biologic activity and therapeutic results of these emerging drugs are reviewed.
The results of modern surgical therapy for multiple primary lung cancers.

STUDY OBJECTIVES The purpose of this report is to review our experience with multiple primary lung cancers (MPLC) at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, and to determine the outcome of our surgical management of this complex problem. PATIENTS AND METHODS The data from the Lung Cancer Registry on patients with MPLC from January 1984 to December 1995 were reviewed. We used the criteria of Martini and Melamed modified by Antakli for the diagnosis of synchronous and metachronous MPLC. Survival probabilities were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier actuarial method with the dates of resection as the starting point and included deaths from all causes. The log rank test was used to compare survival rates between groups and Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare the intervals between the first and the second metachronous cancers. A p value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Fifty-two patients, consisting of 51 patients who had "curative" pulmonary resections and 1 patient who had radiation therapy for previous primary lung cancer, developed second or third primary lung cancers. Thirty-seven patients developed metachronous cancers within 1 to 15 years of the first operation (median, 24 months) while 15 patients had synchronous cancers (10 unilateral, 5 bilateral). The probability of cancer-free interval among patients with metachronous cancers was 41% at 3 years, 16% at 5 years, and 3% at 10 years. Two of the 36 patients who had pulmonary resection for the second metachronous cancer died in the perioperative period (operative mortality, 5.6%), and one patient had radiation therapy for the second metachronous cancer. There were no deaths among patients with synchronous cancers. The actuarial 5-year survival for second metachronous cancers was 37% and for synchronous cancers was 0%. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that an aggressive surgical approach is safe and justified in most patients with MPLC, especially patients with metachronous cancers, while patients with synchronous lung cancers have poorer prognosis. The operative morbidity and mortality are acceptable and long-term survival is possible in many patients with metachronous lung cancer.
Effect of access paths to overseas markets on OFDI performance

Abstract By means of statistics and quantitative approach, taking overseas subsidiaries of Shanghai and Shenzhen listed companies as the sample of the research, which systematically studies the immanent logic and mechanism of the differences in investment performance and its dynamic changes from the perspective of comprehensive financial performance and efficiency of management. The results show that the overseas market-oriented strategy affects the investment performance and it is also indirectly adjusted by the access path. The investment performance of the M&A firms that adopt the domestic-oriented strategy is better than that of the newly established ones. The investment performance of M&A is particularly prominent. The investment performance of newly established firms that adopt the export-oriented strategy is better than that of the M & A ones, and the investment performance of newly-built wholly-owned enterprises is particularly prominent. This conclusion provides theoretical support for Chinese enterprises entering overseas to match the appropriate market strategy and mode of entry.
Identifying low‐level sequence variants via next generation sequencing to aid stable CHO cell line screening

Developing stable Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines for biotherapeutics is an irreversible process and therefore, key quality attributes, such as sequence variants, must be closely monitored during cell line development (CLD) to avoid delay in the developmental timeline, and more importantly, to assure product safety and efficacy. Sequence variants, defined as unintended amino acid substitution in recombinant protein primary structure, result from alteration at either the DNA or the protein level. Here, for the first time, we report the application of transcriptome sequencing (RNAseq) in an IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) CLD campaign to detect, identify, and eliminate cell lines containing low‐level point mutations in recombinant coding sequence. Among the top eleven mAb producers chosen from transfectant, clone or subclone stages, three of the cell lines contained either missense or nonsense point mutations at a low level of less than 2%. Subsequent LC/MS/MS characterization detected ∼3% sequence variants with an amino acid change from Ser to Leu at residue 117 in the heavy chain of transfectants 11 and 27. This substitution is consistent with the RNAseq finding of a C/T mutation located at 407 base pair (TCA→TTA) in the heavy chain coding sequence. Here we demonstrate that RNAseq is a rapid and highly sensitive method to identify low‐level genetic mutation de novo corresponding to the amino acid substitution that elicits sequence variant(s). Its implementation in CLD constitutes an early and effective step in identifying desired CHO expression cell lines. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog. , 31:1077–1085, 2015
Noise-induced sleep maintenance insomnia: hypnotic and residual effects of zaleplon.

