Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
‘Can thought go on without a body?’ On the relationship between machines and organisms in media philosophy†

ABSTRACT All philosophy of media has its origin in the Cartesian distinction between res cogitans and res extensa – a distinction that poses the question of whether thinking is detachable from its bodily carrier and presents the possibility of outsourcing cognitive operations to apparatuses or machines. In the Cartesian elimination of the body, Jean-Francois Lyotard identified the philosophical force of current technoscientific culture, which is in the process of freeing thinking from its forced coupling with the human body. The speculative tabula rasa brought about by the Cartesian ‘demolition’ takes the form of a technological wager in the twentieth century. Technology is an attempt to respond to the extreme challenge that cosmic development poses for human beings: to guarantee that thought remains possible even after the ultimate catastrophe of a solar explosion, which threatens all planetary life a few billion years from now. The technological utopia of an ultra-stable infrastructure that would enable the continuation of thought even after the demise of its hitherto ecological conditions perpetuates, on the one hand, the politico-theological notion of a second body, one equipped with mysterious forces that guarantee invincibility. On the other hand, the naturalism and the rhetoric of crisis with regard to the history of mankind at stake in this utopia of human self-assertion ignore the complex interplay of thought and the body, whose parallel relationship Spinoza first pointed out against Descartes’ dualism. Rather than confine thought to the body, as in a vessel, Spinoza demonstrates that thought exists only because it is, in a certain way, affected and disposed by the body, in a physical as well as cultural sense (i.e. through objects, signs, institutions, and apparatuses).
Obesity and Endometrial Cancer: Challenges for Public Health Action

ISSN 1745-5057 Women's Health (2009) 5(6), 595–597 10.2217/WHE.09. 62 2009 Future Medicine Ltd by height in meters squared. For adults, a BMI of 25.0–29.9 is defined as overweight, and a BMI of 30.0 or higher is defined as obese [104]. Based on a comprehensive review of the literature, the World Cancer Research Fund recently concluded that ‘body fatness and probably abdominal fatness are causes of endometrial cancer, and physical activity is protective’ [10]. This finding is consistent with an earlier report from the International Agency for Research on cancer (IARC) that concluded that obesity and weight gain in adulthood are risk factors for endometrial cancer [11]. In this article, we briefly review evidence linking obesity and endometrial cancer and discuss some potential mechanisms, then describe public health approaches to obesity prevention and control that may decrease risk for developing this cancer, particularly for younger women.
Interactive effects of age and hypertension on volumes of brain structures.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Advanced age and hypertension have each been associated with changes in brain morphology and cognitive function. To investigate the interaction of age and hypertension with structural brain changes and neuropsychological performance in otherwise healthy patients with essential hypertension, we compared young-old (ages 56 to 69 years) and old-old (ages 70 to 84 years) hypertensive patients (n = 27) with 20 age-matched normotensive healthy control subjects, using quantitative volumetric MRI and a battery of neuropsychological tests. METHODS Quantitative regions of interest and segmentation analyses were applied to MRI scans of brain to measure volumes of different brain structures and of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Severity of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) was qualitatively rated in the MRI scans. A battery of neuropsychological tests was administered to each subject. RESULTS The combined hypertensive group (young-old and old-old) had smaller volumes of thalamic nuclei and larger volumes of CSF in the cerebellum and temporal lobes and showed poorer performance in memory and language tests than did the control subjects. Main effects for age were significant in multiple brain regions of interest. The old-old hypertensive patients and age-matched control subjects demonstrated volume reductions in brain structures and increases in ventricular and peripheral CSF volumes compared with the younger subjects. There was a significant group x age-group interaction in temporal and occipital CSF, not related to WMH, with the old-old hypertensive patients having significantly larger CSF volumes in these regions than the young-old hypertensives and both healthy control groups. CONCLUSIONS Hypertension exacerbates the morphological changes accompanying advanced age. Temporal and occipital regions appear most vulnerable to brain atrophy due to the interactive effects of age and hypertension.
Disparities in health care access and receipt of preventive services by disability type: analysis of the medical expenditure panel survey.

