Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Barriers to cadaveric renal transplantation among blacks, women, and the poor.

CONTEXT Cadaveric renal transplantation rates differ greatly by race, sex, and income. Previous efforts to lessen these differences have focused on the transplant waiting list. However, the transplantation process involves a series of steps related to medical suitability, interest in transplantation, pretransplant workup, and movement up a waiting list to eventual transplantation. OBJECTIVE To determine the relative importance of each step in explaining differences in cadaveric renal transplantation rates. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING AND PATIENTS A total of 7125 patients beginning long-term dialysis between January 1993 and December 1996 in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Completion of 4 separate steps during each patient-year of follow-up: (A) being medically suitable and possibly interested in transplantation; (B) being definitely interested in transplantation; (C) completing the pretransplant workup; and (D) moving up a waiting list and receiving a transplant. RESULTS Compared with whites, blacks were less likely to complete steps B (odds ratio [OR], 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-0.76), C (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.48-0.65), and D (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.40-0.62) after adjustment for age, sex, cause of renal failure, years receiving dialysis, and median income of patient ZIP code. Compared with men, women were less likely to complete each of the 4 steps, with ORs of 0.90, 0.89, 0.80, and 0.82, respectively. Poor individuals were less likely than wealthy individuals to complete steps A, B, and C, with ORs of 0.67, 0.78, and 0.77, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Barriers at several steps are responsible for sociodemographic differences in access to cadaveric renal transplantation. Efforts to allocate kidneys equitably must address each step of the transplant process.
A Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Study on Intravenous Cefazedone Sodium in Patients with Community-acquired Pneumonia

Background: As a time-dependent antibiotic, the time of cefazedone concentration exceeds the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is the key pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) variable associated with the killing of pathogens. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical regimen rationality of intravenous cefazedone sodium in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) by PK/PD study. Methods: Ten patients with mild to moderate CAP were enrolled to receive intravenous cefazedone sodium (2 g q12 h) for 7–14 days. Blood samples were collected in any day during day 5–7. Sputum specimens were collected before treatment for bacteria isolated, and susceptibility to cefazedone determined. PK-PD analysis was performed using the noncompartmental analysis of Phoenix WinNolin software (version 6.1, Pharsight Corporation, CA, USA). The maximal time above MIC (ƒT > MIC) was calculated, and its correlation with clinical efficacy was analyzed. Results: All 10 patients completed the study and 8 of them were cured. Six strains were isolated from patients before treatment (one for each patient) and all susceptible to cefazedone. Five patients of six in culture positive group were cured. All pathogens were cleared at the end of therapy. The MICs were between 0.25 and 1 mg/L. The main PK parameters were Cmax 175.22 ± 36.28 mg/L; T½ 1.52 ± 0.23 h; AUC(0–∞) 280.51 ± 68.17 mg·L-1·h-1; CL 7.37 ± 1.84 L/h; Vd 16.06 ± 4.42 L. The average ƒT > MIC was 55.45 ± 8.12%. Conclusions: Intravenous injection of cefazodone sodium with 2 g q12 h dosage regimen is used in the treatment of CAP caused by sensitive bacteria, either ƒT > MIC or clinical efficacy shows that such dosing regimen is reasonable.
Epidemiology and geriatric psychiatry.

In their classic textbook, MacMahon and Pugh 1 define epidemiology as “the study of the distribution and determinants of disease frequency in man. ” Students of epidemiology learn in their introductory course about John Snow and his investigation of the cholera outbreak in London in 1854. MacMahon and Pugh 1 describe Snow’s tracking efforts to first map the distribution of cholera cases, Snow’s keen hypothesis and observation that cholera cases appeared to cluster around areas of London that drew drinking water from sections of the Thames that were polluted with sewage, and Snow’s eventual investigation to determine the source of water for both affected and unaffected households and workers to confirm his hypothesis of the suspected determinant of the disease, the Broad Street pump. Snow’s work reflects the foundation of the science of epidemiology. To map the distribution of disease, epidemiologists study the prevalence of disease or the proportion of the population with a disease at a defined point in time and the incidence of disease or the proportion of the population free of disease that develops the disease over a defined time period. This “map” can involve geographic location as it did for Snow or more often the presence or absence of biological or social factors, demographic variables, time, or any of a myriad of putative causes epidemiologists have studied in the decades after the work of
Local water bridges and protein conformational stability