AIMS The primary objective of the study was to assess the residual effects of zaleplon in the morning, 4 h after a middle-of-the-night administration. The secondary objective was to investigate the effectiveness of zaleplon in promoting sleep in healthy volunteers with noise-induced sleep maintenance insomnia. METHODS Thirteen healthy male and female volunteers (aged 20-30 years) with normal hearing, who were sensitive to the sleep-disrupting effects of noise, participated in a double-blind, placebo- and active-drug controlled, four-period cross-over study. The subjects were permitted to sleep for 5 h (22.45-03.45 h) in a quiet environment before they were awoken. At 04.00 h they ingested 10 mg zaleplon, 20 mg zaleplon, 7.5 mg zopiclone (active control), or placebo before a second period of sleep (04.00-08.00 h), during which they were exposed to an 80 dB(A) 1 kHz pure tone pulse with an inter-tone interval of 1 s and a duration of 50 ms. The sound stimulus was stopped after 10 min of persistent sleep or after 2 h if the subject had not fallen asleep. Residual effects were assessed at 08.00 h (4 h after drug administration) using the digit symbol substitution test (DSST), choice reaction time (CRT), critical flicker fusion (CFF), and immediate and delayed free recall of a 20 word list. The data were analysed by analysis of variance. A Bonferroni adjustment was made for the three active treatments compared with placebo. RESULTS There were no residual effects of zaleplon (10 and 20 mg) compared with placebo. Zopiclone impaired memory by delaying the free recall of words (P = 0.001) and attenuated performance on DSST (P = 0.004) and CRT (P = 0.001), compared with placebo. Zaleplon reduced the latency to persistent sleep (10 mg, P = 0.001; 20 mg, P = 0.014) and the 20 mg dose reduced stage 1 sleep (P = 0.012) compared with placebo. Zopiclone reduced stage 1 sleep (P = 0.001), increased stage 3 sleep (P = 0.0001) and increased total sleep time (P = 0.003), compared with placebo. CONCLUSIONS Zaleplon (10 mg and 20 mg), administered in the middle of the night 4 h before arising, shortens sleep onset without impairing next-day performance.
Highly dynamic balancing via force control

This video shows the latest results in the whole-body control of humanoid robots achieved by the Dynamic Interaction Control Lab at the Italian Institute of Technology. In particular, the control architecture is composed of two nested control loops. The internal loop, which runs at 1 KHz, is in charge of stabilizing any desired joint torque. This task is achieved thanks to an off-line identification procedure providing us with a reliable model of friction and motor constants. The outer loop, which generates desired joint torques at 100 Hz, is a momentum based control algorithm in the context of free-floating systems. More precisely, the control objective for the outer loop is the stabilization of the robot's linear and angular momentum and the associated zero dynamics. The latter objective can be used to stabilize a desired joint configuration. The stability of the control framework is shown to be in the sense of Lyapunov. The contact forces and torques are regulated so as to break contacts only at desired configurations. Switching between several contacts is taken into account thanks to a finite-state-machine that dictates the constraints acting on the system. The control framework is implemented on the iCub humanoid robot.
Risks to Colombian Amphibian Fauna from Cultivation of Coca (Erythroxylum coca): A Geographical Analysis

The Colombian amphibian fauna is among the richest known in the world, with about 20 species of salamanders (order Caudata), 35 of the limbless caecilians (order Gymnophiona), and more than 700 species of frogs and toads (order Anura) recorded from localities within the country. The potential effects of exposure to glyphosate on amphibians arising from production of illegal crops (coca) were examined. The analysis was based on (1) behavior and ecology of species and (2) proximities of actual museum records to localities in which illegal crops are being grown and the subset of those that have been sprayed with glyphosate. Based on data on the location of amphibians collected in Colombia, records were obtained for 193 species (28% of the national diversity) of frogs and toads found in localities within 10 km of areas where coca is grown. Further analyses with ARC MAP software allowed for measurement of the direct distance separating collection locations for frogs, known coca fields, and areas where aerial spraying was being conducted. Records in or near coca fields included data for 11 of 13 families of frogs and toads known to be present in Colombia. Only Ceratophryidae and Pipidae were not reported from these locations and appear not to be at risk. For eight species (Dendrobates truncatus, Craugastor raniformis, Pristimantis gaigeae, Smilisca phaeota, Elachistocleis ovale, Hypsiboas crepitans, Trachycephalus venulosus, and Pseudis paradoxa) selected to represent several habitat preferences and life-cycle strategies, large areas of their distributions lie outside coca production regions and their populations as a whole are at low risk. For a limited number of species that barely enter Colombian territory, the consequences of coca production may be more serious and may have placed several species of frogs at risk. These include Ameerega bilingua, Dendropsophus bifurcus, Pristimantis colomai, P. degener, P. diadematus, P. quaquaversus, P. variabilis, and Trachycephalus jordani. Other species may also be at risk but exact numbers are unknown since few investigations were undertaken in these areas during the past 30 yr. The main ranges for these species were assumed to be in Ecuador.
[Changes in microcirculation and selected laboratory parameters in the early stages of diabetic microangiopathy].