OBJECTIVE To examine differences in access to health care and receipt of clinical preventive services by type of disability among working-age adults with disabilities. DATA SOURCE Secondary analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data from 2002 to 2008. STUDY DESIGN We conducted cross-sectional logistic regression analyses comparing people with different types of disabilities on health insurance status and type; presence of a usual source of health care; delayed or forgone care; and receipt of dental checkups and cancer screening. DATA COLLECTION We pooled annualized MEPS data files across years. Our analytic sample consisted of adults (18-64 years) with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities and nonmissing data for all variables of interest. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Individuals with hearing impairment had better health care access and receipt than people with other disability types. People with multiple types of limitations were especially likely to have health care access problems and unmet health care needs. CONCLUSIONS There are differences in health care access and receipt of preventive care depending on what type of disability people have. More in-depth research is needed to identify specific causes of these disparities and assess interventions to address health care barriers for particular disability groups.
Growth Kinetics and Competition Between Methanosarcina and Methanosaeta in Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion

Methanosarcina species with a high maximum specific growth rate (μmax) and high half‐saturation coefficient (K S) and Methanosaeta species with a low μmax and low K S are the only known aceticlastic methanogens. Because of Methanosaeta's low K S, the low acetate concentrations in conventional, mesophilic anaerobic digestion yield Methanosaeta dominance. However, Methanosarcina absorbs increases in acetate more efficiently and thus promotes more stable digestion. This paper tests the hypothesis that decreasing digester feeding frequencies can increase Methanosarcina predominance. Two acetate‐fed reactors were established at a 17‐day solids retention time. One reactor was fed hourly, and one was fed once daily. Microscopic and molecular methods were used to verify that the hourly fed reactor enriched for Methanosaeta, while the daily fed reactor enriched for Methanosarcina. Growth and substrate‐use kinetics were measured for each reactor. A digester overload condition was simulated, and the Methanosarcina‐enriched reactor was found to perform better than the Methanosaeta‐enriched reactor. These findings indicate that Methanosarcina dominance can be achieved with infrequent feedings, leading to more stable digestion.
In vitro life cycle of pentamidine-resistant amastigotes: stability of the chemoresistant phenotypes is dependent on the level of resistance induced

Using a continuous drug pressure protocol, we induced pentamidine resistance in an active and dividing population of amastigote forms of Leishmania mexicana. We selected in vitro two clones with different levels of resistance to pentamidine, with clone LmPENT5 being resistant to 5 microM pentamidine, while clone LmPENT20 was resistant to 20 microM pentamidine. Resistance indexes (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50] after drug presure/IC50 before drug pressure) of 2 (LmPENT5) and 6 (LmPENT20) were determined after drug selection. Both resistant clones expressed significant cross-resistance to diminazene aceturate and primaquine. Pentamidine resistance was not reversed by verapamil, a calcium channel blocker known to reverse multidrug resistance (A. J. Bitonti, et al., Science 242:1301-1303, 1988; A. R. C. Safa et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262:7884-7888, 1987). No difference in the in vitro infectivity for resident mouse macrophages was observed between the wild-type clone (clone LmWT) and pentamidine-resistant clones. During in vitro infectivity experiments, when the life cycle was performed starting from the intramacrophagic amastigote stage, the drug resistance of the resulting LmPENT20 amastigotes was preserved even if the intermediate promastigote stage could not be considered resistant to 20 microM pentamidine. In the same way, when a complete developmental sequence of L. mexicana was achieved axenically by manipulation of appropriate culture conditions, the resulting axenically grown LmPENT20 amastigotes remained pentamidine resistant, whereas LmPENT5 amastigotes lost their ability to resist pentamidine, with IC50s and index of resistance values close to those for the LmWT clone. These results strongly indicate that the level of pentamidine tolerated by resistant amastigotes after the life cycle was dependent on the induced level of resistance. This fact could be significant in the in vivo transmission of drug-resistant parasites by Phlebotominae. Particular attention should be given to the finding that the emergence of parasite resistance is a potential risk of the use of inadequate doses as therapy in humans.
On the Distribution and Acquisition of the West Germanic ‘Need’-Verbs: German between Dutch and English