Recent studies have pointed out the important role of local water structures in protein conformational stability. Here, we present an accurate and computationally effective way to estimate the free energy contribution of the simplest water structure motif–the water bridge. Based on the combination of empirical parameters for accessible protein surface area and the explicit consideration of all possible water bridges with the protein, we introduce an improved protein solvation model. We find that accounting for water bridge formation in our model is essential to understand the conformational behavior of polypeptides in water. The model formulation, in fact, does not depend on the polypeptide nature of the solute and is therefore applicable to other flexible biomolecules (i.e., DNAs, RNAs, polysaccharides, etc.).
Theory-driven Design of an IT-based Peer Assessment to Assess High Cognitive Levels of Educational Objectives in Large-scale Learning Services

Due to increasing numbers of students at German universities large-scale learning services are still a common default. These learning services lack interaction as well as feedback to assess learners’ knowledge on the cognitive levels of educational objectives. This situation is alarming, since interaction and feedback in order to assess the own learning progress are important factors for individual learning success and satisfaction. The use of an IT-based peer assessment as a learning instrument can help overcome these challenges by increasing interaction and feedback without massively increasing the workload of lecturers. In this research-in-progress paper we present a theory-driven design of an IT-based peer assessment aiming to increase interaction and feedback as well as assess learners’ knowledge on high cognitive levels of educational objectives in large-scale learning services. We fol- low a design science research approach and rely on insights from theory of interaction and feedback in order to gather requirements as well as derive design elements to create the IT-based peer assessment. As a next step, we will use the instrument in our large-scale learning service aiming to evaluate whether the IT-based peer assessment is useful to assess high cognitive levels of educational objectives, hence supporting learners during their learning process.
A CAN-based inertial sensor network for lower limb exoskeleton

The lower limb exoskeleton suit is a wearable device that aims to support the movement of users,and enhance the motion and strength of physical lower limbs. As inertial sensors provide better measurement performance (vs. optical or electromagnetic sensors), a CAN-based inertial sensor network was proposed in this study for an enhancement of the real-time movement detection of the lower limb exoskeleton suit. The microsystem node of the intertial sensor network employs the general structure to obtain the different data from sensors. All requirements of the predefined communication protocols are satisfied towards the designed communication channel. A time division multiplexing algorithm then was introduced to reduce the data conflicts during transmissions. The adaptive Kalman filtering is applied for the solving of attitude. Experimental results show that the CAN bus can well meet the requirements of data transmission of inertial sensors network.
[A case-control study on the risk factors and other socio-psychological factors of epilepsy].

OBJECTIVE To identify the risk factors and socio-psychological condition of epilepsy in general population. METHODS A community-based, pair-matched case-control study using the epileptic patients living in Zhujing town, Jinshan district, Shanghai was carried out. Patients were matched for age (+/-1 years) and gender to controls (81 cases and 81 controls). Data was analyzed with multiple conditional logistic regression. RESULTS As a result of multiple logistic regression, postnatal insults (OR = 6.517), alcohol intake (OR = 10.761) and family history (OR = 5.414) were powerfully associated with epilepsy. Compared with control group, epileptic patients were significantly different in socio-psychological condition, especially in > or = 17 years adult patients. CONCLUSION Postnatal insults, alcohol intake and family history were the risk factors of epilepsy. Psychological and psychiatric disorders were highly prevalent among epilepsy patients.
Lipid peroxides in stable asthmatics receiving inhaled steroids and long‐acting β2‐agonists