BACKGROUND Early stages of diabetic microangiopathy are accompanied with dysfunction, manifested by changes of some biochemical parameters. Parallel changes were observed in microcirculation. The aim of this study was to compare microcirculation in the skin of a forearm evaluated by laser Doppler with selected laboratory markers of endothelial dysfunction in Type 1 diabetes mellitus without microangiopathy or with incipient microangiopathy. METHODS AND RESULTS Group of 43 Type 1 diabetic patients was examined in this study. 20 of them had no signs of microangiopathy and in 23 patients a simple diabetic retinopathy (background retinopathy) was diagnosed. Control group consisted of 25 healthy persons of comparable age, sex, and body mass index. All persons involved in this study were examined by laser Doppler and by biochemical examination and the results were compared. In comparison with control group, in diabetic patients the arm occlusion significantly lowered the increase of perfusion (29 +/- 12 vs. 41 +/- 18 perfusion units (PU) p < 0.01). Similarly the perfusion velocity increase was significantly lower in diabetic patients than in healthy controls (p < 0.01). Also the velocity of the perfusion increase after the warming up was lower in the diabetic than in non-diabetic persons (p < 0.01). Such changes of perfusion or those of velocity of perfusion increase were significantly lower in diabetic patients with microangiopathy than in those without this complication. Perfusion increases after both stimuli highly correlated (r = 0.86, p < 0.001). In diabetic patients with microangiopathy significantly higher N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG) activities in serum and E-selection or ICAM-1 concentrations were found as compared with patients without microangiopathy, whereas plasma concentrations of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) or inhibitor (PAI-1) were comparable with those in the control group. NAG activity inversely correlated with velocity of the perfusion increase after both the occlusion (r = -0.41, p < 0.01) and the warming (r = -0.38, p < 0.05). Similar relationship was found between tPA or E-selectin and the velocity of the perfusion increase after the occlusion (r = -0.48, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Our results confirm that biochemical parameters and microcirculation are impaired in the early stage of microangiopathy in Type 1 diabetic patients. Detailed analysis showed that both types of examination offer slightly different information on the vascular status. A long prospective study in diabetic patients without incipient vascular changes will be necessary to evaluate if biochemical or microcirculatory changes can bring an earlier information on the developing angiopathy.
The National Solidarity Programme: Assessing the Effects of Community-Driven Development in Afghanistan

Over the past two decades, community-based approaches to project delivery have become a popular means for governments and development agencies to improve the alignment of projects with the needs of rural communities and to increase the participation of villagers in project design and implementation. This article briefly summarizes the results of an impact evaluation of the National Solidarity Programme (NSP), a community-driven development programme in Afghanistan that created democratically-elected community development councils and funded small-scale development projects. Using a randomized controlled trial across 500 villages, the evaluation finds that NSP had a positive effect on access to drinking water and electricity, acceptance of democratic processes, perceptions of economic well-being and attitudes towards women. Effects on perceptions of local and national government performance and material economic outcomes were, however, more limited or short-lived.
The Influence of Career Development and Organizational Culture on Employee Performance

The establishment of Bank Pembangunan Daerah is aimed to be the main contributor in the local people’s economic development. Therefore, it is very important to take heed of the company’s performance by evaluating its employees’ performance. Based on the result of interviews and observation, it was found that employee performance was influenced by some factors such as career development and organizational culture. The objective of this research was to examine the influence of career development and organizational culture on employee performance. The research used quantitative approach which involved 242 permanent employees of Bank Pembangunan Daerah. The result of statistic analysis showed that career development and organizational culture had positive and significant influence on employee performance. The implication of this research is expected to be able to help the company’s management increase their employees’ performance by carrying out objective, transparent, and fair career development program and strengthen organizational culture by socializing and monitoring the implementation of firm values.
Functional combination of tapering profiles and overlapping arrangements in nonspanning skeletal muscle fibers terminating intrafascicularly