This paper investigates three verbs expressing necessity in the three West Germanic languages: Dutch hoeven, English need, and German brauchen. These three verbs are all categorized as negative polarity items (npis). However, there are differences in their distribution as NPIs, which posit German brauchen between English need and Dutch hoeven. By analyzing two factors that may influence acquisition, namely, opacity and input frequency, this paper moreover presents a similar pattern for the acquisition of these NPIs: The Dutch NPI hoeven emerges earlier in child language than its German counterpart, which in turn arises earlier than the English NPI need.
The heritable determinants of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein.

OBJECTIVE Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is a cartilage matrix macromolecule. The protein is detectable in serum and has been investigated as a biomarker of osteoarthritis (OA). An association between COMP and OA has been shown, yet the precise factors governing serum levels of COMP remain unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether genetic factors influence serum levels of COMP. METHODS A classic twin study was conducted using COMP levels in serum obtained from healthy female twin volunteers. COMP levels were determined by an inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The heritability of COMP was determined by comparing correlation among 160 monozygotic and 349 dizygotic twin pairs. Data on potential confounding factors, including age, body mass index, and the presence of OA as assessed by hand, hip, and knee radiographs, were included in the analysis. RESULTS Serum levels of COMP showed a correlation of 0.72 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.65-0.80) among monozygotic twin pairs and 0.47 (95% CI 0.39-0.55) in dizygotic pairs. This equated to an estimated heritability for COMP of 40% (95% CI 20-60%). Although age and body mass index were found to be significantly associated with COMP in regression analysis, taking the effects of these factors into account did not influence the estimate of heritability. CONCLUSION This study showed that heritable factors influence serum levels of the cartilage matrix biomarker COMP. Together with other published data, the results suggest that genetic factors operate at an early stage in the etiologic pathways that influence the development of radiographically discernible OA.
Full time-division broadband communication system-based MIMO OFDM technology

In current broadband system schemes, such as VSF-OFCDM, TDD-MIMO-OFDM, TDD-CDM-OFDM and so on, CDMA or OFDMA was adopted as multi-access schemes. The channel estimation overhead and multiuser detection complexity, were the main factors that limited system performance in fast fading wireless channel access environments. So, the full time division cellular mobile communication system was given in this paper as a way out of the parlous issues in current broadband system design scheme. The most effective way out is to reduce channel estimation overhead as possible and avoid multi-access interferences. Moreover, dissymmetrical multimedia data service is the dominate service for next generation communication systems. The time slot structure of wireless frame and system parameters for the proposed system scheme, were also described in this paper. According to numerical analysis results for system capacities, better system diversity and capacity could be achieved by the presented future broadband system scheme.
Excess Loop Delay Compensation in Continuous-Time Delta-Sigma Modulators

We present a simple, intuitive technique to compensate the loop filter transfer function for excess delay in low-pass continuous-time DeltaSigma modulators. Conventional methods of finding the appropriate filter coefficients to account for loop delay work in the z-domain, leading to cumbersome algebra. We show that the same objective can be accomplished entirely in the continuous-time domain, resulting in a procedure that lends itself to hand calculations, even for high order modulators. We derive closed-form expressions for the loop filter coefficients in modulators using nonreturn-to-zero and return-to-zero digital-to-analog converters. Simulation results confirming the theory are given.
Estratégia de operações em serviços de saúde preventiva: análise dos critérios competitivos e recomendações operacionais