Background and objective: The effect of inhaled steroids on oxidative stress in asthmatics is unclear. The levels of lipid peroxides in the serum of asthmatic patients, whose symptoms were controlled with inhaled corticosteroids and long‐acting β2‐agonists, were measured in this study.
Compound heterozygous FXN mutations and clinical outcome in friedreich ataxia

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease characterized by ataxia and cardiomyopathy. Homozygous GAA trinucleotide repeat expansions in the first intron of FXN occur in 96% of affected individuals and reduce frataxin expression. Remaining individuals are compound heterozygous for a GAA expansion and a FXN point/insertion/deletion mutation. We examined disease‐causing mutations and the impact on frataxin structure/function and clinical outcome in FRDA.
Pneumonia and Serum Therapy

This is a revised edition of the text of essentially the same title which was published in 1936, and, like it, is basically a handbook presenting the case for serum therapy in pneumonia. It should be noted, however, that the term "revision" does not always mean "reprinted," even though some of the phases of the problem as presented in the earlier edition are herein merely extended by the inclusion of additional data. But two years may well represent a generation in the field of science, and new disclosures and newer interpretations are not determined by time elapsed. So it is with serum treatment of pneumococcus infection, and if new viewpoints are to find practical application, re-evaluation and restatement are necessary. This is what this "handbook" does, with fact piled on faet rather than with opinion added to opinion. The result is a statement, as of today, of the whole problem and, as such, cannot fail to guide and serve those whose work bears upon this phase of medicine.
A linear programmable-gate ISFET array operating in velocity saturation

This paper presents a large-scale ISFET array for ion imaging that operates in current mode and can be calibrated using a programmable gate. The array is designed in a standard 0. 35μm 3.3V CMOS process and includes four transistors per pixel. The ISFET for sensing and readout in each pixel is biased in velocity saturation to provide linear pH-current conversion while providing high linearity and transconductance (intrinsic pH gain). Furthermore, the control capacitor for each ISFET needed to facilitate the Programmable Gate approach has been implemented as the parasitic capacitance extracted between two metal shapes in the pixel stack. This approach does not compromise the pixel's scalability and the resulting ISFET array of 64×200 pixels occupies an area of 1.0625mm2 while providing compensation capability of up to 2.1V per pixel from a 3.3V supply.
Optimal PMU Placement for Numerical Observability Considering Fixed Channel Capacity—A Semidefinite Programming Approach

This letter presents a 0-1 semidefinite programming (SDP) approach to solve the problem of optimal placement of phasor measurement units (PMUs), considering the existence of conventional measurements and zero injections as well as the impact of PMU channel limits. The proposed formulation can prevent the wasteful utilization of different PMUs observing incident branch current phasors at a given bus more than once. The method is tested on the IEEE 57-bus test system.
Mutations within the 5′ region of FAS/CD95 gene in nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

CD95 is a cell-surface receptor that mediates apoptosis. A possible association between CD95 mutations and extranodal diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) has been reported. To further elucidate this question, a mutation analysis within the 5′ region and exon 9 of CD95 was performed in a series of 66 DLBCL patients, by polymerase chain reaction, single-strand conformational polymorphism, and sequencing in all cases. Four mutations, all within the 5′ region, were detected in three cases of primary nodal DLBCL (6.3% of primary DLBCL), probably originated as by-products of the somatic hypermutation process. No CD95 mutations in the two analyzed regions were detected in primary extranodal DLBCL, mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (MLBCL), and DLBCL arising from indolent low-grade lymphomas. Because of our results, a review of published data with respect to the site of mutations was performed, which suggested a different distribution of mutations in nodal and extranodal DLBCL.
[Multicenter prospective study of respiratory patient education and instruction in the use of inhalers (EDEN study)].