Using digital image analysis and several anatomical methods, morphometric analysis of nonspanning fibers which had tapering profiles at their intrafascicular termination sites and represented overlapping arrangements within the fiber fascicles was performed in the rat rectus abdominis. Special emphasis was focused on dimensional relationships occurring between overlapping portions and tapering segments and sarcomere lengths in non‐ and overlapping portions. Nonspanning fibers were found to overlap each other for more than 40% of their length. In length, their overlapping portions generally corresponded to their tapering segments, which were also greater than 40% of the fiber length. In addition, despite the presence of overlapping linkages, nonspanning fibers maintained a fairly uniform length irrespective of their overlapping and non‐overlapping portions. Overlapping linkages in fibers without tapering profiles have a larger cross‐sectional area in the overlapping portion than in the non‐overlapping one, resulting in a phenomenon which will cause different sarcomere lengths between the two portions during fiber stretching. The present results suggest that tapering profiles in the overlapping portion ensure uniform sarcomere lengths within nonspanning fibers, thereby providing mechanical stability in each fiber. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Heterologous Expression and Characterization of Indian Sahiwal Cattle (Bos indicus) Alpha Inhibin

Inhibin is a non-steroidal glycoprotein hormone of gonadal origin with major action as negative feedback control of the production of FSH by the anterior pituitary gland. The physiological role of inhibin has led to the development of inhibin immunogens for fertility enhancement in farm animals. It is envisaged that a reduction of endogenous inhibin secretion would increase FSH concentrations and thus offers a potential for increasing the number of ovulatory follicles in the ovary. The present work was carried out to produce recombinant bovine (Indian Sahiwal Cattle; Bos indicus) alpha inhibin (bINH-α) in E. coli by optimizing its expression and purification in biologically active form and to study its immunological characterization. A bacterial protein expression vector system based on the phage T5 promoter was used. The bINH-α encoding gene was successfully cloned and expressed in E. coli and the purified recombinant bINH-α was characterized. Recombinant bINH-α (25 µg mL−1) immunized guinea pigs had a significant increase in litter size compared to the control group. These results indicate a role for recombinant bINH-α as a fecundity vaccine to enhance the ovulation rate and litter size in animals.
Global thermal niche models of two European grasses show high invasion risks in Antarctica

The two non‐native grasses that have established long‐term populations in Antarctica (Poa pratensis and Poa annua) were studied from a global multidimensional thermal niche perspective to address the biological invasion risk to Antarctica. These two species exhibit contrasting introduction histories and reproductive strategies and represent two referential case studies of biological invasion processes. We used a multistep process with a range of species distribution modelling techniques (ecological niche factor analysis, multidimensional envelopes, distance/entropy algorithms) together with a suite of thermoclimatic variables, to characterize the potential ranges of these species. Their native bioclimatic thermal envelopes in Eurasia, together with the different naturalized populations across continents, were compared next. The potential niche of P. pratensis was wider at the cold extremes; however, P. annua life history attributes enable it to be a more successful colonizer. We observe that particularly cold summers are a key aspect of the unique Antarctic environment. In consequence, ruderals such as P. annua can quickly expand under such harsh conditions, whereas the more stress‐tolerant P. pratensis endures and persist through steady growth. Compiled data on human pressure at the Antarctic Peninsula allowed us to provide site‐specific biosecurity risk indicators. We conclude that several areas across the region are vulnerable to invasions from these and other similar species. This can only be visualized in species distribution models (SDMs) when accounting for founder populations that reveal nonanalogous conditions. Results reinforce the need for strict management practices to minimize introductions. Furthermore, our novel set of temperature‐based bioclimatic GIS layers for ice‐free terrestrial Antarctica provide a mechanism for regional and global species distribution models to be built for other potentially invasive species.
Fatigue state detection from multi-feature of eyes

In recent years, the problem of fatigue driving has attracted more and more attention. Methods of fatigue detection are no longer just by the way of questionnaires. This paper presents an algorithm of fatigue state detection from multi-feature of eyes, which can determine whether a driver is in a state of fatigue by analyzing the behavior of the driver's eyes. Firstly, image preprocessing, face detection based on AdaBoost and active shape model of human eye positioning will be done in sequence to improve the accuracy of identification. After that, according to the P80 standard, the eyes state of opening and closing is identified by the area of eyes, which can obtain the percentage of eye closure time, the average time of eye closure and the frequency of blinking as eye multi-feature parameters. Finally, the support vector machine of fatigue state detection model is built with these three types of eye multi-feature parameters, and then the driver's driving state can be determined. Experiment results show the efficiency of the proposed method.