A crescente preocupacao com a saude tem levado ao aumento significativo da pratica de esportes. Devido a isto, a area de fitness tem se inovado. Os gestores estao buscando solucoes que atraiam cada vez mais adeptos para seus estudios. A area de servicos tem crescido constantemente e o usuario e visto como parte deste servico. Este trabalho analisa os criterios competitivos, pouco estudados na area de servicos, e realiza recomendacoes operacionais para servicos de saude, tais como de fisioterapia, ginastica preventiva, pilates, entre outros. O intuito e auxiliar os gestores com um conjunto de recomendacoes de operacoes em servicos, como ter posicionamentos estrategicos em relacao as instalacoes, as pessoas, aos equipamentos, ao material de comunicacao, aos simbolos e ao preco. Os dados foram coletados, por meio de entrevistas pessoais, com 96 entrevistados na regiao do sul do Brasil. Foi realizada, primeiramente, a pesquisa exploratoria qualitativa e, em seguida, a pesquisa quantitativa. Para analise estatistica, foi utilizado o metodo de analise conjunta por meio do programa computacional SPSS18. Os resultados evidenciaram a ordem de importância dos criterios competitivos, tais quais: atendimento, indicacao, acesso fisico e preco, determinantes para as recomendacoes operacionais sugeridas.
Evidence for a cyclic AMP-dependent pathway in angiotensin AT1-receptor activation of human omental arteries

Enhanced responses to vasoconstriction induced by neuropeptide Y and α2-adrenoceptor agonists have been seen following pharmacological activation of the adenylyl cyclase (AC) system. Since preliminary studies revealed only minor responses to angiotensin II (Ang II) in human omental arteries, we have investigated whether enhanced activity of AC may unravel further functional Ang II receptors. Human omental arteries were obtained in conjunction with elective gut surgery. After dissection of the vessel, the endothelium was removed by 10 sec of Triton X-100 treatment. Ring segments (1—2 mm long) were mounted on a myograph and studied. Ang II produced small contractions, 27±5% relative to the response elicited by 60 mM K+. However, enhanced Ang II (105±10%, p<0.001) responses were seen during AC activation by forskolin (0.1—1 µM). This enhanced contractile response to Ang II was not inhibited by the angiotensin II type 2 (AT2-receptor antagonist PD 123319 (0.1 µM), but was blocked in an insurmountable way by the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1)-receptor antagonist candesartan (1 nM) and in a surmountable manner by losartan (0.1 µM) and irbesartan (0.1 µM). Pertussis toxin (a Gi-protein blocker) and the protein kinase C inhibitor, RO31—8220 (0.01, 0.1 and 1 µM), markedly reduced this response, while the protein kinase A inhibitor, H89 (1, 10 µM), had no effect. RT-PCR provided evidence for the presence of mRNA for both AT1- and AT2-receptors. The results suggest that both a cAMP-dependent and a cAMP-independent mechanism are involved in the contractile responses to Ang II in human omental arteries and that both responses are mediated via the AT1-receptor.
8 Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies

Neuronal death represents the primary pathology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. These diseases usually present with a slow onset and a chronic progression. Various regions of the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves may be affected, leading to functional impairment and neuron loss. Neurodegenerative diseases are often categorized by symptoms that may include impairment in cognition, movement, strength, coordination, sensation, or autonomic control. However, the diagnosis of a specific neurodegenerative disease may be misleading, as there is both clinical and neuropathologic overlap among diseases and existing diagnostic tools are not always accurate. For most neurodegenerative diseases, neuronal dysfunction, such as synaptic loss, may occur long before neuronal death takes place (Soto, 2003;Shastry, 2003;Aguzzi and O'Connor, 2010).
Improving and validating data-driven genotypic interpretation systems for the selection of antiretroviral therapies