OBJECTIVES To evaluate patients' knowledge of the inhalers they use and to assess the effect of knowledge acquired in an instruction session on correct technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS Multicentric, prospective, descriptive study before and after one instruction session dealing with the technique to apply in using an inhaler: a pressurized canister, an inhalation chamber Autohaler, or one of two dry powder inhalers (the Turbuhaler or the Accuhaler). We studied 349 patients who used their inhalers regularly to treat their respiratory diseases. After assessing their theoretical knowledge of the airways (common), of the particular device they used, and their inhalation technique, we gave instruction in correct technique. Both types of knowledge were then evaluated 2 and 8 months after instruction. RESULTS Before instruction, common theoretical knowledge was 3.2 (1) on a 6-point scale and knowledge of the device used was 2.7(1) on a 4-point scale. Technique was assessed as 77 (21) on a 100-point scale. After instruction both theoretical knowledge and technique improved significantly. Common knowledge after instruction was assessed as 5.1 (1) at 2 months and 5.2 (1) at 8 months; knowledge of the inhaler was 3.5 (0.6) and 3.6 (0.7), respectively. Technique was assessed at 95 (11) and 96 (11) at 2 and 8 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The EDEN study demonstrates that knowledge of inhalers in a large sample of the population of respiratory disease patients in Spain, although acceptable, can be improved by an appropriate instruction program. After a standardized instruction program, correct use of all the inhalers studied was achieved. We believe that we thereby contribute to improving symptoms and quality of life of respiratory disease patients.
Tissue-specific SMARCA4 binding at active and repressed regulatory elements during embryogenesis

The SMARCA4 (also known as BRG1 in humans) chromatin remodeling factor is critical for establishing lineage-specific chromatin states during early mammalian development. However, the role of SMARCA4 in tissue-specific gene regulation during embryogenesis remains poorly defined. To investigate the genome-wide binding landscape of SMARCA4 in differentiating tissues, we engineered a Smarca4FLAG knock-in mouse line. Using ChIP-seq, we identified ∼51,000 SMARCA4-associated regions across six embryonic mouse tissues (forebrain, hindbrain, neural tube, heart, limb, and face) at mid-gestation (E11.5). The majority of these regions was distal from promoters and showed dynamic occupancy, with most distal SMARCA4 sites (73%) confined to a single or limited subset of tissues. To further characterize these regions, we profiled active and repressive histone marks in the same tissues and examined the intersection of informative chromatin states and SMARCA4 binding. This revealed distinct classes of distal SMARCA4-associated elements characterized by activating and repressive chromatin signatures that were associated with tissue-specific up- or down-regulation of gene expression and relevant active/repressed biological pathways. We further demonstrate the predicted active regulatory properties of SMARCA4-associated elements by retrospective analysis of tissue-specific enhancers and direct testing of SMARCA4-bound regions in transgenic mouse assays. Our results indicate a dual active/repressive function of SMARCA4 at distal regulatory sequences in vivo and support its role in tissue-specific gene regulation during embryonic development.
Suicide rate 22 years after parasuicide: cohort study

The rate of suicide for people who have had an episode of parasuicide is 100 times higher in the year following the episode than that of the general population.1 Providing a high standard of care to patients who deliberately harm themselves could help to reduce this rate.2 Long term follow up studies show that the increased rate of suicide persists.3 However, the long term risk of suicide in patients in the United Kingdom is uncertain. We traced a consecutive sample of patients 22 years after they presented to a central London teaching hospital after an episode of parasuicide in the late 1970s. From May 1977 to March 1980 one of us (RH) collected demographic and clinical data on a consecutive sample of weekday ward referrals to psychiatric services after patients had an episode of parasuicide. Twenty two …
Abnormal mesoderm patterning in mouse embryos mutant for the SH2 tyrosine phosphatase Shp‐2