Infection with Human immunodeficiency vir type 1 (HIV-1) requires treatment with a combination of antiretroviral drugs. This combination of drugs must be selected under consideration of its prospects for attaining sustained therapeutic success. Genotypic therapy-success interpretation systems can be used for selecting a combination of antiretroviral compounds. However, a number of shortcomings of these systems have prevented them from reaching the bedside. In this work, I present and validate novel methods for deriving interpretable genotype interpretation systems that are trained on HIV-1 data from routine clinical practice. One method produces scores that are correlated with previous exposure of the virus to the drug and with drug resistance. A further, novel genotype interpretation system produces a prognostic score correlated with the time for which the antiretroviral therapy with a certain drug combination will remain effective. The methods presented in this work represent an important advance in techniques for the interpretation of viral genotypes. Validation of the methods shows that their performance is comparable or, most frequently, superior to that of previously available methods. The methods are interpretable and can be retrained without the need for expert intervention. Last but not least, long-term therapeutic success is considered by the methods such that their predictions are in line with the results of clinical studies. Eine Infektion mit dem Humanen Immunodefizienz-Virus Typ 1 (HIV-1) erfordert die Behandlung des Patienten mit einer Kombination von antiretroviralen Wirkstoffen. Die Auswahl dieser Wirkstoffkombination muss unter Berucksichtigung der Aussichten fur einen lang anhaltenden Behandlungserfolg stattfinden. Bei der Auswahl von Wirkstoffkombinationen konnen Systeme zur Vorhersage des Behandlungserfolgs eingesetzt werden. Bisher verfugbare Systeme weisen jedoch mehrere Defizite auf, sodass sie in der klinischen Praxis kaum Verwendung finden. In dieser Arbeit werden neuartige Methoden zur Aufstellung von Systemen zur Genotypinterpretation prasentiert und validiert. Eine dieser Methoden bewertet einen HIV-1-Genotyp bezuglich der vorhergehenden viralen Wirkstoffexposition und der Wirkstoffresistenzen. Eine weitere Genotypinterpretationsmethode errechnet eine prognostische Zahl, welche mit der Zeit korreliert, die eine antiretrovirale Therapie effektiv sein wird. Diese Arbeit stellt eine wichtige Weiterentwicklung der Methoden zur Interpretation von viralen Genotypen dar. Zum Einen ist das Vorhersagemogen der Modelle dieser Arbeit vergleichbar oder sogar hoher als diejenige von bisher verfugbaren Modellen. Zum Anderen sind die Modelle dieser Arbeit interpretierbar und konnen ohne Expertensupervision neu trainiert werden. Daruber hinaus berucksichtigen die Methoden den Langzeittherapieerfolg, sodass ihre Vorhersagen mit den Ergebnissen klinischer Studien ubereinstimmen.
Comparing Two Medical Tests When Results of Reference Standard Are Unavailable for Those Negative via Both Tests

In studies for comparing the diagnostic accuracy of two qualitative tests, very often the reference standard to confirm the disease status is not applied to all study subjects. We considered a situation when all subjects with a positive result by at least one of the tests had a verified disease status and none of the subjects with both tests negative results had a verification of disease status. In this paper, we discuss whether the information about the ratio of true positive rates and the ratio of false positive rates of two qualitative tests, T New and T Old , is sufficient to draw a conclusion about effectiveness of the T New . We show that if there is a statistically significant increase in true positive rates and the increase in true positive rates is statistically larger than increase in false positive rates, then a conclusion about effectiveness of test T New can be made and this does not require application of the reference standard to the subjects with negative results by both tests. An application of ratio of true positive rates and ratio of false positive rates to post-market studies is also presented.
Award Number: W81XWH-06-1-0398 TITLE: Role of PELP1 in EGFR-ER Signaling Crosstalk in Ovarian Cancer Cells

Estradiol (E2) and estrogen receptor (ER) signaling have been implicated in the development and progression of several cancers. Emerging evidence suggests that the status of ER coregulators in tumor cells plays an important role in hormonal responsiveness and tumor progression. Proline, glutamic acid, and leucine-rich protein-1 (PELP1/MNAR)—a novel ER coactivator that plays an essential role in the ER’s actions and its expression—is deregulated in several hormonal responsive cancers. The precise function of PELP1/MNAR in cancer progression remains unclear, but PELP1 appears to function as a scaffolding protein, coupling ER with several proteins that are implicated in oncogenesis. Emerging evidence suggests that PELP1/MNAR increases E2-mediated cell proliferation and participates in E2-mediated tumorigenesis and metastasis.