Shp‐1, Shp‐2 and corkscrew comprise a small family of cytoplasmic tyrosine phosphatases that possess two tandem SH2 domains. To investigate the biological functions of Shp‐2, a targeted mutation has been introduced into the murine Shp‐2 gene, which results in an internal deletion of residues 46–110 in the N‐terminal SH2 domain. Shp‐2 is required for embryonic development, as mice homozygous for the mutant allele die in utero at mid‐gestation. The Shp‐2 mutant embryos fail to gastrulate properly as evidenced by defects in the node, notochord and posterior elongation. Biochemical analysis of mutant cells indicates that Shp‐2 can function as either a positive or negative regulator of MAP kinase activation, depending on the specific receptor pathway stimulated. In particular, Shp‐2 is required for full and sustained activation of the MAP kinase pathway following stimulation with fibroblast growth factor (FGF), raising the possibility that the phenotype of Shp‐2 mutant embryos results from a defect in FGF‐receptor signalling. Thus, Shp‐2 modulates tyrosine kinase signalling in vivo and is crucial for gastrulation during mammalian development.
Synthesizing Realistic Shadows with Bumpy Surface and Object Model Estimated by Shadows in Single Image

Shadows play an important role in the human perception of 3D geometry in photographs, and properly synthesized shadows produce a realistic rendering result. Shadows, especially hard shadows, define powerful constraints between a light source, occluders, and the surfaces onto which shadows are cast. We aim to create a pseudo 3D scene in which the light produces shadows that are the same as those in the input image by taking the shadow constraints into account. Our method requires only a few user annotations and an input image, with the objects and their cast-shadows segmented in advance. The segmentation and the user annotations are used to create a shadow-free texture and a 3D scene, and users can then interactively edit the image by moving the objects and changing the lighting. Our system produces realistic shadows in real-time while enabling interactive editing.
SIR balancing for multiuser downlink beamforming - a convergence analysis

The downlink spectral efficiency of interference limited wireless systems can be drastically increased by employing multiuser transmit beamforming at the base station. The goal is the joint optimization of the user transmission powers and the beamforming weights. An important problem is to find the range where a feasible solution can be expected. Recently, it has been shown (see Boche, H. and Schubert, M., European Trans. on Telecom., vol.12, no.5, p.417-26, 2001) that this problem is equivalent to the minimization of the maximum eigenvalue of the system coupling matrix. An iterative scheme to solve this min-max type problem was proposed by G. Montalbano and D.T. M. Slock (see Proc. IEEE ICUPC, 1998), but no convergence analysis was given. We analyze the convergence behavior of the algorithm and extend the results to the more general case of individual QoS requirements. It is shown that the iteration sequence is strictly monotonically decreasing as long as the global optimum is not reached. This proves the optimality of the algorithm and provides valuable insight into the analytical structure of the problem.
Bioavailability of inorganic and organic phosphorus compounds to natural assemblages of microorganisms m Hawaiian coastal waters

The bioavailability of 7 organic and 2 inorganic phosphorus compounds to natural communities of coastal marine bacteria and phytoplankton was evaluated. A bioavailability factor (BF) based on changes in the turnover time of the phosphate pool (measured using 3'P0,) in the absence and presence of selected phosphorus compounds, relative to positive controls receiving PO,, was calculated as an index of the relative microbial metabolic preference for each added compound. There were marked differences in the bioavailabihty factors of various substrates tested with values ranging from 0 to 0.2. The results indicate that nucleotides were the most readily utilizable of the combined phosphorus compounds investigated. By comparison, the addition of selected monophosphate esters, either individually or in mixtures, had only a lirmted effect on orthophosphate (PO,) flux. However, orthophosphate appeared to be the preferred and, apparently, universal substrate. The bacterialennched slze fraction (< 0 8 pm) comprised an average of 75 % of the total phosphorus uptake measured in our samples A large but variable percentage of the added organic and combined inorganic compounds accunlulated outside the cells as soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), indicating an efficient regeneration of orthophosphate from the various phosphorus compounds tested